Chapter 3

_Scene: The Same. Princess and Nurse_.

_Nurse_: Cheer up now, my honey bird, and don't be fretting.

_Princess_: It is not easy to quit fretting, and the terrible story you are after telling me of all that is before and all that is behind me.

_Nurse_: They had no right at all to go make you aware of it. The Queen has too much talk. An unlucky stepmother she is to you!

_Princess_: It is well for me she is here. It is well I am told the truth, where the whole of you were treating me like a child without sense, so giddy I was and contrary, and petted and humoured by the whole of you. What memory would there be left of me and my little life gone by, but of a headstrong, unruly child with no thought but for myself.

_Nurse_: No, but the best in the world, you are; there is no one seeing you pass by but would love you.

_Princess_: That is not so. I was wild and taking my own way, mocking and humbugging.

_Nurse_: I never will give in that there is no way to save you from that Dragon that is foretold to be your destruction. I would give the four divisions of the world, and Ireland along with them, if I could see you pelting your ball in at the window the same as an hour ago!

_Princess_: Maybe you will, so long as it will hurt nobody.

_Nurse_: Ah, sure it's no wonder there to be the tracks of tears upon your face, and that great terror before you.

_Princess_: I will wipe them away! I will not give in to danger or to dragons! No one will see a dark face on me. I am a king's daughter of Ireland, I did not come out of a herd's hut like Deirdre that went sighing and lamenting till she was put to death, the world being sick and tired of her complaints, and her finger at her eye dripping tears!

_Nurse_: That's right, now. You had always great courage.

_Princess_: There is like a change within me. You never will hear a cross word from me again. I would wish to be pleasant and peaceable until such time ...

_(Puts handkerchief to eyes and goes.)_

_Dall Glic: (Coming in.)_ The King is greatly put out with all he went through, and the way the passion rose in him a while ago.

_Nurse_: That he may be twenty times worse before he is better! Showing such fury towards the innocent child the way he did!

_Dall Glic_: The Queen has brought him to the grass plot for to give him his exercise, walking his seven steps east and west.

_Nurse_: Hasn't she great power over him to make him to that much?

_Dall Glic_: I tell you I am in dread of her myself. Some plan she has for making my two eyes equal. I vexed her someway, and she got queer and humpy, and put a lip on herself, and said she would take me in hand. I declare I never will have a minute's ease thinking of it.

_Nurse_: The King should have done his seven steps, for I hear her coming.

_(Dall Glic goes to recess of window.)_

_Queen: (Coming in.)_ Did you, Nurse, ever at any time turn and dress a dinner?

_Nurse: (Very stiff.)_ Indeed I never did. Any house I ever was in there was a good kitchen and well attended, the Lord be praised!

_Queen_: Ah, but just to be kind and to oblige the King.

_Nurse_: Troth, the same King will wait long till he'll see any dish I will ready for him! I am not one that was reared between the flags and the oven in the corner of the one room! To be a nurse to King's children is my trade, and not to go stirring mashes, for hens or for humans!

_Queen_: I heard a crafty woman lay down one time there was no way to hold a man, only by food and flattery.

_Nurse_: Sure any mother of children walking the road could tell you that much.

_Queen_: I went maybe too far urging him not to lessen so much food the way he did. I only thought to befriend him. But now he is someway upset and nothing will rightly smooth him but to be thinking upon his next meal; and what it will be I don't know, unless the berries of the bush.

_Dall Glic: (Leaning out of the window.)_ Here! Hi! Come this way!

_Queen_: Who are you calling to?

_Dall Glic_: It is someone with the appearance of a cook.

_Queen_: Are you saying it is a cook? That now will put the King in great humour!

_(Manus appears at the window.)_

_Nurse: (Looking at him.)_ I wouldn't hardly think he'd suit. He has a sort of innocent look. I wouldn't say him to be a country lad. I don't know is he fitted to go readying meals for a royal family, and the King so wrathful if they do not please him as he is. And as to the Princess Nu! There to be the size of a hayseed of fat overhead on her broth, she'd fall in a dead faint.

_Manus_: I'll go on so.

_Queen_: No, no. Bring him in till I'll take a look at him!

_Manus: (Coming inside.)_ I am a lad in search of a master.

_Manus: (Inside.)_ I am a lad in search of a master.

_Queen_: And I myself that am wanting a cook.

_Manus_: I got word of that and I going the road.

_Queen_: You would seem to be but a young lad.

_Manus_: I am not very far in age to-day. But I'll be a day older to-morrow.

_Queen_: In what country were you born and reared?

_Manus_: I came from over, and I am coming hither.

_Queen_: What wages now would you be asking?

_Manus_: Nothing at all unless what you think I will have earned at the time I will be leaving your service.

_Queen_: That is very right and fair. I hope you will not be asking too much help. The last cook had a whole fleet of scullions that were no use but to chatter and consume.

_Manus_: I am asking no help at all but the help of the ten I bring with me.

_(Holds up fingers.)_

_Queen_: That will be a great saving in the house! Can I depend upon you now not to be turning to your own use the King's ale and his wine?

_Manus_: If you take me to be a thief I will go upon my road. It was no easier for me to come than to go out again.

_Queen: (Holding him.)_ No, now, don't be so proud and thinking so much of yourself. If I give you trial here I would wish you to be ready to turn your hand to this and that, and not be saying it is or is not your business.

_Manus_: My business is to do as the King wishes.

_Queen_: That's right. That is the way the servants were in the palace of the King of Alban.

_Manus_: That's the way I was myself in the King's house of Sorcha.

_Queen_: Are you saying it is from that place you are come? Sure that should be a great household! The King of Sorcha, they were telling me, has seven castles on land and seven on the sea, and provision for a year and a day in every one of them.

_Manus_: That might be. I never was in more than one of them at the one time.

_Queen_: Anyone that has been in that place would surely be fitting here. Keep him, Nurse! Don't let him make away from us till I will go call the King!

_(Goes out.)_

_Nurse_: Sure it was I myself that fostered the young King of Sorcha and reared him in my lap! What way is he at all? My lovely child! Give me news of him!

_Manus_: I will do that....

_Nurse_: To hear of him would delight me!

_Manus_: It is I that can tell you....

_Nurse_: It is himself should be a grand king!

_Manus_: Listen till you hear!...

_Nurse_: His father was good and his mother was good, and it's likely, himself will be the best of all!

_Manus_: Be quiet now and hearken!...

_Nurse_: I remember well the first day I saw him in the cradle, two and a score of years back! Oh, it is glad, and very glad, I'll be to get word of him!

_Manus_: He is come to sensible years....

_Nurse_: A golden cradle it was and it standing on four golden balls the very round of the sun!

_Manus_: He is out of his cradle now. _(Shakes her shoulder.)_ Let you hearken! He is in need of your help.

_Nurse_: He'll get it, he'll get it. I doted down on that child! The best to laugh and to roar!

_Manus: (Putting hand on her mouth.)_ Will you be silent, you hag of a nurse? Can't you see that I myself am Manus, the new King of Sorcha?

_Nurse: (Starting back.)_ Do you say that? And how's every bit of you? Sure I'd know you in any place. Stand back till I'll get the full of my eyes of you! Like the father you are, and you need never be sorry to be that! Well, I said to myself and you looking in at the window, I would not believe but there's some drop of king's blood in that lad!

_Manus_: That was not what you said to me!

_Nurse_: And wasn't the journey long on you from Sorcha, that is at the rising of the sun? Is it your foot-soldiers and your bullies you brought with you, or did you come with your hound and your deer-hound and with your horn?

_Manus_: There was no one knew of my journey. I came bare alone. I threw a shell in the sea and made a boat of it, and took the track of the wild duck across the mountains of the waves.

_Nurse_: And where in the world wide did you get that dress of a cook?

_Manus_: It was at a tailor's place near Oughtmana. There was no one in the house but the mother. I left my own clothes in her charge and my purse of gold; I brought nothing but my own blue sword. _(Throws open blouse and shows it.)_ She gave me this suit, where a cook from this house had thrown it down in payment for a drink of milk. I have no mind any person should know I am a king. I am letting on to be a cook.

_Nurse_: I would sooner you to come as a champion seeking battle, or a horseman that had gone astray, or so far as a poet making praises or curses according to his treatment on the road. It would be a bad day I would see your father's son taken for a kitchen boy.

_Manus_: I was through the world last night in a dream. It was dreamed to me that the King's daughter in this house is in a great danger.

_Nurse_: So she is, at the end of a twelvemonth.

_Manus_: My warning was for this day. Seeing her under trouble in my dream, my heart was hot to come to her help. I am here to save her, to meet every troublesome thing that will come at her.

_Nurse_: Oh, my heavy blessing on you doing that!

_Manus_: I was not willing to come as a king, that she would feel tied and bound to live for if I live, or to die with if I should die. I am come as a poor unknown man, that may slip away after the fight, to my own kingdom or across the borders of the world, and no thanks given him and no more about him, but a memory of the shadow of a cook!

_Nurse_: I would not think that to be right, and you the last of your race. It is best for you to tell the King.

_Manus_: I lay my orders on you to tell no one at all.

_Nurse_: Give me leave but to _whisper_ it to the Princess Nu. It's ye would be the finest two the world ever saw. You will not find her equal in all Ireland!

_Manus_: I lay it as crosses and as spells on you to say no word to her or to any other that will make known my race or my name. Give me now your oath.

_Nurse: (Kneeling.)_ I do, I do. But they will know you by your high looks.

_Manus_: Did you yourself know me a while ago?

_Nurse: (Getting up.)_ Oh, they're coming! Oh, my poor child, what way will you that never handled a spit be able to make out a dinner for the King?

_Manus_: This silver whistle, that was her pipe of music, was given to me by a queen among the Sidhe that is my godmother. At the sound of it that will come through the air any earthly thing I wish for, at my command.

_Nurse_: Let it be a dinner so.

_Manus_: So it will come, on a green tablecloth carried by four swans as white as snow. The freshest of every meat, the oldest of every drink, nuts from the trees in Adam's Paradise!

_(King, Queen, Princess, Dall Glic come in. Princess sits on window sill.)_

_Queen: (To King.)_ Here now, my dear. Wasn't I telling you I would take all trouble from your mind, and that I would not be without finding a cook for you?

_King_: He came in a good hour. The want of a right dinner has downed kingdoms before this.

_Queen_: Travelling he is in search of service from the kings of the earth. His wages are in no way out of measure.

_King_: Is he a good hand at his trade?

_Queen_: Honest he is, I believe, and ready to give a hand here and there.

_King_: What way does he handle flesh, I'd wish to know? And all that comes up from the tide? Bream, now; that is a fish is very pleasant to me--stewed or fried with butter till the bones of it melt in your mouth. There is nothing in sea or strand but is the better of a quality cook--only oysters, that are best left alone, being as they are all gravy and fat.

_Queen_: I didn't question him yet about cookery.

_King_: It's seldom I met a woman with right respect for food, but for show and silly dishes and trash that would leave you in the finish as dwindled as a badger on St. Bridget's day.

_Queen_: If this youth of a young man was able to give satisfaction at the King of Sorcha's Court, I am sure that he will make a dinner to please yourself.

_Manus_: I will do more than that. I will dress a dinner that will please _my_self.

_Princess: (Clapping hands.)_ Very well said!

_King_: Sound out now some good dishes such as you used to be giving in Sorcha, and the Queen will put them down in a line of writing, that I can be thinking about them till such time as you will have them readied.

_Queen_: There are sheeps' trotters below; you might know some tasty way to dress them.

_Manus_: I do surely. I'll put the trotters within a fowl, and the fowl within a goose, and the goose in a suckling pig, and the suckling pig in a fat lamb, and the lamb in a calf, and the calf in a Maderalla ...

_King_: What now is a Maderalla?

_Manus_: He is a beast that saves the cook trouble, swallowing all those meats one after another--in Sorcha.

_King_: That should be a very pretty dish. Let you go make a start with it the way we will not be famished before nightfall. Bring him, Dall Glic, to the larder.

_Dall Glic_: I'm in dread it's as good for him to stop where he is.

_King_: What are you saying?

_Dall Glic_: Those lads of apprentices that left nothing in it only bare hooks.

_Nurse_: It is the Queen would give no leave for more provision to come in, saying there was no one to prepare it.

_Manus_: If that is so, I will be forced to lay my orders on the Hawk of the Grey Rock and the Brown Otter of the Stream to bring in meat at my bidding.

_King_: Hurry on so.

_Queen_: I myself will go and give you instructions what way to use the kitchen.

_Manus_: Not at all! What I do I'd as lief do in your own royal parlour! _(Blows whistle; two dark-skinned men come in with vessels.)_ Give me here those pots and pans!

_Queen_: What now is about to take place?

_Dall Glic_: I not to be blind, I would say those to be very foreign-looking men.

_King_: It would seem as if the world was grown to be very queer.

_Queen_: So it is, and the mastery being given to a cook.

_Manus_: So it should be too! It is the King of Shades and Shadows would have rule over the world if it wasn't for the cooks!

_King_: There's some sense in that now.

_(Strange men are moving and arranging baskets and vessels.)_

_Manus_: There was respect for cooks in the early days of the world. What way did the Sons of Tuireann get their death but going questing after a cooking spit at the bidding of Lugh of the Long Hand! And if a spit was worthy of the death of heroes, what should the man be worth that is skilled in turning it? What is the difference between man and beast? Beast and bird devour what they find and have no power to change it. But we are Druids of those mysteries, having magic and virtue to turn hard grain to tender cakes, and the very skin of a grunting pig to crackling causing quarrels among champions, and it singing upon the coals. A cook! If I am I am not without good generations before me! Who was the first old father of us, roasting and reddening the fruits of the earth from hard to soft, from bitter to kind, till they are fit for a lady's platter? What is it leaves us in the hard cold of Christmas but the robbery from earth of warmth for the kitchen fire of _(takes off cap)_ the first and foremost of all master cooks--the Sun!

_Princess_: You are surely not ashamed of your trade!

_Manus_: To work now, to work. I'll engage to turn out a dinner fit for Pharaoh of Egypt or Pharamond King of the Franks! Here, Queen, is a silver-breast phoenix--draw out the feathers--they are pure silver--fair and clean. _(Queen plucks eagerly.)_ King, take your golden sceptre and stir this pot.

_(Gives him one.)_

_King: (Interested.)_ What now is in it?

_Manus_: A broth that will rise over the side and be consumed and split if you stop stirring it for one minute only! _(King stirs furiously.)_ Princess _(She is looking on and he goes over to her)_, there are honey cakes to roll out, but I will not ask you to do it in dread that you might spoil the whiteness ...

_Princess_: I have no mind to do it.

_Manus_: Of the flour!

_Princess_: Give them here.

_(Rolls them out indignantly.)_

_Manus_: That is right. Take care, King, would the froth swell over the brim.

_Princess_: It seems to me you are doing but little yourself.

_Manus_: I will turn now and ... boil these eggs.

_(Takes some on a plate; they roll off.)_

_Princess_: You have broken them.

_Manus: (Disconcerted.)_ It was to show you a good trick, how to make them sit up on the narrow end.

_Princess_: That is an old trick in the world.

_Manus_: Every trick is an old one, but with a change of players, a change of dress, it comes out as new as before. Princess _(speaks low)_, I have a message to give you and a pardon to ask.

_Princess_: Give me out the message.

_Manus_: Take courage and keep courage through this day. Do not let your heart fail. There is help beside you.

_Princess_: It has been a troublesome day indeed. But there is a worse one and a great danger before me in the far away.

_Manus_: That danger will come to-day, the message said in the dream. Princess, I have a pardon to ask you. I have been playing vanities. I think I have wronged you doing this. It was surely through no want of respect.

_Gatekeeper: (Coming in.)_ There is word come from Ballyvelehan there is a coach and horses facing for this place over from Oughtmana.

_Queen_: Who would that be?

_Gatekeeper_: Up on the hill a woman was, brought word it must be some high gentleman. She could see all colours in the coach, and flowers on the horse's heads.

_Goes out_.)

_Dall Glic_: That is good hearing. I was in dread some man we would have no welcome for would be the first to come in this day.

_Queen_: Not a fear of it. I had orders given to the Gateman who he would and would not keep out. I did that the very minute after the King making his proclamation and his law.

_King_: Pup, pup. You need not be drawing that down.

_Queen_: It is well you have myself to care you and to turn all to good. I gave orders to the Gateman, I say, no one to be let in to the door unless carriage company, no other ones, even if they should wipe their feet upon the mat. I notched that in his mind, telling him the King was after promising the Princess Nu in marriage to the first man that would come into the house.

_Manus_: The King gave out that word?

_Queen_: I am after saying that he did.

_Dall Glic_: Come along, lad. Don't be putting ears on yourself.

_Manus_: I ask the King did he give out that promise as the Queen says?

_King_: I have but a poor memory.

_Nurse_: The King did say it within the hour, and swore to it by the oath of his people, taking contracts of the sun and moon of the air!

_Dall Glic_: What is it to you if he did? Come on, now.

_Manus_: No. This is a matter that concerns myself.

_Queen_: How do you make that out?

_Manus_: You, that called me in, know well that I was the first to come into the house.

_Queen_: Ha, ha! You have the impudence! It is a _man_ the King said. He was not talking about cooks.

_Manus: (To the King.)_ I am before you as a serving lad, and you are a King in Ireland. Because you are a King and I your hired servant you will not refuse me justice. You gave your word.

_King_: If I did it was in haste and in vexation, and striving to save her from destruction.

_Manus_: I call you to keep to your word and to give your daughter to no other one.

_Queen_: Speak out now, Dall Glic, and give your opinion and your advice.

_Dall Glic_: I would say that this lad going away would be no great loss.

_Manus_: I did not ask such a thing, but as it has come to me I will hold to my right.

_Queen_: It would be right to throw him to the hounds in the kennel!

_Manus: (To King.)_ I leave it to the judgment of your blind wise man.

_Queen: (To Dall Glic.)_ Take care would you offend myself or the King!

_Manus_: I put it on you to split justice as it is measured outside the world.

_Dall Glic_: It is hard for me to speak. He has laid it hard on me. My good eye may go asleep, but my blind eye never sleeps. In the place where it is waking, an honourable man, king or beggar, is held to his word.

_King_: Is it that I must give my daughter to a lad that owns neither clod nor furrow? Whose estate is but a shovel for the ashes and a tongs for the red coals.

_Queen_: It is likely he is urged by the sting of greed--it is but riches he is looking for.

_King_: I will not begrudge him his own asking of silver and of gold!

_Manus_: Throw it out to the beggars on the road! I would not take a copper half-penny! I'll take nothing but what has come to me from your own word!

_(King bows his head.)_

_Princess: (Coming forward.)_ Then this battle is not between you and an old king that is feeble, but between yourself and myself.

_Manus_: I am sorry, Princess, if it must be a battle.

_Princess_: You can never bring me away against my will.

_Manus_: I said no word of doing that.

_Princess_: You think, so, I will go with you of myself? The day I will do that will be the day you empty the ocean!

_Manus_: I will not wait longer than to-day.

_Princess_: Many a man waited seven years for a king's daughter!

_Manus_: And another seven--and seven generations of hags. But that is not my nature. I will not kneel to any woman, high or low, or crave kindness that she cannot give.

_Princess_: Then I can go free!

_Manus_: For this day I take you in my charge. I cross and claim you to myself, unless a better man will come.

_Princess_: I would think it easier to find a better man than one that would be worse to me!

_Manus_: If one should come that you think to be a better man, I will give you your own way.

_Princess_: It is you being in the world at all that is my grief.

_Manus_: Time makes all things clear. You did not go far out in the world yet, my poor little Princess.

_Princess_: I would be well pleased to drive you out through the same world!

_Manus_: With or without your goodwill, I will not go out of this place till I have carried out the business I came to do.

_Dall Glic_: Is it the falling of hailstones I hear or the rumbling of thunder, or is it the trots of horses upon the road?

_Queen: (Looking out.)_ It is the big man that is coming--Prince or Lord or whoever he may be. _(To Dall Glic.)_ Go now to the door to welcome him. This is some man worth while. _(To Manus.)_ Let you get out of this.

_Manus_: No, whoever he is I'll stop and face him. Let him know we are players in the one game!

_King_: And what sort of a fool will you make of me, to have given in to take the like of you for a son-in-law? They will be putting ridicule on me in the songs.

_Queen_: If he must stop here we might put some face on him.... If I had but a decent suit.... Give me your cloak, Dall Glic. _(He gives it.)_ Here now ... _(To Manus.)_ Put this around you.... _(Manus takes it awkwardly.)_ It will cover up your kitchen suit.

_Manus_: Is it this way?

_Queen_: You have no right handling of it--stupid clown! This way!

_Manus: (Flinging it off.)_ No, I'll change no more suits! It is time for me to stop fooling and give you what you did not ask yet, my name. I will tell out all the truth.

_Gatekeeper: (At door.)_ The King of Sorcha! _(Taig comes in.)_

_King and Queen_: The King of Sorcha! _(They rush forward to greet him.)_

_Nurse: (To Manus.)_ Did ever anyone hear the like!

_Manus_: It seems as if there will be a judgment between the man and the clothes!

_Queen: (To Taig.)_ There is someone here that you know, King. This young man is giving out that he was your cook.

_Taig_: He was not. I never laid an eye on him till this minute.

_Queen_: I was sure he was nothing but a liar when he said he would tell the truth! Now, King, will you turn him out the door?

_King_: And what about the great dinner he has me promised?

_Manus_: Be easy King. Whether or no you keep your word to me I'll hold to mine! _(Blows whistle.)_ In with the dishes! Take your places! Let the music play out!

_(Music plays, the strange men wheel in tables and dishes.)_

CURTAIN