Princess:  It has been a troublesome day indeed.  But there is a worse one and a great danger before me in the far away.

Manus:  That danger will come to-day, the message said in the dream.  Princess, I have a pardon to ask you.  I have been playing vanities.  I think I have wronged you doing this.  It was surely through no want of respect.

Gatekeeper:  (Coming in.) There is word come from Ballyvelehan there is a coach and horses facing for this place over from Oughtmana.

Queen:  Who would that be?

Gatekeeper:  Up on the hill a woman was, brought word it must be some high gentleman.  She could see all colours in the coach, and flowers on the horse’s heads.

Goes out.)

Dall Glic:  That is good hearing.  I was in dread some man we would have no welcome for would be the first to come in this day.

Queen:  Not a fear of it.  I had orders given to the Gateman who he would and would not keep out.  I did that the very minute after the King making his proclamation and his law.

King:  Pup, pup.  You need not be drawing that down.

Queen:  It is well you have myself to care you and to turn all to good.  I gave orders to the Gateman, I say, no one to be let in to the door unless carriage company, no other ones, even if they should wipe their feet upon the mat.  I notched that in his mind, telling him the King was after promising the Princess Nu in marriage to the first man that would come into the house.

Manus:  The King gave out that word?

Queen:  I am after saying that he did.

Dall Glic:  Come along, lad.  Don’t be putting ears on yourself.

Manus:  I ask the King did he give out that promise as the Queen says?

King:  I have but a poor memory.

Nurse:  The King did say it within the hour, and swore to it by the oath of his people, taking contracts of the sun and moon of the air!

Dall Glic:  What is it to you if he did?  Come on, now.

Manus:  No.  This is a matter that concerns myself.

Queen:  How do you make that out?

Manus:  You, that called me in, know well that I was the first to come into the house.

Queen:  Ha, ha!  You have the impudence!  It is a man the King said.  He was not talking about cooks.

Manus:  (To the King.) I am before you as a serving lad, and you are a King in Ireland.  Because you are a King and I your hired servant you will not refuse me justice.  You gave your word.

King:  If I did it was in haste and in vexation, and striving to save her from destruction.

Manus:  I call you to keep to your word and to give your daughter to no other one.

Queen:  Speak out now, Dall Glic, and give your opinion and your advice.