Matheson Collection > Reliquiae Celticae > Poetry, history and philology

THE TALE OF DEIRDRE. .441
When thou didst lead me forth
To Easruadh . . .
Thou wouldst not be against me then,
I say to thee, ! Naesi.
After this lay, they went forward until they saw Emain Maclia
in the distance. " I sliull tell you how you may know for
certain," said Deirdre, '' if they mean to act treacherously towards
you." "How that?" said Nacsi. "If you are allowed into the
house m which are Conchobar and the nobles of Ulster," she
replied, " you will not be treacherously dealt with." They came
to Emain Macha, and knocked at the door ; and the doorkeeper
answered them, and went with tidings to Conchobar that the sons
of Uisnech were at the door, and the sons of Fergus, and Deirdre.
Conchobar called all his servants and attendants to him, and asked
of them how the house of the Red Branch was provided with food
and drink. They replied, that should all the men of Ulster come to
it, they would find a sufficiency of food and drink. It was then
that Conchobar ordered the sons of Uisnech to be taken to the
house of the Red Branch ; and Deirdre said that it were better to
take her own counsel, " And depart forthwith," said she. " We
will not depart," said Illann the Fair; "and great is thy fear,
woman. We will go to the house of the Red Branch." Attend-
ants were sent with them; and generous and pleasant foods and
bitter cheering drinks were supplied to them, so that they were
joyful and merry, and servants and attendants were all drunk and
jovial ; but they ^ were weary from the length of their journey.
It was then that Naesi ordered the chess-board to be brought that
they might play.
It was then that Conchobar said, " Which of you, youths, will
go to see if her own form and beauty still remain to Deirdre ? for
if they remain, there is not in the world a more beautiful woman
than she." " I will go myself," said Lebarchan, "and I will bring
thee sure tidings." This was the way with Lebarchan — Naesi and
Deirdre were more dear to her than any other persons in the
world ; for she often went through the regions of the world
bringing tidings to them and from them. Lebarchan went to
where Naesi and Deirdre were ; and Conchobar's chess-board (was)
between them, and they were playing on it. Lebarchan kissed
^ i.i:., the sons of Uisnech and Deirdrp.