This is the beginning of the Myth of Cuchulainn as set out by W.B. Yeats.
In "At the Hawk's Well," there exists a fountain in Scotland that is said to give a person eternal life, but only bubbles up once every few years. However, it is watched over by the Guardian who resembles a Grey Hawk, which in Irish Tradition is a symbol for death. In this play, we witness an old man who has waited to drink from it, but has always been distracted by the stone guardian in one way or another. Will this new man, Cuchulainn, who comes for the same be able to withstand her distractions and be able to share the fountain of life between him and the old man?
"The Green Helmet," has multiple similarities the "The Green Knight" from the mythology of King Arthur, but set in an almost farcical manner. When Cuchulainn returns from Scotland, he finds his allies have played a game of whipping off a man's head... only to find out that he is coming back to claim theirs. The mysterious man leaves them with his helmet, which seems to magically induce jealousy between everyone around Cuchulainn, including his friends, their servants, and eventually all of their wives, all fighting about who is the best among them so as to not be the one to forfeit their life. The debt must be paid... but the question is, by whom?
