old woman saying a good child's as happy as
a king?
CONCHUBOR. How would I be happy
seeing age coming on me each year, when the
dry leaves are blowing back and forward at
the gate of Emain? And yet this last while
I'm saying out, when I see the furze breaking
and the daws sitting two and two on ash-trees
by the duns of Emain, Deirdre's a year nearer


25

her full age when she'll be my mate and com-
rade and then I'm glad surely.
DEIRDRE -- almost to herself. -- I will
not be your mate in Emain.
CONCHUBOR -- not heeding her. -- It's
there you'll be proud and happy and you'll
learn that, if young men are great hunters, yet
it's with the like of myself you'll find a knowl-
edge of what is priceless in your own like.
What we all need is a place is safe and
splendid, and it's that you'll get in Emain in
two days or three.
DEIRDRE -- aghast. -- Two days!
CONCHUBOR. I have the rooms ready,
and in a little while you'll be brought down
there, to be my queen and queen of the five
parts of Ireland.