University of Virginia Library

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!

CONOR
(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!
Who slew thy father—thy three brothers too!
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.