DEIRDRE—Tell me, will the hunter from the hills come to us? I think I could forget all for him.
LAVARCAM—He is not one of the Sidhe, but the proudest and bravest of the Red Branch, Naisi, son of Usna. Three lights of valor among the Ultonians are Naisi and his brothers.
DEIRDRE—Will he love me, fostermother, as you love me, and will he live with us here?
LAVARCAM—Nay, where he goes you must go, and he must fly afar to live with you. But I will leave you now for a little, child, I would divine the future.
[LAVARCAM kisses DEIRDRE and goes within the dun. DEIRDRE walks to and fro before the door. NAISI enters. He sees DEIRDRE, who turns and looks at him, pressing her hands to her breast. Naisi bows before DEIRDRE.]
NAISI—Goddess, or enchantress, thy face shone on me at dawn on the mountain. Thy lips called me hither, and I have come.
DEIRDRE—I called thee, dear Naisi.
NAISI—Oh, knowing my name, never before having spoken to me, thou must know my heart also.
DEIRDRE—Nay, I know not. Tell me what is in thy heart.
NAISI—O enchantress, thou art there. The image of thine eyes is there and thy smiling lips, and the beating of my heart is muffled in a cloud of thy golden tresses.