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I would wish to have him for a playfellow and pleasant acquaintance. Of maidens, too, such as myself I have dreamed, yet they do not appear to me to be so alluring or so amiable as that youth." "Describe him more particularly," said Levarcam. "Tell me his tokens one by one that I may know."
They were quick of sight and scent, fiercer than dragons and swifter than eagles; they were not quick of sight and scent to-day. The Lady Levarcam had great power. In and around that dun were three hundred men of war, foreigners, picked men of the great fighting tribes of Banba.
"If but once he smiled upon me and I heard the sweet words flow from his mouth which is beyond price, then gladly would I die!" "Thou shall both see him and have speech with him, O best, sweetest, dearest, and loveliest of all maidens. Truly I will bring him to thee and thee to him, for there is with me power beyond the wont of women." Now Levarcam was a mighty Druidess amongst the Ultonians.
There was a ring of sentinels and dogs far out in the forest. The son of Usna had gone through the ring. For twice seven years and one that astonishing watch and ward had been maintained day and night without relaxation or abatement. When they came to the edge of the forest Levarcam addressed the commander of that company.
When they gained the first cover of the trees Levarcam turned round and stretched over them her wand. They stood motionless, both men and dogs. Then the women went forward, and alone. "Fill thy basket now with forest flowers, O sweetest, and dearest, and fairest of all foster-children, and listen to the songs of the birds and the music of the rill.
Are all men grim, grave, and austere, wearing rugged countenances scored with ancient wounds, and bearing each man upon his shoulders the weight of some fearful responsibility? Are all men like that, dear Levarcam?" "Nay, indeed," said the other, "there arc youths too, gracious, and gay, and beautiful, as well as grave men such as these."
"There is one youth only amongst the Red Branch," said Levarcam, "who answers to that description, namely Naysi, the son of Usna, who is the battle-prop of the Ultonians and the clear-shining torch of their valour, and what god or druid or power hath set that vision before thy mind, I cannot tell." "Would that I could see him with eyes and have speech with him," answered the girl.
"There is a great meaning in this token amongst the youths and maidens of the Gael," said he. "I know that," answered Deirdre. Deirdre returned to Levarcam. "Thou hast gathered the flower," said Levarcam. "I have," she replied, "and death and life are one to me now, dear foster-mother." Naysi went away through the forest and there is nothing related concerning him till he reached Dun Usna.
When the child was born she was called Deirdre. The Ultonians appointed for her a nurse and tutoress named Levarcam. They built for her and for the nurse a strong dun in a remote forest and set a ward there, and they made a solemn law enjoining perpetual virginity on the child of ill omen, and the Druids shed a zone of terror round the dun.
Though her beauty was extraordinary, yet her mind was as beautiful as her form, so that the Lady Levarcam loved her exceedingly. One day when the first flush of early womanhood came upon the maiden, she said to her tutoress as they sat together and conversed "Are all men like those our guards who defend us against savage beasts and the merciless Fomorians, dear Levarcam?"