The Green Helmet and Other Poems Part 7

Conall has got it, the best man has got it, and I am his man.

CUCHULAIN

Who was it started this quarrel?

A STABLE BOY

It was Laeg.

ANOTHER

It was Laeg done it all.

LAEG

A high, wide, foxy man came where we sat in the hall, Getting our supper ready, with a great voice like the wind, And cried that there was a helmet, or something of the kind, That was for the foremost man upon the ridge of the earth.

So I cried your name through the hall,

[_The others cry out and blow horns, partly drowning the rest of his speech_]

but they denied its worth, Preferring Laegaire or Conall, and they cried to drown my voice; But I have so strong a throat that I drowned all their noise Till they took to the hunting horns and blew them into my face, And as neither side would give in--we would settle it in this place.

Let the Helmet be taken from Conall.

A STABLE BOY

No, Conall is the best man here.

ANOTHER

Give it to Laegaire that made the murderous cats pay dear.

CUCHULAIN

It has been given to none: that our rivalry might cease, We have turned that murderous cat into a cup of peace.

I drank the first; and then Conall; give it to Laegaire now,

[_CONALL gives Helmet to LAEGAIRE_]

That it may purr in his hand and all of our servants know That since the ale went in, its claws went out of sight.

A SERVANT

That's well--I will stop my shouting.

ANOTHER

Cuchulain is in the right; I am tired of this big horn that has made me hoa.r.s.e as a rook.

LAEG

Cuchulain, you drank the first.

ANOTHER

By drinking the first he took The whole of the honours himself.

LAEG

Cuchulain, you drank the first.

ANOTHER

If Laegaire drink from it now he claims to be last and worst.

ANOTHER

Cuchulain and Conall have drunk.

ANOTHER

He is lost if he taste a drop.

LAEGAIRE

[_Laying Helmet on table_]

Did you claim to be better than us by drinking first from the cup?

CUCHULAIN

[_His words are partly drowned by the murmurs of the crowd though he speaks very loud_]

That juggler from the sea, that old red herring it is Who has set us all by the ears--he brought the Helmet for this, And because we would not quarrel he ran elsewhere to shout That Conall and Laegaire wronged me, till all had fallen out.

[_The murmur grows less so that his words are heard_]

Who knows where he is now or who he is spurring to fight?

So get you gone, and whatever may cry aloud in the night, Or show itself in the air, be silent until morn.

A SERVANT

Cuchulain is in the right--I am tired of this big horn.

CUCHULAIN

Go!

[_The Servants turn toward the door but stop on hearing the voices of Women outside_]