🧚 Opening, part 5 · page 2

Ere noon he landed on the Alban coast: Wild from the woods a stag there issued bounding; The prince his mission grave forgat, and tossed Through the green-caverned forest loud-resounding, As he was ever wont, his hunting cry; And lo! the tents where Naisi dwelt were nigh.53

Deirdré and he were playing chess together:[15] Their bent heads well nigh met above the board; While sunny gleams of that unclouded weather Glancing through boughs the chequered ivory scored.54 Her brow was bright with thought; her hand, raised high, Above its destined prize hung hoveringly.55

The cry of Fergus reached them.56 Naisi spake; ‘Erin!57 A son of Erin breathed that shout!’58 Deirdré replied; ‘Not so!59 On Etive’s lake Some fisher boasts a spoil, or chieftain’s scout Welcomes his fellows far away.60 Play on!’61 She laughed; but from her cheek the rose was gone.62

Once more abroad the cry of Fergus pealed; And Naisi cried: ‘Our Erin nursed that voice!’63 Then Deirdré: ‘Nay, but from some rock-girt field Loud-voiced the shepherd bids his mates rejoice: Some boar is slain, or wolf that vexed the land; Play on!’64 And on her heart she pressed her hand.65

But when a third time rang that shout, now nearer, The three brave brothers recognised the sound, And, listening, larger grew their eyes, and clearer, And from their seats they leaped, and gazed around, And smote their palms, and clamoured, ‘O the joy!66 Fergus is come!67 Our Fergus!68 Fergus Roy!’69

Then Naisi sent the twain abroad to meet him; But Deirdré said, ‘I knew that earliest cry!70 Woe to the man, and them this hour who greet him!71 This day the bolt is launched from yonder sky: This day the Destiny foretold beginneth: Woe to the Three!72 Worst woe to him who sinneth!73

‘All night I saw three birds from Erin’s peaks To Alba strain through tempest and eclipse: Three honey-drops they wafted on their beaks:-- O Love! they dropped that sweetness on thy lips; Ere long each death-black beak, and crownèd head With life-blood from thy heart, O Love, was red!’74

She rose: on visions dread she seemed to stare!75 She stood: she pressed her hands upon her eyes: From the wan brows the horror-stricken hair Bickering like meteors rose, or seemed to rise; She towered aloft a prophetess; till, near, The step well known of Fergus smote their ear.76

She whispered low: ‘Trample the honeyed lure!77 Make not with Conor!78 He would have thy blood!’79 A moment more, and, entering from the moor, Fergus, that royal presence, by them stood: The cloud fell from her!80 Basking like blue sky She met her husband’s guest full lovingly.81

There stood they, Fergus loftiest by the head, His sons beside him, stalwart men, and tall, Illan the Fair, Buini the Ruthless Red: Reverent and sweet she kissed them, each and all, She and the Brothers: next they made demand Of news the latest from their native land.82

Swift came the answer; ‘Friends, the news is this; The king repents him of the ignoble deed That cost his realm her bravest; zealous is To quench that deed, and cancel; hath decreed That you and yours, henceforth and evermore Shall live secure on Erin’s sacred shore:83

‘Likewise of this, a kingdom’s oath and pledge, I stand myself, surety and guarantee: Conor in turn, to dull past injury’s edge Demands, implores a single vow from thee, That till beside his board thou breakest bread No meaner house than his shall roof thy head.’84

Then Naisi and the brethren rose in joy; But Deirdré came before them speaking thus, ‘King--for, except the race and stock of Roy, O’er Uladh kings may reign, but not o’er us-- The eagle lives not save in large domain: My husband won this land, and here must reign!85

‘King Conor caught and caged me, yet a child; King Conor into exile drave these Three; The growing greatness of that race exiled This day he fears; and calls them back: but we Desire a healthier breeze than makes resort Within the perfumed precinct of a court.’86

‘Lady, you doubt the safety of your Lord!-- “Must reign!”87 I reign no more; not less my name Would move in might before him like a sword Though all the hosts of Erin ’gainst him came!’88 A red spot stood on Fergus’ crownless brow; The Three looked up; and spake: ‘We go, and now!’89

Then Deirdré inly said; ‘We go to die:’ Death-pale she stood, yet spake no further word; Their promise pledged, albeit unwittingly, The worst that might befall them she preferred To treason’s semblance and a vow forsworn: She spread the feast; westward they sailed ere morn.90

And ever as the wine-dark seas they clave The sons of Usnach stood upon the prow And spread their arms to Erin o’er the wave; And each to each exclaimed; ‘To guide the plough Or break the clod, still breathing Erin’s air, Were better than to rule and reign elsewhere!’91

But Deirdré stood upon the vessel’s stern, Alone, with eyes on Alba’s headlands bent, Dreaming the hills she could no more discern, And as they faded thus she made lament, ‘O Land, our home no more, to me and mine Gentle thou wert; therefore my heart is thine!92

‘O beauteous Land, oft on thy heathery bed, Wearied with chase, upon my sleepless heart My Naisi laid at noon his sleeping head; And therefore thine I am; and dear thou art.93 I came to thee with Naisi hand in hand, But now no more I see thee, beauteous Land!94

‘O Coona! mid thy maiden buds the thrush Sang well in spring!95 In thee the autumnal berry Sent forth its flash from reddening brake and bush Like scoff from hard old lip of beldam merry!96 We laughed to mark it, while far off we heard Ainli with Ardan sing as bird with bird.97

‘Glenorchy, O Glenorchy! sweet in thee To hear the cuckoo’s note, that glad new-comer; And sweet o’er Masan’s sands to watch the sea Sleep on unwakened half the long, blue summer!98 Thou gav’st us, O thou Erin of the East!99 The song, the chase, the battle, and the feast!100

‘Loch Etive, O Loch Etive! near thy shore, Lulled by thy waters pure, and airs heart-healing, Latest we lived, who live there now no more; Earliest in thee we raised our little shieling:-- Good things the sons of Usnach gat from thee, And I, the ill-omened sister of the Three!’101

Thus in her song honouring the land she loved Sad Deirdré stood while back the waters hoar Streamed from the ship; and singing never moved: From her chilled lip the wind its music bore, Till plainly Erin’s cliffs at last shone forth, And Barach’s castle facing to the North.102

Then Barach, as that fated bark drew near, With courteous seeming but a purpose fell Sailed forth to meet it, making goodly cheer With bannered boat and tossing coracle So densely clustered that the billow green Betwixt them scarcely showed its sparkling sheen.103

Ere long the exiles leaped on Erin’s strand: The courtier followed fast: with loud-voiced glee He bade them welcome to their native land, And kissed the hands of each full reverently, Deirdré’s the last; and said; ‘Your home is here!104 Abide a week, and after that a year!’105