DEIRDRE OF THE SORROWS

ACT I.

Lavarcham’s house on Slieve Fuadh. There is a door to inner room onthe left, and a door to open air on the right. Window at back and a frame witha half-finished piece of tapestry. There are also a large press and heavy oakchest near the back wall. The place is neat and clean but bare. Lavarcham,woman of fifty, is working at tapestry frame. Old Woman comes in from left.

OLD WOMAN.
She hasn’t come yet, is it, and it falling to the night?

LAVARCHAM.
She has not. . . (Concealing her anxiety.) It’s dark with theclouds are coming from the west and south, but it isn’t later than thecommon.

OLD WOMAN.
It’s later, surely, and I hear tell the Sons of Usna, Naisi and hisbrothers, are above chasing hares for two days or three, and the same awhilesince when the moon was full.

LAVARCHAM.
— more anxiously. — The gods send they don’t set eyeson her — (with a sign of helplessness) yet if they do itself, itwasn’t my wish brought them or could send them away.

OLD WOMAN.
— reprovingly. — If it wasn’t, you’d do well tokeep a check on her, and she turning a woman that was meant to be a queen.

LAVARCHAM.
Who’d check her like was meant to have her pleasure only, the way ifthere were no warnings told about her you’d see troubles coming when anold king is taking her, and she without a thought but for her beauty and to bestraying the hills.

OLD WOMAN.
The gods help the lot of us. . . . Shouldn’t she be well pleased gettingthe like of Conchubor, and he middling settled in his years itself? Idon’t know what he wanted putting her this wild place to be breaking herin, or putting myself to be roasting her supper and she with no patience forher food at all.

[She looks out.

LAVARCHAM.
Is she coming from the glen?

OLD WOMAN.
She is not. But whisht — there’s two men leaving the furze —(crying out) it’s Conchubor and Fergus along with him.Conchubor’ll be in a blue stew this night and herself abroad.

LAVARCHAM.
— settling room hastily. — Are they close by?

OLD WOMAN.
Crossing the stream, and there’s herself on the hillside with a load oftwigs. Will I run out and put her in order before they’ll set eyes on herat all?

LAVARCHAM.
You will not. Would you have him see you, and he a man would be jealous of ahawk would fly between her and the rising sun. (She looks out.) Go up tothe hearth and be as busy as if you hadn’t seen them at all.

OLD WOMAN.
— sitting down to polish vessel