🧚 Opening, part 6 · page 2

Not all partook it.49 Silent and apart In a huge window caverned from the wall By some high builder’s long-forgotten art, Sat Deirdré, and the Brothers three.50 No thrall To royal craft the warriors now.51 What meant The king, they knew, and waited the event.52

Scorning to make complaint, they scorned not less To share a traitor’s feast, and ate of nought, Waving each dish away in haughtiness, Save little loaves that with them they had brought.53 Their chess-board next they ranged with pawn and queen; And Deirdré laughed or frowned the moves between.54

Meantime with Levarcam King Conor spake; ‘Forth, since I spared thy life when Deirdré fled, And tidings bring me whether, for love’s sake, Yet lives her beauty on that False One’s head: The girl hath known rough skies and scanty board:’ Then Levarcam went forth, with wiles well stored.55

Drawing a thousand thoughts into one noose Of woman-craft she sped, in silks arrayed; And came with speed, such speed as age may use, To where at chess the sentenced princes played In that high window; next one finger raised High as her brow; then round her peering gazed.56

Naisi she loved from childhood; loved scarce less His brothers; felt for Deirdré love and spleen:-- ‘Through grace of yours, all-bashful Forwardness, Save for my craft this trunk had headless been!57 I wiled the sword from Conor’s hand!58 Well, well!59 My Wanton’s face retains its childish spell!60

‘I come to you at peril of my life-- Hush, hush! place hand on lip!61 They must not hear!62 With rumours dark Emania’s streets are rife: The king has vowed your death:--draws any near?63 Then when the Babe was born, the seer foretold-- What?64 Must men die because a maid was bold?’65

In tears awhile the faded fine one stood; And next, mechanic-wise oracular, Kept nodding of her head.66 Then changed her mood To fires of youth.67 ‘Close gate, and casement bar!68 Fight well, ye sons of Fergus!69 If your sire Makes speed, he’ll trample down this flame in mire!’70

Last, like that bird which fan-like spreads her plumes For pride, to Conor’s palace she returned, And found him seated in presageful glooms; And cried as though some reptile shape she spurned, ‘Woe, woe; for Deirdré’s brightness is gone by;-- Brown moth is she that once was butterfly!’71

King Conor heard, ill-pleased, and yet well-pleased, And stood, before him dangling still this thought At least then Naisi of his love is eased; And that proud minx has lost my realm for nought: Perhaps ’twere best to let old rancours pass: Kingdoms live on; but beauty fades like grass.72

Thus mused the king: but while he sat at meat And, later, when the wine had fired his blood, The thought of Deirdré’s face, tender and sweet, Too bright to fade, star-like before him stood: And loud he cried: ‘Sits any brave man here Who dreads not death, and holds King Conor dear?73

‘Forth to the Red-Branch Mansion let him speed, And there with Deirdré secret converse hold, And learn if yet upon her lives indeed The glory of that beauty hers of old.’74 Then Trendorn went, a sordid churl, ill-starred, And found that mansion’s gateways closed and barred:75

Yet clomb he darkling, to that casement high; And Deirdré turned her face:--in awe and fear Of that great splendour o’er it shed, the spy Slid from his place, and, racing like a deer, To Conor cried; ‘As shines in heaven the sun, So she on earth: and like her there is none!’76

That instant Conor saw the maid again!77 That instant rage of love his heart possessed Venomed by past repulse, and jealous pain: And thus he cried, hoarse-voiced with stifling breast, ‘Storm ye the Red-Branch House!78 Die, he that will!79 Mine was that maid: and mine I deem her still.’80

In silence sat the chiefs, mindful at once Of duty sworn to Uladh’s king, their Lord, And of his counter-pledge to Usnach’s sons; But all the Bonachts ranged adown the board Rushed forth to boast their zeal, and clutch their prey, Aliens base-born that fought not save for pay.81

To these were joined the vile ones of the street; For in their breasts Conor this seed had sown, Imposture sordid, and obscene conceit, ‘Traitors, in Alba late to princes grown, Would make their Pictish tyrant Uladh’s king!’82 They girt the Red-Branch House, thus clamouring.83

Long time in silence stood, and sore amazed, Those brave but simple knights o’er Erin feared: For Usnach’s sons as kings they prized and praised; But like a God King Conor they revered: At last they spake, and after that changed not, ‘We in this war will bear nor part, nor lot.’84

And when the stony storm blackened the heaven, And gate rolled in, and casement burst and brake, And all that House was as a ship rock-riven, In midnight storm, they sat, and never spake; For two contrarient thoughts their minds had cleft-- Astonied men of manhood’s might bereft.85

Naisi, meantime, and Deirdré, fixed, attent, Their eyes in stillness on the ivory board, And silent o’er their game the brothers bent; But Fergus’ sons stood up with hand on sword, Forth from the casement gazing; and the red Burned on their brows: then Deirdré, careless, said,86

‘Long time, methinks, at feast doth Fergus tarry-- Good speed for that crowned hawk which hangs on high With beak turned downward t’ward his skiey quarry!’87 Buini broke in; ‘My sire is false; not I!’88 And gat him down; and shouted Fergus’ name: And straight a host around him flocking came.89

But Conor sent for Buini, and at door Whispered him low; ‘I yield thee Fo-äd-Fell!’90 Yet Buini spurned the bribe, and said; ‘What more?’91 And Conor thus; ‘Henceforth mine oracle At council board be thou, and only thou!’92 Then Buini pledged with Conor hand and vow.93

Thenceforth around the Red-Branch Mansion higher The madness of the people surged, and roar As though of tempest when great woods catch fire, Or winter waves raking some northern shore; And on the portals seven they dashed; and lo!94 Their mighty hinges groaned ’neath blow on blow.95

Meantime the Red-Branch Knights, like men in sleep Trod the vast courts; or like some shepherd boor Who feels his way on cliffs that crest the deep When mist invests the mountain and the moor; Or stood and gazed from far on Deirdré’s brow-- Strong knights of old; men ineffectual now.96

Then Deirdré, as the battle raged below, Spake lightly thus, while on she pushed a pawn, ‘Buini has gone like Fergus--let him go!’97 But Illan, grieved at heart, with sword half drawn, Replied, ‘While lives this sword, whoe’er may fly, Faithful and true to Usnach’s Sons am I!’98

And gat him down, and drew a host, and drave Southward that seething mass a mile and more, As when the wind before it drives the wave; And shouted, ‘traitors’ still; and slew six score.99 Then--sped from heaven--above the heads of all Ran Fear; and reached King Conor’s council-hall.100

There, girt by chiefs sat Conor on his throne With cloudy brows, and pale lips ridged in scorn, Who thus addressed Fiacre, his first-born son; ‘Son, thou and he the self-same hour were born, Illan--the man that from this head even now Sweeps Uladh’s crown!101 Go forth and meet him, thou!102