Nightfall Deirdre and Naoise

Nightfall - Deirdre and Naoise

The story of 'Deirdre of the Sorrows' appears in the ancient Irish epic known as 'The Ulster Cycle.' A rich, poetic tale of fate, human folly, passion and tragedy, it contains all the elements that will later give substance to western romantic literature. It precedes the better known story of Tristan and Iseult by a thousand years.
Deirdre, the Celtic counterpart of Helen of Troy, is born during an evening gathering of Irish nobles. The high king, Concobar (Conner) wishes to honor his host and so asks his druid, Cathbad, for a reading of the girl's fortune. The druid goes white with horror and then prohesies that, "She will give to beauty a new name, yet because of her rivers of blood will run through Ulster. She is named Deirdre "the troubler." The chieftains cry out for her immediate execution, but the lustful and shrewd Concobor has another plan. He has her secluded in a forest with an old nurse named Lavarcham. She is directed never to let her catch sight of another man, until she comes of age and can marry Concobar whose position will insure that there is no contention over the marriage choice.
Like some hidden, exotic orchid Deirdre grows up in obscurity and secrecy. Though she has seen no man but Concobar all her life, as the time for betrothal draws near her own subconscious inclinations begin to excert their force. Lavarcham, taking pity on the girl she has grown to love as her own daughter, introduces her in secret to a young warrior of the king's guard named Naoise (Naesha). He is smitten with the unknown beauty with her "lips of Parthian red," but nevertheless struggles with the idea of so offending the king to whom he has sworn his life.
In the end passion prevails and they flee Ireland together. After seven years in the western isles of Scotland where they encounter troubles and privations also having to do with a jealous king, they are invited back to Ireland by Concobar. He promises amnesty for the couple, but Deirdre senses there is hidden treachery. Naoise and his brothers, in their eagerness to return will not listen, however to her foreboding dreams in which birds carrying drops of honey fly away carrying drops of blood.
Once back in Ulster, they are betrayed and attacked. After a prolonged and bloody battle, Naoise and his brothers are beheaded by Concobar's mercenaries. Only Deirdre remains alive. A lovely but humiliated captive in the king's house she is never seen to smile. In frustrated contempt Concobar decides to send her to be the concubine of his chief ally, Ouvain. But Deirdre's integrity and resolve proves to be as great as her legendary beauty. She cheats Concobar of his victory at last by leaning from a chariot and shattering her head on an overhanging rock.
She is buried next to Naoise. As in so many early romantic tales, the marriage of fate, love and death prove to be stronger than the schemes of any mortal king.