The King's Threshold; and On Baile's Strand

 
That are contaminated. I would see all your hands,
You’ve eyes of dancers, but hold out your hands,
For it may be there are none sound among you —
 

[The Princesses have shrunk back in terror.

 
Princess Buan.
He has called us lepers.
Chamberlain.
He’s out of his mind,
And does not know the meaning of what he said.
Seanchan.
[Standing up.] There are no sound hands among you. No sound hands.
Away with you, away with all of you,
You are all lepers. There is leprosy
Among the plates and dishes that you have brought me.
I would know why you have brought me leper’s wine?
 

[He flings the wine in their faces.

 
There, there, I have given it to you again, and now
Begone or I will give my curse to you.
You have the leper’s blessing, but you think
Maybe the bread will something lack in savour
Unless you mix my curse into the dough.
 

[They go out to L., all except the Cripples. Seanchan is staggering in the middle of the stage.

 
Seanchan.
Where did I say the leprosy came from?
I said it came out of a leper’s hand
And that he walked the highway; but that’s folly,
For he was walking up there in the sky
And there he is even now with his white hand
Thrust out of the blue air and blessing them
With leprosy.
A Cripple.
He’s pointing at the moon
That’s coming out up yonder, and he calls it
Leprous, because the daylight whitens it.
Seanchan.
He’s holding up his hand above them all
King, Noblemen, Princesses, blessing all.
Who could imagine he’d have so much patience.
First Cripple.
Come out of this.
 

[Clutching other Cripple.

 
Second Cripple.
If you don’t need it, sir,
May we not carry some of it away?
 

[He points to food.

 
Seanchan.
Who’s speaking? Who are you?
First Cripple.
Come out of this.
Second Cripple.
Have pity on us, that must beg our bread
From table to table throughout the entire world
And yet be hungry.
Seanchan.
But why were you born crooked?
What bad poet did your mothers listen to
That you were born so crooked?
First Cripple.
Come away.
Maybe he’s cursed the food and it might kill us.
Second Cripple.
Yes, better come away.
 

[They go out.

 
Seanchan.
[Staggering and speaking wearily.]
He has great strength
And great patience to hold his right hand there
Uplifted and not wavering about;
He is much stronger than I am, much stronger.
 

[He sinks down on steps.

Enter from R. Fedelm, Cian and Brian.

 
Brian.
There he is lying. Go over to him now
And bid him eat.
Fedelm.
I’ll get him out of this
Before I have said a word of food and drink;
For while he is on this threshold and can hear,
It may be, the voices that made mock of him,
He would not listen.
Brian.
That is a good plan.
But there is little time, for he is weakening.
Fedelm.
[Crying.] I cannot think of any other plan
Although it breaks my heart.
Cian.
Let’s leave them now,
For she will press the honey from her bag
When we are gone.
Brian.
It will be hard to move him
If hunger and thirst have got into his bones.
 

[They go out leaving Fedelm and Seanchan alone. Fedelm runs over to Seanchan and kneels down before him.

 
Fedelm.
Seanchan! Seanchan!
 

[He remains looking into the sky.

 
Can you not see me, Seanchan?
It is myself.
 

[Seanchan looks at her dreamily at first, then takes her hand.

 
Seanchan.
Is this your hand, Fedelm?
I have been looking at another hand
That is up yonder.
Fedelm.
I have come for you.
Seanchan.
Fedelm, I did not know that you were here.
Fedelm.
And can you not remember that I promised
That I would come and take you home with me
When I’d the harvest in? and now I’ve come,
And you must come away, and come on the instant.
Seanchan.
Yes, I will come; but is the harvest in?
This air has got a summer taste in it.
Fedelm.
But is not the wild middle of the summer
A better time to marry? Come with me now.
Seanchan.
[Seizing her by both wrists.]
Who taught you that, for it’s a certainty,
Although I never knew it till last night,
That marriage, because it is the height of life,
Can only be accomplished to the full
In the high days of the year. I lay awake,
There had come a frenzy into the light of the stars
And they were coming nearer and I knew
All in a minute they were about to marry
Clods out upon the plough-lands, to beget
A mightier race than any that has been;
But some that are within there made a noise
And frighted them away.
Fedelm.
Come with me now;
We have far to go, and daylight’s running out.
Seanchan.
The stars had come so near me that I caught
Their singing; it was praise of that great race
That would be haughty, mirthful, and white-bodied
With a high head, and open hand, and how
Laughing, it would take the mastery of the world.
Fedelm.
But you will tell me all about their songs
When we’re at home. You have need of rest and care,
And I can give them you when we’re at home,
And therefore let us hurry and get us home.
Seanchan.
That’s true; and there’s some trouble here, although
I cannot now remember what it is,
And I would get away from it. Give me your help.
But why are not my pupils here to help me?
Go, call my pupils, for I need their help.
Fedelm.
Come with me now, and I will send for them,
For I have a great room that’s full of beds
I can make ready, and there is a smooth lawn
Where they can play at hurley and sing poems
Under an apple-tree.
Seanchan.
I know that place,
An apple tree and a smooth level lawn,
Where the young men can sway their hurley sticks.
Sings.
The four rivers that run there,
Through well-mown level ground,
Have come out of a blessed well
That is all bound and wound
By the great roots of an apple,
And all fowls of the air
Have gathered in the wide branches
And keep singing there.
 

[Fedelm, troubled, has covered her eyes with her hands.

 
Fedelm.
No, there are not four rivers, and those rhymes
Praise Adam’s Paradise.
Seanchan.
I can remember now.
It’s out of a poem I made long ago
About the garden in the east of the world,
And how spirits in the images of birds
Crowd in the branches of old Adam’s crab-tree;
They come before me now and dig in the fruit
With so much gluttony, and are so drunk
With that harsh, wholesome savour that their feathers
Are clinging one to another with the juice.
But you would take me to some friendly place,
And I would go there quickly.
Fedelm.
Come with me.
 

[She helps him to rise. He walks slowly, supported by her till he comes to the table at R.

 
Seanchan.
But why am I so weak? Have I been ill?
Sweetheart, why is it that I am so weak?
 

[He sinks on to the seat.

 
Fedelm.
I’ll dip this piece of bread into the wine,
For that will make you stronger for the journey.
Seanchan.
Yes, give me bread and wine, that’s what I want,
For it is hunger that is gnawing me.
 

[He takes bread from Fedelm, hesitates, and then thrusts it back into her hand.

 
But no, I must not eat it.
Fedelm.
Eat, Seanchan,
For if you do not eat it you will die.
Seanchan.
Why did you give me food?
Why did you come?
For had I not enough to fight against
Without your coming?
Fedelm.
Eat this little crust,
Seanchan, if you have any love for me.
Seanchan.
I must not eat it: but that’s beyond your wit;
Child, child, I must not eat it though I die.
Fedelm.
You do not know what love is, for if you loved
You would put every other thought away
But you have never loved me.
Seanchan.
[Seizing her by the wrist.] You, a child,
Who have but seen a man out of the window,
Tell me that I know nothing about love,
And that I do not love you. Did I not say
There was a frenzy in the light of the stars
All through the livelong night, and that the night
Was full of marriages? But that fight’s over.
And all that’s done with, and I have to die.
Fedelm.
[Throwing her arms about him.]
I will not be put from you, although I think
I had not grudged it you if some great lady,
If the King’s daughter, had set out your bed.
I will not give you up to death; no, no,
And are not these white arms and this soft neck
Better than the brown earth?
Seanchan.
I swear an oath
Upon the holy tree that I’ll not eat
Until the King restore the right of the poets.
O Sun and Moon, and all things that have strength,
Become my strength that I may put a curse
On all things that would have me break this oath.
 

[Fedelm has sunk down on the ground while he says this, and crouches at his feet.

 

 
Fedelm.
Seanchan, do not curse me; from this out
I will obey like any married wife.
Let me but lie before your feet.
Seanchan.
Come nearer.
 

[He kisses her.

 
If I had eaten when you bid me, sweetheart,
The kiss of multitudes in times to come
Had been the poorer.
King.
[Entering from house.] Has he eaten yet?
Fedelm.
No, King, and will not till you have restored
The right of the poets.
King.
[Coming down and standing before Seanchan.]
Seanchan, you have refused
Everybody that I have sent, and now
I come to you myself, and I have come
To bid you put your pride as far away
As I have put my pride. I had your love
Not a great while ago, and now you have planned
To put a voice by every cottage fire
And in the night when no one sees who cries
To cry against me till my throne has crumbled.
And yet if I give way I must offend
My courtiers and nobles till they too
Strike at the crown. What would you have of me?
Seanchan.
When did the poets promise safety, King?
King.
Seanchan, I bring you bread in my own hands,
And bid you eat it because of all these reasons,
And for this further reason that I love you.
 

[Seanchan pushes bread away with Fedelm’s hand.

 
You have refused it, Seanchan.
Seanchan.
We have refused it.
King.
I have been patient though I am a king,
And have the means to force you – but that’s ended,
And I am but a king and you a subject.
 

[He goes up steps.

 
Nobles and courtiers, bring the poets hither
For you can have your way: I that was man
With a man’s heart am now all king again,
Remembering that the seed I come of, although
A hundred kings have sown it and re-sown it,
Has neither trembled nor shrunk backward yet
Because of the hard business of a king.
 

[Princesses, Ladies, and Courtiers have come in with Pupils, who have halters round their necks.

 
Speak to your master, beg your life of him,
Show him the halters that are round your necks;
If his heart’s set upon it he may die,
But you shall all die with him; beg your lives;
Begin, for you have little time to lose;
Begin it you that are the oldest pupil.
Senias.
[Going up to Seanchan.]
Die, Seanchan, and proclaim the right of the poets.
King.
Silence, you are as crazy as your master.
But that young boy that seems the youngest of you,
I’d have him speak. Kneel down before him, boy,
Hold up your hands to him that he may pluck
That milky coloured neck out of the noose.
Arias.
Die, Seanchan, and proclaim the right of the poets.
 

[All the Pupils turn towards the King, holding out the ends of their halters.

 
Senias.
Gather the halters up into your hands
And lead us where you will, for in all things
But in our art we are obedient.
 

[The King comes slowly down the steps.

 
King.
[Kneeling down before Seanchan.]
Kneel down, kneel down, he has the greater power.
I give my crown to you.
 

[All kneel except Seanchan, Fedelm and Pupils. Seanchan rises slowly, supported by one of the Pupils and by Fedelm.

 
Seanchan.
O crown, O crown,
It is but right if hands that made the crown
In the old time should give it when they will.
O silver trumpets be you lifted up
 

[He lays the crown on the King’s head.

 
And cry to the great race that is to come.
Long-throated swans among the waves of time
Sing loudly, for beyond the wall of the world
It waits and it may hear and come to us.
 

[Some of the Pupils blow a blast upon their horns.

Curtain