That I will never lift a hand against you.

Twas you that egged him to it, for you know

Are plotting for your death.

Forgael. The movement of time

Bend lower, O king, that I may crown you with it.

Dragon that loved the world and held us to it,

Can know that ecstasy. Forgael! Forgael!

Ill give my answer.

But there were others.

And strike the golden pillars with my hands.

But have not bitten yet.

Are you not happy winged bodies now?

Now that hes dead I have no need of it,

Where passion grows to be a changeless thing,

Of the great golden net that is about us.

No, no, nor half a thought; but do not speak.

None but the dead, or those that never lived,

Until you stood before me on the deck -

Forgael. I cannot - I am going on to the end.

And we are almost on her!

He has stooped down and kissed her on the lips.

First Sailor. You have awakened him.

Could we but give us wholly to the dreams,

And find their laughter sweeter to the taste

When it is over, nor one to grumble at us.

Second Sailor. Aye, long and long enough.

That much is certain. I shall find a woman.

Dectora. O why do you not lift your eyes to mine?

Another Voice. Wake all below!

Have loved that way - there is no other way.

Forgael. When she finds out I will not let her go -

But harry us with hopes that come to nothing,

Had you looked on them face to face as I did,

He knows that he is taking you to death;

Having their life in him.

Dectora. What is there but a troop of ash-grey birds

They have made you follow the man-headed birds,

Like a grey gull upon the breast of each.

Dectora. But I will cover up your eyes and ear?,

While I was looking they rose hurriedly,

Dectora. What is it that you are muttering -

Forgael. Where the world ends

O flower of the branch, 0 bird among the leaves,

Forgael. Maybe it is but natural to doubt me.

For you are looking at the sea. Do you not know

But if it be reproach, I answer this:

First Sailor. The whole ship

When I have said farewell to this man here,

And Ive but half!

Aibric [taking Forgaels hand]. Ill do it for his sake.

Of that more powerful life?

Riding to hurley, or in the battle-host

Dectora. I understand you now.

Broken-hearted, having lost his queen

Become one movement, energy, delight,

From lasting watchers, that outlive the moon,

But it was all deceit, and flattery

And now a laggard with a womans head

Dectora. Have I not loved you for a thousand years?

First Sailor. Ill do it.

To him that wounds him to the death.

Or fumbling in a dream about the house?

That youll not let me go? I am a queen.

Aibric [half falling into the keen]. The yew-bough has been

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

And they were listening ther& beyond the sail.

Dectora. Is that true?

And drowned the treasures of nine conquered nations,

Has hated every man thats not in love,

away,

A lucky battle, or a womans kiss

First Sailor. No need to drown, for, if you will pardon

That I should keen him from the full of the moon

Second Sailor. I dare not do it.

We have fallen in the dreams the Ever-living

Dectora. Yet say

Dectora. O, I can hear them now.

All that is not the meeting of our lips.

Or called before his eyes.

As those that can outlive the moon have known it,

And wring my hands, and wail him bitterly,

with a large square sail hiding a great deal of the sky and sea

First Sailor. She will be like a wild cat; for these queens

And yet you make a clamour of reproach.

One moment has no might upon the moment

<1[The Sailors have returned. Dectora is with them.]

That he has been all night upon the hills,

Or cry about ones ears.

Forgael. Yes; if they give us help.

To fancy that shed bring you home again.

That has less ups and downs than robbery.

Aibric [silencing thcm with agesture]. We would return to

Aibric. Put by these thoughts,

Alone and winged.

And then one asks another how he died,

Would rise against me.

To cast his dreams away.

For golden-armed Iollan that I loved-

Knowing it for the worlds end?

<1who is about to play the harp. The stage begins to

They are too busy with each other. Look!

[They go out.]

First Sailor. They cannot hear;

That I have the best of pilots.

If you had taken me by magic spells,

Dectora. I am not afraid,

Second Sailor [beginning to keen]. Ohone! O! O! O!

For theyre my only pilots. If I lost them

Am I to fear the waves, or is the moon

excitement.]>1

For I have heard that he was proud and laughing,

To hurry to their hidden happiness

You know the counsels of the Ever-living,

our own country, Forgael,

For long enough?

Sccond Sailor. And I had thought to make

And that he died a thousand years ago.

his face.]>1

That set him to the fancy.

And for a dozen hours have been a part

When I first heard the news? Ah, there it is!

And says, "A sword-blade pierced me in my sleep.-

Dectora. Ill give a golden galley full of fruit,

other ship. Dectora stands with the sword lifted in

For he can judge the stars as well as Forgael.

Dectora. No, not there,

Dectora. That is not true, for he has promised me

And all that is and all that is to be,

place?

[The Sailors go out.]

For all his spells will vanish when he dies,

She takes off her crown and lays it upon the deck.]>1

She may not be too sorry in the end.

Aibric. Shadows, illusions,

What more have you to look for on the seas?

promised.

o九*九*藏*書ther ship, which cannot be seen because of the sail.]

[Breaking loose from the Sailors who are holding her.]

But whats the meaning? [He cries out.] Why do you

In having one another?

Your raving of a message and a harp

While theres a rope to run into a noose

And all the birds are scattered - O! O! O!

Or somewhere, I shall find the love they have

If there be such a country.

[The Sailors go out.]

Or chrysoberyl, or beryl, or chrysclite;

Because of that old draught under the door,

In islands where the children of Aengus wind

overhead. When the play opens there are four persons upon the

And he my master from my childhood up!

First Sailor. I am so tired of being bachelor

Forgael. All would be well

As a lamp shadow - no - no lamp, the sun.

Is shadow, and not linger wretchedly

Second Sailor. My mother told me that there is not one

Second Sailor. Theres somebody Id give the amethyst

Their heads being turned with praise and flattery;

Out of all reckoning.

But that I am afraid they may have passed,

broken into two,

Forgael. I have deceived you;

What are you calling out above the mast?

Forgael. O no!

I would that there was nothing in the world

Aibric. When they have twenty years; in middle life

Second Sailor. Its certain Id sleep easier o nights

A Dramatic Poem

The roots of the world.

I ask a fitting punishment for all

And blew you hither; and their mouths have

And all the others; but it must be love

To tell them a plain story.

Bend lower, that I may cover you with my hair,

Had run into one fountain.

That cannot be the meaning of the birds.

And Forgael in the other scale! kill Forgael,

[A number of Sailors entcr hurriedly.]

Dectora. What do I care,

They have been circling over our heads in the air,

Forgael. Youre certain of it? I never wake from sleep

come

Let go my hands!

Breathe on the burnished mirror of the world

Aibric. You have taken pay and made your bargain for it.

Aibric. Run at them now,

Upon its bandy legs.

[Going towards Aibric.]

But the reality that makes our passion

First Sailor. But what of that?

Have buried nothing but my golden arms.

That you were born a thousand years ago,

<1[He has moved away. She follows him. He is looking out

And now

Forgael. And yet I cannot think theyre leading me

playing,

First Sailor Well, net or none,

And flying towards their peace.

The flagstone under all, the fire of fires,

And almost wept because they could not find it.

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

Aibric. And if that happiness be more than dreams,

One - and one - a couple - five together;

Forgael. Do you, too, doubt me? Have you joined their

To the other ship,

In their long lives? Will you be of our troop

They take a kiss for what a kiss is worth,

<1[She mounts on to the hulwark and turns towards

Of those that are alive for ever and ever.

It whirls into the foam. O ancient worm,

To the horn, and he be hale and hearty.

Forgael. Why should you be more faithful than the rest,

captive?

I shall have love in their immortal fashion;

Forgael. Until your lips

deck. Aibric stands by the tiller. Forgael sleeps upon the raised

What are they? Unto what country do they fly?

Second Sailor. Holy fire

Will look upon his face again.

<1[She passes Forgael and stands for a moment looking into

Has ever come but those man-headed birds,

And though theyre but the colour of grey ash,

"How light we are, now we are changed to birds!

us

Second Sailor. When she finds out we have better men

First Sailor. Treasure on treasure.

And now they will not follow, while I seek

For he will shelter you and bring you home.

Aibric. If you had loved some woman -

And all the birds are scattered.

And I would have you look into my face

What are the birds at there?

That he is being driven to his death.

Aengus and Edain ran up out of the wave -

You did not know what brought him to his end,

Of the Ever-living half so dangerous

And you had spread a sail for home, a wind

They killed him at my feet. O! O! O! O!

Forgael. What matter

Dectora. I would grow jealous of the ivory roof,

That lift us to the flowing, changing world

Mutter such things as they awake from trance.

Wander a moment when one is in love?

behind him.]>1

Aibric [sleepily]. Queen, give it me.

The other night, while he was playing it,

Towards the country of the dead.

Theyre crying out, could you but hear their words,

O silver fish that my two hands have taken

First Sailor. Come to his ship.

And listening to the cry of wind and wave

Forgael, because you cannot put me from you.

I will confess it all.

First Sailor [falling into a dream suddenly. But you were

To be his bedfellow?

Aibric. And yet the world

The daughter and the granddaughter of kings

But it is true. Why did they run upon him,

And hid her among fruits of jewel-stone

Dectora. O carry me

Aibric. All that ever loved

Dectora. No. Take this sword

Aibric. Why do you need a sword? But you may keep it.

Upon the misty border of the wood,

And where there is one woman therell be others.

I loved him; I would cover up my ears,

That you may never hear the cry of the birds,

Aengus and Edain, those passionate wanderers,

More mighty than the stars half troubled me,

has begun looking for his sword as if in a dream.]>1

Where no childs born but to outlive the moon.

For love is war, and there is hatred in it;

Well put this man tohttps://read.99csw.com death.

Where I am rid of life - the events of the world -

O; O! O! O!

And measure out a course and bring us home,

And you will recollect my face and voice,

slowly, and finally lets it fall. She spreads out her hair.

<1Dectora [first trembling back from the mast where the harp is,

Id do your will, but they are too high - too high.

[They go out keening.]

First Sailor. O she was but a shadow, and slipped from

And now they all wheel suddenly and fly

And paid you on the nail.

Before a hand can touch me.

And having lit upon this woman there,

But laughter and tears - laughter, laughter, and tears;

By magic strings, Ill make this answer to it:

Listen to that low-laughing string of the moon

And you have grown to be a burning sod

All the Sailors. O! O! O! O!

Become our captain, Aibric. I am resolved

Aibric. Be of your troop! Aibric be one of you

Dcctora [laughing]. Why, its a wonder out of reckoning

In happy dances under a windy moon,

The crazy nothing that I think it is,

Flashes as if it were a net of herrings.

<1[Voices and thc clashing of swords are heard from the

Second Sailor. We had not known

portion of the deck towards the front of the stage. Two Sailors

Farewell! farewell! [He goes out.]

First Sailor. I saw them on that night as well as you.

Forgael. I have deceived you

Among the windy meadows of the dawn.

Theyll fly upon that secret way of theirs.

Being as doubtful?

Forgael [taking the tiller from Aibric]. The Ever-living have

lovers,

That is not in the world.

[Forgael plays the harp.]

Second Sailor. How can we have a wake

And cut the rope, for I go on with Forgael.

Second Sailor.>1 He has put a sudden darkness over the

Through wicked spells. That is not all the tale,

How are we better off than Seaghan the fool,

It had washed among the stars and put them out,

Forgael.]>1

[Forgael changes the tune.]

Third Sailor. How can we raise the keen that do not

Out of the running stream, O morning star

And get into their world that to the sense

That none might take you from me.

Forgael. How have I wronged her now that she is merry?

Second Sailor. But were you not afraid?

But dreams that hurry from beyond the world

Dectora. I looked upon the moon,

First Sailor. I have heard

What do you call it? - that old promise-breaker,

Now I can hear. Theres one of them that says,

Aibric. Its certain they are leading you to death.

Forgael. Our love shall be like theirs

his hands, and remains leaning against the bulwarks

Among substantial things; for it is dreams

Youll hear them calling out to one another

First Sailor. No otherll do it.

And not a roof of ivory and gold.

Dectora. What is there but the crying of the birds?

It shall be in the country of the dead,

A Sailor [calling from the other ship]. Come hither, Aibric,

If there be half a hundred more, what matter?

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

Second Sailor. But thats not all.

It was this woman in her womans vengeance

front of Forgael.]>1

For I am getting on in life - to something

me.

Straying too far into the north or south,

And tell me who it is that we are waking.

As for this woman, I think she is coming with me.

Peaceable men that shut the wind away,

But if I were to put you on that ship,

An unimaginable happiness.

eyes to.

That weigh and measure all in these waste seas -

And that is why their lovers are afraid

Forgael. My grief!

Aibric. The Ever-living have made you mad; but no,

And when we have it we are no happier,

That I would look upon for ever?

What power that is more mighty than desire

Leaps upward, as if all the streams o the world

Forgael. But he that gets their love after the fashion

Forgael. Queen, I am not mad.

Dectora. Nine swords with handles of rhinoceros horn

When she knows that.

That I may drown myself?

[While he has been speaking, and through part of what

With sailors that were sworn to do your will,

We have to follow, for they are our pilots;

Would rise of a sudden, or a wave so huge

Second Sailor. You have dared to touch her?

"There is a country at the end of the world

First Sailor. Nothing to fear.

Unless we drain more flagons in a year

And listen to me for a while. The sailors

To make low laughter more than meat and drink,

For everything is gone.

And after circling with strange cries awhile

Withholds them now? Have the Ever-living Ones

Ive heard a rustling overhead in the wind.

In the imagination and intellect?

And has not yet been waked.

We are alone for ever, and I laugh,

Dectora. Theres nothing in the world thats worth a

But what is it that made me say I loved him?

And for this end they gave me my old harp

The Others. And I! And I! And I!

You are broken, you are broken. The world drifts

Could not amend.

woman.

I will strike at him.

Aibric. While

Or look upon them.

That unimaginable storms of wind and wave

<1[He goes close up to Forgael with his sword lifted.]

Circling and circling over the masthead?

There is no measure that it would not burst.

Speak - he will not deny it.

Flew westward; and many a time since then

Aibric. Take up that rope

The only riches that have hit my fancy.

More than the froth, the feather, the dust-whirl,

And killed a lover or husband at my feet -

First Sailor. The hold is full of treasure.

For he was killed. O! O! O! O! O! O!

with us,

And overpower the crew while yet asleep!

earned

A bhttps://read.99csw.comeautiful young man and girl came up

But all thats raving. Who is there can compel

She knows that it was but the cart-horse coughing

And theres no help in words. [To the Sailors.]

Care more about the kegs of silver and gold

Second Sailor. Do you remember when we sank that

come! Gull, gannet, or diver,

Theres not a man but will be glad of it

For we will gaze upon this world no longer.

darken. The Sailors hesitate in fear.]

"You will have all you have wished for when you have

I have fled to my beloved in the air,

A good round Sum upon this cruise, and turn -

<1[He goes out.]

And ask for satisfaction upon these

Even though it be the lightest of light love,

That the grave-diggers in a dreamy frenzy

Why are they all a-flutter of a sudden?

Upon that other ship we are to wake.

But now it is your thoughts that wander away,

Dectora. Does wandering in these desolate seas

Blue-eyed, and a quick runner on bare feet,

That raised their hands against him.

Fool, fool! Although you have looked into my face

Dectora. And if there is,

Until the overburthened moon is dead.

Forgael. But listen, listen!

Aibric. Shadows before now

Where the dead drifted, I could see a bird

promised

Upon his shoulders.

Second Sailor. "Twas Aengus and Edain, the wandering

First Sailor. I will strike him first.

Forgael. Its not a dream,

And kiss more lips than lasting peaceable men

Tectora. Is it not tme

on that side. The tiller is at the left of the stage; it is a long oar

and then laughing].>1 For a moment

<1[He goes dreamily towards the sword, but Dectora runs at

Dectora. The sword is in the rope -

with your eyes upon me?

As I am doing now. [A pause.] Why do you weep?

Is shaken in these seas, and what one does

You do not see my purpose. I shall have gone

My enemy?

To him that strikes him first!

That every man should carry his own soul

When we have put their changeless image on.

First Sailor. NO; but opoponax and cinnamon.

Forgael. Were they but lowlier

kept my bargain for me,

To cry aloud to the grey birds, and dreams,

And drop him from the gunnel.

And take the captains share of everything

I had forgotten that we must go wake him.

Imagination cannot reckon it.

Into their shining limbs - Ive had great teachers.

Had drowned me also. But, being yet alive,

That has the heady flavour of new wine,

For neither I nor you can break a mesh

Women are hard and proud and stubborn-hearted,

For it is love that I am seeking for,

Until my body give you kiss for kiss.

And beat the golden helmet with their swords?

If railing and reproach and mockery

The mind is made unchanging, for it finds

First Voice. Armed men have come upon us! O I am

Why linger? Run to your desire,

And in a tower of glass, and from that day

Weret not that there is magic in his harp,

The cozening fortune-teller that comes whispering,

Miracle, ecstasy, the impossible hope,

Second Sailor. Until the moon had set; and when I looked

First Sailor. Ivory images with amethyst eyes.

That fly into the west?

First Sailor. What good is there in this hard way of

A meaning in that circling overhead?

Aibric. I have called you master

Forgael. Thats not the story;

First Sailor. Look there! there in the mist! a ship of spice!

Forgael. What if he speak the truth,

But no, that is not it.

To some sure country, some familiar place.

voice,

linger there?

For that is what they say - all, all the shadows -

And then smooth out with ivory hands and sigh,

aboard

Ill strike a blow for him to give him time

With human voices

Forgael. To unimaginable happiness.

Ill never give another thought to it;

gael takes the harp.]>1

To wait their Fiends; but when their friends have

What name to call him by?

They that have all the wisdom thats in life,

Forgael. Do you not know me, lady? I am he

And the high fame that come to them in marriage,

Has beautiful women to please every man.

For golden-armed Iollan has been killed.

saying there is somebody

that dead king? Arthur of Britain?

Aibric [half to Dectora, half to himself]. What name had

That I might lay it on your head as a crown.

[Shrinking back.] He has caught the crescent moon out

These thousand years.

And that youll bring me there?

A shadow does not carry sword or spear.

fear.

Youd never doubt that it was life they promised

Being too busy in the air and the high air,

Wed better go, for we have lost this chance.

Dectora. Would that the storm that overthrew my ships,

But for the ambergris and sandalwood.

You cannot leap out of the golden net.

I have deceived you utterly.

Aibric, His wife knows better.

And if you say that she came willingly -

It was in all his battles. I will spread my hair,

Made of dim gold rave out in secret tombs;

Dectora. I will end all your magic on the instant.

Aibric. I have heard the Druids

Aibric. No, no, do not say that. You know right well

If you will draw that sword out of its scabbard

If I am going to my death? - for there,

believed there was some other near at hand,

Had seemed to be the giver of all peace,

plot?

Our hearts desire now that we are so light.

Where do you come from? Who brought you to this

These many days; and yet there must be many

But my beloved - that night and day had perished,

That is more mighty than the sun and moon,

Being driven on by voices and by dreams

Forgael. You turn away. Why do you turn away?

Or wave to drown. But Iｒeａd.９9csｗ•ｃoｍ have done with words,

One of the Ever-living, as I think -

Dectora. I promise it.

And you have told me that their journey lies

Dectora. I am a queen,

You have a Druid craft of wicked sound

As that wild Aengus. Long before her day

But of a beautiful, unheard-of kind

And knitted mesh to mesh, we grow immortal;

But in some island where the life of the world

In the waste of the high air, that we may wander

Second Sailor. Theres nobody is natural but a robber,

Forgael. No, I am not mad -

He does not hate seafarers as he hates

To make an end of Forgael while he sleeps.

I would not let you speak, for I would know

Dectora. Protect me now, gods that my people swear by.

When we have neither brown nor yellow ale?

Second Sailor. Full to the hatches.

upon the deck. They lift their swords to strike Forgael,>1

Id never come upon the happiness

Forgael. Your soul shall give the kiss.

That the Shape-changers, the Ever-laughing Ones,

Transform these rascal billows into women

Aibric. Speak lower, or theyll hear.

I know that he died a thousand years ago,

No, no - not Arthur. I remember now.

But with a mans head, or a fair womans,

Forgael. I do not know for certain, but I know.

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

If it be not that hearing messages

The bed of love, that in the imagination

of the sky,

Why are you looking at the sea?

And as soon finished.

For that brief sighing.

[To Second Sailor.]

First Sailor. We have not come upon a shore or ship

That follows after.

Strange creatures flutter up before ones eyes,

Dectora. How can that be?

Shall light upon a place in the worlds core,

But now that they have taken to the road

The Immortal Mockers have cast into his mind,

That has been promised me. I have not seen them

A melancholy that a cup of wine,

Forgael [gathering Dectoras hair about him]. Beloved, hav-

In a white breaking wave; they had the look

It was their hands that plucked the winds awake

And has been dangerous to him.

Judge of the stars, and find a course for us?

Dectora. Being too high, their heady prophecies

Forgael. If you will give me all your mind awhile -

<1[Aibric goes in front of Forgael with drawn sword. For-

Have we not everything that life can give

Forgael. It was so given out, but I will prove

That you are weeping for.

Because we are not proud, imperishable,

know

They have it that the plans of kings and queens

<1[He starts up, listening to the birds. The harp slips from

I almost long that it were possible;

Consideration, generosity;

Another answers, "Maybe we shall find

Dectora. No, I have need of it.

And bodily tenderness, and finds that even

Forgael [turning and seeing her].>1 Why are you standing

And keep to the one weary marriage-bed.

And beat the bulwark of your ship on mine,

That never did a hands turn? Aibric! Aibric!

Have called me their beloved, Ill not kiss them.

He could not see them, but I held out my hands

Too many years to lift a hand against you.

First Sailor. Why should I fear?

But I have done so great a wrong against you,

He carried Edain off from a kings house,

Who have slain my husband and laid hands upon me.

Forgael [to Dectora], Go with him,

Because I have awakened her to love

Yes, voices! but I do not catch the words.

It was golden-armed Iollan, and he died

And if she hear him mutter of wild riders,

But when I had eaten and drunk myself asleep

Is no more than a wine-cup in the tasting,

Aibric. Where is my sword that fell out of my hand

And all that tossing of your wings is joy,

To whom all lovers pray.

What the worlds million lips are thirsting for

Aibric. I have seen nothing pass.

Where no ship sails, where nothing thats alive

Bring madness?

And there, in juggleries of sight and sense,

And carries it between us.

A magic that can call a demon up,

Vectora. I do not understand. I know your face

<1[The Sailors throw Aibric on one side. He falls and lies

Wrung from the cold women of the sea -

Shall be alone for ever. We two - this crown -

Aibric. Speak to him.

You are not the worlds core. O no, no, no!

Second Sailor. Can no bewitchment

Dectora. Youve nothing but wild words,

Trembling in the blue heavens like a white fawn

And drags him through the sea,

Forgael. I weep - I weep because bare nights above,

Could we but mix ourselves into a dream,

Forgael. Have the birds passed us? I could hear your

First Sailor. He played all through the night.

They cannot hear my voice; but whats the meaning?

And I would know if you will give me vengeance.

First Sailor. There is a king and queen upon her deck,

They would not send me one that casts a shadow.

[His voice sinks again.]

Second Sailor. I think that he has Forgael in his net,

Aibric. What riches can you find in this waste sea

The ropes in two - it falls into the sea,

Dectora. He has flung a Druid spell upon the air,

I have done right. What could I but obey?

The mist has covered the heavens, and you and I

But it was sudden.

And that is why the world totters about

Some other woman has a claim on you,

slain!

These dozen weeks.

The deck of an ancient ship. At the right of the stage is the mast,

I can put fear away as a queen should.

Forgael. Yet never have two lovers kissed but they

First Sailor. Ive thought of that. We must have Aibric

Land for your children or money in a pot.-

For you have listened to me playing it

Have driven travellers mad for九-九-藏-書 their own sport.

For we have found a treasure thats so great

galley

That it was yesterday and not to-day

Third Sailor. Dragons with eyes of ruby.

Aibric. Let the birds scatter, for the tree is broken,

Dectora. No, for he is dcad.

Dectora. And did those watchers bid you take me

And yet you talk of love.

Longing to knead and pull it into shape

At the full moon?

No mortal can.

Though it but set us sighing? Fellow-wanderer,

First Sailor. Has he not led us into these waste seas

Had the worlds total life gathered up, it seemed,

Aibric. They are besotting you as they besot

This sword is to lie beside him in the grave.

coming through an opening in the bulwark. The deck rises in a

A Voice. Armed men have come upon us! O I am slain!

Dectora. I am a woman, I die at every breath.

And let the dream go by.

Third Sailor. Boxes of precious spice.

But desolate waters and a battered ship.

<1[Her voice hecomes dreamy, and she lowers the sword

And set you dreaming.

Dectora. Why do you turn away and hide your face,

Than a strong body and a ready hand.

Another Voice. Why have you broken our sleep?

If something thats most fabulous were true -

Not in its image on the mirror!

It was that harper put it in my thoughts,

Forgael. You say that also? You have heard the voices,

over the sea, shading his eyes.]>1

Or than the shivering casting-net of the stars,

Id drown him while we have the chance to do it.

And having such wide-open, shining eyes.

For neither I nor any living man

Forgael. I never have been golden-armed Iollan.

Forgael. Although you are more beautiful than any,

Has she not seen him lying like a log,

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

Whether he will or no; and better still

Forgael. If youll but listen closely to that crying

First Sailor. Better steer home,

Youve never known, Id lay a wager on it,

With so red lips, and running on such feet,

Is it that though your eyes are full of love

To take him while he sleeps and carry him

ing dragged the net about us,

are standing near to the mast, on which a harp is hanging.

But no, no, no! your cry is not against me.

And I will follow you and cut the rope

First Sailor. I saw a flagon of brown ale aboard her.

My courage came again.

One of the Laughing People - and she and I

Must be substantial somewhere.

<1[The Sailors comc in with Aibric. They are in great

To grasp the woman.

First Sailor. There is none to take his side.

To burn us to the marrow if we strike.

To make her fast while we are plundering her.

All, all, the very bottom of the bowl -

living,

And know that it is fearless.

follows, one hears the wailing of the Sailors from the

"Loves in brief longing and deceiving hope

To win a woman in her own despite,

As now.

And that old harp awakens of itself

And all that prophesying images

Like charmed apples made of chrysoprase,

Forgael. Do what you will,

Better than my own hands.

I have good reason for that thought.

Dying at every moment in the world,

More riches than they ever hoped to find?

moon.

That have had dreams for father, live in us.

That nothing can amend it but these waters,

Aibric. I have good spirits enough.

That the heart longs for. What is love itself,

O! O! O! O! for golden-armed Iollan.

And bring us into populous seas again?

They hover over the masthead awhile

If he were dead; but who will be our captain,

The crazy herdsman that will tell his fellows

That he is holding up between us there,

With the Ever-living.

it and takes it up before he can reach it.]>1

And I will hear them talking in a minute.

At the most quiet midnight is to be stricken.

by any other means. You call it passion,

And blew me hither to my lasting sorrow,

Who cannot put me from his sight for ever.

And all that murmurings but a marriage-song;

Ill show you that I am made differently,

I could give all my heart to that Red Moll

To death; for they that promised to me love

Forgael. Have I not given

Second Sailor. Though it be the moon

<1[Aibric has risen from the deck where he had fallen. He

That were clear messages from the Ever-living,

dGmes crying, "I have run upon the sword.

And I am left alone with my beloved,

With all those sights and all that crying out?

Were in the body thats impossible.

If I refused the messengers and pilots

But why are they still waiting? why are they

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

Forgael. Why do you cast a shadow?

First Sailor. I saw them, too, one night. Forgael was

Third Sailor. Lets home; Id give some rubies to a

Second Sailor. You are in the right;

How great a wrong it is to let ones thought

I half remember. It has been in my dreams.

Forgael. I weep because Ive nothing for your eyes

Aibric. I am on his side,

As they have known it. Now the secrets out;

There is not one among you that made love

That drove you to it, and I fool enough

Forgael. How could I rest

The yew-bough has been broken into two,

series of steps hehind the tiller, and the stern of the ship curves

It may be that the Ever-living know it -

Forgael. Look there!

Forgael. There are some

I would be of your mind; but when he plays it

Forgael [who has remained at the tiller]. There! there they

His name will come into our thoughts in a minute.

To the other side, and higher in the air.

Or creaky shoes. And at the end of all

That had but the one eye.

Now that my body has begun to dream,