The Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats. Volume 2 of 8

[She passes FORGAEL and stands for a moment looking into his face.]

I have good reason for that thought.

[She runs suddenly on to the raised part of the poop.]

And now
I can put fear away as a queen should.

[She mounts on the bulwark and turns towards FORGAEL.]

Fool, fool! Although you have looked into my face
You did not see my purpose. I shall have gone
Before a hand can touch me.

Forgael [folding his arms]. My hands are still;
The ever-living hold us. Do what you will,
You cannot leap out of the golden net.

First Sailor. There is no need for you to drown. Give us our pardon and we will bring you home on your own ship, and make an end of this man that is leading us to death.

Dectora. I promise it.

Aibric. I am on his side.
I’d strike a blow for him to give him time
To cast his dreams away.

First Sailor. He has put a sudden darkness over the moon.

Dectora. Nine swords with handles of rhinoceros horn
To him that strikes him first.

First Sailor. I will strike him first. No! for that music of his might put a beast’s head upon my shoulders, or it may be two heads and they devouring one another.

Dectora. I’ll give a golden galley full of fruit
That has the heady flavour of new wine
To him that wounds him to the death.

First Sailor. I’ll strike at him. His spells, when he dies, will die with him and vanish away.

Second Sailor. I’ll strike at him.

The Others. And I! And I! And I!

[FORGAEL plays upon the harp.]

First Sailor [falling into a dream]. It is what they are saying, there is some person dead in the other ship; we have to go and wake him. They did not say what way he came to his end, but it was sudden.

Second Sailor. You are right, you are right. We have to go to that wake.

Dectora. He has flung a Druid spell upon the air,
And set you dreaming.

Second Sailor. What way can we raise a keen, not knowing what name to call him by?

First Sailor. Come on to his ship. His name will come to mind in a moment. All I know is he died a thousand years ago, and was never yet waked.

Second Sailor. How can we wake him having no ale?

First Sailor. I saw a skin of ale aboard her – a pigskin of brown ale.

Third Sailor. Come to the ale, a pigskin of brown ale, a goatskin of yellow.

First Sailor [singing]. Brown ale and yellow; yellow and brown ale; a goatskin of yellow.

All [singing]. Brown ale and yellow; yellow and brown ale!

    [Sailors go out.

Dectora. Protect me now, gods, that my people swear by!

[AIBRIC has risen from the ground where he had fallen. He has begun looking for his sword as if in a dream

Aibric. Where is my sword that fell out of my hand
When I first heard the news? Ah, there it is!

[He goes dreamily towards the sword, but DECTORA runs at it and takes it up before he can reach it

Aibric [sleepily]. Queen, give it me.

Dectora. No, I have need of it.

Aibric. Why do you need a sword? But you may keep it,
Now that he’s dead I have no need of it,
For everything is gone.

A Sailor [calling from the other ship]. Come hither, Aibric,
And tell me who it is that we are waking.

Aibric [half to DECTORA, half to himself]. What name had that dead king? Arthur of Britain?
No, no – not Arthur. I remember now.
It was golden-armed Iollan, and he died
Brokenhearted, having lost his queen
Through wicked spells. That is not all the tale,
For he was killed. O! O! O! O! O! O!
For golden-armed Iollan has been killed.

[He goes out. While he has been speaking, and through part of what follows, one hears the singing of the SAILORS from the other ship. DECTORA stands with the sword lifted in front of FORGAEL. He changes the tune

Dectora. I will end all your magic on the instant.