.A-^<: LIBRARY ^ IWIVeilSfTY Of ciww )w Wn^v^- ^I^Jr THE SHADOWY WATERS THE SHADOWY WATERS BY W. B. YEATS LONDON: HODDER AND STOUGHTON 27 PATERNOSTER ROW : MCM Edinburgh : T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty I TO LADY GREGORY 967 / walked among the seven woods of Coole^ Shan-walla^ where a willow-bordered pond Gathers the wild duck from the winter dawn ; Shady Kyle-dortha ; sunnier Kyle-na-gno Where many hundred squirrels are as happy As though they had been hidden by green boughs Where old age cannot find them ; Pairc-na-lea^ Where hazel and ash and privet blind the paths ; Dim P air c-na-c arraign where the wild bees fling Their sudden fragrances on the green air ; Dim Pairc-na-tarav, where enchanted eyes Have seen immortal, mild, proud shadows walk ; Dim Inchy wood, that hides badger and fox And martin-cat, and borders that old wood Wise Biddy Early called the wicked wood : Seven odours, seven murmurs, seven woods. 7 / had not eyes like those enchanted eyes^ Yet dreamed that beings happier than men Moved round me in the shadows^ and at night My dreams were cloven by voices and by fires ; And the images I have woven in this story Of Forgael and Dectora and the empty waters Moved round me in the voices and the fires; And more I may not write of for them that cleave The waters of sleep can make a chattering tongue Heavy like stone^ their wisdom being half silence. How shall I name you^ immortal^ mild, proud shadows ? I only know that all we know comes from yoUy And that you come from Eden on flying feet. Is Eden far away, or do you hide From human thought, as hares and mice and coneys That run before the reaping-hook and lie 8 In the last ridge of the barley ? Do our woods And winds and ponds cover more quiet woods ^ More shining winds^ more star-glimmering ponds ? Is Eden out of time and out of space ? And do you gather about us when pale light Shining on water and fallen among leaves^ And winds blowing from flowers^ and whirr of O feathers And the green quiety have uplifted the heart ? I have made this poem for you, that men may read it Before they read of Forgael and Dectora^ As men in the old times^ before the harps began^ Poured out wine for the high invisible ones. September 1900. THE SHADOWY WATERS FORGAEL AIBRIC DECTORA SAILORS THE deck of a galley. The steering-oar, which comes through the bulwark, is to the left hand. One looks along the deck toward the high forecastle, which is partly hidden by a great square sail. The sail is drawn in toward the stern at the left side, and is high enough above the deck at the right side to show a little of the deck beyond and of the forecastle. Three rows of hounds, the first dark, the second red, and the third white with red ears, make a conventional pattern upon the sail. The sea is hidden in mist, and there is no light except when the moon makes a brightness in the mist, FoRGAEL is sleeping upon skins a few yards forward of the steering-oar. He has a silver lily embroidered over his breast. A small harp lies beside him. Aibric and two sailors stand about the steering-oar. One of the sailors is steering. THE HELMSMAN His face has never gladdened since he came Out of that island where the fool of the wood Played on his harp. 13 THE OTHER SAILOR And I would be as sad But that the wind changed ; for I followed him And heard the music in the wind, and saw A red hound running from a silver arrow. I drew my sword to fling it in a pool, — I have forgotten wherefore. THE HELMSMAN The red hound Was Forgael's courage that the music killed. THE OTHER SAILOR How many moons have died from the full moon When something that was bearded like a goat Walked on the waters and bid Forgael seek His heart's desire where the world dwindles out ? THE HELMSMAN Nine moons. THE OTHER SAILOR And from the harping of the fool ? THE HELMSMAN Three |moons. THE OTHER SAILOR It were best to kill him, and choose out Another leader, and turn home agaia. THE HELMSMAN I had killed him long ago, but that the fool Gave him his harp. THE OTHER SAILOR Now that he is asleep, 15 He cannot wake the god that hides in it. {The two sailors go nearer to Forgael and half draw their swords.) AIBRIC And whom will you make leader ? Who will make A path among these waves and weigh the wind ? Not I, nor Maine there, nor Duach's son. Be patient yet a while ; for this ninth moon, Being the moon of birth, may end our doubt. (Forgael rises. The two sailors hurry past him^ and disappear beyond the sail. Forgae l takes the steering-oar^ forgael So these would have killed Forgael while asleep Because a god has made him wise with dreams ; And you, my Aibric, who have been a King And spoken in the Council, and heard tales i6 That druids write on yew and apple wood, Are doubtful like these pullers of the oar ! AIBRIC I doubt your wisdom, but do not doubt my love. Had I not gold and silver, and enough Of pasture-land and plough-land among the hills ? And when you came, the North under your sails. And praised your war among the endless seas, Did I not follow with a score of ships ? And now they are all gone, I follow still. FORGAEL But would turn home again, AIBRIC No man had doubts When we rowed north, singing above the oars, c 17 And harried Alban towns, and overthrew The women-slingers on the Narrow Bridge, And passed the Outer Hebrides, and took Armlets of gold or shields with golden nails From hilly Lochlann ; but our sail has passed Even the wandering islands of the gods. And hears the roar of the streams where, druids say, Time and the world and all things dwindle out. FORGAEL Do you remember, Aibric, how you bore A captive woman from the Narrow Bridge, And, though you loved her, gave her up to me ? AIBRIC I thought she loved you, and I thought her love Would overcome your sorrow and your dreams. But you grew weary of her. FORGAEL When I hold A woman in my arms, she sinks away As though the waters had flowed up between ; And yet, there is a love that the gods give, When Aengus and his Edaine wake from sleep And gaze on one another through our eyes. And turn brief longing and deceiving hope And bodily tenderness to the soft fire That shall burn time when times have ebbed away. The fool foretold me I would find this love Among those streams, or on their cloudy edge. AIBRIC No man nor woman has loved otherwise Than in brief longing and deceiving hope And bodily tenderness ; and he who longs 19 For happier love but finds unhappiness. And falls among the dreams the drowsy gods Breathe on the burnished mirror of the world And then smooth out with ivory hands and sigh. Forgael, seek out content, where other men Have found delight, in the resounding oars, In day out-living battle, on the breast Of some mild woman, or in children's ways. FORGAEL The fool that came out of the wintry wood Taught me wise music, and gave me this old harp ; And were all dreams, it would not weigh in the hand. AIBRIC It was a fool that gave it, and may be Out of mere wantonness to lure a sail Among the waters that no pilot knows. 20 FORGAEL I have good pilots, Aibric. When men die They are changed and as grey birds fly out to sea, And I have heard them call from wind to wind How all that die are borne about the world In the cold streams, and wake to their desire. It may be, before the winds of birth have waked ; Upon clear nights they leave the upper air And fly among the foam. A SAILOR {Running from the forecastle) Thrust down the helm, For I have seen a ship hid in the fog. Look ! there she lies under a flapping sail. 21 FORGAEL (To AlBRIc) Give me the helm : call hither those who lie Upon the rowers' benches underneath, And bid them hide in shadow of the sail, Or crowd behind the bulwark, that we seem A trading galley in her helmsman's eyes. (AiBRic goes toward the forecastle.) It may be now that I can go my way And no man kill me ; for some wind has blown A galley from the Lochlann seas ; her flag Is folding and unfolding, and in its folds Her raven flutters. Rob him of his food Or be his food, I follow the grey wings, And need no more of life till the white wings Of Aengus' birds gleam in their apple boughs. (jTwo sailors come creeping along the right bulwark.) 22 THE FOREMOST OF THE TWO SAILORS It were better to pass by, because the gods Make galleys out of wind that change to wind When one has leapt on board. THE HINDERMOST OF THE TWO SAILORS No, for I have hope Forgael may find his heart's desire on board And turn his galley about and bring me home. (Two more sailors come creeping along the right bulwark.^ THE FOREMOST OF THE TWO SAILORS I swore but yesterday if the Red God Would end this peaceful life that rots the bones, None should escape my sword : I would send all To mind his cows and swine by the Red Lake. *3 THE HINDERMOST OF THE TWO SAILORS He has heard me and not you. Nine days ago I promised him that none should escape my sword But women and jugglers and players on the harp. THE FOREMOST OF THE TWO SAILORS He has heard me because I promised all. {^here are sailors now along the whole bulwark and sailors in the shadow of the sail.) FORGAEL Bend lower lest your battle-axes glimmer. The tide narrows between, and one old man Nods by the helm, and nearer to the sail A woman lies among embroideries. Near by, but in the shadow of the sail, A boy and girl hold one another's hands ; Their hair mingles on some stringed instrument, And a string murmurs as though Time were dead 24 Or a god hid them under the shadow of wings. Beyond the saQ a man with a red crown Leans on his elbows, gazing at the sea. When you are aboard the Lochlann galley, lash Bulwark to bulwark, and square her sail by ours. Now rush upon her and find out what prey Best pleases you. {The sailors climb over the bulwarks beyond the sail. FoRGAEL is left alone.') A VOICE ON THE OTHER SHIP Armed men have come upon us. ANOTHER VOICE Wake all below. A MORE DISTANT VOICE Why have you broken our sleep ? D 25 THE FIRST VOICE Armed men have come upon us. O ! I am slain ! {There is a sound of fighting?) FORGAEL A grey bird has flown by. He has flown upward. He hovers above the mast and waits his kind ; When all gather they will fly upon their way, I shall find out if I have lost my way Among these misty waters. Two ! Now four ! Now four together ! I shall hear their words . If I go nearer to the windward side, For there are sudden voices in my ears. {He goes to the right bulwark^ Two hover there together, and one says, ' How light we are now we are changed to birds ! * And the other answers, ' Maybe we shall find 26 Our hearts' desire now that we are so light.* And then one asks another how he died, And says, 'A sword-blade pierced me in my sleep.' And now they all wheel suddenly and fly To the other side and higher in the air. {He crosses over to the other bulwark.) They are still waiting ; and now the laggard comes, And she cries out, ' I have fled to my beloved In the waste air. I will wander by his side Among the windy meadows of the dawn.' They have flown away together. We are nearly A quarter of the heavens from our right way. {He goes to the steering-oar. 'Two sailors come from the other ship dragging a long rope^ which they fasten to the mast.) ONE OF THE SAILORS But will it hold while we are emptying her "? 27 THE OTHER SAILOR While the wind is light. FORGAEL The oar can hardly move her, And I must lose more time because these fools Believe that gold and women taken in war Are better than the woods where no love fades From its first sighs and laughter, before the sleep, Whose shadow is the sleep that comes with love, Ends all things. (^More sailors have come from the other ship. One of them carries a crown of gold and of rubies. One of them leads Dectora, who has a rose embroidered over her breast.') AN OLD SAILOR I have slain the Lochlann king. 28 FORGAEL You have done well, because my bows are turned Towards a country where there are no kings. A SAILOR (^Laying the crown at Forgael's/^^/) I have brought his crown. THE OLD SAILOR And I have brought his queen. I would have spared her handmaid, but she caught This blade out of my hand and died of a sudden. ANOTHER SAILOR She offers great rewards if we turn east And bring her to her kingdom and her people. 29 FORGAEL My way is west. She seems both young and shapely ; Give her to Aibric, if he will. I wait For an immortal woman, as I think. {He goes nearer to Dectora, gazing at her.) THE OLD SAILOR I left her living, thinking that I had found Your heart's desire and the end of all our trouble ; But now I will kill her. (FoRGAEL motions him away.) FORGAEL All comes to an end. The harvest 's in ; the granary doors are shut ; The topmost blossom on the boughs of Time Has blossomed, and I grow as old as Time, 30 For I have all his garden wisdom. O speak ! I await your words as the blind grass awaits The falling blossoms, and the dead the living. DECTORA I will swear by sun and moon to pardon all And to give wealth of oxen and sheep to all ; And to give you besides a hundred shields, A hundred swords, a hundred drinking-bowls. A SAILOR Cover your ears ; for once we had moored our galley Beside a Lochlann wharf, and though she had sworn By sun and moon and a hundred gods as well, She would weave a net to take us, 31 ANOTHER SAILOR She might keep faith : The gods hold watch about the words of a queen. FORGAEL Have the winds blown you among these empty waters ? A SAILOR She will answer now like any waiting woman Because these waters make all women one. DECTORA I and that mighty king a sudden blow And evil fortune have overthrown sailed hither Because I had hoped to come, as dreams foretold, Where gods are brooding in a mountainous place 32 That murmurs with holy woods, and win their help To conquer among the countries of the north. I have found nothing but these empty waters : I have turned homewards. FORGAEL In the eyes of the gods, War-laden galleys, and armies on white roads. And unforgotten names, and the cold stars That have built all are dust on a moth's wing. These are their lures, but they have set their hearts On tears and laughter ; they have lured you hither And lured me hither, that you might be my love. Aengus looks on you when I look : he awaits Till his Edaine, no longer a golden fly Among the winds, looks under your pale eyelids. B 33 D ECTOR A {To the sailors) Is it your will that I, who am a queen Among the queens, and chose the mightiest Of the twelve kings of the world to be my king, Become a stranger's leman ; and that you. Who might have flocks and herds and many thralls. Be pullers of the oar until you die ? A SAILOR She bids us follow her. ANOTHER SAILOR I have grown weary Of following Forgael's dream from wind to wind. ANOTHER SAILOR Give me a hundred sheep. 34 ANOTHER SAILOR Give me a house Well sheltered from the winds, and fruitful fields, And a strong galley. DECTORA I give you all as much. ANOTHER SAILOR And will you swear never to be avenged For those among your people that are dead ? DECTORA I swear it, though I gladly would lie down With one you have killed and die ; for when I left My foster-mother's garden in the south I ceased to be a woman, being a queen. 35 ANOTHER SAILOR And will you swear it by the sun and moon ? DECTORA I swear it. ANOTHER SAILOR Let every man draw out his sword. Gather about him, that the gods may not know The hand that wounds him, because the gods are his friends. (FoRGAEL has taken the harp in his hands and is leaning against the bulwark. 'The sailors draw their swords^ and come toward him. FoRGAEL plays slowly and faintly^ A SAILOR A white bird beats his wings upon my face. 36 ANOTHER SAILOR A white bird has torn me with his silver claws. ANOTHER SAILOR I am blind and deaf because of the white wings. ANOTHER SAILOR I am afraid of the harp. ANOTHER SAILOR O ! wings on wings ! DECTORA He has thrown a druid dream upon the air. Strike quickly ; it will fade out when you strike. A SAILOR I am afraid of his low-laughing harp. (FoRGAEL changes the air.) 37 DECTORA {Looking over the bulwark in a half dream) I shall be home now in a little while, Hearing the harpers play, the pine-wood crackle, The handmaids laugh and whisper in the door. A SAILOR Who said we had a skin of yellow ale ? ANOTHER SAILOR I said the ale was brown. ANOTHER SAILOR {IFho has gone into the other ship) I have found the ale, I had thrown it down behind this coil of rope. ANOTHER SAILOR Forgael can die to-morrow. Come to the ale. 38 ANOTHER SAILOR Come to the ale ; for he can die to-morrow. (^^hey go on to the other ship.) AIBRIC (JVho lingers^ looking at Dectora) She will say something in a little while, And I shall laugh with joy. a voice on the other ship Come hither, Aibric, And tell me a love-story while I drink. aibric Ah, well ! they are calling me — they are calling me. {He goes forward and into the other ship.) 39 FOR GAEL How little and reedy a sound awakes a god To cry his folding cry ! (//