• Deirdre

Ferg062

Fit to compare with her's. I saw her sit,"
The insolent eaves-dropper did go on,
" A perfect goddess, lovely to behold.
Upon a silken couch : she flung her arms.
No ivory fairer, o'er her golden harp.
And played a merry and delightful air
So sweet, I stood as in an ecstacy ;
When that strong traitor who consorts with her.
Spying me, snatched a chessman from the board
And flung it full at me : see here the wound."
With that he showed his cheek besmeared with blood,
— I would the just Gods it had been his brains. —
And Conor, rising, cried to fetch his arms,
And vowed he would avenge his messenger ;
Then some cried " treason " ; others that denied.
And Cormac called out, " Never better hap
Befall a cranny-haunting, mousing spy ! "
Whereat I judged it well to come away,
And there I left them wrangling noisily.

DEIRDRE.
It is a crafty pretext for a quarrel ;
That quarrel to be pretext for his death,
And my deliverance into hands abhorred.
Who here ?

BUINO.
Who here?

PURSUIVANT.
A messenger from Conor, I.

BUINO.
His will ?

PURSUIVANT.
He wills that thou deliver up
Naisi the son of Usnach, who stands charged
With wounding to effusion of the blood.

BUINO.
Under safe conduct is lord Naisi here,

Ferg062
Coverage: 
1880
Keywords: 
Crafty, Quarrel, Usnach
Citation: 
Linen Hall Library, "Ferg062", Northern Ireland Literary Archive, accessed Fri, 04/26/2024 - 17:45, https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/ferg062?page=1