And I the bride? Here is worse treachery than the seamew suffered, For she but died and mixed into the dust Of her dear comrade, but I am to live And lie in the one bed with him I hate. Where is Naisi? I was not alone like this When Conchubar first chose me for his wife; I cried in sleeping or waking and he came, But now there is worse need. NAISI [_entering with FERGUS_]. Why have you called? I was but standing there, without the door. DEIRDRE [_going to the other door_]. The horses are still saddled, follow me, And hurry to our ships, and get us gone. NAISI. [_Stopping her and partly speaking to her, partly to FERGUS._] There’s naught to fear; the king’s forgiven all. She has the heart of a wild bird that fears The net of the fowler or the wicker cage, And has been ever so. Although it’s hard, It is but needful that I stand against you, And if I did not you’d despise me for it, As women do the husbands that they lead Whether for good or evil. DEIRDRE. I have heard Monstrous, terrible, mysterious things, Magical horrors and the spells of wizards. FERGUS. Why, that’s no wonder, you’ve been listening To singers of the roads that gather up The tales of the whole world, and when they weary Imagine new, or lies about the living, Because their brains are ever upon fire. DEIRDRE. Is then the king that sends no messenger, And leaves an empty house before a guest, So clear in all he does that no dim word Can light us to a doubt? FERGUS. However dim, Speak it, for I have known King Conchubar Better than my own heart, and I can quench Whatever words have made you doubt him. NAISI. No, I cannot weigh the gossip of the roads With a king’s word, and were the end but death, I may not doubt him. DEIRDRE. Naisi, I must speak. FERGUS. Let us begone, this house is no fit place, Being full of doubt—Deirdre is right. [_To DEIRDRE, who has gone towards the door she had entered by._ No, no, Not by that door that opens on the path That runs to the seashore, but this that leads To Conchubar’s house. We’ll wait no messenger, But go to his well-lighted house, and there Where the rich world runs up into a wick And that burns steadily, because no wind Can blow upon it, bring all doubts to an end. The table has been spread by this, the court Has ridden from all sides to welcome you To safety and to peace. DEIRDRE. Safety and peace! I had them when a child, but never since. FERGUS.