The Complete Works. William Butler Yeats

is at an end?

      DEIDRE.

      He never doubted you until I made him,

      And therefore all the blame for what he says

      Should fall on me.

      CONCHUBAR.

      But his young blood is hot,

      And if we’re of one mind, he shall go free,

      And I ask nothing for it, or, if something,

      Nothing I could not take. There is no king

      In the wide world that, being so greatly wronged,

      Could copy me, and give all vengeance up.

      Although her marriage-day had all but come,

      You carried her away; but I’ll show mercy.

      Because you had the insolent strength of youth

      You carried her away; but I’ve had time

      To think it out through all these seven years.

      I will show mercy.

      NAISI.

      You have many words.

      CONCHUBAR.

      I will not make a bargain; I but ask

      What is already mine. You may go free

      If Deirdre will but walk into my house

      Before the people’s eyes, that they may know

      When I have put the crown upon her head

      I have not taken her by force and guile.

      The doors are open, and the floors are strewed,

      And in the bridal chamber curtains sewn

      With all enchantments that give happiness,

      By races that are germane to the sun,

      And nearest him, and have no blood in their veins—

      For when they’re wounded the wound drips with wine—

      Nor speech but singing. At the bridal door

      Two fair king’s daughters carry in their hands

      The crown and robe.

      DEIDRE.

      Oh, no! Not that, not that.

      Ask any other thing but that one thing.

      Leave me with Naisi. We will go away

      Into some country at the ends of the earth.

      We’ll trouble you no more. You will be praised

      By everybody if you pardon us.

      ‘He is good, he is good,’ they’ll say to one another;

      ‘There’s nobody like him, for he forgave

      Deirdre and Naisi.’

      CONCHUBAR.

      Do you think that I

      Shall let you go again, after seven years

      Of longing and of planning here and there,

      And trafficking with merchants for the stones

      That make all sure, and watching my own face

      That none might read it?

      DEIRDRE [to NAISI].

      It’s better to go with him.

      Why should you die when one can bear it all?

      My life is over; it’s better to obey.

      Why should you die? I will not live long, Naisi.

      I’d not have you believe I’d long stay living;

      Oh no, no, no! You will go far away.

      You will forget me. Speak, speak, Naisi, speak,

      And say that it is better that I go.

      I will not ask it. Do not speak a word,

      For I will take it all upon myself.

      Conchubar, I will go.

      NAISI.

      And do you think

      That, were I given life at such a price,

      I would not cast it from me? O, my eagle!

      Why do you beat vain wings upon the rock

      When hollow night’s above?

      DEIDRE.

      It’s better, Naisi.

      It may be hard for you, but you’ll forget.

      For what am I, to be remembered always?

      And there are other women. There was one,

      The daughter of the King of Leodas;

      I could not sleep because of her. Speak to him;

      Tell it out plain, and make him understand.

      And if it be he thinks I shall stay living,

      Say that I will not.

      NAISI.

      Would I had lost life

      Among those Scottish kings that sought it of me,

      Because you were my wife, or that the worst

      Had taken you before this bargaining!

      O eagle! if you were to do this thing,

      And buy my life of Conchubar with your body,

      Love’s law being broken, I would stand alone

      Upon the eternal summits, and call out,

      And you could never come there, being banished.

      DEIRDRE [kneeling to CONCHUBAR].

      I would obey, but cannot. Pardon us.

      I know that you are good. I have heard you praised

      For giving gifts; and you will pardon us,

      Although I cannot go into your house.

      It was my fault. I only should be punished.

      [Unseen by DEIRDRE, NAISI is gagged.

      The very moment these eyes fell on him,

      I told him; I held out my hands to him;

      How could he refuse? At first he would not—

      I am not lying—he remembered you.

      What do I say? My hands?—No, no, my lips—

      For I had pressed my lips upon his lips—

      I swear it is not false—my breast to his;

      [CONCHUBAR motions; NAISI, unseen by DEIRDRE, is taken behind the curtain.

      Until I woke the passion that’s in all,

      And how could he resist? I had my beauty.

      You may have need of him, a brave, strong man,

      Who is not foolish at the council board,

      Nor does he quarrel by the candle-light

      And give hard blows to dogs. A cup of wine

      Moves him to mirth, not madness.

      [She stands up.

      What am I saying?

      You may have need of him, for