tly standing for a time, as if stunned. The sound
of laughter and music floats in. She goes to the door of the dun,
looking out again over the lakes and islands.]

DEIRDRE--Farewell O home of happy memories. Though thou art bleak to
Naisi, to me thou art bright. I shall never see thee more, save as
shadows we wander here, weeping over what is gone. Farewell, O gentle
people, who made music for me on the hills. The Father has struck the
last chord on the Harp of Life, and the music I shall hear hereafter
will be only sorrow. O Mother Dana, who breathed up love through the dim
earth to my heart, be with me where I am going. Soon shall I lie close
to thee for comfort, where many a broken heart has lain and many a
weeping head. [Music of harps and laughter again floats in.]

VOICES--Deirdre! Deirdre! Deirdre!

[DEIRDRE leaves the door of the dun, and the scene closes as she flings
herself on a couch, burying her face in her arms.]

ACT III.

SCENE.--The House of the Red Branch at Emain Macha. There is a door
covered with curtains, through which the blue light of evening can be
seen. CONCOBAR sits at a table on which is a chessboard, with figures
arranged. LAVARCAM stands before the table.

CONCOBAR--The air is dense with omens, but all is uncertain. Cathvah,
for all his Druid art, is uncertain, and cannot foresee the future;
and in my dreams, too, I again see Macha, who died at my feet, and she
passes by me with a secret exultant smile. O Druidess, is the sin of my
boyhood to be avenged by this woman who comes back to Eri in a cloud of
prophecy?

LAVARCAM--The great beauty has passed from Deirdre in her wanderings
from place to place and from island to island. Many a time has she slept
on the bare earth ere Naisi won a kingdom for himself in Alba. Surely
the prophecy has already been fulfilled, for blood has been shed for
Deirdre, and the Red Branch divided on her account. To Naisi the Red
Branch are as brothers. Thou hast naught to fear.

CONCOBAR--Well, I have put aside my fears and taken thy counsel,
Druidess. For the sake of the Red Branch I have forgiven the sons of
Usna. Now, I will call together the Red Branch, for it is my purpose
to bring the five provinces under our sway, and there shall be but one
kingdom in Eri between the seas. [A distant shouting of many voices is
heard. LAVARCAM starts, clasping her hands.]

Why dost thou start, Druidess? Was it not foretold from of old, that the
gods would