lamenting continue, windy and stormy. Added to this orchestrally, sound the Three Waves booming the dirge. Darkness falls over the scene.
After a short interval the ugly sounds grow less, and faintly there is heard, as in the Prelude, the tinkling melody of the Young Angus's harp, with the sounds of running water.
The scene gradually lightens in the rear, and Center Up.
In the Center, behind the Well, a tall Woman stands with uplifted face but a light blue veil thrown about her face and shoulders beneath the dark cloak which was worn by the Old Woman and which is thrown back, merely outlining her. On her forehead are grey wings, on the breast of the veil are the gold rays of a sunburst. The center of the sunburst is transparent and shows the red wound of the Old Woman through it. The Woman is somewhat mistily lighted.
The tinkling of the Mac Oc's harp is heard and the picture is partly repeated as at first. That is: The Guardians of the Sword and Spear behind the Women cross their weapons. Behind on the elevation the Guardian stand as at first holding the Lia Fail at their shoulders, undisturbed. The Mac Oc appears elusively in the hazels L. C. U. as at first. His birds flutter over him. By the Well in a richer streak of light the Blind Singer stands, seeming to be no longer blind, for he gazes in adoration at the Woman. His cloak is thrown back and reveals the costume of the old Fenian royal Bard, Oisin. He holds a small harp of ancient design, slung to his shoulder from which he has thrown back the cloak. He seems young and straight—his flowing hair lustrous as amber in the light. The Boy stands back from the group with cap off gazing rapt at the Vison.)
The Light over the Woman spreads downward and reveals a rose tree with a great full blown red rose upon its topmost stalk. The Bard, Oisin, bends over it, plucks it and extending it to the Woman, lays it against the red wound in her breast, while she takes it from him, crossing her hands upon it. He draws away and kneels before her, singing and playing a low rich melody. His music grows gradually softer and blends with that of the Mac Oc's harp.
The scene grows misty, but keeps a rich amber glow. All is finally obscured except the Rose in the folds of the blue veils on the Woman's breast. Her face is very dimly seen above, but all other definite forms become wholly obscured in the deep glowing mist. The Mac Oc's harp is heard sounding, more and more like the