hts of Valor to shine again in the
Red-Branch! And I, the Ardrie of Ulla and the head of the Red Branch, to
pass by the broken law and the after deceit! I, whose sole thought was
of the building up of a people, to be set aside! The high gods may judge
me hereafter, but tonight shall see the broken law set straight, and
vengeance on the traitors to Ulla!

LAVARCAM--It was all my doing! They are innocent! I loved Deirdre, O
king! let your anger be on me alone.

CONCOBAR--Oh, tongue of falsehood! Who can believe you! The fate of Ulla
was in your charge, and you let it go forth at the instant wish of a
man and a girl's desire. The fate of Ulla was too distant, and you must
bring it nigher--the torch to the pile! Breakers of the law and makers
of lies, you shall all perish together!

[CONCOBAR leaves the room. LAVARCAM remains, her being shaken with sobs.
After a pause NAISI enters with DEIRDRE. AINLE, ARDAN, ILANN, and BUINNE
follow. During the dialogue which ensues, NAISI is inattentive, and is
curiously examining the chess-board.]

DEIRDRE--We are entering a house of death! Who is it that weeps so? I,
too, would weep, but the children of Usna are too proud to let tears be
seen in the eyes of their women. (She sees LAVARCAM, who raises her head
from the table.) O fostermother, for whom do you sorrow? Ah! it is for
us. You still love me dear fostermother; but you, who are wise, could
you not have warned the Lights of Valor? Was it kind to keep silence,
and only meet us here with tears?

LAVARCAM--O Deirdre, my child! my darling! I have let love and longing
blind my eyes. I left the mountain home of the gods for Emain Macha,
and to plot for your return. I--I deceived the king. I told him your
loveliness was passed, and the time of the prophecy gone by. I thought
when you came all would be well. I thought wildly, for love had made a
blindness in my heart, and now the king has discovered the deceit; and,
oh! he has gone away in wrath, and soon his terrible hand will fall!

DEIRDRE--It was not love made you all blind, but the high gods have
deserted us, and the demons draw us into a trap. They have lured us from
Alba, and they hover here above us in red clouds--cloud upon cloud--and
await the sacrifice.

LAVARACAM--Oh, it is not yet too late! Where is Fergus? The king dare
not war on Fergus. Fergus is our only hope.

DEIRDRE--Fergus has bartered his honor for a feast. He remained with
Baruch that he might boast he neve