He has taken up my challenge; Whether I am a ghost or living man When day has broken, I’ll forget the rest, And say that there is kingly stuff in him. [_Turns to fetch spear and shield, and then sees that CONCHUBAR has gone._ DEIRDRE. He came to spy upon us, not to fight. NAISI. A prudent hunter, therefore, but no king. He’d find if what has fallen in the pit Were worth the hunting, but has come too near, And I turn hunter. You’re not man, but beast. Go scurry in the bushes, now, beast, beast, For now it’s topsy-turvy, I upon you. [_He rushes out after CONCHUBAR._ DEIRDRE. You have a knife there thrust into your girdle. I’d have you give it me. MUSICIAN. No, but I dare not. DEIRDRE. No, but you must. MUSICIAN. If harm should come to you, They’d know I gave it. DEIRDRE [_snatching knife_]. There is no mark on this To make it different from any other Out of a common forge. [_Goes to the door and looks out._ MUSICIAN. You have taken it, I did not give it you; but there are times When such a thing is all the friend one has. DEIRDRE. The leaves hide all, and there’s no way to find What path to follow. Why is there no sound? [_She goes from door to window._ MUSICIAN. Where would you go? DEIRDRE. To strike a blow for Naisi, If Conchubar call the Libyans to his aid. But why is there no clash? They have met by this! MUSICIAN. Listen. I am called far-seeing. If Conchubar win, You have a woman’s wile that can do much, Even with men in pride of victory. He is in love and old. What were one knife Among a hundred? DEIRDRE [_going towards them_]. Women, if I die, If Naisi die this night, how will you praise? What words seek out? for that will stand to you; For being but dead we shall have many friends. All through your wanderings, the doors of kings Shall be thrown wider open, the poor man’s hearth Heaped with new turf, because you are wearing this [_Gives MUSICIAN a bracelet._ To show that you have Deirdre’s story right. MUSICIAN. Have you not been paid servants in love’s house To sweep the ashes out and keep the doors? And though you have suffered all for mere love’s sake You’d live your lives again. DEIRDRE. Even this last hour. [_CONCHUBAR enters with dark-faced men._] CONCHUBAR. One woman and two men; that is a quarrel That knows no mending. Bring the man she chose Because of his beauty and the strength of his youth. [_The dark-faced men drag in NAISI entangled in a net._ NAISI. I have been taken like a bird or a fish. CONCHUBAR.