Queen:  (To Dall Glic.) Go throw a dishcloth after him that the little lads may be mocking him along the road!

Dall Glic:  I will not.  I have meddled enough at your bidding.  I am done with living under dread.  Let you blind me entirely!  I am free of you.  It might be best for me the two eyes to be withered, and I seeing nothing but the ever-living laws!

Prince of Marshes:  (Coming to Princess.) It is my grief that with all the teachers I had there was not one to learn me the handling of weapons or of arms.  But for all that I will not run away, but will strive to strike one blow in your defence against that wicked beast.

Princess:  It is a good friend that would rid us of him.  But it grieves me that you should go into such danger.

Prince of Marshes:  (To Dall Glic.) Give me some sword or casting spears.

(Dall Glic gives him spears.)

Princess:  I am sorry I made fun of you a while ago.  I think you are a good kind man.

Prince of Marshes; (Kissing her hand.) Having that word of praise I will bring a good heart into the fight.

(Goes.)

(Taig is slipping out after him.)

Queen:  See now the King of Sorcha slipping away into the fight.  Stop here now! (Pulls him back.) You have a life that is precious to many besides yourself.  Do not go without being well armed—­and with a troop of good fighting men at your back.

Taig:  I am greatly obliged to you.  I think I’ll be best with myself.

Queen:  You have no suit or armour upon you.

Taig:  That is what I was thinking.

Queen:  Here anyway is a sword.

Taig:  (Taking it.) That’s a nice belt now.  Well worked, silver thread and gold.

Queen:  The King’s own guard will go out with you.

Taig:  I wouldn’t ask one of them!  What would you think of me wanting help!  A Dragon!  Little I’d think of him.  I’ll knock the life out of him.  I’ll give him cruelty!

Queen:  You have great courage indeed!

Taig:  I’ll cut him crossways and lengthways the same as a yard of frieze!  I’ll make garters of his body!  I’ll smooth him with a smoothing iron!  Not a fear of me!  I never lost a bet yet that I wasn’t able to pay it!

Gateman:  (As he rushes in, Taig slips away.) The Dragon!  The Dragon!  I seen it coming and its mouth open and a fiery flame from it!  And nine miles of the sea is dry with all it drank of it!  The whole country is gathering the same as of a fair day for to see him devour the Princess.

(Princess trembles and sinks into a chair.  King, Queen and Dall Glic look from window.  They turn to her as they speak.)

Queen:  There is a terrible splashing in the sea!  It is like as if the Dragon’s tail had beaten it into suds of soap!