Page:In the Seven Woods, Yeats, 1903.djvu/63

 SECOND OLD KING. I claim the fight, for one of Aoife's galleys

Stole my great cauldron and a herd of pigs.

THIRD OLD KING. No, no I claim it, for at Lammas' time—

CUCHULLAIN. Back! Back! Put up your swords! Put up your swords!

There's none alive that shall accept a challenge

I have refused. Laegaire, put up your sword.

YOUNG MAN. No let them come, let any three together.

If they've a mind to, I'll try it out with four.

CUCHULLAIN. That's spoken as I'd spoken it at your age,

But you are in my house. Whatever man

Would fight with you shall fight it out with me.

They're dumb. They're dumb. How many of you would meet (drawing his sword)

This mutterer, this old whistler, this sand-piper,

This edge that's greyer than the tide, this mouse

That's gnawing at the timbers of the world,

This, this—Boy I would meet them all in arms

If I'd a son like you. He would avenge me

When I have withstood for the last time the men

Whose fathers, brothers, sons, and friends I have killed 51