growing weary; seven years so sweet and
shining, the gods would be hard set to give
us seven days the like of them. It's for that
we're going to Emain, where there'll be a rest
for ever, or a place for forgetting, in great
crowds and they making a stir.
NAISI -- very softly. -- We'll go, surely,
in place of keeping a watch on a love had no
match and it wasting away. (They cling to
each other for a moment, then Naisi looks up.)
There are Fergus and Lavarcham and my two
brothers.
[Deirdre goes. Naisi sits with his head
bowed. Owen runs in stealthily, comes
behind Naisi and seizes him round the
arms. Naisi shakes him off and whips
out his sword.
OWEN -- screaming with derisive laughter
and showing his empty hands. -- Ah, Naisi,
wasn't it well I didn't kill you that time?
There was a fright you got! I've been watch-
ing Fergus above -- don't be frightened --
and I've come down to see him getting the
cold shoulder, and going off alone.
[Fergus and others come in. They are
all subdued like men at a queen's wake.
NAISI -- putting up his sword. -- There