--- title: Opening, part 6 — The foray of Queen Meave, and other legends of I… · full text with trees description: Opening, part 6, «The foray of Queen Meave, and other legends of Ireland's heroic age» by Aubrey De Vere: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: But when the Brothers told him of their oath In no man’s house to eat, or rest their head, Howe’er to slight --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/6/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The foray of Queen Meave, and other le…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/) / Opening, part 6 # Opening, part 6 Opening, part 6 of «The foray of Queen Meave, and other legends of Ireland's heroic age» by Aubrey De Vere: the whole text, 102 sentences and 2601 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/6/page/2/) But when the Brothers told him of their oath In no man’s house to eat, or rest their head, Howe’er to slight a friendly welcome loth, Until with Conor they had broken bread, He turned to Fergus;--‘Oath thou too hast sworn Long since, to pass no friendly feast in scorn.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘Behold, for thee this day my board is decked; My dish is garnished; and my fatlings slain: Likewise to greet thee many a chief elect Hath sped this day from distant vale and plain: If vain their zeal, and all that loyal haste To greet my guest, I stand henceforth disgraced.’[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Him Fergus heard, and stood in anguish mute, His giant bulk bowed by his spirit’s pain That ever downward worked from scalp to foot: Like stag whom serpent folds begin to strain He stood--that strives in vain that coil to break-- And flame was on his face while thus he spake;[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘Ill done, ill done, O Barach, is thy deed\![4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Ill-timed, ill-omened, and unblest thy feast’-- Then Barach; ‘Let those Three to Conor speed; The king is greatest here, and I the least: But thou--thine oath that later pledge foreran: If broke, it lays thine honour under ban.’[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Still Fergus mused;--‘’Tis true: that oath I made; Made ere an upstart’s craft had filched my crown: To break it were my greatness to degrade, To blot a princely birth, a life’s renown: Uladh would cry; “He shames the blood of Roy To ’scape the frown of Nessa’s ill-crowned boy!”’[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Doubt bred new doubt:--away the False One strode; But Fergus still mused on, and never stirred, His royal head depressed and neck embowed; At last he turned to Naisi with this word, ‘What must I do?’[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") But ere her lord replied, Deirdré spake first, with queenly port and pride:[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘The choice is thine, not his; and this that choice; For a feast’s sake to cast from thee thy charge, Subject and servile to a courtier’s voice; Or spurn that feast, and walk, a soul at large.’[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") And Fergus said; ‘My sons with thine and thee Might ride.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") I bind on them my guarantee.’[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Low-toned he spake; but Naisi heard, and thus Made answer, reddening like a rising moon, ‘We scorn their aid\![12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Our swords suffice for us\![13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") All help beside we count a worthless boon!’[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Fergus frowned: At once from doubt released With them he sent his sons, and joined the feast.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") CANTO THE THIRD.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") So forth the Brothers rode, while high o’erhead Through that primeval forest’s woven screen Now in long lanes the sky its radiance shed, And now in purple stars of splendour keen; Nor far behind them marched the Usnach clan, Loud singing and on trampling like one man.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") But Deirdré slowly lifting eyes divine, Dewed with dark tears, upon the Brothers, spake; ‘True counsel, lo\![18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") I give you, brothers mine; And yet that counsel true ye will not take; There shine the rocks of Rathlin\![19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") On its shore Abide till this disastrous feast is o’er!’[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Then spake to Illan, Fergus’ kindlier son, The Ruthless Red; ‘Small faith in us they place!’[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Whom Naisi hearing, made reply, ‘Ride on:’ And Deirdré raised to heaven her heaven-sweet face, And made this song; for, as in girlhood, all Her musings, dark or bright, grew musical.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘O would my Love were safe in some far isle, And I were like some shadow passed away; Yea, though some other liegeful wife, the while, Partook his board at eve, his chase by day: For I am that doomed Babe of long ago; And I on those fair Three have brought this woe\![23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘One time by far Loch Etive--’twas in jest-- My Naisi kissed a sweet-eyed Alban maid: I sought my death! my bark from crest to crest I dashed, too deeply wounded to upbraid\![24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") The Brothers saw, and followed fast--and I-- Ah, that for me those peerless Three should die!’[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile all day in light discourse or deep The sons of Usnach and of Fergus rode, And came at eve to Fuad’s mountain-steep; But Deirdré, bent for once by sorrow’s load Though strong, behind them dropped, and on a bank Moon-lit sat down; and slumber on her sank.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") There Naisi found her ’neath a yew-tree old, Shivering; and she his steps approaching knew Though sleeping still; and through the moonlight cold T’wards him stretched forth her hand so kind and true; And, ‘What, O what is this,’ he said, ‘My Queen?’[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Wak’ning she answered, anguished yet serene:[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘A dream it was that kept me from thy side: Wakeful all day that dream I saw, and see: I saw great Fergus’ sons beside us ride, Brothers in blood; disjoined in destiny: Illan a bleeding bulk without a head, I saw: yet true he proved when traitors fled.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘Buini I saw, the Ruthless Red; full strong He towered, and stately as a summer tree: But, when that strife dishonest did us wrong, No help he proved, O Love, to thine and thee\![30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") So one was faithful, yet of greatness shorn: And one was greatness perjured and forsworn.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘Now ride we on!’ they rode for many an hour, Till, through an oak-glade in that glimmering wood, They saw Emania, veiled in cloud and shower: Above the edge of that black cloud there stood A moon nigh setting in a sanguine shroud; And many thunders heard they, far, not loud.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Upon that sanguine shroud as on a sign Deirdré gazed long; then turned her eyes, and spake; ‘True counsel, lo\![33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") I give you, brothers mine, And yet that counsel true ye will not take; No further t’wards Emania ride this hour; Seek we, not far it stands, Cuchullain’s tower\![34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘Or house with Conal Carnach, leal and true: He to the court ere noon with us will ride-- Naisi! when on that causeway I and you That evening sang, what prayer hadst thou denied?’[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Yet, though she chid him, nearer him she crept: The one sole time that in his arms she wept\![36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Buini drew near\![37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") At once the Three replied, ‘Because we never feared and cannot fear To Eman on we will whate’er betide!’[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Unseen by him she wiped away her tear; While from the black boughs fell a poison-dew; And Fate her net more closely round them drew.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Thenceforth was Deirdré changed.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") To Eman’s gate They rode, and thrice beneath it blew their horn: Indifferent, yea, as one with either fate Alike content, she spake in careless scorn; ‘Omens the Druids find in bird and beast: A Druid I; a laughing one at least\![41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘I doubted Conor’s faith: if mine the fault Harbouring distrust, King Conor thus will speak: “Abide with me three months: partake my salt; Drink of my cup; my bread securely break!”[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") If under alien roof he bids us lie Then know his pit is dug; and we shall die.’[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") She spake! around her lip a smile there curled; Her kindling eye was fixed as eye of one Who sees, beyond the limits of the world, Beyond the thresholds of our moon and sun, Beyond the abysmal night, a gleam of day, And can abide the issue come what may.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") As thus they stood the gates were opened wide; Anon forth stepped a herald with this word, ‘Great Sirs, the King, himself by sickness tried, Within the Red-Branch House hath decked your board With Uladh’s best, from mead and river brought:’ They on each other gazed, yet answered nought.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘He bids you there with blessing.’[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") At that speech Silent they sought that House.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") In stately throng The knights received them: yet on brows of each Devoid of guile, a dubious sadness clung: Not less the seats were set; the tables spread: Nor ceased that revel till the day was sped.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/6/page/2/) - ← previous: [Opening, part 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/5/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/6/page/2/) - ↑ back to [The foray of Queen Meave, and other legends of Ireland's heroic age](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/)