| Fergus
And
The Druid ~ William Butler yeats ~ |
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| Fergus. This whole
day have I followed
in the rocks, And you have changed and flowed from shape to shape, First as a raven on whose ancient wings Scarcely a feather lingered, then you seemed. A weasel moving on from stone to stone, And now at last you wear a human shape, A thin grey man half lost in gathering night. Druid. What would you, king of the proud Red Branch kings? Fergus. This would I say, most wise
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| Young subtle Conchubar
sat close by me
When I gave judgment, and his words were wise, And what to me was burden without end, To him seemed easy, so I laid the crown Upon his head to cast away my sorrow. Druid. What would you, king of the proud Red Branch kings? Fergus. A king and proud! and that is my despair. |
| I feast amid my people
on the hill,
And pace the woods, and drive my chariot-wheels In the white border of the murmuring sea; And still I feel the crown upon my head. Druid. What would you, Fergus? .. Fergus: Be no more a king, |
| But learn the dreaming
wisdom
that is yours. Druid. Look on my thin grey hair and hollow cheeks.. And on these hands that may not lift the sword, This body trembling like a wind-blown reed. No woman's loved me, no man sought my help. Fergus. A king is but a foolish labourer |
| Who wastes his blood
to be another's dream.
Druid. Take, if you must, this little bag of dreams; Unloose the cord,
and they will
From change to
change; I have
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page last updated on February 25th, 2005
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