I will give you gifts That Aoife’ll know, and all her people know, To have come from me. [_Showing cloak._ My father gave me this. He came to try me, rising up at dawn Out of the cold dark of the rich sea. He challenged me to battle, but before My sword had touched his sword, told me his name, Gave me this cloak, and vanished. It was woven By women of the Country-under-Wave Out of the fleeces of the sea. O! tell her I was afraid, or tell her what you will. No; tell her that I heard a raven croak On the north side of the house, and was afraid. CONCHUBAR. Some witch of the air has troubled Cuchulain’s mind. CUCHULAIN. No witchcraft. His head is like a woman’s head I had a fancy for. CONCHUBAR. A witch of the air Can make a leaf confound us with memories. They run upon the wind and hurl the spells That make us nothing, out of the invisible wind. They have gone to school to learn the trick of it. CUCHULAIN. No, no—there’s nothing out of common here; The winds are innocent.—That arm-ring, boy. A KING. If I’ve your leave I’ll take this challenge up. ANOTHER KING. No, give it me, High King, for this wild Aoife Has carried off my slaves. ANOTHER KING. No, give it me, For she has harried me in house and herd. ANOTHER KING. I claim this fight. OTHER KINGS [_together_]. And I! And I! And I! CUCHULAIN. Back! back! Put up your swords! Put up your swords! There’s none alive that shall accept a challenge I have refused. Laegaire, put up your sword! YOUNG MAN. No, let them come. If they’ve a mind for it, I’ll try it out with any two together. CUCHULAIN. That’s spoken as I’d have spoken it at your age. But you are in my house. Whatever man Would fight with you shall fight it out with me. They’re dumb, they’re dumb. How many of you would meet [_Draws sword._ This mutterer, this old whistler, this sandpiper, This edge that’s greyer than the tide, this mouse That’s gnawing at the timbers of the world, This, this—— Boy, I would meet them all in arms If I’d a son like you. He would avenge me When I have withstood for the last time the men Whose fathers, brothers, sons, and friends I have killed Upholding Conchubar, when the four provinces Have gathered with the ravens over them. But I’d need no avenger. You and I Would scatter them like water from a dish. YOUNG MAN. We’ll stand by one another from this out. Here is the ring. CUCHULAIN. No, turn and turn about. But my turn’s first because I am the older. [_Spreading out cloak._