but they denied its worth, Preferring Laegaire or Conall, and they cried to drown my voice; But I have so strong a throat that I drowned all their noise Till they took to the hunting horns and blew them into my face, And as neither side would give in--we would settle it in this place. Let the Helmet be taken from Conall. A STABLE BOY No, Conall is the best man here. ANOTHER Give it to Laegaire that made the murderous cats pay dear. CUCHULAIN It has been given to none: that our rivalry might cease, We have turned that murderous cat into a cup of peace. I drank the first; and then Conall; give it to Laegaire now, [_CONALL gives Helmet to LAEGAIRE_] That it may purr in his hand and all of our servants know That since the ale went in, its claws went out of sight. A SERVANT That's well--I will stop my shouting. ANOTHER Cuchulain is in the right; I am tired of this big horn that has made me hoarse as a rook. LAEG Cuchulain, you drank the first. ANOTHER By drinking the first he took The whole of the honours himself. LAEG Cuchulain, you drank the first. ANOTHER If Laegaire drink from it now he claims to be last and worst. ANOTHER Cuchulain and Conall have drunk. ANOTHER He is lost if he taste a drop. LAEGAIRE [_Laying Helmet on table_] Did you claim to be better than us by drinking first from the cup? CUCHULAIN [_His words are partly drowned by the murmurs of the crowd though he speaks very loud_] That juggler from the sea, that old red herring it is Who has set us all by the ears--he brought the Helmet for this, And because we would not quarrel he ran elsewhere to shout That Conall and Laegaire wronged me, till all had fallen out. [_The murmur grows less so that his words are heard_] Who knows where he is now or who he is spurring to fight? So get you gone, and whatever may cry aloud in the night, Or show itself in the air, be silent until morn. A SERVANT Cuchulain is in the right--I am tired of this big horn. CUCHULAIN Go! [_The Servants turn toward the door but stop on hearing the voices of Women outside_] LAEGAIRE'S WIFE [_Without_] Mine is the better to look at. CONALL'S WIFE [_Without_] But mine is better born. EMER [_Without_] My man is the pithier man. CUCHULAIN Old hurricane, well done! You've set our wives to the game that they may egg us on; We are to kill each other that you may sport with us. Ah, now, they've begun to wrestle as to who'll be first at the house. [_The Women come to the door struggling_] EMER No, I have the right of place for I married the better man. CONALL'S WIFE [_Pulling Emer back_] My nails in your neck and shoulder. LAEGAIRE'S WIFE And go before me if you can. My husband fought in the West. CONALL'S WIFE