Matheson Collection > Deirdire; and, The lay of the children of Uisne

DEIRDIRE 47
of Ulster, and let not the matter be in
darkness to thee longer.' When the
poor woman heard who was at the door
she arose with haste and she let in the
king and all who could hold within of
his band.
When the king saw the damsel who
was before him, and of whom he was in
search, he thought to himself that never
in the course of the day nor in a dream
of the night saw he a blood-drop so
lovely as Deirdire ; and he gave her the
weight of his heart of love. There was
nothing in his own mind, or in the
minds of his men, from the beginning to
the end of the matter, but to snatch
Deirdire away on the summit of their
shoulders be she or be she not willing.
This was what was done, and Deirdire
was raised on the summit of the shoulders
of the heroes, and she herself and her
foster-mother were taken away to the
palace of King Conachar of Ulster.