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.