For it is what I have to say to you,
that I gave you my heart's love, what I never gave
to any other, since first I saw you before me in
my sleep! Here, now, is a short road to reach you!

_(Takes sword.)_

_Prince of Marshes: (Catching his hand.)_ Go
easy now, go easy.

_Manus_: Take off your hand! I say I will die
with her!

_Prince of Marshes_: That will not raise her up
again. But I, now, if I have no skill in killing
beasts or men, have maybe the means of bringing
her back to life.

_Nurse_: Oh, my blessing on you! What is it
you have at all?

_Prince of Marshes: (Taking bag from his Aunt.)_
These three leaves from the Tree of Power that
grows by the Well of Healing. Here they are
now for you, tied with a thread of the wool of
the sheep of the Land of Promise. There is power
in them to bring one person only back to life.

_First Aunt_: Give them back to me! You
have your own life to think of as well as any other
one!

_Second Aunt_: Do not spend and squander that
cure on any person but yourself!

_Prince of Marshes: (Giving the leaves.)_ And if
I have given her my love that it is likely I will
give to no other woman for ever, indeed and
indeed, I would not ask her or wish her to wed
with a very frightened man, and that is what I
was a while ago. But you yourself have earned her,
being brave.

_Manus: (Taking leaves.)_ I never will forget it
to you. You will be a brave man yet.

_Prince of Marshes_: Give me in place of it your
sword; for I am going my lone through the world
for a twelvemonth and a day, till I will learn to
fight with my own hand.

_(Manus gives him sword. He throws off cloak
and outer coat and fastens it on.)_

_Nurse_: Stand back, now. Let the whole of ye
stand back. _(She lays a leaf on the Princess's mouth
and one on each of her hands.)_ I call on you by
the power of the Seven Belts of the Heavens, of
the Twelve Winds of the World, of the Three
Waters of the Sea!

_(Princess stirs slightly.)_

_King_: That is a wonder of wonders! She is stirring!

_Manus_: Oh, my share of the world! Are you
come back to me?

_Princess_: It was a hard fight he wrestled with.
...I thought I heard his voice.... Is he come
from danger?

_Nurse_: He did. Here he is. He that saved
you and that killed the Dragon, and that let on
to be a serving boy, and he no less than one of
the world's kings!

_Manus_: Here I am, my dear, beside you, to be
your comrade and your company for eve