arms going from them, and their backs hoop-
ing. I tell you it's a poor thing to see a queen's
nose reaching down to scrape her chin.
DEIRDRE -- looking out, a little uneasy.
-- Naisi and Fergus are coming on the path.
OWEN. I'll go so, for if I had you seven
years I'd be jealous of the midges and the dust
is in the air. (Muffles himself in his cloak;
with a sort of warning in his voice.) I'll give
you a riddle, Deirdre: Why isn't my father as
ugly and old as Conchubor? You've no
answer? . . . . It's because Naisi killed him.


53

(With curious expression.) Think of that
and you awake at night, hearing Naisi snor-
ing, or the night you hear strange stories of
the things I'm doing in Alban or in Ulster
either.
[He goes out, and in a moment Naisi and
Fergus come in on the other side.
NAISI -- gaily. -- Fergus has brought mes-
sages of peace from Conchubor.
DEIRDRE -- greeting Fergus. -- He is
welcome. Let you rest, Fergus, you should be
hot and thirsty after mounting the rocks.
FERGUS. It's a sunny nook you've found
in Alban; yet any man would be well pleased