Page:In the Seven Woods, Yeats, 1903.djvu/60

 You think I am not worthy to be fought,

But I'll not wrangle but with this talkative knife.

CUCHULLAIN. Put up your sword, I am not mocking you

I'd have you for my friend, but if it's not

Because you have a hot heart and a cold eye

I cannot tell the reason. You've got her fierceness

And nobody is as fierce as those pale women.

(to the young kings)

We'll keep him here in Muirthemne awhile.

A YOUNG KING. You are the leader of our pack and therefore

May cry what you will.

CUCHULLAIN. You'll stop with us

And we will hunt the deer and the wild bulls

And, when we have grown weary, light our fires

In sandy places where the wool-white foam

Is murmuring and breaking, and it maybe

That long-haired women will come out of the dunes

To dance in the yellow fire-light; You hang your head

Young man, as if it was not a good life;

And yet what's better than to hurl the spear,

And hear the long-remembering harp, and dance;

Friendship grows quicker in the murmuring dark;

But I can see there's no more need for words 48