United States or Eritrea ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
'The fairest of three fair brothers is this Nathos, the son of Usna, and now is he with Concobar the King. And Deirdre would thereafter think of none but Nathos, and Lavarcam was much troubled because of the words that she had spoken. And when Deirdre longed grievously by day and night to see this Nathos of whom she had heard, Lavarcam thought of a plan whereby she might end the maiden's dream.
"Let it not be so done," he said. "It were an ill thing to shed the blood of an innocent child. I myself shall care for her. She shall be housed in a safe place so that none may come nigh to her, and when she is grown she shall be my one true wife." So it was done as King Conor said. Deirdre was placed in a safe and lonely castle, where she was seen of none save her tutor and her nurse, Lavarcam.
Tell him that to-morrow, an hour before the setting of the sun, he will find her by this well. 'If it be known that I so break the law of the King, I die, yet will I go right gladly. Then Deirdre left the men, and walked slowly after Lavarcam. And Lavarcam would fain have known what Deirdre had told the swineherd, but the girl told her nought, and was in a dream all that day and all the morrow.
Thus was it made known to Lavarcam that in some wise Concobar the King had heard that the swineherd had spoken with Deirdre. Therefore Lavarcam went not to the palace, but turned aside to the camp of the sons of Usna. And Nathos came out to her, and she told him of the loneliness of the fair Deirdre and of her longing to see him.
And when another seven years had sped, then came not the King thither, either when the earth was green or golden, nor in the blue summer nor the hoary winter, but from Lavarcam he heard that it was well with the maid. One white winter's morning Deirdre looked from her window, and saw lying in the snow a calf.
But when Deirdre heard how the sons of Usna would thus face death for her sake, she sighed aloud. 'Alas! it is not for me to bring sorrow upon the land. Let me even now return to the cottage in the forest, and there with Lavarcam will I live and die, unless it be that Concobar take me thence.
Then move slowly on your way, but speak to none whom ye may meet, and when ye leave the wood let not your lips tell those things ye shall have seen and heard. With these words Lavarcam left the three men, and entered the cottage. 'Come, Deirdre, she cried, 'the crisp snow glistens in the sunshine. Let us wander forth. And Deirdre came, and dreamily she trod where Lavarcam led.
Of a sudden the older woman left her side, and bent as though she would gather a woodland flower. At the same moment was heard the cry of the jay and the bark of the hill-fox. Then came Lavarcam to the maiden's side. 'Passing strange is it, said Deirdre, 'to hear the jay cry and the hill-fox bark while yet the snow lies thick.
But in wonder at the loveliness of the maiden, and in fear of the anger of Lavarcam, the men were dumb. 'Speak! she again cried. 'If indeed ye be Nathos and his brothers, then truly hath Concobar the King my pity. At these words the swineherd could no longer keep silence. 'It is thy exceeding beauty that telleth us that thou art that Deirdre whom the King hideth in this forest.
Concobar and the Ultonians happened at that very time to be seeking a druidic response from the prophetess Lavarcam concerning Cuculain and concerning Laeg, for their minds misgave them that beyond the mearings of the Province the lads had come to some hurt, and Lavarcam, answering them, said: "Look to yourselves now ye children of Rury, Your destruction and the end of your career are at hand.
Word Of The Day