A cry is heard outside. One rushes in terror-stricken.

THE NEWCOMER.

Young Colm has fallen at the Glen foot.

MACDARA.

The fifteen were too many. Old men, you did not do your work well enough. You should have kept all back but one. One man can free a people as one Man redeemed the world. I will take no pike, I will go into the battle with bare hands. I will stand up before the Gall as Christ hung naked before men on the tree!

He moves through them, pulling off his clothes as he goes. As he reaches the threshold a great shout goes up from the people. He passes out and the shout dies slowly away. The other men follow him slowly. Maire ni Fhiannachta sits down at the fire, where Sighle still crouches.

THE CURTAIN DESCENDS.

The King

CHARACTERS

GIOLLA NA NAOMH (`the Servant of the Saints'), a Little Boy

BOYS

AN ABBOT

MONKS

A KING

HEROES

GILLIES

WOMEN

PLACE---An ancient monastery

A morality

A green before the monastery. The voices of monks are heard chanting. Through the chanting breaks the sound of a trumpet. A little boy runs out from the monastery and stands on the green looking in the direction whence the trumpet has spoken.

THE BOY.

Conall, Diarmaid, Giolla na Naomh!

The voices of other boys answer him.

FIRST BOY.

There is a host marching from the North.

SECOND BOY.

Where is it?

FIRST BOY.

See it beneath you in the glen.

THIRD BOY.

It is the King's host.

FOURTH BOY.

The King is going to battle.

The trumpet speaks again, nearer. The boys go upon the rampart of the monastery. The murmur of a marching host is heard.

FIRST BOY.

I see the horses and the riders.

SECOND BOY.

I see the swords and the spears.

FOURTH BOY.

I see the standards and the banners.

THIRD BOY.

I see the King's banner.

FOURTH BOY.

I see the King!

FIRST BOY.

Which of them is the King?

FOURTH BOY.

The tall comely man on the black horse.

GIOILLA NA NAOMH.

Let us salute the King.

THE BOYS

With the voice of one).

Take victory in battle and slaying, O King!

The voices of warriors are heard acclaiming the King as the host marches past with din of weapons and music of trumpet and pipes. Silence succeeds.

FIRST BOY.

I would like to be a King.

GIOLLA NA NAOMH.

Why?

FIRST BOY.

The King has gold and silver.

SECOND BOY.

He has noble jewels in his jewel-house.

THIRD BOY.

He has slender steeds and gallant hounds.

FOURTH BOY.

He has a keen-edged, gold-hilted sword and a mighty-shafted, blue-headed spear and a glorious red-emblazoned shield. I saw him once in my father's house.

FIRST BOY.

What was he like?

FOURTH BOY.

He was tall and noble. He was strong and broad-shouldered. He had long fair hair. He had a comely proud face. He had two piercing grey eyes. A white vest of satin next his skin. A very beautiful red tunic, with a white hood, upon his body. A royal mantle of purple about him. Seven colours upon him, between vest and tunic and hood and mantle. A silver brooch upon his breast. A kingly diadem upon his head, and the colour of gold upon it. Two great wings rising above his head, as white as the two wings of a sea-gull and as broad as the two wings of an eagle. He was a gallant man.

SECOND BOY.

And what was the look of his face?

THIRD BOY.

Did he look angry, stern?

FOURTH BOY.

He did, at times.

FIRST BOY.

Had he a laughing look?

FOURTH BOY.

He laughed only once.

SECOND BOY.

How did he look mostly? Stern or laughing?

FOURTH BOY.

He looked sorrowful. When he was talking to the kings and the heroes he had an angry and a laughing look every second while, but when he was silent he was sorrowful.

FIRST BOY.

What sorrow can he have?

FOURTH BOY.

I do not know. The thousands he has slain, perhaps.

SECOND BOY.

The churches he has plundered.

THIRD BOY.

The battles he has lost.

GIOLLA NA NAOMH.

Alas, the poor King!

SECOND BOY.

You would not like to be a King, Giolla na Naomh?

GIOLLA NA NAOMH.

I would not. I would rather be a monk that I might pray for the King.

FOURTH BOY.

I may have the kingship of this country when I am a man, for my father is of the royal blood.

SECOND BOY.

And my father is of the royal blood, too.

THIRD BOY.

Aye, and mine.

FOURTH BOY.

I will not let the kingdom go with either of you. It is mine!

SECOND BOY.

It is not, but mine.

THIRD BOY.

It matters not whose it is for I will have it!

SECOND BOY.

No, nor anyone of you, house!

FOURTH BOY.

(seizing a switch of sally and brandishing it)

I will ply the venom of my sword upon you! I will defend my kingdom against my enemies! Giolla na Naomh, pray for the King!

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 521