No, no, old man,
You thought the best, and the worst came of it;
We listened to the counsel of the wise,
And so turned fools.
You thought the best, and the worst came of it;
We listened to the counsel of the wise,
And so turned fools.
Yeats
FERGUS.
I'll not believe it.
NAISI.
Tell Conchubar to meet me in some place
Where none can come between us but our swords.
MESSENGER.
I have done my message; I am Conchubar's man;
I take no message from a traitor's lips.
[_He goes. _
NAISI.
No, but you must; and I will have you swear
To carry it unbroken.
[_He follows MESSENGER out. _
FERGUS.
He has been suborned.
I know King Conchubar's mind as it were my own;
I'll learn the truth from him.
[_He is about to follow NAISI, but DEIRDRE stops him. _
DEIRDRE.
No, no, old man,
You thought the best, and the worst came of it;
We listened to the counsel of the wise,
And so turned fools. But ride and bring your friends.
Go, and go quickly. Conchubar has not seen me;
It may be that his passion is asleep,
And that we may escape.
FERGUS.
But I'll go first,
And follow up that Libyan heel, and send
Such words to Conchubar, that he may know
At how great peril he lays hands upon you.
[_NAISI enters. _]
NAISI.
The Libyan, knowing that a servant's life
Is safe from hands like mine, but turned and mocked.
FERGUS.
I'll call my friends, and call the reaping-hooks,
And carry you in safety to the ships.
My name has still some power. I will protect,
Or, if that is impossible, revenge.
[_Goes out by other door. _
NAISI.
[_Who is calm, like a man who has passed beyond life.
