_] To the other ship,
And I will follow you and cut the rope
When I have said farewell to this man here,
For neither I nor any living man
Will look upon his face again.
And I will follow you and cut the rope
When I have said farewell to this man here,
For neither I nor any living man
Will look upon his face again.
Yeats
How could I rest
If I refused the messengers and pilots
With all those sights and all that crying out?
DECTORA.
But I will cover up your eyes and ears,
That you may never hear the cry of the birds,
Or look upon them.
FORGAEL.
Were they but lowlier
I'd do your will, but they are too high--too high.
DECTORA.
Being too high, their heady prophecies
But harry us with hopes that come to nothing,
Because we are not proud, imperishable,
Alone and winged.
FORGAEL.
Our love shall be like theirs
When we have put their changeless image on.
DECTORA.
I am a woman, I die at every breath.
AIBRIC.
Let the birds scatter for the tree is broken.
And there's no help in words. [_To the SAILORS.
_] To the other ship,
And I will follow you and cut the rope
When I have said farewell to this man here,
For neither I nor any living man
Will look upon his face again.
[_The SAILORS go out. _
FORGAEL [_to DECTORA_]
Go with him,
For he will shelter you and bring you home.
AIBRIC.
[_Taking FORGAEL'S hand. _]
I'll do it for his sake.
DECTORA.
No. Take this sword
And cut the rope, for I go on with Forgael.
AIBRIC.
[_Half-falling into the keen. _]
The yew bough has been broken into two,
And all the birds are scattered--O! O! O!
Farewell! farewell!
