fed upon
By jealousy and desire.
I am moon to that sun,
I am steel to that fire,

[_The windows are now broken down to floor. CUCHULAIN takes his
spear from the door, and the three Women come in at the same
moment_]

EMER

Cuchulain, put off this sloth and awake:
I will sing till I've stiffened your lip against every knave that would
take
A share of your honour.

LAEGAIRE'S WIFE

You lie, for your man would take from my man.

CONALL'S WIFE

[_To LAEGAIRE'S WIFE_]

You say that, you double-face, and your own husband began.

CUCHULAIN

[_Taking up Helmet from table_]

Town land may rail at town land till all have gone to wrack,
The very straws may wrangle till they've thrown down the stack;
The very door-posts bicker till they've pulled in the door,
The very ale-jars jostle till the ale is on the floor,
But this shall help no further.

[_He throws Helmet into the sea_]

LAEGAIRE'S WIFE

It was not for your head,
And so you would let none wear it, but fling it away instead.

CONALL'S WIFE

But you shall answer for it, for you've robbed my man by this.

CONALL

You have robbed us both, Cuchulain.

LAEGAIRE

The greatest wrong there is
On the wide ridge of the world has been done to us two this day.

EMER

[_Drawing her dagger_]

Who is for Cuchulain?

CUCHULAIN

Silence!

EMER

Who is for Cuchulain, I say?

[_She sings the same words as before, flourishing her dagger about.
While she is singing, CONALL'S WIFE and LAEGAIRE'S WIFE draw their
daggers and run at her, but CUCHULAIN forces them back. LAEGAIRE and
CONALL draw their swords to strike CUCHULAIN_]

LAEGAIRE'S WIFE

[_Crying out so as to be heard through EMER'S singing_]

Deafen her singing with horns!

CONALL'S WIFE

Cry aloud! blow horns! make a noise!

LAEGAIRE'S WIFE

Blow horns, clap hands, or shout, so that you smother her voice!

[_The Horse Boys and Scullions blow their horns or fight among
themselves. There is a deafening noise and a confused fight.
Suddenly three black hands come through the windows and put out the
torches. It is now pitch dark, but for a faint light outside the
house which merely shows that there are moving forms, but not who or
what they are, and in the darkness one can hear low terrified
voices_