How we cite our quotes: Act.Line
Quote #1
[…] Tell my tapper I have ejected
Fear from home and farm. Assure him,
All is well. (1.30)
Elesin is trying to reassure the Praise-Singer that he's not afraid of—and therefore won't bail on—his duty to carry out the ritual suicide.
Quote #2
There was fear in the forest too.
Not-I was lately heard even in the lair
Of beasts. The hyena cackled loud Not I,
The civet twitched his fiery tail and glared:
Not I. Not-I became the answering-name
Of the restless bird, that little one
Whom Death found nesting in the leaves
When whisper of his coming ran
Before him on the wind. Not-I
Has long abandoned home. This same dawn
I heard him twitter in the gods' abode.
Ah, companions of this living world
What a thing this is, that even those
We call immortal
Should fear to die. (1.32)
To try to assure the Praise-Singer and Iyaloja that he is not a coward, Elesin tells the story of the Not-I bird, who basically went around trying to claim people for Death. When he shows up, most people and animals shoo him away out of fear rather than accepting their fate. For more on this bird, check out the "Symbols" section.
Quote #3
I, when that Not-I bird perched
Upon my roof, bade him seek his nest again,
Safe without care or fear. I unrolled
My welcome mat for him to see. Not-I
Flew happily away, you'll hear his voice
No more in this lifetime—You all know
What I am. (1.34)
Elesin is contrasting himself with the people and animals who ran away from the Not-I bird, saying he set the bird's mind at ease by (we assume) indicating that he would welcome Death.