ANOTHER SAILOR. Let every man draw out his sword And gather round him, that no god may know The hand that wounds. (Forgael has taken the harp in his hands and is leaning against the bulwark. The sailors draw their swords, and come toward him. Forgael plays slowly and faintly.) He has thrown a druid dream upon the air. A SAILOR. I am afraid of his low laughing harp. (Forgael changes the air.) DECTORA. (Looking over the bulwark in a half dream.) I shall be home now in a little while, Hearing the harpers play, the pine wood crackle, 46 A SAILOR. Who said we had a skin of yellow ale? ANOTHER SAILOR. I said the ale was brown. ANOTHER SAILOR. (Who has gone into the other ship.) I have found the ale, I had thrown it down behind this coil of rope. ANOTHER SAILOR. Forgael can die to-morrow. Come to the ale. ANOTHER SAILOR. Come to the ale: for he can die to-morrow. (They go on to the other ship.) AIBRIC. (Who lingers looking at Dectora.) She will say something in a little while, A VOICE ON THE OTHER SHIP. Come hither, Aibric, And tell me a love story while I drink. AIBRIC. Ah, well, they are calling me-they are calling me. (He goes forward and into the other ship.) FORGAEL. How little and reedy a sound awakes a god To cry his folding cry. (He changes the tune again; Dectora leans against the bulwark as if very sleepy and gradually sinks down on the deck.) DECTORA. (As if in sleep.) There is some man That I would bid my people put to death. FORGAEL. When she awakens, The years that have gone over her from the hour Her eyelids tremble and the white foam fades; DECTORA. (Slowly waking.) The red hound is fled. Why did you say that I have followed him (She wakes.) I have slept long, I fought twelve battles dressed in golden armor. I will drink out of the stream. The stream is gone Before I dropped asleep, a kingfisher Shook the pale apple blossom over it; FORGAEL. (Going over to her.) A hound that had lain hid in the red rushes I had woven of the sleep that is in pools (He stoops and holds the harp toward her.) Bend your head And lean your lips devoutly to this harp, (She takes the harp in her hands and kisses it.) DECTORA. O, Engus of the herds, watch over me. I sat beside my foster mother, and now I am caught in woven nets of enchantment. Look! I have wet this braid of hair with tears while asleep. FORGAEL. (Standing upright beside her.) He watches over none but faithful lovers. Because her hands had been made wild by love; And when one changed her to a silver fly, DECTORA. (Half rising.) Whither have you come, Beseeching hands and more beseeching eyes? That my true love would come in a ship of pearl And bring me where the children of Angus wind In happy dances, under a windy moon; But these waste waters and wind-beaten sails (He has taken her in his arms.) FORGAEL. Engus has seen His well-beloved through a mortal's eyes; DECTORA. (Peering out over the waters.) O look! A red-eared hound follows a hornless deer. FORGAEL. Where did they vanish away? DECTORA. Where the moon makes a cloudy light in the mist. |