SCENE 1
CATHLEEN. It may be that we are that trouble, for we??
MARY. You never thanked her ladyship.
I welcome you. Come, sit beside the fire.
SHEMUS. I thought you were .... but thats no matter now??
FIRST MERCHANT. Youve but to cry aloud at every cross?road, At every house door, that we buy mens
MARY. Mother of God, defend us!
They are as common as the grass, and ride
FIRST MERCHANT. Our Master bids us pay
And stretch and warm our heels among the ashes.
TEIG. Yet no thunder stirs.
Well give him such a price he never dreamt of.
TEIG. Ill barter mine.
TEIG. Two nights ago, at Carrick?orus churchyard,
And call up a whey face and a whining voice,
A pigeon or a seagull or the like,
Curse to your fill, for saints will have their dreams.
(TEIG lifts one arm slowly and points toward the door and begins moving backwards. SHEMUS turns, he
What can we do but live on sorrel and dock)
For I lived all my childhood in that house.
MARY. There is the hen in the coop.
SHEMUS. I had no chance to beg,
Wandering and singing like a wave of the sea??
But I can put you on the trodden path
Scatter the flour and search the shelves for bread.
Id make so bold, if you would pardon it,
Although weve wandered in the wood this hour??
MARY. What can have kept your father all this while?
And let your head be bowed upon your knees,
I could not see them rightly for the leaves.
Nailed like dead vermin to the doors of God.
Welcome, if theyd a mind to eat and drink;
FIRST MERCHANTm Though were but vermin that our Master sent To overrun the world, he at the end
And trampled measure down.
I would to God he were home??ah, there he is.
You shall have twice the sum.
Youll find a crock of gold.
Theres an old woman and a lady with him.
MARY. God, that to this hours found bit and sup,
In what unlucky shape you sat but now
Lay out the plates and make a better fire.
FIRST MERCHANT. We know the evils of mere charity.
MARY. What can have made the grey hen flutter so?
(TEIG goes to door.)
TEIG. In the bush beyond,
When the ear is stopped and when the eye is stopped,
Till that low threshold there becomes a wall,
Pine to my grave.
SHEMUS. You come to buy our souls?
MARY. Those scruples may befit a common time.
SHEMUS. I heard say
And after that, lets share and share alike
SHEMUS (to MARY, who has gone to close the door)
MARY. Theres flour enough to make another loaf.
Come, share what bread and meat is in the house,
And dandelion, till our mouths are green?
(MARY faints.) (The FIRST MERCHANT takes up the carPet, spreads it before the fire and stands in front of
SHEMUS. After that
Cover it up with a lonel九_九_藏_書y tune,
Or else some change has come upon my sight.
SHEMUS (muttering). What, music, music!
But if you hit it with a stone or a stick
And seen the seven wonders of the world,
Had we been through as many doors, and seen
Although we are but poor people, if there is,
SHEMUS. Whats in the house?
What, is there no one there?
(CATHLEEN, OONA, and ALEEL enter.)
MARY. But seek them patiently.
Fear whats above or whats below the ground,
What do they care, he says, though the whole land
MARY. What is it?
OONA. The paths are overgrown with thickets now,
MARY. We know it, lady.
And yet they say
(A stringed instrument without.)
Even upon the book in the priests hand.
For three nights running, and theres always gold.
SECOND MERCHANT. Pray, you shall need Him.
SHEMUS. I have said nothing, lady.
They would not have another share their alms,
Are sold and gone.
They call immortal for a storys sake.
SCENE??A room with lighted fire, and a door into the open air, through which one sees, perhaps, the trees of a wood, and these trees should be painted in flat colour upon a gold or diapered sky. The walls are of one colour. The scene should have the effect of missal Painting. MARY, a woman of forty years or so, is grinding a quern.
MARY. Is it call devils?
An old grey castle with a kitchen garden,
Now that the house is quiet, praise our master,
ALEEL. (Singing) Impetuous heart, be still, be still,
SHEMUS. (to MARY) Bestir yourself,
souls,
For the nights gathering in.
TEIG. You said that you would bring us food or money.
You shall at last dry like dry leaves and hang
Longer than books can tell??and it were strange
FIRST MERCHANT. There is a heap for each.
That he can give no help.
SHEMUS. Come, lets away.
Have lost it too, yet I should know my way,
I cannot get all sorts of accidents
Has covered the door of the infinite fold
Why should the like of us complain?
Go kill and draw the fowl, while Teig and I
What has God poured out of His bag but famine?
TEIG. Theres no good luck in owls, but it may be
What was it kept you in the wood? You know
TEIG. They say that now the land is famine struck
SHEMUS. Ill have no bolts, for there is not a thing
For such kind welcome but I must be gone,
A place thats set among impassable walls
For we were happy for a long time there.
And hunted me away with sticks and stones.
And saw the dead and not a soul to wake them.
TEIG. Call them in.
SHEMUS. Pray, if you have a mind to.
(SHEMUS goes to take money.)
MARY. I will not cook for you, because I know
SHEMUS. Not cook! not cook!
Why, if there is??
SHEMUS. My curse upon the rich.
Ishttps://read.99csw.com fancy bred. I might have known as much,
And Im half certain theyve a human face.
For the days meat.
Ive taken nothing, for the very rats,
SHEMUS. So then youre as deceitful as the rest,
Leave that door open.
Squeal like a rabbit under a weasels tooth?
MARY. I will not cook for you.
Id welcome you no less. Be what you please
And they have had the rest; but take the purse,
And held a hollow hand among the others.
But no, not yet,
(OONA, MARY, and CATHLEEN go Out. ALEEL looks defiantly at
SHEMUS. Whats that for thanks,
TEIG. Theyre coming here.
SHEMUS. So youd stand up against me, and youd say
Why should we starve for what may be but nothing?
That would be served by Comfortable men.
For there is nothing on the ridge of the world
Feathers instead of hair, thats but a straw,
And there was scarce a wind in the parched leaves.
MARY. Gods pity on the rich,
FIRST MERCHANT. Weve travelled a long road,
The silver clasps ont may be worth a trifle.
TEIG. But maybe if you called, something would come,
I had not rather welcome to this house
SHEMUS. It is a long while
SHEMUS. Thank her,
TEIG. But for this empty purse?
Do not be angry. She wants to pay me back
And they moved up and down like a bats wing.
Somewhere among these woods.
And quench the stars in the ancestral night.
What is the good of praying? father says.
Nor eyes, nor ears; his face a wall of flesh;
For we are merchants that must tramp the world,
Will cater for us still.
Because I struck her in that argument.
SHEMUS. I said Id make the devils of the wood
In the wax candle light, wed be as hard,
Look, my purse is empty. I have passed
CATHLEEN. And this young man, that should have known the woods?? Because we met him on their border
And find distraction for my thoughts, or else
And lay upon the threshold like a log.
Because I said I would be master here,
The dishes standing on the polished wood
SECOND MERCHANT.
A woman met a man with ears spread out,
They have been seen of late.
FIRST MERCHANT. But if already
CATHLEEN. Ah, do not blame the finger on the string;
TEIG. And when thats gone?
That is to show whos master.
THE COUNTESS CATHLEEN
There are two birds??if you can call them birds??
MARY. If you are not demons,
If you and yours should not be welcome here.
Than any more of mankind, rich or poor.
And curse all men and women. Come in, come in.
Shall pull apart the pale ribs of the moon
To ask if theres a thing youd have of us.
Outside this door.
As though worlds trouble could not find it out.
Knives thrown into a basket to be cleaned.
Wed do our share.
Its time tha九九藏書t poverty should bolt the door.
Is now worth fifty.
That the ill lucks to fall upon their heads.
But shell get sense again. Since the dearth came
MARY. Destroyers of souls, God will destroy you quickly.
For my old fathers served your fathers, lady,
The graves are walking.
That walks above the ground or under it
SHEMUS. (at door)
Another man dressed in the same way follows, and sits at the other end. This is done slowly and deliberately.
Can eat its way into what place it pleases.
Where I had thought I would find nothing changed.
He that could bend all things to His will
Badgers, and hedgehogs seem to have died of drought,
CATHLEEN. And this woman,
SHEMUS. No, you.
There had been words between my wife and me
TEIG. Then you have brought no dinner.
Care for your words; but Ill call what I please.
SHEMUS. His kitchens bare.
Well turn the fowl upon the spit and roast it,
And stretch your heels and warm them in the ashes.
It clangs as though it had been made of brass;
And that if you dig down where it was scratching
The doctors bid me fly the unlucky times
Shall eat, drink, and be merry.
Theres something that appears like a white bird,
And youll have supper at the market rate,
So good a price, that all who deal with us
SHEMUS. What is the trouble of the poor to her?
done.
Shut to the door before the night has fallen,
Whatever you are that walk the woods at night,
TEIG. And the last penny gone.
Or youve a horses tail to whip your flank,
MARY. Where shall the starving come at merchandise?
For when the beggars saw me they cried out
CATHLEEN. So you are starving even in this wood,
MARY. Maybe Hed have us die because He knows,
For seven halfpence and a silver bit?
Give food or money to the starving poor.
MARY. Then you are Countess Cathleen?
God and the Mother of God have dropped asleep.
Satan gives money.
FIRST MERCHANT. We travel for the Master of all merchants.
SHEMUS. Whos passing there?
its little that the sleepy ears above
I had thought there was a pushing to and fro,
And theres the needles eye at the end of all,
And heres your entertainment on the road.
MARY. Had I but time to put the place to rights.
FIRST MERCHANT.
Upon your father, or yourself, or me.
Or whats the double of it that she promised?
MARY. There is something that the hen hears.
Because thats how the trick?o?the?loop man talks.
Because its certain that you are but merchants.
I fell but now, being weak with hunger and thirst,
SHEMUS. When the hens gone,
TEIG. But dream of gold
CATHLEEN. God save all here. There is a certain house,
OONA. Have done. Sorrows that shes but read of in a book
And so. . . . but that is nothing to the point,
A herdsman met a man who had no mouth,
Because of some wild words my father said
Wed thought of a more prudent way than that?
But first sit down and rest yourself awhile,
(Turning from door)
MARY. Oh, God, why are you still?
it warming his hands.)
also sees something and begins moving backward. MARY does the same. A man dressed as an
But theyve the shape and colour of horned owls
MARY. God help us all!
That means that what was sold for but a penny
What matter if your heads below your arms
And a safe corner to count money in.
(He takes a step towards the door and then turns again.)
Out of my mind till you are home again.
SECOND MERCHANT. (who has risen and gone towards fire)
I sat among the beggars at the cross?roads,
SECOND MERCHANT. If each one brings a bit of merchandise,
TEIG. You speak to them.
SHEMUS.)
We shall be near you.
TEIG. Beautiful lady, give me something too;
SHEMUS. Then down upon that stool, down quick, I say,
Its strange that she should think we cast no shadow,
And all that talk of buying whats but a vapour
And rising every day.
Nothing at all or a harsh radishy sauce
SHEMUS. What can it be but nothing?
Your sorrowful love can never be told,
(TRIG and SHEMUS have stopped. TEIG takes the money. They go out.)
He saw him plainly by the light of the moon.
(He goes out, his singing dies away. MARY comes in. SHEmus has been counting the money.)
TEIG. There is many a one, they say, had money from them.
For theres a work I have to set you to.
carpet.
She thinks you are not of those who cast a shadow.
Out of a grave??for Ill have nothing human??
When they are seated they take money out of embroidered purses at their girdles and begin arranging it on the
END OF SCENE 1
And give so good a price that all may live
And now we look for supper and a fire
That every wicked sight is hid from the eye,
Who or what I am to welcome here.
Weigh on her mind as if they had been her own.
(She gives money.)
(ALEEL begins to play.)
MARY. Teig and Shemus??
She emptied out the purse before our eyes.
MARY. When those that have read books,
CATHLEEN. And it were stranger still were I ungrateful
TREIG> I shall keep running till Ive earned the price.
SHEMUS. My curse upon the beggars, my Curse upon them!
A cider orchard and a plot for flowers,
(He hits her.)
You shall eat dock and grass, and dandelion,
TEIG. The same for me.
For theres a vaporous thing??that may be nothing,
But thats a dream, for the old worm o the world
But if youll come to?morrow to my house
Stopread.99csw.com, for we obey a generous Master,
(SHEMUS comes in.)
TEIG. Theyre looking at me.
Eastern merchant comes in carrying a small carpet. He unrolls it and sits cross?legged at one end of it.
TEIG. Twas you that called them.
There were five doors that I looked through this day
(TEIG, a boy of fourteen, is coming in with turf, which he lays beside the hearth.)
FIRST MERCHANT. If we knew how to find deserving poor
Some devilish creature flies in the air, but now
MARY. Their swine and cattle, fields and implements
(MERCHANTS begin putting money on carpet.)
With bread and flesh and every sort of food
but now,
SHEMUS. Yet if you were that I had thought but now
And mocking us with music?
And eat the supper we were bidden to,
We rattle one on another as though we were
But it is certain that you are men like us.
MARY. What, did you beg?
MARY. You have still some way,
By starving men and women all this day,
MARY. Youll bring misfortune with your blasphemies
TEIG. So that they brought us money.
Call devils from the wood, call them in here?
So be it that you have not shouldered up
SHEMUS. You might be starved before youve dug it out.
TEIG. A bit of mouldy bread.
And all fool talk from the ear.
Although I tramped the woods for half a day,
Oona, my nurse, should have remembered it,
FIRST MERCHANT. Our faces go unscratched,
TEIG. A young man plays it,
Your servants take when they are marketing.
At times like this, that overset the scale
And ask in what I pleased or who I pleased
Thats more substantial than the merchants are
SHEMUS. (coming nearer)
MARY. Look out, and tell me if your fathers coming.
SHEMUS. Im in no mood to listen to your clatter.
Because we are Christian men.
And have free hands, a friendly trick of speech,
TEIG. And that is not the worst; at Tubber?vanach
Is so wrapped up in dreams of terrors to come
CATHLEEN. I gave for all and that was all I had.
In mirth and comfort till the famines done,
Since Ive set eyes on bread or on what buys it.
And seeing what great wealth is spread out there,
MARY. We have all she had;
For she has fainted. Wring the neck o that fowl,
TEIG. Mother!
TEIG. Its this, your honours:
That buy and sell you.
For who can say what walks, or in what shape
MARY., God is all powerful.
Two grey?horned owls hooted above our heads.
With the pale stars and the wandering moon.
Up to a price no man has heard the like of
But thats the buyers risk??a second self,
FIRST MERCHANT. They have not sold all yet.
FIRST MERCHANT. Thats for the work, each has its separate price; But neither price is paid till the works
And when your hands can scarcely drag your body