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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Section twelve of Deirdre by James Stevens. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Read by Michel Frye Betonrouge, Louisiana,
Book two, chapters three and four. Chapter three, The King
and the guests of honor, mainly members of his family
(00:23):
and their wives, sat on a raised dais overlooking the
banqueting home. It was at the heart of the banquet.
The food had been eaten, The meat and ale and
wine were circulating. Gentlemen were politely pledging each other's ladies,
and the ladies were feverishly considering each other's costumes and ornaments. Everyone,
(00:45):
Emer explained in her clear, sweet voice to Cocoulin, everyone
who has any hair at all wears it this way.
It is the Connacht fashion, said kruz Krau, the stammerer.
It is may fashion. Emer corrected. There must be three plaits,
she continued, two twisted round the head and caught in
(01:08):
a brooch, and one hanging down the back. I think
it is a charming fashion. I think Conochor smiled that
our ladies might content themselves with their own good Ulster customs.
There are Ulster customs, indeed, said Emer, But there are
no fashions. One must go to Connacht for that. If
(01:29):
it depends on the ladies, said Larry, we might let
the grass grow over the black pig's dike. The shoulder
torques are worn smaller in Connacht. Just now, Emer continued,
eyeing superciliously the ornaments of a neighbor, just like mine.
She added complacently. Kokoolan laughed boisterously, just like yours. Hemuck.
(01:53):
Why you know, well, my dove, I took that torque
on the last spoil I made in Connacht. Great good
humor descended on Connahur. Is that where the torque came from?
My soul? Your sweet lady must show it to me
more closely. You had a hard fight on that occasion.
(02:14):
I got away from them, the coup answered modestly. You
got away from them only when you got home. Bricrw jeered.
It was a good running, my sweet. They were very persistent,
the Coup admitted, laughingly. But I got away with my spoil.
You know how the conduct men explain the fact that
you are still alive. It will be an unpleasant explanation
(02:38):
if it is explained by Brikrew, said Emer. I should
like to hear it, said Connaheur. They are telling each
other that our coup was so beautiful they could not
bear to kill him. Think of that, Ko Kok. It
is a stupid sentimental reason, growled Larry. It is a
(02:59):
good honor reason, Emer fleshed. It is not a reason
you will ever give for letting a man escape, No,
said Brikru. Larry's excuse when he doesn't bring his man
home is that he couldn't catch him. And that, Larry, retorted,
would be the connocht man's reason for not getting the coup.
(03:20):
If a connocht man could tell the truth about anything,
they tell the truth when it is pleasant, said Emer,
And when it is not pleasant, they tell a lie.
They are epolite people, which is more than we are,
Oh Kanahur laughed. Their lies come from a good hearts
(03:40):
and a love of happiness, while our truths come grump grump, grump,
like the snarling of a badly trained dog. Ah Ho
Kanahur roared. Go Now, what do you say of these
connucht people? You also have been among them lately. They
are are honorable fighters, said Connell. No man can pray
(04:04):
for a better enemy than a conduct man. Fergus assented.
They come on where another would go back, and when
they go back, it is either through pity or poetry. Come,
said kanahor their compliment to the coup has been repaid,
and we can talk of something else. What do you
think of our banquet? There's nothing to be said, said Emer.
(04:28):
It is perfect. Everybody seems happy, said the complaisant king,
as he looked down the red branch. His guests also
stared down the hall. They seem happy and are happy,
said cou Kulin. He turned to his servant and charioteer
leg He cried, you do not love me. My cup
(04:48):
is empty, my darling, Lague replied, you have drunk as
much as as good for you. I shall drink as
much as is bad for me, if I please, said Cokulan.
So bring me some mead, my treasure. I shall bring
you ale or cider mead, said the coup. Ale, my
(05:09):
little love, said the charioteer. Bring mead for the coup
when he wants it, Emir ordered indignantly. Sweet mistress, said Lague.
We have to bring him home to night. Then give
him ale, said Emer. It will surely be ale, cried
the delighted Kanohur mead cu Culin pleaded, you will want
(05:33):
to fight the moon and stars as we go home.
Emer rebuked him. I can fight on ale just as well,
Cookulin asserted, And it is a good hearty ale. The
king assured him. Let it be ale, then, said Kukulin.
I think that not one person whom we know is
absent from this banquet, said Fiachra, the fair Kanahur's youngest son.
(05:58):
The conversation turned as they all look down the great hall.
There is so and so and so and so, who,
said Emir, is that tall, sad man with three men's
chins about him. He is such a one, said Fiokra.
And the black bog beside him with the beard that
was stolen from a porcupine. His name is Borak, the
(06:22):
son of Anta. He has a fortified rock half in
and half out of the sea. He catches sharks through
his window, and his banquets are all made of fish.
He is preparing a banquet for Mekanahur cried, I shall
not accept a feast from that man, said Fergus. You
(06:42):
must if he asks you, Cukulin replied, for it is
a gossa on you not to refuse a feast. That
is so, but the feast must be ready before I
am offered it. And as I do not visit his
part of the world, I shall never have to eat
his sharks. You think there is no one absent, asked Gunnhur.
(07:04):
Not one, they agreed. I am sharper than you are,
he continued, for I can count three who are not here. Again,
they scrutinized the hall without finding any missing friends. They
appealed to the Herald, who stood by Ganahor's chair. He
too was mystified. What three are they said, Fiachra, The
(07:27):
three sons of Ishnach, The king replied, smilingly, the three
lights of Valor of the Gale. At the words, a
moment's silence came on the dais, and no person knew
exactly what to say or do. Fergus turned his direct
gaze on the king. They are in Scotland, he said.
(07:50):
They went there seven years ago when Nisha ran away
with Deirdre, said Gannahur. Konaial Kirnak turned his harsh forehead
to the king. They are in great distress, he said,
I have just heard so. The king replied gravely. We
must bring them home. At the words. The face of
(08:10):
every person changed. It was as though a cordial had
just been dropped into each heart. Coculan flashed enthusiasm and
delight at the king. You will let them come back.
They shall be at our next banquet. If I could
love you more, Fergus affirmed, I would love you more
(08:31):
for that. I know you love me well, said Kanohor,
and I love you, my heart. We have been wearying
to see nishe again, cried Cokulin. What is he like?
Said Emer? He is under gosa about his return, Brikrwe interposed.
Kanahor turned abruptly to him. What goasa is that he
(08:56):
will come back in the company of Fergus, or of Conau,
or of the who. Otherwise he will not come back, Ah,
said Ganohor. He was always a sensible, far seeing boy.
Brikru continued thoughtfully. The King's eyes rested on Brikrue for
one weighty moment. Ere he replied, we shall send one
(09:18):
of the three, or all of the three to fetch him.
What is she like, Emir insisted. Brikru replied, she has
been sleeping in ditches for six years. She will be
like nothing you have ever heard of. Sweet lady, she said, Coucoulin,
(09:38):
she said every voice. At one moment, she said Ganihor,
with a grave smile, was called the troubler, and she
has given and received her share of trouble. Chapter four.
You understand, said the king. I understand well, said Levisham.
(10:00):
First you are to send Conaile to me half an hour.
Afterwards you shall send Cokulin. In another half hour you
shall send me Fergus, And when he comes, you shall
see that Bourach is in waiting. I understand, well, Master.
In a little while you shall see your babe again.
She scrutinized his face. Humbly and gravely. You are most gentle, master,
(10:26):
Are you not contented? I am filled with joy and grief,
she answered, and grief. The king echoed. Moli, she will
not be the girl I knew, said Leversham. How so
she will have been destroyed by hardship. Ah, girls are
tougher than women, pretend, said Connahur. A man grows directly
(10:51):
from the boy he was, she continued. He keeps the
boy you knew, even when he is an old man.
But a girl grows suddenly at an angle to all
that she was. She becomes a stranger. In a year. Humph,
he scoffed. The Deirdre we knew is dead, and some weatherwise,
weather wasted woman will look at me with unknown eyes
(11:15):
and say how do you do? I shall not know
how to talk to her, said Laversham. If it is so,
we shall see it. So said Gannahur, go now and
send me Conaar, and then the others in the order
I told you. Laversham left the room. When she was
(11:35):
beyond the king's hearing, she stood for a good five minutes,
musing deeply within herself, listening, as it were, to her heart,
to her instincts, to that monitor on whom we call
when the times are momentous and doubtful, and there is
no other help but our own to be summoned. She
sighed inaudibly tremulously and went about her business. Conal here
(12:01):
now stood in the doorway. Good old Chief and King.
He saluted life and happiness. Kanaha replied briskly, sit here,
my heart, for there is but one chair. I shall
walk up and down while we discuss this business. His
guests sat down. It is about Ishnach's boys. You think
(12:21):
they should come home? Every one thinks, so there is
a gap among your gentlemen while they are away, Ganahur nodded,
there is an even worse gap among your captains. It
is so, and among the boys growing from the troop.
Conail resumed. There is no one to replace these three.
(12:42):
They were already at the force of manhood, and even
then their skill and knowledge were remarkable. True, Kanohor agreed,
they were trained by me. The last six years of
combat and ambuscade and flight will have made them but
the better soldier. The king strode to his visitor and
(13:03):
laid a hand on his shoulder. Conaar, my friend, these
three have treated me shamefully. The only way to forgive
a thing is to forget it. You have forgiven, Connahur,
and forgotten if they returned with you, Conal, and if
evil happened to them while under your surety, what would
(13:23):
you do? Conaar rose from his chair, and in rising
displaced the King's hand. He looked at the king with
his steady, pale regard. If evil came to a person
placed under my protection, I would kill the person by
whom that evil came, Cannahura laughed merrily, even the king himself.
(13:44):
He quizzed, I would kill any person that dishonored me,
said Conaal sternly. You would be quite right to do so,
said Ganahur heartily. He seated himself in the chair that
Conal had vacated. The matter I wish to discuss is
your uncle Quet mach Magouk Quet of Connacht. That man
(14:05):
scorns our borders, and his depredations are costly and impertinent.
Our young men also are not equal to that able river.
Could you not talk to him, Konal and draw him
off us? I talked to Connacht men with a sword.
You may talk to him that way, if you please.
Conaar reviewed the invitation imperturbably. I would not care to
(14:29):
kill Ket Macmagach. He is my mother's brother, and he
is not an easy person to kill, said Kanahur. We
shall make our own arrangements about him. Blessings and long
life to you. The dismissed champions strode from the room.
That man Connahor thought moodily, has been hammered together stone
(14:52):
by stone, and is no more than a petrified vanity.
He loves nothing but his honor, which is that he
loves himself. Else, come in the coup, he called, come in,
and a hundred welcomes, my sweet lad Cokulin, magnificent in
red silk and gold embroideris, came leaping in. Well my pulse,
(15:15):
said Kanahor, And you have a new mantle. Emir mate
it the coup boasted. She does the finest embroidery in
the world. She told me so herself. If she told
you so, said Kanihor. Let me look at the sleeve.
It is not bad, my delight, but I have a
few pieces somewhere. Did you pass conaw Kieranak as you
(15:38):
came in? I did. He smiled a frozen smile at
me and clapped my shoulder with a fist of lead.
We were arguing about honor. If a person was placed
under your protection and was then killed, what would you do, Coukkin?
I would kill the other person, said Cukulin. If it
(16:00):
was the king, my pet, I would kill the king.
Kanohor sat round at him in a rage. Would you
kill me, he demanded, I would, Coukolin returned as fiercely,
I would kill any one who destroyed a person under
my protection. You would not kill me, co Culin. As
sure as dawn begins, the day begone, young puppy begone. Coxcomb,
(16:26):
He thundered. Honor. Coukolin commenced, you do not love me.
The King's stormed, I do love you. Begone. The king
roared and stamped the floor. The laughing cou culin backed
before his rage. I do love you, he shouted, And
he continued to shout I love you, I love you,
(16:47):
until he reached the end of the corridor and turned
the corner where the guards poked each other in the
ribs and giggled with joy. Conahor tugged at his beard,
half in anger and half in laughter. Another vanity in
a mantle. He thought, that boy loves me, indeed, and
he would as surely kill me, For it is certain
(17:08):
that I could not think of killing him. Is there
no person in my realm who loves me better than
his own? Poor pride? And what a three that Nietsha
must choose for his sureties. He strode savagely up and
down the room. We shall see now what Fergus is like.
He sneered. He professes to adore me and eyes me
(17:31):
with the devotion of a dull dog. A dull dog
he is, and a monster of sufficiency to boot if
he dares to thwart me the king gloomed and went
into a bitter rage of meditation. A great voice boomed
on him, Good, my soul, cannohur it is Fergus, cried
(17:51):
the king joyfully, and strode to meet his visitor. Come
my pulse, and best sit you and I shall stand. Nay, sit,
he chied gently. Indeed, if things were right, you should
sit always, and this man tapping his own breast should
bend a lover's knee before you. You bear no ill will, sweetheart,
(18:12):
for that trick of long ago the giant sat. I
never think of it, or I think of it with
relief when I remember the judgment's seat and the knots
and tangles and questions that came day by day. I
was not a bad justice, but I was a sad
fumbler at law. And the best man has the best place.
(18:34):
My dear, do not torment yourself with memories of that
old He halted for a word, treachery, said Kano hoor,
that is not the word I wanted. Fergus left, you
are too sensitive. Cono hour. The nobles agreed, and I
agreed that you should be the king, and I am
your most loving subject. You do love me, have I
(18:59):
not proved. The others smiled many a time. Time's out
of mind, said Kanohor. He turned aside and closed his eyes.
A pang of dull hates smoldered and stirred in him.
If this man were dead, he thought, with weary despair.
If this man would but cease and disappear and be gone,
(19:21):
how free my soul could be. He turned again to Fergus.
Let us talk of other things. He said, those sons
of Ishnach, you did a rare deed there, said the other,
approvingly rare or not rare. They will be brought back,
and you shall go for them. Fergus nodded. If they
(19:42):
claim my protection, he began, They do claim it, and
they will return under your protection. Then I shall go
for them. I shall be glad to see these boys again.
They had the markings of great fighters in them. That
is settled. Said, can hour you and start to day?
He inquired, I can start within the hour, Goodkna, who
(20:07):
amused and turned thoughtful eyes on his companion. If anything
happened to these three while they were under your protection, Fergus,
what would you do? I would kill the person who
interfered with my protection? No, matter who it was, No
matter who it was, I wonder, would our mutual love
withstand even an attack on honor? Said Kanah Houor thoughtfully,
(20:32):
there are bounds to love. But I doubt I could
lift a hand against you, even if you attacked my honor.
Our love is a great bond, said Fergus, Simply, it
would be hard to destroy. Nevertheless, the king smiled. If
I injured your honor, say that I attacked these sons
(20:52):
of Eshnakwahial in your surety, your affection for me would
scarcely withstand that that would be a hard case. Indeed,
if Fergus left, you would kill me, the king queried,
with a genial smile. You know, said Fergus, that I
could not kill you whatever you did. We love one another, well,
(21:14):
said Kanehor. It is a great thing to love as
we do, my friend. But now, he continued briskly, we
must attend to this troublesome business, and we must have
a third person present in order that the world may
know how we dispatch it. He clapped his hands, and
to the servant who appeared, who is in waiting, Barak Lord,
(21:37):
tell him to come here. That is the man who
feeds his guests on sharks, said Fergus. He is on
duty of honor to day. The king replied carelessly, and
he will be witnessed to the world. If my instructions
and of your charge come forward, good borak the bulky
man strode in. You shall listen to my instructions to
(21:59):
our dear Fergus, and you shall be the witness to
this arrangement. Fergus thereupon stood up, and Cannohur seated himself. Fergus,
my friend, you shall go to Scotland and bring back
to this court the three sons of Ishnach and the
woman Deirdre. There shall be no delay about the execution
of this duty. There shall be no delay, Fergus affirmed.
(22:23):
The instant they set foot in Ireland. You shall proceed
here with them, And if from any cause whatsoever you
cannot come yourself, you shall cause them to come to
me without the delay of even one half hour. That
will be done, said Fergus. But I shall be with them,
with you or without you, whether they arrive by day
(22:44):
or by night in Ireland. They shall be sent here
to me without the delay of even one half hour.
That will be done, said Fergus, I bind that on
you to the letter, said Cannahur. I accept it. So
Fergus retured, I shall bring my two sons to Scotland,
and if by any miracle I should be delayed myself,
(23:06):
they shall go forward with every speed and deliver these
four people safely to Evan Macha. A speedy return to you,
said cannehor go At once, my dear friend. But you
Borac stay yet, awhile I have the matter of our
feast to discuss with you. Fergus smiled broadly as he
withdrew sharks. He murmured, quite joyfully, sharks. End of Section twelve.
Section twelve of Deirdre by James Stevens. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Read by Michel Frye Betonrouge, Louisiana,
Book two, chapters three and four. Chapter three, The King
and the guests of honor, mainly members of his family
(00:23):
and their wives, sat on a raised dais overlooking the
banqueting home. It was at the heart of the banquet.
The food had been eaten, The meat and ale and
wine were circulating. Gentlemen were politely pledging each other's ladies,
and the ladies were feverishly considering each other's costumes and ornaments. Everyone,
(00:45):
Emer explained in her clear, sweet voice to Cocoulin, everyone
who has any hair at all wears it this way.
It is the Connacht fashion, said kruz Krau, the stammerer.
It is may fashion. Emer corrected. There must be three plaits,
she continued, two twisted round the head and caught in
(01:08):
a brooch, and one hanging down the back. I think
it is a charming fashion. I think Conochor smiled that
our ladies might content themselves with their own good Ulster customs.
There are Ulster customs, indeed, said Emer, But there are
no fashions. One must go to Connacht for that. If
(01:29):
it depends on the ladies, said Larry, we might let
the grass grow over the black pig's dike. The shoulder
torques are worn smaller in Connacht. Just now, Emer continued,
eyeing superciliously the ornaments of a neighbor, just like mine.
She added complacently. Kokoolan laughed boisterously, just like yours. Hemuck.
(01:53):
Why you know, well, my dove, I took that torque
on the last spoil I made in Connacht. Great good
humor descended on Connahur. Is that where the torque came from?
My soul? Your sweet lady must show it to me
more closely. You had a hard fight on that occasion.
(02:14):
I got away from them, the coup answered modestly. You
got away from them only when you got home. Bricrw jeered.
It was a good running, my sweet. They were very persistent,
the Coup admitted, laughingly. But I got away with my spoil.
You know how the conduct men explain the fact that
you are still alive. It will be an unpleasant explanation
(02:38):
if it is explained by Brikrew, said Emer. I should
like to hear it, said Connaheur. They are telling each
other that our coup was so beautiful they could not
bear to kill him. Think of that, Ko Kok. It
is a stupid sentimental reason, growled Larry. It is a
(02:59):
good honor reason, Emer fleshed. It is not a reason
you will ever give for letting a man escape, No,
said Brikru. Larry's excuse when he doesn't bring his man
home is that he couldn't catch him. And that, Larry, retorted,
would be the connocht man's reason for not getting the coup.
(03:20):
If a connocht man could tell the truth about anything,
they tell the truth when it is pleasant, said Emer,
And when it is not pleasant, they tell a lie.
They are epolite people, which is more than we are,
Oh Kanahur laughed. Their lies come from a good hearts
(03:40):
and a love of happiness, while our truths come grump grump, grump,
like the snarling of a badly trained dog. Ah Ho
Kanahur roared. Go Now, what do you say of these
connucht people? You also have been among them lately. They
are are honorable fighters, said Connell. No man can pray
(04:04):
for a better enemy than a conduct man. Fergus assented.
They come on where another would go back, and when
they go back, it is either through pity or poetry. Come,
said kanahor their compliment to the coup has been repaid,
and we can talk of something else. What do you
think of our banquet? There's nothing to be said, said Emer.
(04:28):
It is perfect. Everybody seems happy, said the complaisant king,
as he looked down the red branch. His guests also
stared down the hall. They seem happy and are happy,
said cou Kulin. He turned to his servant and charioteer
leg He cried, you do not love me. My cup
(04:48):
is empty, my darling, Lague replied, you have drunk as
much as as good for you. I shall drink as
much as is bad for me, if I please, said Cokulan.
So bring me some mead, my treasure. I shall bring
you ale or cider mead, said the coup. Ale, my
(05:09):
little love, said the charioteer. Bring mead for the coup
when he wants it, Emir ordered indignantly. Sweet mistress, said Lague.
We have to bring him home to night. Then give
him ale, said Emer. It will surely be ale, cried
the delighted Kanohur mead cu Culin pleaded, you will want
(05:33):
to fight the moon and stars as we go home.
Emer rebuked him. I can fight on ale just as well,
Cookulin asserted, And it is a good hearty ale. The
king assured him. Let it be ale, then, said Kukulin.
I think that not one person whom we know is
absent from this banquet, said Fiachra, the fair Kanahur's youngest son.
(05:58):
The conversation turned as they all look down the great hall.
There is so and so and so and so, who,
said Emir, is that tall, sad man with three men's
chins about him. He is such a one, said Fiokra.
And the black bog beside him with the beard that
was stolen from a porcupine. His name is Borak, the
(06:22):
son of Anta. He has a fortified rock half in
and half out of the sea. He catches sharks through
his window, and his banquets are all made of fish.
He is preparing a banquet for Mekanahur cried, I shall
not accept a feast from that man, said Fergus. You
(06:42):
must if he asks you, Cukulin replied, for it is
a gossa on you not to refuse a feast. That
is so, but the feast must be ready before I
am offered it. And as I do not visit his
part of the world, I shall never have to eat
his sharks. You think there is no one absent, asked Gunnhur.
(07:04):
Not one, they agreed. I am sharper than you are,
he continued, for I can count three who are not here. Again,
they scrutinized the hall without finding any missing friends. They
appealed to the Herald, who stood by Ganahor's chair. He
too was mystified. What three are they said, Fiachra, The
(07:27):
three sons of Ishnach, The king replied, smilingly, the three
lights of Valor of the Gale. At the words, a
moment's silence came on the dais, and no person knew
exactly what to say or do. Fergus turned his direct
gaze on the king. They are in Scotland, he said.
(07:50):
They went there seven years ago when Nisha ran away
with Deirdre, said Gannahur. Konaial Kirnak turned his harsh forehead
to the king. They are in great distress, he said,
I have just heard so. The king replied gravely. We
must bring them home. At the words. The face of
(08:10):
every person changed. It was as though a cordial had
just been dropped into each heart. Coculan flashed enthusiasm and
delight at the king. You will let them come back.
They shall be at our next banquet. If I could
love you more, Fergus affirmed, I would love you more
(08:31):
for that. I know you love me well, said Kanohor,
and I love you, my heart. We have been wearying
to see nishe again, cried Cokulin. What is he like?
Said Emer? He is under gosa about his return, Brikrwe interposed.
Kanahor turned abruptly to him. What goasa is that he
(08:56):
will come back in the company of Fergus, or of Conau,
or of the who. Otherwise he will not come back, Ah,
said Ganohor. He was always a sensible, far seeing boy.
Brikru continued thoughtfully. The King's eyes rested on Brikrue for
one weighty moment. Ere he replied, we shall send one
(09:18):
of the three, or all of the three to fetch him.
What is she like, Emir insisted. Brikru replied, she has
been sleeping in ditches for six years. She will be
like nothing you have ever heard of. Sweet lady, she said, Coucoulin,
(09:38):
she said every voice. At one moment, she said Ganihor,
with a grave smile, was called the troubler, and she
has given and received her share of trouble. Chapter four.
You understand, said the king. I understand well, said Levisham.
(10:00):
First you are to send Conaile to me half an hour.
Afterwards you shall send Cokulin. In another half hour you
shall send me Fergus, And when he comes, you shall
see that Bourach is in waiting. I understand, well, Master.
In a little while you shall see your babe again.
She scrutinized his face. Humbly and gravely. You are most gentle, master,
(10:26):
Are you not contented? I am filled with joy and grief,
she answered, and grief. The king echoed. Moli, she will
not be the girl I knew, said Leversham. How so
she will have been destroyed by hardship. Ah, girls are
tougher than women, pretend, said Connahur. A man grows directly
(10:51):
from the boy he was, she continued. He keeps the
boy you knew, even when he is an old man.
But a girl grows suddenly at an angle to all
that she was. She becomes a stranger. In a year. Humph,
he scoffed. The Deirdre we knew is dead, and some weatherwise,
weather wasted woman will look at me with unknown eyes
(11:15):
and say how do you do? I shall not know
how to talk to her, said Laversham. If it is so,
we shall see it. So said Gannahur, go now and
send me Conaar, and then the others in the order
I told you. Laversham left the room. When she was
(11:35):
beyond the king's hearing, she stood for a good five minutes,
musing deeply within herself, listening, as it were, to her heart,
to her instincts, to that monitor on whom we call
when the times are momentous and doubtful, and there is
no other help but our own to be summoned. She
sighed inaudibly tremulously and went about her business. Conal here
(12:01):
now stood in the doorway. Good old Chief and King.
He saluted life and happiness. Kanaha replied briskly, sit here,
my heart, for there is but one chair. I shall
walk up and down while we discuss this business. His
guests sat down. It is about Ishnach's boys. You think
(12:21):
they should come home? Every one thinks, so there is
a gap among your gentlemen while they are away, Ganahur nodded,
there is an even worse gap among your captains. It
is so, and among the boys growing from the troop.
Conail resumed. There is no one to replace these three.
(12:42):
They were already at the force of manhood, and even
then their skill and knowledge were remarkable. True, Kanohor agreed,
they were trained by me. The last six years of
combat and ambuscade and flight will have made them but
the better soldier. The king strode to his visitor and
(13:03):
laid a hand on his shoulder. Conaar, my friend, these
three have treated me shamefully. The only way to forgive
a thing is to forget it. You have forgiven, Connahur,
and forgotten if they returned with you, Conal, and if
evil happened to them while under your surety, what would
(13:23):
you do? Conaar rose from his chair, and in rising
displaced the King's hand. He looked at the king with
his steady, pale regard. If evil came to a person
placed under my protection, I would kill the person by
whom that evil came, Cannahura laughed merrily, even the king himself.
(13:44):
He quizzed, I would kill any person that dishonored me,
said Conaal sternly. You would be quite right to do so,
said Ganahur heartily. He seated himself in the chair that
Conal had vacated. The matter I wish to discuss is
your uncle Quet mach Magouk Quet of Connacht. That man
(14:05):
scorns our borders, and his depredations are costly and impertinent.
Our young men also are not equal to that able river.
Could you not talk to him, Konal and draw him
off us? I talked to Connacht men with a sword.
You may talk to him that way, if you please.
Conaar reviewed the invitation imperturbably. I would not care to
(14:29):
kill Ket Macmagach. He is my mother's brother, and he
is not an easy person to kill, said Kanahur. We
shall make our own arrangements about him. Blessings and long
life to you. The dismissed champions strode from the room.
That man Connahor thought moodily, has been hammered together stone
(14:52):
by stone, and is no more than a petrified vanity.
He loves nothing but his honor, which is that he
loves himself. Else, come in the coup, he called, come in,
and a hundred welcomes, my sweet lad Cokulin, magnificent in
red silk and gold embroideris, came leaping in. Well my pulse,
(15:15):
said Kanahor, And you have a new mantle. Emir mate
it the coup boasted. She does the finest embroidery in
the world. She told me so herself. If she told
you so, said Kanihor. Let me look at the sleeve.
It is not bad, my delight, but I have a
few pieces somewhere. Did you pass conaw Kieranak as you
(15:38):
came in? I did. He smiled a frozen smile at
me and clapped my shoulder with a fist of lead.
We were arguing about honor. If a person was placed
under your protection and was then killed, what would you do, Coukkin?
I would kill the other person, said Cukulin. If it
(16:00):
was the king, my pet, I would kill the king.
Kanohor sat round at him in a rage. Would you
kill me, he demanded, I would, Coukolin returned as fiercely,
I would kill any one who destroyed a person under
my protection. You would not kill me, co Culin. As
sure as dawn begins, the day begone, young puppy begone. Coxcomb,
(16:26):
He thundered. Honor. Coukolin commenced, you do not love me.
The King's stormed, I do love you. Begone. The king
roared and stamped the floor. The laughing cou culin backed
before his rage. I do love you, he shouted, And
he continued to shout I love you, I love you,
(16:47):
until he reached the end of the corridor and turned
the corner where the guards poked each other in the
ribs and giggled with joy. Conahor tugged at his beard,
half in anger and half in laughter. Another vanity in
a mantle. He thought, that boy loves me, indeed, and
he would as surely kill me, For it is certain
(17:08):
that I could not think of killing him. Is there
no person in my realm who loves me better than
his own? Poor pride? And what a three that Nietsha
must choose for his sureties. He strode savagely up and
down the room. We shall see now what Fergus is like.
He sneered. He professes to adore me and eyes me
(17:31):
with the devotion of a dull dog. A dull dog
he is, and a monster of sufficiency to boot if
he dares to thwart me the king gloomed and went
into a bitter rage of meditation. A great voice boomed
on him, Good, my soul, cannohur it is Fergus, cried
(17:51):
the king joyfully, and strode to meet his visitor. Come
my pulse, and best sit you and I shall stand. Nay, sit,
he chied gently. Indeed, if things were right, you should
sit always, and this man tapping his own breast should
bend a lover's knee before you. You bear no ill will, sweetheart,
(18:12):
for that trick of long ago the giant sat. I
never think of it, or I think of it with
relief when I remember the judgment's seat and the knots
and tangles and questions that came day by day. I
was not a bad justice, but I was a sad
fumbler at law. And the best man has the best place.
(18:34):
My dear, do not torment yourself with memories of that
old He halted for a word, treachery, said Kano hoor,
that is not the word I wanted. Fergus left, you
are too sensitive. Cono hour. The nobles agreed, and I
agreed that you should be the king, and I am
your most loving subject. You do love me, have I
(18:59):
not proved. The others smiled many a time. Time's out
of mind, said Kanohor. He turned aside and closed his eyes.
A pang of dull hates smoldered and stirred in him.
If this man were dead, he thought, with weary despair.
If this man would but cease and disappear and be gone,
(19:21):
how free my soul could be. He turned again to Fergus.
Let us talk of other things. He said, those sons
of Ishnach, you did a rare deed there, said the other,
approvingly rare or not rare. They will be brought back,
and you shall go for them. Fergus nodded. If they
(19:42):
claim my protection, he began, They do claim it, and
they will return under your protection. Then I shall go
for them. I shall be glad to see these boys again.
They had the markings of great fighters in them. That
is settled. Said, can hour you and start to day?
He inquired, I can start within the hour, Goodkna, who
(20:07):
amused and turned thoughtful eyes on his companion. If anything
happened to these three while they were under your protection, Fergus,
what would you do? I would kill the person who
interfered with my protection? No, matter who it was, No
matter who it was, I wonder, would our mutual love
withstand even an attack on honor? Said Kanah Houor thoughtfully,
(20:32):
there are bounds to love. But I doubt I could
lift a hand against you, even if you attacked my honor.
Our love is a great bond, said Fergus, Simply, it
would be hard to destroy. Nevertheless, the king smiled. If
I injured your honor, say that I attacked these sons
(20:52):
of Eshnakwahial in your surety, your affection for me would
scarcely withstand that that would be a hard case. Indeed,
if Fergus left, you would kill me, the king queried,
with a genial smile. You know, said Fergus, that I
could not kill you whatever you did. We love one another, well,
(21:14):
said Kanehor. It is a great thing to love as
we do, my friend. But now, he continued briskly, we
must attend to this troublesome business, and we must have
a third person present in order that the world may
know how we dispatch it. He clapped his hands, and
to the servant who appeared, who is in waiting, Barak Lord,
(21:37):
tell him to come here. That is the man who
feeds his guests on sharks, said Fergus. He is on
duty of honor to day. The king replied carelessly, and
he will be witnessed to the world. If my instructions
and of your charge come forward, good borak the bulky
man strode in. You shall listen to my instructions to
(21:59):
our dear Fergus, and you shall be the witness to
this arrangement. Fergus thereupon stood up, and Cannohur seated himself. Fergus,
my friend, you shall go to Scotland and bring back
to this court the three sons of Ishnach and the
woman Deirdre. There shall be no delay about the execution
of this duty. There shall be no delay, Fergus affirmed.
(22:23):
The instant they set foot in Ireland. You shall proceed
here with them, And if from any cause whatsoever you
cannot come yourself, you shall cause them to come to
me without the delay of even one half hour. That
will be done, said Fergus. But I shall be with them,
with you or without you, whether they arrive by day
(22:44):
or by night in Ireland. They shall be sent here
to me without the delay of even one half hour.
That will be done, said Fergus, I bind that on
you to the letter, said Cannahur. I accept it. So
Fergus retured, I shall bring my two sons to Scotland,
and if by any miracle I should be delayed myself,
(23:06):
they shall go forward with every speed and deliver these
four people safely to Evan Macha. A speedy return to you,
said cannehor go At once, my dear friend. But you
Borac stay yet, awhile I have the matter of our
feast to discuss with you. Fergus smiled broadly as he
withdrew sharks. He murmured, quite joyfully, sharks. End of Section twelve.
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