I can remember now a tale of treachery, A broken promise and a journey’s end; But it were best forgot. NAISI. If the tale is true, When it was plain that they had been betrayed, They moved the men, and waited for the end, As it were bedtime, and had so quiet minds They hardly winked their eyes when the sword flashed. FERGUS. She never could have played so, being a woman, If she had not the cold sea’s blood in her. DEIRDRE. I have heard that th’ ever-living warn mankind By changing clouds, and casual accidents, Or what seem so. FERGUS. If there had been ill luck In lighting on this chessboard of a sudden, This flagon that stood on it when we came Has made all right again, for it should mean All wrongs forgiven, hospitality For bitter memory, peace after war, While that loaf there should add prosperity. Deirdre will see the world, as it were, new-made, If she’ll but eat and drink. NAISI. The flagon’s dry, Full of old cobwebs, and the bread is mouldy, Left by some traveller gone upon his way These many weeks. DEIRDRE. No one to welcome us, And a bare house upon the journey’s end. Is that the welcome that a king spreads out For those that he would honour? NAISI. Hush! no more. You are King Conchubar’s guest, being in his house. You speak as women do that sit alone, Marking the ashes with a stick till they Are in a dreamy terror. Being a queen, You should have too calm thought to start at shadows. FERGUS. Come, let us look if there’s a messenger From Conchubar’s house. A little way without One sees the road for half a mile or so, Where the trees thin or thicken. NAISI. When those we love Speak words unfitting to the ear of kings, Kind ears are deaf. FERGUS. Before you came I had to threaten these that would have weighed Some crazy phantasy of their own brain Or gossip of the road with Conchubar’s word. If I had thought so little of mankind I never could have moved him to this pardon. I have believed the best of every man, And find that to believe it is enough To make a bad man show him at his best, Or even a good man swing his lantern higher. [_NAISI and FERGUS go out. The last words are spoken as they go through the door. One can see them through part of what follows, either through door or window. They move about, talking or looking along the road towards CONCHUBAR’S house._ FIRST MUSICIAN. If anything lies heavy on your heart, Speak freely of it, knowing it is certain That you will never see my face again. DEIRDRE. You’ve been in love? FIRST MUSICIAN.