Princess:  (To King.) Is it that you want me to leave you? (He gives a sob.) (To Dall Glic.) Is it the Queen urged him to this?

Dall Glic: If she did, it was surely for your good.

Nurse: Oh, my child and my darling, let you strive to take a liking to some good man that will come!

Princess: Are you going against me with the rest?

Nurse: You know well I would never do that!

Princess: Do you, father, urge me to go?

King: They are in too big a hurry why wouldn’t they wait a while, for a quarter, or three-quarters of a year.

Princess: Is that all the delay I am given, and the term is set for me, like a servant that would be banished from the house?

King: That’s not it.  That’s not right.  I would never give in to let you go ...if it wasn’t ...

Princess:  I know. (Stands up.) For my own good!

(Trumpet outside.)

Gatekeeper:  (Coming in.) There is company at the door.

Queen:  Who is it?

Gatekeeper:  Servants, and a company of women, and one that would seem to be a Prince, and young.

Princess:  Then he is come asking me in marriage.

Dall Glic:  Who is he at all?

Gatekeeper:  They were saying he is the son of the King of the Marshes.

King:  Go bring him in.

(Gatekeeper goes.)

Dall Glic:  That’s right!  He has great riches and treasure.  There are some say he is the first match in Ireland.

Nurse:  He is not.  If his father has a copper crown, and our own King a silver one, it is the King of Sorcha has a crown of gold!  The young King of Sorcha that is the first match.

Dall Glic:  If he is, this one is apt to be the second first.

Queen:  Do you hear, Nuala, what luck is flowing to you?

Dall Glic:  Do not now be turning your back on him as you did to so many.

Princess:  No; whoever he is, it is likely I will not turn away from this one.

Queen:  Go now and ready yourself to meet him.

Princess:  Am I not nice enough the way I am?

Queen:  You are not.  The King of Alban’s daughter has hair as smooth as if a cow had licked it.

(Princess goes.)

Gatekeeper:  Here is the Prince of the Marshes!

(Enter Prince, very young and timid, an old lady on each side slightly in advance of him.)

King:  A great welcome before you....  And who may these be?

Prince:  Seven aunts I have....

First Aunt:  (Interrupting.) If he has, there are but two of us have come along with him.

Second Aunt:  For to care him and be company for him on his journey, it being the first time he ever quitted home.