• Deirdre

Ferg040

Sing to the harp, or listen to old tales
Of love, and lover's perils, hopes and joys ;
While Ardan and Lord Naisi seated by
Beguiled the swift time in their chess-play-wars

DEIRDRE,
Lo, Ardan comes in haste. He wears the look
Of one who presently has news to tell.
No news were now good news. I pray the Gods
We're not found out !

ARDAN.
A sail, I've seen a sail
Unless the sea-fog cheats my sight, a sail.

DEIRDRE.
A flight of sea-birds, haply ; not a sail.

NAISI.
Nay, wherefore, not a sail ? Were't Conor himself
And all his ships, I'd hail the face of man.
Let's forth and see it, whatsoe'er it be.

AINLE.
Hark, heard ye not a cry ?

DEIRDRE.
No. Keep within,
'Tis the fox barking, haply ; not a cry.

ARDAN.
'Tis a man's cry ; a hunter's hallo, hark !

NAISI.
I know the call ; an Ulster man is he
Who gives it. If my old and glorious friend
Fergus, the son of Roy, yet walks the earth,
It is his hunting-call. Ho, Fergus, ho !

DEIRDRE.
Vain my contention. Here, alas, he comes.

FERGUS.
Found in good hour. Hail ! sons of Usnach, hail!

NAISI.
Comest thou, Fergus, enemy or friend ?

FERGUS.
Friend as of old ; to well-loved friends I come,

Ferg040
Coverage: 
1880
Keywords: 
Sea-birds, Conor, Ulster
Citation: 
Linen Hall Library, "Ferg040", Northern Ireland Literary Archive, accessed Fri, 11/22/2024 - 04:38, https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/ferg040