an or mortal what is he
Matched against the mighty Sidhe?


_2nd Cat_:

Bid our riders of the night
Daze and craze him with affright,

Leave him fainting and forlorn
Hanging on the moon's young horn.

Let the death-bands turn him pale
Through the venom of our tail.

Let him learn to love our law
With the sharpness of our claw.

Let our King-cat's fiery flash
Turn him to a heap of ash.


_1st Cat_:

Punishment enough he'll find
In his cross and cranky mind.

Ha, ha, ha, and ho, ho, ho,
He'd a sharper penance know,

We'd have better sport to-day
If he got his will and way,

Found the spell that lies unknown
Underneath his own hearthstone.

(_They disappear saying together_:)

Men and mortals what are ye
Matched against the mighty Sidhe?

_Conan_: (_Looking out timidly_.) Are they gone?
Here, Puss, puss! Come hither now poor Puss!
They're not in it.... Here now! here's milk
for ye. And a drop of cream.... (_Gets up,
peeps under settle and around_.) They are gone!
And that they may never come back! I wouldn't
wish to be brought riding a thorny bush in the night
time into the cold that is behind the sun! What
now did they say? Or is it dreaming I was? Oh,
it was not! They spoke clear and plain. The
hidden spell that I was seeking, they said it to be
in the hiding hole under the hearth. (_Pokes,
sneezes_.) Bad cess to Celia leaving that much
ashes to be choking me. Well, the luck has come
to me at last!

(_Sings as he searches_.)

"Proudly the note of the trumpet is sounding,
Loudly the war cries rise on the gale;
Fleetly the steed by Lough Swilly is bounding
To join the thick squadrons in Saimear's green vale.
On every mountaineer, strangers to flight and fear;
Rush to the standard of dauntless Red Hugh
Bonnaught and gallowglass, throng from each mountain pass.
On for old Erin, O'Donnall Abu."

(_Pokes at hearthstone_.) Sure enough, it's
loose! It's moving! Wait till I'll get
a wedge under it