 | The sons of Usna |  |
ACT IV.
SCENE I.
The Mansion of Barach. Enter Fergus, attended by the Sons of Usna, Daidra, Ainli, Ardan, his two Sons, Illan the Fair, and Buini the Ruthless Red, and Callon, the Shield-bearer. Enter Barach.BARACH.
Welcome, most noble Fergus! welcome home!
And you, the three great Sons of Usna—Kings!
And fair Daidra, brave Naisa's queen!
Thrice welcome all! Come, make yourselves at home!
Sit down. The dust of travel on your feet—
The weariness of walking in your limbs—
You must want rest. Sit down. Come, Fergus—sit.
And you, Daidra! tired as you must be—
Thou—fairest one of woman ever born!
Here, take your fill of rest until the morn.
NAISA.
We thank you from our hearts, but we must on:
The day is growing late; we have no time
Now to reach Eman by the set of Sun.
BARACH.
Then, Fergus, you will stay? I know you will—
For you have sworn not to refuse a Feast,
When proffered to you by the friend you love.
This I have now prepared for you; so, you
Must stay. I hold you to your solemn vows,
Which you cannot forswear. Come, sit you down.
FERGUS.
No, by the Eternal Gods! I will not sit!
Hard is your heart to urge me to a feast,
When you do know I promised Conor, that,
So soon as I had trod on Erin's shore,
Whether it was by night, or by the day,
I would not tarry till I had arrived
In Eman with the three great Usna-Sons.
BARACH.
I lay you under solemn banns, that you
Remain till you have taken of this Feast.
FERGUS.
Now, by my God! the day will come when you
Will rue the untimed cooking of this Feast!
What shall be done, Naisa? I must stay,
Or be forsworn!
NAISA.
Do as you please. You have
The power to stay or go—use your own choice—
Forsake us for the Feast—the Feast for us.
FERGUS.
But I will not forsake you for the Feast,
For I will send my Sons along with you—
Illan the Fair, with Buini the Ruthless Red.
NAISA.
Upon my soul, we thank you not for them,
For we want none to help us but ourselves.
So, now, farewell!
[Exeunt the Sons of Usna, Daidra, and Fergus' Sons.
FERGUS.
May Heaven attend your steps!
Now is my soul most sorrowful indeed!
Oh! Barach! Barach! you have broke my heart—
Forcing me here to stay against my will!
Feasting the banquet that I cannot eat!
[Exeunt Barach and Fergus.
SCENE II.
A Private Apartment in Eman of Macha. Enter Lavercam and Conor, in conversation.CONOR.
But Caffa were no more to me than Pan
To Apollo, who hangs the Heavens in chains
Of harmony. The wisdom of my mind
Doth rule mankind, building up daily power,
As Orpheus caused the trees to move with song,
Arion penned the Dolphins with his Lute,
And great Amphion built the walls of Thebes.
LAVERCAM.
But was not Pan god of this world, as thou
Desirest now to be? Then, why call thyself
Apollo, when thou'rt Pan, who would make me
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No, Caffa is Hyperion, with his locks
Of gold, like clusters of the vine, in whose
Rich curls Cupid lies nestling, like the Dove
In her soft nest.
CONOR.
A Virginal thou art,
On whom none but thy King should play—a harp
Of a thousand strings, kept ever in tune
By Angels' hands.
LAVERCAM.
None less than Angels' hands
Shall ever touch my strings.
CONOR.
I am thy lord—
As only Kings know how to value love—
Being Images of Him who is all love.
LAVERCAM.
Great Caffa is. Arcadia is his home;
I his Erato, who respond to him,
The majesty of mountains—I his Nymph.
Where Phœbus drives his Chariot, there I ride—
Borne on by horses swift as Eagles' wings—
Whose feet strike lightning from the adamant;
Whose nostrils, trumpet-like, dilated with
Their breath, blow joy throughout the world. He feeds
On nectar.
CONOR.
So do I, hearing thee talk.
Love, you know, made Jupiter a Swan.
Lavercam
(aside).
And you a goose.
CONOR.
Thou art my Leda, love—
Could bring the gods down from their starry thrones
In Heaven.
LAVERCAM.
One did come down when Caffa came—
Pan with his primal name,—The Universe.
CONOR.
The All in One belongs alone to kings.
LAVERCAM.
Apollo being Pan—King Caffa both—
A double King—woodland melodies his songs—
Making the woods resound with melody;
Having Apollo's beauty with Pan's horns—
That is, great strength with comeliness combined.
CONOR.
Does he hear well?
LAVERCAM.
Just opposite to you—
Without your ass's ears.
CONOR.
Well, you are frank.
But anything from thy sweet lips sounds sweet
Unto my ears.
LAVERCAM.
They are so large.
CONOR.
Should be—
To take all in.
LAVERCAM.
The chain which binds my heart
Is made of love, not gold.
CONOR.
Love is of gold;
For where there is no gold, there is no love.
Like a Butterfly in the month of May,
Thou art, first, here—then, everywhere.
LAVERCAM.
Because
I am all Psyche—soul.
CONOR.
True—all my soul.
For, without thee, I have no life.
LAVERCAM.
Then thou
Art dead—for thou art without me.
CONOR.
Most true.
Soon thou shalt wear my love upon thy head,
Like a Tiara of Glory.
LAVERCAM.
True—
The glory that would tire. I am no wheel
Thus to be bound around by thy rich bands.
CONOR.
But, like the Chariot of Aminadab,
Full of pure love.
LAVERCAM.
Where thou shalt never ride.
CONOR.
This talk brings no refreshment to my soul.
I would not only climb the mountain's heights,
But dive into the bottom of the sea,
And bring up priceless pearls to deck thy brow,
But to possess thy heart.
LAVERCAM.
Thou shalt be saved
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Fish would eat thee—as thou dost, now, with thine
Almightiness, eat many little ones.
CONOR.
Thou art a Swan-like Ivory Lute.
LAVERCAM.
Whereon
Is written “Noli me Tangere”—touch
Me not.
CONOR.
On my heart's Altar, Cupid now
Is seen kindling his vestal fires.
LAVERCAM.
There let
It burn—the sooner thou'rt consumed the better
It'll be for me.
CONOR.
I took thee for an Angel, love!
But there is consolation none in thee!
[Exit Lavercam.
Now she is gone! Gone evermore from me—
Leaving no sun in Heaven! What shall be done?
Persuasion I will try no more—but force;
Yes, threats—peremptory threats; commands
That would make tremble stoutest knees; quail even
The mightiest hearts! This I will do. She must
Be mine. There never yet was woman born
So near my Ideal of Divine as she.
To gain her, I would give the world—yes, even
Barter my place of future life in Heaven.
Then why should I thus parley? Spend my time
Trying to coax what I have power to make?
I will persuade no more; no, she is mine.
[Exit.
SCENE III.
The Highway. Enter Naisa, Daidra, and Attendants.DAIDRA.
Now, dear Naisa! let me give you good
Advice.
NAISA.
What is it, love?
DAIDRA.
Go not alone
To Eman; stop at Rachlin for the day,
Till Fergus do partake the feast; for this
Will be fulfilling of his word for him,
As well as the prolonging of your life for you.
NAISA.
We will not practise your advice, dear love;
Because we need no aid but from ourselves.
DAIDRA.
Alas! then, death will surely be our fate.
Where is the plighted faith of Fergus now?
Broken, as we will be, by Conor's sword!
Broken in twain by Barach's vulture-beak!
Feasting him now at home on aspen's tongues!
Unsteady Son of Roy! unfaithful man!
My heart is broke! my day is turned to night!
The fulness of my days is surely come!
NAISA.
Oh! say not so, Daidra! Say not so!
Fergus would not have come but for our good,
And surely will not tarry long behind.
DAIDRA.
Woe! woe! alas! as long as I shall live—
Which cannot now be long—will I be forced
To sing the memory of this bitter day!
NAISA.
Lo! on the topmost peak of Fuad I behold
The Watchtowers of Fincarn looming aloft,
Like some great soul upheld by mighty deeds—
Firm as the Pillars of Eternity!
So does my soul now stand upon these Hills
Of Erin, overlooking all the world—
Immutable—immortal—grand—sublime!
What dost thou see, dear Queen?
DAIDRA.
Alas!
Sad is the sight that now appears to me!
The three fair Sons of Usna lying dead!
NAISA.
May the Sorrows of thy delicate Soul
Fall on the heads of those most heartless fiends!
I see the willows on Ardsellach's Heights
Towering aloft above the distant Hills,
Cheered into endless Eden by the songs
Of many falling streams, whose garrulous flow
Wakes raptures in the hearts of million flowers,
That now imparadise the vales below.
DAIDRA.
The willows weep upon Ardsellach's Heights—
Crowning the Mountains with their wavy green,
Where they forever stand, like funeral trains,
Mourning for Erin's endless loss to-day!
Naisa! see that cloud which I now see
Hanging in Heaven far over Eman green—
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Me give you good advice.
NAISA.
What good advice?
DAIDRA.
Go to Dundalgan, where Cuchullan lives,
Till Fergus do partake the feast, for fear
Of Conor's treachery.
NAISA.
Since fear lives not within
Our souls, we will not practise your advice.
DAIDRA.
Then you will all be slain as sure as life!
Go, then, where the Hero of Art resides,
For, if to-morrow you to Eman go,
Never will you return from thence alive!
NAISA.
No, my Daidra! queen of all my heart!
Since fear rests not within our souls, we will
Not practise your advice, but go.
DAIDRA.
Alas!
Then has it come to this? But once not so.
For when Mananan, King of Lir, the Sea,
First brought the full cup of your love to me,
Which I then drained with joy—it was not so!
Then we were both of one accord; now we
Are discords—never more to sound in unison!
NAISA.
Come—let us now move on.
DAIDRA.
But wait;
I have a Signal for you, whereby you
May know whether or not he have design
Upon our lives.
NAISA.
What Signal, love?
DAIDRA.
Why, this:
If he do let us where his Nobles are,
Then he has no design upon our lives;
But if he send us to the Red Branch, then
He means to have us slain! Mind what I say!
NAISA.
Then we will mind. Come, let us on. Come on.
[Exeunt omnes.
SCENE IV.
A Druidical Grove. Enter Caffa, attended by Lucifer.CAFFA.
But tell me—fear you not the Judgment Day?
LUCIFER.
I fear it not. Why should I fear that Day?
CAFFA.
The evil spirits thou hast ruined—will they
Not be condemned with thee that Day?
LUCIFER.
They will!
And I rejoice to think that those whom God
Created over me, shall be brought down,
By my superior wisdom, into Hell—
There to remain, until their punishment
Has taught them how they should have thanked the God
Of Heaven, for making them so far above
That Spirit, whom their ignorance shall make
Their own victorious King!
CAFFA.
Oh! Satan! thou
Art viler than I thought!
LUCIFER.
How vile? Have I
Not spoken truth? Is it not on the Scroll?
Will I not be an Instrument in God's
Great hands to scourge the offender down to Hell?
I will be then obeying His commands.
Will that be vile? I will be better than
They are! Why, then, should I not be restored
As soon as they? nay, even before?
CAFFA.
Thou art
A cunning snake—a mystery—a doubt!
But cunning as thou art, I am no bird
To rush into thy jaws! Ah! fix thy gaze,
And charm me as thou wilt; but thou wilt find
I am Hell-proof! This was an Angel's gift!
And I defy thee! Conquer him by this;
And I will do His will, so help me, God!
Now, do thy worst!
LUCIFER.
By Hell! a noble soul!
But I will trap him, noble as he is!
Yes! I will ransack Hell for vilest means
To ruin his soul! [Aloud.]
Why, what's the matter now?
Have I offended thee? Pray, pardon me!
[Kneeling.
CAFFA.
Since thou art conquered by my will, if thou
Dost feel remorse—I pardon thee. Arise!
[He rises.
LUCIFER.
This is my throne. Thou art a stranger here.
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We are the only beings that could fall;
And, as we are both wanderers from our Home—
Met here by accident—let us unite,
Till we have found the Path of Peace, which leads
The stricken mourner to his Home again—
The Home of Happiness—that Home of Joy,
Where all the flowery Pastures lie—where Spring
Forever reigns—where Winter never comes—
Where living waters flow—where luscious fruits
Forever grow—where Day forever shines;
And where the soul, immortal as its God,
Forever dwells, rejoicing as it grows—
Filled with the plenitude of boundless bliss.
CAFFA.
That Satan is a Rhapsodist, I know:
But how it is that you can be restored,
Is more than I can see. It seems to me
The more impossible the more I see
Of thee.
LUCIFER.
There's nothing so with God. All things
Are possible with Him. Nor is it half
So strange as to believe that Man was once
The highest Angel in the realms of rest.
But it is so. What Angel ever called
The Lord his Father? None but Man.
CAFFA.
Well! well!
What do you call Him then?
LUCIFER.
Look on thy Scroll.
Jehovah-Elohim—that is His name.
CAFFA.
Satan! thou art no fool.
LUCIFER.
Give me the Scroll.
CAFFA.
What wilt thou do with it?
LUCIFER
(aside).
Entrap thy soul.
[Aloud.
Keep it as a memorial of our love.
CAFFA.
It is for this that I would keep it too—
In memory of the one who gave it me.
It is my title deed to lands in Heaven.
Were I to give it thee, I would lose all,
Save what thou hast—the heritage of Hell!
Then ask no more—it was an Angel's gift—
That Angel came from Heaven; that Heaven is mine.
Nay, rather ask me for myself—for what
Were self, without the hopes of being more?
This is that hope—nay, more—the priceless right
To Heaven, with Heaven's own seal attached to it.
That many-gated City of pure gold—
The Jasper-walled Jerusalem above—
Where sings the immortal Nightingale,
Whose golden song doth ravish Angels' ears—
Whose tones are poured out of his pregnant throat
On eloquent persuasion on the soul,
Like sparkling jewels scattered round about,
In prodigal profusion, from the brows
Of Angels, dancing with the Seraphim
In careless ecstasy around God's throne.
The music of the living streams is there—
More sweet to me than all the joys of earth;
For there the air is laden down with balm—
The breath of the immortal Amaranth,
Which blossoms ever more, refreshing Heaven—
On whose celestial, never-withering leaves
The Angels lie while resting from their joys—
Such joys as never bring regret, but are
The harbingers of greater ones to come.
Theirs, then, is happiness indeed—delights
Which end not in the making—but are born
Forever from the bosom of pure Love.
This, then, is Heaven indeed—not such as Man
Can see in Woman's smile—though it be pure—
The April dawn of vestal modesty—
(The nearest Heaven of anything on earth)—
But an eternal, ever-variant Heaven,
The mother of as many ever-variant joys,
Which shall forever rhapsodize the soul,
Making Eternity an endless hour—
An ecstasy forever to be spent.
LUCIFER.
By Hell! the Scroll has taught him more of Heaven
Than I can tell! His soul draws strength from it
To baffle all mine arts—never to be
Subdued till it is taken from his hand!
But how? How now shall it be mine? This wise,—
I will fall down and worship him. By Heaven!
Give me the Scroll and I will worship thee!
CAFFA.
We are forbidden, by the Word of God,
To worship any one but God. Farewell!
[Exeunt severally.
SCENE V.
Eman of Macha. Enter Naisa, Daidra (veiled), Ainli, and Ardan, attended by the two Sons of Fergus, Illan the Fair, and Buini the Ruthless Red, and Callon, the Shield-bearer.NAISA
(knocking at the door).
Open the door!
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(within).
Who knocks?
NAISA.
Open to us!
We are the Sons of Usna, Illan Fin,
Buini the Ruthless Red, Fergus' Son,
And Callon, his Shield-bearer, just returned
From Alba, of resplendent clime, to the more
Glorious land of Erin. Let us in.
Enter Conor followed by Servitor.
CONOR
(opening the door).
Most welcome are you here, my noble Sons!
Right glad am I to see you safe returned!
How is the Red Branch circumstanced for food?
[To Servitor.
SERVITOR.
Amply, great King—with food as well as drink.
Should the seven Battalions of Ullan be
Stationed there, they would find satiety
Of all things necessary for their health.
CONOR.
Then take them there.
DAIDRA.
No, let us not go there!
For if you do, you never will return
Alive! Now take my counsel—do not go!
ILLAN.
We will not do so; for no cowardice,
Or littleness, was ever known to us.
So we will go with him. Come—let us on.
NAISA.
As for their alluring viands, they have
No charms for us—so might have saved themselves
The trouble of this costly preparation.
The food we live on, is above or meat,
Or drink—the Angels' food—the Bread of Heaven!
On this shall our immortal souls grow fat.
Till, like the mountains of our native land,
We grow in stature equal to the Gods!
[Exeunt.
CONOR.
Go to the Red Branch, thou damned Fiends! to feast;
But never to return from thence alive!
I will now show the Sons of Usna that
It is a dangerous thing to steal my wife!
Call Lavercam! tell her to come to me!
[Exit Servitor.
Now, what I want to know the most, is this—
Whether or not Daidra's beauty live
Upon her as it did in days gone by;
For, if it do, there is not in this world
A woman beautiful as she. How shall
I know? Then will I half forgive her for
Her vilest treachery; for I do long to be
In safe possession of those matchless charms
Which once were mine—will soon be mine again.
Till when, may all the Devils in Hell combine
To teach me cunning means to take revenge
On that damned Fiend who stole her from my arms!
Enter Lavercam.
CONOR.
Welcome, good Lavercam! What is the news?
LAVERCAM.
Good news as bad.
CONOR.
What news is that?
LAVERCAM.
Why, this—
That the three Sons of Usna are returned—
Now in the Red Branch,—safe at home again—
With whom you have all power, henceforth, to wield
The destiny of Erin at your will.
These the good tidings that I bring; the bad
Are these,—that the fair woman whom you loved—
Whose beauty once excelled all women born—
Is now bereft of every matchless grace,
And hideous to behold.
[Exit Lavercam.
CONOR.
Then half my hate
Lies buried at my feet—never more to be
Rekindled into raging fires of Hell.
Let him enjoy her ugliness; he is
Well worthy of the prize; although he thought
To rob me of the sweetest thing on earth.
Now, let him revel in the loss of that
Which once was mine. But she may lie. Who knows?
For women all are false—the old as well
As young. She may be friendly to the Sons;
And was the tutoress of Daidra's youth.
I now will send an enemy to her;
And if their tidings tally, all is right;
If not, let Lavercam forever fear!
Who shall I send?—Trendorn!
Enter Trendorn.
TRENDORN.
My lord!
CONOR.
Come here!
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Know you the man?
TRENDORN.
I know him well, my lord!
That knowledge I possess too well! it was
Naisa, Son of Usna, slew them all!
CONOR.
Know you not that they are in the Red Branch here?
TRENDORN.
I know it well, my lord!
CONOR.
Then seek him out.
But, first, see if Daidra's countenance
Live on her as it did in days gone by—
For Lavercam has just returned to me,
Saying she is most hideous to behold.
But as I do suspect all womankind,
I now send you to see; for if it do,
There is not on the ridge of this vast world,
A woman beautiful as she. Now go—
See for us both—then come to me again:
TRENDORN.
I will.
Such tidings as her beauty shall declare,
Those will I bring to you. Farewell.
CONOR.
Then go—
Go quickly, for I long to know the truth.
[Exit Trendorn.
What if the Sons of Usna did, in battle,
Slay this vile menial's father—brothers too—
Should that breed enmity at this late day,
Now that the injury is old? No—no!
Unless Revenge must never sleep; but, like
The Lynx' Argus eyes, stand open wide,
Fierce as the Vigil of the God of Day?
Or, God's wide open eyes that never sleep—
Watchful by night, as by the day.
Re-enter Trendorn.
What now?
TRENDORN.
Oh! God! my eye! my eye is out! my eye
Is out!
CONOR.
Your eye is out! who put it out?
TRENDORN.
Naisa, through the Red Branch window, did,
As I peeped in to see Daidra's face!
Oh! God! I never shall behold her more!
CONOR
(aside).
The man who made that throw, will be the King
Of all this world, if he have not short life!
What visage did you find upon her face?
TRENDORN.
The fairest ever born. There is not in
This world a woman beautiful as she!
CONOR
(aside).
Now do the embers of expiring hate
Begin to glimmer in my heart again!
The tyrant never willingly employs
Any but meanest tools to do his work!
If she be beautiful as he reports,
She is well worthy of eternal siege.
Call forth the guard! muster my troops!
They shall attack the Red Branch instantly!
Battering its walls, till they release my wife!
Away! bid them assault the Mansion, till
The Sons of Usna give her up!
TRENDORN.
I go.
[Exeunt severally.
SCENE VI.
A Room in the Mansion of the Red Branch. Naisa and Daidra engaged playing Chess. Ainli and Ardan looking on. Enter Lavercam.LAVERCAM.
It is not meet for you to be here now,
Playing upon this polished Cabinet,
Which Conor mourned your having taken off,
More than he did the loss of anything,
Except Daidra's self!
DAIDRA.
Then let us cease.
Oh! Lavercam! what is to be our fate?
Can you not tell us why you came?
LAVERCAM.
Alas!
I come, by Conor's dread command, to know
Whether or not your Beauty live upon you,
As it did in days gone by.
DAIDRA.
If so, what then?
LAVERCAM.
Naisa will be slain—you made his wife!
DAIDRA.
Is this determined on by him?
LAVERCAM.
It is.
You have not heard the dreadful deed that is
To be achieved in Eman here this night,
When the three Luminaries of the Gaels
Will all be put to death by Conor's sword?
DAIDRA.
Oh! God! you say not so?
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I do indeed!
It will be done this very night!
DAIDRA.
Who told
You so?
LAVERCAM.
Conor himself!
DAIDRA.
Alas! alas!
Naisa! poor Daidra told you so!
NAISA.
You did, dear Princess! but it shall not be.
There is a God above, who knows all things,
And He will save the innocent from harm;
In Him I put my trust.
DAIDRA.
Put not your trust
In treacherous man—for falsehood is his truth;
In God alone is strength—Almighty power—
Eternal trust, that never can betray!
Oh! Lavercam! how glad I am to see
You here! You are our friend indeed—in whom
We put our trust—the Angel of our lives!
LAVERCAM.
Then follow my advice—close all the doors,
And then defend yourselves most valorously,
Till Fergus come—for he will be upon
You straight! Farewell! I go to watch him now.
[Exit.
DAIDRA.
May God Almighty bless you for this deed!
NAISA.
Now, brothers! Sons of Usna, now in Heaven!
Prepare to meet the foe! Gird on your swords!
Take up your shields, that when the hour shall come,
We may be ready to abide the worst!
Oh! God! that ever it should come to this!
That loving—imaging the God of Heaven—
Should be a crime! If God in Heaven is just—
Who is the only King of earth and Heaven—
Then will He cause to triumph what is just—
Hurling the evil down to Hell—the good
Uplifting into Heaven, where all is joy!
[Exeunt.
SCENE VII.
The Red Branch. Enter Conor attended by Soldiers.CONOR.
First, kill, then fire the Mansion! Kill them all!
Charge on them, Soldiers! Kill them all at once!
[Exeunt Soldiers.
The red flames tower, like serpent-tongues of fire,
Spitting their hissing venom to the sky!
Hear how the rafters crack, while the red sparks
Of fiery hail snow all the earth around
With one deep Lava-Sea!
[Exit. Shouts without.
Enter Naisa and Daidra.
NAISA.
What shouts are those?
Whence comes that deluge of thick fire, whose glare
Crimsons the very canopy of Heaven—
As if the saintly face of God blushed red
At man's ingratitude? The Red Branch is
On fire!
DAIDRA.
On fire? Yes, yes, it is on fire!
Oh! God! this comes from Conor's treachery!
This comes from Fergus' guarantee! Come, fly!
[Exeunt.
Re-enter Soldiers.
SOLDIERS.
Conor and Ulster! Charge on Usna's Sons!
Sons of a King, who would be King! Charge! Kill—kill
Them all like dogs! Cut off their heads! put out
Their eyes! as they did Trendorn's this sad morn!
[Exeunt Soldiers.
Re-enter Conor, followed by Illan the Fair.
ILLAN.
What! would you break the guarantee of Fergus?
Base Conor! Hell will gnaw thy bones for this!
CONOR.
Now, by the Eternal Gods! will we repay
The Sons of Usna, in their own base coin,
For stealing my Daidra from my arms!
[Exeunt.
Re-enter Naisa and Daidra, attended by Buini.
DAIDRA.
Alas! Fergus has acted traitorously,
And we will all be slain! I told you so!
I told you Conor would prove false! Where is
His guarantee for our protection now!
NAISA.
Here, in the strength of these two arms! Here, in
The conscious rectitude of our own hearts!
This is the mail that God has woven for us
Out of His adamantine steel in Heaven!
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The honorable souls that live within!
But, if they do, then there is no more truth,
Nor God, nor Christ, nor Heaven—but all is Hell!
Truths such as these now living in my soul,
With this strong arm, my body for my shield,—
Will I go forth to fight them till I die!
Then, brothers! arm yourselves for fight! Come on!
For Fergus—Conor—all are false!
BUINI.
By Heaven!
If Fergus is, his son will never be!
Now, then, come forth my sword! Charge on them, friends!
[Exeunt omnes, charging on the foe. Alarum.
Re-enter Buini, followed by Conor.
CONOR.
How many hast thou slain?
BUINI.
Thrice fifty men!
CONOR.
A bribe from me to you.
BUINI.
What bribe is that?
CONOR.
A District of rich land.
BUINI.
What else?
CONOR.
My love—
And privacy in counsel.
BUINI.
I consent.
CONOR.
Then come with me! One-half my troops are slain!
The Sons of Usna fight more like damned Fiends,
Or run-mad Devils hot from Hell, than men!
Hark! hark! I hear them now! their fiery swords
Clank to the groanings of the dying men,
Cutting their pathway through our falling ranks
Up to eternal glory on my throne!
They must be stopped, or all is lost! Come on!
[Exeunt.
SCENE VIII.
Another part of the field. Enter Naisa, Ainli, and Ardan.NAISA.
See! the Ultonians come to fire the house!
Go, Ardan, put it out. I will go forth
With Ainli to destroy three thousand more!
Come forth, dear brother! charge upon the Fiends!
Enter Daidra.
DAIDRA.
Well, by my troth! this is a prosperous day.
How many have you slain?
NAISA.
Three thousand men!
They lie, scattered around, like murrain sheep,
Whitening the earth with their gashed carcasses!
Like foliage of the woods in Autumn time,
Through which some furious Hurricane has passed,
Leaving the giant Oaks all naked to the blast—
So, through that wilderness of men, we passed—
Each Tree of Life shedding its leaves before—
Cutting our pathway up to Fame's dread Mount,
Where stands immortal Liberty, to crown
Our heads with Glory's everlasting bays.
[Exeunt.
Enter Conor.
CONOR.
Where is my own son, Fiacara the Fair?
FIACARA
(entering).
Here, father; here I am.
CONOR.
Ay, by my troth,
My noble boy! Knowest thou not that thou wert born
On the same night with Illan Fin, the Fair?
FIACARA.
As thou hast said, dear father, it must be.
CONOR.
As he has now his father's arms, take mine—
The Ocean, the Victorious, with the Cast,
And the Blue-Green Blade—that is, my Shield—
And my two Javelins and my Sword with you—
And urge great resolution on the field—
Meeting him front to front! If you do fall,
You will fall nobly fighting for the Crown,
And thy dear father's life. If he should fall,
Glory will crown thy head with living Bays,
And After Ages trumpet thee to Heaven!
FIACARA.
Farewell! I go to meet him, face to face—
64
Except his father. There does stand not on
The ridge of this great world, a soul more brave!
If I do kill him, I will kill the bravest Man
That ever lived. If he kill me—then he
Will kill one who was brave enough to fight
With him! So let this be my Epitaph!
Farewell!
[Exit.
CONOR.
May all the Gods defend thy steps!
[Exit.
Enter Daidra, meeting Illan the Fair.
DAIDRA.
Where is Naisa?
ILLAN.
Safe—triumphant still!
Swift, like an Eagle among Crows, or Jove
Among the Infernal Gods, so charged he on
To Victory—Victory, doubly glorious,
Because so doubly dear!
DAIDRA.
Thank God for that!
But where is Conor?
ILLAN.
Fighting still—for life!
He seems like Lucifer let loose from Hell,
To make a bonfire of the bleeding World!
Enter Naisa.
DAIDRA.
Buini the Ruthless Red, has been false!
NAISA.
Let him be false, then—a father-like son.
But we are true—true to ourselves—to God!
What more could Angels be?
DAIDRA.
No more.
Thou hast been more than Angel unto me.
ILLAN.
By all the Gods in Heaven! we are like Gods!
They fell before us like the Harvest ripe,
Before the Reaper's sickle-edge! Now let
The Devil gather up his cockle-tails,
And shock them down in Hell for Monuments,
To preach forever of their overthrow!
NAISA.
Oh! Illan! this has been a bloody day!
ILLAN.
The Sun seems setting now in blood, God's sign
That even to-morrow will be bloodier still!
NAISA.
Like the great King of Glory, newly stabbed,
Climbing with labor now the bending sky—
Wiping the crimson baptism from his brow,
Then sprinkling it against the Doors of Heaven;
So rose the Sun, this morning, drenched in blood—
Until the clouds, his garments, rent in twain,
Wept crimson drops of rain to see him bleed!
ILLAN.
Let the day come—we are prepared for it.
'Tis not the day makes man, but man the day.
For never, while my heart beats in my breast,
Will I be false to Usna's Sons.
NAISA.
Nor they to thee.
ILLAN.
Then let us make three circuits round the Court,
And slay all that we meet!
NAISA.
We will. Come on!
To reap another harvest for the Crows—
Trusting in God's great power within our arms.
On—on, brave Illan, for another fight!
[Exeunt.
SCENE IX.
A Tract of Land. Enter Caffa the Druid and Buini the Ruthless Red.BUINI.
This is the tract of land that Conor gave
To me.
CAFFA.
For what?
BUINI.
Betraying Usna's Sons.
CAFFA.
But then, what need have you for so much land?
BUINI.
For a possession.
CAFFA.
Yet, what need have you?
BUINI.
What need has Conor for his land?
CAFFA.
No need—
Only to show him where his grave is dug—
As thine is now, in Hell!
65
Why so? what now?
CAFFA.
The wrong that he has done to Usna's Sons,
Shall sink him down as low as to the Fiends!
Where thou shalt sink for joining him in sin!
The land that thou didst purchase from that Fiend,
Shall be transformed into a moor this night!
Nay, by the wafture of this Rod, shall now
Be swallowed up in one great Sea of Wrath—
Beneath whose raging waves thou shalt be drowned—
Finding no grave!
BUINI
(falling on his knees).
For God's sake, do not do it!
Have mercy on my soul!
CAFFA.
What mercy did
You show great Usna's Sons? Such as you showed
To them, I now will show to thee! From this
Day forth, this District shall be known as false
Buini's Moor!
BUINI.
Oh! God! have mercy on me!
CAFFA.
Now, as the Red Sea swallowed Pharaoh's host,
So shalt thou sink, by God's great wrath, to Hell!
Now, sink, Buini! sink through death to Hell!
[Caffa waves his Rod, and the land becomes inundated with water, in which Buini sinks, alternately rising and sinking, until borne out of sight.
So fell the Sons of God, by Sin, from Heaven!
[Exit. Scene changes.
SCENE X.
Another part of the field. Enter Fiacara to Illan the Fair.FIACARA.
Friend Illan! know you not that we were born
On the same day?
ILLAN.
I've heard my father say so.
FIACARA.
Then we are of one age—though not of power.
ILLAN.
Thou mayst well say that, else we were now but one;
And should not fight because of being two.
FIACARA.
Thou hast thy father's sword—I mine. Now, then,
The World shall know who is the better man.
ILLAN.
That can be known only to God in Heaven—
Therefore, unknown to any in this world.
FIACARA.
Make no equivocation—for the time
Has come when we shall see who first leaves time.
ILLAN.
That sight is for the living—not the dead.
The one who stays must see the one go out.
FIACARA.
The time has come when I shall see that sight.
ILLAN.
Not if my eyesight does not fail me soon.
FIACARA.
The Night is coming, when no man shall see.
ILLAN.
Some see better by night than by the day—
There being those who cannot see at all.
FIACARA.
The Shades of Death are passing on thee now!
ILLAN.
To the true soul there are no Shades of Death;
But what you call Death-Shades, is light from Heaven—
The light of God's eternal smiles.
FIACARA.
Your voice
Sounds like the voice of one from Heaven, heard in
The joy of Dreams. But still we have to fight;
For I have pledged my soul never to leave
This field till one of us is slain.
ILLAN.
Well, thou wilt keep thy promise, if we fight.
FIACARA.
There is no if we fight—for we must fight.
ILLAN.
Then, if we must, we must. But have you sworn
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Into her arms?
FIACARA.
To marry Death or Life—
One or the other. So, Chop-logic, you
Must chop me up, or I will chop you down.
ILLAN.
I never hack; I always cut.
FIACARA.
Come on!
ILLAN.
I come—as Death said unto Life—I come!
And, as I come, so fades before my sword
The life of Fiacara!
[They fight. Fiacara falls.
FIACARA.
Gods! he has
Me down!
ILLAN.
Never to rise again!
FIACARA.
Oh! God!
Have mercy on me! help me! help! help! help!
Oh! father! father! here on earth—in Heaven!
Have mercy on your son!
ILLAN.
Now I will let
Thee up, to show thee I can put thee down
Again!
FIACARA
(rising).
But not until you kill me first!
[Exeunt fighting.
Enter Conal Carnach. Alarums without.
CONAL CARNACH.
What sound was that? That was the fatal Shield
Of Ocean—Conor's iron Shield! But hark!
I hear the three great Waves of Erin roar—
The Wave of Clinda with the Wave of Thoth,
And the still darker Wave of Rory roar,
Responsive to the roar of Conor's Shield!
For it is fatal for his shield to roar!
Then was it meet that I should tarry there—
At Dunsobarke—he in danger here?
No, I will go to him! Come forth, my Sword!
[Alarums.
I hear again the repercussive clang
Of the great Gong of Ocean—Conor's Shield—
With voice altitonant loud as the Gods—
Like the unfolding of Heaven's iron Scroll—
Revealing the great Judgment Day of God!
Whose Carybantine waves, far seething wake
Multitudinous echoes in the far
Off fields of space—as if some mighty Star,
Bursting in seething thunders from its sphere,
Had, with its ponderous hammer, tolled upon
The azure Bell of Heaven the death of Time!
[Alarums.
Gods! how it roars! He calls for me! I come!
Now, then, Illan the Fair! prepare to die!
For Conal Carnach comes! I come! I come!
[Exit.
SCENE XI.
Another part of the field. Fiacara and Illan the Fair are discovered fighting. Fiacara falls. Enter Conal Carnach.FIACARA.
Have mercy on my soul!
CONAL CARNACH.
How now? What is
The matter here? King Conor on the ground.
The king upon his back? the ruffian here,
Grasping his throat? then, by the Gods! he dies!
Now let him rise!
[Stabs Illan in the back.
ILLAN.
Who stabbed me in the back?
Oh! God! then I am slain!—had he but met
Me face to face, he had not done me so!
CONAL CARNACH.
Who is it that I see? I know his voice!
ILLAN.
Poor Illan Fin!
CONAL CARNACH.
Illan the Fair?
ILLAN.
The same!
Gods! art thou Conal? See what you have done!
A dreadful deed, when Usna's Sons were here
Under my own protection too!
CONAL CARNACH.
What! is
It so? Then I have done a dreadful deed—
But did it innocently!
ILLAN.
You did; but it
Is done!
CONAL CARNACH.
Then, by the Gods! Conor's own son
Shall pay for it! Now, Vengeance! seize his soul!
[Stabs Fiacara.
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Oh! Conal! may God damn thy soul for this!
[Dies.
Enter Naisi, Ainli, and Ardan, in haste.
NAISA.
What have we here? Oh! God! is Illan dead?
Is Illan slain? speak to me, Illan! speak,
My friend! Who did this deed?
ILLAN.
My friend and yours!
NAISA.
My friend? a friend do this? a friend slay you,
My friend? Tell me who did this deed! Oh! God!
Tell me, before you die, who did this deed!
ILLAN.
Brave Conal Carnach!
NAISA.
What! our friend?
CONAL CARNACH.
Thy friend—
Thy truest friend!
NAISA.
My friend? Dare you say that,
And slay the dearest friend I have on earth?
Then, by my God! your blood shall pay for it!
ILLAN.
No! hold, Naisa! hold! 'twas done in haste!
Not done intentionally—by accident!
But I am growing weak!—my voice is gone!
And I must go, now, too!—Oh! God! look down!
The Shades of Death are gathering round my soul!
Naisa! my dear friend! be resolute!
Be Lions in the bloody path against
The treacherous wolves that howl around us now!
Let the last breath of Illan's parting soul
Inspire you with new courage, till you charge
To victory, over the prostrate forms
Of the perjured Tyrant's Myrmidons—the false
And cowardly Conor! Gods! I have to die!
And may as well die now as any time!
Farewell! I go to prepare a place for you
In the sweet Eman of Macha of God!
Farewell, Daidra! Angel of our souls;
And all the divine Sons of Usna,—now
A long farewell! I'm going a long way—
Never to return!—to Avalon, that happy land—
Where there is neither rain, nor hail, nor snow;
But one eternal spring of sweet delights,
Where joys immortal reign!—Farewell!
[Dies.
NAISA.
Farewell! dear Illan! faithful friend—farewell!
I will be true to thy last trust, or come
On quickly after thee to tell our fate.
Farewell! may you ride up into heaven in
A Chariot of bright Angels—those redeemed
And ever faithful Sons of Erin lost!
Now, by the light that radiates from his face,
I think he sees God's Angels coming down
To bear him up to Heaven! He who was once
Illan the Fair, is now Illan the Blest!
[Exit.—Scene closes.
SCENE XII.
Another part of the field. Enter Caffa, meeting Conor.CONOR.
Gods! Caffa! this is terrible work indeed!
Can you not something do for us?
CAFFA.
Do what?
CONOR.
Work some enchantment on them for my sake,
That we be not destroyed.
CAFFA.
I can, indeed;
But, then, what guarantee have I that you
Will not prove treacherous to them afterwards—
Wreaking eternal vengeance on their heads?
CONOR.
A kinsman's solemn word pledged on my soul.
CAFFA.
Are the Ultonians routed from the field?
CONOR.
They are—all but the slain!
CAFFA.
How many have
Been slain?
CONOR.
More than the sands upon the sea!
Come, Kinsman! we are burning daylight here!
Even now they seek my life! Can you not do
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Exalt you to the highest power on earth!
Besides confer on them eternal joy.
CAFFA.
Swear, then, to me, by all your hopes of Heaven,
That you will never more prove false to them,
But forever remain what you are now—
True to the latest moment of your life—
And I will work enchantment on the Sons.
CONOR.
I swear, by all my hopes of Heaven, I will!
CAFFA.
But, proving false, the pains of Hell are thine!
CONOR.
This is my solemn oath!
CAFFA.
Then mark my word—
If you prove false, as I do now to them,
So will I do to you, but more at large.
CONOR.
Heaven knows I will prove true to them!
CAFFA.
Where now
Your solemn oath is registered! If you
Prove false to them, not only shall Heaven's wrath,
But mine, be poured upon you hot from Hell!
CONOR.
Which, if I do, I hope to Heaven it may!
CAFFA.
Then go with me. By wafture of this Rod,
By which Ezekiel measured the great walls
Of the Holy City, I can command
A viscid sea of whelming waves to roll
Beneath their feet, bearing them out of sight,
As though they were so many Ships of Life
Departing from this world to Heaven!—Come on.
[Exeunt.
SCENE XIII.
A Sea is discovered, against which the Sons of Usna struggle, but are borne along powerless.CONOR.
Are they now powerless?
CAFFA.
They are—bereft
Of strength.
CONOR.
Command their swords to fall from them,
Or the Ultonians—none of us—are safe!
[They pass out.
Subdue the waters; make it now dry land.
This is the Land of Maintenance I gave
To Buini the Ruthless Red.
CAFFA.
It is;
But now the Waters of Destruction to his soul!
Enter Buini floundering in the waves.
CONOR.
Who is that drowning in the waves?
CAFFA.
'Tis he!
Vile Pharaoh in the ruthless Red Sea drowned!
CONOR.
For God's sake, save him! save him for my sake!
CAFFA.
No—he is lost!—forever lost in the deep
Wide gulf of everlasting ruin! This is
The dread reward which Heaven bestows on all
Who deal by treachery! God is more just
Than man!
CONOR.
I see it now! I see it all!
All—all is lost!
CAFFA.
From this day forth, it shall
Be called Buini's Moor!
CONOR.
Was it for this
You roused the waves?
CAFFA.
It was for this alone!
CONOR.
But have the Sons of Usna perished too?
CAFFA.
If they have ever done you wrong, or me!
CONOR.
Then they are powerful as ever still?
CAFFA.
Powerful as ever to resent all wrong.
CONOR.
Then, farewell! I must go to save my life!
[Exit.
69
Thus do I, with the Magic of my power,
Raise up this raging Sea, in which his soul
Can see its evil deeds as in a glass.
The bad man's mirror is the Lake of Hell,
In which his soul is seen begrimed with sin.
The good man's glass is Christ's celestial face,
Wherein is mirrored, as in seas at calm,
The bright stars of the all-embracing Heavens,—
His gentle thoughts baptized in dews of peace.
[Exit.
SCENE XIV.
Another part of the field. Enter Conor, attended by his Soldiers and Manani, the Rough Hand, meeting the Sons of Usna, attended by the Sons of Dura.CONOR.
Charge on them, Soldiers! seize upon the Sons!
Where are the Sons of Dura?
SONS OF DURA.
Here we are.
CONOR.
Seize on the Sons of Usna!
SONS OF DURA.
We will not;
But here defend them with our lives!
CONOR.
Beware!
Be wary of my power! The day will come
When you will curse this present hour!
SONS OF DURA.
Thee too!
CONOR.
Where is Manani, King of Norway's Son?
The mighty Hercules with his iron hands?
MANANI.
Great Sovereign! I am here.
CONOR.
Come close to me.
Who slew thy father? Know you not the man?
MANANI.
I do, great King! Naisa was the man.
CONOR.
Who slew thy brothers, Atha and Traitha too?
MANANI.
Naisa was the man?
CONOR.
Then take revenge
Upon them for that mighty deed—for God
Has spoken, “Blood for blood!”
MANANI.
I will, great King!
Obedient to thy orders, take their lives!
For I do long to kill them as to live.
CONOR.
Then take them—they are thine. Revenge thyself!
ARDAN.
If that be so, then let me be killed first;
For I am the youngest of the three.
AINLI.
Not so.
I cannot live to see my brother slain,
And he the youngest, tenderest of us all.
I will be slain the first.
NAISA.
It shall not be.
I cannot live to see my brother slain
Before my face—the eldest of the three.
So, let me die the first, as I was born
Before.
CONOR.
Then let him die.
NAISA.
Here, take this sword.
Mananan, who was Neptune of the Sea,
And Hercules of the Land—the Son of Lear—
Bequeathed it, on his deathbed, unto me.
It is of heavenly temper, forged, of old,
By adamantine hammers, in the fires
Of Heaven, by Angels' hands; then tempered in
Celestial rivers, for immortal deeds.
When wielded by an honest hand, it leaves
Behind it no remains of stroke, or blow,
But yields the subject, as an Angel dies,
Without or blood or wound, parting the soul
And body asunder, never more to unite!
With this same sword let us be slain at once.
As we have lived in life, so let us die—
United, never more to part.
CONOR.
Yes, take
The sword! They're worthy to be slain by it—
Falling beneath the blade that they have slain
So many noble souls withal; for Kings
Should die by noble instruments—not fall
By Butcher's steel. Therefore, Manani, smite
Their heads off at one blow!
MANANI.
Come forth, great Sword!
This is a gift from all the Gods at once—
70
Revenge for my dear father—brothers—slain!
Thou who dost sit enthroned above the world,
Watching the daily actions of all men,
And dealing out to all their due reward—
To the good man good—the evil his own deeds!
Great Gods! how I do thank you for this gift!
This hour, of all my life, is sweetest to my soul!
Now will I make amends for all the Past.
Foul murderer of my father, brothers—die!
[He strikes them, and they fall.
SONS OF DURA.
Foul murderer of the Sons of Usna—die!
[They kill Manani, and he falls. Conor rushes out.
Ten thousand curses fall on Conor's head! Pile up
The vengeance on his soul as high as Heaven!
For they have slain, this day, before our eyes,
The mightiest sons that ever lived! Brave men—
Kings of a King! more like the King of Heaven,
Than Kings of Men! Now! let us take revenge—
Swift vengeance on them all! Come—on! on! on!
[Exeunt.
Enter Daidra.
DAIDRA.
Oh! God! what do I see? Naisa dead?
The Sons of Usna slain? What has become
Of God, that He would suffer this? Alas!
Then I will die with them! here will I lie,
Until the Angel comes to take me home,
Where they are gone, to live forever more!
Now I remember how Naisa kissed
Darthula, one day sleeping in his Tent,
Which made me jealous—wrought upon me so—
I grew distracted on account of it!
Putting my little skiff upon the wave,
I started back for Erin's Isle alone;
For I was then indifferent of my life.
Now I am sorry that I acted so.
Oh! were she here, would she not weep with me,
Great drops of blood, to see them lying here—
Dead on the ground? I know she would! she would!
Naisa! husband of my youth! how long
Will be this night to me! how long will be
All future days without thy heavenly love!
For one year here is longer, left alone,
Than all eternity with thee in Heaven!
The Sons of Usna dead! they are not dead!
How could they die? how could such goodness die?
Three Lions from Huama's Hill—three Falcons fair
On Culan's Mount—Great Caffa's daughter's sons!
Three Red Branch Heroes—Dragons from the Fort
Of Monad—fosterlings by Otho reared—
Schooled by fair Aify, in the Isle of Skye,
With Conlach, by Cuchullan, her first son,
And Conal Carnach, mighty men of War!
Naisa, who was all the world to me,
Now, being dead, I have no other world!
Having no world, why should I wish to live?
To live without my world, is living death!
Then I can never live—for I must die!
He being dead, the world is now my grave!
As being where he lived was all my life!
Then, when the Sexton comes to dig his grave,
I'll make him dig two graves for us in one!
Then—then, to think it was for me he died!
This makes the loss of him far bitterer still!
Oh! God! should I not hold him doubly dear?
I should! I will! I will forever more!—
No, I will not lie here—I will arise
And go, from place to place, until I find
Some one who will revenge his death for me!
Cuchullan comes!
Enter Cuchullan.
Oh! my dear friend! look at
Naisa lying here dead on the ground!
CUCHULLAN.
Naisa dead? Murdered? Who did this deed?
DAIDRA.
Manani! Conor's bloody dog—set on
By Conor!
CUCHULLAN.
Gods! can it be possible?
Naisa dead? Where is Manani now?
DAIDRA.
In Hell! sent there by Dura's noble Sons.
CUCHULLAN.
May God in Heaven reward them for the deed!
For they have saved me from the Devil's death!
But where is Conor?
DAIDRA.
God Almighty knows.
Fled—gone to Eman, where he celebrates
Their death, before his Nobles, with such pomp,
Quaffing his wine, as makes the Devils laugh
In Hell—shaking the rafters with their shouts—
71
Excess, exulting in their overthrow—
Rejoicing that Naisa is in Heaven!
Oh! God! Cuchullan! what are we to do
To take revenge upon them for this deed?
This hellish, devilish, damned, matchless deed!
CUCHULLAN.
Revenge! revenge upon them all! for there
Was not, upon the face of this wide world,
Three mightier men of war than these same Sons!
All my dear friends—now lying here in death!
Naisa was the dearest friend I had—
Dear as the blood that circles through my heart—
Now aching for his loss. Now he is gone—
Never to walk upon this world again!
DAIDRA.
They were to death ingloriously betrayed
By the foul lying lips of Conor—he
Who broke his guarantee to damn his soul!
CUCHULLAN.
Damned be his soul! for he is doubly damned—
Damned here on earth—forever more in Hell!
Here lies our utmost hope in hopeless death!
The Prince of Princes, King of all our Kings—
Gone, like the golden Sun, setting in clouds,
Behind the Mountains of Eternity—
To rise no more!—no more to shine on earth!
Thus, Glory, Honor, Riches, sink to Death,
Like bubbles on the sea, not knowing there
Were ever bubbles there; or, as the rain
Melts on the waves, not knowing there was rain!
He who was, yesterday, so rich in life—
So opulent in Heaven's rare gifts, that even
The Angels might have envied him his wealth—
Is now—(Death having robbed him of his all)—
Too poor to call himself himself! his soul,
That was himself, having left his body here
Bereft of everything but hopeless Death!
DAIDRA.
You were their cousin—will you not avenge
Their death?
CUCHULLAN.
By Heaven! I will do all that man
Can do—to take revenge upon them all!
DAIDRA.
Then do so now—it will not do to wait!
Rouse all the troops to vengeance! while he sleeps,
Drunk with the opiate of last night's debauch,—
Weary with long carousing in his Halls—
That should be now the Palace of the dead—
Sack the black Mansion that contains his soul,
Blacker than Erebus—setting the Vulture free—
Gorged with the flesh of Kings, out of this world—
To make his eyrie with the fowls of Hell!
CUCHULLAN.
I will! by Heaven! I will go now! But where
Is Fergus?
DAIDRA.
Fergus! traitor that he is—
With Barach, feasting, while the Sons, he swore,
Before Almighty God, to see returned
Safely to Eman, are now lying here,
Baptized in their own blood—dead on the ground!
Call not his cursed name to me again,
For he is falser far than Conor is!
CUCHULLAN.
Then I will go to Mevia; she will help.
Meantime have them interred by righteous hands,
Under the Willows on Ardsellach's Heights—
Nature's green Band of weeping Niobes—
Whose sorrows shall return with every Spring—
Perennial as the eternal years of God—
Where all the world can see their Monument!
DAIDRA.
I will. Caffa, the Druid, shall be there
To preach their funeral sermon—there to wake
New fires of vengeance in his hearers' hearts!
CUCHULLAN.
Stay till he comes. Tell him to lay them out—
Mantling their bodies in his robes of snow,
To Emblem their pure souls, white now as Birds
Of Paradise, singing on Eden-trees
Among the enraptured Hosts of Heaven! Farewell!
[Exit Cuchullan.
DAIDRA.
Here lies my Cedar, broken by the Storm—
Taller than any on Ardsellach's Heights;
While over him his faithful Willow weeps
Eternal tears of sorrow for his fall!
The dearest joy she ever had on earth!
More dear than all the living world could be,
Had they ten thousand brighter worlds than this!
Farewell! oh! God! how bitter is that word!
Too bitter! yet it must be said! Farewell!
72
While living, makes me wish him so now dead!
Now do I know that he is gone to Heaven,
For now do spring up all around his form,
Celestial flowers, immortal in their bloom.
Why should I tarry here, now he is there?
I will not stay! I cannot stay away from Heaven!
Enter Fergus.
FERGUS.
Come, do not weep! but go with me. All shall
Be well. This Cedar, you see lying here,
Broken by an untimely storm—shall sprout
Again, next Spring, out of his grave in earth,
Into the tallest Tree of all the woods.
[Exit.
Enter Caffa.
CAFFA.
What is the matter here?
DAIDRA.
Death! death! death!
CAFFA.
What! are the Sons of Usna dead?
DAIDRA.
Dead! dead!
CAFFA.
Who did this dreadful deed?
DAIDRA.
Manani did—
By Conor's dread command!
CAFFA.
Oh! damnéd fiend!
Against his solemn guarantee?
DAIDRA.
Oh! God!
Talk not of guarantees!
CAFFA.
His solemn oath—
Pronounced in presence of the eternal God!
DAIDRA.
What does he care for God! He has no God!
CAFFA.
Vile, perjured villain! may his soul be damned
In Hell forever more!
DAIDRA.
As now on earth,
So will he be in Hell forever more!
CAFFA.
When were they slain?
DAIDRA.
Just now—are not yet cold!
CAFFA.
But how? By what? Did they not use the Sword
I gave to them, owned by the Son of Lear,
Which had no power to wound such noble souls?
DAIDRA.
I know not that. I was not here to see.
I only know that they are dead forever more!
CAFFA.
That sword was tempered in celestial fires,
Forged out by adamantine hammers, in
The hands of Angels, for immortal deeds!
Naisa pledged me they would use that sword—
For Conor had divulged to me his wish
That they should die by it. Had they done so,
They would be living now—for, in its edge,
There was no power to harm great Usna's Sons—
Having been tempered in the fires of Heaven,
Which are the Fountains of celestial love.
DAIDRA.
Oh! God! you say not so?
CAFFA.
I do indeed.
Here is the sword—grasped in Manani's hand—
He cold in death!
DAIDRA.
By Sons of Dura slain!
CAFFA
(taking up the sword).
Now will I work enchantment on the dead,
And, if my power be equal to my love,
They will return to life again.
DAIDRA.
Then do—
For God's sake, do! Restore them back to life,
And I will praise you while my life has breath!
CAFFA
(working enchantment—celestial music heard).
Naisa! rise! awake! come forth!
DAIDRA.
He stirs!
He lives! my husband lives! he breathes! he wakes
Oh! God! thank God! thank God! he lives! he lives!
73
[They rise.
Here, let me kiss him—love him ever more!
Give me thy hands, dear Ainli, Ardan too!
What will Darthula say to this?
NAISA.
We live!
Now, then, for action! how we may succeed
In razing Eman to the ground!
CAFFA.
It stands!
So let it stand, the theatre of the day
When Usna shall be crowned as Erin's King.
But if you will pull down—pull Conor down!
A rotten temple, threatening now to fall—
Crushing us in his fall! So pull him down—
And bury his foul timbers in the Sea!
Let not one stone upon another stand—
But grinding up his bones to powdered dust,
Scatter them on the four great winds of Heaven,
Till they be all dispersed throughout the world—
Finding no resting-place on land or sea!
NAISA.
But how shall this be done?
CAFFA.
Be done? By that
Same matchless power, which now belongs alone
To Usna's Sons!
NAISA.
We will exert that power!
Now, then, to conquer Conor, or to die—
Then wear the crown he has usurped from us!
Look down from Heaven, ye everliving Gods!
Who watch above the souls of righteous men!
Breathe into mine that supernatural power
Which once did animate the men of old,
And fit me to achieve my greatest work!
CAFFA.
This is my Malediction—that from this
Day forth, never, through all succeeding time,
Into the bosom of Eternity—
Shall Conor prosper in the sight of men,
Nor Eman flourish, till great Usna's Sons
Sit on the throne!
DAIDRA.
God grant that day, I pray!
[Exeunt.
Curtain Falls.
End of Act Fourth.
| The sons of Usna | |