s long 'stablished ground. Here's Concobar;
So I'll be done, but keep beside me still,
For while he talks of hammered bronze and asks
What wood is best for building, we can talk
Of a fierce woman.

(Concobar, a man much older than Cuchullain, has come in through the
great door at the back. He has many Kings about him. One of these
Kings, Daire, a stout old man, is somewhat drunk.)

CONCOBAR.

(To one of those about him.) Has the ship gone
yet? We have need of more bronze workers
and that ship I sent to Africa for gold is late.

CUCHULLAIN.

I knew their talk.

CONCOBAR.

(Seeing Cuchullain.) You are before us, King.

CUCHULLAIN.

So much the better, for I welcome you
Into my Muirthemne.

CONCOBAR.

But who are these?
The odour from their garments when they stir
Is like a wind out of an apple garden.

CUCHULLAIN.

My swordsmen and harp players and fine dancers,
My bosom friends.

CONCOBAR.

I should have thought, Cuchullain,
My graver company would better match
Your greatness and your years; but I waste breath
In harping on that tale.

CUCHULLAIN.

You do, great King.
Because their youth is the kind wandering wave
That carries me about the world; and if it sank,
My sword would lose its lightness.

CONCOBAR.

Yet, Cuchullain,
Emain should be the foremost town of the world.

CUCHULLAIN.

It is the foremost town.

CONCOBAR.

No, no, it's not.
Nothing but men can make towns great, and he,
The one over-topping man that's in the world,
Keeps far away.

DAIRE.

He will not hear you, King,
And we old men had best keep company
With one another. I'll fill the horn for you.

CONCOBAR.

I will not drink, old fool. You have drunk a horn
At every door we came to.

DAIRE.

You'd better drink,
For old men light upon their youth again
In the brown ale. When I have drunk enough,
I am like Cuchullain as one pea another,
And live like a bird's flight from tree to tree.

CONCOBAR.

We'll to our chairs for we have much to talk of,
And we have Ullad and Muirthemne, and here
Is Conall Muirthemne in the nick of time.

(He goes to the back of stage to welcome a company of Kings who come
in through the great door. The other Kings grad