_Queen_: I am after saying that he did.

_Dall Glic_: Come along, lad. Don't be putting
ears on yourself.

_Manus_: I ask the King did he give out that
promise as the Queen says?

_King_: I have but a poor memory.

_Nurse_: The King did say it within the hour,
and swore to it by the oath of his people, taking
contracts of the sun and moon of the air!

_Dall Glic_: What is it to you if he did? Come
on, now.

_Manus_: No. This is a matter that concerns
myself.

_Queen_: How do you make that out?

_Manus_: You, that called me in, know well that
I was the first to come into the house.

_Queen_: Ha, ha! You have the impudence! It
is a _man_ the King said. He was not talking about
cooks.

_Manus: (To the King.)_ I am before you as a
serving lad, and you are a King in Ireland. Because
you are a King and I your hired servant you will not
refuse me justice. You gave your word.

_King_: If I did it was in haste and in vexation,
and striving to save her from destruction.

_Manus_: I call you to keep to your word and
to give your daughter to no other one.

_Queen_: Speak out now, Dall Glic, and give
your opinion and your advice.

_Dall Glic_: I would say that this lad going away
would be no great loss.

_Manus_: I did not ask such a thing, but as it
has come to me I will hold to my right.

_Queen_: It would be right to throw him to the
hounds in the kennel!

_Manus: (To King.)_ I leave it to the judgment
of your blind wise man.

_Queen: (To Dall Glic.)_ Take care would you
offend myself or the King!

_Manus_: I put it on you to split justice as it
is measured outside the world.

_Dall Glic_: It is hard for me to speak. He
has laid it hard on me. My good eye may go
asleep, but my blind eye never sleeps. In the
place where it is waking, an honourable man, king
or beggar, is held to his word.

_King_: Is it that I must give my daughter to
a lad that owns neither clod nor furrow? Whose
estate is but a shovel for the ashes and a tongs for
the red coals.

_Queen_: It is likely he is urged by the sting of
greed--it is but riches he is looking for.

_King_: I will not begrudge him his own asking
of silver and of gold!

_Manus_: Throw it out to the beggars on the
road! I would not take a copper half-penny!
I'll take nothing but what has come to me from
your own word!

_(King bows his head.)_

_Princess: (Coming forward.)_ Then this battle
is not between you and an old king that is feeble,