The Complete Works. William Butler Yeats

cannot be the meaning of the birds.

      You are not its core. My teeth are in the world,

      But have not bitten yet.

      Dectora. I am a queen,

      And ask for satisfaction upon these

      Who have slain my husband and laid hands upon me.

      Forgael. I’d set my hopes on one that had no shadow—

      Where do you come from? who brought you to this place?

      Why do you cast a shadow? Answer me that.

      Dectora. Would that the storm that overthrew my ships,

      And drowned the treasures of nine conquered nations,

      And blew me hither to my lasting sorrow,

      Had drowned me also. But, being yet alive,

      I ask a fitting punishment for all

      That raised their hands against him.

      Forgael. There are some

      That weigh and measure all in these waste seas—

      They that have all the wisdom that’s in life,

      And all that prophesying images

      Made of dim gold rave out in secret tombs;

      They have it that the plans of kings and queens

      Are dust on the moth’s wing; that nothing matters

      But laughter and tears—laughter, laughter, and tears—

      That every man should carry his own soul

      Upon his shoulders.

      Dectora. You’ve nothing but wild words,

      And I would know if you would give me vengeance.

      Forgael. When she finds out that I’ll not let her go—

      When she knows that.

      Dectora. What is it that you are muttering—

      That you’ll not let me go? I am a queen.

      Forgael. Although you are more beautiful than any,

      I almost long that it were possible;

      But if I were to put you on that ship,

      With sailors that were sworn to do your will,

      And you had spread a sail for home, a wind

      Would rise of a sudden, or a wave so huge,

      It had washed among the stars and put them out,

      And beat the bulwark of your ship on mine,

      Until you stood before me on the deck—

      As now.

      Dectora. Does wandering in these desolate seas

      And listening to the cry of wind and wave

      Bring madness?

      Forgael.Queen, I am not mad.

      Dectora. And yet you say the water and the wind

      Would rise against me.

      Forgael.No, I am not mad—

      If it be not that hearing messages

      From lasting watchers that outlive the moon

      At the most quiet midnight is to be stricken.

      Dectora. And did those watchers bid you take me captive?

      Forgael. Both you and I are taken in the net.

      It was their hands that plucked the winds awake

      And blew you hither; and their mouths have promised

      I shall have love in their immortal fashion.

      They gave me that old harp of the nine spells

      That is more mighty than the sun and moon,

      Or than the shivering casting-net of the stars,

      That none might take you from me.

      Dectora [first trembling back from the mast where the harp is, and then laughing]. For a moment

      Your raving of a message and a harp

      More mighty than the stars half troubled me.

      But all that’s raving. Who is there can compel

      The daughter and grand-daughter of a king

      To be his bedfellow?

      Forgael.Until your lips

      Have called me their beloved, I’ll not kiss them.

      Dectora. My husband and my king died at my feet,

      And yet you talk of love.

      Forgael.The movement of time

      Is shaken in these seas, and what one does

      One moment has no might upon the moment

      That follows after.

      Dectora.I understand you now.

      You have a Druid craft of wicked sound.

      Wrung from the cold women of the sea—

      A magic that can call a demon up,

      Until my body give you kiss for kiss.

      Forgael. Your soul shall give the kiss.

      Dectora.I am not afraid,

      While there’s a rope to run into a noose

      Or wave to drown. But I have done with words,

      And I would have you look into my face

      And know that it is fearless.

      Forgael. Do what you will,

      For neither I nor you can break a mesh

      Of the great golden net that is about us.

      Dectora. There’s nothing in the world that’s worth a fear.

      [She passes FORGAEL and stands for a moment looking into his face.]

      I have good reason for that thought.

      [She runs suddenly on to the raised part of the poop.]

      And now

      I can put fear away as a queen should.

      [She mounts on the bulwark and turns towards FORGAEL.]

      Fool, fool! Although you have looked into my face

      You did not see my purpose. I shall have gone

      Before a hand can touch me.

      Forgael [folding his arms]. My hands are still;

      The ever-living hold us. Do what you will,

      You cannot leap out of the golden net.

      First Sailor. There is no need for you to drown. Give us our pardon and we will bring you home on your own ship, and make an end of this man that is leading us to death.

      Dectora. I promise it.

      Aibric. I am on his side.

      I’d strike a blow for him to give him time

      To cast his dreams away.

      First Sailor. He has put a sudden darkness over the moon.

      Dectora. Nine swords with handles of rhinoceros horn

      To him that strikes him first.

      First