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