Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 15, 1904.djvu/46

32 but seven years of age." "Seven bitter years," said Deirdre, "since I beheld the joyous sports on the green, and the games of the boys; yet even at that time Naisi surpassed all the youths of Emania." "Naisi, the son of Usnach?" said Levarcham. "Naisi was his name, he told me so," said Deirdre, "But I did not ask whose son he was." "He told you so!" exclaimed Levarcham. "He told me so," said Deirdre, "when he threw the ball, by a mis-cast, backwards, across the heads of the group of maidens who were standing on the edge of the Green, and I rose from among them all, and picked up the ball, and gave it back to him, and he pressed my hand joyously." "He pressed your hand, girl!" cried Levarcham. "He pressed it lovingly, and said that he would see me again, but it has been difficult for him, and not until yesterday have I seen him since; and O gentle nurse, if you would not wish me to die, take a message to him from me, and bid him come and talk with me to-night, without the knowledge of Cailcin or any other person."

Again Levarcham objects that the difficulties are insurmountable, and in especial that Naisi is much beloved of the king, who is his near relation. Deirdre will admit no impediment, and she ends by bidding her nurse remember that Naisi has great territories in Alba (Scotland), and that she would have her tell him how much greater is her love for him than for the king. "Tell him that yourself, if you can," cries Levarcham, as she ultimately goes away to do Deirdre's bidding.

Finally Naisi carries her off, not to a painful circuit through various parts of Ireland, as in the earlier version, but directly to his own possessions in Alba.

Now, pretty as this modern version is, it has quite parted with the heroic elements of the earlier romance.

This fanciful, sensitive girl, who trims snowballs into the shape of her lover's head, who dissolves into tears and betakes herself to the sofa, who falls into a faint at sight of the three colours that have possessed her imagination, is as