Classic Audiobook Collection - Deirdre by James Stephens ~ Full Audiobook [folklore]

Starting point is 00:00:00 Theirdra, Section 1, Book 1, chapters 1, and 2. Chapter 1 Once upon a time, Kuna Hurah MacNassa, was on a journey and had to pass the night at the house of Philemid Magdal, his storyteller. He was annoyed because his wife, Maeve, had not come with him, but Maeve had the knack of annoying him more than anyone else was able to, so that when he thought of her his mind went intriguing and adventuring, for he was always trying to get the better of her, and was seldom without feeling that she was getting or had just got the best of him.

Starting point is 00:00:41 For this reason he was irritable and could not look at anyone with benevolence except Fergus McRoy, but he could not look otherwise than benevolently on Fergus. Meantime, night was at hand, and one must sleep, and it is vexatious to sleep alone. He clapped his hands and said to the attendant who appeared, Is Philemedaul married? He is, master. Give my compliments to Philemed, said Conahour, and tell him that his wife is to sleep with me tonight.

Starting point is 00:01:16 The attendant vanished, and the king was left alone. That is, he was left to his thoughts, for when he was among those, he was where other men might not care to follow him. In fact, the large room wherein he, sat was almost uncomfortably filled with men, but they kept respectfully apart, playing chess, and speaking in low voices to one another. The attendant returned. "'Ari Ossal,' said he humbly. "'Well,' said Conahour,

Starting point is 00:01:47 "'the master of the house regrets that his wife cannot sleep with you tonight. "'Here's something new,' said the king sternly. His wife is at this moment in childbed, murmured the discreet servant. These women are always troublesome, said the king with jovial anger. She troubles me by withdrawing herself from my comfort, and she troubles my poor Philomid by giving him a child he could well do without. He looked moodily on his gentleman. There was Kaffa, the famous poet, and Conal his grandson,

Starting point is 00:02:23 to be known later as Kiernak, the victorious, but already known. notable, bitter-tongued Brie-Crew, who was famous or infamous, according to one's judgment. Ishnach, who had married one of Kaffa's three daughters, and for whose little son, Nisha, the queens of Ireland would weep so long as Ireland had a memory. And there was Fergus MacRoy. Kunawhor's eye traveled loweringly from one to the other of these men until it rested on Fergus, and on him it rested lovingly, benevolently. He looked loweringly on the others because they did not stand in any particular relation to him at the moment. He looked lovingly and mildly on Fergus because he hated Fergus, and had wronged him so bitterly that he must wrong him yet more in justification. His wife and Fergus MacRoy were often in his thoughts. So he looked very lovingly on them, and speculated a great deal about their future.

Starting point is 00:03:32 But this night the young king was seriously out of humor, not only because of his wife's absence, but because of many things that had happened. Three comets in succession had flashed across the sky as they drove to the storyteller's house. His leading chariot horse had trod in a rabbit hole, and its leg was cracked at the fatlocks, and one of his attendants had been taken with mortal vomitings,

Starting point is 00:03:57 and it did not seem that he would finish until he had emptied his body of his soul. Kunahur called to his father, You are a poet and should be able to tell us the meaning of these various omens. It is not hard to tell, said the calm magician. Then tell it, quoth the king, testily. As he spoke, a thin wail came from somewhere in the building, and the men present turned an ear to that little sound, and then a questioning or humorous eye on each other.

Starting point is 00:04:31 You hear, said the poet, a child has just been born in this house. She will bring evil to Ireland, and she will work destruction in Ulster as a ferret works destruction in a rabbit's burrow. Kaffa then returned to his chest, leaving the company staring. You have the gift of comfortable prophecy,

Starting point is 00:04:54 said the king. Put an end to the prophecy, by putting an end to the child, Brick crew advised, and then let us see how the gods manage their affairs. Brickrew, my soul, said the king, you like troubling the waters,

Starting point is 00:05:10 but tonight you seem to be afflicted with sense. Bring the creature to me. They carried the little morsel to him, and she was laid across his knees. So you were to destroy my kingdom and to bring evil to mighty Ireland? The babe reached,

Starting point is 00:05:27 with a tiny claw and gripped one finger of the king. See, he laughed. She places herself under my protection, and he moved his finger to and fro, but the child held fast to it. Auster is under your protection, growled Brie Krew. The king, who did not like other men's advice, looked at him.

Starting point is 00:05:49 It is not soldierly, nor the act of a prince to evade fate, said he, who was to be known afterwards, as the wide-eyed majestic monarch. Therefore, all that can happen will happen, and we shall bear all that is to be born. Then he gave the child back to its trembling nurse. Kaffa looked up from the chessboard. She is to be called the troubler, said he,

Starting point is 00:06:14 and from that day, Deirdre was her name. Chapter 2. When Iked Yellowheel was king of Ulster, he had a daughter called Asa. She was educated apart from her father's residence by twelve tutors, and none of these had ever trained a pupil who was so docile, so teachable, so affectionate. She loved knowledge, and so she loved learned men, and would be always in their company. One day she went on a visit to her father's court,

Starting point is 00:06:50 and when she returned to her lessons, she found that her twelve tutors had been murdered, and there was nothing to tell who had killed them. From that moment her nature changed. She put on the dress of a female warrior, gathered a company about her, and went marauding and plundering in every direction. She was no longer called Asa the gentle, but Nassah, or the ungentle, was her name thenceforth. Kaffa, the son of Ross, was then a young, powerful and ambitious man,

Starting point is 00:07:23 learning magic or practicing what he had learned, and it was he had slain. and it was he had slain the tutors. But Nessa did not know this. It may be that Kaffa had visited the tutors during her absence, and for young magicians do not love argument, he may have killed them after a dispute. Once on one of her marauding expeditions, she went questing in a wilderness. At a distance there was a spring of clear water, and while her people were preparing food, Nasa went to the spring to bathe. She was a spring of a wilderness. She was a spring of a spring of water, and while her people were went to the spring to bathe. She was in the water when Kaffa passed, for he also was in that wilderness, and when he saw the girl's body, he loved her, for she was young and lovely. He approached and placed

Starting point is 00:08:08 himself between the girl and her dress and weapons, and he held a sword over her head. "'Spare me,' she pleaded. "'If you will be my wife, I will spare you,' said Kuffa. She agreed to that, for no other course was open to her. and they rejoined her party. They were married, and Nassah's father gave them a bridegift of land called afterwards Rath Kaffa in the country of the Picts in Kri-Ross. In time a son was born to those two, namely Kunahur Mak-Nasa, for it was by his mother's name he was known,

Starting point is 00:08:47 and it was for him that Kaffa made the poem beginning, welcome to the stranger that has come here. There are some who say, however, that Fakhna the mighty had been the Lehman of Nessa, and that it was he was the father of Kunahur instead of Kaffa. If so, as Fakhna was the son of Maga, who was the daughter of Angkor Maconog of the brew, then Kondahor had the blood of a god in his veins, as well as the blood of a mortal, and much of his great success and of his terrible failure can be accounted for. The gods are unlucky in love.

Starting point is 00:09:30 So too the son of a wise mother is unlucky in love, as is also the man who is fortunate in war. After some time Nassah left her husband, taking her son with her. It may be that she had discovered he was the murderer of her tutors. It may have been that she didn't. not love him. It may even be that she did not like being wife to a magician, or he may have grown tired of her, but she never returned to him again. But when Kunahura was a youth, Nasa was still the most beautiful woman in Ulster, the then-kinghaw-the-mighty, died, and his young half-brother,

Starting point is 00:10:15 Fergus, the son of Roy, wife of Ross the Red, son of Rory, came to the throne. Fergus was then 18 years of age, and Kunahur was 16, and like Kunahur, Fergus also was known by his mother's name instead of his father's. Nasa came to the Ulster court with her son, and while there, Fergus fell madly in love with her, and she could in no way avoid the importunities of that monstrous youth. for Fergus was gigantic in bulk and stature. I shall marry you on one condition, said Nessa. I agree to it beforehand, said Fergus.

Starting point is 00:10:56 You know the great love I bear my son, Kunahur. I also love him, said Fergus. His descent is kingly, she said, and I desire that he should be a king if it were only for a year. If you resign the crown to him during our first year of marriage, I will marry you. I will do that, said Fergus. That was done, and for a year Fergus and Nasa lived happily together.

Starting point is 00:11:25 But Nessa was not entirely absorbed in love. She was still thinking of her son. During that year she arranged a marriage for Kunahur with Klauru, the daughter of the High King of Ireland, and she spent a vest treasure in working among the nobles and important. people of Ulster, so that they became of her son's party as against the party of her husband. Indeed, her young husband had no party, for he was the least suspicious man living in the world, and except in matters of honor or war, he would make no plans and take no trouble.

Starting point is 00:12:05 Nor was Kunahor idle during his year of kingship. His ability was marvelous, and his energy is wonderful. feuds that seemed to be endless were settled by him foreign affairs that threatened or hung offered him no trouble but it was from the judgment-seat that his fame spread most quickly a fool said the proverb can give judgment but who will give us justice no question was so tangled but that swift mind could pierce it no matter was too ponderous to be weighed by him or too light to escape his attention. He knew all. He attended to all. Everything he touched was bettered, and men said that that year Ulster had never known prosperity or peace or justice, but only the imitation of these. Kunahura was every man's friend, and in a short time every man was his. Fergus returned to a court that had forgotten him, or that was so blinded by the new prodigy that they saw new, nothing when they looked elsewhere, it was held that Fergus had actually resigned the kingship, or that he had given it as a dowry to his wife. And although the young lord may have been

Starting point is 00:13:24 dismayed, the representation of the nobles, and in particular the wit and cajolery of his wife arranged that matter, so that he made no effort to regain his kingdom, and in a short time he was the most devoted admirer of Kunahur in the realm. It is possible that Nassah left him then, or that she died, but we do not hear of her again. Koonahur's married life may have been happy, but it was short. At the end of about eight months, Klohru returned to Kanoct on a visit to the High King, her father. We do not know what happened, but a dispute arose between Klu-Huru and her youngest sister, Mave. Mave struck a blow that killed Klu-Huru, and Konawhor.

Starting point is 00:14:13 first child was born in its mother's death agonies. When this news came to Ulster, Kunahur set out to demand reparations and vengeance, but when he beheld Maeve, his ideas underwent a horrible change. He had never seen anything like this queenly creature. He had not imagined that there could be in the world a girl so wonderful as she, for she was brave and able and of a marvelous loveliness. Kunawhor's hard mind would not flinch when once his lusts were aroused.

Starting point is 00:14:47 His vengeance and his desire made common cause. He married Mave against her wish, and without her consent, and he bore her back with him to Ulster, a queen, a captive, and notwithstanding her crime, a deeply wronged woman. Fergus McRoy and Mave, these were his victims, and from them there was to arise a story, it which would seem to the king as unending as time itself. Those two and Deirdre. It was this Mave, anciently spelled M-A-D-B, who became afterwards Mab, the Queen of the Ferrys of

Starting point is 00:15:28 Spencer and Shakespeare. End of Section 1. Section 2 of Deirdre by James Stevens. This Libre Fox recording is in the public domain, read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Book 1, Chapter 3 and 4. Chapter 3 Deirdre grew up in a place apart at Ivana. She saw no people of any kind except Lavisham, the King's Conversation Woman, and her woman servants. For all ways about the castle where she lived, there was a guard of the oldest and ugliest swordsman that were in Ulster.

Starting point is 00:16:14 Their duty was to let nobody pass in or out of the castle grounds, for it was the king's intention to outwit fate, as he had outwitted all else that had moved in his path. Thus she grew in gentleness and peace, hearing no voice less sweet than the voice of the birds that sang in the sunshine, or the friendly calling of the wind she played with. Seeing nothing more uncomely than the gracious outline of far hills, the many-colored sky that fled and was never gone,

Starting point is 00:16:45 the creatures that lived unmolested in the trees about the castle, and the wild deer that grew tame in nearby breaks. All that she knew was friendly to her, and naught was rough. All that she drew nigh to stood for her approach, naught fled from her, and she did not flee from anything. Watching her as she stood or sat or went, the wise Leversham used to lose her senses, for all that was beautiful was here gathered into one form. As in one true ray of the sun is all that is lovely of the sun.

Starting point is 00:17:23 The running wind and the wild creatures of the wood, the folk from the she, the Bacchanaks and Bannanox and the aerial beings that are not seen, might have stayed to look at Dirdre, but had they stayed they could not have gone again, for they would have become eyes only, and they would have perished in beauty, gazing on it. Lavasham was a wise woman. She could not have occupied and continued to hold her position in Conahour's household, had she not been wise. She was known as the king's conversation woman,

Starting point is 00:17:58 and she could indicate an unpleasant truth, as delicately as a poet can express the dimple in a lady's chin. but her real occupation, masked by the courteous word, was that of household spy. She went to and fro in the vast palaces at Ivana, and nothing passed there, whether among the nobles or the servants, that she was not privy to, or which the king was not thereafter acquainted with. She could adapt herself to any situation and to every society, and if her chatter with her kitchen-maids was jovial and in key, her conventingy, her concedure conversation with a young princess or an old bard was not less balanced and elucidatory.

Starting point is 00:18:42 She had many things to teach a young girl, and she withheld no knowledge that could benefit the little one whom her heart had soon adopted as its own babe. The virtues, as well as the arts, were part of her experience, so that Deirdre grew in the love of chastity, of industry, and of joyfulness. In this way and in these teachings, the years went by, unnoticed as years. Day followed night, and night came after day in a timeless succession, each adding its unnoticeable little to her stature, its unseen tender curve to her limbs, its imperceptible deposit of memory to her mind. But among the arts of which the tireless Laversham spoke, there was one she taught and retaught to Dirdre, and that art was Conahour.

Starting point is 00:19:33 although she had never seen the king yet the young girl knew him as a mother knows her baby she could have recited his babyhood his adolescence and now his maturity she knew as only lavisham did why he did such a certain thing and by what progressions this stated consummation marvelled at by others had been arrived at it was of infinite interest to deirdre but its inevitable effect was to stamp the unseeing king with a seal of time so that although laversham insisted that he was only thirty-five years of age The young girl's mind regarded him as one who could have been father and grandfather to a hill. She reported to Kanahur at proper intervals as to her ward, and he, if he had wished, might have checked the passing years by his memory of the stories Lavrasham told him of Deirdre, learning to walk and walking, of Deirdre learning to talk and talking. Her teeth were counted to him as she cut them, and when she bruised her knee, slipping down

Starting point is 00:20:43 bank or when she wept for the cold fledgling she found on the path or when she refused to weep in a thunderstorm he was acquainted with the facts and nodded at them gravely as they were told she had been a round thing all surprise and fluff like a young duck she became a lank anatomy all leg and hair and stare like a young colt and then she became a wild thing all spring and peep and run like a young duck she became a wild thing all spring and peep and run like a a young fawn, and now she was what Laversham continued to report and dilate on. But the king could not believe one half of the tale that Labrasham told, for it seemed to him that such beauty as she reported was not credible, and he knew that women speak foolishly when they talk of beauty. He was, moreover, well satisfied with the queen who was with him then, Mave, the lovely daughter of the High King. Chapter 4

Starting point is 00:21:43 It happened at last that May came to the decision, which for a long time had been forming in her mind. She decided that she would not remain with the King of Ulster any longer, and having so decided and faced all its implications, she was not long in finding an opportunity to get away from him. It is not right to say that she found an opportunity, for she was of those who create chance, and who do at all times, times everything that is in their minds. There were many reasons why she might have been discontented as the wife of Conahour, the similarity of their characters, their equally imperious

Starting point is 00:22:22 temperaments, their equally untiring and almost identical habits of mind rendered each an object of suspicion and endless cogitation to the other. They could not rest, together or apart, for each knew what in certain circumstances he or she would do, and unerringly credited the other with the performance of these surmase deeds. Thus, leisure, which might have been profitably spent by either, was wasted by both in courteous ambuscades and counter-or-parallel schemes, so that the private habit of one was a perpetual cancelling of the private desires of the other, and a state of exasperation existed between them, which, as it could not come to the surface and be faced or down-faced, ended by being a very poison to life.

Starting point is 00:23:15 In setting out these terms, it is more proper to refer them to Mave than to the king, for in the large conduct of his affairs he could escape from his household and forget in the council Hall or the judgment seat, that which his wife was given only the greater leisure to remember in her sunny chamber or among her servants and sycophants. But matrimony had been poisoned for them at the very fountain, and a dear detestable memory for Maeve was that her husband had outraged her before he married her, and that he had taken her then and thereafter in her own despite. If it had been a question of morality she might have forgiven Kanahur almost before forgiveness could be prayed for. But it was not a moral violence, she raged against. She was a lady to whom nothing in the

Starting point is 00:24:08 world was so dear and instant as she was herself, and that any man should lay an uninvited hand upon her, outraged her sense of propriety, as no general idea could have done. But she was as courageous as she was beautiful and as unblushing as either. The world might have heard her statement of the virtues she demanded in a husband, and if the world was alarmed, the young queen permitted it to be as it pleased, on condition that it did not interfere with her, nor question her wish. My husband, she said, must be free from cowardice, and free from avarice, and free from jealousy, for I am brave in battles and combats, and it would be,

Starting point is 00:24:53 a discredit to my husband if I were braver than he. I am generous and a great giver of gifts, and it would be a disgrace to my husband if he were less generous than I am. And, she continued, it would not suit me at all if he were jealous, for I have never denied myself the man I took a fancy to, and I never shall, whatever husband I have now or may have hereafter. It is possible that her husband did not fulfill these conditions as completely as Maeve desired. Of his courage there could be no doubt. He had proved that on many an opponent, and although there were better soldiers, there were few who breasted dangers with such gay violence. As to his generosity, that might be questioned

Starting point is 00:25:42 by one so whole-hearted as Maeve, for although he would give often and largely, there might be more of calculation than of spontaneity in the gift. but it is in the third of her stipulations that connahur would probably be found wanting for given his temperament his furious passions his habit of command and his endless cleverness he should have been a very mad man for jealousy all clever men are jealous it is one of the forms of egoism he must have tracked the discontented lady with the persistence of a bloodhound and all the casual anonymity of a husband he would have been always just there in the place where she least desired to see him and it is possible that gentlemen on whom her eyes rested approvingly would disappear before her eyes had adequately rested on them it may have seemed to mave that someone like connahur was standing at every corner in evan maca and that at the few corners where he was not his conversation woman was or some other withered crone was there blaring hideously on her yellow tusk and making a noise that would annoy a young woman, but which might absolutely terrify a young man. She reviewed the situation and all the subsidiary situations.

Starting point is 00:27:07 She thought of what her father, the High King, would say, and knew how he should be answered, and by what arts he might be made an ally. She thought of what her two sisters would urge, but she thought of them negligently, considering that they would be more anxious to avoid than to meet her, and she thought of her third sister, about whom she need speculate no more, and Mave's hand that struck the blow had been as steady as was her mind that contemplated its memory. Conahour had come to demand vengeance and had exacted marriage. That was his vengeance, and she thought of the cold-minded, furious-blooded king, in every alternation, from astonishment to rage, and in every mood except that of fear,

Starting point is 00:27:55 for she was not afraid of him or of anything that lived. End of Section 2. Section 3 of Deirdre by James Stevens. This Librevox recording is in the public domain, read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Book 1, chapters 5 and 6. Chapter 5 mave's immediate intention was to get away from ulster and so to order her conduct in the meantime that the king who suspected everything and foresaw all would have no suspicion of this therefore if she cogitated her plans she kept them in her own mind

Starting point is 00:28:43 she would have no confidant until the action was decided and the hour for it had struck and in this matter she had much to think of but she patiently resolved these complexities so that each went at last into its place in her plan, and she had the leisure to review and revise it until she could be certain that nothing was forgotten and that a perfect piece of machinery had been created. The machine was not visible, but it would appear as at a wave of her hand, and it would begin to move at the hour of its birth.

Starting point is 00:29:19 It was not by chance that this lady was called a masculine name, for she had patience and tenacity and a clear, cool head. Had it been merely a question of getting comfortably away, there would have been nothing in the prospect to exercise the queen. She would have mounted her chariot, and whether her husband was looking or not, she would have driven wherever she wished to go. She would have driven over him if he had stood in her way,

Starting point is 00:29:48 and threw his army if that had been unavoidable. The difficulty was that she did not. not intend to leave with Conahour, the possessions she had brought to Ulster and those that she had since acquired, for the High King had endowed his daughter in a manner befitting his condition and the rank she was to occupy, and as a wife's possessions were secured to her by the law of the land, she did not intend to leave Conahour richer than he had a right to be. It was the transport of this vast baggage which exercised the queen. She owned flocks of sheep, herds of cattle, droves of horses and pigs.

Starting point is 00:30:30 These naturally had multiplied during her residence at Yvonne. She had vessels of gold and silver, of fendrinny and bronze. She had rings and bracelets, shoulder torques as big as plates, and breast brooches that were twice as big. She had pleasure chariots and war chariots. She had rich fabrics of linen embroidered. with gold and silver thread, many colored silk and shawls with deep fringes of gold, or with tassels and bobbories of silver. She had headdresses of every material and metal, bronze spears, each with a hundred loose rings of gold that clashed musically up and down the

Starting point is 00:31:13 handle, and on each of the rings there chimed a little silver bell. She had shields and breastplates of solid silver and gold, and they were set out with patterns of dainty gems. There were quilts of silk and fur, cushions that delighted the head or the eye that rested on them. She had bird cages of ivory and crystal, beds that had been chipped out of monster blocks of amethyst, cups of carved ivory, each with a different gems set inside at the bottom, so that it twinkled at you while you drank. Chess boards of precious metals, and each man on the board had occupied the cunning artificer a long year of his age to fashion it.

Starting point is 00:31:59 She had her own machinery for brewing and baking. What had she not got? Her dresses alone would pack a house and burst out through the roof and tumble down the glass of her sunny chamber like an untimely sunset for color, and like a billow of the sea for exuberance. She did not intend that as much as one thread of her threads should remain behind her at Evan Maka. No whether Queen shall waggle her toes in my draperies, nor enjoy what is proper for my enjoyment alone, thought Mave. Kanahur was preparing to go on a visit to Cabra Neifer, king of Leinster, for he thought an alliance could be formed from which good might possibly come to Ulster.

Starting point is 00:32:48 The neighboring kingdom of Connacht had grown strong and stronger, and he knew that the people of that kingdom would be glad to think that Leinster and he remained at arm's length. He would travel in state, and such a journey had to be organized carefully. Houses for rest and entertainment on the way must be arranged for, heralds and messengers, and days in advance, and dispositions made so that their reports might be received. on his journey. Several thousand men would be in his company, and the shelter, feeding, and entertainment of these had to be thought of. So, for a little time, he was busy, but he was not too busy to remark anything that might chance to be remarkable. Leversham sat with him in his retired room at the center of the royal branch. From this room, the great circular mass of his palace radiated in all directions to its ten-acre circumference, and in this deep-placed,

Starting point is 00:33:52 well-secured center, the king sat, as a spider might sit in the middle of his gigantic web. The room he occupied was sufficiently large. The ceiling was an intricate medley and very incrustation of carved wood, and pushing out of that chaotic center came a great shoulder and a grotesque head, which held in its mouth a bronze chain, with a crystal ball swinging from it, and that ball was so round and pure it seemed to be one great drop of clear water. Sometimes Kaffa came here and would read matters in the crystal to the king. The walls of the room were paneled and polished red oak, and between each oaken panel was a panel of ruddy bronze,

Starting point is 00:34:41 with a silver rail above it, and a golden bird was perched at the end of each rail, so that the light from the torches gleamed gently again from the walls, and multiplied itself in faint winks and reflections about the room. There was one large chair there, and a small stool. Lavrisham was seated on the stool. She was permitted to rest in her master's presence, for she usually had much to say to him, and he always found her interesting.

Starting point is 00:35:14 Good, my soul, said the king, I am glad that you are a woman. I am not badly contented about that myself, she smiled. For, he continued, if you had been a man I should have been afraid of you. How so, master? Because you could have taken my kingdom whenever you wanted it. Indeed, master, I would not accept the kingdom

Starting point is 00:35:39 if I got one as a present. There is too much responsibility, and there is too much to do. It is no lie, he conceded. I like, she continued, to do my work, and then I like to forget my work. But if I had the bad luck to be a king or a queen, I should never again know what a rest meant,

Starting point is 00:36:02 as you, my dear master, do not know what it is to rest yourself. Still, said the king, small, The queen does get an occasional rest. A king wants rest, but cannot get it. A queen, however, may not feel the need to rest, and she may not wish for it. How do you intend that, my friend? I mean that a woman gives herself up more than a man does,

Starting point is 00:36:29 and when she so gives herself to love or power or hate, she gives all that she has, where a man may keep back something. But the queen, Laversham, as you have spoken of her, what do you think of her? How would I dare to think about the queen, master? Do you like her? he insisted. She is very lovely. I perceive that you do not love the queen, said he, and then after a moment but severely, do you love me, Laversham?

Starting point is 00:37:04 I do love you, indeed, she answered gravely. but he insisted do you love anybody else as well as me i love nobody else except my babe ah that fabulous babe is she still getting new teeth or what is it she's getting now she is getting to be a beautiful young girl master ah yes you told me that she is thirteen years of age but tell me now my heart why did you draw the talk a moment of to go to queens and their hate and restlessness. Indeed, master, I did not draw the talk around that way. Perhaps, he mused, the queen has not treated you courteously. You're wrong indeed, she said happily, for this whole week past, the queen has been most kind to me.

Starting point is 00:38:00 Ah! And today she called me her dear branch, Leversham, and spoke with me for an hour. Ah, said Conahour, have you been among her women? I have, Master, and her men. They too. What have you found? Nothing, Master, not a word, not a wink, not a stare, not a hesitation, not an eagerness, not a question. I found nothing.

Starting point is 00:38:31 And in the Queen, what did you notice? Affection for me, Master. i wish i were not going away said the king he stood from his chair and strode weightily in the room i wish it too his companion agreed he halted and regarded her gravely be very friendly with the queen he counselled but lavisham smiled pityingly at him why should i waste my time said she he nodded at that also and became deeply and unhappily thoughtful Chapter 6 Mave had her own bodyguard of soldiers, close on one thousand men, who had come with her from Knoct, and from whom she refused to be parted. She was herself there, captain, and each man of them was devoted to her.

Starting point is 00:39:26 They were mostly her own countrymen, and she drilled and exercised and was good to them with untiring patience and skill. She was the mother of the force, but a wag called her the wife of the regiment. These thousand men were in Conahur's mind as he arranged his visit to Leinster. He had often thought he must disband this force and replace it by his own men. He must win its allegiance and destroy it, so he also had been especially kind to the strange soldiers. Now, on the eve of his journey, he thought it would be a good thing to bring that with him to Leinster, thus, as he explained to Mave, giving them entertainment and exercise, while at the same time doing honour to his queen and her native province.

Starting point is 00:40:13 But the proposition raised such a dreadful ire in the queen, she tried the chamber in such dudgeon, and was so free in her speech that Conahour hastily and good-humouredly withdrew the suggestion, and bade her bear the soldiers discontent when they learned who stood between them and one of the pleasantest marches that a soldier could have. Indeed, an argument with Maeve was not to be lightly undertaken. It was likely to last a long time in the first place, and in the second she had so precipitate a manner of speech, and so copious a command of words, that the listener's mind quickly began to feel as if it were in a whirlpool.

Starting point is 00:40:55 His head would fly round and round, and he must run away, lest his brains burn. out from his ears, and he die giddily. No one but Conahour could harken to Mave's speech on such occasions, and he only did it when he particularly wanted to, for at times that which would drive another man mad, had a strangely soothing effect on him, and he could sit under that shrill tornado as peacefully as a daisy sits in the sunshine. At times, as one forces a rustive horse,

Starting point is 00:41:28 much further than it desires to go, he would impel into the brief tail end of her sentence a philosophic and peaceful interjection, which acted on her as the spur on a horse, so that he would drive her beyond the very bounds of utterance, and she would, at last, from sheer tongue-wereiness, topple from the peaks of speech into a silence, so profound that nothing, it seemed, could ever draw her sense again. and then Kanahura would talk to her soothingly, reasonably, unforgivably, and it was Maeve would run. But this time Kanahura fled, he was in no mood and had not the time for argument, he knew she would not yield, and he was so angry and hurried that he could not be the patient,

Starting point is 00:42:18 humorous, and watchful comrade he had intended to be. When he spoke of this matter to Laversham, he did not speak with good, humor, but he did not empty his mind even to the conversation woman. It was not necessary. When I return from Leinster, said he. But the wise woman nodded only in half-hearted agreement, for she thought that, although it might only take two days to bury a thousand men, it would take a long time to bury those who would march to avenge them. The rage and agitation into which his suggestion had thrown the queen was so great that she fell, ill and could not accompany her husband to Lenister, so that, as on the previous occasion,

Starting point is 00:43:04 he had to travel without her, the understanding being that she would take the road after him, and traveling more lightly, could perhaps catch on his company before they reached Nace, the court and capital of the King of Leinster. With his force, but unknown to it, there went a youth, a long, striding, active, bull-like, young man with a freckled face and red hair, and than whom there was no more jovial person in all Ireland. For if a man was striking at him with a spear, he could make that man laugh so much that he would not be able to hit straight. His name was Mac Roth. He was Mave's personal servant, her herald. But just as the word conversation woman cloaked another occupation for Laversham,

Starting point is 00:43:55 so the word herald hid the same usefulness in Macroft. He was Maeve's personal spy, but he also was her herald, and in after days, because of his knowledge, address, and courage, he was to be the chief herald of all Ireland. He accompanied Conahour's force, but he was not with it. He was a mile in advance, or a perch behind, or he was to the right of it just at a small distance, or he was looking from a hill on the left as the gay cavalcade and silver-shining chariots went by in the valley.

Starting point is 00:44:32 He accompanied them in that manner unseen for two days, and then murmuring a blessing on them and on their encampment. He left them in the night, taking from them the loan of an unwatched horse, and he rode back by shortcuts to Ewan. When he reached the palace he was able to report that the king had gone so far, he could not easily turned back, and at that news Mave's illness departed from her as suddenly as it had come. In the morning she called for twenty of the chief men of her bodyguard

Starting point is 00:45:04 and gave them careful separate instruction. Then she informed the domestics that her quarters must be thoroughly cleaned while the king was away, and that everything she owned must be put out on the sunny lawn for airing and counting. The palace chamberlain

Starting point is 00:45:21 came in great haste, but that's why, Hoffman was soothed by Mave and sent away with his dignity unhurt, but his mind exercised. He communicated his news to Lavrisham, who had retired to the company of her babe outside Ivanya. Within the hour, Lavasham dispatched a flying messenger to Kanahur. But just outside the city, Macroth, who was waiting for him in a hedge, buzzed a spear through that man's back as he went thundering past. But in the night, Laversham, who left little to chance, sent other messengers, so that if some miscarried, others would not. But Mave's plan was at work.

Starting point is 00:46:03 The men she had chosen for a particular part were acting in that part, and inside of ten hours her company was deployed behind her baggage, her march to Connacht had begun, and Conahur was a bachelor again. End of Section 3 Section 4 of Deirdre by James Stevens This Liebervox recording is in the public domain Read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Section 4, Book 1, Chapter 7 and 8 Chapter 7

Starting point is 00:46:42 It was as well that the king was in Leinster at the time of Mayve's flight. Had he been nearer home, he would have been obliged to do something and in such a situation to do anything is to be ridiculous. He knew Mave too well to imagine that she would return for a threat, yet he made the threats which seemed politic, for that was a matter of course. But the messengers who bore these rigorous intimations to her father bore others to Mave, and in these the son of Nace was humble as no one could imagine possible, and as his counsellors might not have deemed advisable.

Starting point is 00:47:21 There was no arrangement which she might have suggested that he would not have agreed to, but the difference between them was too radical to be spanned by arrangements. Maeve was proud. She was vain to boot, and could not consent to be second to anyone. Living with Conahur, she had to be second, whatever he or she might desire. Indeed, living with him anywhere she would have to take second place, for the first place came to him so naturally, with such ease and finality, it could not be questioned or revoked or contrived in any way. More, and worse, she detested him, for he had always dared her and succeeded. She, it is true, had dared him, and on this occasion had succeeded.

Starting point is 00:48:11 But she could not live with him and dare him competently, which is just what he could do with her. even if he abdicated the throne to her he would keep the sceptre and she could no more take it from him than she could have abstracted the speed from the lightning if she came back to Ivania she would come back dead or should it happen that she did come back alive the king would at last have to kill her or she would kill the king Kanahur knew it and at last renounced his vain embassies and hopes If we should wonder why he sent them, or why he should hope, the answer lay in his character.

Starting point is 00:48:50 That clever, energetic man could not exist with a tame mate, a mere bodily satisfaction. He, sated in such satisfactions, would have exhausted in a week, and thereafter he would have been without a refreshment, which is as much of the mind as of the body, and which to one of his temperament has always most of the mind, even when it seems, fleshy to beastliness. She satisfied cravings of his nature, which he himself but dimly understood. And if with her the mistress was more apparent than the wife, therein lies the desire and doom of a clever man. For he was diabolically clever, and so not wise, and so not great. Only the great escaped slavery, and he was the slave to his ego, and would be whip.

Starting point is 00:49:43 a great man would not because he could not take mean advantages but the manner in which connahour ousted fergus from his throne will command the admiration of his peers only and obtain from them the justification which success requires and yet he could retain the love of his victim the trust of his people he was so near to greatness there were such sterling qualities running with the egotism he could be so mild in difficulty so clear-sighted in counsel. He could be so staunch a friend. He could forgive with such royal liberality. He could spend himself so endlessly for his realm. Cook Callan did not think of him as a bad man, nor did Fergus. And as to the latter, he loved and honored Conahour above the men of Ireland. Was that a defect or a merit in Fergus?

Starting point is 00:50:39 Was he too great or too simple? but it was not for clever tricks he admired Kanahur, nor was it for tricks that his people referred to him as the wide-eyed majestic king. However he bore the flight in public, he mourned for and craved for mave in private, and the illness which comes to a balked will fell on him, corroding his mind and his temper, so that even Lavasham left him as much alone as her duties permitted. Again and again, by an effort of the will, he would arouse from that sour brooding to throw himself into work and into the grave joviality, which had once been his note. But as instantly he would relapse visibly to any eye, and might stare so sardonically and uncomprehendingly on a suppliant that the latter would be glad to go away with his tale unlisted to.

Starting point is 00:51:35 matters were thus when a new plan began to brood in Laversham's mind so that when she looked on her babe again it began to seem that she looked on a queen for she intended to marry Deirdre to Conahour all Ulster wished the king to marry again for a celibate prince is a scandal to the people it was the constant effort of those responsible in the state to marry off a young prince almost as soon as

Starting point is 00:52:05 he came to the age of puberty. For such youngsters are great rovers, with appetites as gluttonous as dogs, and so carefree that they are surprised and indignant if others question the action which they do not themselves weigh. It is certainly a hardship and a tyranny if a neighbor should constrain a neighbor's wife to his own domestic uses, but it is only a hardship because the affair occurs between equals, among whom friendly observances are due, and between whom equal respect is grounded. Among equals, anything that implies inequality is a punishable wrong, but there is no hardship when the superior takes what he carelessly desires. It is community of interests which makes equals, and the disturbance of this which makes enemies.

Starting point is 00:52:56 But there is no community of interests between the prince and the subject, and no man is aggrieved by an action which can only affect his honor by increasing it. Nevertheless, so illogical is the mind of man, and so uncompromising is the sense of property, that men could be found who would interrupt with a spear the careless pleasure of a prince, and there were some blacksmiths mostly in cobblers, who would take a cudgel to the king's majesty itself and beat it out of a warm bed. So, when Laversham thought that she might conduct her ward between the lax arms of her sovereign, she but harboured an idea which every male person in the realm, who had a wife, a sister, or a daughter,

Starting point is 00:53:44 hoped for with fervor. Nor did the idea occur only to her. Within a month of Mayve's disappearance, more young ladies began to appear in Ivana than had been noticed there previously, so that Kahnahur, had he been in a condition to observe such things, might have noticed that Ulster had begun to blossom like a rose. But plotting such as these were of small use, in the case of a man like Kanohur, and it is likely that the first person to know what should be done and what was expected from the head of the state was the king himself. His duty as a king would point him the way. The necessity to repair what had been damaged would claim,

Starting point is 00:54:27 his mind, and the desire to forget by replacing would be even more insistent, for if a hair of the dog that bit you is the specific against drunkenness, it is a medicine against love also, and is, alas, the only one we know of. Therefore, the king did for a while take a fevered interest in the ladies of his court, but he found so jaundiced was his eye that they were neither worth looking at, nor worth talking to, and he did not grudge their companionship to any man. To Laversham, at last, he opened his mind. I must marry, Laversham, my soul. There's plenty of time for that, master, said the wily woman. While I have no wife, Ghanahua replied, the people will talk of the wife I had,

Starting point is 00:55:19 and the only way to stop that is to give them something else to talk of. "'It is true, indeed,' said Loversham. "'I foresee,' he continued, "'that I shall be compelled to marry someone I do not care for. "'In that case, Master, you will be saved the trouble of choosing, "'for you may take the first one that comes. "'They seem to resemble one another, like peas in a pod, "'are women all alike, my friend?'

Starting point is 00:55:48 "'They are much of a pattern, master.' "'And yet,' said the King. brooding deeply on one that had fled. Our little ward, Loversham continued thoughtfully, is rather unusual. What age is she now? Said the dull king. Sixteen years and a few months?

Starting point is 00:56:14 So much, we must think of marrying her to some friend, perhaps one of our kinsmen of Scotland. I must be reminded again of it. come and see her master and then you will be able to decide how she should be disposed of i shall go to see her some day chapter eight deirdre's education in the art of the king continued but it proceeded now somewhat obliquely to its former trend what woman in lavisham's place could avoid treating her master's latter affairs without something of sentimentality creeping into the term and what young girl could regard Maeve otherwise than as a heroine for having dared so shocking a scandal and such a round of perils. As Lavasham detailed Maeve, Deirdre interpreted it, and at the close of the statement the judgment of each was so different, so opposed, that a third person might have marveled at the tricks the understanding can play. For what was black to the one was not only white to the other, but it was crimson.

Starting point is 00:57:25 and purple and gold, and what was treachery to Laversham, gleamed on Deirdre like a candid sunrise. We assimilate knowledge less through our intellects than through our temperaments, and a young person can by no effort look through the eyes of an older. There are other ways by which a mutual perception can be so deflected that the same thing is not similarly viewed, and so Leversham's appreciation of Mave's conduct would differ from Conahors, as his would be unlike Kaffa's or Brickruse or Fergus McRoy's, and as these would be obscure to one another. The element of self-interest in each would act as a prism, and each would understand as much of the tale as he desired to understand, but no more, and would forgive or condemn on these

Starting point is 00:58:17 arrested findings. To Laversham, Mave's flight was treachery and deserved punishment, but it was not, in her thought, a misfortune for which even Conahour need weep. She had thoroughly disliked Mave, for though she could impose on everyone, she could not impress that imperious lady, and she had never dared tell one half of Mave's doing, lest the violent queen should suspect and loose a slash that would cut her in two half, in the very presence of the king.

Starting point is 00:58:52 The departure of Mave meant also the departure of Macaroth, and to be free from that jovial, crafty eye, was so great a relief that Labrisham could have wept in thankfulness. For to be a spy is a simple thing, an occupation like any other, but to be spied upon when one is a spy is a monstrous inversion of what is proper, and might easily give one palpitations of the heart. McRoth had her frightened and could have cowed her any time he wished. In her own craft he was her master, for after all she was only a household spy, but he was a

Starting point is 00:59:32 spy. She could glean from the kitchen or the sunny chamber everything that was there, but she must have walls about her and work behind those. While McRoth did not mind whether he was in a room or in a forest, he would spy in a beehive, He would spy on the horned end of the moon, he would spy in the middle of the sea, and would know which wave it was that drowned him, and which was the wave that urged it on. Lavrasham was not only glad that Maeve was gone,

Starting point is 01:00:03 she was jubilant, and, moreover, it gave her an opportunity that she could scarcely have hoped for to advance her babe in life without parting from her, and to strengthen all her own grips on fortune. hitherto, when she had spoken of Conahour to Deirdre, she spoke of the king's majesty. But now, insensibly, she began to talk of a great man bowed under misfortune, and a proper subject for female pity. But she could not wipe out the king's majesty with that sponge, nor alter one lineament of the portrait she had taken ten years to limb.

Starting point is 01:00:41 The king persisted for Deirdre, stern and aloof, and, and almost incredibly ancient, looming out from and overshadowing her infancy like a fairy tale, and was he not contemporary with Laversham? Herself, old enough to be remembered, but not thought of. Deirdre was interested in the king as she was interested in the people of the she, without expectation and with a little fear. But to her reasonings and objections, Laversham had one answer.

Starting point is 01:01:13 My soul and dear treasure, you cannot speak about men. for you have not seen any. And at last one day, Deirdre replied, Indeed, mother, I have seen them, these men you tell me of. Lavasham stared at her, and the gleeful child continued, I have spoken to them. Her foster mother became smoother than silk

Starting point is 01:01:38 and soft as the lap of kindness. Tell me about that, my one love, and tell me how men seem to you, you now that you have seen them. It's not hard to tell, replied Deirdre. Men are as ugly as donkeys, and she continued, they are just as nice. As ugly and as nice as donkeys, Laversham quoted in the days. Yes, mother, and I love them because they are so nice and ugly and good.

Starting point is 01:02:09 But what men are you talking of, my star? I'm talking of the men outside the walls. "'The guards? Of course.' "'And when did you see them?' Deirdre laughed. "'Why, I have seen them ever since I was that height,' and she poised her hand two feet above the ground. Lavasham laughed at her and wagged a reproving finger. "'You have not seen them very often all the same.'

Starting point is 01:02:35 "'I have indeed,' the girl replied triumphantly. "'I have seen them every day of my life for the last ten years.' "'And you spoke to them?' "'Of course I did. I know every one of them as well as I know you. "'You do not, Deirdre. "'I do so. I know their names and who they are married to, "'and how many children they have. "'Oh, I know everything about them.'

Starting point is 01:03:01 "'Sly, little fairy of the hills,' cried her perplexed guardian. "'You are poking fun at Laversham.' "'I surely am not,' Deirdre replied positively. "'Well, tell me about these men that are a grublexed. and nice like donkeys. Very well, cried Deirdre, I shall prove to you that I know them. You must know, she narrated, that each of these men is always at the same place outside the wall, but some of them are on guard during the daytime, and others are on guard during the night.

Starting point is 01:03:34 Every second week they change this order, and the ones who have been on duty in the night take up day duty, and the day men replace them, and so they change and change and change about, year in and year out under the charge of two captains and eight ancients. There are a hundred of these men altogether. Twenty-five of them march from point to point all around the walls during the day, but in the night seventy-five men march to and from smaller points. In the day, also one captain and two ancients march around and overlook the twenty-five guards, but a captain and six ancients march about the men who are on duty at night. Ah, cried Laversham, you have been told all this by the woman servants.

Starting point is 01:04:22 They only tell me tales of the men of Dana and of the she, and of how their children were born, and of the proper way to cure pimples. Well, tell me more, sighed Laversham, until I see what it is that you do know. The captain of the troop is named Dal, but the men call him fat face. He has fourteen children and is unhappily married, for he has told me many times that if he had a better wife, he would be a better man. One day when his wife was baking him a cake, she baked a spell into it, so that although he had never felt ache or pain before, he was racked all that day with torments. and ever since when the moon changes and the wind goes round he gets pains in his bones and he beats his wife when he gets home on the head of it you are certainly acquainted with this fat face i love him he wears a great leather and belt with a sword hung from it and when he orders the men he thrusts his two hands down through the belt stretches his legs very wide apart and roars at them but how he roars

Starting point is 01:05:35 "'Trups!' he roars. "'Turn by the right hand, trot!' "'And all the dear old men trot with their heads down very thoughtfully, "'until he roars at them to stop trotting, "'and then they all sneeze and talk about their feet. "'Sometimes he lets me drill the men. "'He should not,' said Laversham. "'He had to,' the girl replied,

Starting point is 01:06:00 "'for I threw stones at him from the top of the wall, "'until he agreed to let me "'he should let him, me do it. But that was a long time ago. He should have reported all this. Do you mean he should have told on me? cried Deirdre indignantly. Indeed, I should like to see Fat Face daring to tell anything about me. Why, the men would beat him if he told. I would get down off the wall and beat him myself. End of Section 4. Section 5 of Deirdre by James Stevens. This Libra Vox recording is in the public

Starting point is 01:06:39 domain, read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Section 5, Book 1, Chapters 9, and 10 Chapter 9 This conversation greatly exercised Loversham

Starting point is 01:06:57 and she cast about for some means whereby she might restrain her ward. It was a waste of time, as she quickly saw, for who that has been charged with a young person aged 16 has not been forced at last to renounce all real guardianship. At that age, the time has passed for prohibitions, and the time has not yet come when advice can be listened to, except in the form of flattery. The young body is eager for experience and will be satisfied with nothing less actual, so the older person must grant freedom of movement or be run to

Starting point is 01:07:33 death by that untiring energy. For a while, the youngster will drink deeply, secretly of her own will, and will then disengage for herself, that which is serious and enduring, from that which is merely pleasant and unprofitable. For all people who are not mentally lacking are sober-minded by instinct, and when the eager limbs have had their way, the being looks inwardly, pining to exercise the mind, and to equip itself. for true existence. At 14 years of age, Deirdre was not the untamable little savage

Starting point is 01:08:10 she had been at 12, and at the age of 16 she had begun to long for someone to whom she might submit her will, and from whom she could receive the guidance and wisdom and refreshment which she divined to be in herself,

Starting point is 01:08:25 but which she could not reach. Her fury of activity would be broken by equal periods of languor, wherein she would sit as in a daze staring at the sky and not seeing it, or looking at the grass with a vague wonder as to what this was upon which her eyes were resting. Wild creatures, or tame, would trot or amble before her, but she was only conscious of a movement without a form. A bird might light and flirt and hop and fly,

Starting point is 01:08:57 and her forsaken mind would touch those facts without gaining information from them. and would lose itself behind the movement, vaguely, blindly, dizzily, until the bird mixed into the sky, and the sky rounded and receded and disappeared, leaving her eyes nothing to rest on, and her errant mind without any support. She would look on her arms as they hung helplessly in the grass and wondered that they were so unoccupied,

Starting point is 01:09:28 and wondered that they were so empty. And an oppression came to her heart, gentle enough, but without end, as though something stirred there that could not stir, as though something sought to weep and could not weep, so that she must weep for it, and grieve for it, and be of a tenderness to that unknown, beyond all the tenderness that she had sensed about her. And these idle tears would arouse or assuage her, so that she wondered why she wept, and she would leap from such nonsense and speed away like one day, distraught with excess of life and energy.

Starting point is 01:10:07 She would become affectionate then. She mothered the cow and its lanky calf, the peeping rabbit and her popping brood, the shaggy mare and her dear shy of folene, an arm about each neck, listened to a conversation they loved and seemed to understand. When she tried to leave them, they trotted behind with gentle, persistent feet and eyes of such pleading that she must run passionately back, crying that she would come again, that she would surely come back to them on the morrow. There was not a nest she did not know of, and a young grey mother, snuggling among the leaves, would look gravely out at the grey eyes that peeped within,

Starting point is 01:10:50 and would hearken to a cooing so delicious, so burdened with love, that her broody hour would pass uncounted, and she would forget her mate abroad and the wide airs of the treetops. At night the moon would woo her so passionately. She must forsake her bed and go tiptoe among dark corridors until she came into the presence. What wild counsel did she receive from the glowing queen? Or was it the unmoving quietude that whispered without words, intimations of what? shy touches at the heart so that she who feared nothing would look about her

Starting point is 01:11:30 startled as a young row who senses something on the wind and flies without more query how lovely to her was that suspense and fear when her every nerve thrilled to a life more poignant than she had surmised when something that did not happen

Starting point is 01:11:48 was perpetually occurring when as it were in a moment she might be told what secrets, or be cautioned of something imminent and advised. She lost herself in the moon, wooing it, wooed by it, until she seemed to move in the moon, and the moon to move in her. A sole whiteness, a soul chillness, one equal potency. For what?

Starting point is 01:12:17 For that, for it, for something, for nothing, for everything. She submitted her destiny To the delicate sweet lady of the sky And one night, beckoned to, Drawn at, surrounded, A small moon shining in the moon, She went on and on, Passing the grass to the turf,

Starting point is 01:12:41 Leaving the turf for the stony places, From there to the wall, And over the wall also. So lightly, so impromptu. perceptibly, so moonily the drowsy guard did not see her, or if he saw twas but a moonbeam that rose and fell, that fluttered and faded, that lapsed over a piece of hollow ground and glimmered away on the slope, merging in the silver flood and the shades of ebony, and gone while he rubbed his eyes. So she marched towards destiny. She went among the darkness of

Starting point is 01:13:21 trees and farther where the wood grew thin into a dappled dancing of jet and silver and beyond to where young voices called and called and called such fresh young voices she had never heard before used as she was to the dry clipped utterance of laversham the toothless mumble of the servants the rusty bawling of fat face as of an obstinate door that told of aches and reluctancy and the wheezing and grunting of his stiff companions. She stayed listening to those voices, young as her own and as sweet, rattling like the waters that tumble and ride in the river, chattering like a nestful of young birds in spring, soaring up and falling down with an infinite eagerness and joy until it seemed that a lark's song and a flight of a swallow

Starting point is 01:14:16 had come together and fused into one streaming of sound. Standing behind a vast black tree, her astonished heart released itself in tears, and she wept for her cloistered youth, and for all that she did not know she had missed. Then boldly she trod forward, and sat herself resolutely at the campfire of the Sons of Ishnaq. Chapter 10 They received her, with a scant show of surprise, which youth so proud of appearances, so jealous of its own dignity extends to the unknown, and after the brief word of welcome and swift surmising glance, the conversation which she had interrupted renewed itself, perhaps a shade more

Starting point is 01:15:04 boisterously because they had been surprised, a little more heartily because they knew one was listening, who was not of their company, and might be critical. Soon, in their own despite, something ceremonious crept on them, overpowering their boisterousness and making each self-conscious, until, by the inevitable degrees, silence hovered and threatened about the fire, and for moments nothing moved but the eye that flickered and wandered into woodland vistas where the delicate dark trees stood rimmed in silver, and everything on the ground crept and fled as the boughs swayed and the moon spilled through them. but the silence only endured long enough for the look to become frank in the mutual examination a judgment

Starting point is 01:15:55 then the eldest of the three boys seized the conversation to himself and upheld it for he saw that their guest was so afflicted with shyness that she could not move hand or foot and could not have replied if one had addressed her he spoke for occupation also because having looked at her he feared or was too shyness to look again, feared, too, that the others might observe his embarrassment, and being one to whom action was a first habit, he did what he could do when he found that there was something which he could not do. He did it well. Listening to him, Deirdre knew what was the mid-surge of the stream she had listened to, the top singing of the song she had heard. This was the lark, sustained at the top of flight, and the others the mazy pattern of

Starting point is 01:16:47 the swallow's wings. Listening, she could collect herself, and in a while, daring to hear, she dared to see, and then she heard no more, for when the eye is filled, the ear is no more attended, and all that may be a beauty is there englobed, radiant, sufficient, excessive. How should I paint Nisha, as Deirdre saw him, or show Deirdre as she appeared to the son of Ishnok? for then deirdra there was no girl so beautiful unless it might be emir the daughter of forgel soon to be wooed by kukalin and nisha himself could not be bettered by any among the men of his land unless it was by the small dark man comelyest of the men of aeara kukalin himself when we endeavour to tell of these things words cannot stand the trial it may be done by music or by allusion as the poets have always done saying that this girl is like the moon or like the sky-woman of the dawn when they would indicate a beauty beyond what we know and that she is like a rose when they would tell of a gentle and proud sweetness that her wrist is crisp and delicate like the delicate foam that mantles on the sunny tide that the wise bee nestled in her bosom finding more of delight there than the hive gives

Starting point is 01:18:20 that she walks as a cloud or as a queen woman of the sky seen only in vision, so that all other sights are but half seen thereafter and are scarcely remembered. In these grave ways we may approach perfection, indicating distantly that which cannot be unveiled in speech, or we may tell of the abasement which comes on the heart when beauty is seen, the sadness which is sharper than every other sadness, the despair that overshadows us when the abashed will, concedes that though it would overbear everything,

Starting point is 01:18:57 it cannot master this, and that here we renounce all claim. For beauty is beyond the beast, and like all else of quality, it can only be apprehended by its equal and enjoyed where it gives itself. Still, they were young, and with young people,

Starting point is 01:19:17 impressions that come quickly, go as fast. They have so much in common. Their interest in the present is so quick, their faith in the future so fearless, their memory of tenderness is so recent, and their experience of treachery so small, that friendship comes easier to them than enmity does, and trust grows where suspicion withers, so in a little time they were again at ease, and when the food they had been preparing was eaten, they knew one another and were friends. Nisha was then almost 19 years of age, his brother Anla, 17, and Ardon more than 14, while Deirdre herself was almost a full 16 years. If she had listened before, as it were to the chattering of a brook or the outburst of a flight of birds, now she listened to a talk that was like a mill race for exuberance and the cawing of a colony of rooks for abundance, and yet when she remembered it afterwards she could not remember much, or she recollected that they laughed more than they spoke. For the talk consisted more of questions than anything else,

Starting point is 01:20:26 and the answer to each query was in nearly all cases an outbreak of laughter and another question. Do you remember the day Coocaulin came playing Hurley into Iman, and the way he took the troop under his protection, and the night when he went out a boy and came back a half, down. Jokes hinted at that had been played on foster fathers, grizzly jokes of the first combat of a comrade who had left his head where his feet should be, questions that hinted at outrageous parties in the night when the boys chased a wild boar and their fathers and foster fathers hunted them, of punishments that had been evaded as a fox dodges a dog, and behold, when safety had been found,

Starting point is 01:21:11 there was the punishment awaiting them. they were young but they had killed and they rocked with glee as they told by what marvellous strategy they had got in the lucky blow and how the champion had gone down never to rise again and they had trotted home squealing and squawking with joy with a head surveying the world from the top of a spear and it grinning down on them as joyously as they chattered up at it names that deirdr was unfamiliar with and some that she knew from the servants talk flew from mouth to mouth conal the victorious brie crew the prank player leary called the triumphant fergus mackroy these youngsters spoke of as familiarly as she might have told of the birds in her garden and criticised them with all the unsparing freedom of youth they did not consider that these great men were in any way superior to themselves The contrary was certainly in their minds. It was evident that Ardan and Anla thought their brother Nisha could whip any other champion rather easily,

Starting point is 01:22:21 but Nisha was modest and would say nothing for or against this theory. Deirdre was as convinced as the boys were that Nisha could beat any combination of champions that might have the ill luck to move against him. She knew it from his complexion, from his curling hair. Oh, she knew it from a variety of proofs, and she was inclined to be angry when he argued with the younger brothers that Cucolin was the greatest man alive.

Starting point is 01:22:50 But on that subject, the agreement was so unanimous, so hearty, as she might doubt, but could not question it. What I should like, said Onla, would be to see a fight and a combat between our Cuculin and Fergus MacRoy. That would be a fight indeed, said Nisha, but we shall never see it. They love each other. It would be a queer thing, said Anla,

Starting point is 01:23:16 if a boy were to fight with his own foster-father. I heard that a boy once did, and killed him too, said Ardon. Who did? Who did? I forgot his name. Because you never heard it. Our young Ardon makes things up in his head, said Nisha in a fatherly voice, while Ardon hid his blushes by a time. tending to the fire. Do you think, Anla inquired, that Kekulin could beat Fergus if they fought?

Starting point is 01:23:48 Nisha regarded that query judicially. I don't know, indeed, he replied. I think Kekulin could beat anybody, Ardon broke in. Nisha continued, without regard to his youngest brother. It was Fergus that taught Kekulin all his battle feats, and Fergus knows everything that the coup knows. but it may easily be that our cuckuck does not know all the things that fergus knows fergus cried anla indignantly would not keep a thing back for he wants cuckulin to be the best champion in aura i think that is true replied the very judicial nisha but there are some things a fighter knows and can't teach even if he wants to they are not tricks they are what cunahour calls ways and fergus has wiser

Starting point is 01:24:39 ways in combat as if he had been born in a fight and could go to sleep in it if he wanted to. Do you remember, cried Anla, the champion that stopped to scratch himself while he was fighting? Ha, ho! laughed Ardon. And the other champion chipped his hind end off while he was bending, gurgled Anla. Wasn't that man a great fool, said Ardon solemnly. "'No,' laughed Nisha. "'It was just that he thought he had time to do it. "'I saw that combat.

Starting point is 01:25:16 "'It must have been that a wasp or a hornet slid into his leg band. "'He gave a jump and a quick bend to get at his leg, "'but the other man jumped after him. "'Then he gave another great jump and another bend, "'and he got a little trip at the same time. "'That is how the other champions slashed him. "'But everybody was laughing so much that his life was spared, so he kept his head if he lost his tail ha ha ho roared ardon and it was his laughter that made deirdre part with a squeal of glee which so astonished her that she leaped to her feet and fled among the trees and so home

Starting point is 01:25:58 She had not spoken to the boys beyond the word of blessing and greeting, which could not be omitted. Ardon and Onla considered that it was quite right. A girl should be silent in the presence of champions. But Nisha thought it was a pity she did not speak, for he was inclined to fancy that her voice would be pleasant to listen to. End of Section 5 Section 6 of Deirdre by James Stevens This Libra Vox recording is in the public domain Read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Section 6, chapters 11 through 14

Starting point is 01:26:44 Chapter 11 If it rested only with the boys, the girls might go unmarried, for boys have urgent interests and have little of the leisure for dream which girls enjoy. they feel moreover at a loss in that art wherein a girl seems instinctively wise, for as a young bee will undertake untaught the curious angles and subtle perfections of his home, so a girl will adventure herself in love without misgiving and without teaching. The secret of the bee and of the girl is that they give their whole minds to the idea,

Starting point is 01:27:22 and this powerful concentration, wherein the being comes to a oneness, of desire, moves to its ends as unerringly as a bird, wings to the sole hedge he aims for among all the hedges of a countryside. So, although Nisha did think again of their visitor, his thought of her was but one among many, for he had grave businesses at hand, and except when he slept, his leisure for dreaming was limited. He had long since left the boy troop at Amania, he had performed the feats by which an apprentice rises to be a master, and a full two years had passed since Conahour in the presence of a solemn concourse had received him into the red branch, and bestowed on him the armor which he had won,

Starting point is 01:28:10 and the shield which he would honorably guard. He was a gentleman by birth, but he was now a soldier also, and must lift his hand for those who besought protection or against those who derided it. He would move habitually, where death urged about him at no greater distance than the length of a spear, and he would look upon death as being so instant a part of life that he must woo the one as earnestly as he loved the other. His thought of Deirdre was also complicated by the knowledge that she was his master's ward

Starting point is 01:28:47 and his personal loyalty to Conahor was such that he would not dwell even in imagination on that which belonged to the king. stories of deirdre had long ago come abroad the fact of her lonely keeping lent a romantic charm to gossip and all that was said about her was stressed by the singular condition of her birth and upbringing the old servants hinted and blinked and nodded indicating thus a beauty for which there was no parallel and the ancient guards partly in brag partly in truth lent an aid to the spread of the deirdre rumour these things however were to be talked about but they were not to be further looked into for she belonged to the king and curiosity itself went lightly in the presence of that notable fact therefore so far as a young man could nisha put deirdre out of his mind or only remembered her as a delicious apparition and he warned his brothers that they must on no account mention her escapade but if this was the case with the boy it was not so with the girl for good or ill her imagination had been captured and through it her senses had awakened her fancies had now a home to fly to and while the unrest proper to her years grew as stealthily as her limbs it was no longer unnoted she had a direction and she leaned there as ardently and unconsciously as a flower turns to the sun

Starting point is 01:30:24 now she became a creature of another reverie no longer staring vaguely into space but looking there and seeing what even the wise laversham could not surmise this powerful brooding of desire is a magical act and the object of it does not remain entirely unaffected for even if no coherent message is dispatched the unrest is shared in however diffused a form and it may be that in sleep nisha was no longer the message of his dreams. But the real scope of an action is with the actor, and Deirdre brooding on Nisha was Deirdre brooding on herself, and taking conscious control and direction of her own growth and culture. Leversham noticed the difference, for when she spoke to the girl, she was replied to by the woman, and she sensed in her ward something intractable, obedience, still, and yet as removed from her cognizance and so from her control as she was herself from the cognizance of any person about her. Chapter 12

Starting point is 01:31:32 Therefore, when she next spoke to the king, her mind was stirred by uneasiness, and she had all the feeling of haste and work to be done, which comes to us when we seem void of direction and are yet spurred on to an intuitive urgency. "'Lavrisham, my soul,' said Kanahur, "'you always get your way, for you insist and insist, "'and at last whatever you wish must be done, "'or there is no peace in the household or the kingdom.' "'In good truth,' said Laversham, "'I do not recognize my fault this time.'

Starting point is 01:32:08 "'We forget, by repetition,' cried the king, "'and you have so dinned our ears these ages past "'about your babe, that I must consent to see her, her or perish from your importunities. That I'm glad of, replied Laversham, for she is growing and needs other guidance than I can give. You should find her a husband, said the crafty woman. That must be done, the king murmured. He was silent for a few minutes, for the thought of marriage reminded him of his own adventures in that condition, and when he spoke it was with an elaborate carelessness.

Starting point is 01:32:47 Have you heard any news of the High King? I have heard, but it is only a rumor, that his daughter, the Queen Mave, has been married again, and that the High King has bestowed on her the kingdom of Connacht. A number of our young men, said he with a hard smile, have for long enough disliked that kingdom and its people. It may become difficult to keep them from crossing the border. "'One of their men,' said Labrisham,

Starting point is 01:33:18 "'crosses the black pig's dyke often enough.' "'And whoa on it,' said Conahur with a cheerful laugh. "'He gets back again. "'We must strengthen the Connacht marches, "'or that man will make our fortifications the laughter of all Ireland. "'Is it Ket Mak-Maghuk, you speak of?' "'Konal Kiarnock's uncle, indeed,' Labrsham replied. "'But Conal crosses their board,

Starting point is 01:33:45 too said the king my memory is weakening he continued what is it that conal boasts of he boasts that he never goes to sleep without the head of another connoct man lying in the crook of his knees some day he may forget to remember that ket makmaguk is his uncle and if he brings that head home we shall give it an honorable welcome but about your babe i shall go and look at her tomorrow. All your overstatements will crowd on your mind tomorrow, my poor friend, and you will be very unhappy. Indeed, Labrasham admitted, we look with a loving eye on the person we love, and so may see less or more than is visible to other people. In love, Conahour replied, we see only what we love to see, and as that is unreal, we should not

Starting point is 01:34:44 look lovingly on anything, and so we may get sight of what is really visible. It is true, master, said Labrasham humbly. It is with such an eye that I shall look on your babe tomorrow. Alas, my poor Deirdre, said Laversham. The traveller has not given much trouble yet, laughed Conahour. Chapter 13 Lavercham went home, the sense of urgency and unmeditated haste, which for some time had been in her mind, was greater than ever, as though she were being pressed to an action thoroughly comprehended, indeed, but for which she had no plan and no explanation. There was something to be done. She knew what it was, but could not state it,

Starting point is 01:35:34 and there was also something which prevented its accomplishment. And she was similarly aware and unaware of what this latter obstruction was. This sense of being controlled, without being consulted, of being given a key without being told what door it opens, is common to all people who plan and are not sufficiently disengaged to observe that they are being overridden by their own contrivance, for there is a point up to which we control desire, but at the stage where other people's interests intersect ours, those alien desires and our own meet.

Starting point is 01:36:11 They cease to be many and become one thing, and we are ridden in community by the gin we liberated. But we know with a profound unconscious certitude all that is happening and are enlisted for those intuitive purposes beyond the control of interest or prudence or reason. Habit alone remains to guide us in these trackless ways, and it was her habit of verbal reticence which calmed Laversham. her first impulse had been to tell Deirdre with a rush that the king was coming to see her on the next day.

Starting point is 01:36:49 Her second impulse was cautious. If I tell this, she thought, the child will not sleep all night, and she will be heavy-eyed and dull before the king. Therefore she did not mention the matter to Deirdre. But she was no longer the calm lady whom the world knew. She would sit down and stand up and go want. wandering from room to room, and return from these ramblings, and begin them all over again. She sat by, Deirdre's side, and took her hand, peering long and earnestly into the face she loved,

Starting point is 01:37:24 dwelling on the set of her eyes, the line of her cheek, the poise of her lips and her chin, watching how her teeth shone and disappeared as she spoke, what her tongue looked like as it became visible for a short red flesh, looking now at her ears and now at her hair, or standing well away to take her in as a girl, as a completion, with all details merged and the human unit standing full-formed at the eye. She cogitated what dress Deirdre should wear on the morrow, what ornaments for her neck and hair, and then she thought in a fever of inspiration, that she would take no thought of these, that the girl should be dressed even more plainly than usual, that there should be no ornaments upon her of any kind, that there should be nothing to look at but the girl herself, with her hair for a

Starting point is 01:38:19 crown, and her eyes for all other attraction. The light eagerness of her limbs should be their own witness, the color of her cheeks should be sufficient wonder for any eye. And again she thought that men do not understand these things at a glance, that they are used to look for that which they have already seen, and that they spend time not so much in appreciating that which is present as in trying to account for the absence of that which they had expected to see. And she remembered again that it was Conahor himself who was coming, with a mind which would ponder exactly what was presented to it, and an eye that would regard no more than could be seen. She determined, in terror, that she would not prepare Deirdre in any way for the visit,

Starting point is 01:39:07 and that until she was called into the presence the child should know nothing even of an impending visitor she arranged that this should happen and at the accustomed hour the torches were quenched and the folk of the household betook themselves to their beds chapter fourteen but at the hour she considered suitable deirdre rose again from her bed she could not rest there although she lay with the endless patience of a cat, staring hour after hour into the gloom, and seeing in it more of radiance than the sun could show. She was living at last. The sense that all the morrows were provided for, and that all the minutes of all the morrows were calculated and ordained, dropped from her forever, for she had become at last an identity, instead of a puppet to be pulled here and ordered there, and to do only what was willed by other people. For first the imagination awakes, and then the senses, and lastly the will when the urge of life is focused. Thinking of these other people of Laversham and the grisly servants of the Rem Shackle, sneezing guards,

Starting point is 01:40:23 all ringing her about from freedom, a sense of rage came into her soul, so that at moments she was no longer a girl but a wild cat, and she could have scratched and screeched and died in one senseless out. rage. Her mind, too, was overflowing with that same sense of urgency, as though something clamored to be done immediately and at a pace faster than limbs could manage. What was it she wanted? She did not know, but she knew definitely that she wanted it, and with whole uncontrollable mental greed, that made of her a person she did not recognize and could not battle with. But with all that tumult of mind, she was patient with the marvelous patience of youth, for no grown person has one

Starting point is 01:41:10 tithe of the patience of a child, who from the hour he is born until the day when he snatches liberty from reluctant elders leads a life that is one unending lesson in attending. They can wait, for they know that the future is theirs, and will come to them over whatever obstruction, and she could wait. When Lavar-Shan, Tried softly into her chamber, she pretended to be asleep and amused herself staring behind closed lids at the red light which the torch carried even through that darkness. She thought her guardian would never go away, and lifting one scrap of an eyelash, she saw Leversham brooding upon her, with such a fixity of attention, with so profound a

Starting point is 01:41:59 scrutiny as surprised her. So curious and prolonged was this. examination that she almost opened her eyes to demand a reason for this scrutiny from the face of ivory and jet that was bending over hers. But she did not do so, for young people can bear starrings and examinations which would madden them later in life, and are able to consider that affairs which actually circle upon them are yet not their business. Leversham sighed deeply, and as in a passion of what, fear, hope, doubt. And then the light began to recede and went farther away and disappeared.

Starting point is 01:42:43 Deirdre knew every motion that Labrisham made at night. Now she did this, next she would do that. Afterwards she would do such another thing, and unvarying sequence of small details which she had watched or listened to since the first hour that she was able to watch or listen. so that when she came from her bed she left it with the certainty that she might do so, and that all the habitual details had culminated in the habitual sleep

Starting point is 01:43:11 into which Labrasham placed herself, even when it did not overcome her. End of Section 6. Section 7 of Deirdre by James Stevens. This Lieber Vox recording is in the public domain, read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Section 7. Book 1, Chapter 15, 16, and 17. Chapter 15 The moon was at her last quarter, a pale, thin sickle that shone and disappeared and reappeared in a mass of hastily scudding cloud. During that eclipse, obscurity fell on the air, and a yet vaster quietude enveloped the earth. Then the sickle reappeared, and with it more than the darkness, lift.

Starting point is 01:44:08 something even more mysterious than darkness vanished intermittently that brooding as of an infinite presence seemed to recede and the normal world beautiful and comprehended came silvery to the view through these glooms and visions deirdre fled observing every shadow as a hair does who knowing that this shade is a danger and that one a protection ventures apace or stays as his hard one one knowledge bids him. A cloud of such a size meant a shadow of such a duration. This cloud will carry one across the lawn, and when it has passed, the trees yonder will be one and their desired shade. From the south another cloud was coming, bulky as a two-acre field and buoyant as a gossamer. Folded in its gloom the wall could be crossed, in the shelter of trees or of long grass reached, before the moon came riding, in a radiance that was one half silver and one half blue.

Starting point is 01:45:14 So she fled. The lark watching from the dew-drenched covert was not more discreet, as it turned again to the slumber that she had broken. And when she took the wall, about that world from it, made more noise than she did. At times when there was neither light nor a dark, a world of grey and purple that was thirty feet high and fifteen feet around and closed her in,

Starting point is 01:45:40 and she stretched her ears towards the bounds of that small universe before she ventured another step. Wonderful and terrifying were these dim oases of vision, and across them, coming from no place, and dallying a moment ere they went on to nowhere, more silent than the night itself, and, as incomprehensible, grey moths were flitting. dim as ghosts they were and as aloof,

Starting point is 01:46:09 beating a tireless gauze on no errand, tacking back and forth and disappearing in one flirt of a noiseless wing. Small creatures seemed to wait until her foot must fall on them, and then, with a sound that lasted for two long seconds of panic, they were gone. They disappeared, and the world was utterly empty of them.

Starting point is 01:46:32 At these sounds she stood, her heart beating up at her throat and a sense of angry despair flooding over and about her. Then she moved again, slipping into and out of shadows, as featly as the moonbeam slipped into and out of a cloud. She knew where she was going, but not what she was going to do. She would see him again, because she must, and after that, if there was more to be done, the time to do it would bring the doing. But the one large apprehension was as you, yet sufficient for her mind, that she would see him again, and that they would talk together. She was sure that this time he would speak to her, and that whatever he said would be wiser

Starting point is 01:47:15 and sweeter and stranger than any words she had yet listened to. And she wondered, without thought, what his magical utterance would mean, and how it could possibly be replied to, knowing yet that her replies were already formed, and that the only word she need utter until, she died was the word yes. Chapter 16 She stood again behind a tree, looking on the campfire, and the three figures that stretched

Starting point is 01:47:48 are moved about it. She listened, but now without joy, to the babble of laughter which sped between them. Back and forth it went, endless, tireless, youth calling and answering to youth, catching a facile fire from each other,

Starting point is 01:48:03 and tossing it back as carelessly. Spend thrift they were as young gods, carefree as young animals, with minds untroubled because they need not work, and bodies that were at ease because they were active, scorning the darkness in a gaiety that was delicious because it was thoughtless, and with a thoughtlessness that was lovely because it was young. But to her, watching, listening, waiting, all that merriment was a torment. She was their peer in youth and activity, but she was their superior in that she was thoughtful, for desire is thought not yet translated, and her desire would swell about the world and banish all else from existence so that she could fashion the regal solitude in which so gigantic

Starting point is 01:48:52 a mystery might be contemplated. Why, she thought frowningly, did these children not go to sleep? and why, she wondered, should older people submit to annoyance or be forced to await any young person's convenience? But the night was advanced, and young people will sleep. Soon they stretched about the fire, and each composed himself to the slumber which comes as deliciously in its season as waking does, and, for their life favored it, they fell into sleep as precipitately as though they were falling down a cliff. she could scarcely wait for the five minutes that was required then she plucked a scrap of moss and tossed it on nisha's breast as he fell asleep so he sprang awake he went dead asleep he came wide awake with every faculty alert and his limbs as composed for movement as for rest he saw the scrap of moss lying on his bosom, and knowing that such things do not travel of their own accord,

Starting point is 01:49:55 he looked for the cause, searching keenly among the bowls that stretched in endless gleam and gloom about them. She stood forward a pace. Had she really moved, or was she impelled? Surely a hand had taken her by the shoulder and pushed her forward. But in the moment that she moved, panic seized her as suddenly and overwhelmingly as a hawk-pearl. swoops upon a mouse. She lifted a hand to her breast so that her heart might not be snatched away, but the hand went on to her lips and covered them in terror, lest they should call. She turned with one swift and flying gesture, but the foot that aimed for flight continued

Starting point is 01:50:37 its motion, and the full circle held her again, facing the terror. For he had already risen, lithe as a cat, and as noiseless, and in three great stories, strides he was standing beside her, standing over her, encompassing her about, not now to be retreated from or escaped from, or eluded in any way. And as her heart had leaped, so his leaped also, and they stood in an internal tumult so loud, so intimate and violent, that the uproar and rush of a storm was quietude in the comparison. They could not speak. There were no words, left in the world. There were only eyes that plunged into and fled from each other, and a mighty hand that had gripped her arm and would never release it again. A hand that pushed her

Starting point is 01:51:31 backwards and backwards, away from the friendly logs that crackled and flamed, away from the quiet forms that might have rescued her, but that lay as though slumbering in stone. She might have escaped with one sound, but the law of her being was that she must not make a sense. she might have escaped by just a show of reluctance one small opposition nay hesitation to the pressure of that hand but she would not make that infinitesimal wraith of motion a weariness as of piled worlds went from his finger to her mind and it was forbidden her to have any longer an initiative a lethargy that was utter surrender stole into her limbs she did not think she did not desire. She was as void of speculation as though she were dead, and while his hand continued to guide, she would go, and when it ceased she would no longer be capable of either movement or repose. All fear of interruption had passed, and yet they went on cautiously, noiselessly, as though

Starting point is 01:52:39 interruption was imminent or unescapable, putting trees and yet more trees between them and the leaping fire, striving to forget the fire, seeking a more involved darkness and finding everywhere a gloom that yet revealed them. They could not discover darkness. They could not get to a place where they could cease to see each other. Always it looked black farther on, and always, when they got there, they could each see the pale confronting face of the other with the darkness everywhere but in those faces. They stopped perforce, with that feeling of tremendous discouragement, wherein passion sinks back upon itself, where a desire ceases and nothing is instant but weariness. His hand yet held her, but it gripped no longer. It lay on her arm as a dead weight. She had only to move an inch,

Starting point is 01:53:33 and it would fall away. She had but to turn, and he would not follow her, even with his eyes. But the energy which had drained from him flooded into her in one whirling stream, and when his hand fell away, hers took up the duty, it relinquished. Chapter 17. If Laversham had ever permitted her self-excitement, she would have been excited the next day, but there is a curious means by which we may postpone the spending of our emotions. There are many people who can only do a particular thing on condition that they do it in two directions. They can repress themselves only when they are engaged in repressing someone else. For the thing we are doing outwardly and to others is always the thing that we are doing inwardly and to ourselves. If we treat others

Starting point is 01:54:26 benevolently, we are assuredly being kind to ourselves. If we meet out torment, we will receive that measure and will rithe in it. A tyrant is ultimately one who is striving for self-fense. mastery by the wrong method. But in order to be good, you must do good, or to be anything, you must do that thing concretely, for life is movement, and all else is movement too. Labrisham, by unconscious processes, discovered that Deirdre needed the utmost disciplinary and repressive measures that could be applied to a human being. The child is running wild, she complained to the air that circulated about Deirdre's head. "'But I have not done a thing,' cried Deirdre.

Starting point is 01:55:12 "'There are a thousand things you should have done,' Leversham replied. "'What are they?' Deirdre demanded. But Lavisham did not know. She certainly felt within herself the necessity for doing a thousand things. She felt so busy that there must really be a thousand things to be done, but she knew also that nothing remained for her to do, and consequently that Deirdre was to blame. The real thing she had to do was to master her own excitement, and she perceived at a glance

Starting point is 01:55:43 that Deirdre was in a very excited condition indeed. "'You must sit quietly, my treasure,' she cancelled. "'You must not move from one place to another, taking things up and putting them down. You will become fidgety yourself, and will give everyone about you the fidgets also.' "'But,' Deirdre ex-postulated, "'and you must not give back answers, when you are told to do a thing. you must do it, cheerfully and patiently. But, cried Deirdre.

Starting point is 01:56:15 For, Lavisham continued, Lacking this self-control and gentleness of movement, no girl can become a lady. But I have not done a thing. You know, my one treasure, that everything I say is for your good, and when I counsel you, it is because I consider you need just that counsel.

Starting point is 01:56:36 You are distraught today, my bud of the branch, "'There is no reason why you should not be as calm today as you were yesterday or any day. "'This is only today, but tomorrow will come and today will be forgotten.' "'I do not understand in the least,' Deirdre again. "'There is nothing to understand, my beloved. "'There is not a reason in the world that you should be troubled. "'Sit now at your embroidery, and do not leave it until I give permission.'

Starting point is 01:57:07 "'Deirdre was indeed excited, but Laversham had not the smallest perception of this, nor was it visible. It was a very intimate excitement, which could be brooded and enjoyed as well over a piece of embroidery as in any other way, and Laversham watched her, sensing nothing of that deep agitation and memory and dream. I was wise, she thought, not to tell her the news, for the child seems even more beautiful today than she has ever seemed before. she has slept well. While they were thus sitting, a servant hurried into the room, with her eyes bolting from her head and a gabble on her lips,

Starting point is 01:57:48 which Laversham only repressed by ferocity, for she surmised at once that the king had arrived, and she did not even yet wish, dear D'Eynau, of the visit. She rose and precipitated herself against the servant. Is that how you enter a room ill-bred slave? Was it among the cabal that you learned manners? "'be gone, at once,' she cried, "'and do not come into a room again

Starting point is 01:58:12 "'until you have asked and received permission to enter. "'What is the world coming to?' "'She continued angrily, "'as she hustled the servant through the doors "'and down the corridor. "'It's the son of Ness,' the servant babbled. "'And if it is,' said Laversham, "'there is the more reason for you to be attentive

Starting point is 01:58:31 "'and respectful and unseen. "'Go to your place and stay there "'until I send for you.' she returned then and still simulating ill-temper she dismissed deirder to her own room you have not properly trimmed your finger-nails she scolded there is a black spot under one of them you are not seemly go to your room at once little blossom and when you come back come so that your fosterer need not be ashamed of her charge saying so she marched dear to her room and thrust her in then she returned and seating her herself at the embroidery from which she had driven her ward, she prepared to receive the king. End of Section 7. Section 8 of Deirdre by James Stevens. This leave of box recording is in the public domain, read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Section 8, book 1,

Starting point is 01:59:38 chapters 18 and 19 chapter 18 well my heart said the king as he strode through the door of the sunny chamber with a keen glance he took in all that was to be seen the woodwork of the walls and floors that were polished and polished again until they shone like crystal the great carved chairs each placed at the same prim distance from the other and from the wall and the skins and furs that formed geometrical patterns and gradations of color on the floor. Conahour shook his head as he regarded. Methodical, he said as he sat down. Orderly, master, she corrected gently. It is a woman's room, he insisted. No man could live in it. No man does, said the humble dame.

Starting point is 02:00:31 And by merely entering, I have ruined it already. The king continued in a grievous tone. I have kicked three rugs out of alignment, he said ruefully. It is a small matter, said Laversham. I am certain that your heart is ill at ease, and although your hands are folded they are twitching to restore these rugs, rearrange them if you must, my good friend. If the king permits me, she cried joyfully,

Starting point is 02:00:57 and with a few deft touches she replaced the rugs. You may sit down, said the king. And now, where is this baby you deafen the world about. Laversham clapped her hands, and to the servant who appeared in the doorway, tell your mistress, Deirdre, that she's required immediately, and do not tell her that a visitor is with me, or woe betide you. The servant disappeared. Kanawhua looked at her quizzically. The girl does not know that I am coming. Laversham pursed her lips. I have not mentioned it to her. The king, with his elbow on his knee, continued.

Starting point is 02:01:36 to regard her mockingly. Is it that you are careful or careless, my friend? I am careful, master. I am always careful, she replied. But he continued gently. She will not be apparelled so as to be looked on by a visitor. She will be seen as she would be seen any hour of any day, and thus it will be known, Master, that Labrasham does her duty.

Starting point is 02:02:03 You are the wonder of a mania, said Conahour, I hear a step, he continued, and removing his elbow from his knee, he stretched out a great leg and turned towards the door. Deirdre entered like a whirlwind of legs and laughter, and seeing a huge man staring at her, she halted as if she had been stopped by a wall, whirled about and would have vanished again, but that Laversham's voice restrained her.

Starting point is 02:02:30 The king has come to visit us, my pulse, said the swave Laversham. The blood pounded in. to Deirdre's heart and into her temples, for an instant her body seemed to be filled with noise and blindness, and in the next instant the lady, trained for every emergency and in every etiquette, was mistress again. Deirdre advanced, made a great reverence, and knelt at the king's knee. He gave her his hand to kiss. "'You may rise, my fawn,' said the monarch. She arose and stood with downcast eyes.

Starting point is 02:03:06 she did not dare to look at him. All that came within her vision was a mighty leg, draped in green silk, from which long tassels of gold swung gently. The king stared narrowly at her, and Lavrasham stared narrowly at the king. Go now, my dear, said Lavasham, and see that refreshments are brought for the king.

Starting point is 02:03:30 Deirdre again made her deep reverence, and on rising her hasty upward glance was caught by Kanohor's eye. she tried swiftly backwards staring and it was with parted lips and wide eyes that she disappeared from the room but the king continued staring at the doorway like one who has seen a vision and is striving with every fibre to recreate that which has vanished was i not right master said laversham gently she is the bud of the branch said connahur she is the fragrant apple of the bougham bow did i not say-ixte she is the bud of the branch said connahour she is the fragrant apple of the bough did i not say that she was beautiful cried the gleeful and vehement lady you did not say so he replied sternly you never told me of this nay master you would not believe me it could not be told the thoughtful monarch admitted If the flight of the swallow could be imparted by words, or the crisping of foam, if the breath of the lily could be uttered, or the beauty of a young tree on a sunny hill, then this troubler might be spoken of.

Starting point is 02:04:38 Have you noticed, my friend, how the sun paints glories and wonders on the sky as he goes west in the evening, or at early morn with what noble tenderness he comes again? She is radiant and tender as the sun, Loversham. thus it is said labrasham she is nine times sweeter than the cuckoo on the branch he cried i give her the pass before all the women of the world for she is notable and delicate and dear then you will marry her as is fitting laversham pleaded you will not give my baby to a rough gentleman the king stood furiously from his chair she is for no man but the king he stood but the king he stormed. She shall be my one wife until doom. Chapter 19 In ten seconds the floor rugs had sailed from their anchorages,

Starting point is 02:05:38 and were lying, some neatly inside and out, and all in woeful askewness. The chairs left their military formation, some stood seat to seat like couples preparing for a dance, others in the woeful slack isolation, of those who stare after uncivil partners that have fled. And in this wreckage of a woman's room, Kanahur strode. Laversham, he cried, there shall be great deeds done

Starting point is 02:06:05 in Ireland from this day. Yes, my lord. I am twenty years younger than I was an hour ago. I could leap like a young buck, Laversham. Yes, my dear lord, she stammered. Poets shall sing more wisely in Ere because of this day.

Starting point is 02:06:24 Harper shall play more sweetly the magician shall win increase of power, for through me this land shall be possessed by power and beauty. Yes, my sweet lord, cried the transformed woman. You shall be with me always, Laversham. Oh, my master! I shall marry thee to a hero, and thy descendants forever shall sit, even in the presence of a king. Nay, I shall kneel, and all my seed shall kneel in the house of my dear Lord. Sit down, my soul, and let us talk.

Starting point is 02:06:59 Lavrisham, he said, that girl shall be my wife. I have dreamed of this day, she murmured. You knew I would marry her? I knew that my Lord loves the best and that she is the best. I trained her for my Lord.

Starting point is 02:07:15 She is the best, he conceded. She is better than the best. The king will never blush for his bride, nor I for my training, she continued. for in everything that becomes a lady she is well taught so said conahor there is no ceremony of court or camp that she does not understand there is no domestic care that she is not mistress of she can touch the harp like a master she can make a poem like a board you give me pleasure laversham but all these she need do or not do as she pleases tell me rather of herself what is her mode What is her way of thinking? She is loving and obedient as a pet fawn.

Starting point is 02:08:01 She is wild-spirited as a wild fawn. She is thoughtful for others. She loves knowledge, and she fears nothing. Even lacking all this, there is yet the makings of a queen in her. Laversham nodded a satisfied head, but she does not lack, and she is a queen. In a week when she has become used to the crest, in the court, all the others will fall back to their own places, and she will remain in her place. I think it will be so, but—and he aroused again, you have said nothing about the curve of her cheek, Laverham.

Starting point is 02:08:40 What would a poor woman say of that? she cried gleefully. I saw her neck when she bent over my hand, and I saw the two great tresses falling away on either side. Laversham, that was a wonder to see. we see with our own sight master when she stood up i saw the lips that had touched my hand and i looked in her eyes as she went away there is no end to those depths of light and i can imagine that they would change as the deep sea changes if she were angry they would be thus and if she smiled they would be thus again the same and different if she smiled her lips would move in the smile how do her lips go when they smile, Laversham. These are things which women are blind to, Master. They are only seen by men. You must ask your poets to tell of them,

Starting point is 02:09:35 for this is man's talk, and no woman is versed in it. Leversham? Yes, Master. I shall take her away with me this day. Master! Bring her to the red branch at nightfall. Master!

Starting point is 02:09:51 At nightfall, you hear me? I will not. do it. What will you not do, slave, that I order? I will not debaunt your queen. Laversham, no one shall make a leman of my babe. She shall return in a few hours. Be with her at the red branch to-night. Do not fail on your life. If I bring her, my knife will be in her bosom. Conahor leaned back in his chair, and the terrible staring frown went from his face. We shall certainly marry, Laversham, to a hero. I am impatient my heart, but strength and victory lie always with the one who can

Starting point is 02:10:31 abide, and I can, even in torment, have your way, woman. It is the best way, master. You shall thank me yet for this way, he smiled wryly. Dear my lord, she continued earnestly, there must be the ceremonies that befit a king's wedding, and guests must be invited from the five great provinces of Ireland. It cannot all be done before two little months. You shall have one week, my friend. A week! Oh, my master! A woman's mind runs to gods and tricks and rights, but in a week we too shall be married, and you may have ceremonies for a year afterwards, if you wish for them. Laversham wrung her hands. Oh, my sweet lord! It shall be so, said the king,

Starting point is 02:11:21 La Rocham sat dumb. In this house, he continued impatiently. Refreshments are long and appearing, and after those excitements and battlings, we need them. They only wait permission to enter, she stammered and clapped her hands. Deirdre appeared with three servants carrying silver trays. She took one and knelt to present it to the king.

Starting point is 02:11:46 Nay, you shall partake with me, and Laversham shall serve us. Let those are. others go at a sign from laversham the servants placed their trays upon tables and retired with terrified courtesies taste from this cup my brightness said connor and afterwards i shall taste ah re wussal beard was stammered all precedence is yours from this hour are you not called the troubler i am lord you have troubled the king o sky woman do not be shy with me or frightened for although a king is terrible to all he is not fearful to a queen drink from my cup o queen dear dr glanced hastily towards labrasham for this conversation had taken a turn which her training had not provided her but her guardian was sitting bemused in a trance of benevolence and admiration she sipped from the cup and with a tiny smile of apology and fear, tendered it again to the staring king. He took the vessel and her hand with it. I imagined it so, he said. I imagined

Starting point is 02:13:01 how the thin red lip would arch and curve and cling to the cup, and I foresaw how it would cling and uncurve and re-arch and withdraw. The poets tell of such wonders when they can, but I know these things by my own virtue better than they do. One day, O shy, cluster of delight, you will sing with me. My harper shall listen to that, when I can bear a companion, for I may grudge a sight or a sound of you,

Starting point is 02:13:32 even to the men of art. I shall see your hair done otherwise, and this way again. I shall see you stir about me, this side and that, and backwards, a thousand harmonies of movement that I divine,

Starting point is 02:13:47 and a thousand that I know nothing of. Do not be fearful, O little twisted loop of the ringlets, for you are my beloved. You shall have no weariness or lack forever, for I shall fold you in my affection as a hawk folds air within her wings. You shall leave these bleak halls and yon, mangy field,

Starting point is 02:14:10 to sit at the banquets of the red branch, to be the queen of Ulster, the pearl of the world, and my own hearts comrade. Deirdre was the more alarmed, not only because a strange and mighty gentleman was holding a strange and monstrous discourse to her, but he was holding her hand,

Starting point is 02:14:31 and she did not know how to retrieve it. She thought it would not be polite to laugh, although she vastly wanted to, for she knew it would be foolish to cry, although she was so bewildered and terrified that an ocean of frightened tears was surging behind her eyes. Leversham, my sweet mother,

Starting point is 02:14:52 she murmured in distress, and that low plaint went to Conahor's heart like a sword of delight, so that his soul was shaken, and he could have wept for pity and love. Return to your embroidery, my child, said Loversham. I shall come to you later, and prepare your mind for all that is in store for you.

Starting point is 02:15:14 Deirdre stood up then and fled, only remembering her courtesy at the doorway. End of Section 8 Section 9 of Deirdre by James Stevens. This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain, read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Section 9, Book 1, Chapters 20 and 21. Chapter 20. Laversham came to her as promised, and she told Deirder for hours of the delights to come. In a week, she said, you will be gone from here, and our home will be desolate indeed.

Starting point is 02:16:04 But although the king called this a bleak den and spoke of our demence as a mangy field, he was not right in doing so, a house is bleak that has no children running and shouting in it, and this house will be bleak when you are gone, but in all other respects a cleats, cleaner or better appointed dwelling, will not be found in the five great fifths of Ireland. Mark me well, child, the king was excited and unjust, and I shall tell him so. When you rule in a mania, you will find how difficult it is to keep all things in order, and how hard it is to have even one room clean. For men will be stirring at all hours of the day and night in your palace,

Starting point is 02:16:47 and although they can make a home in a field, men make nothing but dirt in a house. You will have much to do and to remember my secret bud, but above all you must remember the genealogies of Ireland and the precedences of the court, as I have taught them to you, and in any doubt or dispute, ask me rather than the herald. The chief cause of trouble in a country is the herald, for he is always wrong, and even if he is, when he is right, in fact, he is wrong in tact.

Starting point is 02:17:21 Do not take any other woman's counsel in those matters. Do not even seek it. The one wish of all women is to advance their husbands and themselves by consequence, and they will ruin the world if they are let. Do not forget that after the king, the first man in the land is Fergus, the son of Roy. Be quick in respect to him,

Starting point is 02:17:45 but be slow to sit by him or to talk with him, for Kanahur loves him on the surface, but he hates him in the bone. The first woman in the land is the wife of Fergus, the king's mother. Be obedient to nests in everything. Be quick in your courtesies to her. Give her many kisses.

Starting point is 02:18:07 Be careful not to love her, for her love is uncertain as a cat's paw, and where she strikes she draws blood. but these two are not often at a mania. They live in their fortress, deep in love, or in thought as Conahour fancies. You will see Findheim, the wife of Emmergin the Wonderful, and Devor Gila, wife of Lugad of the Red Stripes, Fadome of the Fresh Heart, the wife of Leary the Victorious, and Neve, the daughter of Kelkar-Mach-Utaker, and Bree Brehannock, his wife. all spitfires and scratch cats.

Starting point is 02:18:48 There is Len Duver, Conall Kiernax's wife, and Findig, wife of Owen Macadur-Tuck, and Fidum of the nine shapes, the king's daughter. They and a hundred others you will meet them all. They have all been whispering of you this year back, and they have told more lies of you than will be told again until you die. You will like them at first, for many of you. of them are nearly your age, and they will fuss and gallop and chatter about you like Dawes. Give them all the listening you like. Give them all the kisses they will take.

Starting point is 02:19:25 Oh, you will be kissed from morning to night, my pet. But do not give one of them a moment's confidence. The king will talk to you urgently, whispering in your ear like a madman. There is nothing he will not tell you in the night, however deep it is or hidden, for a man in love will give all that he has to the beloved. He would give his soul if he knew how to do it, and Conahur will think that by telling all his secrets to you, he will somehow tell all your secrets to himself. Men are so.

Starting point is 02:20:01 But that what he tells must be uttered to no other ear, for what is whispered in the palace will be shouted down the boine. You can tell me all, for I am different. I am your nurse, your mother, and your one friend, but to no other person must you shape even one syllable. When the king has confided to you all that he can think of, he will beg you to confide in him. He will pray you to tell him all that you have ever done or thought. When he tells you of the wild gleeze and savageries of love, tell him in return of how you feed your pet fawn.

Starting point is 02:20:39 For a man and the gods know why, delights to think that his beloved has a fawn in the valley, and he will listen forever to the tale of how it is fed and of its grateful eyes. You will meet many men in the palace, and each gentleman that you speak to will be looked at closely by the king. Until this day he has been aware of women as one is aware of the sun, but now he will grow aware of men as one is aware of a wound. You will not see him look, but look he will, and when you seem most free from observation, he will be studying you.

Starting point is 02:21:18 Whether it be a captain or a butler that you rest your eyes on, he will know, without looking, at whom you are looking, and therefore he will examine that person for himself, and he will examine you in curious ways about that person. Any question he ever asks about a man will be a trap for you. Answer him carelessly about them all, and make the same answer about them all. It is safe to say of all men that they are nice,

Starting point is 02:21:47 but do not say that one is nicer than another. There is no end to the windings of his mind, and if you say that one man is ugly and another not, he will dream about the distinction, and will dream you terribly into his dream. A dreaming man is magical, for he will make the dream come true against his own wish and interest,

Starting point is 02:22:09 and Kanahur is at the age to have those dreams. Be gentle and uncertain with him. Be wild and coy. Do not, although he praise you, be familiar with him. Tire quickly of dalliance, for in middle life a man likes not to think that he has wearied first. Dance often, but do not gamble. Be girlish, but not childish.

Starting point is 02:22:37 Do not pluck his beard or tickle him. sit sparingly on his knee. It is only old men who like baby tricks, and he is not by 15 years old enough for that. Discuss your dresses and ornaments with him. Ask his advice about your ribbons. He will laugh at you and chide you, but he will love that to be done, and he will love you for doing it. Should he be sportive among women? Pout then a little, make a small lament, but take no heed of it. he has outlived all the chances of desire he will love you only and each day he will love you more what fear there is will be on his side he will be afraid of men and there your heed must be endless for you must not hurt the king even by a second's thoughtlessness his equal is not in ire for majesty and wisdom he is a great king a great man a royal hero oh my lamb all that is of good luck and of noble fate has come to you and you should thank the king forever on your knees

Starting point is 02:23:47 and thank your poor laversham who planned this happiness chapter twenty one and connahur lived anew as he drove homewards he did not see the humble people who lauded and stared as he dashed by nor the others who stood at strict attention marvelling at a king who returned no salute. His feet was so light he could have bounded in the chariot, but his heart was lighter still. It flew into his brain and stayed there, buoyant as a bubble, creative as a moon, so charging his mind with its own essence that all which was material merged in a flash to the spirit. The earth was eased of grossness and became a shimmer of colors and transparencies, An aura of gold and green rose on the crests of the manifolding hills. The tender involutions of no bird's song were heard,

Starting point is 02:24:46 for all songs merged into that of the lyrical earth and the clouds and the shining spaces between them. The world was singing for Conahour, and he was song. For to the clairvoyance of love, all that is unseen takes on sweet shape, and all that we see we are shapen too. A new world emerges softly from the old, not imperceptibly or unreckoned,

Starting point is 02:25:15 but by such divine gradations as we may note and rejoice in. Then the Creator is manifest in His creation and all in us. We are it and all. We are the soul of the world and our own soul. We are the victors, for we are beyond fear. We are the masters, for we are beyond desire. How should fear or lust reach to the tops we spurn? The sour-faced beggar, shaking his oaken bowl,

Starting point is 02:25:47 may have our purse and a clasp of the hand to boot. Yon, shaking anatomy that hovers and limbs, shall have our own health if none other is at hand, for all now is soft and easy, and at one bend of the brow, the land of heart's desire may be in being. So Conahor went, dreaming, the shaper of a world that was malleable to his wish.

Starting point is 02:26:15 To this hour he had triumphed in all that he had undertaken, but he had been unfriended, forging alone as in granite all that he willed, and feeling at every instant the rigor of life and the intractability of events. He saw that nothing he had yet done was so completed that it might be forgotten. Here an event had left dissatisfaction in its wake, there it had left an enemy, but from henceforth his work would have the clean finish of the

Starting point is 02:26:45 spring, and all that he planted should grow from the root. He would have double strength, his titanic own and hers, breathing in him like an elixir, exciting him, hardening him. she was what was she not she was his tomorrow she was his all and his last chance she was his future vivifying all that had grown stale and unfolding horizons where an uttermost end had seemed for at times an ending comes on every man and thereafter there is nothing to strive for there being nothing left to hope for energy winces from the thought of any task and the future prolongs a present that is insipid and wearisome the departure of mave had been such an ending for connahur life had halted there for him or had moved in a round of sameness which chafed and tormented his whirling mind but he could forget her now and start afresh for when he looked on deirdre she went into his blood and into his bones so that to be removed from her was as though he were distant from his own arms or his own head. He was impatient and wished that all should know as at one shout his glorious news, but he yet would not speak of it to anyone. He knew that he might safely leave the

Starting point is 02:28:14 publishing of that event to Lavasham, and that air nightfall, every house in radius of twenty miles, would be talking of the king's marriage. Down every road that ran from Imeyne, Macha, messengers would be going in swift chariots, to tail the tail and to bid those who were worthy to the wedding feast. Not stopping for more than a few minutes at any place, changing horses at the guesthouses and dashing off again, some deep into Karnacht in the west, others eastwards into Lundster, and more again speeding the long centre of Ireland to the two monsters. These distant kings and princes would think they had been slighted by such short notice, or by a that could only reach them after the event but this wedding feast should endure for three months and there would be pleasure and leisure for all at this moment if lavisham was doing her duty and she was never neglectful

Starting point is 02:29:12 the ostlers should be pulling the great chariots out and backing the snorting horses between the chefs to-morrow would be a new day every person who observed the king would look on him with something else in the regard many reserves would be down, many barriers broken, for all people look differently on the king when he is in love, and they try to bathe in his fortunate regard. The men would glance at him shyly and subtly, each look, a reminder and a well-wishing. While he stood among them, he and they would laugh without any word being said, and they would be more familiar with him than they would otherwise dare. but if one dared to clap his shoulder, Conahur would clap that comrade shoulder again.

Starting point is 02:30:02 The women would look at him more openly, more softly and broodingly, each mutely assuring him that all which was to come would be good, each telling him that woman guards for man, all that which no man can give, each telling that because he loved one woman, he must love all, and that women are truly lovable and are precious,

Starting point is 02:30:24 beyond all precious things he would see that they all wished to touch him so that he might know they were truly woman and not different from her he delighted in and he would see them turn from him humbled and aggrieved seeking anxiously in other eyes for the confirmations which he must not give for when the king is in love the world goes mad and all who love him must cherish each other or sicken of their suppressed loyalty and adoration. Four weeks to come, Ulster would be an orgy. The man who had dodged marriage as a fox-tricks the henwife would tumble into it with a thud. Those who craved for and feared it would find that they were married in the morning. Maids would become daring and men shy. From one walking coyly in the moonlight, a shoulder-band might slip, and the moon and a man would be rewarded for being out at night. One who stood and spoke might suddenly shape her lips thus, and the man who looked would go blind in his brains and stay so to the last quarter of the

Starting point is 02:31:35 moon. A wave of frolic and daring would go from the king, and thrilled to the last hamlet of his kingdom. For although war is glorious, death is its ruler and companion. But from love, life flows, and everything that is lovely. And as his heart rose thus, Kanahura knew that he was the life of his people, for he was king and lover, and that all swung about him as the world swings around the sun. End of Section 9. Section 10 of Deirdre by James Stevens. Book 1, chapters 22 and 23. This Libre Vox recording is in the public. domain read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Chapter 22 But for Deirdre, a knight went by which to the end of her days she would not care to remember.

Starting point is 02:32:43 She had seen the king at last, that being all memory and dream, half-monster and half-baby, whom she remembered from Laversham's endless tale, she had seen the grave brow, the graver eyes, the bushy reddish-y yellow hair looped back to the slope of his pole and the yellow beard cleft at the centre and foaming in two points to the breast she could not have thought that a man might be so huge so steady so masterful he was a being to whom one might pray or for whom one might die joyfully if a lord came striding from the she surely he would look as connohor did massive and dazzling and wonderful, with an eye from which one winced as from the sun, and with a voice that tolled and astonished like the note of a beaten drum. She remembered his hand that could hold both of her own with ease, and the great ridge of his shoulders, sloping away like the easy run and fall of a mountain, and this terrific being claimed her as his wife. Nothing but terror filled

Starting point is 02:33:55 her heart at that prospect, for she could not see him in any terms of intimacy or affection. He was and would remain as remote as her childhood, and no mere nearness could make him present, and he would be as unaccountable as are the elements that smile today and rage tomorrow in hurricane. What woman could reckon his parts or his total? He was like some God that had come out of the hills to astonish and terrify. And there was Nisha. As her memory retrieved that beloved name, her heart went bustling to her throat,

Starting point is 02:34:35 and she sat raging and terrified. It was not that he would be defrauded of her. It would be his own business to be woeful on that count, but she would be defrauded of him, and her proper lack was as yet sufficient for her mood, for lacking him what could be returned to her. Her hands went cold and her mouth dry as she faced such a prospect. The youth who was hers, who had no terrors for her, who was her equal in years and frolic,

Starting point is 02:35:08 she could laugh with him and at him, she could chide him and love him, she could give to him and withhold. She could be his mother as well as his wife, she could annoy him and forgive him. for between them there was such an equality of time and rights that neither could dream of mastery or feel a grief against the other. He was her beloved, her comrade, the very red of her heart, and her choice, choice. Deirdre leaped from the bed, but she could not leap from her thoughts, and she could not attempt the crazy and mazy corridors of her home to fly to him, for the excited household was clattering and chattering in the,

Starting point is 02:35:51 corridors, and she could no more escape by them than a bird can escape by its cage. It was not until two nights had passed that she could dare the wall, and in the intervening days she must listen to Leversham endless in caution and advice. Do this, but do not on your life do that. Remember this always, and this, and this, and this. There seemed as much to remember not to forget as there was to remember to remember. "'Theirdre would turn an eye on her guardian so lackluster at times, "'and again so woeful or wild that the good lady marveled.

Starting point is 02:36:31 "'Do not be frightened, my silk of the flock,' her guardian sued. "'There is every cause for joy and none for fear. "'In three days you will be the most envied lady in Ulster, "'and in four you will be the happiest. "'Tell Lavasham what is in your mind and what you are afraid of. i am in dread of the king said dear drow that will pass lavisham advised and in a few days you will wonder that you could have been frightened but a maid is a maid all that she thinks or dreams is founded on inexperience and has nothing to do with reality the world pours into a young girl's lap heedless of what she wished or dreaded for no person can either hope or fear until they know actually that that which is hopeful or frightful all you need do is to accept what your heart approves of and what your heart rejects you can throw away there is everything to hope for and nothing to be afraid of

Starting point is 02:37:36 but her chance did come at last she found the sons of ishnak still at their encampment but they were a silent trio they were more than silent they were abashed and embarrassed what is it "'Deaidra murmured, feeling the constraint. "'We're bidden to your wedding,' said Nisha shyly. "'The mild candor of his voice went into her heart like a sword "'so that she could not speak to him, "'and it was to his brother she turned. "'What shall we do, dear Unla?' she asked. "'But he had no answer for her,

Starting point is 02:38:14 "'and it was the youngest who replied, "'let us all run away,' Ardon cried, "'and his face went suddenly red, and his eager eyes shone like stars. Nisha glanced at Deirdr from under his brows. Where could we run to from the king? Anla grumbled impatiently. And we do not come of a race that run away, said Nisha.

Starting point is 02:38:38 Silence fell, but the statement of his own quality had unlocked a door of bitterness in Nisha's heart. Nora, will you easily find a girl who will run away from a kingdom? him, he continued as though addressing reasonable counsel to his juniors. Deirdre faced him gravely and lovingly, I will run away with you, she said. The king, Nisha gasped. I am afraid of that king, she whispered urgently,

Starting point is 02:39:08 but her lover was pale and terrified. It would be an affront that was never offered to a king in Ira. It would be a cruelty, and it would be an awful deed. He turned to his brothers, The king is our uncle. He loves us, he said. Yes, Anla agreed. He loves us better than his own sons.

Starting point is 02:39:31 After Kekulin, said Ardan, he loves us best in the world. And he loves me, said Deirdre. Nisha leaped to his feet. Oh, gods of day and night, he cried. He seemed to plead to Deirdre for comprehension and pity. "'Kanawhore reared me like his own son. "'I sat in his lap.

Starting point is 02:39:54 "'He buckled the sword on me with his own hand. "'He put his two palms on my shoulders when I won my weapons, "'and he kissed me three times on each cheek. "'I love and venerate him.' "'Again, silence throbbed among them. "'I shall go home to Labrisham,' said Deirdre. "'The boys looked at her and at each other and at the ground, and did not know where to look anymore.

Starting point is 02:40:22 I also shall be reared by the son of Ness, she said gently. I too shall sit in his lap. He will not buckle a sword on me, but he will unbuckle my girdle with his own hands. He will put his two palms on my shoulders, and he will kiss me many times on each cheek. Nisha beat a fist against his brow. I am the king's man, he said,

Starting point is 02:40:48 stammered, but she turned her fleet smile and trembling lips on him. Am I to tell the king how well we loved each other, night after night, among the trees? Or would it be better to keep that a secret amongst us for? They say that men can keep secrets. The two lads blushed painfully and turned away. Nisha was as one who has renounced life. There is nothing to be done, said his dry lips, and then shaking his shoulder, elders, he tossed care from them. We shall be beyond the trees at this hour tomorrow night,

Starting point is 02:41:25 with the chariots, he said. If the hour passes and you do not come, we shall attack the guards and take you out. He turned to the others. You must come with us wherever we go, my brothers, for when the king finds that I am gone, he will slay you two for Eric. He wouldn't kill me, Ardon boasted, for I wouldn't let him. nobody but coolyn could kill you on lus goffed you couldn't anyway the youngest retorted little boasting pillar of combat his brother jive pooh battle torch of the gall and in a terrified merriment they made the rest of their arrangements chapter twenty three laversham left the king's presence she came away bowed and blond and dizzy, shuffling in any direction and unaware of why she was walking or where she was going. A hundred thoughts, battling furious for precedence, kept her thoughtless.

Starting point is 02:42:31 A hundred pictures, each striving for place and examination, kept her blind. She was all a din and whirl and swirl, as though the winds that raged in gust and countercurrent through her brain were blowing her along. at times she would remember that she did not wish to go where she was going and she would spin furiously aside and go as stupidly in another path and at times she would discover that she was standing still and collected as a stone a nothing staring on nothing great sighs broke from her miserable heart or she was so shattered by dry sobbing that it seemed her bones must part company with her flesh and with each other and again with her two hands gripped on her mouth she squeezed back a medley of screams and listened as in amazement to the thin whinings that forced through the crooked spaces of her fingers again the cautious woman would peep and peer to see if any person was nigh to observe her and before that survey could make its rounds she would forget what she was looking for and think that they could not be seen from this place for they have hours start, and will be where by this time? With what unbelieving anguish that flight had forced itself upon her, she had gone trotting and ambling and panting about her rooms and fields calling,

Starting point is 02:44:02 Deirdre! Deirdre! Deirdre! Searching for her baby in a work-basket or on the flat of a ceiling, while the servants gibbered and squealed and bubbled and blared at her and at each other. with what an iron dismay the thought of Kanahur came on her desolating and unreckoned as the thunder-clap which howls on the heels of its howling brother he must be told and at that she poked up her nose like a moon-struck dog peeling scream on scream until the attending hags fled into the corners as the mice do when they are frightened and screamed with her and at her and at the roof She went to Conahour. She stood mumbling and staring outside the door and then trotted in, whispering to him, She's gone! And Conahor echoed in uncomprehending amazement.

Starting point is 02:45:03 She's gone? Laversham stared into the king's face that was carved in the granite of suspense and astonishment. She's gone. Little Deirdre's gone! She yelled and emptied her thin fingers on the air as though she emptied them of dear dra. She clapped her hands together with a dreadful giggle and flapped her arms along her thighs like some ungainly crow that has been set dancing drunk on mead. When a maid goes, a man goes with her, she croaked. She flopped to the door and hopped out of it and popped back.

Starting point is 02:45:44 She's gone! she cried she's gone she ran away with a man and she wobbled to the doorway again nodding and tittering at the king until she disappeared the servants and guards were listening with their eyes staring their mouths open and their breathing forgotten a whisper a thrill a terrible constriction of the heart fled through the vast palace and went zigzagging like wildfire about ulster and in the center of that Kanahur stood alone with his fists closed and his eyes closed listening to the whispers that were an inch away

Starting point is 02:46:27 and a hundred miles away that were over him and under him and in him listening to the blanching of his face and to the liquefying of his bones listening in a rage of curiosity and woe for the more that might be said

Starting point is 02:46:44 and all the more that might be thought, trying as with one gripping of the mind to sense all the bitterness that might be, to exhaust it in one gulp, to reawaken as at a million removes from all that has ever been or could be, till doom. End of Section 10. End of Book 1.

Starting point is 02:47:13 Section 11 of Deirdre by James Stevens. Book 2, chapters 1, and two. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Reading by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Chapter 1. Time flies, scattering on all that had seemed important, the ash of forgetfulness, and so crowding memory into memory that the thing we recollect has no longer the shape or color that strode against us once upon a time. For all men, but the dream, time flies, but it may be stationary for him who can recreate in the night all that he forces to oblivion in the morning. His woeful yesterdays can be timely at any time, for nothing that

Starting point is 02:48:04 touches him will rust or fade, and he may be seen to wince at a word which his contemporaries have lost the significance of. The seven years that passed had not touched Conahour. He was still the masterful king, the unremitting lawgiver. He was still the idol of his people. What would a banquet in the red branch be if the king were away? But he was never absent, and wherever there was music or frolic or laughter, the son of Ness was urging it on, and would be eager for more when the youngest companion was wearied to stupidity. Not time nor thought could blunt the edge of his bodily or mental energy, so vast or was it, and misfortune beat as unavailingly against him as the wind did against Ogan and Mania.

Starting point is 02:48:55 To be energetic and self-sufficing is to be happy, but while one desire remains in the heart, happiness may not come there. For to desire is to be incomplete. It is the badge of dependence, the signal of unhappiness, and to be freed from that is to be freed from every fetter that can possibly be forged. Man becomes God when he finds his satisfactions within himself, but his dreams then are other than those that Harry'd Conahour as a pack of hounds Harry a fox. For Ulster might forget, and those who had not been outraged might forgive, but he would not forget or forgive until he was as dead as those should be against whom his mind was directed like the point of a secret spear. deirdre and the sons of ish-knock had fled to scotland where they had kinsmen and acquaintances who had grown up with them in imamaka as fosterages from the scottish courts or as lords and captains in khanahur's mercenary armies

Starting point is 02:50:03 they may have met kukulin there for it would be about that time that he was under the tuition of female warrior and witch skattak and if so they should have met his comrade ferdiad also so, he who was to assail the ford afterwards with what a hand, and it may have been during their exile that Cochulin fell in love with Skatak's daughter, and that the child was born who would receive such a woeful stroke on Balea's strand. It is one of the wise arrangements of providence that no person can either eat of the same thing or talk of the same thing for more than a week, and so when Gossip's time had passed, Ulster, unless it might be to some traveling historian, spoke no more of the king's misfortune. Such a historian would have learned that Deirder was tall and short, and that she was dark and fair and sallow, for all women he interviewed would

Starting point is 02:51:00 lend their own contours and complexion to such a heroine, and would, as they reprobated or forgave, endow her with the moral qualities which they best appreciated their own. Lavisham could tell the truth, and so could Conahur, but they would not be questioned for some years to come. The king had down faced the whole matter from the start. He went to the chase that day. He sat at the banquet that night. He visited his foreign troops the next day,

Starting point is 02:51:32 and the day after he inspected the fortifications at the pass of the fuse, and a length of the Black Pigs' Dyke on either side. There was a boy troop to be reviewed, and their competitions to be scrutinized. There were the unending ceremonies of the court, the judgment seat, and of the embassies from all parts of his realm, and from overseas. There were gifts to be received and returned,

Starting point is 02:51:58 counsels to be given and listened to. There was an eternal variety of occupations for the king, who, although he might employ a ducing, day of 18 hours' work, could have something yet to think of ere he slept. Kukulin and Konal Kiernak had been equal kings with him, but they had, Lavisham had assisted in that, surrendered their powers to Kanahur, who was now known and described as Emperor of Ulster. What allegiance he gave to the High King of Ireland, we do not know, and it may have been part

Starting point is 02:52:34 of his plan to arrive at that dignity himself. a connoct prince was then and for a thousand years afterwards high king of ireland and although the effort of conacht and ulster to achieve supreme rule may now be forgotten the effects of those bitter wars lasted longer than a historian would dare to count so far as ulster was concerned the king might have been at ease his honor was as safe as his kingdom and as for the other actors in his drama their condition was so manifestly gentle and their youth so extreme that no taint of ugliness or treachery could remain in the tail or in the mind of the person who heard it It could, in a while, have been told of as a regrettable childish misadventure, and one which not even the king need further remember. But the king remembered. It was to escape such a memory that he plunged into affairs and banquets and a whole roistering self-expenditure, which would have devitalized any other man.

Starting point is 02:53:41 He prolonged his day until it could not, for very weariness, be further extended, and then he went to bed. no he went to deirdre's bed where eincia slept and over which he hovered sleepless though in sleep and in a torment that poisoned the very sunlight when he awakened chapter two conahua macnasa was preparing a feast household banquets were common matters at his court but this was to be a state banquet and every person who could be thought of as noble or notable was invited to the red branch as well as an aristocracy of birth there was in every irish court an elite of excellence those who were foremost in learning the arts or the crafts had the privilege of visiting the king equally with those whose not merit rose from their father's graves or their skill at arms. A king was then close to his people, and he was by training and habit a connoisseur in many things which all could understand. A commonwealth of taste is the only one which can admit equality. It is democracy. He could

Starting point is 02:54:55 command with knowledge the man who built a house or the man who did the carvings in it. He could speak to the maker of his chariots or the breaker of his horse. He could speak to the maker of his horses in terms that apprehended to the last shading the matter that was being discussed, and so to the expert who cured his bacon or the sturdy master who superintended the brewing of his beer. All arts were household arts, all crafts were arts, and the knowledge of these was culture. A gentleman would know of all the music that was worthy of being played, for a musical person formed part of every household. He would remember the son, that had outlived time and could discuss their excellences. And the only art which he need

Starting point is 02:55:41 regard as occult would be poetry itself, for while all other arts come by memory and experiment, poetry, which is not an art, comes solely by grace. Lavisham, said Conahur, have you heard any talk of the banquet? Indeed, master, I have heard nothing else. Will there be any notable absentee? "'None but those who are dying of wounds and sickness. "'Cuculin has stayed at home for some time now. "'For a year after marriage, one is still newly married, "'the conversation woman submitted.

Starting point is 02:56:20 "'I fear that boy's love for me has bounds,' Conahor pursued. "'The king has been too kind to him,' cried Labasham harshly. "'The king cannot help himself,' he corrected, for I love the lad, and I could no more do him an ill turn than I could do one to myself. I too love him, said Laversham, but he is more forward than his proper, even in a prince. Can you tell me, Laversham, why he objected to my sovereign privilege with his wife? Pride, she replied briefly, he is prouder than ten kings. It is so, and it is a gentleman.

Starting point is 02:57:03 "'to be proud,' he continued. "'But if such objections were allowed, "'government would become impossible. "'Do the people still talk of his refusal?' "'The people know that the king did sleep with ever. "'Yes, they may know that, "'but do they know that Fergus slept on the other side of her as a guard?' "'No,' she replied.

Starting point is 02:57:29 "'That is known to but five people, "'and they are all loyal to the king.' Tell me, and Conahor scrutinized her gravely, Do you love cuckulin better than me? I love you best of all, master, said Lhersham. I think you do, my friend, but they say that every woman loves the coup. As to Fergus, he muttered and went silent for a moment. I do not yet know how much Fergus loves me.

Starting point is 02:58:01 I am not sure that a loyal man would have undertaken a duty against him, his sovereign, such as Fergus accepted for Coquolin. He did it because he loves both of you, Master, and it is surely better that such an arrangement should be known only between friends. Possibly, said Conahor, and yet I passed my word that if my right was conceded I would not touch the girl. Is a king's word not accepted any longer by those Ferguses and Coquillins? He cried furiously.

Starting point is 02:58:35 "'It was Cuckoolin's doing,' said she. "'It may have been Fergus's,' he retorted and went moodily silent. "'Who knows what that man thinks of?' "'Feasts,' said Laversham. "'He loves food.' "'I was tempted,' the king gritted, "'to try in the night whether he dared obstruct me "'and to see if he dared thrust the sword he went to bed with into his king.

Starting point is 02:59:03 "'But I had passed my word, word. If, he continued irritably, the coup had only asked Conal Kiernock or Krooge Kedman or any gentleman of the household to be his surety, instead of the man he did ask, I could have borne it. Loversham chuckled respectfully. How did that night pass, Master? she inquired. Kunahor gave a great laugh. Fergus and I went to bed, and the girl went to bed between us, and we all had to our clothes on. My bed is small enough for me when I am alone, but to pack a large girl into it

Starting point is 02:59:42 with all her clothes on, and then to pack an overgrown vast bullock of a man like Fergus into it also cannot be done. I made but one resolve that night, that on no account would I be pushed out of my own bed, and I was not. But every time that Fergus closed an eye, he fell on the floor, and the girl woke up and screamed. Labrasham let out a shrill titter and begged the king's pardon. How did ever behave, she asked. She went to sleep, said Conahor sourly. She slept hard and kicked hard for seven long hours,

Starting point is 03:00:22 and this I know, that if she has the round knee of a woman, which she has, for it was thudded into my back a thousand times, She has also the sharp elbows of a girl, so that after a time it seemed to me that there was a bundle of live bodkins in the bed. I never knew how long a night could be until that night, and we had even to prolong it out of courtesy to the lady. I shall keep a painful memory of that sweet girl until I die, and the coup is welcome to every royal remittance he can desire on her behalf. but now about the banquet is everything in order everything master the brewers the bakers the cooks they have their equipment and instructions your butlers must answer for that master true but as you went among these people how did they seem what do they say about the feast oh they are excited and delighted all their talk is of the famous people and the great retin news that are coming and of how Ulster will show the five kingdoms what a real feast is like.

Starting point is 03:01:36 They are good folk, all, said Kanahur. They are very good folk. You have no other news? There is nothing to report, Master, but that everything is well. You have no tidings from Scotland. None, Master, or little. Even a little news is news, said he. Tell it, however little it be.

Starting point is 03:02:00 They have been chased again, said Laversham in a low voice. Everywhere they go they are hunted like foxes. They live under the weather, crouching like wild creatures in the bracken of a hillside or hiding in rocks and caves by a howling shore. They were delicately reared, he murmured. They never knew hardship, Lavrasham whimpered. And my babe, ah, yes. your babe. How old would she be now, that babe of yours? Close on twenty-three years, master.

Starting point is 03:02:39 And I am forty-seven. She has all her days in front of her still. What days will they be? And she quaking in a burrow like a hair, a rising thin-legged from the bog like a yellow bittern. It is still the king of Scotland who pursues them? Kanawhore queried? Yes? since he set eyes on her seven years ago he has given them no rest and he will give none until he has killed the three brothers and taken the girl for himself that is the welcome of a king of scotland it is not the welcome the same lord got when he came here in fosterage he is still a young man said connahur young or old it is not the act of a prince the acts of a prince need a prince's criticism said the king king severely. Laversham went silent. Young men go wild at times, and it is their right, but older men can be of a wildness that no young man can understand, said the king. He twisted sternly on Laversham. Love is told of in this way and that, but it is not told of as it is.

Starting point is 03:03:54 It is savagery in the blood and pain and the bone and greed and despair in the mind. It is to be thirsty in the night and unslaked in the day. It is to carry memory like a thorn in the heart. It is to drip one's blood as one walks. Leave men to the things they know, and do you meddle with your own female businesses. Those children, said Laversham stubbornly, are a woman's business,

Starting point is 03:04:25 and his own subjects are a matter for a king. They are our kinsmen. indeed, said Conahor thoughtfully. And their troubles shall be looked into. We shall speak of this again, after the banquet. Lavisham's eyes were shining. Yes, master, she crooned. Send in our butlers and all our masters, said Conahour.

Starting point is 03:04:52 End of Section 11. Section 12 of Deirdre by James Stevens. This Leberfox recording is in the public domain, read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Book 2, Chapters 3 and 4. Chapter 3 The King and the Guests of Honor, mainly members of his family and their wives, sat on a raised dais overlooking the banqueting home. It was at the heart of the banquet. The food had been eaten, the meat and ale and wine, and wine.

Starting point is 03:05:34 were circulating gentlemen were politely pledging each other's ladies and the ladies were feverishly considering each other's costumes and ornaments everyone emmer explained in her clear sweet voice to cuckulin everyone who has any hair at all wears it this way it is the connoct fashion said cruz-crawed the stammerer it is maive's fashion emmer corrected there must be three plats she she continued, two twisted round the head and caught in a brooch, and one hanging down the back. I think it is a charming fashion. I think, Conahor smiled, that our ladies might content themselves with their own good ulster customs. There are ulster customs, indeed, said emir, but there are no fashions. One must go to Connacht for that. If it depends on the ladies, said Leary, we might let the grass grow over the black pigs, dyke. The shoulder torques are worn smaller in Connacht just now, Imer continued, eyeing superciliously

Starting point is 03:06:43 the ornaments of a neighbor, just like mine, she added complacently. Kukulin laughed boisterously. Just like yours, he mocked. Why, you know well, my dove, I took that torque on the last spoil I made in Connacht. Great good humor descended on Connohore. Is that where the torque from my soul. Your sweet lady must show it to me more closely. You had a hard fight on that occasion? I got away from them, the coup answered modestly. You got away from them only when you got home, Brickrude jeered. It was a good running, my sweet. They were very persistent, the coup admitted laughingly, but I got away with my spoil. You know how the conduct men explain the fact that you are still alive? It will be an unpleasant explanation if it is explained by Breakru, said

Starting point is 03:07:41 I should like to hear it, said Conahur. They are telling each other that our coup was so beautiful they could not bear to kill him. Think of that, Cuckuck. It is a stupid, sentimental reason, growled Larry. It is a good, honorable reason, Emmer fleshed. It is not a reason you will ever give for letting a man escape? No, said Brie Kruh. Larry's excuse when he doesn't bring his man home is that he couldn't catch him. And that, Larry retorted, would be the Knoctman's reason for not getting the coup if a Kanoctman could tell the truth about anything. They tell the truth when it is pleasant, said Eamer, and when it is not pleasant they tell a lie. They are epaulite people, which is more than we

Starting point is 03:08:33 are. Oh, ho, ho! Kahnahur laughed. Their lies come from a good heart and a love of happiness, while our truths come grump, grump, grump, like the snarling of a badly trained dog. Oh, ho! Ho! Conahur roared. Conall, what do you say of these Connacht people? You also have been among them lately? They are honorable fighters, said Connell. "'No man can pray for a better enemy than a conduct man,' Fergus assented. "'They come on where another would go back, "'and when they go back it is either through pity or poetry.' "'Come,' said Conahor,

Starting point is 03:09:18 "'their compliment to the coup has been repaid, "'and we can talk of something else. "'What do you think of our banquet?' "'There's nothing to be said,' said Imer. "'It is perfect.' "'Everybody seems happy,' said the complacent. King as he looked down the red branch. His guests also stared down the hall. They seem happy and are happy, said Kukulin. He turned to his servant and charioteer.

Starting point is 03:09:45 Leg, he cried. You do not love me. My cup is empty. My darling, Laig replied, you have drunk as much as as is as good for you. I shall drink as much as is bad for me if I please, said Kukulin. so bring me some meed, my treasure. I shall bring you ale or cider. Mead, said the coup. Ale, my little love, said the charioteer. Bring mead for the coup when he wants it, Emir ordered indignantly.

Starting point is 03:10:16 Sweet mistress, said Laig, we have to bring him home tonight. Then give him ale, said Amir. It will surely be ale, cried the delighted Conahour. Mead, the Kukulin pleaded. You will want to fight the moon and stars as we go home. Eamer rebuked him. I can fight on ale just as well, Kukulin asserted. And it is a good hearty ale, the king assured him. Let it be ale, then, said Kukulin. I think that not one person whom we know is absent from this banquet,

Starting point is 03:10:53 said Fyakra the fair, Konehur's youngest son. The conversation turned as they all looked down the great hall there is so and so and so and so who said amir is that tall sad man with three men's chins about him he is such a one said and the black bog beside him with the beard that was stolen from a porcupine his name is borak the son of anta he has a fortified rock half in and half out of the sea he catches sharks through his window and his banquets are all made of fish. He is preparing a banquet for me, Kanahur cried. I shall not accept a feast from that man, said Fergus. You must, if he asks you, Kukulin replied, for it is a gossa on you not to refuse a feast. That is so, but the feast must be ready before I am offered it, and as I do not visit his

Starting point is 03:11:56 part of the world, I shall never have to eat his sharks. "'You think there is no one absent?' asked Conahour. "'Not one,' they agreed. "'I am sharper than you all,' he continued, "'for I can count three who are not here.' "'Again they scrutinized the hall without finding any missing friends. "'They appealed to the herald who stood by Conahor's chair. "'He too was mystified.

Starting point is 03:12:23 "'What three are they?' said Fiacra. "'The three sons of Ishnok,' the king replied smilingly. the three lights of valor of the gale. At the words, a moment's silence came on the dais, and no person knew exactly what to say or do. Fergus turned his direct gaze on the king. They are in Scotland, he said. They went there seven years ago,

Starting point is 03:12:51 when Nisha ran away with Deirdre, said Konehur. Conal Kiernak turned his harsh forehead to the king. They are in great. distress, he said. I have just heard so, the king replied gravely. We must bring them home. At the words, the face

Starting point is 03:13:10 of every person changed. It was as though a cordial had just been dropped into each heart. Kekulin flashed enthusiasm and delight at the king. You will let them come back? They shall be at our next banquet. If I could love you more,

Starting point is 03:13:28 Fergus affirmed, I would love you more for that. I know you love me well, said Conahor, and I love you, my heart. We have been wearying to see Nisha again, cried Kukulin. What is he like, said Amor? He is under Gaza about his return, Brie Kru interposed. Conahur turned abruptly to him. What gaza is that?

Starting point is 03:13:55 He will come back in the company of Fergus or of Conau or of the coup. Otherwise, he will not come back. Ah, said Kanahur. He was always a sensible far-seeing boy. Brickr continued thoughtfully. The king's eyes rested on Brickr for one weighty moment ere he replied. We shall send one of the three, or all of the three, to fetch him. What is she like, Amir insisted? Brickr replied. She has been sleeping in ditches for six. years. She will be like nothing you have ever heard of, sweet lady. She, said Kukulin. She, said every voice at one moment. She, said Kanawhor with a grave smile, was called the troubler, and she has given and received her

Starting point is 03:14:48 share of trouble. Chapter 4. You understand, said the king. I understand well, said Leversham. First, you are to send Conal to me. Half an hour afterwards you shall send Kukulin. In another half hour you shall send me Fergus, and when he comes you shall see that Borach is in waiting. I understand well, Master. In a little while you shall see your babe again. She scrutinized his face humbly and gravely. You are most gentle, master. Are you not contented? "'I am filled with joy and grief,' she answered. "'And grief,' the king echoed Mowley. "'She will not be the girl I knew,' said Laversham.

Starting point is 03:15:39 "'How so?' "'She will have been destroyed by hardship.' "'Ah, girls are tougher than women pretend,' said Kanahur. "'A man grows directly from the boy he was,' she continued. "'He keeps the boy you knew even when he is an old man. but a girl grows suddenly at an angle to all that she was. She becomes a stranger in a year. Hmm, he scoffed.

Starting point is 03:16:07 The Deirdre we knew is dead, and some weather-wise, weather-wasted woman will look at me with unknown eyes and say, How do you do? I shall not know how to talk to her, said Laversham. If it is so, we shall see it so, said Conahour. Go now and say, and me Connell, and then the others in the order I told you.

Starting point is 03:16:32 Lavrisham left the room. When she was beyond the king's hearing, she stood for a good five minutes, musing deeply within herself, listening, as it were, to her heart, to her instincts, to that monitor on whom we call when the times are momentous and doubtful,

Starting point is 03:16:50 and there is no other help but our own to be summoned. She sighed inaudibly, tremulously, and went about her business. Conalcurenak stood in the doorway. Good old chief and king, he saluted. Life and happiness, Kanahua replied briskly. Sit here, my heart, for there is but one chair. I shall walk up and down while we discuss this business.

Starting point is 03:17:17 His guest sat down. It is about Ishnak's boys. You think they should come home? Everyone thinks so. There is a gap among your gentlemen. gentlemen while they are away. Conahur nodded. There is an even worse gap among your captains.

Starting point is 03:17:34 It is so. And among the boys growing from the troop, Conall resumed, there is no one to replace these three. They were already at the force of manhood, and even then their skill and knowledge were remarkable. True, Conahor agreed, they were trained by me. The last six years of combat and ambuscade, and flight will have made them but the better soldiers.

Starting point is 03:18:00 The king strode to his visitor and laid a hand on his shoulder. Cornel, my friend, these three have treated me shamefully. The only way to forgive a thing is to forget it. You have forgiven, Conahur, and forgotten. If they returned with you, Cornel, and if evil happened to them while under your surety, what would you do? Conal rose from his chair, and, in rising, displaced the king's hand. He looked at the king with his steady, pale regard.

Starting point is 03:18:33 If evil came to a person placed under my protection, I would kill the person by whom that evil came. Kanahua laughed merrily. Even the king himself, he quizzed. I would kill any person that dishonored me, said Conall sternly. You would be quite right to do so, said Conah. Sonahur heartily. He seated himself in the chair that Conal had vacated. The matter I wish to discuss is your uncle, Ket Mak-Maguk, Ket of Konak. That man scorns our borders, and his depredations are costly and impertinent. Our young men also are not equal to that able river. Could you not talk to him, Conal, and draw him off us? I talk to Knoctmen with a sword. You may talk to him, that.

Starting point is 03:19:23 way, if you please. Conow reviewed the invitation imperturbably. I would not care to kill Ket MacMagh. He is my mother's brother. And he is not an easy person to kill, said Konehour. We shall make our own arrangements about him. Blessings and long life to you. The dismissed champion strode from the room. That man, Conahour thought moodily, has been hammered together stone by stone, and is no more than a petrified vanity. He loves nothing but his honor, which is that he loves himself. Come in, the coup, he called.

Starting point is 03:20:04 Come in, and a hundred welcomes, my sweet lad. Kekulin, magnificent in red silk and gold embroideries, came leaping in. Well, my pulse, said Conahor, and you have a new mantle. Emir made it, the coup boasted. She does the finest embroidery in the world. She told me so herself. If she told you so, said Conahor, let me look at the sleeve. It is not bad, my delight, but I have a few pieces somewhere. Did you pass Conall

Starting point is 03:20:37 Kyrnach as you came in? I did. He smiled a frozen smile at me and clapped my shoulder with a fist of lead. We were arguing about honor. If a person was placed under your protection and was then killed, what would you do, Ku Kukakin? I would kill the other person, said Kukulin. If it was the king, my pet, I would kill the king. Conahor sat round at him in a rage. Would you kill me? he demanded. I would, Kukulin returned as fiercely.

Starting point is 03:21:12 I would kill anyone who destroyed a person under my protection. You would not kill me, Kukulin. As sure as dawn begins the day, "'Be gone, young puppy. Be gone, coxcomb,' he thundered. "'Honor, Cuckulin commenced. "'You do not love me,' the King's storm. "'I do love you.' "'Be gone!' the king roared and stamped the floor.

Starting point is 03:21:38 The laughing Cuckulin backed before his rage. "'I do love you,' he shouted. "'And he continued to shout. "'I love you, I love you!' "'until he reached the end of the corridor and turned the corner, where the guards poked each other in the ribs and giggled with joy. Kanawhore tugged at his beard half in anger and half in laughter. Another vanity in a mantle, he thought,

Starting point is 03:22:04 That boy loves me indeed, and he would assured kill me, for it is certain that I could not think of killing him. Is there no person in my realm who loves me better than his own poor pride? And what a three that Nisha must choose for him? his sureties. He strode savagely up and down the room. We shall see now what Fergus is like, he sneered. He professes to adore me and eyes me with the devotion of a dull dog. A dull dog he is, and a monster of sufficiency to boot. If he dares to thwart me, the king gloomed and went into a bitter rage of meditation. A great voice boomed on him, good my soul, Conahur. It is Fergus.

Starting point is 03:22:50 cried the king joyfully and strode to meet his visitor come my pulse and best sit you and i shall stand nay sit he chided gently indeed if things were right you should sit always and this man tapping his own breast should bend a lover's knee before you you bear no ill-will sweetheart for that trick of long ago the giant sat i never think of it or i think of it with relief when i remember the judgment seat and the knots and tangles and questions that came day by day. I was not a bad justice, but I was a sad fumbler at law. And the best man has the best place, my dear. Do not torment yourself with memories of that old. He halted for a word. Treachery, said Conahour.

Starting point is 03:23:43 That is not the word I wanted. Fergus left. You are too sensitive, Conahour. The nobles agreed, and I, agreed that you should be the king, and I am your most loving subject. You do love me? Have I not proved it? The others smiled. Many a time. Times out of mind, said Konehore. He turned aside and closed his eyes, a pang of dull hate smouldered and stirred in him. If this man were dead, he thought with weary despair. If this man would but cease and disappear,

Starting point is 03:24:20 be gone, how free my soul could be. He turned again to Fergus. Let us talk of other things, he said, those sons of Ishnaq. You did a rare deed there, said the other approvingly. Rare or not rare, they will be brought back, and you shall go for them. Fergus nodded. If they claim my protection, he began. They do claim it, and they will return under your protection. Then I shall go for them. I shall be glad to see these boys again. They had the markings of great fighters in them. That is settled, said Kanahur. You can start today, he inquired. I can start within the hour. Good. Kanahua mused and turned thoughtful eyes on his companion. If anything happened to these three while they were under your protection, Fergus, what would you do? I would kill the person who

Starting point is 03:25:18 interfered with my protection. No matter who it was, no matter who it was. I wonder would our mutual love withstand even an attack on honor, said Kianahur thoughtfully. There are bounds to love, but I doubt I could lift a hand against you

Starting point is 03:25:36 even if you attacked my honor. Our love is a great bond, said Fergus simply. It would be hard to destroy. Nevertheless, the king smiled, if I injured your honor, say that I attacked these sons of Ishnak while in your surrogy, your affection for me would scarcely withstand that. That would be a hard case indeed, if Fergus left.

Starting point is 03:26:03 You would kill me, the king queried with a genial smile. You know, said Fergus, that I could not kill you whatever you did. We love one another well, said Kanahur. It is a great thing to love as we do. my friend. But now, he continued briskly, we must attend to this troublesome business, and we must have a third person present in order that the world may know how we dispatch it. He clapped his hands, and to the servant who appeared, who is in waiting? Barak, Lord, tell him to come here.

Starting point is 03:26:39 That is the man who feeds his guests on sharks, said Fergus. He is on duty of honor today, the king replied carelessly. and he will be witness to the world of my instructions and of your charge come forward good borak the bulky man strode in you shall listen to my instructions to our dear fergus and you shall be the witness to this arrangement fergus thereupon stood up and connahur seated himself fergus my friend you shall go to scotland and bring back to this court the three sons of ishnak and the woman deirdra there shall be no delay about the execution of this duty. There shall be no delay, Fergus affirmed. The instant they set foot in Ireland,

Starting point is 03:27:25 you shall proceed here with them. And if, from any cause whatsoever, you cannot come yourself, you shall cause them to come to me without the delay of even one half hour. That will be done, said Fergus, but I shall be with them. With you or without you,

Starting point is 03:27:43 whether they arrive by day or by night in Ireland, they shall be sent here to me, without the delay of even one half hour. That will be done, said Fergus. I bind that on you to the letter, said Conahour. I accept it so, Fergus returned. I shall bring my two sons to Scotland, and if by any miracle I should be delayed myself,

Starting point is 03:28:06 they shall go forward with every speed and deliver these four people safely to Evan Maka. A speedy return to you, said Kanahur. Go at once, my dear friend. but you, Borak, stay yet a while. I have the matter of our feast to discuss with you. Fergus smiled broadly as he withdrew. Sharks, he murmured quite joyfully.

Starting point is 03:28:31 Sharks! End of Section 12. Section 13 of Deirdre by James Stevens. This Liber Vox recording is in the public domain. Read by Michelle Frye, Van Rouge, Louisiana. book two chapters five and six chapter five on the slope of a sunny hill overlooking loch ache deirdre was cooking the meal which her husband and his brothers had run to earth and carried home on their shoulders the food is ready she called it is not as ready as i am for i could eat land and water ardon averred i shall not give you any she mocked "'Serve the greedy person right,' said Anla.

Starting point is 03:29:26 "'He eats in his sleep.' "'But I must get the part I killed,' Ardon protested. "'What part is that? "'I don't know its name, but it is the tenderest part.' "'This is also a thievish person,' said Anla indignantly. "'He is trying to claim the part I killed.' "'Fight for me, Nisha,' Ardon implored. "'Be on my side, dear Dreen.'

Starting point is 03:29:51 "'You shall be served last,' said dear Dress. severely, and you shall get a tough piece. A hone, a hone, forever, he lamented. How do you like that piece? said dear, dervindictively. I could eat a cow's horn if you cooked it, he wheedled. Won't you give me more in a minute, little sister? I shall give you ten kisses. Do not go between a man and his meat, unlaw warned.

Starting point is 03:30:20 He will bite you. The law says that you are my brink. brother, but I shall certainly divorce you, the other cried, and then you will be sorry. You're silent, Nisha, said Deirdre. No man can talk with his mouth full, except me, Ardon explained. Half an hour ago, said Nisha, I saw a ship beating in from the sea. A fishing boat? I think it was a boat from Ireland. Why should you think so? It had the cut of an Irish boat, If it is any of our friends from Ireland, said Anla, they will be almost at the strand now. We have no friends in Ireland, Deirdre returned coldly.

Starting point is 03:31:06 Run to the strand, Ardon, my pulse, and see who came in that ship. The boy scrambled to his feet. If they are friends, I'll give them kisses. If they are enemies, I'll steal their supper. But Deirdre was well begun as she looked on the two brothers. "'What ails you little sister?' "'Unlotte inquired. "'I had a dream last night,' she replied,

Starting point is 03:31:30 "'and it troubles me. "'We share all things and our troubles. "'Tell us your dream.' "'Deirdre looked away distantly to the sea. "'I dreamed that three birds "'came flying from a main maca. "'Hapy birds,' said Nisha dreamily, "'that can fly and fly back.

Starting point is 03:31:50 "'They each had a sip of honey in their beaks. They left the three sips of honey with us, and they took away from us three sips of our blood. The ending, said Nisha, is not so sweet as the beginning. How do you interpret that dream, his brother asked? I think that three people will come to us carrying a sweet, deceitful message from Konehur. A dream is a dream, he soothed her. And my dreams, she cried. How many times have we fled on the advice of,

Starting point is 03:32:23 my dream, and as we looked back we saw that happening which we fled from. Is that true, brother? It is true. Our Deirdre has second sight. Nisha turned his shoulder along the grass and laid his ear to the wind. I hear a shout, he said. It is some man of these parts, giving a hunting call, she answered. It seemed to me like the shout of an Irishman. it may be Ardon returning. It is not his call. It is Fergus and his two sons, said Deirdre miserably. They are coming to us with three sips of honey in their mouths.

Starting point is 03:33:05 What is in Fergus's mouth is in his heart also, Nisha cried joyfully. One time or another, even your dream may be wrong, for if Fergus agrees to be a messenger, the message will be as true as his own truth. "'Remember,' said Deirdre, "'that I told you they were coming "'without having seen them.'

Starting point is 03:33:26 "'Fergus and his two sons, "'with Ardon doing circles and hoops around them, "'rose on a slope of the hill "'and came striding over the tussocks. "'Behind them came the shield-bearer "'and the shield itself, "'and at the sight Anla fled to meet them. "'But Nisha drew back to keep Deirdra company,

Starting point is 03:33:46 "'for she had not moved.' "'It is Fergus,' he said, with shining eyes. "'He has come for our blood,' said white-lipped Deirdre. "'Queen of queens,' her husband laughed. "'You do not know Fergus.' At that the whole band came together, and they all kissed each other fondly. "'Welcome to this land,' said Nisha. "'And thou art Deirdre,' cried Fergus as he kissed her on either cheek.

Starting point is 03:34:15 She smiled wanly as she returned his kisses. "'We shall teach you to laugh in Ireland,' he told. "'What news is there from the lovely country?' her husband demanded. "'The best. The news is that you are to return there.' "'Ah,' said Nisha, "'the king himself has sent me to bring you home under my surety and protection.' "'Whoop!' said Ardon. "'He bids me tell you that he has forgiven you and wishes you all happiness.'

Starting point is 03:34:45 But Deird returned to him, smiling and, fearful. We are happy here in Scotland, she said. Nay, said Fergus, one cannot be satisfied when one is in exile, for his native land is dearer to a man than any other. This is truly a dear country, she replied. And it is well known, Fergus continued, that if a man of Ireland had the lordship of another country, he would yet be unhappy unless he could see Ireland every day. "'It is so,' said Anlaw. "'There is no one knows its truth better than the sons of Ishnok,' cried Nisha. "'You see,' the great man chided her.

Starting point is 03:35:30 "'I know that this is a dear land,' said Deirdre stubbornly, "'and that here the sons of Ishnak might rise to any destiny they aim for.' "'It may be so,' Nisha affirmed, "'but Ireland is dearer to me than Scotland. Scotland is safer, she said. Will you be safer in Scotland than with me, cried Ferguson amazement? I have yet a little power, he smiled. We will go with you, said Nisha.

Starting point is 03:36:01 Do not go, my pulse, said Deirdre in great agitation. Do not trust yourself where Conahour is. Women and cats dislike change, Nisha laughed. But you will love this change. In half an hour they strode, down the hill, and in an hour their sails were bent for Ireland. It was then, Deirdre made her first poem, beginning, A lovable land is that in the east. Marvelous Alba. Chapter 6. As they approached harbor, they noticed a band waiting at the landing place, and these people raised mighty cheers as

Starting point is 03:36:42 the ship swung. That man, said Fergus, indicating one who stood apart, and issued commands, I surely know that man. It is Borak. He laughed. It is the man who feeds people on sharks, and he explained to his party all that he had heard of Borak at the banquet. The gods be praised, he murmured. We cannot wait for his feast even if he offers it. When they landed, Borak ran to meet them. He kissed Fergus three times, and he kissed each of the others also. Welcome to this land, he said. All Ireland welcomes you. He looked with his black, deep-set peep at Deirdre, and he kissed her, but when she looked at him, he turned aside. He was ill at ease, and all his movements were self-conscious and unhappy. He turned almost

Starting point is 03:37:35 truculently to Fergus. Fergus, he said, I am honored to see you in my lordship. You are kind, said Fergus, and I shall bind you to visit me in mine. I am so delighted, Borak continued hastily, that I have prepared a feast for you, such as is only offered to a king. The king did say, Fergus rumble joyfully, that you had a feast ready for him. That is the feast I am offering to you, said Borac. What? cried the giant. The king has notified me that he cannot come to my banquet, so I am offering.

Starting point is 03:38:14 "'Ferring it to you instead.' "'Fergus stared at him. "'You were present, and you heard Conahur's instructions "'that there should be no delay on this journey. "'I shall come and feast with you another time, my dear.' "'I insist that you stay and feast with me for one week,' Warak growled. "'You insist,' he murmured in astonishment. "'I invoke your gossah,' said the other stubbornly.

Starting point is 03:38:40 "'You must remain with me for a week.' at that fergus became one purple mass from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet and his face swelled so that the bystanders feared he would burst with the excess and violence of his rage borak was nervous but his own men were around him and although he was terrified of fergus he was yet more frightened of the king i insist he shouted and you cannot refuse a feast that is offered to you kindly "'This is a trick,' said Fergus. "'You know my oath. "'You listen to it, "'for the king made me swear in your presence, "'that was it by day or by night,

Starting point is 03:39:22 "'I should speed the sons of Ishnak to him "'from the moment we landed. "'And you offer me a feast and a week's delay? "'What dog's deed do you intend, you, Borak? "'Do you not value your life?' he roared. "'I value my life indeed,' Borac replied, "'and looking round on his attendance, and I shall take great care of it.

Starting point is 03:39:44 I hold you to the feast, Fergus. Come apart with me, said the bewildered giant to his companions, and let us discuss this wonder. What ought we to do? It seems that you must make a choice, said Deirdre timidly. What choice is there, sweet queen? You have to choose whether you will forsake the feast or forsake us, she murmured. Her heart swelled as she spoke, so that her voice was not

Starting point is 03:40:13 steady, for she was astonished and unhappy, and her mind was bewildered. In truth, I must leave one or the other, said Fergus. Nisha and his brothers stared at the fog noble. Dear champion, she pleaded, it would be more fitting to leave the feast, but it would not be right to leave us in the middle of our enemies. But I cannot leave a feast, Fergus explained, for that is my compact with the gods. One cannot to break his gassa. They stared at him and at one another in consternation. Whatever is in his mind, this borak will not release me from the eating of his accursed sharks. Fergus continued wrathfully. Eat them, I must. But I shall leave my sons with you,

Starting point is 03:41:02 and they will protect you on the road to remain. By my hand, said Nisha, you are doing a great deal for us. The protection we seek is that of your name, and fame and station. Any other protection we do not value, for we are well used to taking care of ourselves. But, said Fergus, we did not come here under your weapons, said Nisha. We came under your guarantee. You mistake me, said Fergus mildly. My sons carry my guarantee, and with them you will be as secure as though I were present. He turned to rough red Buania, and I ireland the fair is not that so it is so said bwania the council of all ireland would not tolerate the breaking of this notable surety said irene it is known now through the whole country and what man would dare to break my guarantee fergus inquired nisha bit his lip let us go on said he he turned his level gaze on fergus's sons you are our garret

Starting point is 03:42:13 "'He said, and we accept your protection.' They returned to where the Blackavised chieftain was waiting, and him Fergus stared and outstared, until he was reduced to a mass of unhappiness. "'I shall eat sharks because I must, Borak,' he thundered. "'What sharks are you talking about?' said Borak. "'Lead me to your miseries of the deep,' said Fergus. "'But do not talk to me about them.'

Starting point is 03:42:40 End of Section 13 Section 14 of Deirdre by James Stevens This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain Read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Book 2, Chapters 7 and 8 Chapter 7 As the travelers proceeded, they were morose and thoughtful, and even Ardon's high spirits flagged.

Starting point is 03:43:17 But as they looked on a native sky, and on the fields and hedgerows of an Irish countryside, something of their disquietude was eased, and a lightning of the heart became apparent in each of them. Dear girl, said Nisha, and he placed an arm about her shoulders, We are in Ireland, he said. At the word, every misery fled from Ardon's breast, so that he began to look truculently,

Starting point is 03:43:44 on his brother Anla, and even to give him an occasional shoulder as they marched. Deirdre leaned to her husband, I have had other visions, she said. She moved her hand languidly towards Fergus's two sons, who strode a few paces in advance. These are our sureties, she mocked. They represent their father, Nisha affirmed. They represent nothing but themselves, she answered,

Starting point is 03:44:13 and if their father leaves us for a feast, they will leave us for any other prank. It was his gaza, said Nisha patiently. Whatever it was, we are utterly alone. We have no backing of any kind, and we will arrive in a main macha at the absolute mercy of Kanahur. She seized her husband's arm. You also are under Gasa not to return, unless in the company of Fergus. He may be delayed for a week.

Starting point is 03:44:42 "'Let us camp here and wait until he comes up with us.' "'Dear child,' said Nisha, "'how can we insult these good youths?' "'But Dirdre was in a terrible agitation. "'I dread appearing in the presence of Conahor "'if Fergus is not by us.' "'His guarantee is with us,' said Nisha, "'indicating the two young men.

Starting point is 03:45:04 "'There it is, four legs of it, marching stoutly. "'At least,' she pleaded, "'let us go to Kukula. "'Illand wait there until he or Fergus can come with us. "'If you will do that, I shall complain no more.' "'Fergus,' he replied, "'has bound himself before the king "'that he would send us on without an hour's delay.

Starting point is 03:45:30 "'And he bound himself to stay with us, "'but he has broken his word. "'We must keep his word for him with the king,' said Nisha. "'Another person's honour is, another person's business that compact is broken by him and your gossa is not kept by keeping his let us turn to dundal gan and take cuckulin's protection misha indicated the two who were marching in front i shall ask their advice and if they agree to it we will go to dundiel gan he called the two and put the question to them but they were scandalized you have no confidence in us said Boynia, and none in our father's word, said Iolan. This woe has come on us because of your father's word, and he has left us in danger for a feast, she raged.

Starting point is 03:46:24 The whole world, said Boyne, knows Fergus McRoy and the worth of his protection. You know it, he said to Nisha, although your queen does not. You are right, said Nisha. We may go on without misgiving, my dove, and they went on. on their journey the next day they reached slyev fued deirdre strayed behind and in the movement and conversation her absence was not noticed for a long time nisha retraced his path from the white cairn of the watching and came on her sleeping in a grassy hollow when he awakened her she stared and clutched him and cried wildly and bitterly "'What is it?' he asked an alarm. "'I have had a vision,' she sobbed. "'I have had a dreadful vision.'

Starting point is 03:47:15 "'What did you see?' "'I saw Aylon with no head on him, "'and I saw Buena with his head safe on his shoulders.' "'Nisha took her in his arms. "'Be glad,' he laughed, "'that one of our friends will escape the doom "'you have planned for us all.' "'But she stared at him in distraction.

Starting point is 03:47:35 "'No friend of ours will escape, She moaned. But Boenya kept his head on in your dream. The man who had no head had been fighting for us, and the man who had a head was fighting against us, she whispered. Nisha was shocked. How you have changed by one treasure, he said mournfully. She threw her arms about him.

Starting point is 03:47:58 Do not speak unkindly to me, she begged. That lovely mouth spoke always lovely things, and now it speaks nothing but even. She closed his lips with her hand. No, no, she said. Do not say more. Or say only that you love me. You do love me, my husband.

Starting point is 03:48:19 Little tender wife, he smiled. After all the dangers we have gone through, you are frightened at last. Yes, she breathed. I am terribly frightened. I die of fear for us all. When I remember Conahour, he looked so at me, Nisha.

Starting point is 03:48:37 Come with me to Scotland. We will be safe there. We will be happy again. We will hunt in the woods of Kahn and Glendarua. I shall never complain again in this life if you will come with me to Scotland. Let us go away. You and I and our darling, Sonla and Ardon. He is so young to be killed, our brother Ardon.

Starting point is 03:49:03 He is but 21 years old, and he is gay and loving and fear. We will be together again, we four, alone and happy. Listen, we will hunt and feast, and defend ourselves and fear nothing. You shall win a kingdom there, in sweet Alba of the heathery uplands. But let us fly from Conahur. You do not know him. Only I and Laversham know that terrible king. He is thoughtful. He is bitter and unforgiving. and his memories are rooted deep, like the roots of a deep tree. But Nisha put her hands away. If you must speak badly of others, he said coldly,

Starting point is 03:49:49 speak to me of foreigners and not of my own people. Alas, my husband, alas, and alas for all of us, she rose wearily. Do not be angry with me. Let that last unhappiness be spared me. I am your wife, Nisha. I would prefer that evil should happen to all the world, rather than one small misfortune should come to you.

Starting point is 03:50:17 I am not Deirdre anymore. I am misery. But he kissed and petted her, putting back her hair from her brow, and framing her face in his hands. We are here now, he said, and no matter what awaits us, we must go to meet it. You would not wish me to run away, dear Dreen.

Starting point is 03:50:40 we ran away before and we have greater reason to run away now than we had then the spider is waiting for us in a web you forget and you will keep on forgetting it that we are under the protection of fergus and through him we are under the protection of all ireland but she looked at him almost angrily fergus she scoffed he is a traitor that fergus he is being used by the king to betray us nisha bit his lip and his eyes became hard and sombre let us go on he said we should reach ard salach ere the evening Chapter 8 They stood on the slope of a hill in a rounded and rolling country, looking down on Iman Makkah. The evening was advanced, and the late sunlight, all a glimmer of gold, was shining tenderly on the city,

Starting point is 03:51:41 so that the mighty ten-acre palace of Kanahur shone back again as though it were also a sun. The great bronze doors, polished like mirrors, were blazing in red lakes of flame, the glass windows of the women's sunny rooms were like blinding pools of gold, and the roof painted in broad reaches of red and green and orange glowed and sparkled in the mellow evening. It is good to look on that again, said Nisha in a low voice. I had almost forgotten it, said Anla. But Ardon squatted in the grass and stared and stared with his soul in his eyes. "'You have not seen the city for seven years,' said Boenya.

Starting point is 03:52:29 Nisha drew Deirdre to him. "'Are you not contented now, my heart?' "'Our wanderings are ended,' he continued tenderly. "'We are outlaws no more, and that long vagabondage is done with. "'You will sleep at last in a bed,' he smiled. "'Oh, my dear,' she breathed. "'We are home again,' he said, and his heart filled suddenly, so that he could not tell if it were really joy that stayed his tongue and blinded his eyes,

Starting point is 03:52:59 or if the grief of seven long years had risen within him like a wintry tide. But Deirdre was not happy. She saw Unla's contained joy and the ecstasy in Ardon's eyes. Alas, my darlings, she said. You still think, said Nisha, that the king of such a land can act towards a us like a traitor? I shall give you a sign, she replied mournfully and gently. If Conahor lodges us this night in his own house, we are safe. He has sent for us of his own royal will, said Anla, and he will lodge us as his proper in the royal branch. Poor trusting gentlemen, said Deirdre, Conahur could not

Starting point is 03:53:47 live again in the house where you three had lodged. He will send us to the red branch. "'And if he does,' said Nisha. "'I,' Ardon cried, "'I am going to put a new edge on my sword if he does. "'There is a good edge on it already,' he explained, "'but I am going to put edges all over it.' "'If we are sent to the red branch,' said Amla, "'I shall let you give my blade a rub, too.'

Starting point is 03:54:13 "'I call on Ireland and Bonia for protection,' Ardon cried indignantly. "'That man makes me work for him like a horse,' he complained. Nisha turned to the two sons of Fergus. If we are sent to the Red Branch, what will you do? We will go there with you, said Boynia. The king's house is always filled with guests, Iolan said. He cannot know just when we should arrive, and he may have no place for us at a moment's notice.

Starting point is 03:54:45 There is nothing Conahour does not know, said Deirdre. Borak will have sent a runner to tell of our arrival. and his own spies will have told the king in what place we camped each night, and at what hour we marched again in the morning. He knows now that we are here, and if he sends us to the red branch, we are lost. I am as full of curiosity as an old woman, Nisha laughed. Let us go on and find out everything that is going to happen.

Starting point is 03:55:17 In a short time they were among the streets and booths around Imane Maka, but the twilight had descended and the passers-by did not recognize the six travelers yonder is the speckled branch the armory said on the the boy troop will be going to bed shortly you remember those nights nisha and all the chattering and the climbing out of the windows by a cord said ardan and a scrambling back again while the comrades above through all the world at the guards who were trying to stick spears in us as we shin it up. There is the red branch, said Nisha. Is it truly full of dead men's heads? Deirdred chattered through frozen lips. There is generally a head or two, he answered carelessly.

Starting point is 03:56:07 Knoctmen, mostly. Very hairy, beardy, toothy kinds of heads, said Ardon. I remember them, and they used to get hairier and beardier and toothier every second day. at last he explained to deirdre there wouldn't be any head at all no face at all only a mat of hair as long as a woman's and it in knots and a shiny grin among the knots you're all wrong said on the dead man's hair grows lank and long like a drink of water poof said ardan you remember everything you are the great man of the world the wind knots them and twists them and why bobbles them all in and out like a door mat. Yonder is Konehur's house, the royal branch, said Nisha. We will give a good thundering knock at the door and make them jump, said Anne gleefully.

Starting point is 03:57:04 I'll give it a kick, said Ardon. Nisha did give a thundering knock. The door opened, and the guard appeared. Who asks admission at this hour, he demanded. The sons of Ishnak. The guard stared. come in nobles and sit for a moment while i seek instructions let a message be sent to the king said boyne that the protection of fergus mcroy and those he protects have arrived as he ordered the chamberlain the household has retired he said but the king sends his regrets and courtesies and has instructed that his noble guests are to be lodged in the red branch for the

Starting point is 03:57:49 this night. A guard will escort you there. He motioned to the captain of the guard who ranged his men. "'Don't forget about the edges you promised to do for me,' said Ardon to his brother. "'No wriggling, young lazy-bones,' unlaw retorted. "'You shall do your work and be respectful to your betters also.' "'Is not that man a tyrant?' said Ardon. He turned to the captain of the guard. "'Hold me away from him, good sir,' he implored. I am at your orders, gentlemen, said the smiling captain. End of Section 14. Section 15 of Deirdre by James Stevens.

Starting point is 03:58:37 This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain, read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Book 2, Chapters 9 and 10. Chapter 9 But Conahour had not retired. He was seated in the central room away in the heart of his monstrous palace, and the great crystal ball swung at his shoulder. He had stared into it for hours and had seen nothing. Lavrisham also was there, seated humbly on a stool.

Starting point is 03:59:12 Fill my cup, said Conahour, I am thirsty tonight, my heart. I could drain a sea and not drown this thirst. You are troubled, Lord. All this business has fevered you. And you? Are you not excited at the thought of seeing your babe again? I have interested myself in so many things these seven long years, Master, I have almost forgotten her. She has dropped out of my mind, and now I would as readily not see her as see her.

Starting point is 03:59:43 I thought you loved that babe. After all, she is not my babe, Philemed Maccadale's wife bore her. Is it so? Conoher mused. I had almost forgotten that old tale. I had but the labor of rearing her and of being disappointed by her, she said bitterly. You did not fill my cup, Laversham.

Starting point is 04:00:08 I did, master, but you have emptied it. Feel it again, good friend. She was beautiful, Lavasham. She was a thing of joy and wonder. young girls are beautiful while they are young master but in a few years they look like any other person you think so they get fat or they get thin it is not girls that are lovely master it is youth and i am forty-seven years of age the years go by doing what i know to me but for her there has been only the time to ripen what was immature the green fruit will be ruddy and fragrance worked on by the sun and the wind. What age is she now, woman?

Starting point is 04:00:53 She is seven years older in time, and twenty years older in hardship. She will have forgotten how to lie in a bed or how to eat proper food. She will surely have changed, said Kanawhor. A brisk moment returned to the great man, and he aroused himself. How was she looked after her years of lying

Starting point is 04:01:15 in the butt of a wet ditch or in a bog? "'Ah, me,' said Laversham. "'She will have plodded over tough hills with a thin belly and a dry lip. "'She will have slept with her fingers in her mouth to keep them warm in the winter. "'She will be lean and red-handed and windy-faced, "'with the arches of her feet broken down by too much walking "'and her knees sagging under her like an old plow man's. "'Is that how the treblower will look, Loversham?'

Starting point is 04:01:47 i think master that she may be a long thin tough woman she will be rheumatic she will awaken in the night coughing like a sick horse said the cheerful king i do not wish to see her said laversham sourly no more do i said connor let her go my cup he murmured laversham you do not attend me well again he became moody if i were not the king i would steal to the red branch and spy on her ruin through a window i should like to see that she is lank and depressed go you laversham the guards know your privileges look through the window and bring me back that tail I don't want to go see her at all, Master. Let her stay with the people she has chosen, and let her torment our sleep no more. Go, nevertheless, and bring me a full account of her. Fill up my glass.

Starting point is 04:02:49 Examine her carefully, my soul, so that you can bring me a true report. But do not delay, for I shall be waiting for you. I am lonely tonight, woman. I am very lonely. Send me a man of the guard to fill my coat. cup. Loversham, with every sign of distaste, almost of annoyance, set on her errand. Sit there and take your ease, the king ordered the guard who came in. Do not stare at the floor

Starting point is 04:03:17 or good soul, nor at the ceiling. Ah, me, stand behind my chair then, and when my cup is empty, refill it for me. The embarrassed soldier moved gratefully to cover, and the king fell again to his woeful meditations. Guard, he said. Ariusel, the guard rolled sonorously. Have you ever looked in a crystal? Never, king. Look at this crystal, my friend.

Starting point is 04:03:45 Can you see anything? There is a fog in the crystal. It has been there these three days. Look again, good lad. I think there is a woman's face. What sort of a woman? Oh, it has gone, Majesty. What sort was she?

Starting point is 04:04:05 I saw the loveliest face that ever brightened the world. It seemed like the face of a skywoman or a lady of the she. Sit on this little stool and fill my cup. What age are you, guard? Twenty-two years, Majesty. What is your name? I am called Strong Fist, sir. I remember you, Tren Dorn.

Starting point is 04:04:29 You are my hereditary man. your father was my man before you how did he die he was killed by nisha the son of ishnak sir i remember said connahur and your two brothers were killed by that nisha do you remember that also i would not forget it sir there are things that one should not forget guard would you do an ill turn to the same nisha if i had the chance i would take it sir he is in the red branch said connahour he is there with the woman whose face you saw in the crystal go there for me good soldier and look through the window see that no person within observes you for these are murderous and skilful men and if they saw you they would stop your breath the guard stood glowering in what way do i get equal with nisha he demanded "'Each thing in its time, good soul, for you would not understand how the king moves. "'This is but the first step, and the second shall be taken in no short time. "'Clime to the window and look carefully at the woman who is there with Nisha.

Starting point is 04:05:45 "'Examine her well, and bring me back news of how she seems and what she looks like. "'You have seen women before?' "'I have, Majesty. "'You know what to look for. you will know how to look at a woman. Go, fill my cup guard, and go on my errand. Chapter 10. Still, said Ardon, we are not treated too badly.

Starting point is 04:06:12 There's plenty of food. And there are beds in the alcove, said Unla. We shall sleep well tonight, said Deirdre, and she burst into tears. They sat dumb, each feeling as if a chill wind had touched him. Forgive me, said Deirdre, I shall not complain anymore. Let us sit to our bait. I shall eat and eat and eat, said Ordon. I am so hungry I could growl over my food. You shall be served first, Ardenine, said Deirdre, and if there is one tender piece, you shall have it. Our Boña is even hungrier than I am. Let him have the first piece.

Starting point is 04:06:59 "'Deirdre looked kindly at Boynia, "'but as she looked, her eyes widened, "'and she went white to the lips. "'She spoke to him with a shy smile. "'You will have the first piece, Boynia?' she stammered. "'I shall take what comes,' said Rough Red Boyna. "'Deirdre sank back in her chair. "'Nisha, my dear, please carve for me.

Starting point is 04:07:25 "'I am not well.' "'Boonia is sensible.' said Nisha. He has a head on his shoulders. He stumbled in his carving and cast a swift glance at Deirdre. The first portion, he continued gravely, shall be for Boenia, the second for Ireland, the third for Deirdre, the fourth for Onla, the fifth for Ardon, and the sixth for Nisha. My piece is to be the tenderest, said Ardon complacently. Deirdre said so. for me, dear Dreen. Ardon, my dear brother, said Dirdre,

Starting point is 04:08:06 come to me and give me ten kisses. I'll miss my turn, he wailed as he moved round to her. They ate their supper and were sitting at chess, that is, Deirdre and Nisha were playing, while the others watched the game, when there came a tapping at the door which was nearest to them. Nisha held a piece poised in his fingers. go Anla and challenge that person.

Starting point is 04:08:32 It is a woman's voice, said Anla. Let her come in. The great bolts were pushed back, and Laversham entered. My babe, my treasure, she cried, and she ran to Deirdre. Oh, my sweet mother, said Deirdre. I have no time, Laversham panted. I must fly back to the king. He sent me to spy on you through the window.

Starting point is 04:08:57 There is danger, mother? there is terrible danger conahur's household men are standing to arms in the speckled branch and there is a posse at each of the gates of this place he will attack before morning oh deirdre dear dr deirdre that you could have come here knowing conahur as i taught him to you what madness brought you from scotland child are you glad to see me do you love your mother still little one i have told the king that you would be ruined with hardship and sorrow alas you are more beautiful than ever i shall tell him that you are one-eyed and lame i shall tell him anything to quieten him for this night to-morrow nisha's people will get news of your return and he may fear to attack if only i can quieten him for this night he is drinking he may go to sleep oh my darling my one love i must fly keep all the doors barred do not open to any anyone. I shall send messengers to Ischnok's people. Kiss me again. Oh, my love of all loves. I must fly. Unla? Ardon? Run around all the doors. See that they are secure, said Nisha. He turned to Bona and Ireland. Your father may be too late to help us. I give you back your protection, gentlemen.

Starting point is 04:10:22 I shall stay with you, said Bonya. And I, said Ireland. Good comrades. Nisha cried, and his eyes sparkled with delight and gratitude. We are five, he said, trained to arms from the moment we could walk. No person of our quality will be against us, for no gentlemen of Ireland would take part in such an attack. There will be only the common soldiery, hard men, but as skillful at our trade as plowmen. They cannot break in, for the red branch was designed not to be broken into. These bronze doors, the window! said Anla. God pity the man that gets in through a window, said Nisha. Moreover, they are too high.

Starting point is 04:11:06 A man's legs would be splintered if he jumped from them. Fire, said Ardon. Conahur will not burn his own fortress. There's a man at the window now, said Deirdre. Nisha's hand was on the table. He picked up a heavy chessman of gold and ivory, and with an underhand flick, he sent it buzzing up and threw the glass. A roar of pain came from without, and then a scream. My eye! My eye! a voice wailed. He won't peep through windows again in a hurry, said Anla. Conahour has overreached himself, said Nisha. We can hold out until the morning. And if Laversham sends her messages, my people will be baying around Conahour like wolves, and there will be many another one with them. The people of Fergus MacMexam.

Starting point is 04:11:57 Roy will be with them, cried Boynia. That king will learn what it is to dare my father's protection, I'll enraged. Why, said Nisha joyfully, we are as safe as if we were in Scotland. If we are only as safe as that, said Ardon with a giggle, Boyne, my soul, we used to be running from morning until night. We ate our food on the run. We used to run in our sleep. I tell the world that in six years I have not felt safe for a minute until this minute, for there are stout walls around us and food to last a week's siege. The gods be praised, he said piously. We can't run even if we have to.

Starting point is 04:12:40 The band of young men shouted with laughter, and Deirdre chimed in as joyously as any of them. End of Section 15. Section 16 of Deirdre by James Stevens. this libervox recording is in the public domain read by michel fry baton rouge louisiana book two chapters eleven and twelve chapter eleven it is as you thought master said laversham the girl is ruined you saw her her cheeks are hollow and her eyes are red one would pity her master indeed i shall go to see her to-morrow you did not want to see her any more said the king it was so she replied humbly but my heart was wrong when i looked on her wretchedness and the young man they are stout young man master and the guards that i posted they were at their posts there ends the tale and seven of my poor years said connahour what did she look like woman she is thin and haggard and she leaned by the table as though all the weariness of the world were in her sides

Starting point is 04:14:09 thus said conahour and we fash ourselves for these things and spend our years and our pith fill my cup lavisham let the years go and the rest for we are fools and children. Get to your rest, friend, and let me mourn my foolish years and all my nonsense. Nay, go to your bed also, sweet king, said Lavisham. You shall rest tonight, for that bad dream is ended. You will be troubled no more. Tomorrow will be a new day, and all that the world has is for the king. It is so, said Conahor. This will be the last of those nights. Go to your bad, good soul, I shall go to mine in a moment. Lavasham left the palace with her mind in a turmoil of weariness and fear, but with hope dawning in her soul.

Starting point is 04:15:04 She sent secret runners to the men of Ishnak and to those of Fergus Macroy, warning them that their chiefs were in urgent danger, and when she slept she was too happy even to remember what the king might do when he discovered her treachery. That memory would be for the morrow. but the king did not sleep i shall wait the report of that guard he said and then i will be able to sleep the guard came moaning and limping what ails you man said the astonished king nisha the guard stammered he has knocked out my eye he moved his hand from his face and there was one eye there and a bloody mess where the other should have been did i not tell you the king storm that they were murderous men did i not tell you the king stormed that they were murderous men Did you take no heed in your work?

Starting point is 04:15:56 It was the woman saw me, the guard stammered. She told the man, and before I could move, he threw a chessman at me and knocked out my eye. My leg is broken too, master, for I fell from the window. You will make a better herdsman than soldier, said the king harshly. You are one-legged, one-eyed, and stupid. Go to your bed, and be careful that you do not cut your throat by taking off your boots. what did the woman look like what woman majesty the woman i sent you to look at she looked like the woman i saw in the crystal i know she did what did she look like fool she looked like the most beautiful woman in the world "'Connor turned his great head and wide eyes on the soldier.

Starting point is 04:16:50 "'Be careful how you report to me, guard. "'How did that woman look? "'Is she thin-faced? "'Is she pale and haggard and wretched?' "'She is not, Majesty. "'She is red-lipped and sweet-eyed and delicious. "'She is the loveliest woman that moves in the world.' "'Sit on that stool.

Starting point is 04:17:11 "'Do not mind your eye for a moment. "'We shall mind it for you in a little while. Answer my questions. Did that woman look young or old? She looked young as a bride. Are her cheeks thin? They are not thin. They're round and rosy. Are her eyes red and sunken? They are clear as sweet water, majesty.

Starting point is 04:17:33 They are colored. But for looking into them, I should have got away. For having looked, I could not but keep on looking until Nisha threw his chest man. You are muddled, said. Conahor sternly. I would give my other eye for another look at her, said the guards savishly. Conahor leaped furiously to his feet.

Starting point is 04:17:55 You shall be cared for, he said. Go to your bed. A doctor shall be sent to you. A comrade will help you along. Ho there! he thundered. Ho there, the guards! Chapter 12. What are you here, Ardon?

Starting point is 04:18:13 Big feet and a big lot of them. The doors are well secured. Every bolt is drawn, and the door we arranged for is left with only one bolt shot? Yes, it is a quick, well-oiled boat. It will open and close again like lightning. There came a loud command, and in a moment a thundering knock. Nisha strode to the door. Who goes there?

Starting point is 04:18:38 The king's men. What do you want? We want the woman who is with you. Is that all you want? and we want Nisha, the son of Ishnak. They're both here, said Nisha. Open this door, the voice commanded. Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, no, laughed Nisha.

Starting point is 04:18:58 Why should we do your business, honest man? There was no reply for a moment, but the rumble of conversation could be heard. Then the voice came again. You others, Anla and Ardon, and the sons of Fergus, open this door, and you shall go free. nisha looked gravely at his companions that is the necessary second part said boenya hitching his sword-belt round nisha's brothers took no notice but their faces grew savage and their eyes narrowed and sparkled iolan and deirdre keep an eye on the windows nisha warned iolene dangled a sling in his hand and deirdre held another with a copper bolt in it if said the voice the woman deirdre comes out we will go away. Watch the windows, Nisha warned.

Starting point is 04:19:51 They are talking to keep us occupied. Deirdre's arms swung viciously, and a wild yell told that the boat had gone home. I thought so, said Nisha. They cannot get in through the windows because of the bars, but they could manage to fly an arrow through, although it would be an awkward shot. Why, said Unla, we could go to sleep here. A series of thundering. Knox came on the door. A ram, said Buena. Half an hour of that might bring down even these doors,

Starting point is 04:20:25 said Nisha. He turned to his companions. Ardon, yours will be the first sortie. They will not be prepared, lad, for it is very awkward to work a ram and to keep guard at the same time. Do not mind the men with the ram. They will be unarmed. But behind them, there will be a massive men. You know how deep a fighter can penetrate. It depends on his own weight. The instant you touch that weight, fight backwards. When you are two yards from the door, I'll shout. Then turn and run. I shall have the door closed on you almost before you are through. The moment the door slams, you, boyn you, push in the bottom bolt. I shall slide the middle one with my right hand and will be reaching for the top one with my left. You are ready? Ardon, listen to me. The men immediately in

Starting point is 04:21:15 front of you will give back a step until they start to come on. Fight therefore to the right, sidewards, and with the point all the time. Keep your left covered with the shield, and if there is a press, cut with its cutting edges. The moon is high, and you will be able to see. No foolhardiness, boy, the moment you touch weight, fight backwards, and then sweep broadly with the edge, and when on the shouts, run. He turned again. Boynia, stand. to the bolts. Iolan, underdirdra, place yourselves so, and sling the ramsman

Starting point is 04:21:51 or they may cumber his retreat. Under the thundering batter of the ram, and the savage roaring of the invaders, the boats were half-drawn. Ready all, said Nisha. Ready, Ardon? Ardon hunched the shield to his left side

Starting point is 04:22:07 and crouched staring. Good boy, said Nisha. Now, Buena, pull. They heaved the great door, and Ardon went through like an arrow. Slaying children, said Nisha. Keep me informed, Anla. I'm a stick behind the door.

Starting point is 04:22:23 He is at them and well in. Ah, said Anla, and he slung shrewdly. He has forgotten to thrust and is cutting. My thanks, Island, for that bolt. His shield work is excellent, brother, but he will cut. There is his limit if he knows it. He is fighting back, and now he is thrusting where he should use the sweeping blade for a retreat.

Starting point is 04:22:44 that Ramsman Iolan. This one for me and you, sister, for the crouching man. I shall shout now. Ardan, he roared. The boy dropped his combat as a dog drops a toad. In three seconds he was through the doorway, and in four the door had slammed. Nisha towered long and lean over his young brother. Good lad, he said. Well done, Ardan. I killed a million, said Ardon. A savage, raging yell came from without. They will begin to warm to it now, said Nisha, and we must keep them occupied. It is your turn, Anla. Give your sling to Ardon.

Starting point is 04:23:27 Anla whizzed at one window, and Deirdre at another. Two loud shouts were heard. Whether they are hit or not, their skulls are cracked by the fall, said Nisha. But the windows do not matter. Come to this door. Why cannot I go out, said Buena. You and I are the heaviest metal, my heart, and when the real fighting commences, we shall have plenty to do. This is only a little fun for the boys.

Starting point is 04:23:54 Anla, listen carefully. You will slip out by this door and will run and fight as you run. Range where you please, but run always. In five minutes, do not delay, Anla, make for yonder door. This one will be shut, and the slingsmen will be inside that door to cover your retreat. "'It is understood?' "'Anla nodded and made his blade whistle through the air. "'He heaved the shield from his back to his shoulder.

Starting point is 04:24:23 "'The instant you are in, Anla, fly to this door again, "'while we close the other behind you. "'Open all the bolts but one. "'Boyne will help, and I an island will dart out for five minutes. "'I wish to see what arrangements they are making.' "'Are you protecting my brother?' said Boynia savagely. "'No, my heart, I am giving him a run, spying their dispositions.' "'I claim this combat,' said the rough young man.

Starting point is 04:24:52 "'You shall have one immediately afterwards. "'You and I together will make the tour of this fortress, shoulder to shoulder, Boynia. "'Will that not content you?' Nisha laughed. "'I was beginning to feel lonely,' said Boyne. "'We shall have a pleasant run.' "'Ten minutes for our run,' said Nisha. "'Ready, Anla?' His brother nodded.

Starting point is 04:25:14 Run straight out, 30 feet out if you can. Double then as you please. Remember the door you are to come in by and do all the damage you can. If you are in difficulty, give our call. I could not get into difficulty in five minutes, Unla smiled. Ready? Boynia? Pull!

Starting point is 04:25:36 Unla sped out and the door slammed on him like thunder. The uproar without had been terrific, but now it redoubled, and at times a long scream topped the noise as spray tops a wave. We cannot see our brother, said Deirdre nervously. We know his work, Nisha replied. He is as safe for five minutes as if he were in bed. Your combat, Nisha, she breathed. It will be the easiest of them all.

Starting point is 04:26:04 There will be a rough companion with me. Run all to the other door, he cried. Ayelan, Deirdre, Ardon, your. slings the bolts, Boenya, pull my soul. Far out in the moonlight, Anla was coursing like a deer. The moon flashed on his blade and on his shield. Men ran from him and men ran to head him off and into the middle of these he went diving like a fish. A band from the right came rushing for the open door. Out, Boña, for ten seconds and back when he is through. Nisha and Boenia leaped out with whirling weapons.

Starting point is 04:26:43 There was a clatter of shields, a medley of shouts and curses, and in ten seconds they were in again, and the door was closed. You opened a minute too early, said Anla. I was all right. You did some damage? Not badly. You didn't kill as many as I did, said Ardon. Poo!

Starting point is 04:27:02 Anla retorted. No one could kill as many as you, except Kukulin. Let us arrange the next sortie, said Nisha. End of Section 16. Section 17 of Deirdre by James Stevens. This Libervox recording is in the public domain, read by Michelle Fry, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Book 2, Chapters 13 and 14. Chapter 13

Starting point is 04:27:39 Conahur had come to the red branch, and a great roar of cheering greeted him. He strode to the captain of his. troop. Well, my soul, we have begun, Majesty. How is it going? Excellently, said the captain. We have lost about forty men already. Kanawhore stared at him. How did that happen? It happened because of the king's royal decision to lodge these men in a fortress. You have five hundred men here. When they are all killed, said the captain sourly, we can call out another 500. What is the difficulty?

Starting point is 04:28:22 His master growled. A fortress with six doors. They leap in and out of these doors, the way frogs leap in a pool. While we're using the ram on this door, they make a sally by another door, this door, any door, and they are the devil's own fighters.

Starting point is 04:28:40 We don't know where to expect them, and any one of those within is equal to ten of our men in fighting, and the superior of them all in tricks. I am to have them all out before morning. It is the king's orders, but I don't know how it is to be done. Ram all the doors, said Kanahur. I have but one ram. I can get others tomorrow. Tomorrow will be too late, said the king furiously. We shall have half ulster on our backs tomorrow. I want scaling ladders. Grapnel's, said the officer angrily. This work has

Starting point is 04:29:18 been thrown on us at a moment's notice, and we are not prepared for it. I can get them out in a day, but not in a night. Attack the door with your ram, snarled Conahour, and guard your other doors. I am doing that, said the captain, and my men, I fear, are beginning to love the work. He returned to his place, and in a few minutes the thud and batter of the ram was heard again. Conahour strode there and watched the work with savage impatience. The captain returned and stood by him. You put good doors in the red branch, Majesty, he said cheerfully. An hour of that rami will begin to make them quiver. A shout rose, but it was multiplied from every side by the roaring soldiery, and one could not tell from which direction danger came. They have popped out somewhere,

Starting point is 04:30:11 said the captain. In about two minutes they will pop in again somewhere. "'They know, but we don't, and in those two minutes we will lose five men or twenty.' "'Stick to the ram,' Kanawhore roared. "'Keep at that door, my men!' A wild yelling came from the side, and a burst of men came pell-mell round the corner. Weapons were striking everywhere and anywhere. "'Which are our men and which are theirs?' said the captain. "'Ours don't know in this light which is friend and which is enemy.

Starting point is 04:30:43 "'They know,' he said bitterly. are killing one another. Two figures detached themselves in the moonlight. They were bounding like great cats, and wherever there was a mass, they bounded into it, burst through it, and leaped on. Ho, Conahor! A voice called. Do you remember Nisha? Ho, Trader King! Another boom. Do you remember Fergus? It is Nisha and Buena this time, said the captain. The two figures leaped at the Ramsman. The rammed. The ram, was dropped and the unarmed crew fled yelling. The door that was being battered opened and shut and the two figures were gone. That's how it's done, said the captain. Get to the ram,

Starting point is 04:31:28 Conahour roared. Chapter 14. The king himself is there, said Nisha. Let us hunt him, cried Ardon in savage glee. He will move about, Nisha replied. We would never know where he is, and we should only waste time. We have but to hold out until the morning, and we can do it with ease. Why, he cried, we have forgotten our days of travel. Fergus himself may be here tomorrow.

Starting point is 04:31:59 He will travel day and night, and by chariot, where we came on foot, said Iolan. He may be here in the morning. Nisha nodded joyfully. He will have choked whatever is in it out of Borach's throat long before this, "'Iolan continued, and he will be an angry man.' "'If he came even alone,' said Nisha,

Starting point is 04:32:21 "'that rabble would fly.' "'They will fly before he comes,' Ardon boasted, "'for it's my turn to go out now, "'and I shall show them a trick or two.' "'It's two by two now, babe,' said Amla. "'So we are going out together.' "'That man, Ardon mourned, "'is trying to cheat me of my fame.

Starting point is 04:32:42 "'Fight for me, dear Adreene, Back me up, Nisha. Hark to them, battering, said Eileen. How angry some people get, Ardon giggled. Let us make a full sortie, Boynia cried. We five could eat those soldiers. One must be left for the door, Nisha replied. Ardon, no door for me, said Ardon violently.

Starting point is 04:33:06 Anla, said Nisha, our lives will depend on the doorman. I shall go out the next time all by myself, Unla bargained. His brother nodded while Ardon danced for joy. Poo! Anla jibed. He thinks he is Kekulin. Ardahn squared up and began to shoulder him and to speak very roughly. And I am better than Kikulin, he concluded. Anla seized his head and gave him three kisses. Little brother, he said, you are even better than I. You are a good brother, said Ardon. I shall not divorce you. And he returned to the three kisses. Are we ready, all? said Nisha. Then let us arrange this sally. It shall be in two

Starting point is 04:33:53 parties, Bonya and, he halted for one moment, Bona and Ardon, Eileen and myself. You trust Ardon to me, said Boenia shortly. Why not, said Nisha. Deirdre was staring at her husband with a fixed white stare, and Nisha's throat went suddenly dry. He strode to her. What is it? he murmured. I have no vision, she whispered. I do not know. You still think? I know it, she said, but I do not know when. He closed his eyes and turned again. We go through this door. Once out, you turn to the left, Moina, and I, to the right, and away each on the grand half-circle. When we feet we form in line and charge back to this same door, six feet between each man for sword-play, Boynia and I, on the outside. I shall be quite on the outside, said Boynia.

Starting point is 04:34:54 As you will, friend, said Nisha. Get to the bolts, Anla. You two will watch over each other, he said. But it was at Boynia, he looked. I shall bring him back, said the gruff man. If one of Boyne's hairs is touched, Ardon boasted, I shall give him one of my own hairs instead of it. You're ready, Anla? How shall I know when to open the door, Anla roared? My wits are going, said Nisha. We shall fight in silence, and when you hear our battle cry open the door at that instant. Wait, said Boynia, heavier blades are wanted for this sortie.

Starting point is 04:35:35 It should be two-handed words. at the edge of a 30-foot line, and the shields must be left behind. My wits are indeed going, said Nisha. I shall bring him back, said Boynia. I take him under my protection, he growled. You too, said Nisha, keep your shields. Boynia and I will take the great swords, and we leave our armor off for speed. The outside men must run twice as quick as the inside ones, he explained to Boynia.

Starting point is 04:36:04 Boyna nodded and began to unlace his battlecoats. Deirdre flew to help him, and she looked at him with such soft affection that the youth marveled. Nisha was bending the great blade that he got from Mananan MacLear, the god of the sea. Now, Anla, the door.

Starting point is 04:36:25 Boynia is out first, I second, Ayolyn and Arden together. Ready? Pull! They were gone. Anla and Deirdre slammed the door, and he stood with his back leaning against it, staring as it were, inwardly and listening with every pore of his body. Deirdre threw her arms about his neck.

Starting point is 04:36:47 Oh, Anla, dear, Anla! It is lonely here, he muttered. Her head drooped on his breast. Do not faint, sister. The door has yet to be opened, and you must help with the bolts. "'Hear those clowns roaring? "'If our own men would but shout once,' she moaned. "'I should open the door immediately,' he smiled,

Starting point is 04:37:10 "'and this noble combat would have a stupid end. "'Tomorrow will never come,' she moaned. "'Do not make my teeth chatter,' said Anla. "'We must attend to the door,' he continued. "'I shall draw the top bolt now. "'Crouch down with your hands on the bottom one, "'and when the shout comes, draw it.' "'I will draw the middle one, and when I say pull, drag with me on the door.

Starting point is 04:37:35 "'It is almost too heavy for one man to move, but between us, and they will push from the outside.' Deirdre crouched at his knees. A vast confusion of noise began to draw an eye. "'They're coming back,' said Unla. Draw your bolt now, sister, and take hold of the knob. Above the infernal uproar there came the shout they knew. Pull!' he roared. the door gave a great push from without helped and the four leaped through a blade leaped in behind them and was snapped in pieces as anla and a shoulder helping smashed to the door boine was panting heavily that deserves a rest he said and the other three began with one voice to narrate the sortie to the two who had been within end of section seventeen Section 18 of Deirdre by James Stevens This Libre box recording is in the public domain

Starting point is 04:38:43 Read by Michelle Frye, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Book 2, chapters 15 and 16 Chapter 15 Boynia stood up Nisha, he said sternly. My soul, said Nisha, you interfered in my combat. your end of the line was almost too heavy for any man dear heart you did it twice thirty feet out is a great distance all the press was in your path i did but lighten it when my own front was easy i will accept no man's assistance said boyne we are comrades nisha replied gently we give and take help did i call for help the other growled

Starting point is 04:39:33 nish's great chest rose but his voice was calm no man will ever hear you call for help boaunya let no man give what is not call for but for that help boinia you would now be dead i was not fit for the end of the line said boiwina harshly you are young yet comrade but in two years you will have the speed and smash that such a post calls for "'Your speed, your smash,' said the Sardonic Boynia. "'The world knows, Anla interposed, "'that the four greatest champions of Ireland are Kekulin, Fergus, Conal, and Nisha. "'And Anla, Boña completed with a grin. "'The young man turned his dancing length of whip-cord "'and his narrowed brow on Boyne.

Starting point is 04:40:27 "'I myself,' he said gently. "'And so could I,' said Ardon. Do not quarrel, Nisha interrupted. In two years, Boynia will be of equal to any man you have named. Hush, he said. He bent his head sideward and hearkened in amazement. The others listened, with their eyes turned questioningly on each other. They listened to nothing, for the ram had ceased,

Starting point is 04:40:53 and there was a silence of the dead without. In a few moments there came a gentle tapping, then a louder knocking at the door. nisha stood before it frowning who goes there the herald what do you want parley say what you have to say harold if the woman deirdre is put out through this door the troops will march away And what then? No vengeance will be forever exacted against the sons of Ishnak. There is no answer, said Nisha. I have yet a message, said the voice. Deliver it. It is for the ear of the sons of Fergus.

Starting point is 04:41:39 Boyneus strode forward. Deliver it, he said. There is no quarrel, said the herald, between the king and Fergus MacRoy. The king's love for Fergus is such that he wishes, at any cost to save his two sons from a death that is certain. Well, said Boyneux, the king says that if these young men retire from the combat, he will bestow a lordship on them. What lordship? A cantread of land greater than that which Fergus himself has,

Starting point is 04:42:13 and the king's friendship. Boyne looked under steep red brows at Nisha. I shall go out, he said. He turned to his brother. You will come out with me. I shall not, said Aylene. His brother stamped afoot. My father is my chief, said Aylene.

Starting point is 04:42:35 What he orders, I do. I cannot protect the sons of Ishnak as he commanded, but I can fight beside them. Boynia turned. Harold? He roared. Tell Conahor that I shall go out to him. His hand went to the door, but Nisha stepped forward.

Starting point is 04:42:52 Do not touch a bolt, he commanded. You shall go out by the door I choose. That door, he pointed, and strode to it. Eileen, Unla, stand so with the spears. Ardan, Deirdre, sling from this point. Boynia, stand so, one foot beyond the swing of the door. We may meet again, Nisha, said Boenya. If we meet in the press, Boynia, I may perhaps spare you,

Starting point is 04:43:22 for the sake of my brother ireland ready boyna when the door is opened i shall count three be gone ere the last count or i shall smash you to a pulp nisha gave one mighty heave and counted then boyna was gone and the door had closed again i claim this sortie said ireland as the ram commenced on the door it is my turn said onla but we will go together friend i wish to go away alone and bring honor back to the name of Fergus. I am a better fighter than you think, he insisted. You are a good fighter, in truth, said Nisha, but a solitary venture is now dangerous. They are more accustomed to the light and to our methods, for there is nothing to vary in them. We must emerge by a door, and they are watching every door like hawks. But before you go, Iolan, there is one work we must do for safety's sake. Listen carefully, my dear ones.

Starting point is 04:44:28 Chapter 16. This is endless, Conahor gritted. Has that one you come out yet? The men will shout when he appears. Bring him here, and we will get their dispositions from him. There is nothing to get, Majesty. Their plan is the simplest. They have six doors.

Starting point is 04:44:48 They choose one to come out by and one to get in by. That is the whole plan. Postmen in such a way. that when one does come out he will not be able to get in again through that door or any door send for reinforcements and put fifty men against each door those ramsmen have women's shoulders he growled they would beat a mud wall down in a month it must give shortly said the captain but there will be no entrance when the door is down no said conahor they will have the inside barricaded and our men will not dare that narrow black impeded passage. We could leave a hundred dead in that doorway and be no farther. There is Boigneur, the captain continued as a shout came from the side. Boynia, said Connohor, you a fight for me?

Starting point is 04:45:42 My lordship, Conahor, said the gruff young man. It shall be as I said, and more, said the king. Parintheses, it was given as promised, and was known for a long time as Dal Boyne, but it is now called Sleifued, end parentheses. Boenya told what he could of the defense, but as the captain had foreseen, there was nothing to tell. This door, said Connohor, will be down shortly. Have they barricaded it on the inside? They have not, said Boyne. The captain became active and violent. Ah, he cried, there is always something forgotten.

Starting point is 04:46:23 "'Get at the ram you there,' he roared. "'Put your shoulders into it.' He turned to the king. "'We have them,' he said. "'Conahour, with his eyes gleaming and a savage smile curling his lips, strode toward the rammers. But as he moved, the door swung open, and four men leaped from its yawning blackness.

Starting point is 04:46:45 In a second, two of the ramsmen were dead, and the rest flying wildly, bustling the very king in their passage. By my hand, the captain gurgled. Two of the assaulters lifted the ram and trotted with it through the door. The other two made an onslaught of such ferocity that the soldiers were appalled. Then one fled back through the door, which instantly slammed, and the other sped like lightning around the building.

Starting point is 04:47:13 After him, roared Kanawhor. But the captain remained where he was, howling and dancing with rage. I've lost my ram, he bought. I've lost my ram. We have you, Aileen, said Kanoir. Trader to your king, he growled. Trader to your friends, Ielan retorted. Deliver yourself to me, said Kanawhor, and you shall be spared.

Starting point is 04:47:38 I came out for a purpose, said Ayelan. I demand single combat. There are no gentlemen here, Kanawhore replied, except your brother, so your claim cannot be granted. I shall cuff him, said Boynia, but I will not fight him, and he strode away. I shall take this combat, said a voice. Kanahur turned and saw his own son, Fiakra, standing there, and his heart sank. You have no arms, he said harshly.

Starting point is 04:48:12 You will lend me yours, said Fiacra. Kanahur stared on the fierce circle that surrounded him. He stared at Eileen, who stood with his back to the red branch, swinging his blade, and he knew that the combat must take place. Ielin and I were born on the same night, said Fiacra. It is an equal combat. Kanawhor took off his own battle-coats and gave them to Fiacra. He gave him his shield, the enchanted Akhan, and his green sword.

Starting point is 04:48:47 Fight then, he said, remember my teaching, remember my shield work, and my thrust. They fought then. But at the first stroke from Ireland, the great shield roared. For that virtue was in the bright rim, to roar when the man it covered was struck at, and in answer to its roar, the three waves of Ireland, the wave of Tua, the wave of Cleona, and the wave of Rory, roared in reply, and thereby all on Ireland knew that a king was in danger. Away in the palace, Konao Kiernak sat drinking,

Starting point is 04:49:28 listening to some great brawl, as he thought. He heard the roaring of Aachen and leaped to his feet. The king is in danger, he said. He seized his weapons and fled from the palace of Makkah, and came on the great combat. In the dim light, he thought it was Kanahur himself was behind the shield, and from the daring and mighty onslaught of the opponent, He saw that there was no time to lose. He burst his blue-green spear through the press and through the back of Aylene. Iolene staggered to the wall of the red branch. Who has struck me from behind?

Starting point is 04:50:06 He said. Aye, Conall Kiernach. Great and horrible is the deed you have done, Conall. Who are you? Conall demanded. I am Ailand the fair, sent by my father. to protect the sons of Ishnak. By my hand, said Conall fiercely, I shall undo some of what I have done.

Starting point is 04:50:30 And with one side twist of the sword, he lifted the head from Fiacra. Help me to the door, Conal, said Aylan. The sons of Ishnak are within. The appalled soldiery shrank back, and on Conall's arm they came to the door. There, Eilin gave his shout. A feeble one it was, but it was heard, and the door opened.

Starting point is 04:50:57 Island staggered in. Fight bravely, Nisha, he said, and with that he sank on the floor, and he was dead. Outside the red branch, Conahua ran hither and thither like a man enraged by madness. End of Section 18. section 19 of deirdre by james stevens this leper-vox recording is in the public domain read by michel fry baton rouge louisiana book two chapters seventeen and eighteen chapter seventeen we are yet three said nisha draw the bold sanla for one sortie of friendship we have no doorman for deirdre could not close or open the door by herself. You and I, Anla, be quiet, Ardan, come, my brother, and put all your arm into the blade. We will come in by the door we go out of, this door. Be ready for our shout, Ardan. They went out and returned with red weapons, and for a long time they sat in the dim flare of a torch watching by their

Starting point is 04:52:20 dead comrade. He was a brave boy, said dear John. He did not obey my order, her husband sighed. I do not know what he did. I smell smoke, said Anla suddenly. I have smelled something for a long time, said Deirdre, but I could not think what it was. I am weary because of the death of this good friend. But little by little the vast building became full of smoke, and in a while a fierce roar and crackling was heard also. Nisha was again the hearty leader. They have fired the fortress.

Starting point is 04:53:02 We do not know what happened while Ailin was away, but Conahor has reached the end of the world. Who could have foretold that he would fire the red branch? We must prepare for all that can happen. We're not dead yet, said Ardan. What do you counsel, brother? said Anlo. Sit down. There is less smoke on the floor.

Starting point is 04:53:24 A ruddy glare could be seen by each window. Fire is laid all round the building. We must make our plans quickly. Amla turned gleefully to his younger brother. You shall run after all, my poor friend. In good truth, Ardahn grinned, I thought in Scotland that I should never want to run again. But I feel now that we have been staying too long in the one place.

Starting point is 04:53:49 After all, he said complacently, I am a man of action. and of course on la jive no one can run as quickly as you can no one said ardon except deirdre listen said nisha we have still more than a chance we can run scotland trained us in that certainly and if we can surprise but forty yards on the men without we will outrun their best in twenty minutes where shall we run too we shall take the road to our own lordship if laversham's message has been sent our kinsman should be marching at this moment on a main but he said and pointed we cannot wait for them they looked in silence a huge golden flame licked screaming through the window wavered hither and thither like some blindly savage tongue and roared out again it was ten feet long and three feet thick said ardon in a whisper in ten minutes we will go said nisha what arms shield and spear brother strip off all armor we must run lightly i shall be the first out he continued give me twenty seconds before you follow onla i can make room in twenty seconds you will run ten paces to the left of the door deirdre and ardon will run immediately into our interval turn all to the right and at my shout run single file onla at the end if i shout halt you two turn about and protect the rear when i shout run drop every combat and fly you deirdre take ireland's shield and his spear said deirdre keep actually at my back beloved and each time we halt drop flat to the ground he was shouting his instructions now for the voice of the fire was like the steady rage and roar of the sea and through every window monstrous sheets of flame were leaping and crashing

Starting point is 04:55:54 this door said nisha a kiss for every one he called we shall win yet pull onla the door is red hot said back for a mantle two now grip pull give me twenty seconds anla he leaped across fire and disappeared the others leaped after him with a wild yell from ardan conahur sent a flying messenger to the palace bring kaffa back with you he ordered tell him i want him say that the king besieges him to come the captain of his troops stood by alas for the red branch he said said mournfully. All that can be destroyed can be rebuilt, said Conahor. I shall rebuild the red branch. He was in a terrible distress and agitation. The morn is nigh, he said, and he strode unhappily to and fro,

Starting point is 04:56:51 with his eyes on the ground and his mind warring. Far to the east a livid gleam appeared. The darkness of a summer night, which is yet a twilight, was shorn of its soft beauty, and in the air there moved imperceptibly and voluminously a spectral apparition of dawn. A harsh gray, iron-bound

Starting point is 04:57:15 upper world brooded on a chill and wrinkled earth. The king's eyes and the eyes of his captain scanned each other from colorless, bleak faces. There was no hue in their garments. Their shields were dull as death, and their hands, each clutching a weapon seemed like the knotted claws of goblins. A slow, sad exultation came from the king's gray lips like the plaint of some grim murmur of the sea, rising away and alone amid the chop

Starting point is 04:57:48 and shudder of his dismal water. The fire is catching, the captain murmured, hark to that crackling. We shall have light, the king murmured. The red branch will flame. Within, said the captain moodily, and he looked with stern mournfulness on the vast pile. They must soon come out, he muttered. Your men are posted. Every door is held. When they pop out this time, they will have no place to pop into, said Conahor. I have them, he growled.

Starting point is 04:58:22 And he threw his hand in the air and gripped it as though in that blanched fist he held all that could never escape from him. They will fight, said the captain, and they are woeful fighters. You're nervous, man, said Conahor. At this hour and after this night, said the captain, our men could fly from those three like scared rabbits. I fear that, said Conahor. They may get away, said the captain. Conahour advanced on him so savagely and with such a writhe of feature

Starting point is 04:58:56 that the man fell back. Dog, said Conahor, "'If they escape, I shall take your head.' "'They are surrounded, the captain's stammer. "'They cannot escape.' "'They can escape,' Conahua roared. "'You know they can escape. "'Your men are cowards and idiots, and what are you?'

Starting point is 04:59:16 "'Oh, am I not a thwarted man? "'Am I not a forsaken king?' "'Where is Kaffa? Where is the druid?' he cried. "'Madesty,' the captain implored, Do not curse us. The great magician is coming. The magician indeed had come. What has set you raging, Conahur? Father, said Conahour, if you do not assist me, I am lost.

Starting point is 04:59:48 The old, old man looked at him. Tell me your tale, son, whom have you locked up in fire? The sons of Ishnak are there, said Kanahur. will escape me, he said. They are my grandchildren, said Kofa. And the woman is with them. It is dear, dry want. She was mine. She was stolen from me. I am not myself without her. I am a dead man while she is with Nisha. What do you fear from boys roared round by flame? They may escape with her. When they come out my. men may run from them. If they escape this time, Father, I am dead. If I help you, Conahor,

Starting point is 05:00:41 I shall do anything you ask. Nothing you can demand will be too much for Conahor. It is the woman you want. The woman only. It is not the blood of these boys you lust for. The woman, father, only the woman. I shall help you, Conahor. Do not lay one finger on my daughter's sons, the sons of your young sister. There out, the captain said, as the great roar came from the soldiers,

Starting point is 05:01:16 Conahor moved in that direction. Quick, quick, he said, twitching his father's mantle in his impatience, they will escape me. They shall not escape me, Kaffa answered. There is no need for haste. They were out indeed, and like two grim lions or woeful griffins of the air,

Starting point is 05:01:38 Nisha and Anla were raging in that press. Into their interval leaped Ardon, with but one eye peeping from the shield, and a deadly hand thrusting from the rim. Back and forth they leaped with resistless savagery. Men flew at them and from them. Everywhere was a wild yelling of orders, and the wilder screaming of stricken men. but overall Nisha's voice came peeling up, Deirdre, run!

Starting point is 05:02:07 She was at his back in an instant, the shield covering her side, her spear darting viciously by his right elbow, and a venturesome man dropped squealing. Five feet behind, Ardon was leaping like a cat, all eyes and points, and ten paces behind him, Anla was bounding. Halt, roared Nisha. Deirdre was again on the ground. Ardine ranged. tigerishly to right and left, while Anla whirled on the pursuers in ten-foot bounds. Conahur had arrived with Kaffa. Men were falling before them at a rate of three a second.

Starting point is 05:02:46 So dreadful was Nisha's onslaught in the front that none would face him. Men tumbled over each other when he charged. The men will run away in a second, said the captain. Get in the mealy coward, roared Conahour. "'Cafa!' he implored. The officer whizzed out his blade and leaped forward. In three seconds he was dead. And five who followed him were rolling in their agony along the ground.

Starting point is 05:03:13 Nisha's voice came in a wild shout. "'Up, Dirdre, run!' The four were again in line. The men in front melted to either side of that dreadful file. "'Run!' said Nisha. "'We are out!' In front of him there was but Conahur and Kaffa. Kanawhore drew his great sword and stood crouching, and at him with a dreadful smile, Nisha came on.

Starting point is 05:03:39 Kafa moved two paces in the front and stared fixedly at Nisha. He extended his two arms widely. Nisha dropped on one knee, rose again, leaped high in the air, and dropped again on his knee. Deirdre fell to the ground and rose up gasping. Ardon rolled over on his back. tossed his shield away and came slowly up again, beating the air with his hands. Anla went halfway down, rose again, and continued his advance on tiptoe. A look of dismay and rage came on Nish's face.

Starting point is 05:04:20 He moved with extraordinary slowness to Deirdre and lifted her to his shoulder. We are lost, he said. That magician. Keep on swimming, Ardon giggled. There was never watered. here before, but the whole sea has risen around our legs, and we may paddle to Ishnak. The arms dropped from their hands, and in fact they swam. Not for a minute or two did the soldiers dare advance, and they did so cautiously. They picked up the fallen weapons, and then only did they lay hands on the raging champions.

Starting point is 05:04:58 Kaffa dropped his arms to his sides. We are taken, said Nis. our run is ended chapter eighteen kaffa had gone away and khanahor strode to his prisoners so nisha he said so uncle said nisha i win in the end i always win at last he looked at each with a stern smile and when he spoke again it was to deirdre little fawn you have run wild for a long time you shall rest at last but she made only the reply that a fawn makes, the reply of parted lips and terror-stricken eyes. You shall come to me, he said. Then she moistened her trembling lips and looked at Nisha.

Starting point is 05:05:54 Do not look at him, said Conahor. He is already a dead man. Let him be forgotten. All tricks and troubles are ended for you, sweet bird. You shall have peace. Will you have peace tomorrow? "'Morrow, Conahour,' said Nisha. "'Ferges is marching on you.'

Starting point is 05:06:12 "'Be at ease, nephew, "'and the king smiled grimly. "'I shall take care of Fergus when he comes. "'For long I have wanted to take care of Fergus. "'But first I shall take care of you, Nisha, "'and of your traitor brothers. "'Your hour is on you,' he said, "'and you die now.'

Starting point is 05:06:33 "'Charl and rogue,' said Unla. "'But the gesture from his, brother stopped him. Let this king do his business, he said. That must be done, said Conahor. He turned briskly and moved away. Now the day was at hand, and these four looked on a world that was spectral and misshapen, but which was yet the world. On high the clouds could be seen, a gray immensity, stony as the face of Conahor, and a chill wind moaned thinly about them. but far away the grey misery of morn had lightened and a silver gleam slender as a rod crept up the east through that gleam their eyes turned and from it to each other's faces at the guards who ringed them in they did not look or they looked unseeingly but those gaunt apparitions stared like statues on the fore and did not move a lip the sun will rise in a little said all

Starting point is 05:07:38 Ardon. That magician has gone, he whispered. If we leaped at the guards, No good, brother, they are too many, and we have no arms. We should have one merry minute, said Ardon. We have had a merry night, said Anla. Nisha looked lovingly on his brothers. We were always together, he said. We shall always be together. And I, said Deirdre, am I to be left? left out at last sweet girl said nisha he will kill us but you will be spared you shall see the sun come up you shall look at it for us be your husband do you still love me do you truly love me his eyes gave her answer here comes connahur said onla and a large person with him said ardon it was main rough hand son of the king of the fair norwegians they say but others think it was owen son of durtock the prince of fernie you shall die at the hand of a gentleman as befits your rank said connahur

Starting point is 05:08:52 i shall be the first said ardan briskly i am first in every great deed he explained to conahor hark to him on the left respect your elders young person and the heads of your family but ardon appealed to maine let me be first sweet sir he pleaded he turned confidently to connahor i cannot bear to see my brothers killed he said the eardra knelt by the bodies and she sang there keen beginning i send a blessing eastward to scotland when she had finished the poem she bowed over her husband's body she sipped of his blood and she died there upon his body So far are the fate of the sons of Ishnak and the opening of the Great Thorn. This ends Deirdre by James Stevens, first published in 1923. Thank you for listening, and I hope you've enjoyed it.

Classic Audiobook Collection - Deirdre by James Stephens ~ Full Audiobook [folklore]

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