🧚 Opening, part 4

Again she mused:--‘Yes, Love must war!1 Who fears?2 Though Love must fight, he fights in love, not hate!3 Some glorious conflict rages through the years; Great Love must take therein his part, elate.4 And woe comes last.5 On raven pinions borne Night comes not less:--but after night comes morn!’6

From that time Naisi’s name she named no more; Nothing she seemed to lack; nothing to crave: Her heart through spiritual realms was strong to soar, Self-lifted as from windless seas the wave; A spirit of strength from earthly bonds escaped She trod; her body’s self but spirit draped;7

A Spirit of strength and swiftness onward borne Through luminous realms, all resonant and free, Happier because unwinged, like endless morn With silver feet circling the spherèd sea: And still her lonely thought with song was blent; And bird-like still she warbled as she went.8

For music then, like warfare, not from art Grew up laborious:--born of frank good-will, ’Twas Joy’s loud clarion in the generous heart; Through pains more perfect grew the harper’s skill; Yet still from purest soul, and noblest breast The minstrelsy perforce became the best.9

Deirdré besides, on Naisi’s music musing-- That strain far-famed she once had heard in dream-- Through some strange craft of Nature’s sweet infusing Unconscious copied it.10 A lily’s gleam Shines thus, reflected in the lake below, More softly, green for green, and snow for snow.11

Once too she marked two mated eagles flying Far from their cliff, her little lake above, Sunward in strength, and clapped her hands loud crying, ‘On, wedded Spirits, on! for this is Love!12 No woodland murmurs yours, and thraldom none!13 Sail on till buried in the ascending sun!’14

That vision shaped her life.15 Through wild and wood Long hours that morn had Naisi chased the stag: It took the wave and vanished.16 Silent stood At noon the hunter on a jutting crag: His eye upon a tower-crowned island fell; Thereon it fastened, bound as by a spell.17

‘There lies,’ he mused, ‘that wondrous-countenanced child, Like some poor bird a captive from its birth, In that lone island year by year exiled: How little she suspects her grace and worth!18 Our household foe ere long will clutch that hand-- Is yon a causeway leading to the land?’19

An hour had fled, and lo! that bridge he paced; Ere long, no child, but, sparkling like a flower, The imprisoned maid, nor startled nor shame-faced, Passed by the youth, advancing from her bower With breeze-like step, yet down-dropp’d lids of snow: ‘Ah foot,’ he cried, ‘more light than foot of doe!’20

An instant back she flashed her magic eyes And from her laughing lip the answer leaped, ‘Where stags are none, the doe must monarchise!’21 Some ballad old it was, but never steeped Till then with such strange sweetness to his ear: Was it reproof or challenge, vague yet dear?22

Naisi rejoined; ‘A monarch rules this land; For you he destines Erin’s proudest throne!23 Ah, but for that how many a warrior’s brand’-- ‘His realm,’ she said, ‘is his: my heart mine own: A maiden I have lived: maiden would die:’ The warrior fixed on hers his strong grey eye.24

That eye, though young and sweet with such clear light, Had marshalled many a death-strewn battle-field; Had watched the meeting tides of many a fight; Taught many a proud, inviolate fort to yield.25 With gaze as frank and clear thus answered she, ‘I know you well! the eldest of those Three!26

‘Where are your brothers?27 She whom nurse I call Has told me all the Three are kind and brave: Fain would I sister be to each and all: Fain too my life from love tyrannic save!’28 ‘Their sister you shall be,’ the youth replied; ‘Mine if you will; but none the less my bride!’29

He spake; then, for the maiden’s safety fearing, With passion changed continued; ‘Spurn my suit!30 The king will slay thee!’31 She, the warrior nearing, Held forth both hands, and gazed upon him mute; And last, in love’s high truth--and truth is best-- Made answer; ‘Thine!’32 He snatched her to his breast.33

Thence lifting soon a countenance glad yet tearful, She spake; ‘Your knighthood stands consummate now!34 Since a true maid, of Conor’s wrath not fearful, Has heard, and with her own has crowned your vow.35 Forth, on your task decreed!36 Fly hence, and prove Ten years in battle-fields what might hath Love!37

‘In ten years bring me back your trophied spoils From every land and clime; for mine they are!38 I that inspired, can well requite your toils: Ever till then, my spirit like a star, Shall o’er you hang!39 Farewell! yet, ere you go, Sing! for how great your songs long since I know.’40

So, hand in hand, upon that causeway standing, Those youthful lovers measure after measure Poured forth, their bosoms more and more expanding At once with music’s zeal, and love’s pure pleasure; For Deirdré still her voice with Naisi’s twined, All-perfect harmony though undesigned.41

And though till then no war-song she had sung That hour her song grew warlike as his own!42 And, o’er her heaven-like beauty as he hung, His war-songs tender grew, and sweet of tone: And still they sang, till now through woods loud ringing The men of Erin, east and west, came winging,43

And found those lovers in that lonely haunt, That sunset round them glowing and above; And saw the forests flash, the blue waves pant; And heard that mingled praise of war and love:-- Then ceased that pair, and softly smiled, and said, ‘What makes us glad is this; we two are wed!’44

But when, to many a questioner replying, They found that they had only met that noon, The lovers laughed a sweet-voiced laughter, crying, ‘We thought we had been wedded many a moon!45 Great love, it seems, lives long in little time; Yet shall great love be ever in his prime!46

‘Perchance of us some future bard shall say, Their bright, swift life went o’er them like a breath Of stormy southwind in the merry May; And brief their unfeared, undivided death: For unto those who love, and love aright, Life is Love’s day; and Death his long, sweet night.’47

But straight the men of Erin cried aloud, ‘The king, the king!’ and Naisi’s brothers twain, Ainli and Ardan, though to help him vowed At need, not less to break that troth were fain: ‘Beware,’ they cried; ‘since Cathbad long ago Foretold that Babe was born for Uladh’s woe!’48

Yet, when within those lovers’ eyes they saw Wild mirth alone, and blank astonishment, They deemed the thing divine; and, though with awe, Their spirits on the high adventure bent, And council took, and with one mind decreed That self-same night o’er Uladh’s bound to speed.49

This therefore was the order of their going: A hundred warriors marching in the van; A hundred maidens next with veils loose flowing; A hundred clansmen next of Usnach’s clan, And each a greyhound leading in a cord; Swiftly with these they trod the moonlit sward.50

So well were Usnach’s sons both loved and feared King Conor could but rail against the wrong: All round the isle they marched with banner reared, And trumpet blown, and many a tale and song, Welcomed in court and camp both near and far, From Esro’s[12] Falls to sea-beat Binedar.51 [13]52

Nathless through Conor’s craft such toils were woven ’Twixt them and Erin’s Kings, to spare that wrong Felt at low hearths when royal pacts are cloven, They built by northern Moyle a fleet ere long, And spread their sails from Kermnah Dûn, and o’er The grey-green billows sailed to Alba’s shore.53