SHEMUS
What sets me laughing when I think of it,Is that a rogue who's lain in lousy straw,If he but sell it, may set up his coach.
TEIG (laughing)
There are two gentlemen who buy men's souls.
CATHLEEN
O God!
TEIG
And maybe there's no soul at all.
STEWARD
They're drunk or mad.
TEIG
Look at the price they give.
(Showing money.)
SHEMUS (tossing up money)
"Go cry it all about the world," they said."Money for souls, good money for a soul."
CATHLEEN
Give twice and thrice and twenty times their money,And get your souls again. I will pay all.
SHEMUS
Not we! not we! For souls – if there are souls —But keep the flesh out of its merriment.I shall be drunk and merry.
TEIG
Come, let's away.
(He goes.)
CATHLEEN
But there's a world to come.
SHEMUS
And if there is,I'd rather trust myself into the handsThat can pay money down than to the handsThat have but shaken famine from the bag.
(He goes out R.)
(Lilting)
"There's money for a soul, sweet yellow money.There's money for men's souls, good money, money."
CATHLEEN (to ALEEL)
Go call them here again, bring them by force,Beseech them, bribe, do anything you like;
(ALEEL goes.)
And you too follow, add your prayers to his.
(OONA, who has been praying, goes out.)
Steward, you know the secrets of my house.How much have I?
STEWARD
A hundred kegs of gold.
CATHLEEN
How much have I in castles?
STEWARD
As much more.
CATHLEEN
How much have I in pasture?
STEWARD
As much more.
CATHLEEN
How much have I in forests?
STEWARD
As much more.
CATHLEEN
Keeping this house alone, sell all I have,Go barter where you please, but come againWith herds of cattle and with ships of meal.
STEWARD
God's blessing light upon your ladyship.You will have saved the land.
CATHLEEN
Make no delay.
(He goes L.)
(ALEEL and OONA return)
CATHLEEN
They have not come; speak quickly.
ALEEL
One drew his knifeAnd said that he would kill the man or womanThat stopped his way; and when I would have stopped himHe made this stroke at me; but it is nothing.
CATHLEEN
You shall be tended. From this day for everI'll have no joy or sorrow of my own.
OONA
Their eyes shone like the eyes of birds of prey.
CATHLEEN
Come, follow me, for the earth burns my feetTill I have changed my house to such a refugeThat the old and ailing, and all weak of heart,May escape from beak and claw; all, all, shall comeTill the walls burst and the roof fall on us.From this day out I have nothing of my own.
(She goes.)
OONA (taking ALEEL by the arm and as she speaks bandaging his wound)
She has found something now to put her hand to,And you and I are of no more accountThan flies upon a window-pane in the winter.
(They go out.)
END OF SCENE II
SCENE III
Scene. —Hall in the house of Countess Cathleen. At the Left an oratory with steps leading up to it. At the Right a tapestried wall, more or less repeating the form of the oratory, and a great chair with its back against the wall. In the Centre are two or more arches through which one can see dimly the trees of the garden. Cathleen is kneeling in front of the altar in the oratory; there is a hanging lighted lamp over the altar. Aleel enters.
ALEEL
I have come to bid you leave this castle and flyOut of these woods.
CATHLEEN
What evil is there hereThat is not everywhere from this to the sea?
ALEEL
They who have sent me walk invisible.
CATHLEEN
So it is true what I have heard men say,That you have seen and heard what others cannot.
ALEEL
I was asleep in my bed, and while I sleptMy dream became a fire; and in the fireOne walked and he had birds about his head.
CATHLEEN
I have heard that one of the old gods walked so.
ALEEL
It may be that he is angelical;And, lady, he bids me call you from these woods.And you must bring but your old foster-mother,And some few serving men, and live in the hills,Among the sounds of music and the lightOf waters, till the evil days are done.For here some terrible death is waiting you,Some unimagined evil, some great darknessThat fable has not dreamt of, nor sun nor moonScattered.
CATHLEEN
No, not angelical.
ALEEL
This houseYou are to leave with some old trusty man,And bid him shelter all that starve or wanderWhile there is food and house room.
CATHLEEN
He bids me goWhere none of mortal creatures but the swanDabbles, and there you would pluck the harp, when the treesHad made a heavy shadow about our door,And talk among the rustling of the reeds,When night hunted the foolish sun awayWith stillness and pale tapers. No – no – no!I cannot. Although I weep, I do not weepBecause that life would be most happy, and hereI find no way, no end. Nor do I weepBecause I had longed to look upon your face,But that a night of prayer has made me weary.
ALEEL (prostrating himself before her)
Let Him that made mankind, the angels and devilsAnd dearth and plenty, mend what He has made,For when we labour in vain and eye still seesHeart breaks in vain.
CATHLEEN
How would that quiet end?
ALEEL
How but in healing?