CATHLEEN. No, not angelical.

From this we shall not come

FIRST MERCHANT. Some sell because the money gleams, and some Because they are in terror of the grave,

That fable has not dreamt of, nor sun nor moon

You are not now upon Maeves dancing?floor.

But Ive a plan.

But that a night of prayer has made me weary.

(They begin taking jewels out of bag.)

(Voices.)

How my poor money serves the people, both??

these,

(To the PORTER.)

For a most sad resolve wakes in my heart

Were as little shaken as this holy flame!

Yet leave me now, for I am desolate,

Upon the altar steps The Countess tosses, murmuring in her sleep A broken Paternoster.

The passionate, proud heart??that all the angels,

For somebody is stirring in the house; the noise

Have read of late matters that much concern you;

SECOND MERCHANT. Brother, I heard a sound in there??a sound That troubles me.

And now he is gone.

And I must go down, down??I know not where??

For now you are safe from all the evil times.

And shaking the sea?tangles from your hair

Came in to find an ear.

FIRST MERCHANT. Because I am of the ninth and mightiest hell Where are all kings, I have a plan.

For when we labour in vain and eye still sees

SECOND MERCHANT (looking into chapel door)

against the wall. In the Centre are two or more arches through which one can see dimly the trees of the

And curlews cry, and have the peace I longed for.

SECOND MERCHANT. Away now??they are in the passage??hurry,

Our lord would be well pleased if we could win her.

But take you this. It opens the small room

Heart breaks in vain.

Because that life would be most happy, and here

I hear a whisper from beyond the thunder.

What can he but hold out beseeching hands,

That when the dance break up

And some few serving men, and live in the hills,

A VOICE. (within) It was here.

(The SECOND MERCHANT, who has been listening at the door, comes forward, and as he comes a sound of

CATHLEEN. Old man, old man, He never closed a door

(They go out. A number of PEASANTs enter by other door.)

That no one who is famished or afraid,

Their singing and their endless chattering,

When night hunted the foolish sun away

FIRST MERCHANT. What lies in the waves should be indifferent To good and evil, and yet it seems that

Cry out to us who may.

But for a soul like yours, I heard them say,

This heart shall never waken on earth. I have sworn,

(She goes to chapel door; ALEEL holds his clasped hands towards her for a moment hesitating, and then lets

Have you seen nobody?

Whispering with human voices.

CATHLEEN. How would that quiet end?

FIRST MERCHANT, Well, well, to labour.

To the first woman.

And carry them to Shemus Ruas house

We saw your grain ships lying all becalmed

Where are those dancers gone?

Whil九*九*藏*書e there is food and house room.

CATHLEEN. So it is true what I have heard men say,

FIRST MERCHANT. There is no sign of change??day copies day, Green things are dead??the cattle too are

Hall in the house of COUNTESS CATHLEEN. At the Left an oratory with steps leading up to it.

Has waked the house. I hear the chairs pushed back,

FIRST PEASANT. Forgive us, lady, but we heard a noise.

Of waters, till the evil days are done.

By her whose heart the seven sorrows have pierced,

Because we have walked upon its leaves; and there

Ochone! Ochone! The treasure room is broken in,

Will have it they seem much as mortals are,

ALEEL. It may be that he is angelical;

SECOND PEASANT. We sat by the fireside telling vanities.

Among the sounds of music and the light

A sad resolve wakes in me. I have heard

With holy water.

In casting hope away, in losing joy,

Your coffin in a dream?

PORTER. Demons were here. I sat beside the door

Get horses and search all the country round,

Shes gathered in the house are coming hither.

That makes men bow, and flings a casting?net

That the sea creatures made as they came hither,

We heard a noise, but though we have searched the house

They have overdared?

Not even the wandering fools nor one of those

voices and feet is heard.)

OLD PEASANT. God forsakes us.

With Ave Marys, and burn all our skin

And yet you understand that while its full

Despair of help or of a welcome with it.

With your back hooked, your chin upon your knees.

Of herbs for medicine, of hellebore,

There is the treasury door and time runs on.

Rustled its leaves, till Heaven has saved my people.

And mix with all her thoughts a thought to serve.??

Masters name

To this??full of the gaiety of the lost??

You bribe them with the safety of your gold.

But tall and brown and travelled??like us??lady,

And death and plenty, mend what He has made,

Before the mob of angels were astir?

FIRST MERCHANT. They knew their work. It seems that they imagine Wed do such wrong to our great

And silently, and do not turn your head;

They knew they were to carry it on their backs.

And bid him shelter all that starve or wander

Are always the most troublesome of spirits.

SPIRITS. No, no, no, no!

She has heard nothing; she has fallen asleep.

For when she has awaked the prayer will cease.

Down by the trodden brink,

CATHLEEN. I kiss your forehead.

SECOND SPIRIT. Never again.

A SPIRIT. O, look what I have found, a string of pearls!

Yet stay an instant. When we meet again

(PEASANTS raise a lamentable cry.)

In casting all sails out upon the wind;

Might we not kill her, and bear off her spirit

(A man with keys at his girdle has come in while she speaks. There is a general murmur of The Porter! the

Our horses beat the ground九*九*藏*書 impatiently.

OONA Ochone!

And you must bring but your old foster?mother,

(She looks out.)

(SECOND MERCHANT returns with bags.)

That makes me fear. When you were telling how

But sometimes??though His hand is on it still??

FIRST PEASANT.

We have found nobody.

But you shall hear wind cry and water cry,

Unless one opened. I am desolate,

Or dying??and on all the vapour hangs,

Queens have wed shepherds and kings beggar?maids;

FIRST SPIRIT. (singing) Our hearts are sore, but we come

ALEEL. This house

At the Right a tapestried wall, more or less repeating the form of the oratory, and a great chair with its back

A something not of us; but were you not born

And can buy grain from those who have stored it up

ANOTHER VOICE. Come quickly, we will search the western tower.

CATHLEEN. You are too timid.

In some most distant corner of the world?

ALEEL. How but in healing?

So many lands and seen so many men.

SECOND MERCHANT. Hush, hush, and still your feet.

But I am the empty pitcher.

There are some men who hold they have wolves heads,

And creep about the fields, and this great heat

Your porter sleeping in his niche??a soul

The clay wars with His fingers and pleads hard

ALEEL. I have come to bid you leave this castle and fly

It moves awry and demon hordes are born.

END OF SCENE 3.

That is not everywhere from this to the sea?

Merchants forgive me??seemed to smile.

But you have news, you say.

Upon a dragon?guarded hill, and all

They would give five hundred thousand crowns and more.

We are merchants, and we know the book of the world

ALEEL. They who have sent me walk invisible.

For its old, heavy, dull and shapeless ease;

That you have seen and heard what others cannot.

Too little to be worth a hundred pence,

unsteadfast things.

That they might sift mens hearts and wills,

And some because their neighbours sold before,

But you they dare not disobey.

porter!")

Crowns from the Country?under?Wave or apples

Where none of mortal creatures but the swan

PORTER. Why do you do this, lady; did you see

The old and ailing that are pinched the most

That I have money in my treasury,

CATHLEEN. The door stands open,

I have said all, yet let me stay beside you.

So little as I, though to deny him love,

For they will know us, and freeze up our hearts

But all thats nothing; you sit drowsing there

Come, break up the long dance under the hill,

I cannot see him, for all is dark outside.

Shell bid against us and so bribe the poor

(The PEASANTS all kneel. COUNTESS CATHLEEN ascends the steps to the door of the oratory, and

(Going to the door of the oratory and peering through it.)

(PEASANTS cross themselves.)

FIRST MERCHANT. We still have time??they search the distant rooms.

SECOND MERCHANT. Too late;

F九_九_藏_書or surely He does not forsake the world,

Goodbye; but do not turn your head and look;

Let Him that made mankind, the angels and devils

These two??the larder and the dairy keys.

CATHLEEN. He bids me go

Come, all you elemental populace

The glowing leagues of never?ending flame.

FIRST MERCHANT. As we came in at the great door we saw

THIRD SPIRIT. Sorrow has made me dumb.

In the dark night; and not less still than they,

That our great Masterll lack his merchandise.

Thats lasted since??shaped as a worm??he bore

Dabbles, and there you would pluck the harp, when the trees Had made a heavy shadow about our door,

backs

And I can see your hand shake on the floor.

And all you clouds on clouds of saints, farewell!

Move us to laughter only; we have seen

Say they are gross and little; while a few

And fattens with disease and glows with heat.

Pray for all men and women mad from famine;

SECOND MERCHANT. How could I help it? For she prayed so hard I could not cross the threshold till her

And say their limbs??dried by the infinite flame??

That I am wealthy! Wherefore do they sell?

SECOND MERCHANT. You must not touch them, put them in the bag, And now take up the bags upon your

ALEEL (.prostrating himself before her)

The cymbals of the waves to clash alone,

Cathleen. Who calls?

And trembled as they bid it, as I tremble

SECOND MERCHANT. They come. Be still a while.

(She comes from the oratory door.)

turning round stands there

Has grown to Heaven like a tree, and there

CATHLEEN. If the old tales are true,

You know that she has brought into this house

CATHLEEN. There is a something in you that I fear;

Gods procreant waters flowing about your mind

Forgetful of their pure, impartial sea,

SECOND MERCHANT. To take her soul to?night?

In you is all the hope of all the land.

Have made you more than kings or queens; and not you

chapel. The two MERCHANTS enter.)

Lay many a plate and cup

FIRST MERCHANT. We saw a man,

ALEEL. (faltering) I thought but of healing. He was angelical.

FIRST SPIRIT. Her shepherds at nightfall

Opening ones arms to the eternal flames,

oratory; there is a hanging lighted lamp over the altar. ALEEL enters.

I never spoke to him of his wounded hand,

That my good mistress should lose all this money.

Ill call them, and wholl dare to disobey?

Take sides with her.

(They go.)

You are to leave with some old trusty man,

There is no evil that can find you here.

CATHLEEN.No, no, not while my heart is shaken. No,

When will this yellow vapour no more hang

Heavy with sickness in the bog of Allen,

lover

How strange that all these people should be swung

Would my imagination and my heart

A man may lose his soul and lose his God

CATHLEEN. You have seen my tears

Pray, you good neighbours.

To proshｔtps://ｒead•９９ｃsw•cｏmper on the hunger of the poor.

back whimpering. They lift the bags and go out. Three speak as they are taking ub the bags.

Had turned her thoughts to dream.

And, lady, he bids me call you from these woods.

CATHLEEN. Ah, no, not that.

Youve seen us sitting in the house in the wood,

(The SPIRITS gather under the arches.)

In my stone niche, and two owls passed me by,

In ceasing all resistance, in at last

garden. CATHLEEN is kneeling in front of the altar in the

SECOND SPIRIT. Sorrow has made me dumb.

But stands before it modelling in the clay

When one so great has spoken of love to one

Now that the winds are heavy with our kind,

At such a time and so should be bought cheap.

(He comes down the stage and stands facing the arches. He makes a gesture of command. The SPIRITS come

CATHLEEN (turning away from him)

stretches.)

There have been women that bid men to rob

And the mud floor, and not a soul to buy;

That lay a hard task on you, that you go,

Of vervain, monkshood, plantain, and self?heal.

CATHLEEN. What are you?

CATHLEEN. I have heard that one of the old gods walked so.

We may have meat and drink.

And noticing the castle door stand open,

Leave lonely the long hoarding surges, leave

And some because there is a kind of joy

mock,

(SECOND MERCHANT goes Out. FIRST MERCHANT sits cross?legged against a pillar, yawns and

I may have grown forgetful. Oona, take

FIRST MERCHANT.

(ALEEL goes.)

ALEEL. I was asleep in my bed, and while I slept

As to bear burdens on our backs as men do.

FIRST MERCHANT. Farewell; for we must ride

CATHLEEN. Do not hold out to me beseeching hands.

SECOND SPIRIT. Sorrow has made me dumb.

Then let them fall beside him, knowing how greatly

CATHLEEN. What evil is there here?

FIRST MERCHANT. Do not fear,

And yet they buy it for a hundred crowns.

FIRST MERCHANT. Mans sins

And though we have heard and come

Therefore our hearts are sore;

And moulding there His image. Age by age

While the snails crawled about the window?pane

FIRST MERCHANT.

I find no way, no end. Nor do I weep

CATHLEEN. How can a heap of crowns pay for a soul?

FIRST SPIRIT. No, no, let us away;

And yet I send you from me. Do not speak;

CATHLEEN.. My thanks to God, to Mary and the angels,

As on a ladys shoe?string,??under them

Our crying filled the shore.

Some unimagined evil, some great darkness

Leaving nine heavens empty, would rock to sleep.

For here some terrible death is waiting you,

Scattered.

FIRST MERCHANT. We have brought news.

And talk among the rustling of the reeds,

That when the world goes wrong must rave and talk,

SECOND MERCHANT. I heard them breathing but a moment since, But now they are gone, being

CATHLEEN. Praise be to God, to Mary, and the angels

Have all the speed of storms; others,九-九-藏-書 again,

CATHLEEN. There is something, Merchant, in your voice

(He goes towards the door of the hall. The COUNTESS CATHLEEN takes a few steps towards him.)

CATHLEEN. Be silent.

CATHLEEN. And heard you of the demons who buy souls?

Above all else, I would not have you look.

ALEEL. Being silent,

ALEEL. (who has risen)

The knowledgable pippin in his mouth

And barter those poor vapours, were it not

No, not angelical, but of the old gods,

Vanish away, and grass show its green shoots?

A sound of wailing in unnumbered hovels,

Gather about us.

them fall beside him.)

Is the green grave so terrible a thing?

Because I had longed to look upon your face,

FIRST MERCHANT. If we would win this turquoise for our lord It must go dropping down of its free will

But youve been far and know the signs of things,

Burned all their mirrored lanthorns in the sea.

The book of cures is on the upper shelf.

SECOND SPIRIT. Sorrow has made me dumb.

Ill give a farm to him who finds the thieves.

Because we have heard you call.

The door stands open, and the gold is gone.

Whom you had bid buy cattle. Near Fair Head

(She goes slowly into the

ALEEL. Give me your hand to kiss.

FIRST MERCHANT (rising) These dancers

On the woods border.

SECOND MERCHANT. What, would you wake her?

Lady, weve news thats crying out for speech.

I cannot. Although I weep, I do not weep

OONA (entering hurriedly)

(The cry ceases.)

ANOTHER VOICE. No, farther away.

Many a mile before the morning come;

Or if you lie in the hollows of the sea,

My dream became a fire; and in the fire

FIRST MERCHANT. I will speak with her,

Out of these woods.

dead

ANOTHER VOICE. It was in the western tower.

But I have still my faith; therefore be silent

Until they are as thin as a cats ear.

And many shuffling feet. All the old men and women

With stillness and pale tapers. No?no?no!

From Cruachan and Finbars ancient house.

Would all folk hurry if your gold were gone.

I find you sitting drowsed and motionless,

About their souls, and that all men would go

FIRST MERCHANT. And so I must endure the weight of the world, Far from my Master and the revelry,

SECOND MERCHANT. Theyre gone, for little do they care for me, And if I called they would but turn and

FIRST MERCHANT. Although I bid you rob her treasury,

Who wander about the world to waken the heart

motionless for a little, and then cries in a loud voice :)

To pray before this altar until my heart

Your eyes were lighted up, and when you told

(CATHLEEN wakes and comes to door of the chapel.)

CATHLEEN. Let those among you??not too old to ride??

(SPIRITS dance and sing.)

Mary, Queen of angels,

Yet all agree a power is in their looks

FIRST SPIRIT. From this day out well never dance again.

One walked and he had birds about his head.