--- title: Opening, part 6 — The foray of Queen Meave, and other legends of I… · full text with trees · page 2 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/page/2/) [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 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/6/) **2** Not all partook it.[49](../../49/ "tree and pragmatics") Silent and apart In a huge window caverned from the wall By some high builder’s long-forgotten art, Sat Deirdré, and the Brothers three.[50](../../50/ "tree and pragmatics") No thrall To royal craft the warriors now.[51](../../51/ "tree and pragmatics") What meant The king, they knew, and waited the event.[52](../../52/ "tree and pragmatics") Scorning to make complaint, they scorned not less To share a traitor’s feast, and ate of nought, Waving each dish away in haughtiness, Save little loaves that with them they had brought.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") Their chess-board next they ranged with pawn and queen; And Deirdré laughed or frowned the moves between.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") Meantime with Levarcam King Conor spake; ‘Forth, since I spared thy life when Deirdré fled, And tidings bring me whether, for love’s sake, Yet lives her beauty on that False One’s head: The girl hath known rough skies and scanty board:’ Then Levarcam went forth, with wiles well stored.[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") Drawing a thousand thoughts into one noose Of woman-craft she sped, in silks arrayed; And came with speed, such speed as age may use, To where at chess the sentenced princes played In that high window; next one finger raised High as her brow; then round her peering gazed.[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") Naisi she loved from childhood; loved scarce less His brothers; felt for Deirdré love and spleen:-- ‘Through grace of yours, all-bashful Forwardness, Save for my craft this trunk had headless been\![57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") I wiled the sword from Conor’s hand\![58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") Well, well\![59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") My Wanton’s face retains its childish spell\![60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘I come to you at peril of my life-- Hush, hush! place hand on lip\![61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") They must not hear\![62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") With rumours dark Emania’s streets are rife: The king has vowed your death:--draws any near?[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") Then when the Babe was born, the seer foretold-- What?[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") Must men die because a maid was bold?’[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") In tears awhile the faded fine one stood; And next, mechanic-wise oracular, Kept nodding of her head.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") Then changed her mood To fires of youth.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘Close gate, and casement bar\![68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") Fight well, ye sons of Fergus\![69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") If your sire Makes speed, he’ll trample down this flame in mire!’[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") Last, like that bird which fan-like spreads her plumes For pride, to Conor’s palace she returned, And found him seated in presageful glooms; And cried as though some reptile shape she spurned, ‘Woe, woe; for Deirdré’s brightness is gone by;-- Brown moth is she that once was butterfly!’[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") King Conor heard, ill-pleased, and yet well-pleased, And stood, before him dangling still this thought At least then Naisi of his love is eased; And that proud minx has lost my realm for nought: Perhaps ’twere best to let old rancours pass: Kingdoms live on; but beauty fades like grass.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus mused the king: but while he sat at meat And, later, when the wine had fired his blood, The thought of Deirdré’s face, tender and sweet, Too bright to fade, star-like before him stood: And loud he cried: ‘Sits any brave man here Who dreads not death, and holds King Conor dear?[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘Forth to the Red-Branch Mansion let him speed, And there with Deirdré secret converse hold, And learn if yet upon her lives indeed The glory of that beauty hers of old.’[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Trendorn went, a sordid churl, ill-starred, And found that mansion’s gateways closed and barred:[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") Yet clomb he darkling, to that casement high; And Deirdré turned her face:--in awe and fear Of that great splendour o’er it shed, the spy Slid from his place, and, racing like a deer, To Conor cried; ‘As shines in heaven the sun, So she on earth: and like her there is none!’[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") That instant Conor saw the maid again\![77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") That instant rage of love his heart possessed Venomed by past repulse, and jealous pain: And thus he cried, hoarse-voiced with stifling breast, ‘Storm ye the Red-Branch House\![78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") Die, he that will\![79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") Mine was that maid: and mine I deem her still.’[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") In silence sat the chiefs, mindful at once Of duty sworn to Uladh’s king, their Lord, And of his counter-pledge to Usnach’s sons; But all the Bonachts ranged adown the board Rushed forth to boast their zeal, and clutch their prey, Aliens base-born that fought not save for pay.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") To these were joined the vile ones of the street; For in their breasts Conor this seed had sown, Imposture sordid, and obscene conceit, ‘Traitors, in Alba late to princes grown, Would make their Pictish tyrant Uladh’s king!’[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") They girt the Red-Branch House, thus clamouring.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Long time in silence stood, and sore amazed, Those brave but simple knights o’er Erin feared: For Usnach’s sons as kings they prized and praised; But like a God King Conor they revered: At last they spake, and after that changed not, ‘We in this war will bear nor part, nor lot.’[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") And when the stony storm blackened the heaven, And gate rolled in, and casement burst and brake, And all that House was as a ship rock-riven, In midnight storm, they sat, and never spake; For two contrarient thoughts their minds had cleft-- Astonied men of manhood’s might bereft.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") Naisi, meantime, and Deirdré, fixed, attent, Their eyes in stillness on the ivory board, And silent o’er their game the brothers bent; But Fergus’ sons stood up with hand on sword, Forth from the casement gazing; and the red Burned on their brows: then Deirdré, careless, said,[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘Long time, methinks, at feast doth Fergus tarry-- Good speed for that crowned hawk which hangs on high With beak turned downward t’ward his skiey quarry!’[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") Buini broke in; ‘My sire is false; not I!’[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") And gat him down; and shouted Fergus’ name: And straight a host around him flocking came.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") But Conor sent for Buini, and at door Whispered him low; ‘I yield thee Fo-äd-Fell!’[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Yet Buini spurned the bribe, and said; ‘What more?’[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") And Conor thus; ‘Henceforth mine oracle At council board be thou, and only thou!’[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Buini pledged with Conor hand and vow.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Thenceforth around the Red-Branch Mansion higher The madness of the people surged, and roar As though of tempest when great woods catch fire, Or winter waves raking some northern shore; And on the portals seven they dashed; and lo\![94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") Their mighty hinges groaned ’neath blow on blow.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Meantime the Red-Branch Knights, like men in sleep Trod the vast courts; or like some shepherd boor Who feels his way on cliffs that crest the deep When mist invests the mountain and the moor; Or stood and gazed from far on Deirdré’s brow-- Strong knights of old; men ineffectual now.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Deirdré, as the battle raged below, Spake lightly thus, while on she pushed a pawn, ‘Buini has gone like Fergus--let him go!’[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") But Illan, grieved at heart, with sword half drawn, Replied, ‘While lives this sword, whoe’er may fly, Faithful and true to Usnach’s Sons am I!’[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") And gat him down, and drew a host, and drave Southward that seething mass a mile and more, As when the wind before it drives the wave; And shouted, ‘traitors’ still; and slew six score.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Then--sped from heaven--above the heads of all Ran Fear; and reached King Conor’s council-hall.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") There, girt by chiefs sat Conor on his throne With cloudy brows, and pale lips ridged in scorn, Who thus addressed Fiacre, his first-born son; ‘Son, thou and he the self-same hour were born, Illan--the man that from this head even now Sweeps Uladh’s crown\![101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Go forth and meet him, thou\![102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/6/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/6/) - next →: [Opening, part 7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78491/7/) - ↑ 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/)