Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Section thirteen of Deirdre by James Stephens. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Read by Michel for I Vanrouge, Louisiana,
Book two, chapters five and six. Chapter five. On the
slope of a sunny hill overlooking Loch Eha, Deirdre was
(00:25):
cooking the meal which her husband and his brothers had
run to earth and carried home on their shoulders. The
food is ready, she called. It is not as ready
as I am, for I could eat land and water.
Ardonn averd, I shall not give you any she mocked.
Serve the greedy person right, said an La. He eats
(00:46):
in his sleep. But I must get the part I killed.
Ardon protested, What part is that? I don't know its name,
but it is the tenderest part. This is also a
thievish person, said I indignantly. He is trying to claim
the part I killed. Fight for me, Nisha, Ardon implored.
(01:07):
Be on my side, dear dream, you shall be served last,
said Deirdre severely, and you shall get a tough peace,
a hon a hone forever. He lamented. How do you
like that piece, said Deirdre vindictively. I could eat a
cow's horn if you cooked it. He wheedled, won't you
(01:30):
give me more? In a minute, little sister, I shall
give you ten kisses. Do not go between a man
and his meat. An La warned, he will bite you.
The law says that you are my brother, but I
shall certainly divorce you. The other cried, and then you
will be sorry. You are silent, Nisha, said Deirdre. No
(01:53):
man can talk with his mouth full except me, Ardon exclaimed.
Half an hour ago, said Nisha, I saw a ship
beating in from the sea, a fishing boat. I think
it was a boat from Ireland. Why should you think so?
It had the cut of an Irish boat. If it
(02:14):
is any of our friends from Ireland, said aunt La,
they will be almost at the strand. Now we have
no friends in Ireland, Deirdre returned coldly. Run to the strand,
are doned my pulse? And see who came in that ship.
The boy scrambled to his feet. If they are friends,
I'll give them kisses. If they are enemies, I'll steal
(02:36):
their supper. But Deirdre was well begone as she looked
on the two brothers. What ails you, little sister, Anla inquired,
I had a dream last night, she replied, and it
troubles me. We share all things and our troubles. Tell
us your dream. Deirdre looked away distantly to the sea.
(02:59):
I dream that three birds came flying from Immain Macha.
Happy birds, said Nisha, dreamily, that can fly and fly back.
They each had a sip of honey in their beaks.
They left the three SIPs of honey with us, and
they took away from us three SIPs of our blood.
(03:19):
The ending, said Nisha, is not so sweet as the beginning.
How do you interpret that dream? His brother asked, I
think that three people will come to us carrying a sweet,
deceitful message from Kanahur. A dream is a dream, he
soothed her. And my dreams, she cried. How many times
(03:41):
have we fled on the advice of my dream? And
as we looked back, we saw that happening which we
fled from. Is that true, brother, It is true. Our
Deirdre has second sight. Nisha turned his shoulder along the
grass and laid his ear to the wind. I hear
a shout, he said. It is some man of these
(04:04):
parts giving a hunting call. She answered, it seemed to
me like the shout of an irishman. It may be
Ardon returning, It is not his call. It is Fergus
and his two sons, said Deirdre miserably. They are coming
to us with three SIPs of honey in their mouths.
(04:25):
What is in Fergus's mouth is in his heart. Also,
Misha cried joyfully. One time or another, even your dream
may be wrong, for if Fergus agrees to be a messenger,
the message will be as true as his own truth. Remember,
said Deirdre, that I told you they were coming, without
having seen them. Fergus and his two sons, with Ardan
(04:49):
doing circles and whoops around them, rose on a slope
of the hill and came striving over the tussocks. Behind
them came the shield bearer and the shield itself. And
at the sight an La fled to meet them, but
Nisha drew back to keep Deirdre company, for she had
not moved. It is Fergus, he said, with shining eyes.
(05:12):
He has come for our blood, said white lipped Deirdre,
Queen of Queens. Her husband left. You do not know Fergus.
At that the whole band came together, and they all
kissed each other fondly. Welcome to this land, said Nisha,
and thou Art Deirdre, cried Fergus, as he kissed her
(05:33):
on either cheek. She smiled wandly as she returned his kisses.
We shall teach you to laugh in Ireland, he told.
What news is there from the lovely country? Her husband
demanded the best. The news is that you are to
return there, ah, said Nisha. The King himself has sent
(05:54):
me to bring you home under my surety and protection. Whoop,
said Ardan. He bids me tell you that he has
forgiven you and wishes you all happiness. But Deard returned
to him, smiling and fearful. We are happy here in Scotland,
she said. Nay, said Fergus, one cannot be satisfied when
(06:16):
one is in exile, for his native land is dearer
to a man than any other. This is truly a
dear country, she replied, and it is well known. Fergus
continued that if a man of Ireland had the lordship
of another country, he would yet be unhappy unless he
could see Ireland every day. It is so, said Anlo.
(06:41):
There is no one knows its truth better than the
sons of Ishnach cried, Nietia, you see, the great man
chided her. I know that this is a dear land,
said Deirdre stubbornly, and that here the sons of Ishnach
might rise to any destiny they aim for. It may
be so, nishe affirmed, But Ireland is dearer to me
(07:05):
than Scotland. Scotland is safer, she said. Will you be
safer in Scotland than with me? Cried Fergus in amazement.
I have yet a little power, he smiled. We will
go with you, said Nisha. Do not go my pulse,
said Deirdre, in great agitation. Do not trust yourself where
(07:26):
Gunnohor is. Women and cats dislike change, Nisha laughed, but
you will love this change. In half an hour they
strode down the hill, and in an hour their sails
were bent for Ireland. It was then Deirdre made her
first poem, beginning A Lovable Land is that in the
(07:47):
east Marvelous Alba, Chapter six. As they approached harbor, they
noticed a band waiting at the landing place, and these
people raised mighty cheers as the ship swung. That man,
said Fergus, indicating one who stood apart and issued commands.
(08:09):
I surely know that man. It is Borak, He laughed.
It is the man who feeds people on sharks, and
he explained to his party all that he had heard
of Borak. At the banquet. The gods be praised, he murmured,
we cannot wait for his feast, even if he offers it.
When they landed, Borak ran to meet them. He kissed
(08:30):
Fergus three times, and he kissed each of the others. Also.
Welcome to this land, he said, all Ireland welcomes you.
He looked with his black, deep set peep at Deirdre,
and he kissed her, but when she looked at him,
he turned aside. He was ill at ease, and all
(08:51):
his movements were self conscious and unhappy. He turned almost
truculently to Fergus. Fergus he said, I am honored to
see you in my lordship. You are kind, said Fergus,
and I shall bind you to visit me in mine.
I am so delighted. Borak continued hastily that I have
(09:12):
prepared a feast for you, such as is only offered
to a king. The king did say. Fergus rumbled joyfully,
that you had a feast ready for him. That is
the feast I am offering to you, said Brak, What
cried the giant. The king has notified me that he
cannot come to my banquet, so I am offering it
(09:33):
to you instead. Fergus stared at him. You were present,
and you heard conno Hour's instructions that there should be
no delay on this journey. I shall come and feast
with you another time, my dear, I insist that you
stay and feast with me for one week, Lorak growled.
(09:54):
You insist, he murmured, in astonishment. I invoke your gossa,
said the other Stubb. You must remain with me for
a week. At that Fergus became one purple mass from
the crown of his head to the soles of his feet,
and his face swelled so that the bystanders feared he
would burst with the excess and violence of his rage.
(10:17):
Borak was nervous, but his own men were around him,
and although he was terrified of Fergus, he was yet
more frightened of the king. I insist, he shouted, and
you cannot refuse a feast that is offered to you kindly.
This is a trick, said Fergus. You know my oath.
You listened to it for the king made me swear
(10:39):
in your presence that was it by day or by night?
I should speed the sons of Ishnak to him from
the moment we landed, and you offer me a feast
and a week's delay? What dog's deed do you intend? You, Borak?
Do you not value your life? He roared? I value
my life indeed, Borak replied, and looking round on his attendants,
(11:01):
and I shall take great care of it. I hold
you to the feast. Fergus, come apart with me, said
the bewildered giant to his companions, And let us discuss
this wonder. What ought we to do? It seems that
you must make a choice, said dear Drew timidly. What
(11:21):
choice is there, sweet queen, You have to choose whether
you will forsake the feast or forsake us, she murmured.
Her heart swelled as she spoke, so that her voice
was not steady, for she was astonished and unhappy, and
her mind was bewildered. In truth, I must leave one
or the other, said Fergus. Nisha and his brothers stared
(11:45):
at the fog. Noble, dear champion, she pleaded, it would
be more fitting to leave the feast. But it would
not be right to leave us in the middle of
our enemies. But I cannot leave a feast, Fergus explained,
for that is my compact with the gods. One cannot
break his gossa. They stared at him and at one
(12:07):
another in consternation. Whatever is in his mind, this Borak
will not release me from the eating of his accursed sharks.
Fergus continued, wrathfully, eat them, I must. But I shall
leave my sons with you, and they will protect you
on the road to Emain by my hand, said Nishe.
(12:28):
You are doing a great deal for us. The protection
we seek is that of your name and fame and station.
Any other protection we do not value, for we are
well used to taking care of ourselves. But said Fergus,
we did not come here under your weapons, said Nishe.
We came under your guarantee. You mistake me, said Fergus mildly.
(12:53):
My sons carry my guarantee, and with them you will
be as secure as though I were present. He turned
to rough Red Buennia and Ioleand the fair is not that? So?
It is so, said Buennia. The Council of All Ireland
would not tolerate the breaking of this notable surety, said Iolend.
(13:15):
It is known now through the whole country, and what
men would dare to break my guarantee? Fergus inquired, Nesha
bit his lip, let us go on, said he. He
turned his level gaze on Fergus's sons. You are our guaranteurs,
he said, and we accept your protection. They returned to
(13:38):
where the Black of Ozed Chieftain was waiting, and him
Fergus stared and outstared, until he was reduced to a
mess of unhappiness. I shall eat sharks because I must borac,
he thundered. What sharks are you talking about, said Barak.
Lead me to your miseries of the deep, said Fergus,
But do not talk to me about them. End of
(14:01):
Section thirteen.
Section thirteen of Deirdre by James Stephens. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Read by Michel for I Vanrouge, Louisiana,
Book two, chapters five and six. Chapter five. On the
slope of a sunny hill overlooking Loch Eha, Deirdre was
(00:25):
cooking the meal which her husband and his brothers had
run to earth and carried home on their shoulders. The
food is ready, she called. It is not as ready
as I am, for I could eat land and water.
Ardonn averd, I shall not give you any she mocked.
Serve the greedy person right, said an La. He eats
(00:46):
in his sleep. But I must get the part I killed.
Ardon protested, What part is that? I don't know its name,
but it is the tenderest part. This is also a
thievish person, said I indignantly. He is trying to claim
the part I killed. Fight for me, Nisha, Ardon implored.
(01:07):
Be on my side, dear dream, you shall be served last,
said Deirdre severely, and you shall get a tough peace,
a hon a hone forever. He lamented. How do you
like that piece, said Deirdre vindictively. I could eat a
cow's horn if you cooked it. He wheedled, won't you
(01:30):
give me more? In a minute, little sister, I shall
give you ten kisses. Do not go between a man
and his meat. An La warned, he will bite you.
The law says that you are my brother, but I
shall certainly divorce you. The other cried, and then you
will be sorry. You are silent, Nisha, said Deirdre. No
(01:53):
man can talk with his mouth full except me, Ardon exclaimed.
Half an hour ago, said Nisha, I saw a ship
beating in from the sea, a fishing boat. I think
it was a boat from Ireland. Why should you think so?
It had the cut of an Irish boat. If it
(02:14):
is any of our friends from Ireland, said aunt La,
they will be almost at the strand. Now we have
no friends in Ireland, Deirdre returned coldly. Run to the strand,
are doned my pulse? And see who came in that ship.
The boy scrambled to his feet. If they are friends,
I'll give them kisses. If they are enemies, I'll steal
(02:36):
their supper. But Deirdre was well begone as she looked
on the two brothers. What ails you, little sister, Anla inquired,
I had a dream last night, she replied, and it
troubles me. We share all things and our troubles. Tell
us your dream. Deirdre looked away distantly to the sea.
(02:59):
I dream that three birds came flying from Immain Macha.
Happy birds, said Nisha, dreamily, that can fly and fly back.
They each had a sip of honey in their beaks.
They left the three SIPs of honey with us, and
they took away from us three SIPs of our blood.
(03:19):
The ending, said Nisha, is not so sweet as the beginning.
How do you interpret that dream? His brother asked, I
think that three people will come to us carrying a sweet,
deceitful message from Kanahur. A dream is a dream, he
soothed her. And my dreams, she cried. How many times
(03:41):
have we fled on the advice of my dream? And
as we looked back, we saw that happening which we
fled from. Is that true, brother, It is true. Our
Deirdre has second sight. Nisha turned his shoulder along the
grass and laid his ear to the wind. I hear
a shout, he said. It is some man of these
(04:04):
parts giving a hunting call. She answered, it seemed to
me like the shout of an irishman. It may be
Ardon returning, It is not his call. It is Fergus
and his two sons, said Deirdre miserably. They are coming
to us with three SIPs of honey in their mouths.
(04:25):
What is in Fergus's mouth is in his heart. Also,
Misha cried joyfully. One time or another, even your dream
may be wrong, for if Fergus agrees to be a messenger,
the message will be as true as his own truth. Remember,
said Deirdre, that I told you they were coming, without
having seen them. Fergus and his two sons, with Ardan
(04:49):
doing circles and whoops around them, rose on a slope
of the hill and came striving over the tussocks. Behind
them came the shield bearer and the shield itself. And
at the sight an La fled to meet them, but
Nisha drew back to keep Deirdre company, for she had
not moved. It is Fergus, he said, with shining eyes.
(05:12):
He has come for our blood, said white lipped Deirdre,
Queen of Queens. Her husband left. You do not know Fergus.
At that the whole band came together, and they all
kissed each other fondly. Welcome to this land, said Nisha,
and thou Art Deirdre, cried Fergus, as he kissed her
(05:33):
on either cheek. She smiled wandly as she returned his kisses.
We shall teach you to laugh in Ireland, he told.
What news is there from the lovely country? Her husband
demanded the best. The news is that you are to
return there, ah, said Nisha. The King himself has sent
(05:54):
me to bring you home under my surety and protection. Whoop,
said Ardan. He bids me tell you that he has
forgiven you and wishes you all happiness. But Deard returned
to him, smiling and fearful. We are happy here in Scotland,
she said. Nay, said Fergus, one cannot be satisfied when
(06:16):
one is in exile, for his native land is dearer
to a man than any other. This is truly a
dear country, she replied, and it is well known. Fergus
continued that if a man of Ireland had the lordship
of another country, he would yet be unhappy unless he
could see Ireland every day. It is so, said Anlo.
(06:41):
There is no one knows its truth better than the
sons of Ishnach cried, Nietia, you see, the great man
chided her. I know that this is a dear land,
said Deirdre stubbornly, and that here the sons of Ishnach
might rise to any destiny they aim for. It may
be so, nishe affirmed, But Ireland is dearer to me
(07:05):
than Scotland. Scotland is safer, she said. Will you be
safer in Scotland than with me? Cried Fergus in amazement.
I have yet a little power, he smiled. We will
go with you, said Nisha. Do not go my pulse,
said Deirdre, in great agitation. Do not trust yourself where
(07:26):
Gunnohor is. Women and cats dislike change, Nisha laughed, but
you will love this change. In half an hour they
strode down the hill, and in an hour their sails
were bent for Ireland. It was then Deirdre made her
first poem, beginning A Lovable Land is that in the
(07:47):
east Marvelous Alba, Chapter six. As they approached harbor, they
noticed a band waiting at the landing place, and these
people raised mighty cheers as the ship swung. That man,
said Fergus, indicating one who stood apart and issued commands.
(08:09):
I surely know that man. It is Borak, He laughed.
It is the man who feeds people on sharks, and
he explained to his party all that he had heard
of Borak. At the banquet. The gods be praised, he murmured,
we cannot wait for his feast, even if he offers it.
When they landed, Borak ran to meet them. He kissed
(08:30):
Fergus three times, and he kissed each of the others. Also.
Welcome to this land, he said, all Ireland welcomes you.
He looked with his black, deep set peep at Deirdre,
and he kissed her, but when she looked at him,
he turned aside. He was ill at ease, and all
(08:51):
his movements were self conscious and unhappy. He turned almost
truculently to Fergus. Fergus he said, I am honored to
see you in my lordship. You are kind, said Fergus,
and I shall bind you to visit me in mine.
I am so delighted. Borak continued hastily that I have
(09:12):
prepared a feast for you, such as is only offered
to a king. The king did say. Fergus rumbled joyfully,
that you had a feast ready for him. That is
the feast I am offering to you, said Brak, What
cried the giant. The king has notified me that he
cannot come to my banquet, so I am offering it
(09:33):
to you instead. Fergus stared at him. You were present,
and you heard conno Hour's instructions that there should be
no delay on this journey. I shall come and feast
with you another time, my dear, I insist that you
stay and feast with me for one week, Lorak growled.
(09:54):
You insist, he murmured, in astonishment. I invoke your gossa,
said the other Stubb. You must remain with me for
a week. At that Fergus became one purple mass from
the crown of his head to the soles of his feet,
and his face swelled so that the bystanders feared he
would burst with the excess and violence of his rage.
(10:17):
Borak was nervous, but his own men were around him,
and although he was terrified of Fergus, he was yet
more frightened of the king. I insist, he shouted, and
you cannot refuse a feast that is offered to you kindly.
This is a trick, said Fergus. You know my oath.
You listened to it for the king made me swear
(10:39):
in your presence that was it by day or by night?
I should speed the sons of Ishnak to him from
the moment we landed, and you offer me a feast
and a week's delay? What dog's deed do you intend? You, Borak?
Do you not value your life? He roared? I value
my life indeed, Borak replied, and looking round on his attendants,
(11:01):
and I shall take great care of it. I hold
you to the feast. Fergus, come apart with me, said
the bewildered giant to his companions, And let us discuss
this wonder. What ought we to do? It seems that
you must make a choice, said dear Drew timidly. What
(11:21):
choice is there, sweet queen, You have to choose whether
you will forsake the feast or forsake us, she murmured.
Her heart swelled as she spoke, so that her voice
was not steady, for she was astonished and unhappy, and
her mind was bewildered. In truth, I must leave one
or the other, said Fergus. Nisha and his brothers stared
(11:45):
at the fog. Noble, dear champion, she pleaded, it would
be more fitting to leave the feast. But it would
not be right to leave us in the middle of
our enemies. But I cannot leave a feast, Fergus explained,
for that is my compact with the gods. One cannot
break his gossa. They stared at him and at one
(12:07):
another in consternation. Whatever is in his mind, this Borak
will not release me from the eating of his accursed sharks.
Fergus continued, wrathfully, eat them, I must. But I shall
leave my sons with you, and they will protect you
on the road to Emain by my hand, said Nishe.
(12:28):
You are doing a great deal for us. The protection
we seek is that of your name and fame and station.
Any other protection we do not value, for we are
well used to taking care of ourselves. But said Fergus,
we did not come here under your weapons, said Nishe.
We came under your guarantee. You mistake me, said Fergus mildly.
(12:53):
My sons carry my guarantee, and with them you will
be as secure as though I were present. He turned
to rough Red Buennia and Ioleand the fair is not that? So?
It is so, said Buennia. The Council of All Ireland
would not tolerate the breaking of this notable surety, said Iolend.
(13:15):
It is known now through the whole country, and what
men would dare to break my guarantee? Fergus inquired, Nesha
bit his lip, let us go on, said he. He
turned his level gaze on Fergus's sons. You are our guaranteurs,
he said, and we accept your protection. They returned to
(13:38):
where the Black of Ozed Chieftain was waiting, and him
Fergus stared and outstared, until he was reduced to a
mess of unhappiness. I shall eat sharks because I must borac,
he thundered. What sharks are you talking about, said Barak.
Lead me to your miseries of the deep, said Fergus,
But do not talk to me about them. End of
(14:01):
Section thirteen.
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