University of Virginia Library

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.
FIACARA.
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.