DEIRDRE--Dear fostermother, how the spring is beginning! The music of the Father's harp is awakening the flowers. Now the winter's sleep is over, and the spring flows from the lips of the harp. Do you not feel the thrill in the wind--a joy answering the trembling strings? Dear fostermother, the spring and the music are in my heart! LAVARCAM--The harp has but three notes; and, after sleep and laughter, the last sound is of weeping. DEIRDRE--Why should there be any sorrow while I am with you? I am happy here. Last night in a dream I saw the blessed Sidhe upon the mountains, and they looked on me with eyes of love. (An old HERDSMAN enters, who bows before LAVARCAM.) HERDSMAN--Lady, the High King is coming through the woods. LAVARCAM--Deirdre, go to the grianan for a little. You shall tell me your dream again, my child. DEIRDRE--Why am I always hidden from the King's sight. LAVARCAM--It is the King's will you should see no one except these aged servants. DEIRDRE--Am I indeed fearful to look upon, foster-mother? I do not think so, or you would not love me. LAVARCAM--It is the King's will. DEIRDRE--Yet why must it be so, fostermother? Why must I hide away? Why must I never leave the valley? LAVARCAM--It is the king's will. While she is speaking CONCOBAR enters. He stands still and looks on DEIRDRE. DEIRDRE gazes on the KING for a moment, and then covering her face with her hands, she hurries into the dun. The HERDSMAN goes out. LAVARCAM sees and bows before the KING. CONCOBAR--Lady, is all well with you and your charge? LAVARCAM--All is well. CONCOBAR--Is there peace in Deirdre's heart? LAVARCAM--She is happy, not knowing a greater happiness than to roam the woods or to dream of the immortal ones can bring her. CONCOBAR--Fate has not found her yet hidden in this valley. LAVARCAM--Her happiness is to be here. But she asks why must she never leave the glen. Her heart quickens within her. Like a bird she listens to the spring, and soon the valley will be narrow as a cage. CONCOBAR--I cannot open the cage. Less ominous the Red Swineherd at a feast than this beautiful child in Ulla. You know the word of the Druids at her birth. LAVARCAM--Aye, through her would come the destruction of the Red Branch. But sad is my heart, thinking of her lonely youth. CONCOBAR--The gods did not guide us how the ruin might be averted. The Druids would have slain her, but I set myself against the wise ones, thinking in my heart that the chivalry of the Red Branch would be already gone if this child were slain. If we are to perish it shall be nobly, and without any departure from the laws of our order. So I have hidden her away from men, hoping to stay the coming of fate. LAVARCAM--King, your mercy will return to you, and if any of the Red Branch fall, you will not fall.