DEIRDRE.
— to Naisi. — It’s in this place we’d be lonesome in the end. . . . Take down Fergus to the sea. He has been a guest had a hard welcome and he bringing messages of peace.
FERGUS.
We will make your curagh ready and it fitted for the voyage of a king.
[He goes with Naisi.
DEIRDRE.
Take your spears, Ainnle and Ardan, and go down before me, and take your horse-boys to be carrying my cloaks are on the threshold.
AINNLE.
— obeying. — It’s with a poor heart we’ll carry your things this day we have carried merrily so often, and we hungry and cold.
[They gather up things and go out.
DEIRDRE.
— to Lavarcham. — Go you, too, Lavarcham. You are old, and I will follow quickly.
LAVARCHAM.
I’m old, surely, and the hopes I had my pride in are broken and torn.
[She goes out, with a look of awe at Deirdre.
DEIRDRE.
— clasping her hands. — Woods of Cuan, woods of Cuan, dear country of the east! It’s seven years we’ve had a life was joy only, and this day we’re going west, this day we’re facing death, maybe, and death should be a poor, untidy thing, though it’s a queen that dies.