The King's Threshold; and On Baile's Strand

Seanchan.Not yet; you did not think that hungry handsCould be so strong. They are not civil yet —I’d know if you have taught him to eat breadFrom the King’s hand, and perch upon his finger.I think he perches on the King’s strong hand,But it may be that he is still too wild.You must not weary in your work; a KingIs often weary and he needs a GodTo be a comfort to him.

[The Monk plucks his habit away. Seanchan holds up his hand as if a bird perched upon it. He pretends to stroke the bird.

A little god,With soft well-coloured feathers, and bright eyes.Aileen.We have listened long enough.Essa.Let us away,Where we can watch the young men at the hurley.Seanchan.Yes, yes, go to the hurley, go to the hurley,Go to the hurley, gather up your skirts,Run quickly. You can remember many love songs;I know it by the light that’s in your eyes,But you’ll forget them. You’re fair to look on,Your feet delight in dancing, and your mouthsIn the slow smiling that awakens love.The mothers that have borne you mated rightly,For they had little ears as thirsty as are yoursFor many love-songs. Go to the young men:Are not the ruddy flesh and the thin flanksAnd the broad shoulders worthy of desire?Go from me. Here is nothing for your eyes,But it is I that am singing you away,Singing you to the young men.

[The two young Princesses Buan and Finnhua come in. While he has been speaking Aileen and Essa have shrunk back holding each others hands.

Aileen.Be quiet;Look who it is that has come out of the house.Princesses, we are for the hurling field.Will you come too?Princess Buan.We will go with you, Aileen,But we must have some words with Seanchan,For we have come to make him eat and drink.Chamberlain.I will hold out the dish and cup for himWhile you are speaking to him of his folly,If you desire it, Princess.

[He has taken up dish and cup.

Princess Buan.Give me the cup.My sister there will carry the dish of meat:We’ll offer them ourselves.Aileen.They are so gracious,The dear little princesses are so gracious.

[Princess Buan holds out her hand for Seanchan to kiss it; he does not move.

Although she is holding out her hand to himHe will not kiss it.Princess Buan.My father bids us sayThat though he cannot have you at his table,You may ask any other thing you likeAnd he will give it you. We carry youA dish and a cup of wine, with our own hands,To show in what great honour you are held.Will you not drink a little? Does he not showEvery befitting honour to the poets?Aileen.O look, he has taken it, he has taken it!The dear princesses, I have always saidThat nobody could refuse them anything.

[Seanchan takes the cup in one hand, in the other he holds for a moment the hand of the Princess.

Seanchan.O long soft fingers and pale finger-tipsWell worthy to be laid in a king’s hand;O you have fair white hands, for it is certainThere is uncommon whiteness in these hands.But there is something comes into my mind,Princess. A little while before your birthI saw your mother sitting by the roadIn a high chair, and when a leper passedShe pointed him the way into the town,And he lifted his hand and blessed her hand;I saw it with my own eyes. Hold out your hands,I will find out if they are contaminated;For it has come into my thoughts that may beThe King has sent me food and drink by handsThat are contaminated. I would see all your hands,You’ve eyes of dancers, but hold out your hands,For it may be there are none sound among you —

[The Princesses have shrunk back in terror.

Princess Buan.He has called us lepers.Chamberlain.He’s out of his mind,And does not know the meaning of what he said.Seanchan.[Standing up.] There are no sound hands among you. No sound hands.Away with you, away with all of you,You are all lepers. There is leprosyAmong the plates and dishes that you have brought me.I would know why you have brought me leper’s wine?

[He flings the wine in their faces.

There, there, I have given it to you again, and nowBegone or I will give my curse to you.You have the leper’s blessing, but you thinkMaybe the bread will something lack in savourUnless you mix my curse into the dough.

[They go out to L., all except the Cripples. Seanchan is staggering in the middle of the stage.

Seanchan.Where did I say the leprosy came from?I said it came out of a leper’s handAnd that he walked the highway; but that’s folly,For he was walking up there in the skyAnd there he is even now with his white handThrust out of the blue air and blessing themWith leprosy.A Cripple.He’s pointing at the moonThat’s coming out up yonder, and he calls itLeprous, because the daylight whitens it.Seanchan.He’s holding up his hand above them allKing, Noblemen, Princesses, blessing all.Who could imagine he’d have so much patience.First Cripple.Come out of this.

[Clutching other Cripple.

Second Cripple.If you don’t need it, sir,May we not carry some of it away?

[He points to food.

Seanchan.Who’s speaking? Who are you?First Cripple.Come out of this.Second Cripple.Have pity on us, that must beg our breadFrom table to table throughout the entire worldAnd yet be hungry.Seanchan.But why were you born crooked?What bad poet did your mothers listen toThat you were born so crooked?First Cripple.Come away.Maybe he’s cursed the food and it might kill us.Second Cripple.Yes, better come away.

[They go out.

Seanchan.[Staggering and speaking wearily.]He has great strengthAnd great patience to hold his right hand thereUplifted and not wavering about;He is much stronger than I am, much stronger.

[He sinks down on steps.

Enter from R. Fedelm, Cian and Brian.

Brian.There he is lying. Go over to him nowAnd bid him eat.Fedelm.I’ll get him out of thisBefore I have said a word of food and drink;For while he is on this threshold and can hear,It may be, the voices that made mock of him,He would not listen.Brian.That is a good plan.But there is little time, for he is weakening.Fedelm.[Crying.] I cannot think of any other planAlthough it breaks my heart.Cian.Let’s leave them now,For she will press the honey from her bagWhen we are gone.Brian.It will be hard to move himIf hunger and thirst have got into his bones.

[They go out leaving Fedelm and Seanchan alone. Fedelm runs over to Seanchan and kneels down before him.

Fedelm.Seanchan! Seanchan!

[He remains looking into the sky.

Can you not see me, Seanchan?It is myself.

[Seanchan looks at her dreamily at first, then takes her hand.

Seanchan.Is this your hand, Fedelm?I have been looking at another handThat is up yonder.Fedelm.I have come for you.Seanchan.Fedelm, I did not know that you were here.Fedelm.And can you not remember that I promisedThat I would come and take you home with meWhen I’d the harvest in? and now I’ve come,And you must come away, and come on the instant.Seanchan.Yes, I will come; but is the harvest in?This air has got a summer taste in it.Fedelm.But is not the wild middle of the summerA better time to marry? Come with me now.Seanchan.[Seizing her by both wrists.]Who taught you that, for it’s a certainty,Although I never knew it till last night,That marriage, because it is the height of life,Can only be accomplished to the fullIn the high days of the year. I lay awake,There had come a frenzy into the light of the starsAnd they were coming nearer and I knewAll in a minute they were about to marryClods out upon the plough-lands, to begetA mightier race than any that has been;But some that are within there made a noiseAnd frighted them away.Fedelm.Come with me now;We have far to go, and daylight’s running out.Seanchan.The stars had come so near me that I caughtTheir singing; it was praise of that great raceThat would be haughty, mirthful, and white-bodiedWith a high head, and open hand, and howLaughing, it would take the mastery of the world.Fedelm.But you will tell me all about their songsWhen we’re at home. You have need of rest and care,And I can give them you when we’re at home,And therefore let us hurry and get us home.Seanchan.That’s true; and there’s some trouble here, althoughI cannot now remember what it is,And I would get away from it. Give me your help.But why are not my pupils here to help me?Go, call my pupils, for I need their help.Fedelm.Come with me now, and I will send for them,For I have a great room that’s full of bedsI can make ready, and there is a smooth lawnWhere they can play at hurley and sing poemsUnder an apple-tree.Seanchan.I know that place,An apple tree and a smooth level lawn,Where the young men can sway their hurley sticks.Sings.The four rivers that run there,Through well-mown level ground,Have come out of a blessed wellThat is all bound and woundBy the great roots of an apple,And all fowls of the airHave gathered in the wide branchesAnd keep singing there.

[Fedelm, troubled, has covered her eyes with her hands.

Fedelm.No, there are not four rivers, and those rhymesPraise Adam’s Paradise.Seanchan.I can remember now.It’s out of a poem I made long agoAbout the garden in the east of the world,And how spirits in the images of birdsCrowd in the branches of old Adam’s crab-tree;They come before me now and dig in the fruitWith so much gluttony, and are so drunkWith that harsh, wholesome savour that their feathersAre clinging one to another with the juice.But you would take me to some friendly place,And I would go there quickly.Fedelm.Come with me.

[She helps him to rise. He walks slowly, supported by her till he comes to the table at R.

Seanchan.But why am I so weak? Have I been ill?Sweetheart, why is it that I am so weak?

[He sinks on to the seat.

Fedelm.I’ll dip this piece of bread into the wine,For that will make you stronger for the journey.Seanchan.Yes, give me bread and wine, that’s what I want,For it is hunger that is gnawing me.

[He takes bread from Fedelm, hesitates, and then thrusts it back into her hand.

But no, I must not eat it.Fedelm.Eat, Seanchan,For if you do not eat it you will die.Seanchan.Why did you give me food?Why did you come?For had I not enough to fight againstWithout your coming?Fedelm.Eat this little crust,Seanchan, if you have any love for me.Seanchan.I must not eat it: but that’s beyond your wit;Child, child, I must not eat it though I die.Fedelm.You do not know what love is, for if you lovedYou would put every other thought awayBut you have never loved me.Seanchan.[Seizing her by the wrist.] You, a child,Who have but seen a man out of the window,Tell me that I know nothing about love,And that I do not love you. Did I not sayThere was a frenzy in the light of the starsAll through the livelong night, and that the nightWas full of marriages? But that fight’s over.And all that’s done with, and I have to die.Fedelm.[Throwing her arms about him.]I will not be put from you, although I thinkI had not grudged it you if some great lady,If the King’s daughter, had set out your bed.I will not give you up to death; no, no,And are not these white arms and this soft neckBetter than the brown earth?Seanchan.I swear an oathUpon the holy tree that I’ll not eatUntil the King restore the right of the poets.O Sun and Moon, and all things that have strength,Become my strength that I may put a curseOn all things that would have me break this oath.

[Fedelm has sunk down on the ground while he says this, and crouches at his feet.

Fedelm.Seanchan, do not curse me; from this outI will obey like any married wife.Let me but lie before your feet.Seanchan.Come nearer.

[He kisses her.

If I had eaten when you bid me, sweetheart,The kiss of multitudes in times to comeHad been the poorer.King.[Entering from house.] Has he eaten yet?Fedelm.No, King, and will not till you have restoredThe right of the poets.King.[Coming down and standing before Seanchan.]Seanchan, you have refusedEverybody that I have sent, and nowI come to you myself, and I have comeTo bid you put your pride as far awayAs I have put my pride. I had your loveNot a great while ago, and now you have plannedTo put a voice by every cottage fireAnd in the night when no one sees who criesTo cry against me till my throne has crumbled.And yet if I give way I must offendMy courtiers and nobles till they tooStrike at the crown. What would you have of me?Seanchan.When did the poets promise safety, King?King.Seanchan, I bring you bread in my own hands,And bid you eat it because of all these reasons,And for this further reason that I love you.

[Seanchan pushes bread away with Fedelm’s hand.

You have refused it, Seanchan.Seanchan.We have refused it.King.I have been patient though I am a king,And have the means to force you – but that’s ended,And I am but a king and you a subject.

[He goes up steps.

Nobles and courtiers, bring the poets hitherFor you can have your way: I that was manWith a man’s heart am now all king again,Remembering that the seed I come of, althoughA hundred kings have sown it and re-sown it,Has neither trembled nor shrunk backward yetBecause of the hard business of a king.

[Princesses, Ladies, and Courtiers have come in with Pupils, who have halters round their necks.

Speak to your master, beg your life of him,Show him the halters that are round your necks;If his heart’s set upon it he may die,But you shall all die with him; beg your lives;Begin, for you have little time to lose;Begin it you that are the oldest pupil.Senias.[Going up to Seanchan.]Die, Seanchan, and proclaim the right of the poets.King.Silence, you are as crazy as your master.But that young boy that seems the youngest of you,I’d have him speak. Kneel down before him, boy,Hold up your hands to him that he may pluckThat milky coloured neck out of the noose.Arias.Die, Seanchan, and proclaim the right of the poets.

[All the Pupils turn towards the King, holding out the ends of their halters.

Senias.Gather the halters up into your handsAnd lead us where you will, for in all thingsBut in our art we are obedient.

[The King comes slowly down the steps.

King.[Kneeling down before Seanchan.]Kneel down, kneel down, he has the greater power.I give my crown to you.

[All kneel except Seanchan, Fedelm and Pupils. Seanchan rises slowly, supported by one of the Pupils and by Fedelm.

Seanchan.O crown, O crown,It is but right if hands that made the crownIn the old time should give it when they will.O silver trumpets be you lifted up

[He lays the crown on the King’s head.

And cry to the great race that is to come.Long-throated swans among the waves of timeSing loudly, for beyond the wall of the worldIt waits and it may hear and come to us.

[Some of the Pupils blow a blast upon their horns.

Curtain

ON BAILE’S STRAND

Cuchullain, the King of Muirthemne.

Concobar, the High King of Ullad.

Daire, a King.

Fintain, a blind man.

Barach, a fool.

A Young Man.

Young Kings and Old Kings.

Scene: A great hall by the sea close to Dundalgan. There are two great chairs on either side of the hall, each raised a little from the ground, and on the back of the one chair is carved and painted a woman with a fish’s tail, and on the back of the other a hound. There are smaller chairs and benches raised in tiers round the walls. There is a great ale vat at one side near a small door, and a large door at the back through which one can see the sea. Barach, a tall thin man with long ragged hair, dressed in skins, comes in at the side door. He is leading Fintain, a fat blind man, who is somewhat older.

Barach.

I will shut the door, for this wind out of the sea gets into my bones, and if I leave but an inch for the wind there is one like a flake of sea-frost that might come into the house.

Fintain.

What is his name, fool?

Barach.

It’s a woman from among the Riders of the Sidhe. It’s Boann herself from the river. She has left the Dagda’s bed, and gone through the salt of the sea and up here to the strand of Baile, and all for love of me. Let her keep her husband’s bed, for she’ll have none of me. Nobody knows how lecherous these goddesses are. I see her in every kind of shape but oftener than not she’s in the wind and cries “give a kiss and put your arms about me.” But no, she’ll have no more of me. Yesterday when I put out my lips to kiss her, there was nothing there but the wind. She’s bad, Fintain. O, she’s bad. I had better shut the big door too.

[He is going towards the big door but turns hearing Fintain’s voice.

Fintain.

[Who has been feeling about with his stick.] What’s this and this?

Barach.

They are chairs.

Fintain.

And this?

Barach.

Why, that’s a bench.

Fintain.

And this?

Barach.

A big chair.

Fintain.

[Feeling the back of the chair.] There is a sea-woman carved upon it.

Barach.

And there is another big chair on the other side of the hall.

Fintain.

Lead me to it. [He mutters while the fool is leading him.] That is what the High King Concobar has on his shield. The High King will be coming. They have brought out his chair. [He begins feeling the back of the other chair.] And there is a dog’s head on this. They have brought out our master’s chair. Now I know what the horse-boys were talking about. We must not stay here. The Kings are going to meet here. Now that Concobar and our master, that is his chief man, have put down all the enemies of Ullad, they are going to build up Emain again. They are going to talk over their plans for building it. Were you ever in Concobar’s town before it was burnt? O, he is a great King, for though Emain was burnt down, every war had made him richer. He has gold and silver dishes, and chessboards and candlesticks made of precious stones. Fool, have they taken the top from the ale vat?

Barach.

They have.

Fintain.

Then bring me a horn of ale quickly, for the Kings will be here in a minute. Now I can listen. Tell me what you saw this morning?

Barach.

About the young man and the fighting?

Fintain.

Yes.

Barach.

And after that we can go and eat the fowl, for I am hungry.

Fintain.

Time enough, time enough. You’re in as great a hurry as when you brought me to Aine’s Seat, where the mad dogs gather when the moon’s at the full. Go on with your story.

Barach.

I was creeping under a ditch, with the fowl in my leather bag, keeping to the shore where the farmer could not see me, when I came upon a ship drawn up upon the sands, a great red ship with a woman’s head upon it.

Fintain.

A ship out of Aoife’s country. They have all a woman’s head on the bow.

Barach.

There was a young man with a pale face and red hair standing beside it. Some of our people came up whose turn it was to guard the shore. I heard them ask the young man his name. He said he was under bonds not to tell it. Then words came between them, and they fought, and the young man killed half of them, and the others ran away.

Fintain.

It matters nothing to us, but he has come at last.

Barach.

Who has come?

Fintain.

I know who that young man is. There is not another like him in the world. I saw him when I had my eyesight.

Barach.

You saw him?

Fintain.

I used to be in Aoife’s country when I had my eyesight.

Barach.

That was before you went on shipboard and were blinded for putting a curse on the wind?

Fintain.

Queen Aoife had a son that was red haired and pale faced like herself, and everyone said that he would kill Cuchullain some day, but I would not have that spoken of.

Barach.

Nobody could do that. Who was his father?

Fintain.

Nobody but Aoife knew that, not even he himself.

Barach.

Not even he himself! Was Aoife a goddess and lecherous?

Fintain.

I overheard her telling that she never had but one lover, and that he was the only man who overcame her in battle. There were some who thought him one of the Riders of the Sidhe, because the child was great of limb and strong beyond others. The child was begotten over the mountains; but come nearer and I will tell you something.

Barach.

You have thought something?

Fintain.

When I hear the young girls talking about the colour of Cuchullain’s eyes, and how they have seven colours, I have thought about it. That young man has Aoife’s face and hair, but he has Cuchullain’s eyes.

Barach.

How can he have Cuchullain’s eyes?

Fintain.

He is Cuchullain’s son.

Barach.

And his mother has sent him hither to fight his father.

Fintain.

It is all quite plain. Cuchullain went into Aoife’s country when he was a young man that he might learn skill in arms, and there he became Aoife’s lover.

Barach.

And now she hates him because he went away, and has sent the son to kill the father. I knew she was a goddess.

Fintain.

And she never told him who his father was, that he might do it. I have thought it all out, fool. I know a great many things because I listen when nobody is noticing and I keep my wits awake. What ails you now?

Barach.

I have remembered that I am hungry.

Fintain.

Well, forget it again, and I will tell you about Aoife’s country. It is full of wonders. There are a great many Queens there who can change themselves into wolves and into swine and into white hares, and when they are in their own shapes they are stronger than almost any man; and there are young men there who have cat’s eyes and if a bird chirrup or a mouse squeak they cannot keep them shut, even though it is bedtime and they sleepy; and listen, for this is a great wonder, a very great wonder: there is a long narrow bridge, and when anybody goes to cross it, that the Queens do not like, it flies up as this bench would if you were to sit on the end of it. Everybody who goes there to learn skill in arms has to cross it. It was in that country too that Cuchullain got his spear made out of dragon bones. There were two dragons fighting in the foam of the sea, and their grandam was the moon, and nine Queens came along the shore.

Barach.

I won’t listen to your story.

Fintain.

It is a very wonderful story. Wait till you hear what the nine Queens did. Their right hands were all made of silver.

Barach.

No, I will have my dinner first. You have eaten the fowl I left in front of the fire. The last time you sent me to steal something you made me forget all about it till you had eaten it up.

Fintain.

No, there is plenty for us both.

Barach.

Come with me where it is.

Fintain.

[Who is being led towards the door at the back by Barach.] O, it is all right, it is in a safe place.

Barach.

It is a fine fowl. It was the biggest in the yard.

Fintain.

It had a good smell, but I hope that the wild dogs have not smelt it. [Voices are heard outside the door at the side.] Here is our master. Let us stay and talk with him. Perhaps Cuchullain will give you a new cap with a feather. He told me that he would give you a new cap with a feather, a feather with an eye that looks at you, a peacock’s feather.