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

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

Forgetful of their pure, impartial sea,

Above all else, I would not have you look.

stretches.)

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

On the woods border.

They knew they were to carry it on their backs.

Scattered.

Because I had longed to look upon your face,

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

CATHLEEN. What evil is there here?

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

And I can see your hand shake on the floor.

ANOTHER VOICE. No, farther away.

ALEEL. It may be that he is angelical;

For when we labour in vain and eye still sees

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

Who wander about the world to waken the heart

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

(Voices.)

Despair of help or of a welcome with it.

CATHLEEN. There is something, Merchant, in your voice

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

(SPIRITS dance and sing.)

Now that the winds are heavy with our kind,

Cathleen. Who calls?

In ceasing all resistance, in at last

And though we have heard and come

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

Then let them fall beside him, knowing how greatly

END OF SCENE 3.

Shell bid against us and so bribe the poor

But you shall hear wind cry and water cry,

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

SPIRITS. No, no, no, no!

(She looks out.)

ALEEL. Being silent,

Our crying filled the shore.

That when the dance break up

Were as little shaken as this holy flame!

But I am the empty pitcher.

Because we have walked upon its leaves; and there

(The cry ceases.)

FIRST SPIRIT. Her shepherds at nightfall

Mary, Queen of angels,

FIRST MERCHANT (rising) These dancers

(SECOND MERCHANT returns with bags.)

That you have seen and heard what others cannot.

That our great Masterll lack his merchandise.

FIRST MERCHANT. Although I bid you rob her treasury,

Are always the most troublesome of spirits.

Heart breaks in vain.

In casting hope away, in losing joy,

PORTER. Demons were here. I sat beside the door

Yet all agree a power is in their looks

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

SECOND SPIRIT. Sorrow has made me dumb.

SECOND MERCHANT. Too late;

About their souls, and that all men would go

Merchants forgive me??seemed to smile.

But take you this. It opens the small room

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

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

At such a time and so should be bought cheap.

The cymbals of the waves to clash alone,

(She comes from the oratory door９9ｌｉb.neｔ.)

FIRST MERCHANT, Well, well, to labour.

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

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

Your porter sleeping in his niche??a soul

There have been women that bid men to rob

But I have still my faith; therefore be silent

Come, break up the long dance under the hill,

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

So little as I, though to deny him love,

But you have news, you say.

I find you sitting drowsed and motionless,

Out of these woods.

Pray, you good neighbours.

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

CATHLEEN. The door stands open,

There is the treasury door and time runs on.

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

So many lands and seen so many men.

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

these,

FIRST MERCHANT.

SECOND MERCHANT. They come. Be still a while.

Some unimagined evil, some great darkness

You bribe them with the safety of your gold.

SECOND SPIRIT. Sorrow has made me dumb.

lover

FIRST MERCHANT. Mans sins

And yet you understand that while its full

No, not angelical, but of the old gods,

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

Have you seen nobody?

Not even the wandering fools nor one of those

OONA (entering hurriedly)

To the first woman.

Down by the trodden brink,

Because we have heard you call.

(To the PORTER.)

Take sides with her.

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

SECOND SPIRIT. Never again.

And all you clouds on clouds of saints, farewell!

(They go.)

They would give five hundred thousand crowns and more.

That I have money in my treasury,

We have found nobody.

A something not of us; but were you not born

Of waters, till the evil days are done.

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

With Ave Marys, and burn all our skin

Our horses beat the ground impatiently.

ALEEL. This house

And bid him shelter all that starve or wander

That they might sift mens hearts and wills,

From this we shall not come

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

There are some men who hold they have wolves heads,

dead

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

And carry them to Shemus Ruas house

SECOND SPIRIT. Sorrow has made me dumb.

You are not now upon Maeves dancing?floor.

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

For they will know us, and freeze up our hearts

CATHLEEN. You are too timid.

Yet leave me now, for I am desolate,

FIRST PEASANT.

A sad resolve wakes in me. I have heard

Ochone! Ochone! The treasure room is broken in,

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

For a most sad r九-九-藏-书-网esolve wakes in my heart

I never spoke to him of his wounded hand,

When night hunted the foolish sun away

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

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

That fable has not dreamt of, nor sun nor moon

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

But stands before it modelling in the clay

But all thats nothing; you sit drowsing there

She has heard nothing; she has fallen asleep.

What can he but hold out beseeching hands,

(ALEEL goes.)

Opening ones arms to the eternal flames,

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

For here some terrible death is waiting you,

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

OLD PEASANT. God forsakes us.

One walked and he had birds about his head.

Gather about us.

Would all folk hurry if your gold were gone.

And you must bring but your old foster?mother,

Your eyes were lighted up, and when you told

As to bear burdens on our backs as men do.

ALEEL. They who have sent me walk invisible.

Came in to find an ear.

And some because there is a kind of joy

I may have grown forgetful. Oona, take

Until they are as thin as a cats ear.

Queens have wed shepherds and kings beggar?maids;

The old and ailing that are pinched the most

And death and plenty, mend what He has made,

For surely He does not forsake the world,

unsteadfast things.

voices and feet is heard.)

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

FIRST MERCHANT.

The door stands open, and the gold is gone.

And silently, and do not turn your head;

mock,

Of herbs for medicine, of hellebore,

When one so great has spoken of love to one

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

OONA Ochone!

CATHLEEN (turning away from him)

CATHLEEN. Be silent.

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

ALEEL. Give me your hand to kiss.

It moves awry and demon hordes are born.

Too little to be worth a hundred pence,

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

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

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

Upon a dragon?guarded hill, and all

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

Shes gathered in the house are coming hither.

The book of cures is on the upper shelf.

Ill call them, and wholl dare to disobey?

And some because their neighbours sold before,

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

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

Unless one opened. I a九*九*藏*书*网m desolate,

I cannot. Although I weep, I do not weep

ALEEL (.prostrating himself before her)

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

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

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

Has grown to Heaven like a tree, and there

That makes men bow, and flings a casting?net

While there is food and house room.

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

A sound of wailing in unnumbered hovels,

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

And shaking the sea?tangles from your hair

Or dying??and on all the vapour hangs,

The glowing leagues of never?ending flame.

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

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

Whispering with human voices.

These two??the larder and the dairy keys.

SECOND MERCHANT. To take her soul to?night?

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

Heavy with sickness in the bog of Allen,

ANOTHER VOICE. It was in the western tower.

Will have it they seem much as mortals are,

And barter those poor vapours, were it not

FIRST SPIRIT. No, no, let us away;

Move us to laughter only; we have seen

Youve seen us sitting in the house in the wood,

I cannot see him, for all is dark outside.

Whom you had bid buy cattle. Near Fair Head

To prosper on the hunger of the poor.

Say they are gross and little; while a few

You know that she has brought into this house

Many a mile before the morning come;

CATHLEEN. No, not angelical.

Had turned her thoughts to dream.

(PEASANTS raise a lamentable cry.)

Cry out to us who may.

With your back hooked, your chin upon your knees.

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

That the sea creatures made as they came hither,

To pray before this altar until my heart

them fall beside him.)

Because that life would be most happy, and here

CATHLEEN. I kiss your forehead.

You are to leave with some old trusty man,

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

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

While the snails crawled about the window?pane

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

FIRST MERCHANT. We saw a man,

A VOICE. (within) It was here.

That my good mistress should lose all this money.

Let Him that made mankind, the angels and devils

FIRST MERCHANT. Farewell; for we must ride

In you is all the hope of all the land.

And trembled as they bid it, as I tremble

That makes me fear. When you were telling how

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

And fattens with disease and glows with heat.

For somebody is stirring in the house; the n藏书网oise

CATHLEEN. If the old tales are true,

Crowns from the Country?under?Wave or apples

(PEASANTS cross themselves.)

Pray for all men and women mad from famine;

Goodbye; but do not turn your head and look;

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

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

We saw your grain ships lying all becalmed

Rustled its leaves, till Heaven has saved my people.

SECOND MERCHANT. What, would you wake her?

porter!")

But youve been far and know the signs of things,

And talk among the rustling of the reeds,

And creep about the fields, and this great heat

CATHLEEN. You have seen my tears

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

ALEEL. (who has risen)

Leaving nine heavens empty, would rock to sleep.

(They begin taking jewels out of bag.)

Before the mob of angels were astir?

For when she has awaked the prayer will cease.

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

CATHLEEN. What are you?

And noticing the castle door stand open,

Masters name

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

chapel. The two MERCHANTS enter.)

We may have meat and drink.

CATHLEEN. Do not hold out to me beseeching hands.

THIRD SPIRIT. Sorrow has made me dumb.

Burned all their mirrored lanthorns in the sea.

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

In casting all sails out upon the wind;

That I am wealthy! Wherefore do they sell?

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

Where are those dancers gone?

Have read of late matters that much concern you;

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

By her whose heart the seven sorrows have pierced,

And now he is gone.

And many shuffling feet. All the old men and women

That no one who is famished or afraid,

FIRST MERCHANT. I will speak with her,

Ill give a farm to him who finds the thieves.

Their singing and their endless chattering,

How strange that all these people should be swung

My dream became a fire; and in the fire

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

The knowledgable pippin in his mouth

But you they dare not disobey.

For its old, heavy, dull and shapeless ease;

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

And moulding there His image. Age by age

SECOND PEASANT. We sat by the fireside telling vanities.

Leave lonely the long hoarding surges, leave

For now you are safe from all the evil times.

Your coffin in a dream?

Lady, weve news thats crying out for speech.

FIRST MERCHANT. We have brought 99lib.netnews.

Would my imagination and my heart

FIRST MERCHANT. Do not fear,

How my poor money serves the people, both??

Get horses and search all the country round,

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

CATHLEEN. How would that quiet end?

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

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

(The SPIRITS gather under the arches.)

When will this yellow vapour no more hang

Come, all you elemental populace

Might we not kill her, and bear off her spirit

Gods procreant waters flowing about your mind

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

Vanish away, and grass show its green shoots?

From Cruachan and Finbars ancient house.

ALEEL. How but in healing?

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

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

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

Lay many a plate and cup

Among the sounds of music and the light

Where none of mortal creatures but the swan

backs

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

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

Have all the speed of storms; others, again,

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

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

That is not everywhere from this to the sea?

turning round stands there

CATHLEEN. Ah, no, not that.

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

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

But that a night of prayer has made me weary.

(She goes slowly into the

And can buy grain from those who have stored it up

There is no evil that can find you here.

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

With holy water.

SECOND MERCHANT (looking into chapel door)

That when the world goes wrong must rave and talk,

In some most distant corner of the world?

A man may lose his soul and lose his God

The clay wars with His fingers and pleads hard

They have overdared?

Yet stay an instant. When we meet again

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

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

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

But Ive a plan.

I hear a whisper from beyond the thunder.

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

CATHLEEN. He bids me go

Is the green grave so terrible a thing?

Or if you lie in the hollows of the sea,

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

And yet they buy it for a hundred crowns.

Therefore our hearts are sore;