DEIRDRE.
Fergus is not here :
Fergus has found occasion not to be
Where our occasions do most call for him :
Fergus consorts with whispering Barach now :
He shifts us on his proxies, young and raw ;
And thou hast heard on what support we lean,
Trusting the faithless faith of one of them.
NAISI.
Thou wrong'st him, Deirdre.
BUINO.
Yea, she does me wrong.
But not for that will I be false to you.
DEIRDRE.
Yea, not for that wilt thou be false to us.
ILLAN.
We both will spend our lives to see you safe.
DEIRDRE.
Thou wouldst. I well believe it ; but for him
To whom the Gods are possibilities,
May-be's, perchances, I've no trust in him.
NAISI.
Deirdre, forbear. Buino, good cause hast thou
For thy displeasure ; but it rests with me
To order our proceeding, not with her.
DEIRDRE.
Oh rash, insensate, weakly-credulous.
That thinkest all men honest as thyself !
NAISI.
One must be master ; and that one am I ;
And I must judge this case for all of you.
Man lives by mutual trust. The commonwealth
Falls into chaos if man trust not man.
For then all joint endeavours come to nought,
And each pursues his separate intent,
Backed by no other labour than his own.
