will
build themselves an eternal empire in the mind of the Gael. Wise woman,
guard well this beauty which fills my heart with terror. I go now, and
will doubly warn the spearmen at the passes, but will come hither again
and speak with thee of these things, and with Deirdre I would speak
also.

LAVARCAM--King of Ulla, be at peace. It is not I who will break through
the design of the gods. (CONCOBAR goes through the woods, after looking
for a time at the door of the dun.) But Deirdre is also one of the
immortals. What the gods desire will utter itself through her heart. I
will seek counsel from the gods.

[DEIRDRE comes slowly through the door.]

DEIRDRE--Is he gone? I fear this stony king with his implacable eyes.

LAVARVAM--He is implacable only in his desire for justice.

DEIRDRE--No! No! There is a hunger in his eyes for I know not what.

LAVARCAM--He is the wisest king who ever sat on the chair of Macha.

DEIRDRE--He has placed a burden on my heart. Oh! fostermother, the harp
of life is already trembling into sorrow!

LAVARCAM--Do not think of him. Tell me your dream, my child.

[DEIRDRE comes from the door of the dun and sits on a deerskin at
LAVARCAM's feet.]

DEIRDRE--Tell me, do happy dreams bring happiness, and do our dreams of
the Sidhe ever grow real to us as you are real to me? Do their eyes draw
nigh to ours, and can the heart we dream of ever be a refuge for our
hearts.

LAVARCAM--Tell me your dream.

DEIRDRE--Nay; but answer first of all, dear fostermother--you who are
wise, and who have talked with the Sidhe.

LAVARCAM--Would it make you happy to have your dream real, my darling?

DEIRDRE--Oh, it would make me happy!

[She hides her face on LAVARCAM's knees.]

LAVARCAM--If I can make your dream real, I will, my beautiful fawn.

DEIRDRE--Dear fostermother, I think my dream is coming near to me. It is
coming to me now.

LAVARCAM--Deirdre, tell me what hope has entered your heart?

DEIRDRE--In the night I saw in a dream the top of the mountain yonder,
beyond the woods, and three hunters stood there in the dawn. The sun
sent its breath upon their faces, but there was a light about them never
kindled at the sun. They were surely hunters from some heavenly field,
or the three gods whom Lu condemned to wander in mortal form, and they
are come again to the world to seek some greater treasure.

LAVARCAM--Describe to me these immortal hunters. In Eire we know no gods
who take such shape app