Deirdre The Feis Ceoil Prize cantata: Dublin 1897: The words by T. W. Rolleston: With an illustration by Althea Gyles, and initial letters, headpieces, and tailpieces by N. Baxter, Helen Hay, and John Duncan |
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| I. |
| II. | Part II. |
| III. |
 | Deirdre |  |
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II. Part II.
Scene: by Loch Etive in Scotland.DEIRDRE.
O Naisi, to our island home,
So far away,
Doth yet thy restless spirit roam,
Thy memory stray?
Gladly I fled across the foam
And evermore
Gladly would dwell by this fair shore.
NAISI.
Fair, fair wild Alba's hills I deem,
And fair this silver lake.
The red deer drinks the mountain stream,
The boar is in the brake.
But 'tis a fairer, nobler sight
In Erin by the sea,
The Red Branch banners waving wide
O'er Uladh's chivalry.
DEIRDRE.
Love, when on summer nights we hear
The pinewoods sigh,
Or floating on the evening air
The wood-dove's cry,
Then, then I know how vain it were
In words to tell
The peace and joy that in me dwell.
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Deirdre, whate'er the gods intend,
Unparted may we be;
One gift alone I pray them send,
One fate for thee and me.
Where'er thou art is Naisi's home,
Or in this lonely glen,
Or should our footsteps roam
To seek the world of men.
A Voice
(distant):
A Naisi!
NAISI.
Hark, Deirdre, from yon western height
Who called my name? heard I aright?
DEIRDRE.
Nay, Love, 'twas but some wild bird cried,
Or wandering shepherd who would guide
His flock along the mountain side.
The Voice
(nearer):
A Naisi!
NAISI.
Again that cry—the same, the same!
A man of Erin calls my name
And all my pulses leap to hear.
DEIRDRE.
'Tis but our herdsman come to tell
How in some green and shadowy dell
He found at noon the crouching deer.
The Voice
(close at hand):
A Naisi!
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O noble heart, O comrade true!
My heart runs o'er with joy—
The staunchest friend man ever knew—
'Tis Fergus, son of Roy!
FERGUS.
Hail, friend and comrade! Deirdre hail!
Ambassador from Uladh's King
For Alba's shore I set my sail
A message of goodwill to bring:
Peace, peace to Deirdre and to thee,
Peace and forgiveness, full and free.
Ambassador from Uladh's King
For Alba's shore I set my sail
A message of goodwill to bring:
Peace, peace to Deirdre and to thee,
Peace and forgiveness, full and free.
Conor the bride he ne'er possessed
Abandons to her chosen Lord.
Naisi, we miss thee at the feast,
And Uladh calls for Naisi's sword,
Where, on her frontiers, men have seen
The watch fires of the Connacht Queen.
Abandons to her chosen Lord.
Naisi, we miss thee at the feast,
And Uladh calls for Naisi's sword,
Where, on her frontiers, men have seen
The watch fires of the Connacht Queen.
Naisi, restore thy banished race,
Come with thy brethren—come, to save,
The flash of Usna's sword shall chase
Like startled birds the host of Maev.
Then, peace and love, an honoured name,
And Uladh ringing with thy fame!
Come with thy brethren—come, to save,
The flash of Usna's sword shall chase
Like startled birds the host of Maev.
Then, peace and love, an honoured name,
And Uladh ringing with thy fame!
DEIRDRE.
Naisi, Naisi, false the message!
Heed it not—a fatal presage
Daunts me, and a nameless fear.
NAISI.
Not for all the realm of Conor
On a mission of dishonour
Would the son of Roy be here.
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Whom hath Conor ever pardoned?
Young his heart, but not so hardened
Is the steel that he doth wear.
When he seeks in twain to rend us
Who shall rescue, who befriend us?
Can a single arm defend us?
Spurn, oh spurn the fatal snare!
FERGUS.
Deirdre, in mine arm, though single,
Shall the might of myriads mingle
When it strikes for broken faith.
Conor knows, to their foundation
Can it shake his throne and nation,
Blast his fields with desolation,
Fill his halls with blood and death.
NAISI.
Deirdre, dreams shall not appal us.
Hence, oh hence! whate'er befall us,
Not in vain shall Uladh call us—
Be it as King Conor saith.
DEIRDRE
(alone).
Farewell, O serene glen,
Our bright home endearing.
The high sun loved the green glen
That we shall see no more.
Our bright home endearing.
The high sun loved the green glen
That we shall see no more.
The sun, in his wheeling,
At morn reappearing,
Shall mock the empty sheiling
Beside the lonely shore.
At morn reappearing,
Shall mock the empty sheiling
Beside the lonely shore.
Where Love calls, I follow,
'Twixt hoping and fearing,
But oh, my hope is hollow,
And oh, my heart is sore.
'Twixt hoping and fearing,
But oh, my hope is hollow,
And oh, my heart is sore.
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The bright days are over,
The dark days are nearing,
And Deirdre and her lover
Depart for evermore.
The dark days are nearing,
And Deirdre and her lover
Depart for evermore.
| Deirdre | |