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ir stout cudgels under their arms。 as they rode over the bogs and in the boreens among the hills they could see fire answering fire from hill to hill； from horizon to horizon； and everywhere groups who danced in the red light on the turf； celebrating the bridal of life and fire。 when they came to dermotts house they saw before the door an unusually large group of the very poor； dancing about a fire； in the midst of which was a blazing cartwheel； that circular dance which is so ancient that the gods； long dwindled to be but fairies； dance no other in their secret places。 from the door and through the long loop？holes on either side came the pale light of candles and the sound of many feet dancing a dance of elizabeth and james。
they tied their horses to bushes； for the number so tied already showed that the stables were full； and shoved their way through a crowd of peasants who stood about the door； and went into the great hall where the dance was。 the labourer； the half？witted fellow； the farmer and the two lads mixed with a group of servants who were looking on from an alcove； and duallach sat with the pipers on their bench； but costello made his way through the dancers to where dermott of the sheep stood with namara of the lake pouring poteen out of a porcelain jug into horn noggins with silver rims。
tumaus costello； said the old man； you have done a good deed to forget what has been； and to fling away enmity and e to the betrothal of my daughter to namara of the lake。
i e； answered costello； because when in the time of costello de angalo my forbears overcame your forbears and afterwards made peace； a pact was made that a costello might go with his body？servants and his piper to every feast given by a dermott for ever； and a dermott with his body？servants and his piper to every feast given by a costello for ever。
if you e with evil thoughts and armed men； said the son of dermott flushing； no matter how strong your hands to wrestle and to swing the sword； it shall go badly with you； for some of my wifes clan have e out of mayo； and my three brothers and their servants have e down from the ox mountains； and while he spoke he kept his hand inside his coat as though upon the handle of a weapon。
no； answered costello； i but e to dance a farewell dance with your daughter。
dermott drew his hand out of his coat and went over to a tall pale girl who was now standing but a little way off with her mild eyes fixed upon the ground。
costello has e to dance a farewell dance； for he knows that you will never see one another again。
the girl lifted her eyes and gazed at costello； and in her gaze was that trust of the humble in the proud； the gentle in the violent； which has been the tragedy of woman from the beginning。 costello led her among the dancers； and they were soon drawn into the rhythm of the pavane； that stately dance which； with the saraband； the gallead； and the morrice dances； had driven out； among all but the most irish of the gentry； the quicker rhythms of the verse？interwoven； pantomimic dances of earlier days； and while they danced there came over them the unutterable melancholy； the weariness with the world； the poignant and bitter pity for one another； the vague anger against mon hopes and fears； which is the exultation of love。 and when a dance ended and the pipers laid down their pipes and lifted their horn noggins； they stood a little from the others waiting pensively and silently for the dance to begin again and the fire in their hearts to leap up and to wrap them anew； and so they danced and danced pavane and saraband and gallead and morrice through the night long； and many stood still to watch them； and the peasants came about the door and peered in； as though they understood that they would gather their childrens children about them long hence； and tell how they had seen costello dance with dermotts daughter oona； and bee by the telling themselves a portion of ancient romance； but through all the dancing and piping namara of the lake went hither and thither talking loudly and making foolish jokes that all might seem well with him； and old dermott of the sheep grew redder and redder； and looked oftener and oftener at the doorway to see if the candles there grew yellow in the dawn。
at last he saw that the moment to end had e； and； in a pause after a dance； cried out from where the horn noggins stood that his daughter would now drink the cup of betrothal； then oona came over to where he was； and the guests stood round in a half？circle； costello close to the wall to the right； and the piper； the labourer； the farmer； the half？witted man and the two farm lads close behind him。 the old man took out of a niche in the wall the silver cup from which her mother and her mothers mother had drunk the toasts of their betrothals； and poured poteen out of a porcelain jug and handed the cup to his daughter with the customary words； drink to him whom you love the best。
she held the cup to her lips for a moment； and then said in a clear soft voice： i drink to my true love； tumaus costello。
and then the cup rolled over and over on the ground； ringing like a bell； for the old man had struck her in the face and the cup had fallen； and there was a deep silence。
there were many of namaras people among the servants now e out of the alcove； and one of them； a story？teller and poet； a last remnant of the bardic order； who had a chair and a platter in namaras kitchen； drew a french knife out of his girdle and made as though he would strike at costello； but in a moment a blow had hurled him to the ground； his shoulder sending the cup rolling and ringing again。 the click of steel had followed quickly； had not there e a muttering and shouting from the peasants about the door and from those crowding up behind them； and all knew that these were no children of queens irish or friendly namaras and dermotts； but of the wild irish about lough gara and lough cara； who rowed their skin coracles； and had masses of hair over their eyes； and left the right arms of their children unchristened that they might give the stouter blows； and swore only by st。 atty and sun and moon； and worshipped beauty and strength more than st。 atty or sun and moon。
costellos hand had rested upon the handle of his sword and his knuckles had grown white； but now he drew it away； and； followed by those who were with him； strode towards the door； the dancers giving way before him； the most angrily and slowly； and with glances at the muttering and shouting peasants； but some gladly and quickly； because the glory of his fame was over him。 he passed through the fierce and friendly peasant faces； and came where his good horse and the rough？ haired garrons were tied to bushes； and mounted and bade his ungainly bodyguard mount also and ride into the narrow boreen。 when they had gone a little way； duallach； who rode last； turned towards the house where a little group of dermotts and namaras stood next to a more numerous group of countrymen； and cried： dermott； you deserve to be as you are this hour； a lantern without a candle； a purse without a penny； a sheep without wool； for your hand was ever niggardly to piper and fiddler and story？teller and to poor