DEIRDRE—(in a low broken voice). Naisi! (NAISI returns to her side. AINLE and ARDAN go out. DEIRDRE rests one hand on NAISI's shoulders and with the other points upwards.) Do you not see them? The bright birds which sang at our flight! Look, how they wheel about us as they sing! What a heart-rending music! And their plumage, Naisi! It is all dabbled with crimson; and they shake a ruddy dew from their wings upon us! Your brow is stained with the drops. Let me clear away the stains. They pour over your face and hands. Oh! [She hides her face on NAISI's breast.]
NAISI—Poor, frightened one, there are no birds! See, how clear are my hands! Look again on my face.
DEIRDRE—(looking up for an instant). Oh! blind, staring eyes.
NAISI—Nay, they are filled with love, light of my heart. What has troubled your mind? Am I not beside you, and a thousand clansmen around our dun?
DEIRDRE—They go, and the music dies out. What was it Lavarcam said? Their singing brings love and death.
NAISI—What matters death, for love will find us among the Ever Living Ones. We are immortals and it does not become us to grieve.
DEIRDRE—Naisi, there is some treachery in the coming of Fergus.
NAISI—I say to you, Deirdre, that treachery is not to be spoken of with Fergus. He was my fosterer, who taught me all a chieftain should feel, and I shall not now accuse him on the foolish fancy of a woman. (He turns from DEIRDRE, and as he nears the door FERGUS enters with hands laid affectionately on a shoulder of each of the brothers; BUINNE and ILANN follow.) Welcome, Fergus! Glad is my heart at your coming, whether you bring good tidings or ill!
FERGUS—I would not have crossed the sea of Moyle to bring thee ill tidings, Naisi. (He sees DEIRDRE.) My coming has affrighted thy lady, who shakes like the white wave trembling before its fall. I swear to thee, Deirdre, that the sons of Usna are dear to me as children to a father.
DEIRDRE—The Birds of Angus showed all fiery and crimson as you came!