thou art there the dream ends,
and beyond it. There is no other dream. [A voice is heard without, more
clearly calling.]

AINLE--It is a familiar voice that calls! And I thought I heard thy
name, Naisi.

ARDAN--It is the honey-sweet speech of a man of Eri.

DEIRDRE--It is one of our own clansmen. Naisi, will you not speak? The
hour is passing, and soon there will be naught but a destiny.

FERGUS--(without) Naisi! Naisi!

NAISI--A deep voice, like the roar of a storm god! It is Fergus who
comes from Eri.

ARDAN--He comes as a friend. There is no treachery in the Red Branch.

AINLE.--Let us meet him, and give him welcome! [The brothers go to
the door of the dun. DEIRDRE leans against the wall with terror in her
eyes.]

DEIRDRE--(in a low broken voice). Naisi! (NAISI returns to her side.
AINLE and ARDAN go out. DEIRDRE rests one hand on NAISI's shoulders and
with the other points upwards.) Do you not see them? The bright birds
which sang at our flight! Look, how they wheel about us as they sing!
What a heart-rending music! And their plumage, Naisi! It is all dabbled
with crimson; and they shake a ruddy dew from their wings upon us! Your
brow is stained with the drops. Let me clear away the stains. They pour
over your face and hands. Oh! [She hides her face on NAISI's breast.]

NAISI--Poor, frightened one, there are no birds! See, how clear are my
hands! Look again on my face.

DEIRDRE--(looking up for an instant). Oh! blind, staring eyes.

NAISI--Nay, they are filled with love, light of my heart. What has
troubled your mind? Am I not beside you, and a thousand clansmen around
our dun?

DEIRDRE--They go, and the music dies out. What was it Lavarcam said?
Their singing brings love and death.

NAISI--What matters death, for love will find us among the Ever Living
Ones. We are immortals and it does not become us to grieve.

DEIRDRE--Naisi, there is some treachery in the coming of Fergus.

NAISI--I say to you, Deirdre, that treachery is not to be spoken of with
Fergus. He was my fosterer, who taught me all a chieftain should feel,
and I shall not now accuse him on the foolish fancy of a woman. (He
turns from DEIRDRE, and as he nears the door FERGUS enters with hands
laid affectionately on a shoulder of each of the brothers; BUINNE and
ILANN follow.) Welcome, Fergus! Glad is my heart at your coming, whether
you bring good tidings or ill!

FERGUS--I would not have crossed the sea of Moyle to bring thee ill
ti