[_PRINCESSES, LADIES, and COURTIERS have come in with PUPILS, who have halters round their necks._ Speak to your master, beg your life of him, Show him the halters that are round your necks; If his heart’s set upon it he may die, But you shall all die with him; beg your lives; Begin, for you have little time to lose; Begin it you that are the oldest pupil. _Senias._ [_Going up to SEANCHAN._] Die, Seanchan, and proclaim the right of the poets. _King._ Silence, you are as crazy as your master. But that young boy that seems the youngest of you, I’d have him speak. Kneel down before him, boy, Hold up your hands to him that he may pluck That milky coloured neck out of the noose. _Arias._ Die, Seanchan, and proclaim the right of the poets. [_All the PUPILS turn towards the KING, holding out the ends of their halters._ _Senias._ Gather the halters up into your hands And lead us where you will, for in all things But in our art we are obedient. [_The KING comes slowly down the steps._ _King._ [_Kneeling down before SEANCHAN._] Kneel down, kneel down, he has the greater power. I give my crown to you. [_All kneel except SEANCHAN, FEDELM and PUPILS. SEANCHAN rises slowly, supported by one of the PUPILS and by FEDELM._ _Seanchan._ O crown, O crown, It is but right if hands that made the crown In the old time should give it when they will. O silver trumpets be you lifted up [_He lays the crown on the KING’S head._ And cry to the great race that is to come. Long-throated swans among the waves of time Sing loudly, for beyond the wall of the world It waits and it may hear and come to us. [_Some of the PUPILS blow a blast upon their horns._ CURTAIN. * * * * * ON BAILE’S STRAND. CUCHULLAIN, the King of Muirthemne. CONCOBAR, the High King of Ullad. DAIRE, a King. FINTAIN, a blind man. BARACH, a fool. A Young Man. Young Kings and Old Kings. SCENE: _A great hall by the sea close to Dundalgan. There are two great chairs on either side of the hall, each raised a little from the ground, and on the back of the one chair is carved and painted a woman with a fish’s tail, and on the back of the other a hound. There are smaller chairs and benches raised in tiers round the walls. There is a great ale vat at one side near a small door, and a large door at the back through which one can see the sea. BARACH, a tall thin man with long ragged hair, dressed in skins, comes in at the side door. He is leading FINTAIN, a fat blind man, who is somewhat older._ _Barach._ I will shut the door, for this wind out of the sea gets into my bones, and if I leave but an inch for the wind there is one like a flake of sea-frost that might come into the house. _Fintain._ What is his name, fool?