The Choice Is Mine
DUBHDARA
All the clans of Ireland
Are bogged down in ancient fueds
DONAL
Like the feuds your kinsmen once began
CHIEFTAN O'FLAHERTY
Donal!
DUBHDARA
Yes! And so the Queen of England
Sees us and concludes
We're too weak to fight her empire's plan
And so my friend, we must put old claims asside
And join as one, a course that's never been tried
CHIEFTON O'FLAHERTY
We must, but how?
That would call for trust
No trust have I
DUBHDARA
Nor I
CHIEFTON O'FLAHERTY
You know, as I,
How this work is done
You have a daughter,
And I have a son
These two must wed
And when there's an heir
Then two warring clans
Will at last be one
GRACE
Father, I know well what kind of victory this shows
Tell me, was my fate just sealed for me?
If you do accept this marriage union they propose
I must give up Tiernan and the sea
I fought so hard
DUBHDARA
You are selfless in war
GRACE
To carve a life that's mine
DUBHDARA
Give yourself like a man
GRACE
I love my land
DUBHDARA
But this fight calls for more
GRACE
Where Do I draw the line?
DUBHDARA AND GRACE
Who'll sacrifice
To become one clan?
DUBHDARA
A man cannot
A woman can
GRACE
(spoken)
Tiernan; please!
(sung)
The choice is mine
But I cannot refuse
It's cruel, the path
We are now forced to choose
TIERNAN
In the name of God!
This you cannot do!
GRACE
Tiernan - this must be
But my love still is you
TIERNAN
(spoken)
Grace! You promised yourself to me! Does that mean nothing to you?
DUBHDARA
(spoken)
Tiernan, it must be so.
GRACE
In this time of war
Two small lives must yield
Tiernan!
Our clan accepts -
Let the bond be sealed