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diff --git a/old/14588.txt b/old/14588.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f087fbd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14588.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9368 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Three Wonder Plays, by Lady I. A. Gregory + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Three Wonder Plays + +Author: Lady I. A. Gregory + +Release Date: January 4, 2005 [EBook #14588] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE WONDER PLAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Scott G. Sims and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + +THREE WONDER PLAYS + +By LADY GREGORY + +Drama + + +Other works: + +SEVEN SHORT PLAYS. +FOLK-HISTORY PLAYS. 2 VOLS. +NEW COMEDIES. +THE GOLDEN APPLE. +THE DRAGON. +OUR IRISH THEATRE. A CHAPTER OF + AUTOBIOGRAPHY. +THE KILTARTAN MOLIERE. +THE IMAGE AND OTHER PLAYS. +THREE WONDER PLAYS. + + +Irish Folk-Lore and Legend + +VISIONS AND BELIEFS. 2 VOLS. +CUCHULAIN OF MURITHEMNE. +GODS AND FIGHTING MEN. +SAINTS AND WONDERS. +POETS AND DREAMERS. +THE KILTARTAN POETRY BOOK. +THE KILTARTAN HISTORY BOOK. + + * * * * * + +HUGH LANE'S LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENT + WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE DUBLIN + GALLERIES. + + + + +Three Wonder Plays + +By + +Lady Gregory + +G.P. Putnam's Sons +London & New York + +Note + +These plays have been copyrighted in the United +States and Great Britain. + +All rights reserved, including that of translation +into foreign languages. + +All acting rights, both professional and amateur, +are reserved in the United States, Great Britain, and +all countries of the Copyright Union, by the author. +Performances are forbidden and right of presentation +is reserved. + +Application for the right of performing these plays +or reading them in public should be made to Samuel +French, 26, Southampton Street, Strand, London, +W.C.2. + + + + +_Made in Great Britain by_ + +THE BOTOLPH PRINTING WORKS +GATE STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C.2 + +CONTENTS + + +THE DRAGON + +ARISTOTLE'S BELLOWS + +THE JESTER + + + + +THE DRAGON + +ACT I + +PERSONS + +_The King_ + +_The Queen_. + +_The Princess Nuala_. + +_The Dall Glic_ (THE BLIND WISE MAN). + +_The Nurse_. + +_The Prince of the Marshes_. + +_Manus, King of Sorcha_. + +_Fintan, The Astrologer_. + +_Taig_. + +_Sibby_ (TAIG'S MOTHER). + +_Gatekeeper_. + +_Two Aunts of the Prince of the Marshes_. + +_Foreign Men Bringing in Food_. + +_The Dragon_. + + + + +ACT I + + +_Scene: A room in the King's house at Burren. +Large window at back with deep window seat. +Doors right and left. A small table and some +chairs_. + +_Dall Glic: (Coming in with tray, which he puts +on table. Goes back to door.)_ You can come in, +King. There is no one here. + +_King: (Coming in.)_ That's very good. I was +in dread the Queen might be in it. + +_Dall Glic_: It is a good thought I had bringing +it in here, and she gone to give learning to the +Princess. She is not likely to come this side. It +would be a great pity to annoy her. + +_King: (Hastily swallowing a mouthful.)_ Look +out now the door and keep a good watch. The +time she will draw upon me is when I am eating +my little bite. + +_Dall Glic_: I'll do that. What I wouldn't +see with my one eye, there's no other would see +with three. + +_King_: A month to-day since I wed with her, and +well pleased I am to be back in my own place. I +give you word my teeth are rusting with the want +of meat. On the journey I got no fair play. She +wouldn't be willing to see me nourish myself, +unless maybe with the marrow bone of a wren. + +_Dall Glic_: Sure she lays down she is but thinking +of the good of your health. + +_King_: Maybe so. She is apt to be paying too +much attention to what will be for mine and for +the world's good. I kept my health fair enough, +and the first wife not begrudging me my enough. +I don't know what in the world led me not to stop +as I was. + +_Dall Glic_: It is what you were saying, it was +for the good of the Princess Nuala, and of yourself. + +_King_: That is what herself laid down. It +would be a great ease to my mind, she was saying, +to have in the house with the young girl, a far-off +cousin of the King of Alban, and that had been +conversation woman in his Court. + +_Dall Glic_: So it might be too. She is a great +manager of people. + +_King_: She is that ...I think I hear her +coming.... Throw a cloth over the plates. + +_Queen: (Coming in.)_ I was in search of you. + +_King_: I thought you were in Nuala's sunny +parlour, learning her to play music and to go through +books. + +_Queen_: That is what I thought to do. But I +hadn't hardly started to teach her the principles +of conversation and the branches of relationships +and kindred of the big people of the earth, when +she plucked off the coverings I had put over the +cages, and set open their doors, till the fiery birds +of Sabes and the canaries of the eastern world +were screeching around my head, giving out every +class of cry and call. + +_King_: So they would too. + +_Queen_: The royal eagles stirred up till I must +quit the place with their squawking, and the +enchanted swans raising up their heads and pecking +at the beadwork on my gown. + +_King_: Ah, she has a wish for the birds of the air, +that are by nature light and airy the same as herself. + +_Queen:_ It is time for her to turn her mind +to good sense. What's that? (_Whipping cloth +from tray_.) Is it that you are eating again, and +it is but one half-hour since your breakfast? + +_King_: Ah, that wasn't a breakfast you'd call +a breakfast. + +_Queen_: Very healthy food, oaten meal flummery +with whey, and a griddle-cake; dandelion tea +and sorrel from the field. + +_King_: My old fathers ate their enough of wild +herbs and the like in the early time of the world. +I'm thinking that it is in my nature to require a +good share of nourishment as if to make up for the +hardships they went through. + +_Queen_: What now have you within that pastry +wall? + +_King_: It is but a little leveret pie. + +_Queen: (Poking with fork.)_ Leveret! What's +this in it? The thickness of a blanket of beef; +calves' sweetbreads; cocks' combs; balls mixed +with livers and with spice. You to so much as +taste of it, you'll be crippled and crappled with +the gout, and roaring out in your pain. + +_King_: I tell you my generations have enough +done of fasting and for making little of the juicy +meats of the world. + +_Queen_: And the waste of it! Goose eggs and +jellies.... That much would furnish out a dinner +for the whole of the King of Alban's Court. +_King_: Ah, I wouldn't wish to be using anything +at all, only for to gather strength for to steer +the business of the whole of the kingdom! + +_Queen_: Have you enough ate now, my dear? +Are you satisfied? + +_King:_ I am not. I would wish for a little taste +of that saffron cake having in it raisins of the sun. + +_Queen_: Saffron! Are you raving? You to +have within you any of the four-and-twenty sicknesses +of the race, it would throw it out in red +blisters on your skin. + +_King_: Let me just taste one little slab of that +venison ham. + +_Queen: (Poking with a fork.)_ It would take +seven chewings! Sudden death it would be! +Leave it alone now and rise up. To keep in health +every man should quit the table before he is satisfied +--there are some would walk to the door and back +with every bite. + +_King_: Is it that I am to eat my meal standing, +the same as a crane in a shallow, or moving from +tuft to thistle like you'd see a jennet on the high +road? + +_Queen_: Well, at the least, let you drink down +a share of this tansy juice. I was telling you it +would be answerable to your health. + +_King_: You are doing entirely too much for me. + +_Queen_: Sure I am here to be comfortable to +you. This house before I came into it was but +a ship without a rudder! Here now, take the +spoon in your hand. + +_Dall Glic_: Leave it there, Queen, and I'll +engage he'll swallow it down bye-and-bye. + +_Queen_: Is it that _you_ are meddling, Dall Glic? +It is time some person took you in hand. I wonder +now could that dark eye of yours be cured? + +_Dall Glic_: It is given in that it can not, by +doctors and by druids. + +_Queen_: That is a pity now, it gives you a sort +of a one-sided look. It might not be so hard a +thing to put out the sight of the other. + +_Dall Glic_: I'd sooner leave them the way they +are. + +_Queen_: I'll put a knot on my handkerchief till +such time as I can give my mind to it.... Now, +my dear (_to King_), make no more delay. It is +right to drink it down after your meal. The +stomach to be bare empty, the medicine might +prey upon the body till it would be wore away +and consumed. + +_King_: Time enough. Let it settle now for +a minute. + +_Queen_: Here, now, I'll hold your nose the way +you will not get the taste of it. + +(_She holds spoon to his mouth. A ball flies +in at window; he starts and medicine +is spilled_.) + +_Princess: (Coming in with Nurse.)_ Is it true +what they are telling me? + +_Queen_: Do you see that you near hit the King +with your ball, and, what is worse again, you have +his medicine spilled from the spoon. + +_Princess: (Patting him.)_ Poor old King. + +_Queen_: Have you your lessons learned? + +_Princess: (Throwing books in the air.)_ Neither +line nor letter of them! Poem book! Brehon +Laws! I have done with books! I am seventeen +years old to-day! + +_Queen:_ There is no one would think it and +you so flighty as you are. + +_Princess: (To King.)_ Is it true that the cook +is gone away? + +_King: (Aghast.)_ What's that you're saying? + +_Queen:_ Don't be annoying the King's mind +with such things. He should be hidden from every +trouble and care. + +_Princess:_ Was it you sent him away? + +_Queen:_ Not at all. If he went it was through +foolishness and pride. + +_Princess:_ It is said in the house that you annoyed +him. + +_Queen:_ I never annoyed any person in my life, +unless it might be for their own good. But it +fails some to recognise their best friend. Just +teaching him I was to pickle onion thinnings as it +was done at the King of Alban's Court. + +_Princess:_ Didn't he know that before? + +_Queen:_ Whether or no, he gave me very little +thanks, but turned around and asked his wages. +Hurrying him and harrying him he said I was, +and away with him, himself and his four-and-twenty +apprentices. + +_King:_ That is bad news, and pitiful news. + +_Queen:_ Do not be troubling yourself at all. It +will be easy find another. + +_King:_ It might not be easy to find so good a +one. A great pity! A dinner or a supper not +to be rightly dressed is apt to give no pleasure in +the eating or in the bye-and-bye. + +_Queen:_ I have taken it in hand. I have a good +headpiece. I put out a call with running lads +and with the army captains through the whole +of the five provinces; and along with that, I have +it put up on tablets at the post office. + +_Princess:_ I am sorry the old one to be gone. +To remember him is nearly the farthest spot in +my memory. + +_Queen: (Sharply.)_ If you want the house to +be under your hand only, it is best for you to settle +into one of your own. + +_Princess:_ Give me the little rush cabin by the +stream and I'll be content. + +_Queen:_ If you mind yourself and profit by +my instruction it is maybe not a cabin you will +be moving to but a palace. + +_Princess:_ I'm tired of palaces. There are too +many people in them. + +_Queen:_ That is talking folly. When you settle +yourself it must be in the station where you were +born. + +_Princess:_ I have no mind to settle myself yet +awhile. + +_Nurse:_ Ah, you will not be saying that the +time Mr. Right will come down the chimney, +and will give you the marks and tokens of a king. + +_Queen:_ There might have some come looking +for her before this, if it was not for you petting +and pampering her the way you do, and encouraging +her flightiness and follies. It is likely she will get +no offers till such time as I will have taught her +the manners and the right customs of courts. + +_Nurse:_ Sure I am acquainted with courts myself. +Wasn't it I fostered comely Manus that is presently +King of Sorcha, since his father went out of the +world? And as to lovers coming to look for her! +They do be coming up to this as plenty as the eye +could hold them, and she refusing them, and they +laying the blame upon the King! + +_King:_ That is so, they laying the blame upon +myself. There was the uncle of the King of +Leinster; he never sent me another car-load of +asparagus from the time you banished him away. + +_Princess:_ He was a widower man. + +_King:_ As to the heir of Orkney, since the time +you sent him to the right about, I never got so +much as a conger eel from his hand. + +_Princess:_ As dull as a fish he was. He had a +fish's eyes. + +_King:_ That wasn't so with the champion of +the merings of Ulster. + +_Princess:_ A freckled man. He had hair the +colour of a fox. + +_King:_ I wish he didn't stop sending me his +tribute of heather beer. + +_Queen:_ It is a poor daughter that will not +wish to be helpful to her father. + +_Princess:_ If I am to wed for the furnishing +of my father's table, it's as good for you to wrap +me in a speckled fawnskin and roast me! + +_(Runs out, tossing her ball_.) + +_Queen:_ She is no way fit for marriage unless +with a herd to the birds of the air, till she has a +couple of years schooling. + +_King:_ It would be hard to put her back to +that. + +_Queen:_ I must take it in hand. She is getting +entirely too much of her own way. + +_Nurse:_ Leave her alone, and in the end it will +be a good way. + +_Queen:_ To keep rules and hours she must learn, +and to give in to order and good sense. _(To King.)_ +There is a pigeon messenger I brought from Alban +I am about to let loose on this day with news of +myself and of yourself. I will send with it a message +to a friend I have, bidding her to make ready for +Nuala a place in her garden of learning and her +school. + +_King:_ That is going too fast. There is no +hurry. + +_Queen:_ She is seventeen years. There is no +day to be lost. I will go write the letter. + +_Nurse:_ Oh, you wouldn't send away the poor +child! + +_Dall Glic:_ It would be a great hardship to +send her so far. Our poor little Princess Nu! + +_Queen: (Sharply.)_ What are saying? _(Dall +Glic is silent.)_ + +_King:_ I would not wish her to be sent out +of this. + +_Queen:_ There is no other way to set her mind +to sense and learning. It will be for her own +good. + +_Nurse:_ Where's the use troubling her with +lessons and with books that maybe she will never +be in need of at all. Speak up for her, King. + +_King:_ Let her stop for this year as she is. + +_Queen:_ You are all too soft and too easy. She +will turn on you and will blame you for it, and +another year or two years slipped by. + +_Nurse:_ That she may! + +_Dall Glic:_ Who knows what might take place +within the twelvemonth that is coming? + +_King:_ Ah, don't be talking about it. Maybe +it never might come to pass. + +_Dall Glic_: It will come to pass, if there is truth +in the clouds of sky. + +_King_: It will not be for a year, anyway. There'll +be many an ebbing and flowing of the tide within +a year. + +_Queen_: What at all are you talking about? + +_King_: Ah, where's the use of talking too +much. + +_Queen_: Making riddles you are, and striving +to keep the meaning from your comrade, that is +myself. + +_King_: It's best not be thinking about the thing +you would not wish, and maybe it might never +come around at all. To strive to forget a threat +yourself, it might maybe be forgotten by the +universe. + +_Queen_: Is it true something was threatened? + +_King_: How would I know is anything true, +and the world so full of lies as it is? + +_Nurse_: That is so. He might have been wrong +in his foretelling. What is he in the finish but an +old prophecy? + +_Dall Glic_: Is it of Fintan you are saying that? + +_Queen_: And who, will you tell me, is Fintan? + +_Dall Glic_: Anyone that never heard tell of +Fintan never heard anything at all. + +_Queen_: His name was not up on the tablets +of big men at the King of Alban's Court, or of +Britain. + +_Nurse_: Ah, sure in those countries they are +without religion or belief. + +_Queen_: Is it that there was a prophecy? + +_King_: Don't mind it. What are prophecies? +Don't we hear them every day of the week? And +if one comes true there may be seven blind and +come to nothing. + +_Queen: (To Dall Glic_). I must get to the root +of this, and the handle. Who, now, is Fintan? + +_Dall Glic:_ He is an astrologer, and understanding +the nature of the stars. + +_Nurse:_ He wore out in his lifetime three eagles +and three palm trees and three earthen dykes. +It is down in a cleft of the rocks beyond he has +his dwelling presently, the way he can be watching +the stars through the daytime. + +_Dall Glic:_ He prophesied in a prophecy, and +it is written in clean letters in the King's yew-tree +box. + +_King:_ It is best to keep it out of sight. It +being to be, it will be; and, if not, where's the +use troubling our mind? + +_Queen:_ Sound it out to me. + +_Dall Glic: (Looking from window and drawing +curtain.)_ There is no story in the world is worse +to me or more pitiful; I wouldn't wish any person +to hear. + +_Nurse:_ Oh, take care it would come to the +ears of my darling Nu! + +_Dall Glic:_ It is said by himself and the heavens +that in a year from this day the King's daughter will +be brought away and devoured by a scaly Green +Dragon that will come from the North of the +World. + +_Queen:_ A Dragon! I thought you were talking +of some danger. I wouldn't give in to dragons. +I never saw one. I'm not in dread of beasts unless +it might be a mouse in the night-time! + +_King:_ Put it out of mind. It is likely anyway +that the world will soon be ended the way +it is. + +_Queen: I_ will send and search out this astrologer +and will question him. + +_Dall Glic_: You have not far to search. He +is outside at the kitchen door at this minute, and +as if questioning after something, and it a half-score +and seven years since I knew him to come +out of his cave. + +_King_: Do not! He might waken up the Dragon +and put him in mind of the girl, for to make his +own foretelling come true. + +_Nurse_: Ah, such a thing cannot be! The +poor innocent child! _(Weeps.)_ + +_Queen_: Where's the use of crying and roaring? +The thing must be stopped and put an end to. +I don't say I give in to your story, but that would +be an unnatural death. I would be scandalised +being stepmother to a girl that would be swallowed +by a sea-serpent! + +_Nurse_: Ochone! Don't be talking of it at +all! + +_Queen_: At the King of Alban's Court, one +of the royal family to die over, it will be naturally +on a pillow, and the dead-bells ringing, and a +burying with white candles, and crape on the +knocker of the door, and a flagstone put over the +grave. What way could we put a stone or so +much as a rose-bush over Nuala and she in the +inside of a water-worm might be ploughing its way +down to the north of the world? + +_Nurse_: Och! that is what is killing me entirely! +O save her, save her. + +_King_: I tell you, it being to be, it will be. + +_Queen_: You may be right, so, when you would +not go to the expense of paying her charges at the +Royal school. But wait, now, there is a plan +coming into my mind. + +_Nurse_: There must surely be some way! + +_Queen_: It is likely a king's daughter the beast--if +there is a beast--will come questing after, and +not after a king's wife. + +_Dall Glic_: That is according to custom. + +_Queen_: That's what I am saying. What we +have to do is to join Nuala with a man of a husband, +and she will be safe from the danger ahead of her. +In all the inventions made by poets, for to put +terror on children or to knock laughter out of fools, +did any of you ever hear of a Dragon swallowing +the wedding ring? + +_All_: We never did. + +_Queen_: It's easy enough so. There must be +no delay till Nuala will be married and wed with +someone that will bring her away out of this, and +let the Dragon go hungry home! + +_Nurse_: That she may! Isn't it a pity now +she being so hard to please! + +_Queen_: Young people are apt to be selfish and +to have no thought but for themselves. She must +not be hard to please when it will be to save and +to serve her family and to keep up respect for +their name. Here she is coming. + +_Nurse_: Ah, you would not tell her! You +would not put the dear child under the shadow +of such a terror and such a threat! + +_King_: She must not be told. I never could +bear up against it. + +_(Nuala comes in_.) + +_Queen:_ Look now at your father the way he is. + +_Princess: (Touching his hand.)_ What is fretting +you? + +_Queen:_ His heart as weighty as that the chair +near broke under him. + +_Princess:_ I never saw you this way before. + +_Queen:_ And all on the head of yourself! + +_Princess:_ I am sorry, and very sorry, for that. + +_Queen:_ He is loth to say it to you, but he is +tired and wore out waiting for you to settle with +some match. See what a troubled look he has on +his face. + +_Princess: (To King.)_ Is it that you want me +to leave you? _(He gives a sob.) (To Dall Glic.)_ +Is it the Queen urged him to this? + +_Dall Glic:_ If she did, it was surely for your good. + +_Nurse:_ Oh, my child and my darling, let you +strive to take a liking to some good man that will +come! + +_Princess:_ Are you going against me with the rest? + +_Nurse:_ You know well I would never do that! + +_Princess:_ Do you, father, urge me to go? + +_King:_ They are in too big a hurry why +wouldn't they wait a while, for a quarter, or three-quarters +of a year. + +_Princess:_ Is that all the delay I am given, and +the term is set for me, like a servant that would be +banished from the house? + +_King:_ That's not it. That's not right. I +would never give in to let you go ...if it +wasn't ... + +_Princess_: I know. _(Stands up.)_ For my own +good! + +_(Trumpet outside.)_ + +_Gatekeeper_: (_Coming in_.) There is company +at the door. + +_Queen_: Who is it? + +_Gatekeeper_: Servants, and a company of women, +and one that would seem to be a Prince, and young. + +_Princess_: Then he is come asking me in marriage. + +_Dall Glic_: Who is he at all? + +_Gatekeeper_: They were saying he is the son +of the King of the Marshes. + +_King_: Go bring him in. + +_(Gatekeeper goes_.) + +_Dall Glic_: That's right! He has great riches +and treasure. There are some say he is the first +match in Ireland. + +_Nurse_: He is not. If his father has a copper +crown, and our own King a silver one, it is the +King of Sorcha has a crown of gold! The young +King of Sorcha that is the first match. + +_Dall Glic_: If he is, this one is apt to be the +second first. + +_Queen_: Do you hear, Nuala, what luck is flowing +to you? + +_Dall Glic_: Do not now be turning your back +on him as you did to so many. + +_Princess_: No; whoever he is, it is likely I will +not turn away from this one. + +_Queen_: Go now and ready yourself to meet him. + +_Princess_: Am I not nice enough the way I am? + +_Queen_: You are not. The King of Alban's +daughter has hair as smooth as if a cow had licked it. + +_(Princess goes_.) + +_Gatekeeper_: Here is the Prince of the Marshes! + +_(Enter Prince, very young and timid, an old lady +on each side slightly in advance of him_.) + +_King_: A great welcome before you.... +And who may these be? + +_Prince_: Seven aunts I have.... + +_First Aunt: (Interrupting.)_ If he has, there +are but two of us have come along with him. + +_Second Aunt_: For to care him and be company +for him on his journey, it being the first time he +ever quitted home. + +_Queen_: This is a great honour. Will you take +a chair? + +_First Aunt_: Leave that for the Prince of the +Marshes. It is away from the draught of the +window. + +_Second Aunt_: We ourselves are in charge of +his health. I have here his eel-skin boots for the +days that will be wet under foot. + +_First Aunt_: And I have here my little bag of +cures, with a cure in it that would rise the body +out of the grave as whole and as sound as the time +you were born. + +_(Lays it down_.) + +_King: (To Prince_.) It is many a day your +father and myself were together in our early time. +What way is he? He was farther out in age than +myself. + +_Prince_: He is ... + +_First Aunt: (Interrupting_.) He is only middling +these last years. The doctors have taken him in +hand. + +_King_: He was more for fowling, and I was +more for horses--before I increased so much in +girth. Is it for horses you are, Prince? + +_Prince_: I didn't go up on one up to this. + +_First Aunt_: Kings and princes are getting scarce. +They are the most class is wearing away, and it is +right for them keep in mind their safety. + +_Second Aunt_: The Prince has no need to go +upon a horse, where he has always a coach at his +command. + +_King_: It is fowling that suits you so? + +_Prince_: I would be well pleased ... + +_First Aunt_: There is great danger going out +fowling with a gun that might turn on you after +and take your life. + +_Second Aunt_: Why would the Prince go into +danger, having servants that will go following +after birds? + +_Queen_: He is likely waiting till his enemies will +make an attack upon the country to defend it. + +_First Aunt_: There is a good dyke around about +the marshes, and a sort of quaking bog. It is not +likely war will come till such time as it will be made +by the birds of the air. + +_King_: Well, we must strive to knock out some +sport or some pleasure. + +_Prince_: It was not on pleasure I was sent. + +_First Aunt_: That's so, but on business. + +_Second Aunt_: Very weighty business. + +_King_: Let the lad tell it out himself. + +_Prince_: I hope there is no harm in me coming +hither. I would be loth to push on you ... + +_First Aunt_: We thought it was right, as he +was come to sensible years ... + +_King_: Stop a minute, ma'am, give him his +time. + +_Prince_: My father ... and his counsellors ... +and my seven aunts ...that said it would be +right for me to join with a wife. + +_Queen_: They showed good sense in that. + +_Prince: (Rapidly.)_ They bade me come and +take a look at your young lady of a Princess to see +would she be likely to be pleasing to them. + +_First Aunt_: That's it, and that is what brought +ourselves along with him--to see would we be +satisfied. + +_King_: I don't know. The girl is young--she's +young. + +_First Aunt_: It is what we were saying, that +might be no drawback. It might be easier train +her in our own ways, and to do everything that +is right. + +_King_: Sure we are all wishful to do the thing +that is right, but it's sometimes hard to know. + +_Second Aunt_: Not in our place. What the +King of the Marshes would not know, his counsellors +and ourselves would know. + +_Queen_: It will be very answerable to the Princess +to be under such good guidance. + +_First Aunt_: For low people and for middling +people it is well enough to follow their own opinion +and their will. But for the Prince's wife to have +any choice or any will of her own, the people would +not believe her to be a _real_ princess. + +_(Princess comes to door, listening unseen.)_ + +_King_: Ah, you must not be too strict with a +girl that has life in her. + +_Prince_: My seven aunts that were saying they +have a great distrust of any person that is lively. + +_First Aunt_: We would rather than the greatest +beauty in the world get him a wife who would be +content to stop in her home. + +_(Princess comes in very stately and with a_ +_fine dress. She curtseys. Aunts curtsey +and sit down again. Prince bows uneasily +and sidles away.)_ + +_First Aunt_: Will you sit, now, between the +two of us? + +_Princess_: It is more fitting for a young girl +to stay in her standing in the presence of a king's +kindred and his son, since he is come so far to look +for me. + +_Second Aunt_: That is a very nice thought. + +_Princess_: My far-off grandmother, the old +people were telling me, never sat at the table +to put a bit in her mouth till such time as her +lord had risen up satisfied. She was that obedient +to him that if he had bidden her, she would have +laid down her hand upon red coals. + +_(Prince looks bored and fidgets.)_ + +_First Aunt_: Very good indeed. + +_Princess_: That was a habit with my grandmother. +I would wish to follow in her ways. + +_King_: This is some new talk. + +_Queen_: Stop; she is speaking fair and good. + +_Princess_: A little verse, made by some good +wife, I used to be learning. "I always should: +Be very good: At home should mind: My husband +kind: Abroad obey: What people say." + +_First Aunt: (Getting up.)_ To travel the world, +I never thought to find such good sense before me. +Do you hear that, Prince? + +_Prince_: Sure I often heard yourselves shaping +that sort. + +_Second Aunt_: I'll engage the royal family will +make no objection to this young lady taking charge +of your house. + +_Princess_: I can do that! _(Counts on fingers.)_ +To send linen to the washing-tub on Monday, and +dry it on Tuesday, and to mangle it Wednesday, +and starch it Thursday, and iron it Friday, and +fold it in the press against Sunday! + +_Second Aunt_: Indeed there is little to learn +you! And on Sundays, now, you will go driving +in a painted coach, and your dress sewed with gold +and with pearls, and the poor of the world envying +you on the road. + +_Queen: (Claps hands.)_ There is no one but +must envy her, and all that is before her for her +lifetime! + +_First Aunt_: Here is the golden arm-ring the +Prince brought for to slip over your hand. + +_Second Aunt_: It was put on all our generations of +queens at the time of the making of their match. + +_Princess: (Drawing back her hand.)_ Mine is +not made yet. + +_First Aunt_: Didn't you hear me saying, and +the Prince saying, there is nothing could be laid +down against it. + +_Princess_: There is one thing against it. + +_Queen_: Oh, there can be nothing worth while! + +_Princess_: A thing you would think a great +drawback and all your kindred would think it. + +_Queen: (Rapidly.)_ There is nothing, but maybe +that she is not so tall as you might think, through +the length of the heels of her shoes. + +_Second Aunt_: We would put up with that much. + +_Princess: (Rapidly.)_ It is that there was a +spell put upon me--by a water-witch that was of +my kindred. At some hours of the day I am as +you see me, but at other hours I am changed into +a sea-filly from the Country-under-Wave. And +when I smell salt on the west wind I must race and +race and race. And when I hear the call of the +gulls or the sea-eagles over my head, I must leap +up to meet them till I can hardly tell what is my +right element, is it the high air or is it the loosened +spring-tide! + +_Queen_: Stop your nonsense talk. She is gone +wild and raving with the great luck that is come +to her! + +_(Prince has stood up, and is watching her +eagerly.)_ + +_Princess_: I feel a wind at this very time that +is blowing from the wilderness of the sea, and +I am changing with it.... There. _(Pulls down +her hair.)_ Let my mane go free! I will race +you, Prince, I will race you! The wind of March +will not overtake me, Prince, and I running on the +top of the white waves! + +_(Runs out; Prince entranced, rushes to door.)_ + +_Aunts: (Catching hold of him.)_ Are you going +mad wild like herself? + +_Prince_: Oh, I will go after her! + +_First Aunt: (Clutching him)_ Do not! She +will drag you to destruction. + +_Prince: (Struggling to door.)_ What matter! Let +me go or she will escape me! _(Shaking himself +free.)_ I will never stop till I come to her. + +_(He rushes out, Second Aunt still holding on +to him.)_ + +_First Aunt_: What at all has come upon him? +I never knew him this way before! + +_(She trots after him.)_ + +_Princess: (Comes leaping in by window.)_ They +are gone running the road to Muckanish! But +they won't find me! + +_Queen_: You have a right to be ashamed of +yourself and your play-game. It's easy for you +to go joking, having neither cark nor care: that +is no way to treat the second best match in Ireland! + +_King_: You were saying you had your mind +made up to take him. + +_Princess_: It failed me to do it! Himself and +his counsellors and his seven aunts! + +_Queen_: He will give out that you are crazed +and mad. + +_Princess_: He will be thankful to his life's end +to have got free of me! + +_King_: I don't know. It seemed to me he +was better pleased with you in the finish than +in the commencement. But I'm in dread his +father may not be well pleased. + +_Princess: (Patting him.)_ Which now of the +two of you is the most to be pitied? He to +have such a timid son or you to have such an unruly +daughter? + +_Queen_: It is likely he will make an attack on +you. There was a war made by the King of Britain +on the head of a terrier pup that was sent to him +and that made away on the road following hares. +It's best for you to make ready to put yourself at +the head of your troop. + +_King_: It's long since I went into my battle +dress. I'm in dread it would not close upon my +chest. + +_Queen_: Ah, it might, so soon as you would +go through a few hardships in the fight. + +_King_: If the rest of Adam's race was of my +opinion there'd be no fighting in the world at +all. + +_Queen_: It is this child's stubbornness is leading +you into it. Go out, Nuala, after the Prince. Tell +him you are sorry you made a fool of him. + +_Princess_: He was that before--thinking to +put me sitting and sewing in a cushioned chair, +listening to stories of kings making a slaughter +of one another. + +_Queen_: Tell him you have changed your mind, +that you were but funning; that you will wed +with him yet. + +_Princess_: I would sooner wed with the King +of Poison! I to have to go to his kingdom, I'd +sooner go earning my wages footing turf, with a +skirt of heavy flannel and a dress of the grey frieze! +Himself and his bogs and his frogs! + +_Queen_: I tell you it is time for you to take a +husband. + +_Princess_: You said that before! And I was +giving in a while ago, and I felt the blood of my +heart to be rising against it! And I will not give +in to you again! It is my own business and I will +take my own way. + +_Queen: (To King.)_ This is all one with the +raving of a hag against heaven! + +_King_: What the Queen is saying is right. Try +now and come around to it. + +_Princess_: She has set you against me with her +talk! + +_Queen: (To King.)_ It is best for you to lay +orders on her. + +_Princess_: The King is not under your +orders! + +_Queen_: You are striving to make him give in +to your own! + +_King_: I will take orders from no one at all! + +_Queen_: Bid her go bring back the Prince. + +_Princess_: I say that I will not! + +_Queen_: She is standing up against you! Will +you give in to that? + +_King_: I am bothered with the whole of you! +I will give in to nothing at all! + +_Queen_: Make her do your bidding so. + +_King_: Can't you do as you are told? + +_Princess_: This concerns myself. + +_King_: It does, and the whole of us. + +_Princess_: Do you think you can force me to +wed? + +_King_: I do think it, and I will do it. + +_Princess_: It will fail you! + +_King_: It will not! I was too easy with you +up to this. + +_Princess_: Will you turn me out of the house? + +_King_: I will give you my word, it is little but +I will! + +_Princess_: Then I have no home and no father! +It is to my mother you must give an account. +You know well it is with the first wife you will go +at the Judgment! + +_Queen_: Is it that you would make threats to +the King? And put insults upon myself? Now +she is daring and defying you! Let you put an end +to it! + +_King_: I will do that! _(Stands up.)_ I swear +by the oath my people swear by, the seven things +common to us all; by sun and moon; sea and dew; +wind and water; the hours of the day and night, +I will give you in marriage and in wedlock to the +first man that will come into the house! + +_Princess: (Shrinking as from a blow.)_ It is the +Queen has done this. + +_Queen_: I will give you out the reason, and +see will you put blame on me or praise! + +_Nurse_: Oh, let you stop and not draw it down +upon her! + +_Queen_: It is right for me to tell it; it is true +telling! You not to be married and wed by this +day twelvemonth, there will be a terrible thing +happen you ... + +_Nurse_: Be quiet! Don't you see Fintan himself +looking in the window! + +_King_: Fintan! What is it bring you here +on this day? + +_Fintan: (A very old man in strange clothes at +window.)_ What brings me is to put my curse +upon the whole tribe of kitchen boys that are gone +and vanished out of this, without bringing me my +request, that was a bit of rendered lard that would +limber the swivel of my spy-glass, that is clogged +with the dripping of the cave. + +_Nurse_: And you have no bad news? + +_Queen_: Nothing to say on the head of the +Princess, this being, as it is, her birthday? + +_Fintan_: What birthday? This is not a birthday +that signifies. It is the next will be the birthday +concerned with the great story that is foretold. + +_Queen_: It is right for her to know it. + +_King_: It is not! It is not! + +_Princess_: Whatever the story is, let me know +it, and not be treated as a child that is without +courage or sense. + +_Fintan_: It's long till I'll come out from my +cleft again, and getting no peace or quiet on the +ridge of the earth. It is laid down by the stars +that cannot lie, that on this day twelvemonth, you +yourself will be ate and devoured by a scaly Green +Dragon from the North! + +END OF ACT I. + + + + +ACT II + + + + +ACT II + + +_Scene: The Same. Princess and Nurse_. + +_Nurse_: Cheer up now, my honey bird, and +don't be fretting. + +_Princess_: It is not easy to quit fretting, and +the terrible story you are after telling me of all +that is before and all that is behind me. + +_Nurse_: They had no right at all to go make +you aware of it. The Queen has too much talk. +An unlucky stepmother she is to you! + +_Princess_: It is well for me she is here. It is +well I am told the truth, where the whole of you +were treating me like a child without sense, so +giddy I was and contrary, and petted and humoured +by the whole of you. What memory would there +be left of me and my little life gone by, but of a +headstrong, unruly child with no thought but +for myself. + +_Nurse_: No, but the best in the world, you +are; there is no one seeing you pass by but would +love you. + +_Princess_: That is not so. I was wild and taking +my own way, mocking and humbugging. + +_Nurse_: I never will give in that there is no +way to save you from that Dragon that is foretold +to be your destruction. I would give the +four divisions of the world, and Ireland along +with them, if I could see you pelting your ball +in at the window the same as an hour ago! + +_Princess_: Maybe you will, so long as it will hurt +nobody. + +_Nurse_: Ah, sure it's no wonder there to be the +tracks of tears upon your face, and that great terror +before you. + +_Princess_: I will wipe them away! I will not +give in to danger or to dragons! No one will +see a dark face on me. I am a king's daughter +of Ireland, I did not come out of a herd's hut like +Deirdre that went sighing and lamenting till she +was put to death, the world being sick and tired +of her complaints, and her finger at her eye dripping +tears! + +_Nurse_: That's right, now. You had always +great courage. + +_Princess_: There is like a change within me. +You never will hear a cross word from me again. +I would wish to be pleasant and peaceable until +such time ... + +_(Puts handkerchief to eyes and goes.)_ + +_Dall Glic: (Coming in.)_ The King is greatly +put out with all he went through, and the way +the passion rose in him a while ago. + +_Nurse_: That he may be twenty times worse +before he is better! Showing such fury towards +the innocent child the way he did! + +_Dall Glic_: The Queen has brought him to the +grass plot for to give him his exercise, walking his +seven steps east and west. + +_Nurse_: Hasn't she great power over him to +make him to that much? + +_Dall Glic_: I tell you I am in dread of her myself. +Some plan she has for making my two eyes equal. +I vexed her someway, and she got queer and humpy, +and put a lip on herself, and said she would take +me in hand. I declare I never will have a minute's +ease thinking of it. + +_Nurse_: The King should have done his seven +steps, for I hear her coming. + +_(Dall Glic goes to recess of window.)_ + +_Queen: (Coming in.)_ Did you, Nurse, ever at +any time turn and dress a dinner? + +_Nurse: (Very stiff.)_ Indeed I never did. Any +house I ever was in there was a good kitchen and +well attended, the Lord be praised! + +_Queen_: Ah, but just to be kind and to oblige +the King. + +_Nurse_: Troth, the same King will wait long +till he'll see any dish I will ready for him! I am +not one that was reared between the flags and the +oven in the corner of the one room! To be a nurse +to King's children is my trade, and not to go stirring +mashes, for hens or for humans! + +_Queen_: I heard a crafty woman lay down one +time there was no way to hold a man, only by food +and flattery. + +_Nurse_: Sure any mother of children walking the +road could tell you that much. + +_Queen_: I went maybe too far urging him not +to lessen so much food the way he did. I only +thought to befriend him. But now he is someway +upset and nothing will rightly smooth him but to +be thinking upon his next meal; and what it will +be I don't know, unless the berries of the bush. + +_Dall Glic: (Leaning out of the window.)_ Here! +Hi! Come this way! + +_Queen_: Who are you calling to? + +_Dall Glic_: It is someone with the appearance +of a cook. + +_Queen_: Are you saying it is a cook? That +now will put the King in great humour! + +_(Manus appears at the window.)_ + +_Nurse: (Looking at him.)_ I wouldn't hardly +think he'd suit. He has a sort of innocent look. +I wouldn't say him to be a country lad. I don't +know is he fitted to go readying meals for a royal +family, and the King so wrathful if they do not +please him as he is. And as to the Princess Nu! +There to be the size of a hayseed of fat overhead +on her broth, she'd fall in a dead faint. + +_Manus_: I'll go on so. + +_Queen_: No, no. Bring him in till I'll take a +look at him! + +_Manus: (Coming inside.)_ I am a lad in search +of a master. + +_Manus: (Inside.)_ I am a lad in search of a +master. + +_Queen_: And I myself that am wanting a cook. + +_Manus_: I got word of that and I going the road. + +_Queen_: You would seem to be but a young lad. + +_Manus_: I am not very far in age to-day. But +I'll be a day older to-morrow. + +_Queen_: In what country were you born and +reared? + +_Manus_: I came from over, and I am coming +hither. + +_Queen_: What wages now would you be asking? + +_Manus_: Nothing at all unless what you think +I will have earned at the time I will be leaving +your service. + +_Queen_: That is very right and fair. I hope +you will not be asking too much help. The last +cook had a whole fleet of scullions that were no +use but to chatter and consume. + +_Manus_: I am asking no help at all but the +help of the ten I bring with me. + +_(Holds up fingers.)_ + +_Queen_: That will be a great saving in the house! +Can I depend upon you now not to be turning +to your own use the King's ale and his wine? + +_Manus_: If you take me to be a thief I will go +upon my road. It was no easier for me to come +than to go out again. + +_Queen: (Holding him.)_ No, now, don't be so +proud and thinking so much of yourself. If I +give you trial here I would wish you to be ready +to turn your hand to this and that, and not be +saying it is or is not your business. + +_Manus_: My business is to do as the King wishes. + +_Queen_: That's right. That is the way the +servants were in the palace of the King of Alban. + +_Manus_: That's the way I was myself in the +King's house of Sorcha. + +_Queen_: Are you saying it is from that place you +are come? Sure that should be a great household! +The King of Sorcha, they were telling me, has +seven castles on land and seven on the sea, and +provision for a year and a day in every one of them. + +_Manus_: That might be. I never was in more +than one of them at the one time. + +_Queen_: Anyone that has been in that place would +surely be fitting here. Keep him, Nurse! Don't let +him make away from us till I will go call the King! + +_(Goes out.)_ + +_Nurse_: Sure it was I myself that fostered the +young King of Sorcha and reared him in my lap! +What way is he at all? My lovely child! Give +me news of him! + +_Manus_: I will do that.... + +_Nurse_: To hear of him would delight me! + +_Manus_: It is I that can tell you.... + +_Nurse_: It is himself should be a grand king! + +_Manus_: Listen till you hear!... + +_Nurse_: His father was good and his mother was +good, and it's likely, himself will be the best of all! + +_Manus_: Be quiet now and hearken!... + +_Nurse_: I remember well the first day I saw him +in the cradle, two and a score of years back! Oh, +it is glad, and very glad, I'll be to get word of him! + +_Manus_: He is come to sensible years.... + +_Nurse_: A golden cradle it was and it standing +on four golden balls the very round of the sun! + +_Manus_: He is out of his cradle now. _(Shakes +her shoulder.)_ Let you hearken! He is in need +of your help. + +_Nurse_: He'll get it, he'll get it. I doted down +on that child! The best to laugh and to roar! + +_Manus: (Putting hand on her mouth.)_ Will +you be silent, you hag of a nurse? Can't you see +that I myself am Manus, the new King of Sorcha? + +_Nurse: (Starting back.)_ Do you say that? +And how's every bit of you? Sure I'd know you +in any place. Stand back till I'll get the full of +my eyes of you! Like the father you are, and you +need never be sorry to be that! Well, I said to +myself and you looking in at the window, I would +not believe but there's some drop of king's blood +in that lad! + +_Manus_: That was not what you said to me! + +_Nurse_: And wasn't the journey long on you +from Sorcha, that is at the rising of the sun? Is +it your foot-soldiers and your bullies you brought +with you, or did you come with your hound and +your deer-hound and with your horn? + +_Manus_: There was no one knew of my journey. +I came bare alone. I threw a shell in the sea and +made a boat of it, and took the track of the wild +duck across the mountains of the waves. + +_Nurse_: And where in the world wide did you +get that dress of a cook? + +_Manus_: It was at a tailor's place near Oughtmana. +There was no one in the house but the mother. I +left my own clothes in her charge and my purse +of gold; I brought nothing but my own blue +sword. _(Throws open blouse and shows it.)_ She gave +me this suit, where a cook from this house had +thrown it down in payment for a drink of milk. +I have no mind any person should know I am a king. +I am letting on to be a cook. + +_Nurse_: I would sooner you to come as a champion +seeking battle, or a horseman that had gone astray, +or so far as a poet making praises or curses according +to his treatment on the road. It would be a bad +day I would see your father's son taken for a kitchen +boy. + +_Manus_: I was through the world last night in +a dream. It was dreamed to me that the King's +daughter in this house is in a great danger. + +_Nurse_: So she is, at the end of a twelvemonth. + +_Manus_: My warning was for this day. Seeing +her under trouble in my dream, my heart was hot +to come to her help. I am here to save her, to +meet every troublesome thing that will come at +her. + +_Nurse_: Oh, my heavy blessing on you doing +that! + +_Manus_: I was not willing to come as a king, +that she would feel tied and bound to live for if +I live, or to die with if I should die. I am come +as a poor unknown man, that may slip away after +the fight, to my own kingdom or across the borders +of the world, and no thanks given him and no more +about him, but a memory of the shadow of a cook! + +_Nurse_: I would not think that to be right, +and you the last of your race. It is best for you +to tell the King. + +_Manus_: I lay my orders on you to tell no one +at all. + +_Nurse_: Give me leave but to _whisper_ it to the +Princess Nu. It's ye would be the finest two the +world ever saw. You will not find her equal in all +Ireland! + +_Manus_: I lay it as crosses and as spells on you +to say no word to her or to any other that will +make known my race or my name. Give me now +your oath. + +_Nurse: (Kneeling.)_ I do, I do. But they will +know you by your high looks. + +_Manus_: Did you yourself know me a while ago? + +_Nurse: (Getting up.)_ Oh, they're coming! Oh, +my poor child, what way will you that never handled +a spit be able to make out a dinner for the +King? + +_Manus_: This silver whistle, that was her pipe +of music, was given to me by a queen among the +Sidhe that is my godmother. At the sound of it +that will come through the air any earthly thing +I wish for, at my command. + +_Nurse_: Let it be a dinner so. + +_Manus_: So it will come, on a green tablecloth +carried by four swans as white as snow. The +freshest of every meat, the oldest of every drink, +nuts from the trees in Adam's Paradise! + +_(King, Queen, Princess, Dall Glic come in. +Princess sits on window sill.)_ + +_Queen: (To King.)_ Here now, my dear. Wasn't +I telling you I would take all trouble from your +mind, and that I would not be without finding a +cook for you? + +_King_: He came in a good hour. The want of a +right dinner has downed kingdoms before this. + +_Queen_: Travelling he is in search of service +from the kings of the earth. His wages are in no +way out of measure. + +_King_: Is he a good hand at his trade? + +_Queen_: Honest he is, I believe, and ready to +give a hand here and there. + +_King_: What way does he handle flesh, I'd wish +to know? And all that comes up from the tide? +Bream, now; that is a fish is very pleasant to me--stewed +or fried with butter till the bones of it melt +in your mouth. There is nothing in sea or strand +but is the better of a quality cook--only oysters, +that are best left alone, being as they are all gravy +and fat. + +_Queen_: I didn't question him yet about cookery. + +_King_: It's seldom I met a woman with right +respect for food, but for show and silly dishes and +trash that would leave you in the finish as dwindled +as a badger on St. Bridget's day. + +_Queen_: If this youth of a young man was able to +give satisfaction at the King of Sorcha's Court, +I am sure that he will make a dinner to please +yourself. + +_Manus_: I will do more than that. I will dress +a dinner that will please _my_self. + +_Princess: (Clapping hands.)_ Very well said! + +_King_: Sound out now some good dishes such +as you used to be giving in Sorcha, and the Queen +will put them down in a line of writing, that I can +be thinking about them till such time as you will +have them readied. + +_Queen_: There are sheeps' trotters below; you +might know some tasty way to dress them. + +_Manus_: I do surely. I'll put the trotters within +a fowl, and the fowl within a goose, and the goose in +a suckling pig, and the suckling pig in a fat lamb, +and the lamb in a calf, and the calf in a Maderalla ... + +_King_: What now is a Maderalla? + +_Manus_: He is a beast that saves the cook trouble, +swallowing all those meats one after another--in +Sorcha. + +_King_: That should be a very pretty dish. Let +you go make a start with it the way we will not be +famished before nightfall. Bring him, Dall Glic, +to the larder. + +_Dall Glic_: I'm in dread it's as good for him to +stop where he is. + +_King_: What are you saying? + +_Dall Glic_: Those lads of apprentices that left +nothing in it only bare hooks. + +_Nurse_: It is the Queen would give no leave +for more provision to come in, saying there was +no one to prepare it. + +_Manus_: If that is so, I will be forced to lay +my orders on the Hawk of the Grey Rock and the +Brown Otter of the Stream to bring in meat at +my bidding. + +_King_: Hurry on so. + +_Queen_: I myself will go and give you instructions +what way to use the kitchen. + +_Manus_: Not at all! What I do I'd as lief do +in your own royal parlour! _(Blows whistle; two dark-skinned +men come in with vessels.)_ Give me here +those pots and pans! + +_Queen_: What now is about to take place? + +_Dall Glic_: I not to be blind, I would say those +to be very foreign-looking men. + +_King_: It would seem as if the world was grown +to be very queer. + +_Queen_: So it is, and the mastery being given +to a cook. + +_Manus_: So it should be too! It is the King +of Shades and Shadows would have rule over the +world if it wasn't for the cooks! + +_King_: There's some sense in that now. + +_(Strange men are moving and arranging baskets +and vessels.)_ + +_Manus_: There was respect for cooks in the +early days of the world. What way did the Sons +of Tuireann get their death but going questing +after a cooking spit at the bidding of Lugh of the +Long Hand! And if a spit was worthy of the death +of heroes, what should the man be worth that is +skilled in turning it? What is the difference +between man and beast? Beast and bird devour +what they find and have no power to change it. +But we are Druids of those mysteries, having +magic and virtue to turn hard grain to tender cakes, +and the very skin of a grunting pig to crackling +causing quarrels among champions, and it singing +upon the coals. A cook! If I am I am not without +good generations before me! Who was the first +old father of us, roasting and reddening the fruits +of the earth from hard to soft, from bitter to kind, +till they are fit for a lady's platter? What is it +leaves us in the hard cold of Christmas but the +robbery from earth of warmth for the kitchen +fire of _(takes off cap)_ the first and foremost of all +master cooks--the Sun! + +_Princess_: You are surely not ashamed of your +trade! + +_Manus_: To work now, to work. I'll engage to +turn out a dinner fit for Pharaoh of Egypt or +Pharamond King of the Franks! Here, Queen, is +a silver-breast phoenix--draw out the feathers--they +are pure silver--fair and clean. _(Queen plucks +eagerly.)_ King, take your golden sceptre and stir +this pot. + +_(Gives him one.)_ + +_King: (Interested.)_ What now is in it? + +_Manus_: A broth that will rise over the side +and be consumed and split if you stop stirring +it for one minute only! _(King stirs furiously.)_ +Princess _(She is looking on and he goes over to her)_, +there are honey cakes to roll out, but I will not +ask you to do it in dread that you might spoil the +whiteness ... + +_Princess_: I have no mind to do it. + +_Manus_: Of the flour! + +_Princess_: Give them here. + +_(Rolls them out indignantly.)_ + +_Manus_: That is right. Take care, King, would +the froth swell over the brim. + +_Princess_: It seems to me you are doing but +little yourself. + +_Manus_: I will turn now and ... boil these +eggs. + +_(Takes some on a plate; they roll off.)_ + +_Princess_: You have broken them. + +_Manus: (Disconcerted.)_ It was to show you a +good trick, how to make them sit up on the narrow +end. + +_Princess_: That is an old trick in the world. + +_Manus_: Every trick is an old one, but with +a change of players, a change of dress, it comes +out as new as before. Princess _(speaks low)_, I +have a message to give you and a pardon to ask. + +_Princess_: Give me out the message. + +_Manus_: Take courage and keep courage through +this day. Do not let your heart fail. There is +help beside you. + +_Princess_: It has been a troublesome day indeed. +But there is a worse one and a great danger before +me in the far away. + +_Manus_: That danger will come to-day, the +message said in the dream. Princess, I have a +pardon to ask you. I have been playing vanities. +I think I have wronged you doing this. It was +surely through no want of respect. + +_Gatekeeper: (Coming in.)_ There is word come +from Ballyvelehan there is a coach and horses +facing for this place over from Oughtmana. + +_Queen_: Who would that be? + +_Gatekeeper_: Up on the hill a woman was, brought +word it must be some high gentleman. She could +see all colours in the coach, and flowers on the +horse's heads. + +_Goes out_.) + +_Dall Glic_: That is good hearing. I was in +dread some man we would have no welcome for +would be the first to come in this day. + +_Queen_: Not a fear of it. I had orders given +to the Gateman who he would and would not +keep out. I did that the very minute after the +King making his proclamation and his law. + +_King_: Pup, pup. You need not be drawing +that down. + +_Queen_: It is well you have myself to care you +and to turn all to good. I gave orders to the +Gateman, I say, no one to be let in to the door +unless carriage company, no other ones, even if they +should wipe their feet upon the mat. I notched +that in his mind, telling him the King was after +promising the Princess Nu in marriage to the first +man that would come into the house. + +_Manus_: The King gave out that word? + +_Queen_: I am after saying that he did. + +_Dall Glic_: Come along, lad. Don't be putting +ears on yourself. + +_Manus_: I ask the King did he give out that +promise as the Queen says? + +_King_: I have but a poor memory. + +_Nurse_: The King did say it within the hour, +and swore to it by the oath of his people, taking +contracts of the sun and moon of the air! + +_Dall Glic_: What is it to you if he did? Come +on, now. + +_Manus_: No. This is a matter that concerns +myself. + +_Queen_: How do you make that out? + +_Manus_: You, that called me in, know well that +I was the first to come into the house. + +_Queen_: Ha, ha! You have the impudence! It +is a _man_ the King said. He was not talking about +cooks. + +_Manus: (To the King.)_ I am before you as a +serving lad, and you are a King in Ireland. Because +you are a King and I your hired servant you will not +refuse me justice. You gave your word. + +_King_: If I did it was in haste and in vexation, +and striving to save her from destruction. + +_Manus_: I call you to keep to your word and +to give your daughter to no other one. + +_Queen_: Speak out now, Dall Glic, and give +your opinion and your advice. + +_Dall Glic_: I would say that this lad going away +would be no great loss. + +_Manus_: I did not ask such a thing, but as it +has come to me I will hold to my right. + +_Queen_: It would be right to throw him to the +hounds in the kennel! + +_Manus: (To King.)_ I leave it to the judgment +of your blind wise man. + +_Queen: (To Dall Glic.)_ Take care would you +offend myself or the King! + +_Manus_: I put it on you to split justice as it +is measured outside the world. + +_Dall Glic_: It is hard for me to speak. He +has laid it hard on me. My good eye may go +asleep, but my blind eye never sleeps. In the +place where it is waking, an honourable man, king +or beggar, is held to his word. + +_King_: Is it that I must give my daughter to +a lad that owns neither clod nor furrow? Whose +estate is but a shovel for the ashes and a tongs for +the red coals. + +_Queen_: It is likely he is urged by the sting of +greed--it is but riches he is looking for. + +_King_: I will not begrudge him his own asking +of silver and of gold! + +_Manus_: Throw it out to the beggars on the +road! I would not take a copper half-penny! +I'll take nothing but what has come to me from +your own word! + +_(King bows his head.)_ + +_Princess: (Coming forward.)_ Then this battle +is not between you and an old king that is feeble, +but between yourself and myself. + +_Manus_: I am sorry, Princess, if it must be a +battle. + +_Princess_: You can never bring me away against +my will. + +_Manus_: I said no word of doing that. + +_Princess_: You think, so, I will go with you of +myself? The day I will do that will be the day +you empty the ocean! + +_Manus_: I will not wait longer than to-day. + +_Princess_: Many a man waited seven years for +a king's daughter! + +_Manus_: And another seven--and seven generations +of hags. But that is not my nature. +I will not kneel to any woman, high or low, or +crave kindness that she cannot give. + +_Princess_: Then I can go free! + +_Manus_: For this day I take you in my charge. +I cross and claim you to myself, unless a better +man will come. + +_Princess_: I would think it easier to find a better +man than one that would be worse to me! + +_Manus_: If one should come that you think +to be a better man, I will give you your own way. + +_Princess_: It is you being in the world at all +that is my grief. + +_Manus_: Time makes all things clear. You +did not go far out in the world yet, my poor little +Princess. + +_Princess_: I would be well pleased to drive +you out through the same world! + +_Manus_: With or without your goodwill, I +will not go out of this place till I have carried out +the business I came to do. + +_Dall Glic_: Is it the falling of hailstones I hear +or the rumbling of thunder, or is it the trots of +horses upon the road? + +_Queen: (Looking out.)_ It is the big man that +is coming--Prince or Lord or whoever he may be. +_(To Dall Glic.)_ Go now to the door to welcome +him. This is some man worth while. _(To Manus.)_ +Let you get out of this. + +_Manus_: No, whoever he is I'll stop and face +him. Let him know we are players in the one game! + +_King_: And what sort of a fool will you make +of me, to have given in to take the like of you for +a son-in-law? They will be putting ridicule on me +in the songs. + +_Queen_: If he must stop here we might put +some face on him.... If I had but a decent +suit.... Give me your cloak, Dall Glic. _(He +gives it.)_ Here now ... _(To Manus.)_ Put this +around you.... _(Manus takes it awkwardly.)_ It +will cover up your kitchen suit. + +_Manus_: Is it this way? + +_Queen_: You have no right handling of it--stupid +clown! This way! + +_Manus: (Flinging it off.)_ No, I'll change no +more suits! It is time for me to stop fooling and +give you what you did not ask yet, my name. I +will tell out all the truth. + +_Gatekeeper: (At door.)_ The King of Sorcha! +_(Taig comes in.)_ + +_King and Queen_: The King of Sorcha! _(They +rush forward to greet him.)_ + +_Nurse: (To Manus.)_ Did ever anyone hear +the like! + +_Manus_: It seems as if there will be a judgment +between the man and the clothes! + +_Queen: (To Taig.)_ There is someone here that +you know, King. This young man is giving out +that he was your cook. + +_Taig_: He was not. I never laid an eye on him +till this minute. + +_Queen_: I was sure he was nothing but a liar +when he said he would tell the truth! Now, King, +will you turn him out the door? + +_King_: And what about the great dinner he has +me promised? + +_Manus_: Be easy King. Whether or no you +keep your word to me I'll hold to mine! _(Blows +whistle.)_ In with the dishes! Take your places! +Let the music play out! + +_(Music plays, the strange men wheel in tables +and dishes.)_ + +CURTAIN + + + + +ACT III + + + + +ACT III + + +_Scene: Same. Table cleared of all but vessels of +fruit, cocoa-nuts, etc. Queen and Taig sitting +in front, Nurse and Dall Glic standing in background_. + +_Queen_: Now, King, the dinner being at an end, +and the music, we have time and quiet to be +talking. + +_Taig_: It is with the King's daughter I am come +to talk. + +_Queen_: Go, Dall Glic, call the Princess. She +will be here on the minute, but it is best for you +to tell me out if it is to ask her in marriage you +are come. + +_Taig_: It is so, where I was after being told +she would be given as a wife to the first man that +would come into the house. + +_Queen_: And who in the world wide gave that +out? + +_Taig_: It was the Gateman said it to a hawker +bringing lobsters from the strand, and that got no +leave to cross the threshold by reason of the oath +given out by the King. The half of the kingdom +she will get, they were telling me, and the king +living, and the whole of it after he will be dead. + +_Nurse_: There did another come in before you. +Let me tell you that much! + +_Taig_: There did not. The lobster man that +set a watch upon the door. + +_Queen_: A great honour you did us coming +asking for her, and you being King of Sorcha! + +_Taig_: Look at my ring and my crown. They +will bear witness that I am. And my kind coat of +cotton and my golden shirt! And under that +again there's a stiff pocket. _(Slaps it.)_ Is there +e'er a looking-glass in any place? _(Gets up.)_ + +_Dall Glic_: There is the shining silver basin of +the swans in the garden without. + +_Taig_: That will do. I would wish to look +tasty when I come looking for a lady of a wife. +_(He and Dall Glic go outside window but in sight.)_ + +_(Princess comes in very proud and sad.)_ + +_Queen_: You should be proud this day, Nuala, +and so grand a man coming asking you in marriage +as the King of Sorcha. + +_Nurse_: Grand, indeed! As grand as hands and +pins can make him. + +_Princess_: Are you not satisfied to have urged +me to one man and promised me to another since +sunrise? + +_Queen_: What way could I know there was +this match on the way, and a better match beyond +measure? This is no black stranger going the +road, but a man having a copper crown over his +gateway and a silver crown over his palace door! +I tell you he has means to hang a pearl of gold +upon every rib of your hair! There is no one +ahead of him in all Ireland, with his chain and his +ring and his suit of the dearest silk! + +_Princess_: If it was a suit I was to wed with he +might do well enough. + +_Queen_: Equal in blood to ourselves! Brought +up to good behaviour and courage and mannerly ways. + +_Princess_: In my opinion he is not. + +_Queen_: You are talking foolishness. A King +of Sorcha must be mannerly, seeing it is he himself +sets the tune for manners. + +_Princess_: He gave out a laugh when old Michelin +slipped on the threshold. He kicked at the dog +under the table that came looking for bones. + +_Queen_: I tell you what might be ugly behaviour +in a common man is suitable and right in a king. +But you are so hard to please and so pettish, I am +seven times tired of yourself and your ways. + +_Princess_: If no one could force me to give in +to the man that made a claim to me to-day, according +to my father's bond, that bond is there yet to +protect me from any other one. + +_Queen_: Leave me alone! Myself and the +Dall Glic will take means to rid you of that lad +from the oven. I'll send in now to you the King +of Sorcha. Let you show civility to him, and the +wedding day will be to-morrow. + +_Princess_: I will not see him, I will have nothing +to do with him; I tell you if he had the rents of +the whole world I would not go with him by day +or by night, on foot or on horseback, in light or in +darkness, in company or alone! + +_(Queen has gone while she cries this out.)_ + +_Nurse_: The luck of the seven Saturdays on +himself and on the Queen! + +_Princess_: Oh, Muime, do not let him come +near me! Have you no way to help me? + +_Nurse_: It's myself that could help you if I +was not under bonds not to speak! + +_Princess_: What is it you know? Why won't +you say one word? + +_Nurse_: He put me under spells.... There +now, my tongue turned with the word to be dumb. + +_Taig: (At the window.)_ Not a fear of me, +Queen. It won't be long till I bring the Princess +around. + +_Princess_: I will not stay! Keep him here till +I will hide myself out of sight! _(Goes.)_ + +_Taig: (Coming in.)_ They told me the Princess +was in it. + +_Nurse_: She has good sense, she is in some other +place. + +_Taig: (Sitting down.)_ Go call her to me. + +_Nurse_: Who is it I will call her for? + +_Taig_: For myself. You know who I am. + +_Nurse_: My grief that I do not! + +_Taig_: I am the King of Sorcha. + +_Nurse_: If you say that lie again there will blisters +rise up on your face. + +_Taig_: Take care what you are saying, you +hag! + +_Nurse_: I know well what I am saying. I have +good judgment between the noble and the mean +blood of the world. + +_Taig_: The Kings of Sorcha have high, noble +blood. + +_Nurse_: If they have, there is not so much of +it in you as would redden a rib of scutch-grass. + +_Taig_: You are crazed with folly and age. + +_Nurse_: No, but I have my wits good enough. +You ought to be as slippery as a living eel, I'll +get satisfaction on you yet! I'll show out who +you are! + +_Taig_: Who am I so? + +_Nurse_: That is what I have to get knowledge +of, if I must ask it at the mouth of cold hell! + +_Taig_: Do your best! I dare you! + +_Nurse_: I will save my darling from you as sure +as there's rocks on the strand! A girl that refused +sons of the kings of the world! + +_Taig_: And I will drag your darling from you +as sure as there's foxes in Oughtmana! + +_Nurse_: Oughtmana ...Is that now your living +place? + +_Taig_: It is not.... I told you I came from +the far-off kingdom of Sorcha. Look at my cloak +that has on it the sign of the risen sun! + +_Nurse_: Cloaks and suits and fringes. You have +a great deal of talk of them.... Have you e'er a +needle around you, or a shears? + +_Taig: (His hand goes to breast of coat, but he +withdraws it quickly.)_ Here ...no ...What +are you talking about? I know nothing at all of +such things. + +_Nurse_: In my opinion you do. Hearken now. +I know where is the real King of Sorcha! + +_Taig_: Bring him before me now till I'll down +him! + +_Nurse_: Say that the time you will come face +to face with him! Well, I'm under bonds to tell +out nothing about him, but I have liberty to make +known all I will find out about yourself. + +_Taig_: Hurry on so. Little I care when once +I'm wed with the King's daughter! + +_Nurse_: That will never be! + +_Taig_: The Queen is befriending me and in +dread of losing me. I will threaten her if there +is any delay I'll go look for another girl of a +wife. + +_Nurse_: I will make no delay. I'll have my +story and my testimony before the white dawn +of the morrow. + +_Taig_: Do so and welcome! Before the yellow +light of this evening I'll be the King's son-in-law! +Bring your news, then, and little thanks you'll +get for it! The King and Queen must keep up +my name then for their own credit's sake. _(Makes +a face at her as King comes in with Dall Glic, and +servants with cushions. Nurse goes out, shaking her +fist.) (Rises.)_ I was just asking to see you, King, +to say there is a hurry on me.... + +_King: (Sitting down on window seat while Servant +arranges cushions about him.)_ Keep your business +a while. It's a poor thing to be going through +business the very minute the dinner is ended. + +_Taig_: I wouldn't but that it is pressing. + +_King_: Go now to the Queen, in her parlour, +and be chatting and whistling to the birds. I give +you my word since I rose up from the table I am +going here and there, up and down, craving and +striving to find a place where I'll get leave to lay +my head on the cushions for one little minute. + +_(Taig goes reluctantly.)_ + +_Dall Glic: (Taking cushions from servants.)_ Let +you go now and leave the King to his rest. + +_(They go out.)_ + +_King_: I don't know in the world why anyone +would consent to be a king, and never to be left +to himself, but to be worried and wearied and +interfered with from dark to daybreak and from +morning to the fall of night. + +_Dall Glic_: I will be going out now. I have +but one word only to say.... + +_King_: Let it be a short word! I would be +better pleased to hear the sound of breezes in +the sycamores, and the humming of bees in the +hive and the crooning and sleepy sounds of the +sea! + +_Dall Glic_: There is one thing only could cause +me to annoy you. + +_King_: It should be a queer big thing that +wouldn't wait till I have my rest taken. + +_Dall Glic_: So it is a big matter, and a weighty +one. + +_King_: Not to be left in quiet and all I am after +using! Food that was easy to eat! Drink that +was easy to drink! That's the dinner that _was_ +a dinner. That cook now is a wonder! + +_Dall Glic_: That is now the very one I am wishful +to speak about. + +_King_: I give you my word, I'd sooner have +one goose dressed by him than seven dressed by +any other one! + +_Dall Glic_: The Queen that was urging me for +to put my mind to make out some way to get quit +of him. + +_King_: Isn't it a hard thing the very minute +I find a lad can dress a dinner to my liking, I must +be made an attack on to get quit of him? + +_Dall Glic_: It is on the head of the Princess Nu. + +_King_: Tell me this, Dall Glic. Supposing, now, +he was ...in spite of me ...to wed with her +...against my will ...and it might be unknownst +to me. + +_Dall Glic_: Such a thing must not happen. + +_King_: To be sure, it must not happen. Why +would it happen? But supposing--I only said +supposing it did. Would you say would that +lad grow too high in himself to go into the kitchen +...it might be only an odd time ...to oblige +me ...and dress a dinner the same as he did +to-day? + +_Dall Glic_: I am sure and certain that he would +not. It is the way, it is, with the common sort, +the lower orders. He'd be wishful to sit on a chair +at his ease and to leave his hand idle till he'd grow +to be bulky and wishful for sleep. + +_King_: That is a pity, a great pity, and a great +loss to the world. A big misfortune he to have +got it in his head to take a liking to the girl. I +tell you he was a great lad behind the saucepans! + +_Dall Glic_: Since he did get it in his head, it is +what we have to do now, to make an end of +him. + +_King_: To gaol him now, and settle up ovens +and spits and all sorts in the cell, wouldn't he, +to shorten the day, be apt to start cooking? + +_Dall Glic_: In my belief he will do nothing at +all, but to hold you to the promise you made, +and to force you to send away the King of Sorcha. + +_King_: To have the misfortune of a cook for +a son-in-law, and without the good luck of profiting +by what he can do in his trade! That is a hard thing +for a father to put up with, let alone a king! + +_Dall Glic_: If you will but listen to the advice +I have to give.... + +_King_: I know it without you telling me. You +are asking me to make away with the lad! And +who knows but the girl might turn on me after, +women are so queer, and say I had a right to have +asked leave from herself? + +_Dall Glic_: There will no one suspect you of +doing it, and you to take my plan. Bid them +heat the big oven outside on the lawn that is for +roasting a bullock in its full bulk. + +_King_: Don't be talking of roasted meat! I +think I can eat no more for a twelvemonth! + +_Dall Glic_: There will be nothing roasted that +any person will have occasion to eat. When the +oven door will be open, give orders to your bullies +and your foot-soldiers to give a tip to him that +will push him in. When evening comes, news will +go out that he left the meat to burn and made off +on his rambles, and no more about him. + +_King_: What way can I send orders when I'm +near crazed in my wits with the want of rest. A +little minute of sleep might soothe and settle my +brain. + +_(Lies down.)_ + +_Dall Glic_: The least little word to give leave +...or a sign ...such as to nod the head. + +_King_: I give you my word, my head is tired +nodding! Be off now and close the door after +you and give out that anyone that comes to this +side of the house at all in the next half-hour, his +neck will be on the block before morning! + +_Dall Glic: (Hurriedly.)_ I'm going! I'm +going. + +_(Goes.)_ + +_King: (Locking door and drawing window curtains.)_ +That you may never come back till I ask you! +_(Lies down and settles himself on pillows.)_ I'll be +lying here in my lone listening to the pigeons +seeking their meal. "Coo-coo," they're saying, +"Coo-coo." + +_(Closes eyes.)_ + +_Nurse: (At door.)_ Who is it locked the door? +_(Shakes it.)_ Who is it is in it? What is going on +within? Is it that some bad work is after being +done in this place? Hi! Hi! Hi! + +_King: (Sitting up.)_ Get away out of that, +you torment of a nurse! Be off before I'll have +the life of you! + +_Nurse_: The Lord be praised, it is the King's +own voice! There's time yet! + +_King_: There's time, is there? There's time +for everyone to give out their chat and their gab, +and to do their business and take their ease and have +a comfortable life, only the King! The beasts +of the field have leave to lay themselves down in the +meadow and to stretch their limbs on the green +grass in the heat of the day, without being pestered +and plagued and tormented and called to and +wakened and worried, till a man is no less than +wore out! + +_Nurse_: Up or down, I'll say what I have to +say, if it cost me my life. It is that I have to tell +you of a plot that is made and a plan! + +_King_: I won't listen! I heard enough of +plots and plans within the last three minutes! + +_Nurse_: You didn't hear this one. No one knows +of it only myself. + +_King_: I was told it by the Dall Glic. + +_Nurse_: You were not! I am only after making +it out on the moment! + +_King_: A plot against the lad of the saucepans? + +_Nurse_: That's it! That's it! Open now the door! + +_King: (Putting a cushion over each ear and +settling himself to sleep.)_ Tell away and welcome! + +_(Shuts eyes.)_ + +_Nurse_: That's right! You're listening. Give +heed now. That schemer came a while ago letting +on to be the King of Sorcha is no such thing! What +do you say?...Maybe you knew it before? +I wonder the Dall Glic not to have seen that for +himself with his one eye.... Maybe you don't +believe it? Well, I'll tell it out and prove it. +I have got sure word by running messenger that +came cross-cutting over the ridge of the hill.... +That carrion that came in a coach, pressing to bring +away the Princess before nightfall, giving himself +out to be some great one, is no other than Taig the +Tailor, that should be called Taig the Twister, +down from his mother's house from Oughtmana, +that stole grand clothes which were left in the +mother's charge, he being out at the time cutting +cloth and shaping lies, and has himself dressed out +in them the way you'd take him to be King! _(King +has slumbered peacefully all through.)_ Now, what +do you say? Now, will you open the door? + +_Queen: (Outside.)_ What call have you to +shouting and disturbing the King? + +_Nurse_: I have good right and good reason to +disturb him! + +_Queen_: Go away and let me open the door. + +_Nurse_: I will go and welcome now; I have +told out my whole story to the King. + +_Queen: (Shaking door.)_ Open the door, my +dear! It is I myself that is here! _(King looks +up, listens, shakes his head and sinks back.)_ Are +you there at all, or what is it ails you? + +_Nurse_: He is there, and is after conversing +with myself. + +_Queen: (Shaking again.)_ Let me in, my dear +King! Open! Open! Open! unless that the +falling sickness is come upon you, or that you are +maybe lying dead upon the floor! + +_Nurse_: Not a dead in the world. + +_Queen_: Go, Nurse, I tell you, bring the smith +from the anvil till he will break asunder the lock +of the door! + +_(King annoyed, waddles to door and opens it +suddenly. Queen stumbles in.)_ + +_King_: What at all has taken place that you +come bawling and calling and disturbing my rest? + +_Queen_: Oh! Are you sound and well? I was +in dread there did something come upon you, +when you gave no answer at all. + +_King_: Am I bound to answer every call and +clamour the same as a hall-porter at the door? + +_Queen_: It is business that cannot wait. Here +now is a request I have written to the bully of +the King of Alban, bidding him to strike the head +off whatever man will put the letter in his hand. +Write your name and sign to it, in three royal words. + +_King_: I wouldn't sign a letter out of my right +hour if it was to make the rivers run gold. There +is nothing comes of signing letters but more trouble +in the end. + +_Queen_: Give me, so, to bind it a drop of your +own blood as a token and a seal. You will not +refuse, and I telling you the messenger will go +with it, and that will lose his head through it, is no +less than that troublesome cook! + +_King: (With a roar.)_ Anyone to say that word +again I will not leave a head on any neck in the +kingdom! I declare on my oath it would be +best for me to take the world for my pillow and +put that lad upon the throne! + +_(Queen goes back frightened to door.)_ + +_Gateman: (Coming in.)_ There is a man coming +in that will take no denial. It is Fintan the +Astrologer. + +_(Fintan enters with Dall Glic, Nurse, Princess, +Taig, Manus and Prince of the Marshes +crowding after him.)_ + +_King_: Another disturbance! The whole world +would seem to be on the move! + +_Queen_: Fintan! What brings him here again? + +_Fintan_: A great deceit? A terrible deception! + +_King_: What at all is it? + +_Fintan_: Long and all as I'm in the world, such +a thing never happened in my lifetime! + +_Queen_: What is it has happened? + +_Fintan_: It is not any fault of myself or any +miscounting of my own! I am certain sure of +that much. Is it that the stars of heaven are +gone astray, they that are all one with a clock--unless +it might be on a stormy night when they +are wild-looking around the moon. + +_King_: Go on with your story and stop your +raving. + +_Fintan_: The first time ever I came to this place +I made a prophecy. + +_Dall Glic_: You did, about the child was in the +cradle. + +_Fintan_: And that was but new in the world. +It is what I said, that she was born under a certain +star, and that in a score of years all but two, +whatever acting was going on in that star at the +time she was born, she would get her crosses in the +same way. + +_Dall Glic_: The cross you foretold to her was +to be ate by a Dragon. You laid down it would +come upon a twelvemonth from this very day. + +_Fintan_: That's it. That was according to +my reckoning. There was no mistake in that. +And I thought better of the Seven Stars than +they to make a fool of me, after all the respect +I had showed them, giving my life to watching +themselves and the plans they have laid down +for men and for mortals. + +_King_: It seems as if I myself was the best prophet +and that there is no Dragon at all. + +_Fintan_: What a bad opinion you have of me +that I would be so far out as that! It would be +a deception and a disappointment out of measure, +there to come no Dragon, and I after foretelling +and prophesying him. + +_King_: Troth, it would be no disappointment +at all to ourselves. + +_Fintan_: It would be better, I tell you, a score +of king's daughters to be ate and devoured, than +the high stars in their courses to be proved wrong. +But it must be right, it surely must be right. I +gave the prophecy according to her birth hour, +that was one hour before the falling back of the sun. + +_Dall Glic_: It was not, but an hour before the +rising of the sun. + +_Fintan_: Not at all! It was the Nurse herself +told me it was at evening she was born. + +_Queen_: There is the Nurse now. Let you ask +her account. + +_Fintan: (To Nurse.)_ It was yourself laid down +it was evening! + +_Nurse_: Sure I wasn't in the place at all till +Samhuin time, when she was near three months +in the world. + +_Fintan_: Then it was some other hag the very +spit of you! I wish she didn't tell a lie. + +_Nurse_: Sure that one was banished out of this +on the head of telling lies. An hour ere sunrise, +and before the crowing of the cocks. The Dall +Glic will tell you that much. + +_Dall Glic_: That is so. I have it marked upon +the genealogies in the chest. + +_Fintan_: That is great news! It was a heavy +wrong was done me! It had me greatly upset. +Twelve hours out in laying down the birth-time! +That clears the character of myself and +of the carwheel of the stars. I knew I could +make no mistake in my office and in my +billet! + +_King_: Will you stop praising yourself and give +out some sense? + +_Fintan_: Knowledge is surely the greatest thing +in the world! And truth! Twelve hours with +the planets is equal to twelve months on earth. +I am well satisfied now. + +_Queen_: So the Dragon is not coming, and the +girl is in no danger at all? + +_Fintan_: Not coming! Heaven help your poor +head! Didn't I get word within the last half-hour +he is after leaving his den in the Kingdoms of the +Cold, and is at this minute ploughing his way to +Ireland, the same as I foretold him, but that I +made a miscount of a year? + +_Nurse: (Putting her arm round Princess.)_ Och! +do not listen or give heed to him at all! + +_Queen_: When is he coming so? + +_Fintan_: Amn't I tired telling you this day +in the place of this day twelvemonth. But as to +the minute, there's too much lies in this place +for me to be rightly sure. + +_King_: The curse of the seven elements upon +him! + +_Fintan_: Little he'll care for your cursing. The +whole world wouldn't stop him coming to your +own grand gate. + +_Princess: (Coming forward.)_ Then I am to die +to-night? + +_Fintan_: You are, without he will be turned +back by someone having a stronger star than your +own, and I know of no star is better, unless it might +be the sun. + +_Queen_: If you had minded me, and given in +to ring the wedding bells, you would be safe out +of this before now. + +_Fintan_: That Dragon not to find her before +him, he will ravage and destroy the whole district +with the poisonous spittle of his jaw, till the want +will be so great the father will disown his son and +will not let him in the door. Well, good-bye to ye! +Ye'll maybe believe me to have foreknowledge +another time, and I proved to be right. I have +knocked great comfort out of that! + +_(Goes.)_ + +_King_: Oh, my poor child! My poor little +Nu! I thought it never would come to pass, I +to be sending you to the slaughter. And I too +bulky to go out and face him, having led an easy life! + +_Princess_: Do not be fretting. + +_King_: The world is gone to and fro! I'll +never ask satisfaction again either in bed or board, +but to be wasting away with watercresses and rising +up of a morning before the sun rises in Babylon! +_(Weeps.)_ Oh, we might make out a way to baffle +him yet! Is there no meal will serve him only +flesh and blood? Try him with Grecian wine, +and with what was left of the big dinner a while ago! + +_Gateman: (Coming in.)_ There is some strange +thing in the ocean from Aran out. At first it was +but like a bird's shadow on the sea, and now you +would nearly say it to be the big island would have +left its moorings, and it steering its course towards +Aughanish! + +_Dall Glic_: I'm in dread it should be the Dragon +that has cleared the ocean at a leap! + +_King: (Holding Princess.)_ I will not give you +up! Let him devour myself along with you! + +_Dull Glic: (To Princess.)_ It is best for me +to put you in a hiding-hole under the ground, +that has seven locked doors and seven locks on +the farthest door. It might fail him to make +you out. + +_Nurse_: Oh, it would be hard for her to go +where she cannot hear the voice of a friend or +see the light of day! + +_Princess_: Would you wish me to save myself +and let all the district perish? You heard what +Fintan said. It is not right for destruction to be +put on a whole province, and the women and the +children that I know. + +_Queen_: There is maybe time yet for you to +wed. + +_Princess_: So long as I am living I have a choice. +I will not be saved in that way. It is alone I will +be in my death. + +_Manus: (Coming to King.)_ I am going out +from you, King. I might not be coming in to +you again. I would wish to set you free from +the promise you made me a while ago, and the bond. + +_King_: What does it signify now? What does +anything signify, and the world turning here and +there! + +_Manus_: And another thing. I would wish to +ask pardon of the King's daughter. I ought not +to have laid any claim to her, being a stranger in +this place and without treasure or attendance. +And yet ...and yet ..._(stoops and kisses hem +of her dress)_, she was dear to me. It is a man who +never may look on her again is saying that. + +_(Turns to door.)_ + +_Taig_: He is going to run from the Dragon! +It is kind father for a scullion to be timid! + +_Queen_: It is in his blood. He is maybe not +to blame for what is according to his nature. + +_Manus_: That is so. I am doing what is according +to my nature. + +_(Goes, Nurse goes after him.)_ + +_Queen: (To Dall Glic.)_ Go throw a dishcloth +after him that the little lads may be mocking him +along the road! + +_Dall Glic_: I will not. I have meddled enough +at your bidding. I am done with living under +dread. Let you blind me entirely! I am free +of you. It might be best for me the two eyes to +be withered, and I seeing nothing but the ever-living +laws! + +_Prince of Marshes: (Coming to Princess.)_ It is +my grief that with all the teachers I had there was +not one to learn me the handling of weapons or +of arms. But for all that I will not run away, +but will strive to strike one blow in your defence +against that wicked beast. + +_Princess_: It is a good friend that would rid +us of him. But it grieves me that you should +go into such danger. + +_Prince of Marshes: (To Dall Glic.)_ Give me +some sword or casting spears. + +_(Dall Glic gives him spears.)_ + +_Princess_: I am sorry I made fun of you a while +ago. I think you are a good kind man. + +_Prince of Marshes; (Kissing her hand.)_ Having +that word of praise I will bring a good heart into +the fight. + +_(Goes.)_ + +_(Taig is slipping out after him.)_ + +_Queen_: See now the King of Sorcha slipping +away into the fight. Stop here now! _(Pulls him +back.)_ You have a life that is precious to many +besides yourself. Do not go without being well +armed--and with a troop of good fighting men +at your back. + +_Taig_: I am greatly obliged to you. I think +I'll be best with myself. + +_Queen_: You have no suit or armour upon you. + +_Taig_: That is what I was thinking. + +_Queen_: Here anyway is a sword. + +_Taig: (Taking it.)_ That's a nice belt now. +Well worked, silver thread and gold. + +_Queen_: The King's own guard will go out with +you. + +_Taig_: I wouldn't ask one of them! What +would you think of me wanting help! A Dragon! +Little I'd think of him. I'll knock the life out of +him. I'll give him cruelty! + +_Queen_: You have great courage indeed! + +_Taig_: I'll cut him crossways and lengthways +the same as a yard of frieze! I'll make garters of +his body! I'll smooth him with a smoothing iron! +Not a fear of me! I never lost a bet yet that I +wasn't able to pay it! + +_Gateman: (As he rushes in, Taig slips away.)_ +The Dragon! The Dragon! I seen it coming and +its mouth open and a fiery flame from it! And +nine miles of the sea is dry with all it drank of it! +The whole country is gathering the same as of a +fair day for to see him devour the Princess. + +_(Princess trembles and sinks into a chair. +King, Queen and Dall Glic look from +window. They turn to her as they +speak.)_ + +_Queen_: There is a terrible splashing in the sea! +It is like as if the Dragon's tail had beaten it into +suds of soap! + +_Dall Glic_: He is near as big as a whale! + +_King_: He is, and bigger! + +_Queen_: I see him! I see him! He would seem +to have seven heads! + +_Dall Glic_: I see but one. + +_Queen_: You would see more if you had your +two eyes! He has six heads at the least! + +_King_: He has but one. He is twisting and +turning it around. + +_Dall Glic_: He is coming up towards the flaggy +shore! + +_King_: I hear him! He is snoring like a flock +of pigs! + +_Queen_: He is rearing his head in the air! He +has teeth as long as a tongs! + +_Doll Glic_: No, but his tail he is rearing up! +It would take a ladder forty feet long to get to +the tip of it! + +_Queen_: There is the King of Sorcha going out +the gate for to make an end of him. + +_Dall Glic_: So he is, too. That is great bravery. + +_King_: He is going to one side. He is come +to a stop. + +_Dall Glic_: It seems to me he is ready to fall in +his standing. He is gone into a little thicket of +furze. He is not coming out, but is lying crouched +up in it the same as a hare in a tuft. I can see his +shoulders narrowed up. + +_Queen_: He maybe got a weakness. + +_King_: He did, maybe, of courage. Shaking +and shivering, he is like a hen in thunder. In my +opinion, he is hiding from the fight. + +_Queen_: There is the Prince of the Marshes +going out now, and his coach after him! And +his two aunts sitting in it and screeching to him +not to run into danger! + +_King_: He will not do much. He has not pith +or power to handle arms. That sort brings a bad +name on kings. + +_Dall Glic_: He is gone away from the coach. +He is facing to the flaggy shore! + +_Queen_: Oh, the Dragon has put up his head +and is spitting at him! + +_King_: He has cast a spear into its jaw! Good man! + +_(Princess goes over to window.)_ + +_Dall Glic_: He is casting another! His hand +shook ...it did not go straight. He is gone +on again! He has cast another spear! It should +hit the beast ...it let a roar! + +_Princess_: Good little Prince! What way is +the battle now? + +_Dall Glic_: It will kill him with its fiery breath! +He is running now ...he is stumbling ...the +Dragon is after him! He is up again! The two +Aunts have pushed him into the coach and have +closed the iron door. + +_King_: It will fail the beast to swallow him coach +and all. It is gone back to refresh itself in the sea. +You can hear it puffing and plunging! + +_Queen_: There is nothing to stop it now. _(To +Princess.)_ If you have e'er a prayer, now is the +time to say it. + +_Dall Glic_: Stop a minute ...there is another +champion going out. + +_King_: A man wearing a saffron suit ...who +is he at all? He has the look of one used to giving +orders. + +_Princess: (Looking out.)_ Oh! he is but going +to his death. It would be better for me to throw +myself into the tide and make an end of it. + +_(Is rushing to door.)_ + +_King: (Holding her.)_ He is drawing his sword. +Himself and the Dragon are thrusting at one +another on the flags! + +_Princess_: Oh, close the curtains! Shut out the +sound of the battle. + +_(Dall Glic closes curtains.)_ + +_King_: Strike up now a tune of music that will +deafen the sound! + +_(Orchestra plays. Princess is kneeling by +King. Music changes from discord to +victory. Two Aunts and Gateman rush +in. Noise of cheering heard without as +the Gateman silences music.)_ + +_Gateman_: Great news and wonderful news and +a great story! + +_First Aunt_: The fight is ended! + +_Second Aunt_: The Dragon is brought to his +last goal! + +_Gateman_: That young fighting man that has +him flogged! Made at him like a wave breaking +on the strand! They crashed at one another like +two days of judgment! Like the battle of the +cold with the heat! + +_First Aunt_: You'd say he was going through +dragons all his life! + +_Second Aunt_: It can hardly put a stir out of +itself! + +_Gateman_: That champion has it baffled and +mastered! It is after being chased over seven +acres of ground! + +_First Aunt_: Drove it to its knees on the flaggy +shore and made an end of it! + +_King_: God bless that man to-day and to-morrow! + +_Second Aunt_: He has put it in a way it will eat +no more kings' daughters! + +_Princess_: And the stranger that mastered it--is +he safe? + +_First Aunt_: What signifies if he is or is not, so +long as we have our own young prince to bring +home! + +_Gatekeeper_: He is not safe. No sooner had he +the beast killed and conquered than he fell dead, +and the life went out of him. + +_Princess_: Oh, that is not right! He to be dead +and I living after him! + +_King_: He was surely noble and high-blooded. +There are some that will be sorry for his death. + +_Princess_: And who should be more sorry than +I myself am sorry? Who should keen him unless +myself? There is a man that gave his life for me, +and he young and all his days before him and shut +his eyes on the white world for my sake! + +_Queen_: Indeed he was a man you might have +been content to wed with, hard and all as you are +to please. + +_Princess_: I never will wed with any man so +long as my life will last, that was bought for me +with a life was more worthy by far than my own! +He is gone out of my reach; let him wait for me +to give him my thanks on the other side. Bring +me now his sword and his shield till I will put +them before me and cry my eyes down with grief! + +_Gateman_: Here is his cap for you, anyway, and +his cleaver and his bunch of skivers. For the +champion you are crying was no other than that +lad of a cook! + +_Queen_: That is not true! It is not possible! + +_Gateman_: Sure I seen him myself going out the +gate a while ago. He put off his cook's apparel +and threw it along with these behind the turfstack. I +gathered them up presently and I coming in the door. + +_King_: The world is gone beyond me entirely! +But what I was saying all through, there was +something beyond the common in that boy! + +_Queen: (To Princess, who is clinging to chair.)_ +Let you be comforted now, knowing he cannot +come back to lay claim to you in marriage, as it +is likely he would, and he living. + +_Princess_: It is he saved me after my unkindness!... +Oh, I am ashamed ...ashamed! + +_Queen_: It is a queer thing a king's daughter +to be crying after a man used to twisting the spit +in place of weapons, and over skivers in the place +of a sword! + +_Princess: (Gropes and totters.)_ What has happened? +There is something gone astray! I have +no respect for myself.... I cannot live! I am +ashamed. Where is Nurse? Muime! Come to +me, Muime!...My grief! The man that died +for me, whether he is of the noble or the simple +of the world, it is to him I have given the love of +my soul! + +_(Dall Glic supports her and lays her on +window seat.)_ + +_Nurse: (Rushing in.)_ What is it, honey? +What at all are they after doing to you? + +_Queen_: Throw over her a skillet of water. She +is gone into a faint. + +_Dall Glic: (Who is bending over her.)_ She is +in no faint. She is gone out. + +_Nurse_: Oh, my child and my darling! What +call had I to leave you among them at all? + +_King_: Raise her up. It is impossible she can +be gone. + +_Dall Glic_: Gone out and spent, as sudden as +a candle in a blast of wind. + +_King_: Who would think grief would do away +with her so sudden, there to be seven of the like +of him dead? + +_Nurse: (Rises.)_ What did you do to her at all, +at all? Or was it through the fright and terror +of the beast? + +_Queen_: She died of the heartbreak, being told +that the strange champion that had put down the +Dragon was killed dead. + +_Nurse_: Killed, is it? Who now put that lie +out of his mouth? _(Shouts in her ear.)_ What +would ail him to be dead? It is myself can tell +you the true story. No man in Ireland ever was +half as good as him! It was himself mastered the +beast and dragged the heart out of him and forced +down a squirrel's heart in its place, and slapped a +bridle on him. And he himself did but stagger +and go to his knees in the heat and drunkenness +of the battle, and rose up after as good as ever he +was! It is out putting ointments on him that I +was up to this, and healing up his cuts and wounds! +Oh, what ails you, honey, that you will not waken? + +_Queen_: She thought it to be a champion and a +high up man that had died for her sake. It is +what broke her down in the latter end, hearing +him to be no big man at all, but a clown! + +_Nurse_: Oh, my darling! And I not here to +tell you! You are a motherless child, and the +curse of your mother will be on me! It was no +clown fought for you, but a king, having generations +of kings behind him, the young King of Sorcha, +Manus, son of Solas son of Lugh. + +_King_: I would believe that now sooner than +many a thing I would hear. + +_Nurse: (Keening.)_ Oh, my child, and my +share! I thought it was you would be closing my +eyes, and now I am closing your own! You to +be brought away in your young youth! Your hand +that was whiter than the snow of one night, and +the colour of the foxglove on your cheek. + +_(A great shouting outside and burst of music. +A march played. Manus comes in, followed +by Fintan and Prince of the Marshes. +Shouts and music continue. He leads the +Dragon by a bridle. The others are in +front of Princess, huddled from Dragon. +Queen gets up on a chair.)_ + +_Manus_: Where is the Princess Nu? I have +brought this beast to bow itself at her feet. + +_(All are silent. Manus flings bridle to +Fintan's hand. Dragon backs out. All +go aside from Princess.)_ + +_Nurse_: She is here dead before you. + +_Manus_: That cannot be! She was well and +living half an hour ago. + +_Nurse: (Rises.)_ Oh, if she could but waken +and hear your voice! She died with the fret of +losing you, that is heaven's truth! It is tormented +she was with these giving out you were done away +with, and mocking at your weapons that they laid +down to be the cleaver and the spit, till the heart +broke in her like a nut. + +_Manus: (Kneeling beside her.)_ Then it is myself +have brought the death darkness upon you at the +very time I thought to have saved you! + +_Nurse_: There is no blame upon you, but some +that had too much talk! + +_(Goes on keening.)_ + +_Manus_: What call had I to come humbugging +and letting on as I did, teasing and tormenting +her, and not coming as a King should that is come +to ask for a Queen! Oh, come back for one minute +only till I will ask your pardon! + +_Dall Glic_: She cannot come to you or answer +you at all for ever. + +_Manus_: Then I myself will go follow you and +will ask for your forgiveness wherever you are gone, +on the Plain of Wonder or in the Many-Coloured +Land! That is all I can do ...to go after you +and tell you it was no want of respect that brought +me in that dress, but hurry and folly and taking +my own way. For it is what I have to say to you, +that I gave you my heart's love, what I never gave +to any other, since first I saw you before me in +my sleep! Here, now, is a short road to reach you! + +_(Takes sword.)_ + +_Prince of Marshes: (Catching his hand.)_ Go +easy now, go easy. + +_Manus_: Take off your hand! I say I will die +with her! + +_Prince of Marshes_: That will not raise her up +again. But I, now, if I have no skill in killing +beasts or men, have maybe the means of bringing +her back to life. + +_Nurse_: Oh, my blessing on you! What is it +you have at all? + +_Prince of Marshes: (Taking bag from his Aunt.)_ +These three leaves from the Tree of Power that +grows by the Well of Healing. Here they are +now for you, tied with a thread of the wool of +the sheep of the Land of Promise. There is power +in them to bring one person only back to life. + +_First Aunt_: Give them back to me! You +have your own life to think of as well as any other +one! + +_Second Aunt_: Do not spend and squander that +cure on any person but yourself! + +_Prince of Marshes: (Giving the leaves.)_ And if +I have given her my love that it is likely I will +give to no other woman for ever, indeed and +indeed, I would not ask her or wish her to wed +with a very frightened man, and that is what I +was a while ago. But you yourself have earned her, +being brave. + +_Manus: (Taking leaves.)_ I never will forget it +to you. You will be a brave man yet. + +_Prince of Marshes_: Give me in place of it your +sword; for I am going my lone through the world +for a twelvemonth and a day, till I will learn to +fight with my own hand. + +_(Manus gives him sword. He throws off cloak +and outer coat and fastens it on.)_ + +_Nurse_: Stand back, now. Let the whole of ye +stand back. _(She lays a leaf on the Princess's mouth +and one on each of her hands.)_ I call on you by +the power of the Seven Belts of the Heavens, of +the Twelve Winds of the World, of the Three +Waters of the Sea! + +_(Princess stirs slightly.)_ + +_King_: That is a wonder of wonders! She is stirring! + +_Manus_: Oh, my share of the world! Are you +come back to me? + +_Princess_: It was a hard fight he wrestled with. +...I thought I heard his voice.... Is he come +from danger? + +_Nurse_: He did. Here he is. He that saved +you and that killed the Dragon, and that let on +to be a serving boy, and he no less than one of +the world's kings! + +_Manus_: Here I am, my dear, beside you, to be +your comrade and your company for ever. + +_Princess_: You!...Yes, it is yourself. Forgive +me. I am sorry that I spoke unkindly to you +a while ago; I am ashamed that it failed me to +know you to be a king. + +(_She stands up, helped by Nurse_.) + +_Manus_: It was my own fault and my folly. +What way could you know it? There is nothing +to forgive. + +_Princess_: But ...if I did not recognise you +as a king ...anyway ...the time you dropped +the eggs ...I was nearly certain that you were +no cook! + +(_They embrace_.) + +_Queen_: There now I have everything brought +about very well in the finish! + +(_A scream at door. Taig rushes in, followed +by Sibby, in country dress. He kneels at +the Queen's feet, holding on to her skirt_.) + +_Sibby_: Bad luck and bad cess to you! Torment +and vexation on you! (_Seizes him by back of neck +and shakes him_.) You dirty little scum and leavings! +You puny shrimp you! You miserable ninth part +of a man! + +_Queen_: Is it King or the Dragon Killer he is +letting on to be yet, or do you know what he is +at all? + +_Sibby_: It's myself knows that, and does know +it! He being Taig the tailor, my own son and +my misfortune, that stole away from me a while +ago, bringing with him the grand clothes of that +young champion (_points to Manus_) and his gold! +To borrow a team of horses from the plough he +did, and to bring away the magistrate's coach! But +I followed him! I came tracking him on the road! +Put off now those shoes that are too narrow for +you, you red thief, you! For, believe me, you'll +go facing home on shank's mare! + +_Taig: (Whimpering.)_ It's a very unkind thing +you to go screeching that out before the King, +that will maybe strike my head off! + +_Sibby_: Did ever you know of anyone making a +quarrel in a whisper? To wed with the King's +daughter, you would? To go vanquish the water-worm, +you would? I'll engage you ran before you +went anear him! + +_Taig_: If I didn't I'd be tore with his claws +and scorched with his fiery breath. It is likely +I'd be going home dead! + +_Sibby_: Strip off now that cloak and that body-coat +and come along with me, or I'll make split +marrow of you! What call have you to a suit +that is worth more than the whole of the County +Mayo? You're tricky and too much tricks in you, +and you were born for tricks! It would be right +you to be turned into the shape of a limping +foxy cat! + +_Taig: (Weeping as he takes off clothes.)_ Sure +I thought it no harm to try to go better +myself. + +_Prince of Marshes: (Giving his cloak and coat.)_ +Here, I bestow these to you. If you were a while +ago a tailor among kings, from this out you will +be a king among tailors. + +_Sibby: (Curtseying.)_ Well, then, my thousand +blessings on you! He'll be as proud as the world +of that. Now, Taig, you'll be as dressed up as the + +best of them! Come on now to Oughtmana, as +it is long till you'll quit it. + +_(They go towards door.)_ + +_Dragon: (Putting his head in at window.)_ Manus, +King of Sorcha, I am starved with the want of food. +Give me a bit to eat. + +_Fintan_: He is not put down! He will devour +the whole of us! I'd sooner face a bullet and +ten guns! + +_Dragon_: It is not mannerly to eat without +being invited. Is it any harm to ask where will +I find a meal will suit me? + +_Princess_: Oh, does he ask to make a meal of +me, after all? + +_Dragon_: I am hungry and dancing with the +hunger! It was you, Manus, stopped me from the +one meal. Let you set before me another. + +_King_: There is reason in that. Drive up now +for him a bullock from the meadow. + +_Dragon_: Manus, it is not bullocks I am craving, +since the time you changed the heart within me +for the heart of a little squirrel of the wood. + +_Manus: (Taking a cocoa-nut from table.)_ Here +is a nut from the island of Lanka, that is called +Adam's Paradise. Milk there is in it, and a kernel +as white as snow. + +_(He throws it out. Dragon is heard crunching.)_ + +_Dragon: (Putting head in again.)_ More! Give +me more of them! Give them out to me by the +dozen and by the score! + +_Manus_: You must go seek them in the east of +the world, where you can gather them in bushels +on the strand. + +_Dragon_: So I will go there! I'll make no delay! +I give you my word, I'd sooner one of them than +to be cracking the skulls of kings' daughters, and +the blood running down my jaws. Blood! Ugh! +It would disgust me! I'm in dread it would cause +vomiting. That and to have the plaits of hair +tickling and tormenting my gullet! + +_Princess_: (_Claps hands_.) That is good hearing, +and a great change of heart. + +_Dragon_: But if it's a tame dragon I am from this +out, I'm thinking it's best for me to make away +before you know it, or it's likely you'll be yoking +me to harrow the clods, or to be dragging the +water-car from the spring well. So good-bye the +whole of ye, and get to your supper. Much good +may it do you! I give you my word there is +nothing in the universe I despise, only the flesh-eaters +of Adam's race! + +CURTAIN. + + + + +AUTHOR'S NOTE + + +I wrote _The Dragon_ in 1917, that now seems so many +long years away, and I have been trying to remember how +I came to write it. I think perhaps through some unseen +inevitable kick of the swing towards gay-coloured comedy +from the shadow of tragedy. It was begun seriously +enough, for I see among my scraps of manuscripts that the +earliest outline of it is entitled "The Awakening of a Soul," +the soul of the little Princess who had not gone "far out +in the world." And that idea was never quite lost, for +even when it had all turned to comedy I see as an alternative +name "A Change of Heart." For even the Dragon's heart +is changed by force, as happens in the old folk tales and +the heart of some innocent creature put in its place by the +conqueror's hand; all change more or less except the +Queen. She is yet satisfied that she has moved all things +well, and so she must remain till some new breaking up or +re-birth. + +As to the framework, that was once to have been the +often-told story of a King's daughter given to whatever +man can "knock three laughs out of her." As well as I +remember the first was to have been when the eggs were +broken, and another when she laughed with the joy of +happy love. But the third was the stumbling-block. It +was necessary the ears of the Abbey audience should be +tickled at the same time as those of the Princess, and old-time +jests like those of Sir Dinadin of the Round Table +seem but dull to ears of to-day. So I called to my help the +Dragon that has given his opportunity to so many a hero +from Perseus in the Greek Stories to Shawneen in those +of Kiltartan. And he did not sulk or fail me, for after +one of the first performances the producer wrote: "I +wish you had seen the play last night when a big Northern +in the front of the stalls was overcome with helpless +laughter, first by Sibby and then by the Dragon. He sat +there long after the curtain fell, unable to move and wiping +the tears from his eyes; the audiences stopped going out +and stood and laughed at him." And even a Dragon may +think it a feather in his cap to have made Ulster laugh. + +A.G. + +Coole, February, 1920. + +ORIGINAL CAST + +"The Dragon " was first produced at the Abbey +Theatre, Dublin, on 21st April, 1919, with the +following cast: + +The King BARRY FITZGERALD + +The Queen MARY SHERIDAN + +The Princess Nuala EITHNE MAGEE + +The Dall Glic (The Blind Wise Man) PETER NOLAN + +The Nurse MAUREEN DELANY + +The Prince of the Marshes J. HUGH NAGLE + +Manus--King of Sorcha ARTHUR SHIELDS + +Fintan--The Astrologer F.J. MACCORMICK + +Taig FLORENCE MARKS + +The Dragon SEAGHAN BARLOW + +The Porter STEPHEN CASEY + +The Gatekeeper HUBERT M'GUIRE + +Two Aunts of the Prince of the Marshes {ESME WARD + {DYMPHNA DALY + + + + +ARISTOTLE'S BELLOWS + +PERSONS + + +_The Mother_. + +_Celia_ (HER DAUGHTER). + +_Conan_ (HER STEPSON). + +_Timothy_ (HER SERVING MAN). + +_Rock_ (A NEIGHBOUR). + +_Flannery_ (HIS HERD). + +_Two Cats_. + + +ACT I + + + + +ACT I + + +_Scene: A Room in an old half-ruined castle_. + +_Mother_: Look out the door, Celia, and see is +your uncle coming. + +_Celia_: (_Who is lying on the ground, a bunch of +ribbons in her hand, and playing with a pigeon, looks +towards door without getting up_.) I see no sign of +him. + +_Mother_: What time were you telling me it was +a while ago? + +_Celia_: It is not five minutes hardly since I was +telling you it was ten o'clock by the sun. + +_Mother_: So you did, if I could but have kept +it in mind. What at all ails him that he does not +come in to the breakfast? + +_Celia_: He went out last night and the full moon +shining. It is likely he passed the whole night +abroad, drowsing or rummaging, whatever he does +be looking for in the rath. + +_Mother_: I'm in dread he'll go crazy with digging +in it. + +_Celia_: He was crazy with crossness before that. + +_Mother_: If he is it's on account of his learning. +Them that have too much of it are seven times +crosser than them that never saw a book. + +_Celia_: It is better to be tied to any thorny bush +than to be with a cross man. He to know the +seventy-two languages he couldn't be more crabbed +than what he is. + +_Mother_: It is natural to people do be so clever +to be fiery a little, and not have a long patience. + +_Celia_: It's a pity he wouldn't stop in that +school he had down in the North, and not to come +back here in the latter end of life. + +_Mother_: Ah, he was maybe tired with enlightening +his scholars and he took a notion to acquaint +ourselves with knowledge and learning. I was +trying to reckon a while ago the number of the +years he was away, according to the buttons of my +gown (_fingers bodice_), but they went astray on me +at the gathers of the neck. + +_Celia_: If the hour would come he'd go out of +this, I'd sing, I'd play on all the melodeons that +ever was known! (_Sings_.) (_Air, "Shule Aroon_.") + + "I would not wish him any ill, + But were he swept to some far hill + It's then I'd laugh and laugh my fill, + Coo, Coo, my birdeen ban astore. + + "I wish I was a linnet free + To rock and rustle on the tree + With none to haste or hustle me, + Coo, Coo, my birdeen ban astore!" + +_Mother_: Did you make ready now what will +please him for his breakfast? + +_Celia_: (_Laughing_.) I'm doing every whole +thing, but you know well to please him is not +possible. + +_Mother_: It is going astray on me what sort of +egg best suits him, a pullet's egg or the egg of a +duck. + +_Celia_: I'd go search out if it would satisfy him +the egg of an eagle having eyes as big as the moon, +and feathers of pure gold. + +_Mother_: Look out again would you see him. + +_Celia_: (_Sitting up reluctantly_.) I wonder will +the rosy ribbon or the pale put the best appearance +on my party dress to-night? (_Looks out_.) He is +coming down the path from the rath, and he having +his little old book in his hand, that he gives out +fell down before him from the skies. + +_Mother_: So there is a little book, whatever +language he does be wording out of it. + +_Celia_: If you listen you'll hear it now, or hear +his own talk, for he's mouthing and muttering as +he travels the path. + +_Conan_: (_Comes in: the book in his hand open, +he is not looking at it_.) "Life is the flame of the +heart ...that heat is of the nature of the stars." ...It +is Aristotle had knowledge to turn that +flame here and there.... What way now did he +do that? + +_Mother_: Ah, I'm well pleased to see you coming +in, Conan. I was getting uneasy thinking you +were gone astray on us. + +_Conan_: (_Dropping his book and picking it up +again_.) I never knew the like of you, Maryanne, +under the canopy of heaven. To be questioning +me with your talk, and I striving to keep my mind +upon all the wisdom of the ancient world. (_Sits +down beside fire_.) + +_Mother_: So you would be too. It is well able +you are to do that. + +_Conan_: (_To Celia_.) Have you e'er a meal to +leave down to me? + +_Celia_: It will be ready within three minutes of +time. + +_Conan_: Wasting the morning on me! What +good are you if you cannot so much as boil the +breakfast? Hurry on now. + +_Celia_: Ah, hurry didn't save the hare. (_Sings +ironically as she prepares breakfast_.) (_Air, "Mo +Bhuachailin Buidhe_.") + + "Come in the evening or come in the morning, + Come when you're looked for or come without warning; + Kisses and welcome you'll find here before you + And the oftner you come here the more I'll adore you." + +_Conan_: Give me up the tea-pot. + +_Celia_: Best leave it on the coals awhile. + +_Conan_: Give me up those eggs so. (_Seizes them_.) + +_Celia_: You can take the tea-pot too if you are +calling for it. (_Goes on singing mischievously as +she turns a cake_.) + + "I'll pull you sweet flowers to wear if you'll choose them, + Or after you've kissed them they'll lie on my bosom." + +_Conan_: (_Breaking eggs_.) They're raw and +running! + +_Celia_: There's no one can say which is best, +hurry or delay. + +_Conan_: You had them boiled in cold water! + +_Celia_: That's where you're wrong. + +_Conan_: The young people that's in the world +now, if you had book truth they wouldn't believe +it. (_Flings eggs into the fire and pours out tea_.) + +_Mother_: I hope now that is pleasing to you? + +_Conan_: (_Threatening Celia with spoon_.) My +seven curses on yourself and your fair-haired tea. +(_Puts back tea-pot_.) + +_Celia_: (_Laughing_.) It was hurry left it so weak +on you! + +_Mother_: Ah, don't be putting reproaches on +him. Crossness is a thing born with us. It do run +in the blood. Strive now to let him have a quiet life. + +_Conan_: I am not asking a quiet life! But to +come live with your own family you might as well +take your coffin on your back! + +_Celia_: (_Sings_.) + + "We'll look on the stars and we'll list to the river + 'Till you ask of your darling what gift you can give her." + +_Conan_: That girl is a disgrace sitting on the +floor the way she is! If I had her for a while I'd +put betterment on her. No one that was under +me ever grew slack! + +_Celia_: _You_ would never be satisfied and you +to see me working from dark to dark as hard as a +pismire in the tufts. + +_Mother_: Leave her now, she's a quiet little girl +and comely. + +_Conan_: Comely! I'd sooner her to be like the +ugliest sod of turf that is pockmarked in the bog, +and a handy housekeeper, and her pigeon doing +something for the world if it was but scaring its +comrades on a stick in a barley garden! + +_Celia_: Ah, do you hear him! (_Stroking pigeon_.) +(_Sings_.) + + "But when your friend is forced to flee + You'll spread your white wings on the sea + And fly and follow after me-- + Go-de tu Mavourneen slan!" + +_Mother_: I wonder you to be going into the rath +the way you do, Conan. It is a very haunted place. + +_Conan_: Don't be bothering me. I have my +reason for that. + +_Mother_: I often heard there is many a one lost +his wits in it. + +_Conan_: It's likely they hadn't much to lose. +Without the education anyone is no good. + +_Mother_: Ah, indeed you were always a tip-top +scholar. I didn't ever know how good you were +till I had my memory lost. + +_Conan_: Indeed, it is a strange thing any wits +at all to be found in _this_ family. + +_Mother_: Ah, sure we are as is allotted to us at +the time God made the world. + +_Conan_: Now _I_ to make the world-- + +_Mother_: You are not saying you would make a +better hand of it? + +_Conan_: I am certain sure I could. + +_Mother_: Ah, don't be talking that way! + +_Conan_: I'd make changes you'd wonder at. + +_Celia_: It's likely you'd make the world in one +day in place of six. + +_Mother_: It's best make changes little by little +the same as you'd put clothes upon a growing +child, and to knock every day out of what God +will give you, and to live as long as we can, and +die when we can't help it. + +_Conan_: And the first thing I'd do would be to +give you back your memory and your sense. _(Sings.) +(Air, "The Bells of Shandon.")_ + + "My brain grows rusty, my mind is dusty, + The time I'm dwelling with the likes of ye, + While my spirit ranges through all the changes + Could turn the world to felicity! + When Aristotle..." + +_Mother_: It is like a dream to me I heard that +name. Aristotle of the books. + +_Conan: (Eagerly.)_ What did you hear about him? + +_Mother_: I don't know was it about him or was +it some other one. My memory to be as good as +it is bad I might maybe bring it to mind. + +_Conan_: Hurry on now and remember! + +_Mother_: Ah, it's hard remember anything and +the weather so uncertain as what it is. + +_Conan_: Is it of late you heard it? + +_Mother_: It was maybe ere yesterday or some +day of the sort; I don't know. Since the age +tampered with me the thing I'd hear to-day I +wouldn't think of to-morrow. + +_Conan_: Try now and tell me was it that +Aristotle, the time he walked Ireland, had come to +this place. + +_Mother_: It might be that, unless it might be +some other thing. + +_Conan_: And that he left some great treasure +hid--it might be in the rath without. + +_Mother_: And what good would it do you a pot of +gold to be hid in the rath where you would never +come near to it, it being guarded by enchanted +cats and they having fiery eyes? + +_Conan_: Did I say anything about a pot of +gold? This was better again than gold. This +was an enchantment would raise you up if you +were gasping from death. Give attention now ... +Aristotle. + +_Mother_: It's Harry he used to be called. + +_Conan_: Listen now. _(Sings.) (Air, "Bells of +Shandon.")_ + + "Once Aristotle hid in a bottle + Or some other vessel of security + A spell had power bring sweet from sour + Or bring blossoms blooming on the blasted tree." + +_Mother: (Repeating last line_.) "Or bring blossoms +blooming on the blasted tree." + +_Conan_: Is that now what you heard ...that +Aristotle has hid some secret spell? + +_Mother_: I won't say what I don't know. My +memory is too weak for me to be telling lies. + +_Conan_: You could strengthen it if you took it +in hand, putting a knot in the corner of your shawl +to keep such and such a thing in mind. + +_Mother_: If I did I should put another knot in +the other corner to remember what was the first +one for. + +_Conan_: You'd remember it well enough if it +was a pound of tea! + +_Mother_: Ah, maybe it's best be as I am and not +to be running carrying lies here and there, putting +trouble on people's mind. + +_Conan_: Isn't it terrible to be seeing all this +folly around me and not to have a way to +better it! + +_Mother_: Ah, dear, it's best leave the time under +the mercy of the Man that is over us all. + +_Conan_: (_Jumping up furious_.) Where's the +use of old people being in the world at all if they +cannot keep a memory of things gone by! (_Sings_.) +(_Air, "O the time I've lost in wooing_.") + + "O the time I've lost pursuing + And feeling nothing doing, + The lure that led me from my bed + Has left me sad and rueing! + Success seemed very near me! + High hope was there to cheer me! + I asked my book where would I look + And all it did was fleer me!" + +_Mother_: What is it ails you? + +_Conan_: That secret to be in the world, and I +all to have laid my hand on it, and it to have gone +astray on me! + +_Mother_: So it would go too. + +_Conan_: A secret that could change the world! +I'd make it as good a world to live in as it was in +the time of the Greeks. I don't see much goodness +in the trace of the people in it now. To +change everything to its contrary the way the +book said it would! There would be great satisfaction +doing that. Was there ever in the world +a family was so little use to a man? (_Sings in +dejection_.) (_Air, "My Molly O."_) + + "There is a rose in Ireland, I thought it would be mine + But now that it is hid from me I must forever pine. + Till death shall come and comfort me for to the grave I'll go + And all for the sake of Aristotle's secret O!" + +_Celia_: I wonder you wouldn't ask Timothy +that is older again than what my mother is. + +_Conan_: Timothy! He has the hearing lost. + +_Celia_: Well there is no harm to try him. + +_Conan_: (_Going to door_.) Timothy!... There, +he's as deaf as a beetle. + +_Mother_: It might be best for him. The thing +the ear will not hear will not put trouble on the +heart. + +_Celia_: (_Who has gone out comes pushing him in_.) +Here he is now for you. + +_Conan_: Did ever you hear of Aristotle? + +_Timothy_: Aye? + +_Conan_: Aristotle! + +_Timothy_: Ere a bottle? I might ... + +_Conan_: Aristotle.... That had some power? + +_Timothy_: I never seen no flower. + +_Conan_: Something he hid near this place. + +_Timothy_: I never went near no race. + +_Conan_: Has the whole world its mind made up +to annoy me! + +_Celia_: Raise your voice into his ear. + +_Conan_: (_Chanting_.) + + "Aristotle in the hour + He left Ireland left a power + In a gift Eolus gave + Could all Ireland change and save!" + +_Timothy:_ Would it now? + +_Conan:_ You said you had heard of a bottle. + +_Timothy:_ A charmed bottle. It is Biddy Early +put a cure in it and bestowed it in her will to her son. + +_Conan:_ Aristotle that left one in the same way. + +_Timothy:_ It is what I am thinking that my old +generations used to be talking about a bellows. + +_Conan:_ A bellows! There's no sense in that! + +_Timothy:_ Have it your own way so, and give +me leave to go feeding the little chickens and the +hens, for if I cannot hear what they say and they +cannot understand what I say, they put no reproach +on me after, no more than I would put +it on themselves. (_Goes_.) + +_Celia:_ Let you be satisfied now and not torment +yourself, for if you got the world wide you +couldn't discover it. You might as well think to +throw your hat to hit the stars. + +_Conan:_ You have me tormented among the +whole of ye. To be without ye would be no harm +at all. (_Sits down and weeps_.) Of all the families +anyone would wish to live away from I am full +sure my family is the worst. + +_Mother:_ Ah, dear, you're worn out and contrary +with the want of sleep. Come now into the +room and stretch yourself on the bed. To go +sleeping out in the grass has no right rest in it at +all! (_Takes his arm_.) + +_Conan:_ Where's the use of lying on my bed +where it is convenient to the yard, that I'd be +afflicted by the turkeys yelping and the pullets +praising themselves after laying an egg! and the +cackling and hissing of the geese. + +_Mother:_ Lie down so on the settle, and I'll let +no one disturb you. You're destroyed, avic, with +the want of sleep. + +_Conan:_ There'll be no peace in this kitchen no +more than on the common highway with the +people running in and out. + +_Mother:_ I'll go sit in the little gap without, and +the whole place will be as quiet as St. Colman's +wilderness of stones. + +_Conan:_ The boards are too hard. + +_Mother:_ I'll put a pillow in under you. + +_Conan:_ Now it's too narrow. Leave me now +it'll be best. + +_Mother:_ Sleep and good dreams to you. (_Goes +singing sleepy song_.) + +_Conan:_ The most troublesome family ever I +knew in all my born days! Why is that people +cannot have behaviour now the same as in ancient +Greece. (_Sits up_.) I'll not give them the satisfaction +of going asleep. I'll drink a sup of the +tea that is black with standing and with strength. +(_Drinks and lies down_.) I'll engage that'll keep +me waking. (_Music heard_.) Is it to annoy me +they are playing tunes of music? I'll let on to be +asleep! (_Shuts eyes_.) + +(_Two large Cats with fiery eyes look over top +of settle_.) + +_1st Cat:_ + + See the fool that crossed our path + Rummaging within the rath. + + Coveting a spell is bound + Agelong in our haunted ground. + + Hid that none disturb its peace + By a Druid out from Greece. + + Spies and robbers have no call + Rooting in our ancient wall. + + Man or mortal what is he + Matched against the mighty Sidhe? + + +_2nd Cat_: + + Bid our riders of the night + Daze and craze him with affright, + + Leave him fainting and forlorn + Hanging on the moon's young horn. + + Let the death-bands turn him pale + Through the venom of our tail. + + Let him learn to love our law + With the sharpness of our claw. + + Let our King-cat's fiery flash + Turn him to a heap of ash. + + +_1st Cat_: + + Punishment enough he'll find + In his cross and cranky mind. + + Ha, ha, ha, and ho, ho, ho, + He'd a sharper penance know, + + We'd have better sport to-day + If he got his will and way, + + Found the spell that lies unknown + Underneath his own hearthstone. + +(_They disappear saying together_:) + + Men and mortals what are ye + Matched against the mighty Sidhe? + +_Conan_: (_Looking out timidly_.) Are they gone? +Here, Puss, puss! Come hither now poor Puss! +They're not in it.... Here now! here's milk +for ye. And a drop of cream.... (_Gets up, +peeps under settle and around_.) They are gone! +And that they may never come back! I wouldn't +wish to be brought riding a thorny bush in the night +time into the cold that is behind the sun! What +now did they say? Or is it dreaming I was? Oh, +it was not! They spoke clear and plain. The +hidden spell that I was seeking, they said it to be +in the hiding hole under the hearth. (_Pokes, +sneezes_.) Bad cess to Celia leaving that much +ashes to be choking me. Well, the luck has come +to me at last! + +(_Sings as he searches_.) + + "Proudly the note of the trumpet is sounding, + Loudly the war cries rise on the gale; + Fleetly the steed by Lough Swilly is bounding + To join the thick squadrons in Saimear's green vale. + On every mountaineer, strangers to flight and fear; + Rush to the standard of dauntless Red Hugh + Bonnaught and gallowglass, throng from each mountain pass. + On for old Erin, O'Donnall Abu." + +(_Pokes at hearthstone_.) Sure enough, it's +loose! It's moving! Wait till I'll get +a wedge under it! + +(_Takes fork from table_.) It's coming! + +(_Door suddenly opens and he drops fork and +springs back_.) + +_Mother_: (_Coming in with Rock and Flannery_.) +Here now, come in the two of ye. Here now, Conan, +is two of the neighbours, James Rock of Lis Crohan +and Fardy Flannery the rambling herd, that are +come to get a light for the pipe and they walking +the road from the Fair. + +_Conan_: That's the way you make a fool of me +promising me peace and quiet for to sleep! + +_Mother_: Ah, so I believe I did. But it slipped +away from me, and I listening to the blackbird on +the bush. + +_Conan_: (_To Rock_.) I wonder, James Rock, +that you wouldn't have on you so much as a halfpenny +box of matches! + +_Rock_: (_Trying to get to hearth_.) So I have +matches. But why would I spend one when I can +get for nothing a light from a sod? + +_Flannery_: Sure, I could give you a match I +have this long time, waiting till I'll get as much +tobacco as will fill a pipe. + +_Mother_: It's the poor man does be generous. +It's gone from my mind, Fardy, what was it +brought you to be a servant of poverty? + +_Flannery_: Since the day I lost on the road my +forty pound that I had to stock my little farm of +land, all has wore away from me and left me bare +owning nothing unless daylight and the run of +water. It was that put me on the Shaughrann. + +(_Sings "The Bard of Armagh."_) + + "Oh, list to the lay of a poor Irish harper, + And scorn not the strains of his old withered hand, + But remember the fingers could once move sharper + To raise the merry strains of his dear native land; + It was long before the shamrock our dear isle's loved emblem. + Was crushed in its beauty 'neath the Saxon Lion's paw + I was called by the colleens of the village and valley + Bold Phelim Brady, the bard of Armagh." + +_Rock_: Bad management! Look what I brought +from the Fair through minding my own property--L20 +for a milch cow, and thirty for a score of +lambs! + +_Mother_: L20 for a cow! Isn't that terrible +money! + +_Conan_: Let you whist now! You are putting +a headache on me with all your little newses and +country chat! + +(_Mother goes, the others are following_.) + +_Rock_: (_Turning from door_.) It might be better +for yourself, Conan Creevey, if you had minded +business would bring profit to your hand in place +of your foreign learning, that never put a penny +piece in anyone's pocket that ever I heard. No +earthly profit unless to addle the brain and leave +the pocket empty. + +_Conan_: You think yourself a great sort! Let +me tell you that my learning has power to do more +than that! + +_Rock_: It's an empty mouth that has big talk. + +_Conan_: What would you say hearing I had +power put in my hand that could change the entire +world? And that's what you never will have power +to do. + +_Rock_: What power is that? + +_Conan_: + + Aristotle in the hour + He left Ireland left a power.... + +_Rock_: Foolishness! I never would believe in +poetry or in dreams or images, but in ready money +down. (_Jingles bag_.) + +_Conan_: I tell you you'll see me getting the +victory over all Ireland! + +_Rock_: You have but a cracked headpiece thinking +that will come to you. + +_Conan_: I tell you it will! No end at all in the +world to what I am about to bring in! + +_Rock_: It's easy praise yourself! + +_Conan_: And so I am praising myself, and so will +you all be praising me when you will see all that +I will do! + +_Rock_: It is what I think you got demented in +the head and in the mind. + +_Conan_: It is soon the wheel will be turned and +the whole of the nation will be changed for the +best. (_Sings_.) + + "Dear Harp of my country, in darkness I found thee, + The cold chain of silence had hung o'er thee long, + When proudly, my own Irish Harp, I unbound thee, + And gave all thy chords to light, freedom and song, + The warm lay of love and the light note of gladness + Have waken'd thy fondest, thy liveliest thrill; + But so oft hast thou echo'd the deep sigh of sadness, + That ev'n in thy mirth it will steal from thee still." + +_Flannery_: That's a great thought, if it is but a +vanity or a dream. + +_Rock_: (_Sneeringly_.) Well now and what would +_you_ do? + +_Flannery_: I would wish a great lake of milk, +the same as blessed St. Bridget, to be sharing with +the family of Heaven. I would wish vessels full +of alms that would save every sorrowful man. Do +that now, Conan, and you'll have the world of +prayers down on you! + +_Rock_: It's what I'd do, to turn the whole of +Galway Bay to dry land, and I to have it for myself, +the red land, the green land, the fallow and the +lea! The want of land is a great stoppage to a man +having means to lay out in stock. + +(_Sings_.) (_Air, "I wish I had the shepherd's lamb."_) + + "I wish I had both mill and kiln, + I wish I had of land my fill; + I wish I had both mill and kiln, + And all would follow after!" + +_Flannery_: Ah, the land, the land, the rotten +land, and what will you have in the end but the +breadth of your back of it? Let you now soften +the heart in that one (_points to Rock_) till he would +restore to me the thing he is aware of. + +_Conan_: It was not for that the spell was +promised, to be changing a few neighbours or a +thing of the kind, or to be doing wonders in this +broken little place. A town of dead factions! To +change any of the dwellers in this place would be +to make it better, for it would be impossible to +make it worse. The time you wouldn't be meddling +with them you wouldn't know them to be +bad, but the time you'd have to do business with +them that's the time you'd know it! + +_Rock_: I suppose it is what you are asking to +do, to make yourself rich? + +_Conan_: I do not! I would be loth take any +profit, and Aristotle after laying down that _to_ +pleasure or _to_ profit every wealthy man is a slave! + +_Flannery_: What would you do, so? + +_Conan_: I will change all into the similitude of +ancient Greece! There is no man at all can understand +argument but it is from Greece he is. I know +well what I'm doing. I'm not like a potato having +eyes this way and that. People were harmless +long ago and why wouldn't they be made harmless +again? Aristotle said, "Fair play is more +beautiful than the morning and the evening star!" + +"Be friendly with one another," he said, "and +let the lawyers starve!" I'll turn the captains of +soldiers to be as peaceable as children picking +strawberries in the grass. I've a mind to change +the tongue of the people to the language of the +Greeks, that no farmer will be grumbling over a +halfpenny Independent, but be following the plough +in full content, giving out Homer and the praises +of the ancient world! + +_Flannery_: If you make the farmers content you +will make the world content. + +_Rock_: You will, when you'll bring the sun from +Greece to ripen our little lock of oats! + +_Conan_: So I will drag Ireland from its moorings +till I'll bring it to the middling sea that has no ebb +or flood! + +_Rock_: You will do well to put a change on the +college that harboured you, and that left you so +much of folly. + +_Conan_: I'll do that! I'll be in College Green +before the dawn is white--no but before the night +is grey! It is to Dublin I will bring my spell, for +I ever and always heard it said what Dublin will +do to-day Ireland will do to-morrow! (_Sings_.) + + "Let Erin remember the days of old + Ere her faithless sons betrayed her-- + When Malachy wore the collar of gold + Which he won from her proud invader-- + When her kings with standards of green unfurl'd, + Led the Red-Branch knights to danger; + Ere the emerald gem of the western world + Was set in the crown of a stranger." + +_Rock_: And maybe you'll tell us now by what +means you will do all this? + +_Conan_: Go out of the house and I will tell you +in the by and bye. + +_Rock_: That is what I was thinking. You are +talking nothing but lies. + +_Conan_: I tell you that power is not far from +where you stand! But I will let no one see it only +myself. + +_Flannery_: There might be some truth in it. +There are some say enchantments never went out +of Ireland. + +_Conan_: It is a spell, I say, that will change +anything to its contrary. To turn it upon a snail, +there is hardly a greyhound but it would overtake; +but a hare it would turn to be the slowest thing in +the universe; too slow to go to a funeral. + +_Rock_: I'll believe it when I'll see it. + +_Conan_: You could see it if I let you look in +this hiding-hole. + +_Rock_: Good-morrow to you! + +_Conan_: Then you will see it, for I'll raise up +the stone. (_Kneels_.) + +_Rock_: It to be anything it is likely a pot of +sovereigns. + +_Flannery_: It might be the harp of Angus. + +_Rock_: I see no trace of it. + +_Conan_: There is something hard! It should +likely be a silver trumpet or a hunting-horn of gold! + +_Rock_: Give me a hold of it. + +_Conan_: Leave go! (_Lifts out bellows_.) + +_Rock_: Ha! Ha! Ha! after all your chat, nothing +but a little old bellows!... + +_Conan_: There is seven rings on it.... They +should signify the seven blasts.... + +_Rock_: If there was seventy times seven what +use would it be but to redden the coals? + +_Conan_: Every one of these blasts has power to +make some change. + +_Rock_: Make one so, and I'll plough the world +for you. + +_Conan_: Is it that I would spend one of my +seven blasts convincing the like of ye? + +_Rock_: It is likely the case there is no power in +it at all. + +_Conan_: I'm very sure there is surely. The world +will be a new world before to-morrow's Angelus bell. + +_Flannery_: I never could believe in a bellows. + +_Rock_: Here now is a fair offer. I'll loan you +this bag of notes to pay your charges to Dublin if +you will change that little pigeon in the crib into a +crow. + +_Conan_: I will do no such folly. + +_Rock_: You wouldn't because you'd be afeared +to try. + +_Conan_: Hold it up to me. I'll show you am +I afeared! + +_Rock_: There it is now. (_Holds up cage_.) + +_Conan_: Have a care! (_Blows_.) + +_Rock_: (_Dropping it with a shriek_.) It has me +bit with its hard beak, it is turned to be an old +black crow. + +_Flannery_: As black as the bottom of the pot. + +_Crow_: Caw! Caw! Caw! + +(_Cats reappear and look over back of settle_.) + +(_Music from behind_.) ("_O'Donnall Abu_.") + +CURTAIN + +ACT II + + + + +ACT II + + +_Conan alone holding up bellows, singing_: + +_Conan:_ + + "And doth not a meeting like this make amends + For all the long years I've been wandering away + Deceived for a moment it's now in my hands-- + breathe the fresh air of life's morning again!" + +_Celia_: (_Comes in having listened amused at +door; claps hands_.) Very good! It is you yourself +should be going to the dance house to-night in +place of myself. It is long since I heard you rise +so happy a tune! + +_Conan_: (_Putting bellows behind him_.) What +brings you here? Is there no work for you out in +the garden--the cabbages to be cutting for the +cow.... + +_Celia_: I wouldn't wish to roughen my hands +before evening. Music there will be for the dancing! + +(_She lilts Miss McLeod's Reel_.) + +_Conan_: Let you go ready yourself for it so. + +_Celia_: Is it at this time of the day? You +should be forgetting the hours of the clock the +same as the poor mother. + +_Conan_: It is a strange thing since I came to +this house I never can get one minute's ease and +quiet to myself. + +_Celia_: It was hearing you singing brought me in. + +_Conan:_ I'd sooner have you without! Be +going now. + +_Celia:_ I will and welcome. It is to bring out +my little pigeon I will, where there is a few grains +of barley fell from a car going the road. + +_Conan:_ Hurry on so! + +_Celia: (Taking up cage.)_ He is not in his crib. +_(Looking here and there.)_ Where now can he +have gone? + +_Conan:_ He should have gone out the door. + +_Celia:_ He did not. He could not have come +out unknown to me. Coo, coo,--coo--coo. + +_Conan:_ Never mind him now. You are putting +my mind astray with your Coo, coo-- + +_Celia:_ He might be in under the settle. +_(Stoops.)_ Where are you, my little bird. _(Sings.) +(Air, "Shule Aroon_.") + + "But now my love has gone to France + His own fair fortune to advance; + If he comes back again 'tis but a chance; + Os go de tu Mavourneen slan!" + +_Conan: (Putting her away.)_ What way would +he be in it? Let you put a stop to that humming. +_(Seizes her.)_ Come here to the light ...is it +you sewed this button on my coat? + +_Celia:_ It was not. It is likely it was some +tailor down in the North. + +_Conan:_ It is getting loose on the sleeve. + +_Celia_: Ah, it will last a good while yet. Coo, coo! + +_Conan: (Getting before her.)_ It would be no +great load on you to get a needle and put a stitch +would tighten it. + +_Celia:_ I'll do it in the by and bye. There, I +twisted the thread around it. That'll hold good +enough for a while. + +_Conan:_ "Anything worth doing at all is worth +doing well." + +_Celia:_ Aren't you getting very dainty in your +dress? + +_Conan:_ Any man would like to have a decent +appearance on his suit. + +_Celia:_ Isn't it the same to-day as it was +yesterday? + +_Conan:_ Have you ne'er a needle? + +_Celia:_ I don't know where is it gone. + +_Conan:_ You haven't a stim of sense. Can't +you keep in mind "Everything in its right place." + +_Celia:_ Sure, there's no hurry--the day is long. + +_Conan:_ Anything has to be done, the quickest +to do it is the best. + +_Celia:_ I'm not working by the hour or the day. + +_Conan:_ Look now at Penelope of the Greeks, +and all her riches, and her man not at hand to urge +her, how well she sat at the loom from morn till +night till she'd have the makings of a suit of frieze. + +_Celia:_ Ah, that was in the ancient days, when +you wouldn't buy it made and ready in the shops. + +_Conan:_ Will you so much as go to find a towel +would take the dust off of the panes of glass? + +_Celia:_ I wonder at you craving to disturb the +spider and it after making its web. + +_Conan:_ Well, go sit idle outside. I wouldn't +wish to be looking at you! Aristotle that said a +lazy body is all one with a lazy mind. You'll be +begging your bread through the world's streets +before your poll will be grey. + +(_Sings_.) + + "You'll dye your petticoat, you'll dye it red, + And through the world you'll beg your bread; + And you not hearkening to e'er a word I said, + It's then you'll know it to be true!" + +_Celia_: (_Sings_.) + + "Come here my little birdeen! Coo!" + +_Conan_: (_Putting his hand on her mouth_.) Be +going out now in place of calling that bird that is +as lazy and as useless as yourself. + +_Celia_: My little dove! Where are you at all! + +_Conan_: A cat to have ate it would be no great +loss! + +_Celia_: Did you yourself do away with him? + +_Conan_: I did not. + +_Celia_: (_Wildly breaking free throws herself down_.) +There is no place for him to be only in under +the settle! + +_Conan_: (_Dragging at her_.) It is not there. + +_Celia_: (_Who has put in her hand_.) O what is +that? It has hurt me! + +_Conan_: A nail sticking up out of the floor. + +_Celia_: (_Jumping up with a cry_.) It's a crow! +A great big wicked black crow! + +_Conan_: If it is let you leave it there. + +_Celia_: (_Weeping_.) I'm certain sure it has my +pigeon killed and ate! + +_Conan_: To be so doleful after a pigeon! You +haven't a stim of sense! + +_Celia_: It was you gave it leave to do that! + +_Conan_: Stop your whimpering and blubbering! +What way can I settle the world and I being +harassed and hampered with such a contrary class! +I give you my word I have a mind to change +myself into a ravenous beast will kill and devour ye +all! That much would be no sin when it would be +according to my nature. (_Sings or chants_.) + + "On Clontarf he like a lion fell, + Thousands plunged in their own gore; + I to be such a lion now + I'd ask for nothing more!" + +_Celia: (Sitting down miserable_.) You are a very +wicked man! + +_Conan_: Get up out of that or I'll make you! + +_Celia_: I will not! I'm certain you did this +cruel thing! + +_Conan: (Taking up bellows_.) I'd hardly begrudge +one of my six blasts to be quit of your slowness +and your sluggish ways! Rise up now before +I'll make you that you'll want shoes that will never +wear out, you being ever on the trot and on the +run from morning to the fall of night! Start up +now! I'm on the bounds of doing it! + +_Celia_: What are you raving about? + +_Conan_: To get quit of you I cannot, but to +change your nature I might! I give you warning +...one, two, three! + +_(Blows.) (Sings: "With a chirrup.") (Air, +"Garryowen.")_ + + "Let you rise and go light like a bird of the air + That goes high in its flight ever seeking its share; + Let you never go easy or pine for a rest + Till you'll be a world's wonder and work with the best! + + With a chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup, + A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup, + A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup, + A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup!" + +_Celia_: (_Staring and standing up_.) What is +that? Is it the wind or is it a wisp of flame that +is going athrough my bones! + +(_Rock and Flannery come in_.) + +(_Celia rushes out_.) + +_Rock_: (_Out of breath_.) We went looking for a +car to bring you to the train! + +_Flannery_: There was not one to be found. + +_Rock_: But those that are too costly! + +_Flannery_: Till we went to the Doctor of the +Union. + +_Rock_: For to ask a lift for you on the ambulance.... + +_Flannery_: But when he heard what we had to +tell-- + +_Rock_: He said he would bring you and glad +to do it on his own car, and no need to hansel +him. + +_Flannery_: And welcome, if it was as far as the +grave! + +_Rock_: All he is sorry for he hasn't a horse that +would rise you up through the sky-- + +_Conan_: Let him give me the lift so--it will be +a help to me. It wasn't only with his own hand +Alexander won the world! + +_Flannery_: Unless you might give him, he was +saying, a blast of the bellows, that would change +his dispensary into a racing stable, and all that +come to be cured into jockeys and into grooms! + +_Conan_: What chatterers ye are! I gave ye no +leave to speak of that. + +_Rock_: Ah, it costs nothing to be giving out +newses. + +_Flannery_: The world and all will be coming to +the door to throw up their hats for you, and you +making your start, cars and ass cars, jennets and +traps. _(Sings.)_ + + "O Bay of Dublin, how my heart your troublin', + Your beauty haunts me like a fever dream; + Like frozen fountains that the sun set bubblin' + My heart's blood warms when I but hear your name!" + +_Conan_: It's my death I'll come to in Dublin. +That news to get there ahead of me I'll be pressed +in the throng as thin as a griddle. + +_Flannery_: So you might be, too. All I have +that might protect you I offer free, and that's this +good umbrella that was given to me in a rainstorm +by a priest. _(Holds it out.)_ + +_Rock_: And what do you say to me giving you +the loan of your charges for the road? + +_Conan_: Come in here, Maryanne! and give a +glass to these honest men till they'll wish me good +luck upon my journey, as it's much I'll need it, +with the weight of all I have to do. + +_Mother: (Coming in.)_ So I will, so I will and +welcome ...but that I disremember where did +I put the key of the chest. + +_Conan_: I'll engage you do! There it is before +you in the lock since ere yesterday. _(Mother puts +bottle and glasses on table.)_ + +_Flannery: (Lifting glass.)_ That you may bring +great good to Ireland and to the world! + +_Rock_: Here's your good health! + +_Conan_: I'm obliged to you! + +_Rock and Flannery: (Sing.) (Air, "The Cruiskeen +lan.")_ + + "Gramachree ma cruiskeen Slainte geal mavourneen, + Gramachree a cool-in bawn, bawn, bawn, ban-ban-ban, + Oh, Gra-ma-chree a cool-in bawn." + +_(They nod as they finish and take out their +pipes and sit down. A banging is heard.)_ + +_Conan_: What disturbance is that? + +_(Celia comes in, her hair screwed up tight, +skirt tucked up, is carrying a pail, +brush, cloth, etc., lets them drop and +proceeds to fasten up skirt.)_ + +_Mother_: Ah, Celia, what is on you? I never +saw you that way before. + +_Conan_: Ha! Very good! I think that you will +say there is a great change come upon her, and a +right change. + +_Celia_: Look now at the floor the way it is. + +_Mother_: I see no other way but the way it is +always. + +_Celia_: There's a bit of soot after falling down +the chimney. _(Picks up tongs.)_ + +_Mother:_ Ah, leave it now, dear, a while. + +_Celia_: Anything has to be done, the quickest +way to do it is the best. _(Having taken up soot, +flings down tongs.)_ + +_Conan_: Listen to that! Now am I able to +work wonders? + +_Rock_: It is that you have spent on her a blast? + +_Conan_: If I did it was well spent. + +_Flannery_: I'm in dread you have been robbing +the poor. + +_Rock_: It is myself you have robbed doing that. +You have no call to be using those blasts for your +own profit! + +_Conan_: I have every right to bring order in +my own dwelling before I can do any other thing! + +_Celia_: All the dust of the world's roads is +gathered in this kitchen. The whole place ate +with filth and dirt. + +_(Begins to sweep.)_ + +_Conan_: Ah, you needn't hardly go as far as that. + +_Celia_: Anything that is worth doing is worth +doing well. _(To Rock.)_ Look now at the marks +of your boots upon the ground. Get up out of +that till I'll bustle it with the broom! + +_Rock: (Getting up.)_ There is a change indeed +and a queer change. Where she used to be singing +she is screeching the same as a slate where you'd +be casting sums! + +_Celia: (To Flannery.)_ What's that I see in +under your chair? Rise up. _(He gets up.)_ It's +a pin! _(Sticks it in her dress.)_ Everything in its +right place! _(Goes on flicking at the furniture.)_ + +_Mother_: Leave now knocking the furniture to +flitters. + +_Celia_: I will not, till I'll free it from the dust +and dander of the year. + +_Mother_: That'll do now. I see no dust. + +_Celia_: You'll see it presently. _(Sweeps up a cloud.)_ + +_Mother_: Let you speak to her, Conan. + +_Conan_: Leave now buzzing and banging about +the room the same as a fly without a head! + +_Celia_: Never put off till to-morrow what you +can do to-day. + +_Conan_: I tell you I have things to settle and +to say before the car will come that is to bring me +on my road to Dublin. + +_Celia: (Stopping short.)_ Is it that you are going +to Dublin? + +_Conan_: I am, and within the hour. + +_Celia_: Pull off those boots from your feet! + +_Conan_: I will not! Let you leave my boots +alone! + +_Celia_: You are not going out of the house with +that slovenly appearance on you! To have it said +out in Dublin that you are a class of man never has +clean boots but of a Sunday! + +_Conan_: They'll do well enough without you +meddling! + +_Celia_: Clean them yourself so! _(Gives him a +rag and blacking and goes on dusting.)_ + +_(Sings.) (Air, "City of Sligo.")_ + + "We may tramp the earth + For all that we're worth, + But what odds where you and I go, + We never shall meet + A spot so sweet + As the beautiful city of Sligo." + +_Conan_: What ailed me that I didn't leave her +as she was before. + +_Celia: (Stopping work.)_ What way are they now? + +_Conan: (Having cleaned his boots, putting them +on hurriedly.)_ They're very good. _(Wipes his brow, +drawing hand across leaving mark of blacking.)_ + +_Celia_: The time I told you to put black on +your shoes I didn't bid you rub it upon your brow! + +_Conan_: I didn't put it in any wrong place. + +_Celia_: I ask the whole of you, is it black his face +is or white? + +_All_: It is black indeed. + +_Celia_: Would you put a reproach on the whole +of the barony, going up among big citizens with a +face on you the like of that? + +_Conan_: I'll do well enough. There will be +the black of the smoke from the engine on it any +way, and I after journeying in the train. + +_Celia_: You will not go be a disgrace to me. + +_Conan_: If it is black it is yourself forced me to it. + +_Celia_: If I did I'll make up for it, putting a +clean face upon you now. _(Dips towel in pail and +sings "With a fillip"--air, "Garryowen"--as she +washes him.)_ + + "Bring to mind how the thrush gathers twigs for his nest + And the honey bee toils without ever a rest + And the fishes swim ever to keep themselves clean, + And you'll praise me for making you fit to be seen! + With a fillip, a fillip, a fillip. + A fillip, a fillip, a fillip. + A fillip, a fillip, a fillip, a fillip, + A fillip, a fillip, a fillip, a fillip!" + +_Conan_: Let me go, will you! Let you stop! +The soap that is going into my eye! + +_Celia_: My grief you are! Let you be willing +to suffer, so long as you will be tasty and decent +and be a credit to ourselves. + +_Conan_: The suds are in my mouth! + +_Celia_: One minute now and you'll be as clean +as a bishop! + +_Conan_: Let me go, can't you! + +_Celia_: Only one thing wanting now. + +_Conan_: I'm good enough, I tell you! + +_Celia_: To cut the wisp from the back of your +poll. + +_Conan_: You will not cut it! + +_Celia_: And you'll go into the grandeurs of +Dublin and you being as neat as an egg. + +_Conan: (With a roar.)_ Leave meddling with +my hair. I that can change the world with one +turn of my hand! + +_Celia_: Wait till I'll find the scissors! That's +not the way to be going showing off in the town, +if you were all the saints and Druids of the universe! + +_Conan: (Breaking free and rushing out.)_ My +seven thousand curses on the minute when I didn't +leave you as you were. _(Goes.)_ + +_Celia: (Looking at Mother.)_ There's meal on +your dress from the cake you're after putting in +the oven--where now did that bellows fall from? +_(Taking up bellows.)_ It comes as handy as a +gimlet. There _(blows the meal off)_, that now will +make a big difference in you. + +_Rock: (Seizing bellows.)_ Leave now that down +out of your hand. Let you go looking for a +scissors! + +_(Celia goes off singing "The Beautiful City +of Sligo.")_ + +_Mother: (Sitting down.)_ I'm thinking it's seven +years to-day, James Rock, since you took a lend +of my clock. + +_Rock_: You're raving! What call would I have +to ask a lend of your clock? + +_Mother_: The way you would rise in time for +the fair of Feakle in the morning. + +_Rock_: Did I now? + +_Mother_: You did, and that's my truth. I was +standing here, and you were standing there, and +Celia that was but ten years was sucking the sugar +off a spoon I was after putting in a bag that had +come from the shop, for to put a grain into my +tea. + +_Rock: (Sneering.)_ Well now, didn't your memory +get very sharp! + +_Mother_: You thought I had it forgot, but I +remember it as clear as pictures. The time it stood +at was seven minutes after four o'clock, and I +never saw it from that day till now. This very +day of the month it was, the year of the black +sheep having twins. + +_Rock_: It was but an old clock anyway. + +_Mother_: If it was it is seven years older since +I laid an eye on it. And it's kind father for you +robbing me, where it's often you robbed your own +mother, and you stealing away to go cardplaying +the half crowns she had hid in the churn. + +_Rock_: Didn't you get very wicked and hurtful, +you that was a nice class of a woman without no +harm! + +_Flannery_: Ah, Ma'am, you that was easy-minded, +it is not kind for you to be a scold. + +_Mother_: And another thing, it was the same +day where Michael Flannery _(turns to him)_ came in +an' told me of you being grown so covetous you +had made away with your dog, by reason you +begrudged it its diet. + +_Rock: (To Flannery.)_ You had a great deal to +say about me! + +_Mother_: And more than that again, he said +you had it buried secretly, and had it personated, +creeping around the haggard in the half dark +and you barking, the way the neighbours would +think it to be living yet and as wicked as it was +before. + +_Rock: (To Flannery.)_ I'll bring you into the +Courts for telling lies! + +_Mother: (Coming near Rock and speaking into +his ear.)_ And there's another thing I know, and +that I made a promise to her that was your wife +not to tell, but death has that promise broke. + +_Rock_: Stop, can't you! + +_Mother_: I know by sure witness that it was +you found the forty pound _he (points to Flannery, +who nods)_ lost on the road, and kept it for your +own profit. Bring me now, I dare you, into the +Courts! + +_Rock: (Fearfully.)_ That one would remember +the world! It is as if she went to the grinding +young! + +_(Conan's voice heard. Singing: "Let me be +merry" in a melancholy voice.)_ + + "If sadly thinking with spirits sinking + Could more than drinking my cares compose, + A cure for to-morrow from sighs I'd borrow, + And hope to-morrow would end my woes. + + But as in wailing there's nought availing, + And Death unfailing will strike the blow, + Then for that reason and for a season, + Let us be merry before we go!" + +_Mother_: It is Conan will near lose his wits +with joy when he knows what is come back to me! + +_Conan: (Peeping in.)_ Is Celia gone? + +_Flannery_: She is, Conan. + +_Conan_: It's a queer thing with women. If +you'll turn them from one road it's likely they'll +go into another that is worse again. + +_Rock_: That is so indeed. There is Celia's +mother that is running telling lies, and leaving a +heavy word upon a neighbour. + +_Mother_: I'll give my promise not to tell it out +in Court if he will give to poor Michael Flannery +what is due to him, and that is the whole of what +he has in his bag! + +_Conan: (Laughing scornfully.)_ Sure _she_ has no +memory at all. It fails her to remember that two +and two makes four. + +_Mother_: You think that? Well, listen now to +me. Two and two is it? No, nine times two that +is eighteen and nine times three twenty-seven, +nine times four thirty-six, nine times five forty-five, +nine times six fifty-four, nine times seven +sixty-three, nine times eight seventy-two, nine +times nine eighty-one.... Yes, and eleven times, +and any times that you will put before me! + +_Conan_: That's enough, that's enough! + +_Mother_: Ha, ha! You giving out that I can +keep no knowledge in mind and no learning, when +I should sit on the chapel roof to have enough of +slates for all I can cast up of sums! Multiplication, +Addition, subtraction, and the rule of three! + +_Conan_: Whist your tongue! + +_Mother_: Is it the verses of Raftery's talk into +the Bush you would wish me to give out, or the +three hundred and sixty-nine verses of the Contention +of the Bards--_(Repeats verse of "The Talk +with the Bush" in Irish.)_ + + "Cead agus mile roiamh am na h-Airce + Tus agus crothugadh m'aois agus mo dhata + Tha me o shoin im' shuidhe san ait so + Agus is iomdha sgeal a bhfeadain tracht air." + +Or I'll English it if that will please you: + + "A hundred years and a thousand before the time of the Ark + Was the beginning and creation of my age and my date; + I am from that time sitting in this place, + And it's many a story I am able to give news of." + +_Conan: (Putting hands to ears and walking +away.)_ I am thinking your mind got unsettled +with the weight of years. + +_Mother: (Following him.)_ No, but your own +that got scattered from the time you ran barefoot +carrying worms in a tin can for that Professor of a +Collegian that went fishing in the stream, and that +you followed after till you got to think yourself a +lamp of light for the universe! + +_Conan_: Will you stop deafening the whole world +with your babble! + +_Mother_: There was always a bad drop in you +that attached to you out of the grandfather. What +did your languages do for you but to sharpen +your tongue, till the scrape of it would take the +skin off, the same as a cat! My blessing on you, +Conan, but my curse upon your mouth! + +_Conan_: Oh, will you stop your chat! + +_Mother_: Every word you speak having in it +the sting of a bee that was made out of the curses +of a saint! + +_Conan_: Stop your gibberish! + +_Mother_: Are you satisfied now? + +_Conan_: I'm not satisfied! + +_Mother_: And never will be, for you were ever +and always a fault-finder and full of crossness +from the day that you were small suited. + +_Conan_: You remember that, too? + +_Mother_: I do well! + +_Conan_: Where is the bellows? Was it you +_(to Flannery)_ that blew a blast on her? + +_Flannery_: It was not. + +_Conan_: Or you? + +_Rock_: It's long sorry I'd be to do such a thing! + +_Conan_: It is certain someone did it on her. +Where now is it? + +_Mother: (Seizing him.)_ And I remember the +day you threw out your mug of milk into the street, +by reason, says you, you didn't like the colour of +the cow that gave it! + +_Conan_: Will you stop ripping up little annoyances, +till I'll find the bellows! + +_Rock_: It's what I'm thinking, her memory will +soon be back at the far side of Solomon's +Temple. + +_Mother: (Repeats in Irish.)_ Agus is iomdha +sgeal a bhfeadain traacht air! + +_Conan: (Shouting.)_ Is it that you'll drive the +seven senses out of me! + +_Mother_: Is it that you begrudge me my recollection? +Ha! I have it in spite of you. _(Sings.)_ + + "Oft in the stilly night + Ere slumber's chain hath bound me + Fond memory brings the light + Of other days around me. + The smiles, the tears, of childhood's years, + The words of love then spoken-- + The eyes that shone, now dimmed and gone, + The cheerful hearts now broken. + + "Thus in the stilly night--ere slumber's chain + hath bound me + Fond memory brings the light + Of other days around me!" + +_Celia: (Bursting in.)_ Where is Conan? + +_Conan_: What do you want of me? + +_Celia_: I have got the hair brush. + +_Conan_: Let you not come near me! + +_Celia_: And the comb! + +_Conan_: Get away from me! + +_Celia_: And the scissors. + +_Conan_: Will you drive me out of the house or +will I drive you out of it! + +_Celia_: Ah, be easy! + +_Conan_: I will not be easy! + +_Celia: (Pushing him back in a chair.)_ It will +delight the world to see the way I'll send you out! + +_Conan_: Is the universe gone distracted mad! + +_Celia_: Be quiet now! + +_Conan_: Leave your hold of me! + +_Celia_: One stir, and the scissors will run into +you! + +_(Sings "With a snippet, a snippet, a snippet.")_ + +CURTAIN + +ACT III + + + + +ACT III + + +_The two Cats are looking over the settle_. + +_Music behind scene: "O Johnny, I hardly knew +you!"_ + +_1st Cat_: We did well leaving the bellows for +that foolish Human to see what he can do. There +is great sport before us and behind. + +_2nd Cat_: The best I ever saw since the Jesters +went out from Tara. + +_1st Cat_: They to be giving themselves high +notions and to be looking down on Cats! + +_2nd Cat_: Ha, Ha, Ha, the folly and the craziness +of men! To see him changing them from one +thing to the next, as if they wouldn't be a two-legged +laughing stock whatever way they would +change. + +_1st Cat_: There's apt to be more changes yet +till they will hardly know one another, or every +other one, to be himself! _(Sings.)_ + + "Where are your eyes that looked so mild, + Hurroo! Hurroo! + Where are your eyes that looked so mild + When my poor heart you first beguiled, + Why did you run from me and the child? + O Johnny, I hardly knew you! + + "With drums and guns and guns and drums, + The enemy nearly slew you! + My darling dear you look so queer, + O Johnny, I hardly knew you! + + "Where are the legs with which you run, + When you went to carry a gun. + Indeed your dancing days are done, + O Johnny, I hardly knew you!" + +_(Timothy and Mother come in from opposite +doors. Cats disappear--music still heard +faintly.)_ + +_Mother: (Looking at little bellows in her hand.)_ +Do you know _That_ what it is, Timothy? + +_Timothy_: Is it now a hand-bellows? It's long +since I seen the like of that. + +_Mother_: It is, but _what_ bellows? + +_Timothy_: Not a bellows? I'd nearly say it to be one. + +_Mother_: There has strange things come to pass. + +_Timothy_: That's what we've all been praying +for this long time! + +_Mother_: Ah, can't you give attention and strive +to listen to me. It is all coming back to my mind. +All the things I am remembering have my mind +tattered and tossed. + +_Timothy: (Who has been trying to hear the music, +sings a verse.)_ + + "You haven't an arm and you haven't a leg, + Hurroo! Hurroo! + You're a yellow noseless chickenless egg, + You'll have to put up with a bowl to beg. + O Johnny, I hardly knew you! + +_(Music ceases.)_ + +_Mother_: Will you give attention, I say! It +will be worth while for you to go chat with me now +I can be telling you all that happened in my years +gone by. What was it Conan was questioning me +about a while ago? What was it now.... + + "Aristotle in the hour + He left Ireland left a power!"... + +_Timothy_: That now is a very nice sort of a +little prayer. + +_Mother: (Calling out.)_ That's it! Aristotle's +Bellows! I know now what has happened. This +that is in my hand has in it the power to make +changes. Changes! Didn't great changes come in +the house to-day! _(Shouts.)_ Did you see any great +change in Celia? + +_Timothy_: Why wouldn't I, and she at this +minute fighting and barging at some poor travelling +man, saying he laid a finger mark of bacon-grease upon +the lintel of the door. Driving him off with a broken-toothed +rake she is, she that was so gentle that she +wouldn't hardly pluck the feathers of a dead duck! + +_Mother_: It was surely a blast of this worked +that change in her, as the blast she blew upon me +worked a change in myself. O! all the thoughts +and memories that are thronging in my mind and +in my head! Rushing up within me the same as +chaff from the flail! Songs and stories and the +newses I heard through the whole course of my +lifetime! And I having no person to tell them out +to! Do you hear me what I'm saying, Timothy? +_(Shouts in his ear.)_ What is come back to me is +what I lost so long ago, my MEMORY. + +_Timothy_: So it is a very good song. + +_(Sings.)_ + + "By Memory inspired, and love of glory fired, + The deeds of men I love to dwell upon, + And the sympathetic glow of my spirit must bestow + On the memory of Mitchell that is gone, boys, gone-- + The memory of Mitchell that is gone!" + +_Mother_: Thoughts crowding on one another, +mixing themselves up with one another for the +want of sifting and settling! They'll have me +distracted and I not able to speak them out to +some person! Conan as surly as a bramble bush, +and Celia wrapped up in her bucket and her broom! +And yourself not able to hear one word I say. _(Sobs, +and bellows falls from her hands.)_ + +_Timothy_: I'll lay it down now out of your way, +ma'am, the way you can cry your fill whatever +ails you. + +_Mother: (Snatching it back.)_ Stop! I'll not +part with it! I know now what I can do! Now! +_(Points it at him.)_ I'll make a companion to be +listening to me through the long winter nights and +the long summer days, and the world to be without +any end at all, no more than the round of the +full moon! You that have no hearing, this will +bring back your hearing, the way you'll be a +listener and a benefit to myself for ever. I +wouldn't feel the weeks long that time! + +_(Blows. Timothy turns away and gropes +toward wall.)_ + +_(She sings: Air, "Eileen Aroon.")_ + + "What if the days go wrong, + When you can hear! + What if the evening's long, + You being near, + I'll tell my troubles out, + Put darkness to the rout + And to the roundabout! + Having your ear!" + +_(Rock at door: sneezes. Mother drops bellows +and goes. Timothy gives a cry, +claps hands to ears and rushes out as if +terrified.)_ + +_Rock: (Coming in seizes bellows.)_ Well now, +didn't this turn to be very lucky and very good! +The very thing I came looking for to be left there +under my hands! _(Puts it hurriedly under coat.)_ + +_Flannery: (Coming in.)_ What are you doing +here, James Rock? + +_Rock_: What are you doing yourself? + +_Flannery_: What is that in under your coat? + +_Rock_: What's that to you? + +_Flannery_: I'll know that when I see it. + +_Rock_: What call have you to be questioning me? + +_Flannery_: Open now your coat! + +_Rock_: Stand out of my way! + +_Flannery: (Suddenly tearing open coat and seizing +bellows.)_ Did you think it was unknownst to me +you stole the bellows? + +_Rock_: Ah, what steal? + +_Flannery_: Put it back in the place it was! + +_Rock_: I will within three minutes. + +_Flannery_: You'll put it back here and now. + +_Rock: (Coaxingly.)_ Look at here now, Michael +Flannery, we'll make a league between us. Did +you ever see such folly as we're after seeing to-day? +Sitting there for an hour and a half till that one +settled the world upside down! + +_Flannery_: If I did see folly, what I see now is +treachery. + +_Rock_: Didn't you take notice of the way that +foolish old man is wasting and losing what was +given him for to benefit mankind? A blast he has +lost turning a pigeon to a crow, as if there wasn't +enough in it before of that tribe picking the spuds +out of the ridges. And another blast he has lost +turning poor Celia, that was harmless, to be a holy +terror of cleanness and a scold. + +_Flannery_: Indeed, he'd as well have left her +as she was. There was something very pleasing +in her little sleepy ways. + +_(Sings.)_ + + "But sad it is to see you so + And to think of you now as an object of woe; + Your Peggy'll still keep an eye on her beau. + O Johnny, I hardly knew you!" + +_Rock_: Bringing back to the memory of his +mother every old grief and rancour. She that has +a right to be making her peace with the grave! + +_Flannery_: Indeed it seems he doesn't mind +what he'll get so long as it's something that he +wants. + +_Rock_: Three blasts gone! And the world didn't +begin to be cured. + +_Flannery_: Sure enough he gave the bellows no +fair play. + +_Rock_: He has us made a fool of. He using it +the way he did, he has us robbed. + +_Flannery_: There's power in the four blasts +left would bring peace and piety and prosperity +and plenty to every one of the four provinces of +Ireland. + +_Rock_: That's it. There's no doubt but I'll +make a better use of it than him, because I am a +better man than himself. + +_Flannery_: I don't know. You might not get +so much respect in Dublin. + +_Rock_: Dublin, where are you! What would +I'd do going to Dublin? Did you never hear said +the skin to be nearer than the shirt? + +_Flannery_: What do you mean saying that? + +_Rock_: The first one I have to do good to is +myself. + +_Flannery_: Is it that you would grab the benefit +of the bellows? + +_Rock_: In troth I will. I've got a hold of it, and +by cripes I'll knock a good turn out of it. + +_Flannery_: To rob the country and the poor for +your own profit? You are a class of man that is +gathering all for himself. + +_Rock_: It is not worth while we to fall out of +friendship. I will use but the one blast. + +_Flannery_: You have no right or call to meddle +with it. + +_Rock_: The first thing I will meddle with is my +own rick of turf. And I'll give you leave to go do +the same with your own umbrella, or whatever +property you may own. + +_Flannery_: Sooner than be covetous like yourself +I'd live and die in a ditch, and be buried +from the Poorhouse! + +_Rock_: Turf being black and light in the hand, +and gold being shiny and weighty, there will be +no delay in turning every sod into a solid brick of +gold. I give you leave to do the same thing, and +we'll be two rich men inside a half an hour! + +_Flannery_: You are no less than a thief! _(Snatches +at bellows.)_ + +_Rock_: Thief yourself. Leave your hand off it! + +_Flannery_: Give it up here for the man that +owns it! + +_Rock_: You may set your coffin making for I'll +beat you to the ground. + +_Flannery: (As he clutches.)_ Ah, you have given +it a shove. It has blown a blast on yourself! + +_Rock_: Yourself that blew it on me! Bad cess +to you! But I'll do the same bad turn upon you! +_(Blows.)_ + +_Flannery_: There is some footstep without. +Heave it in under the ashes. + +_Rock_: Whist your tongue! _(Flings bellows +behind hearth.)_ + +_(Conan comes in.)_ + +_Conan_: With all the chattering of women I +have the train near lost. The car is coming for +me and I'll make no delay now but to set out. + +_(Sings.)_ + + "Oh the French are on the sea, + Says the Sean Van Vocht, + Oh the French are on the sea, + Says the Sean Van Vocht, + + Oh the French are in the bay, + They'll be here without delay, + And the Orange will decay, + Says the Sean Van Vocht!" + +Here now is my little pack. You were saying, +Thomas Flannery, you would be lending me the +loan of your umbrella. + +_Flannery_: Ah, what umbrella? There's no fear +of rain. + +_Conan: (Taking it.)_ You to have proffered it +I would not refuse it. + +_Flannery: (Seizing it.)_ I don't know. I have +to mind my own property. It might not serve +it to be loaning it to this one and that. It might +leave the ribs of it bare. + +_Conan_: That's the way with the whole of ye. I +to give you my heart's blood you'd turn me upside +down for a pint of porter! + +_Flannery_: I see no sense or charity in lending to +another anything that might be of profit to myself. + +_Conan_: Let you keep it so! That your ribs may +be as bare as its own ribs that are bursting out +through the cloth! + +_Rock_: Do not give heed to him, Conan. There +is in this bag _(takes it out)_ what will bring you every +whole thing you might be wanting in the town. +_(Takes out notes and gold and gives them.)_ + +_Conan_: It is only a small share I'll ask the lend of. + +_Rock_: The lend of! No, but a free gift! + +_Conan_: Well now, aren't you turned to be very +kind? _(Takes notes.)_ + +_Rock_: Put that back in the bag. Here it is, the +whole of it. Five and fifty pounds. Take it and +welcome! It is yourself will make a good use of +it laying it out upon the needy and the poor. +Changing all for their benefit and their good! Oh, +since St. Bridget spread her cloak upon the Curragh +this is the most day and the happiest day ever +came to Ireland. + +_Conan: (Giving bag to Flannery.)_ Take it you, +as is your due by what the mother said a while ago +about the robbery he did on you in the time past. + +_Flannery_: Give it here to me. I'll engage I'll +keep a good grip on it from this out. It's long +before any other one will get a one look at it! + +_Conan_: There would seem to be a great change--and +a sudden change come upon the two of ye. +..._(With a roar.)_ Where now is the bellows? + +_Flannery: (Sulkily.)_ What way would I know? + +_Conan: (Shaking him.)_ I know well what +happened! It is _ye_ have stolen two of my blasts! +Putting changes on yourselves ye would--much +good may it do ye--. Thieving with your covetousness +the last two nearly I had left! + +_Rock: (Sulkily.)_ Leave your hand off me! I +never stole no blast! + +_Conan_: There's a bad class going through the +world. The most people you will give to will be +the first to cry you down. This was a wrong out +of measure! Thieves ye are and pickpockets! +Ye that were not worth changing from one to +another, no more than you'd change a pinch of +dust off the road into a puff of ashes. Stealing +away my lovely blasts, bad luck to ye, the same as +Prometheus stole the makings of a fire from the +ancient gods! + +_Flannery_: That is enough of keening and +lamenting after a few blasts of barren wind--I'll +be going where I have my own business to attend. + +_Conan_: Where, so, is the bellows? + +_Flannery_: How would I know? + +_Conan_: The two of ye won't quit this till I'll +find it! There is another two blasts in it that +will bring sense and knowledge into Ireland yet! + +_Rock_: Indeed they might bring comfort yet +to many a sore heart! + +_Conan: (Searching.)_ Where now is it? I +couldn't find it if the earth rose up and swallowed +it. Where now did I lay it down? + +_Rock_: There's too much changes in this place +for me to know where anything is gone. + +_Conan: (At door.)_ Where are you, Maryanne! +Celia! Timothy! Let ye come hither and search +out my little bellows! + +_(Timothy comes in, followed by Mother.)_ + +_Conan_: Hearken now, Timothy! + +_Timothy: (Stopping his ears.)_ Speak easy, speak easy! + +_Conan_: Take down now your fingers from your +ears the way you will hear my voice! + +_Timothy_: Have a care now with your screeching +would you split the drum of my ear? + +_Conan_: Is it that you have got your hearing? + +_Timothy_: My hearing is it? As good as that I +can hear a lie, and it forming in the mind. + +_Conan_: Is that the truth you're saying? + +_Timothy_: Hear, is it! I can hear every whisper +in this parish and the seven parishes are nearest. +And the little midges roaring in the air.--Let ye +whist now with your sneezing in the draught! + +_Conan_: This is surely the work of the bellows. +Another blast gone! + +_Rock_: So it would be too. Mostly the whole +of them gone and spent. It's hard know in the +morning what way will it be with you at night. + _(Sings.)_ + + "I saw from the beach when the morning was + shining + A bark o'er the waters move gloriously on-- + came when the sun o'er the beach was declining, + The bark was still there, but the waters were gone." + +_Timothy_: It is yourself brought the misfortune +on me, calling your Druid spells into the house. + +_Conan_: It is not upon you I ever turned it. + +_Timothy_: You have a great wrong done to me! + +_Mother_: It is glad you should be and happy. + +_Timothy_; Happy, is it? Give me a hareskin cap +for to put over my ears, having wool in it very thick! + _(Sings.)_ + + "Silent, O Moyle, be the roar of thy water, + Break not ye breezes your chain of repose, + While murmuring mournfully Lir's lonely daughter + Tells to the night-star her tale of woes. + + "When shall the swan, her death-note singing, + Sleep with wings in darkness furl'd? + When will heaven its sweet bells ringing + Call my spirit from this stormy world?" + +_Mother_: Come with me now and I'll be chatting +to you. + +_Timothy_: Why would I be listening to your +blather when I have the voices of the four winds to +be listening to? The night wind, the east wind, +the black wind and the wind from the south! + +_Conan_: Such a thing I never saw before in all +my natural life. + +_Timothy_: To be hearing, without understanding +it, the language of the tribes of the birds! (_Puts +hands over ears again_.) There's too many sounds +in the world! The sounds of the earth are terrible! +The roots squeezing and jostling one another +through the clefts, and the crashing of the acorn +from the oak. The cry of the little birdeen in +under the silence of the hawk! + +_Conan:_ (_To Mother_.) As it you let it loose +upon him, let you bring him away to some hole or +cave of the earth. + +_Timothy_: It is my desire to go cast myself in +the ocean where there'll be but one sound of its +waves, the fishes in its meadows being dumb! +(_Goes to corner and hides his head in a sack_.) + +_Mother_: Even so there might likely be a mermaid +playing reels on her silver comb, and yourself +craving after the world you left. + (_Sings: Air, "Spailpin Fanach_.") + + "You think to go from every woe to peace in the + wide ocean, + But you will find your foolish mind repent its + foolish notion. + When dog-fish dash and mermaids splash their + finny tails to find you, + I'll make a bet that you'll regret the world you + left behind you!" + +_Celia:_ (_Clattering in with broom, etc_.) What +are ye doing, coming in this room again after I +having it settled so nice? I'll allow no one in the +place again, only carriage company that will have +no speck of dust upon the sole of their shoe! + +_Mother_: Oh, Celia, there has strange things +happened! + +_Celia_: What I see strange is that some person +has meddled with that hill of ashes on the hearth +and set it flying athrough the air. Is it hens ye +are wishful to be, that would be searching and +scratching in the dust for grains? And this thrown +down in the midst! (_Holds up bellows_.) + +_Conan_: Give me my bellows! + +_Mother_: No, but give it to me! + +_Rock and Flannery_: Give it to myself! + +_Timothy:_ (_Looking up, with hands on ears_.) +My curse upon it and its work. Little I care if it +goes up with the clouds. + +_Celia_: What in the world wide makes the whole +of ye so eager to get hold of such a thing? + +_Conan_: It has but the one blast left! + (_Sings_.) + + "'Tis the last Rose of Summer + Left blooming alone, + All her lovely companions + Are faded and gone. + No flower of her kindred, + No rosebud is nigh, + To reflect back her blushes + Or give sigh for sigh!" + +_Celia_: What are you fretting about blasts and +about roses? + +_Rock:_ It has a charm on it-- + +_Flannery:_ To change the world-- + +_Mother:_ That chedang myself-- + +_Conan:_ For the worse-- + +_Mother:_ And Timothy-- + +_Conan:_ For the worse-- + +_Rock:_ Myself and Flannery-- + +_Conan:_ For the worse, for the worse-- + +_Mother:_ Conan that changed yourself with it-- + +_Conan:_ For the very worst! + +_Celia:_ (_To Conan_.) Is it riddles, or is it that +you put a spell and a change upon me? + +_Conan:_ If I did, it was for your own good! + +_Celia:_ Do you call it for my good to set me +running till I have my toes going through my shoes? +(_Holds them out_.) + +_Conan:_ I didn't think to go that length. + +_Celia:_ To roughen my hands with soap and +scalding water till they're near as knotted and as +ugly as your own! + +_Conan:_ Ah, leave me alone! I tell you it is not +by my own fault. My plan and my purpose that +went astray and that broke down. + +_Celia:_ I will not leave you till you'll change me +back to what I was. What way can these hands go +to the dance house to-night? Change me back, I say! + +_Rock:_ And me-- + +_Timothy:_ And myself, that I'll have quiet in my +head again. + +_Conan:_ I cannot undo what has been done. +There is no back way. + +_Timothy:_ Is there no way at all to come out of +it safe and sane? + +_Conan:_ (_Shakes head_.) Let ye make the best of it. + +_Flannery: (Sings.) (Air, "I saw from the Beach.")_ + + "Ne'er tell me of glories serenely adorning + The close of our day, the calm eve of our night. + Give me back, give me back the wild freshness of morning, + Her clouds and her tears are worth evening's best light." + +_Mother: (Who has bellows in her hand.)_ Stop! +Stop--my mind is travelling backward ...so far +I can hardly reach to it ...but I'll come to it +...the way I'll be changed to what I was before, +and the town and the country wishing me well, I +having got my enough of unfriendly looks and hard +words! + +_Timothy:_ Hurry on, Ma'am, and remember, and +take the spell off the whole of us. + +_Mother:_ I am going back, back, to the longest +thing that is in my mind and my memory!... +I myself a child in my mother's arms the very day +I was christened.... + +_Conan:_ Ah, stop your raving! + +_Mother:_ Songs and storytelling, and my old +generations laying down news of this spell that is +now come to pass.... + +_Rock:_ Did they tell what way to undo the +charm? + +_Mother:_ You have but to turn the bellows the +same as the smith would turn the anvil, or St. +Patrick turned the stone for fine weather ... +and to blow a blast ...and a twist will come +inside in it and the charm will fall off with that +blast, and undo the work that has been done! + +_All:_ Turn it so! + (_Cats look over, playing on fiddles "O Johnny, I + hardly knew you," while mother blows on each_.) + +_Timothy:_ Ha! (_Takes hands from ears and puts +one behind his ear_.) + +_Rock:_ Ha! Where now is my bag? (_Turns +out his pockets, unhappy to find them empty_.) + +_Flannery:_ Ha! (_Smiles and holds out umbrella +to Conan, who takes it_.) + +_Mother: (To Celia.)_ Let you blow a blast on me. +(_Celia does so_.) Now it's much if I can remember +to blow a blast backward upon yourself! + +_Celia:_ Stop a minute! Leave what is in me of +life and of courage till I will blow the last blast is +in the bellows upon Conan. + +_Conan:_ Stop that! Do you think to change +and to crow over me. You will not or I'll lay my +curse upon you, unless you would change me into +an eagle would be turning his back upon the whole +of ye, and facing to his perch upon the right hand +of the master of the gods! + +_Celia:_ Is it to waste the last blast you would? +Not at all. As we burned the candle we'll burn the +inch! I'll not make two halves of it, I'll give it to +you entirely! + +_Conan:_ You will not, you unlucky witch of illwill! + (_Protects himself with umbrella_.) + +_Celia: (Having got him to a corner.)_ Let you +take things quiet and easy from this out, and be as +content as you have been contrary from the very +day and hour of your birth! + _(She blows upon him and he sits down smiling. + Mother blows on Celia, and she sits down + in first attitude_.) + +_Celia:_ (_Taking up pigeon_.) Oh, there you are +come back my little dove and my darling! + (_Sings: "Shule Aroon."_) + + "Come sit and settle on my knee + And I'll tell you and you'll tell me + A tale of what will never be, + Go-de-tou-Mavourneen slan!" + +_Conan:_ (_Lighting pipe_.) So the dove is there, +too. Aristotle said there is nothing at the end but +what there used to be at the beginning. Well now, +what a pleasant day we had together, and what +good neighbours we all are, and what a comfortable +family entirely. + +_Rock:_ You would seem to have done with your +complaints about the universe, and your great plan +to change it overthrown. + +_Conan:_ Not a complaint! What call have I to +go complaining? The world is a very good world, +the best nearly I ever knew. + (_Sings_.) + + "O, a little cock sparrow he sat on a tree, + O, a little cock sparrow he sat on a tree, + O, a little cock sparrow he sat on a tree, + And he was as happy as happy could be, + With a chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup! + + "A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup! + A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup! + A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup! + A chirrup, a chirrup, a----!" + +CURTAIN + + + + +NOTE TO ARISTOTLE'S BELLOWS + +I had begun to put down some notes for this play when +in the autumn of 1919 I was suddenly obliged (through +the illness and death of the writer who had undertaken it) +to take in hand the writing of the "Life and Achievement" +of my nephew Hugh Lane, and this filled my mind and +kept me hard at work for a year. + +When the proofs were out of my hands I turned with +but a vague recollection to these notes, and was surprised +to find them fuller than they had appeared in my memory, +so that the idea was rekindled and the writing was soon +begun. And I found a certain rest and ease of mind in +having turned from a long struggle (in which, alas, I had +been too often worsted) for exactitude in dates and names +and in the setting down of facts, to the escape into a world +of fantasy where I could create my own. And so before +the winter was over the play was put in rehearsal at the +Abbey Theatre, and its first performance was on St. +Patrick's Day, 1921. + +I have been looking at its first scenario, made according +to my habit in rough pen and ink sketches, coloured with +a pencil blue and red, and the changes from that early +idea do not seem to have been very great, except that in +the scene where Conan now hears the secret of the hiding-place +of the Spell from the talk of the cats, the Bellows +had been at that time left beside him by a dwarf from the +rath, in his sleep. The cats work better, and I owe their +success to the genius of our Stage Carpenter, Mr. Sean +Barlow, whose head of the Dragon from my play of that +name had been such a masterpiece that I longed to see +these other enchanted heads from his hand. + +The name of the play in that first scenario was "The +Fault-Finder," but my cranky Conan broke from that +narrowness. If the play has a moral it is given in the words +of the Mother, "It's best make changes little by little, +the same as you'd put clothes upon a growing child." The +restlessness of the time may have found its way into Conan's +mind, or as some critic wrote, "He thinks of the Bellows +as Mr. Wilson thought of the League of Nations," and so +his disappointment comes. As A.E. writes in "The National +Being," "I am sympathetic with idealists in a hurry, but +I do not think the world can be changed suddenly by +some heavenly alchemy, as St. Paul was smitten by a light +from the overworld. Though the heart in us cries out +continually, 'Oh, hurry, hurry to the Golden Age,' though +we think of revolutions, we know that the patient marshalling +of human forces is wisdom.... Not by revolutions +can humanity be perfected. I might quote from an old +oracle, 'The gods are never so turned away from man as +when he ascends to them by disorderly methods.' Our +spirits may live in the Golden Age but our bodily life +moves on slow feet, and needs the lantern on the path +and the staff struck carefully into the darkness before us to +see that the path beyond is not a morass, and the light +not a will o' the wisp." (But this may not refer to our +own Revolution, seeing that has been making a step now +and again towards what many judged to be a will o' the +wisp through over seven hundred years.) + +As to the machinery of the play, the spell was first to +have been worked by a harp hung up by some wandering +magician, and that was to work its change according to +the wind, as it blew from north or south, east or west. +But that would have been troublesome in practice, and +the Bellows having once entered my mind, brought there +I think by some scribbling of the pencil that showed Conan +protecting himself with an umbrella, seemed to have every +necessary quality, economy, efficiency, convenience. + +As to Aristotle, his name is a part of our folklore. The +old wife of one of our labourers told me one day, as a bee +buzzed through the open door: "Aristotle of the Books +was very wise but the bees got the better of him in the +end. He wanted to know how did they pack the comb, +and he wasted the best part of a fortnight watching them, +and he could not see them doing it. Then he made a +hive with a glass cover on it and put it over them, and +he thought to watch them. But when he went to put his +eye to the glass, they had it all covered with wax so that +it was as black as the pot, and he was as blind as before. +He said he was never rightly killed till then. The bees +had him beat that time surely." And Douglas Hyde +brought home one day a story from Kilmacduagh bog, in +which Aristotle took the place of Solomon, the Wise Man +in our tales as well as in those of the East. And he said +that as the story grew and the teller became more familiar, +the name of Aristotle was shortened to that of Harry. + +As to the songs they are all sung to the old Irish airs I +give at the end. + +A. GREGORY. + +August 18, 1921. + + + + +THE JESTER + +A PLAY IN THREE ACTS + +FOR RICHARD + +January, 1919 + +A.G. + +PERSONS + +_The Five Princes_. + +_The Five Wrenboys_. + +_The Guardian of the Princes and Governor of the Island_. + +_The Servant_. + +_The Two Dowager Messengers_. + +_The Ogre_. + +_The Jester_. + +_Two Soldiers_. + +_The Scene is laid in The Island of Hy Brasil, that +appears every seven years_. + +_Time: Out of mind_. + + + + +ACT I + + + + +ACT I + + +_Scene: A winter garden, with pots of flowering +trees or fruit-trees. There are books about and +some benches with cushions on them and many +cushions on the ground. The young_ PRINCES _are +sitting or lying at their ease. One is playing +"Home, Sweet Home" on a harp. The_ +SERVANT--_an old man_--_is standing in the +background_. + +_1st Prince_: Here, Gillie, will you please take off +my shoe and see what there is in it that is pressing +on my heel. + +_Servant_: (_Taking it off and examining it_.) I +see nothing. + +_1st Prince_: Oh, yes, there is something; I have +felt it all the morning. I have been thinking this +long time of taking the shoe off, but I waited for +you. + +_Servant_: All I can find is a grain of poppy seed. + +_1st Prince_: That is it of course--it was enough +to hurt my skin. + +_2nd Prince_: Gillie, there is a mayfly tickling +my cheek. Will you please brush it away. + +_Servant_: I will and welcome. (_Fans it off_.) + +_3rd Prince_: Just give me, please, that book +that is near my elbow. I cannot reach to it without +taking my hand off my cheek. + +_Servant_: I wouldn't wish you to do that. +(_Gives him book_.) + +_4th Prince_: Gillie, I think, I am nearly sure, +there is a feather in this cushion that has the quill +in it yet. I feel something hard. + +_Servant_: Give it to me till I will open it and +make a search. + +_4th Prince_: No, wait a while till I am not lying +on it. I will put up with the discomfort till then. + +_5th Prince_: Would it give you too much trouble, +Gillie, when you waken me in the morning, to +come and call me three times, so that I can have +the joy of dropping off again? + +_Servant_: Why wouldn't I? And there is a +thing I would wish to know. There will be a +supper laid out here this evening for the Dowager +Messengers that are coming to the Island, and I +would wish to provide for yourselves whatever +food would be pleasing to you. + +_1st Prince_: It is too warm for eating. All I +will ask is a few grapes from Spain. + +_2nd Prince_: A mouthful of jelly in a silver +spoon ...or in the shape of a little castle with +towers. When will the Lady Messengers be here? + +_Servant_: Not before the fall of day. + +_2nd Prince_: The time passes so quietly and +peaceably it does not feel like a year and a day since +they came here before. + +_Servant_: No wonder the time to pass easy and +quiet where you are, with comfort all around you, +and nothing to mark its course, and every season +feeling the same as another, within the glass walls +and the crystal roof of this place. And the old +Queen, your godmother, sending her own Chamberlain +to take charge of you, and to be your Guardian, +and Governor of the Island. Sure, the wind +itself must slacken coming to this sheltered place. + +_3rd Prince_: That is a great thing. I would +not wish the rough wind to be blowing upon me. + +_4th Prince_: Or the dust to be rising and coming +in among us to spoil our suits. + +_5th Prince_: Or to be walking out on the hard +roads, or climbing over stone walls, or tearing +ourselves in hedges. + +_1st Prince_: That is the reason we were sent +here by the Queen, our Godmother, in place of +being sent to any school. To be kept safe and +secure. + +_2nd Prince_: Not to be running here and there +like our own poor five first cousins, that used to +be slipping out and rambling in their young youth, +till they were swallowed up by the sea. + +_3rd Prince_: It was maybe by some big fish of +the sea. + +_2nd Prince_: It might be they were brought +away by sea-robbers coming in a ship. + +_3rd Prince_: Foolish they were and very foolish +not to stay in peace and comfort in the house where +they were safe. + +_Servant_: There is no fear of _ye_ stirring from +where you are, having every whole thing ye can +wish. + +_4th Prince_: Here is the Guardian coming! + +(_They all rise_.) + +_Guardian_: (_A very old man, much encumbered +with wraps, coming slowly in_.) Are you all here, +all the five of you? + +_All_: We are here! + +_Guardian_: (_Standing, leaning on a stick, to +address them_.) It's a pity that these being holidays, +your teachers and tutors are far away. + +Gone off afloat in a cedar boat to a College of +Learning out in Cathay. + +_1st Prince_: It's a pity indeed they're not here +to-day. + +_Guardian_: For it's likely you looked in your +almanacs, or judged by the shape of the lessening +moon, +That your Godmother's Dowager Messengers are +due to arrive this afternoon. + +_2nd Prince_: We did and we think they'll be +here very soon. + +_Guardian_: But I know they'll be glad that each +royal lad, put under my rule in place of a school, +Can fashion his life without trouble or strife, and +be shielded from care in a nice easy chair. + +_3rd Prince_: As we always are and we always +were. + +_Guardian_: It is part of my knowledge that lads +in a college, and made play one and all with a bat +and a ball, +Come often to harm with a knock on the arm, +and their hands get as hard as the hands of a clown. + +_4th Prince_: But ours are as soft as thistledown. + +_Guardian_: And I've seen young princes not +far from your age, go chasing beasts on a winter day, +And carted home with a broken bone, and a +yard of a doctor's bill to pay; +Or going to sail in the teeth of a gale, when the +waves were rising mountains high, +Or fall from a height that was near out of sight, +robbing rooks from their nest in a poplar tree. + +_5th Prince: (To another_.) But that never +happened to you or me. + +_Guardian_: Or travelling far to a distant war, +with battles and banners rilling their mind, +And creeping back like a crumpled sack, content +if they'd left no limbs behind. + +_1st Prince_: But we'll have nothing to do with +that, but stop at home with an easy mind. + +_Guardian: (Sitting down.)_ That's right. And +now I would wish you to say over some of your +tasks, to make ready for the Dowager Messengers, +that they may bring back a good report to the +Queen, your Godmother. + +_1st Prince_: We'll do that. We would wish to be +a credit to you, sir, and to our teachers. + +_Guardian_: Say out now some little piece of +Latin; that one that is my favourite. + +_1st Prince_: + + Aere sub gelido nullus rosa fundit odores, + Ut placeat tellus, sole calesce Dei. + +_Guardian_: Say out the translation. + +_2nd Prince_: Beneath a chilly blast the rose, +loses its sweet, and scentless blows; + +If you would have earth keep its charm, stop +in the sunshine and keep warm. + +_Guardian_: Very good. Now your history book; +you were learning of late some genealogies of kings, +might suit your Godmother. + +_3rd Prince_: + + William the First as the Conqueror known + At the Battle of Hastings ascended the throne, + His Acts were all made in the Norman tongue + And at eight every evening the curfew was rung + When each English subject by royal desire + + Extinguished his candle and put out his fire. + He bridled the kingdom with forts round the Border + And the Tower of London was built by his order. + +_2nd Prince_: + + William called Rufus from having red hair, + Of virtues possessed but a moderate share, + But though he was one whom we covetous call, + He built the famed structure called Westminster Hall. + Walter Tyrrell his favourite, when hunting one day, + Attempted a deer with an arrow to slay, + But missing his aim, shot the King to the heart + And the body was carried away in a cart. + +_Guardian_: That will do. You have that very +well in your memory. Now let me hear the +grammar lesson. + +_3rd Prince_: + + A noun's the name of anything + As school or garden, hoop or swing. + +_Guardian_: Very good, go on. + +_4th Prince_: + + Adjectives tell the kind of noun + As strong or pretty, white or brown. + +_5th Prince_: + + Conjunctions join the nouns together + As men and children, wind or weather. + +_Guardian_: It will be very useful to you to have +that so well grafted in your mind.... What +noise is that outside? + +_Servant_: It is some strolling people. + +_1st Prince_: Oh, Guardian, let them come in. +We will do our work all the better if we have some +amusement now. + +_Guardian_: Maybe so. I am well pleased when +amusements come to our door, that you can see +without going outside the walls. + +_(A Jester enters in very ragged green clothes +and broken shoes.)_ + +But this is a very ragged looking man. Do you +know anything about him, Gillie? + +_Servant_: I seen him one time before.... At +the time of the earthquake out in Foreign. A mad +jester he was. A tramp class of a man. _(To Jester.)_ +Where is it you stop? + +_Jester_: Where do I stop? Where would I be +but everywhere, like the bad weather. I stop in +no place, but going through the whole roads of +the world. + +_Guardian_: What brought you in here? + +_Jester_: Hearing questions going on, and answers. +I am well able to give help in that. It's +not long since I was giving instruction to the sons +of the King of Babylon. Here now is a question. +How many ladders would it take to reach to the +moon? + +_1st Prince_: It should be a great many. + +_2nd Prince_: I give it up. + +_Jester_: One ...if it is long enough! Which +is it easier to spell, ducks or geese? + +_3rd Prince_: Ducks I suppose because it's shorter. + +_Jester_: Not at all but geese. Do you know +why? Because it is spelled with _ees_. Tell me +now, can you spell pup backwards? + +_4th Prince_: P-u-p.... + +_Jester_: Not at all. + +_4th Prince_: But it is. + +_Jester_: No, that is pup straight forwards.... +Can you run back and forwards at the same time? + +_4th Prince_: Answer it yourself so. + +_Jester_: You would be as wise as myself then. +But I'll show you some tricks. Look at these +three straws on my hand. Will I be able to blow +two of them away, and the other to stay in its place? + +_5th Prince_: They would all blow away. + +_Jester_: Look now. Puff! (_He has put his +finger on the middle one_.) Now is it possible? + +_5th Prince_: It is easy when you know the way. + +_Jester_: That is so with all knowledge. Can you +wag one ear and keep the other quiet? + +_1st Prince_: Nobody can do that. + +_Jester: (Wagging one ear with his finger.)_ There, +now you see I have done it! There's more learning +than is taught in books. Wait now and I'll give +you out a song I'll engage you never heard. (_Sings +or repeats_.) + + It's I can rhyme you out the joy + That's ready for a lively boy. + Cuchulain flung a golden ball + And followed it where it would fall, + And when they counted him a child + He took the flying swans alive. + And Finn was given hares to mind + Till he outran them and the wind; + And he could swim and overtake + The wild duck swimming on the lake. + Osgar's young music was to thwack + The enemy and drive him back.... + +_Guardian_: That's enough now. I have no +fancy for that class of song. What other amusements +are there? + +_Servant_: There are the Wrenboys are come here +at the end of their twelve days' funning. + +_Jester_: That's it! The Wrenboys; a rambling +troop; rambling the world like myself. I will make +place for them. The old must give way to the +young. + +(_He goes and sits down in a corner, munching +a crust and dozing_.) + +_Servant_: Come in here let ye, and show what +ye can do! + +(_Wrenboys come in playing a fife. They are +wearing little masks and are dressed in +ragged tunics; they carry drum and, fife, +and stand in a line_.) + +_All Five Wrenboys: (Together.)_ + + The wren, the wren, the King of all birds, + On Stephen's Day was caught in the furze. + Although he's small his family's great, + Rise up kind gentry and give us a treat! + (_Rub-a-tub-tub-tub, on the drum_.) + + Down with the kettle and up with the pan + And give us money to bury the wren! + _(Rub-a-tub.)_ + + We followed him twenty miles since morn, + The Wrenboys are all tattered and torn. + From Kyle-na-Gno we started late + And here we are at this grand gate! + _(Rub-a-tub.)_ + + He dipped his wing in a barrel of beer-- + We wish you all a Happy New Year! + Give us now money to buy him a bier + And if you don't, we'll bury him here! + (_Rub-a-tub, and fife_.) + +(_Princes laugh and clap hands_.) + +_1st Prince_: That is very good. + +_2nd Prince_: We must give them some money to +bury the wren! + +_Guardian_: Come on then and I will give you +some. They will be glad of it. Play now the +harp as you go. + +(_Princes go off playing, "Home, Sweet Home_." +_The Wrenboys sit down_.) + +_1st Wrenboy_: It is likely we'll get good treatment. + +_Jester: (Coming forward.)_ Ye should be tired. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: We should be, but that we have +our feet well soled,--with the dust of the road! + +_3rd Wrenboy_: If walking could tire us we might +be tired. But we're as well pleased to be moving, +where we have no house or home that you'll call a +house or a home. + +_Jester_: That's not so with those young princes. +Wouldn't you be well pleased if ye could change +places with them? (_He goes back to his corner_.) + +_4th Wrenboy_: They are lovely kind young +princes. I was near in dread they might set the +dogs at us. + +_5th Wrenboy_: They would do that if they +knew the Ogre had sent us to spy out the place +for him. + +_1st Wrenboy_: It failed us to see what he wanted +us to see. It is likely he will beat us, when we go +back, with his cat-o'-nine-tails. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: Wouldn't it be good if we could +do as that Jester was saying and change places with +those sons of kings! They that can lie in the +sunshine on soft pillows. + +_3rd Wrenboy_: They that can use food when they +ask it, and not have to wait till they can find it, +or steal it, or get it what way they can. + +_3rd Wrenboy_: And not to be waiting till you'll +hear a rabbit squealing, with the teeth of a weasel +in his neck. + +_4th Wrenboy_: And the weasel when you take +it to be spitting poison at you, the same as a serpent. + +_5th Wrenboy_: It would be a nice thing to be +eating sweet red apples in place of the green crabs. + +_1st Wrenboy_: Or to be maybe sucking marrow-bones. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: It is likely they are as airy and +as careless as the blackbird singing on the bush. + +_3rd Wrenboy_: It's likely they go following after +foxes on horses, having huntsmen and beagles at +their feet. + +_4th Wrenboy_: Or go out sporting and fowling +with their greyhound and with their gun. + +_5th Wrenboy_: Or matching fighting cocks. + +_1st Wrenboy_: It's likely they lead a gentleman's +life, card-playing and eating and drinking, and +racing with jockeys in speckled clothes. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: Their brooches were shining like +green fire, the same as a marten cat's eyes. They +have everything finer than another. + +_3rd Wrenboy_: Their faces as clean as a linen +sheet. Their hair as if combed with a silver comb. + +_4th Wrenboy_: There is no one to so much as +put a clean shirt on ourselves. + +_5th Wrenboy: (Rubbing his hand_.) I never +felt uneasy at the dirt that is grinted into me till +I saw them so nice. + +_1st Wrenboy_: That music they were playing +put me in mind of some far thing. It is dreamed +to me, and it is never leaving my mind, that there +is something I remember in the long ago ... +music in a house that was as bright as the moon, +or as the brightest night of stars. + +_5th Wrenboy_: Whisht! They are coming! + +(_The Princes come back_.) + +_1st Prince_: Here are coppers for you. + +_2nd Prince_: And white money. + +_3rd Prince_: And here is a piece of gold. + +_3rd Wrenboy_: We are thankful to you! We'll +bury the Wren in grand style now! + +_4th Prince_: Have you far to go? + +_1st Wrenboy_: Not very far if it was a straight +road. But it is through the forest we go, beyond +the lake. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: We will hardly be there before +the moon rises. + +_1st Prince_: Are you afraid in the night time? + +_2nd Wrenboy_: I am not. But I've seen a great +deal of strange things at that time. + +_2nd Prince_: What sort of things? + +_2nd Wrenboy_: Fairies you'd see. + +_3rd Prince_: Are there such things? + +_2nd Wrenboy_: One night I was attending a pot-still, +roasting oats for to make still-whiskey, and I +seen hares coming out of the wood, by fours and by +sixes, and they as thin as thin.... + +_3rd Wrenboy_: Hares are the biggest fairies of all. + +_4th Wrenboy_: And down by the sea _I_ met a +weasel bringing up a fish in his mouth from the +tide. And I often seen seals there, seals that are +enchanted and look like humans, and will hold up +a hand the same as a Christian. + +_5th Wrenboy_: I that saw a hedgehog running +up the side of a mountain as swift as a racehorse. + +_1st Wrenboy_: It's the moonlight is the only time! + +_1st Prince_: I never saw the moon but through +a window. + +_1st Wrenboy_: That's the time to go ramble. +_(He chants_.) +You'll see the crane in the water standing, +And never landing a fish, for fright, +For he can but shiver seeing in the river +His shadow shaking in the bright moonlight. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: +Or you may listen to the plover's whistle, +When high above him the wild geese screech; +Or the mallard flying, as the night is dying, +His neck out-stretched towards the salt sea beach. + +_3rd Wrenboy_: +When dawn discloses the oak and shows us +The wide sky whitening through the scanty ash, +High in the beeches the furry creatures, +Squirrel and marten lightly pass. + +_4th Wrenboy_: +The badger scurries to find his burrow +The rabbit hurries to hide underground. + +_5th Wrenboy_: +The pigeon rouses the thrush that drowses, +The woods awaken and the world goes round! + +_1st Wrenboy_: Come now, it's time to be taking +the road. Thank you, noble Gentlemen! That +you may be doing the same thing this day fifty years! +_(They go off playing fife and beating drum_.) + +_1st Prince_: I would nearly wish to be in their +place to go through the world at large. + +_2nd Prince_: They can go visit strange cities, +sailing in white-sailed ships. + +_3rd Prince_: They have no lessons to learn. + +_4th Prince_: No hours to keep. No clocks to +strike. + +_5th Prince_: No Lady Messengers coming to +show off to. + +_1st Prince_: They should be as merry as midges. + +_2nd Prince_: As free as the March wind. + +_3rd Prince_: I don't know how we stopped so +long shut up in this place. + +_4th Prince_: I would be nearly ready to change +places with them if such a thing were possible. + +_Jester: (Who has had his back to them comes +forward; the Princes stand on his right in a half +circle.)_ And why wouldn't you change? + +_5th Prince_: It is a thing not possible. + +_Jester_: I never could know the meaning of that +word "impossible." Where there's a will there's +a way. + +_1st Prince_: It seems to me like the sound of a +bell ringing a long way off, that I had leave at one +time to go here and there. + +_Jester_: If you are in earnest wanting to come to +that freedom again you will get it. + +_2nd Prince_: No, we would be followed and +brought back through kindness. + +_Jester_: If you have the strong wish to make +the change you can make it. + +_1st Prince_: I think I was never so much in +earnest in all my life. + +_(The Jester takes his pipe and plays a note +on it. The Wrenboys come back beating +their drum. They stand in a half circle +on Jester's left.)_ + +_Jester: (To all.)_ + + If it's true ye wish to change, + Some to have a wider range, + Some to have an easy life, + Some to rove into the wild, + If you do it, do it fast, + Do it while you have the chance. + +_Wrenboys: (Together.)_ We will change! We will! + +_Jester: (To Princes.)_ + + If you wish to leave your ease + And live wild and free like these + Like the fawn free and wild, + Not closed in as is a child, + Take your chance as it has come, + Let you run and run and run, + Where you'll get your joy and fun! + +_2nd Prince:_ They will know us, they will know us! + +_Jester:_ Change your clothes, change your clothes! + +_3rd Prince:_ They will know us every place. + +_Jester:_ Put their masks upon your face. + +_(Wrenboys give them the masks.)_ + + You never will be missed + For I will throw a dust + Before everybody's eye + That wants to look or pry + To see if you are here,-- + And if you should appear + To be someway strange or queer + They will think themselves are blind + Or confused in the mind! + +_(Throws a handful of dust over all the boys.)_ + + + Dust of Mullein, work your spell; + Keep the double secret well! + +_5th Prince: (To a Wrenboy.)_ + + Give me here your coat now fast + I don't want to be the last. + +_(They all rapidly change coats and caps.)_ + +_Jester:_ That will do, that is enough. + +_1st Wrenboy_: But my hands are very rough. + +_Jester_: + + Never mind; never mind, + The truth is hard to find! + +_Guardian: (Off stage.)_ Gillie, do as you are +told, shut the door, it's getting cold. + +_1st Prince_: Oh, I'm in dread! What will be +said! + +_2nd Prince_: I'd sooner stay in my old way! + +_Jester_: + + Never mind, never mind! + The truth is hard to find! + Keep steady. Are you ready? + +_1st Wrenboy_: I'll be ashamed if I am blamed. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: I have no grace or lovely face! + +_Jester: (To Princes.)_ Too late, too late! Go +out the gate! + +(_The Princes have taken up fife and drum. +They march out playing_.) + + +CURTAIN + + + + +ACT II + + + + +ACT II + + +SCENE I + +(_A front scene. A poor hut or tent, the +Princes are coming in slowly, some limping. +They are in Wrenboys' clothes and the +masks are in their hands_.) + +_1st Prince_: This should be the hut where the +Wrenboys told us to come. + +_2nd Prince_: It is a poor looking place. + +_3d Prince_: It is good to have any place to sit +down in for a while. My back is aching. + +_4th Prince_: My feet are all scratched and torn. +There are blisters rising. + +_5th Prince:_ I thought we would never come to +the end of the road. The stones by the lake were +so hard and so sharp. + +_1st Prince_: It was a root of a tree I fell over +that made these bruises on my knees. I was +watching a hawk that was still and quiet up in the +air, and when it made a swoop all of a sudden +I stumbled and fell. + +_2nd Prince_: It was in slipping where the rocks +are high I gave this twist to my arm. I can hardly +move it. + +_3rd Prince_: But wasn't the sight of the sunset +splendid over the lake? And the hills so blue! + +_4th Prince_: I like the tall trees best. I tried +to climb up one of them, but it was so smooth I +did but slip and fall. + +_1st Prince_: I would wish to walk as far as the +hills, and to have a view of the ocean that is beyond. + +_5th Prince_: I am hungry. I wonder where we +will get our supper. + +_4th Prince_: Not in this place, anyway, it must +be making ready in some big guesthouse. + +_3rd, Prince_: What will they give us, I wonder? + +_2nd Prince_: I wish we had in our hand what +they have ready for us at home. + +_1st Prince_: What use would it be to us? Do +you remember what we asked to be given, some +jellies and a few grapes? It is not that much +would satisfy me now. + +_2nd Prince_: Indeed it would not. I never felt +so sharp a hunger in my longest memory. + +_3rd Prince_: It is roasted meat I would wish for. + +_4th Prince_: There were pigeons in the tall +trees. They will maybe give us a pigeon pie. + +_5th Prince_: I would be content with a plate of +minced turkey with poached eggs. + +_1st Prince_: I would sooner have a roasted +chicken, with bread sauce. + +_2nd Prince_: Be quiet.... I think I hear someone +coming! _(Looks out.)_ + +_3rd Prince: (Looking out.)_ I see him. He is not +a right man ...he is very strange looking.... + +_4th Prince: (Looking out.)_ Oh! It is an Ogre! +A Grugach! + +_(All shrink back and hurriedly put on masks.)_ + +_Ogre: (Coming in: he wears a frightful mask, has +red hair and a cloak of rough skins and carries a +whip with many lashes_.) What makes ye late to-night, +ye young schemers? What was it delayed +ye? Lagging along the road. + +_1st Prince_: We came as fast as we could. It +was getting dusk in the wood. + +_Ogre_: Dusk, good morrow to you! I'll dusk +ye! I had a mind to go after ye and to change +myself into the form of a wolf, and catch a hold of +ye with my long sharp teeth! + +_2nd Prince_: We did not know there was any +great hurry. + +_Ogre_: There is always hurry when you are on +my messages. What did I bring you away from +your own house for and put ye on the shaughraun +for and keep ye wandering, if it was not to be +serviceable and helpful to myself. Show me now +what ye have in your pocket or your bag. + +_3rd Prince_: This is all we got in the bag. (_Holds +it out_.) It is but very little. + +_Ogre_: (_Turning it out and counting it_.) Coppers! +Silver! What is this? A piece of gold! Is that +what ye call little? What notions ye have! Take +care did ye keep any of it back! If ye did I'll +skin ye with the lash of my cat-o'-nine-tails. +(_Shakes it_.) + +_4th Prince_: That is all we got. It should maybe +pay for our supper in some place. + +_Ogre_: What supper? To go buy supper with +my money! It will go to add to my store of +treasure in the cave that is under ground. + +_5th Prince_: We are hungry, very hungry. When +will the supper be ready? + +_Ogre_: It will be ready whenever ye will ready +it for yourselves. Ye should know that by this time. + +_1st Prince_: We would make it ready if we were +acquainted with the way. + +_Ogre_: It is gone cracked ye are? What is it +ye are thinking to get for your supper? What +ailed ye that ye didn't climb a tree and suck a few +pigeon's eggs? + +_2nd Prince_: We were thinking of a pigeon pie. + +_Ogre_: A what!!! + +_2nd Prince_: A pigeon pie. + +_Ogre_: Hurry on then making your pigeon pie! +There are pigeons enough there in the corner, that +a hawk that is my carrier brought me in a while +ago. And there's a pike that was in the lake these +hundred years, an otter is after leaving at my door. + +_3rd Prince_: (_Taking a pigeon_.) I don't think +this is a right pigeon. + +_4th Prince_: Pigeons in a pie are not the pigeons +that have feathers. + +_5th Prince_: (_To Ogre_.) Please, sir, where can +we find pigeons without feathers, that are trussed +on a silver skewer? + +_Ogre_: Aye? What's that? + +_1st Prince_: Never mind. You'll anger him. +Maybe we can pull the feathers off these. I have +read of plucking a pigeon in our books. (_They +begin to pluck_.) + +_2nd Prince_: It is very hard work. + +_3rd Prince_: I never knew feathers could stick +in so hard. + +_4th Prince_: The more we pull out the more +there would seem to be left. + +_5th Prince_: It will be a feather pie we will be +getting in the end. + +_1st Prince_: (_Throwing it down_.) It is no use. +We might work at it to-day and to-morrow and be +no nearer to a finish. + +_2nd Prince_: The pike might be better. + +_3rd Prince_: It has no feathers anyway. + +_4th Prince_: (_Touching it_.) It is raw and bleeding! + +_5th Prince_: We might roast it. + +_1st Prince_: The fire is black out. + +_2nd Prince_: I wonder what way can we kindle it? + +_3rd Prince_: Better ask him. (_Points to Ogre_.) + +_2nd Prince_: Please, sir, what way can we kindle +the fire? + +_Ogre_: What! + +_4th Prince_: We would wish to light the fire. + +_Ogre_: Well, do so. + +_5th Prince_: If we had a box of matches.... + +_Ogre_: Matches! What are you talking about? +Matches won't be invented for the next seven +hundred years. + +_1st Prince_: What can we do then, we are starving +with hunger. + +_Ogre_: Let ye blow a breath upon a coal under +the ashes, and bring in small sticks from the wood. + +_2nd Prince_: (_Blowing_.) The ashes are choking me. + +_Ogre_: Very good. Then you'll put no delay +on me, waiting till you'll cook your supper. + +_3rd Prince_: Where can we get it then? + +_Ogre_: You'll go without it, as you were too +helpless to catch it, or to dress it, there's no one +will force you to eat it. + +_4th Prince_: If there is nothing for us to eat we +had best pass the time in sleep. + +_5th Prince_: I am all covered with ashes and +dirt. (_To Ogre_.) Please, where can I find a towel +and a piece of soap? + +_Ogre_: Soap! Is it bewitched ye are or demented +in the head? Did ever anyone hear of +soap unless of a Saturday night? Letting on to be +as dainty and as useless as those young princes +beyond, that are kept closed up in a tower of glass. +Come on now. If there is no food that suits you, +leave it. It is time for us to get to work. + +_1st Prince_: But it is bed-time. + +_Ogre_: Your bed-time is the time when I have +no more use for you. Don't you know I have +made a plan? What was it I sent you for, spying +out that place of the young princes? Wasn't it +to see where is it that treasure is kept, the golden-handled +sword of Justice that is used by the +Guardian when he turns Judge. + +_2nd Prince_: That is kept in the Courthouse. + +_Ogre_: That's right ...in what part of it? + +_3rd Prince_: What do you want it for? + +_Ogre_: I have it in my mind this long time to +get and to keep it in my cave under ground, along +with the rest of my treasures that are in charge of +my two enchanted cats. I have had near enough +of grubbing for gold with a pick in the clefts and +crannies of the earth. It is time for me to find +some rest, and get into my hand what is ready +worked and smelted and purified. We are going +to that Courthouse to-night. If we cannot get in +at the door, I will put ye in at the window and ye +can open the door to myself. I will find out +where the sword is, and away with us, and it in +my hand. + +_4th Prince_: But that would be stealing. + +_Ogre_: What else would it be? + +_4th Prince_: But that is wrong. It is against the law. + +_Ogre_: The law! That is the Judge's trade. +Breaking it is mine. + +_5th Prince_: Ask him for it and maybe he will +give it to you, he is so kind. + +_Ogre_: I'll take no charity! What I get I'll +earn by taking it. I would feel no pleasure it being +given to me, any more than a huntsman would +take pleasure being made a present of a dead fox, +in place of getting a run across country after it. +Come on now! We'll have the moon wasted. +We'll hardly get there before the dawn of day. + +_1st Prince_: Whatever time you get there the +Guardian will be awake. There is a cock of Denmark +perched on the curtain rod of his bed, +specially to waken him if there is any stir. + +_Ogre_: There is, is there? What a fool you +think me to be. Do you see that pot? + +_2nd Prince_: We do see it. + +_Ogre_: Look what there is in it. + +_3rd Prince_: Nothing but a few bare bones. + +_Ogre_: Well, that is all that is left of the Judge's +cock of Denmark, that was brought to me awhile +ago by a fox that is my messenger, and that I have +boiled and ate and devoured. + +_All the Princes_: O! O! O! + +_Ogre_: (_Cracking his whip_.) He was boiled in +the little pot. Come on now and lead the way, or +I give you my word it is in the big pot your own +bones will be making broth for my breakfast in the +morning! (_Cracks whip_.) Now, right about face! +Quick march! + +CURTAIN + + + + +SCENE II + +_(The Winter Garden, evening. The Servant +settling benches and a table.)_ + +_Guardian: (Coming in.)_ Are the Dowager +Messengers come? They are late. + +_Servant:_ They are come. They are at the +looking-glasses settling themselves. + +_Guardian:_ As soon as they are ready you will +call in the Princes for their examination before +them, and their tasks. + +_Servant:_ I will. + +_Guardian:_ The Messengers will have a good +report to bring back of them. They have come +to be good scholars, in poetry, in music, in languages, +in history, in numbers and all sorts. The +old Queen-Godmother will be well satisfied with +their report. + +_Servant:_ She might and she might not. + +_Guardian:_ They would be hard to please if they +are not well pleased with the lads, as to learning +and as to manners and behaviour. + +_Servant:_ Maybe so. Maybe so. There are +strange things in the world. + +_Guardian:_ You're in bad humour, my poor +Gillie. Have you been quarrelling with the cook, +or did you get up on the wrong side of your +bed? + +_Servant:_ There is times when it is hard not to +be in a bad humour. + +_Guardian:_ What are you grumbling and hinting at? + +_Servant:_ There's times when it's hard to believe +that witchcraft is gone out of the world. + +_Guardian:_ That is a thing that has been done +away with in this Island through my government, +and through enlightenment and through learning. + +_Servant:_ Maybe so. Maybe so. + +_Guardian:_ I suppose a three-legged chicken has +come out of the shell, or a magpie has come before +you in your path? Or maybe some token in the +stars? + +_Servant:_ It would take more than that to put +me astray. + +_Guardian:_ Whatever it is you had best tell it out. + +_Servant:_ To see lads of princes, sons of kings, +and the makings of kings, that were mannerly and +well behaved and as civil as a child a few hours +ago, to be sitting in a corner at one time as if in +dread of the light, and tricking and fooling and +grabbing at other times. + +_Guardian:_ Oh, is that all! The poor lads. +They're out of their habits because of their Godmother's +Messengers coming. They are making +merry and funning, thinking there might be +messages for them or presents. + +_Servant:_ Funning is natural. But blowing their +nose with their fingers is not natural. + +_Guardian:_ High spirits. Just to torment you +in their joy. + +_Servant:_ To get a bit of chalk, and to make +marks in the Hall of dancing, and to go playing +hop-scotch. + +_Guardian:_ High spirits, high spirits! I never +saw boys better behaved or more gentle or with +more sweetness of speech. I am thinking there is +not one among them but will earn the name of +Honey-mouth. + +_Servant:_ Have it your own way. But is it a +natural thing, I am asking, for the finger nails to +make great growth in one day? + +_Guardian:_ Stop, stop, be quiet. Here now are +the Dowager Messengers. _(Two old ladies in +travelling costume appear; bowing low to them.)_ +You are welcome for the sake of her that sent you, +and for your own sakes. + +_1st Dowager Messenger:_ We are come from the +Court of the Godmother Queen, for news of the +Princes now in your charge; + +She hopes they have manners, are minded well, +and never let run at large; + +For she never has yet got over the fret, of their +five little cousins were swept away. + +_Guardian:_ Let your mind be at ease, for you'll +be well pleased with the youngsters you're going +to see to-day. + +They're learning the laws to speak and to pause--may +be orators then, or Parliament men. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger:_ Are they shielded from +harm? + +_Guardian:_ + +In my sheltering arm; +Do their work and their play in a mannerly way +And go holding their nose, and tipped on their +toes, +If they pass through a street, that they'll not soil +their feet. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: And next to good +manners and next to good looks ... + +_Guardian_: +I know what you'll say ...she asks news of the cooks; +I'm with her in putting them equal to books; +There's some rule by coaxing and some rule by beating, +But my principle is, tempt them on with good eating. +When everything's said, isn't Sparta as dead +As many a place never heard of black bread? +And as to a lad who a tartlet refuses,-- +If Cato stewed parsnips he hated the Muses! + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: And at meals are they +taught to behave as they ought? + +_Guardian_: +You'll be well satisfied and the Queen will have pride, +You will see every Prince use a fork with his mince, +And eating his peas like Alcibiades, +Who would sooner go mute than play on the flute +Lest it made him grimace and contorted his face. + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: Oh, all that you say +delights us to-day! + +We'll have good news to bring of these sons of +a king. + +_Servant_: Here they are now coming. + +(_Wrenboys in Princes' clothes come in awkwardly_.) + +_Guardian_: +Now put out a chair. +Where these ladies may hear. +Come over, my boys ...(Now what is that noise?) +Come here, take your places, and show us your +faces, +And say out your task as these ladies will ask. +I would wish them to know how you say _Parlez-vous_, +And I'd like you to speak in original Greek +And make numeration, and add up valuation; +But to lead you with ease and on by degrees +In case you are shy in the visitors' eye +I will let you recite, as you easily might, +The kings of that Island that no longer are silent +But ask recognition and to take a position-- +(Though if stories are true they ran about blue, +While we in Hy-Brasil wore our silks to a frazzle--) +So the rhymes you may say that I heard you to-day; +And the opening will fall on the youngest of all. + +_Servant:_ Let you stand up now and do as you +are bid. _(Touches 5th Wrenboy_.) + +_Guardian:_ Go on, my child, say out your lesson. +William the First as the Conqueror known.... +_(Boy puts finger in mouth and hangs his head.)_ +Ah, he is shy. Don't be affrighted, go on now; +don't you remember it? + +_5th Wrenboy:_ I do not. + +_Guardian:_ Try it again now. You said it off +quite well this morning. + +_5th Wrenboy:_ It fails me. + +_Guardian:_ Now I will give you a start: "William +the First as the Conqueror known, +At the Battle of Hastings ascended the throne +..." Say that now. + +_5th Wrenboy: (Nudging 4th.)_ Let you word it. + +_4th Wrenboy: (To Guardian.)_ Let you word it +again, sir. + +_Guardian_: "William the First as the Conqueror +known." + +_4th Wrenboy_: William the First as the congereel +known.... + +_Guardian_: What is that? You would not do +it to vex me! Gillie is maybe right. There is +something strange.... (_To another_.) You may +try now. Go on to the next verse. "William +called Rufus from having red hair." ..._(He does +not answer_.) Say it anyone who knows.... + +_3rd Wrenboy: (Putting up his hand_.) I know +a man that has red hair! + +_All the Wrenboys: (Cheerfully)_ So do I! So +do I! + +_2nd Wrenboy_: He lives in the wood beyond! +He is no way good! He is an Ogre, a Grugach.... + +_1st Wrenboy_: He can turn himself into the shape +of a beast, or he can change his face at any time; +sometimes he'll be that wicked you would think +he was a wolf; he would skin you with his cat-o'-nine-tails! + +_Guardian_: What gibberish are you talking? + +_2nd Wrenboy_: He goes working underground to +get gold! + +_3rd Wrenboy_: It is minded by enchanted cats! + +_4th Wrenboy_: They would tear in bits anyone +that would find it! + +_Guardian_: Now take care, lads, this is carrying +a joke too far. I was wrong to begin with that +silly history. Tell me out now the parts of speech. + + "A noun's the name of anything + As school or garden, hoop or swing." + +_5th Wrenboy_: An owl's the name of anything.... + +_Guardian_: A _noun_. + +_5th Wrenboy_: An _owl_. + +_Guardian_: Don't pretend you don't know it. + +_5th Wrenboy_: I do know it. I know an owl +that sits in the cleft of the hollow sycamore and +eats its fill of mice, till it can hardly put a stir +out of itself. + +_Guardian_: I do wish you would stop talking +nonsense. + +_1st Wrenboy_: It is not, but sense. It devoured +ere yesterday a whole fleet of young rats. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: It's as wise as King Solomon. + +_Guardian_: Gillie was right. There is surely +something gone wrong in their heads. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: Go out yourself and you'll see are +we wrong in the head! Inside in the old sycamore +he is sitting through the daylight. + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: There is something gone +wrong in _somebody's_ head. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: (_Tapping her forehead_.) +The poor Guardian; he is too long past his youth. +It is well we came to look how things were going +before it is too late. + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: Ask them to say something +they _do_ know. + +_Guardian_: Here, you're good at arithmetic, say +now your numbers. + +_1st Wrenboy_: Twelve coppers make a shilling. +I never handled more than that. + +_Guardian_: (_Angrily_.) Well, do as the lady said, +tell us something you _do_ know. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: (_Standing up, excited_.) I know +the way to make bird-lime, steeping willow rods in +the stream.... + +_3rd Wrenboy_: I know how to use my fists; I +knocked a tinker bigger than myself. + +_4th Wrenboy_: I am the best at wrestling. I +knocked _him_self. (_Pointing at 3rd_.) + +_5th Wrenboy_: I that can skin a fawn after +catching him running! + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_. Where now did you get +that learning? + +_5th Wrenboy_: Here and there, rambling the +woods, sleeping out at night. I would never +starve in any place where grass grows! + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: This is worse than +neglect. The poor old Guardian the Queen put +her trust in must be in his dotage. + +_Guardian_: (_Hastily_.) Here, there is at least one +thing you will not fail in. Take the harp (_hands +it to the 1st Wrenboy_) and draw out of it sweet +sounds, (_To Dowager Messengers_.) He can play +a tune so sweet it has been known to send all the +hearers into a sound sleep. Here now, touch the +strings with all your skill. + +(_1st Wrenboy bangs harp, making a crash_.) + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: (_With hands to ears_.) +Mercy! Our poor ears! + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: That is the poorest +music we have ever heard. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: That sound would send +no one into their sleep. It would be more likely +to send them into Bedlam. + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: Whatever they knew +last year, they have forgotten it all now. + +_Guardian_: (_Weeping into his handkerchief_.) I +don't know what has come upon them! At noon +they were the most charming lads in the whole +world. Their memory seems to have left +them! + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: It is as if another +memory had come to them. They did not learn +those wild tricks shut up in the garden. + +_Servant: (To Boys_.) Can't ye behave nice and +not ugly? _(To Guardian_.) You would not believe +me a while ago. I said and I say still there is +enchantment on them, and spells. + +_Guardian_: Oh, I would be sorry to think such +a thing. But they never went on this way in their +greenest youth. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: If there is a spell upon +them what way can it be taken off? + +_Servant_: It is what I always heard, that to make +a rod of iron red in the fire, and to burn the enchantment +out of them is the only way. + +_Guardian_: Oh, boys, do you hear that! You +would not like to be burned with a red hot rod! +Say out now what at all is the matter with you? +What is it you feel within you that is putting you +from your gentle ways? + +_1st Wrenboy_: The thing that I feel in me is +hunger. The thing I would wish to feel inside me +is a good fistful of food. + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: They have been starved +and stinted! It would kill their Godmother on +the moment if she was aware of that! + +_Guardian_: It is a part of their playgame. They +have everything they ask. + +_2nd Wrenboy: I_ did not eat a farthing's worth +since yesterday. + +_3rd Wrenboy_: My teeth are rusty with the want +of food! + +_4th Wrenboy_: I want some dinner! + +_5th Wrenboy_: We want something to eat! + +_Guardian_: Give them whatever you have ready +for them, Gillie. + +_Servant: (Giving the plates.)_ Here is the supper +ye gave orders for this morning. + +_1st Wrenboy_: What is it at all? + +_Servant_: It is your choice thing. Jellies and +grapes from Spain. + +_2nd Wrenboy: (Pushing away grapes)_ Berries! +I thought to get better than berries from the bush. + +_3rd Wrenboy_: There's not much satisfaction in +berries! + +_4th Wrenboy_: If it was a pig's foot now; or as +much as a potato with a bit of dripping. + +_5th Wrenboy: (Looking at jelly.)_ What now is +this? It has like the appearance of frog spawn. + +_1st Wrenboy_; Or the leavings of a fallen star. + +_5th Wrenboy_: Shivering it is and shaking. It's +not natural! (_Drops his plate_.) + +_4th Wrenboy_: There is nothing here to satisfy +our need. + +_2nd. Dowager Messenger:_ I am nearly sorry for +them, poor youngsters. When they were but little +toddlers they never behaved like that at home. + +_3rd Wrenboy_: It's the starvingest place ever I +was in! + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: There must be something +in what they say. They would not ask for +food if they were not in need of it. And the +Guardian making so much talk about his table and +his cooks. We cannot go home and report that +they have no learning and no food. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: As to learning I don't +mind. But as to food, I would not wish to leave +them without it for the night. They might be as +small as cats in the morning. + +_Guardian_: They are dreaming when they say +they are in want of food. + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: It is a dream that will +waken up their Godmother. + +_Servant_: Look, ma'am, at the table behind you, +and you will see is this a scarce house! That is +what is set out for yourselves, ma'am, lobsters +from Aughanish! A fat turkey from the barley +gardens! A spiced and larded sucking pig! Cakes +and sweets and all sorts! It is not the want of +provision was ever brought against us up to this! + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: If all this is for us, we +would sooner give it up to those poor children. + +(_To Wrenboys_.) Here, my dears, we will not eat +while you are in want of food. We will give it all +to you. + +_1st Wrenboy_: Is it that we can have what is on +that table? + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: You may, and welcome. + +_1st Wrenboy: (With a shout.)_ Do you hear +that news! Come on now. Take your chance! +I'll have the first start! Skib scab! Hip, hip, +hooray! + +(_They rush at table and upset it, flinging +themselves on the food_) + +CURTAIN + + + + +ACT III + + + + +ACT III + + +_The Hall of Justice. It is nearly dawn. The last +of the Princes is getting in through the window. +They are wearing their masks_. + +_Ogre: (Outside door to left.)_ Open now the door +for myself. + +_1st Prince_: No, we will get rid of him now. Let +the Grugach stay outside. + +_2nd Prince_: That will be best. He cannot +break the bars of this door, or get round over the +high wall to the door on the other side. + +_3rd Prince_: I am sore with the blows he put on +us, driving us before him through the wood. + +_4th Prince_: Let us call to the Guardian, and let +him deal with him. He can bring his foot soldiers +and his guns. + +_5th Prince_: A villain that Ogre is and a thief, +wanting to steal away the golden-handled sword. +But we would not tell him where it was, and he +never will find it under the step of the Judge's +chair. (_Lifts top of step, takes out sword and puts it +back again_.) + +_Ogre: (Outside.)_ Are ye going to open the door? + +_1st Prince_: It is a great thing to have that +strong door between us. + +_2nd Prince_: Take care would he break it in. + +_3rd Prince_: No fear. It would make too much +noise. It would bring every person in the house +running. + +_4th Prince_: Let us go quick and call the +Guardian. + +_5th Prince_: What will he _say_ seeing us in these +clothes? He will be vexed with us. + +_1st Prince_: It was folly of us running away. +But he will forgive us, knowing it will teach us +better sense. + +_2nd Prince_: Come to him then, I don't mind +what he will do to us so long as we are safe from +the terrible Grugach of an Ogre. (_All go to right +door, it opens and Ogre bursts in_.) + +_Ogre_: Ye thought to deceive me, did ye? Ye +thought to bar me out and to keep me out? And +I after minding you and caring you these seven +years! + +_3rd Prince_: What way did you get in? + +_Ogre_: It's easy for me to get in any place. If +I had a mind I could turn into a house fly and come +through the lockhole of the door. It's much if I +don't change the whole lot of ye into small birds, +and myself to a hawk going through you! Or, into +frightened mice, and I myself into a starving cat! +It's much if I don't skin you with this whip, and +grind your bones as fine as rape seed! + +_4th Prince_: I will call for help! (_Tries to shout_.) + +_Ogre: (Putting hand over his mouth and lifting +whip.)_ Shout now and welcome, and it is bare +bones will be left of you! If it wasn't that I need +you to search out the golden-handled sword for me +I'd throttle the whole of ye as easy as I'd squeeze +an egg! Come on now! Show me where the +treasure is hid. + +_5th Prince_: How would we know? + +_Ogre_: Didn't I send ye spying it out, and if it +fails ye to make it out, I'll boil and bake you! + +_1st Prince: (Looking about and pointing to end +of room_.) It might be there. + +_Ogre_: What way would it be on the bare floor? +Search it out. + +_2nd Prince: (Looking under a bench_.) It might +be here. + +_Ogre_: It is not there. + +_3rd Prince: (Looking up chimney_?) This would +be a good hiding-place. + +_Ogre: (Looks up_.) There is nothing in it, only +an old nest of a jackdaw,--a bundle of bare twigs. +Trying to deceive me you are and to lead me astray. + +_4th Prince_: It might be on the shelf. + +_Ogre_: Stop your chat unless you have something +worth saying. + +_5th Prince: (Sitting down on step under which +sword is hidden_.) Are you certain there is any +treasure at all? + +_Ogre_: You are humbugging and making a fool +of me! _(Lashes whip and seizes him_.) Get up +now out of that! _(Drags him up and taps board.) +_ There is a hollow sort of a sound.... That is +a sort of place where a treasure might be hid. +_(Drags up board_.) I see something shining. _(Pulls +out sword_.) Oh, it is a lovely sword! And the +handle of pure gold. The best I ever seen! + +_1st Prince: (To the others_.) I'll make a run now +and call out and awaken all in the house! _(Is going +towards door_.) + +_Ogre: (Seizing him_.) You'd make your escape +would you? + +_1st Prince: (Calling out_.) Ring the big bell, +ring the bell! I forgot it till now. + +(_They pull a bell-rope and bell is beard clanging_.) + +_Ogre: (Rushing at them as they ring it_.) I'll stop +that! + +_(Voices are heard, at door to right. Ogre rushes to other door_.) + +_2nd Prince_: I'll get the sword from him. _(Snatches +it away as Ogre is rushing at him. Servant and +Guardian come in_.) + +_Guardian_: What is going on! (_Blows a whistle_.) +Here, soldiers of the guard! + +_(Feet are heard marching and bugle blowing at +left door. Ogre rapidly slips off his mask, +and appears as a harmless old man.)_ + +_Guardian:_ Thieves! Robbers! Burglars! +Here, soldiers, surround the place; who are these +ruffians? Murder! Robbery! Fire! + +_(Two soldiers come in_.) + +_Servant_: They are the very same youngsters +were at our door this morning, doing their play; +those Wrenboys! + +_Guardian_: They are thieves. There is one of +them bringing away my gold-handled sword. _(He +and Servant seize sword_.) + +_Ogre: (Coming forward and bowing low_.) It +is time for you to come, your honour my lordship! +I am proud to see you coming! It was I myself +that rang the bell and that called and awakened +you, where I would not like to see the place robbed +and left bare by these scum of the world! + +_All the Princes_: Oh! Oh! Oh! + +_Guardian_: What have you to do with it? +Where do you come from? + +_Ogre_: An honest poor man I am.... + +_Servant_: You have a queer wild sort of a +dress. + +_Ogre_: Making a living I do be, dressing up as a +hobgoblin and a bogey man to get an odd copper +from a mother here and there, would be wishful to +frighten a stubborn child from bawling or from +tricks. Passing the door I was, and hearing a noise +I looked in, and these young villains were after +rising a board and taking out that sword you seen +in their hands. It is then that I made a clamour +with the bell. + +(_Princes laugh_.) + +_Guardian_: Who are they at all? + +_Ogre_: It is I myself say it; they are the terror +of the whole district. + +_1st Prince_: You may save your breath and stop +that talk. This gentleman knows us well. He +knows us and will recognise us. + +_Guardian_: I do recognise you. I saw you but +yesterday. + +_2nd Prince_: There now, what do you say? + +_Guardian_: You are those vagabond Wrenboys +that came tricking and begging to my gate. + +_Princes_: Oh! Oh! Oh! + +_Ogre_: That's it! Spying round they were! +Thinking to do a robbery! Robbery they're after +doing! + +_3rd Prince_: We were doing no such thing! + +_Guardian_: You were! I stopped you making +off with my sword of Justice. + +_Ogre_: If it wasn't for me hindering them they +would have it swept. + +_Guardian_: That was very honest of you. + +_4th Prince_: (_Rushing at Ogre_.) It is you that +are a rogue and a thief! + +_Other Princes_: Throw him down while we have +the chance. (_They surround him_.) + +_Guardian_: Silence! Don't make that disturbance! +I felt a suspicion yesterday the first +time I saw your faces there was villainy hidden +beneath the dust that was on your cheeks. + +_4th Prince_: Listen to us, listen! + +_Guardian_: And whatever I thought then, you +are seventeen times more wicked looking now! +And the very scum of the roads! + +_5th Prince_: Oh, have you forgotten your +nurslings! + +_Guardian: It_ is well you reminded me of them. +(_To Servant_.) Go now and bring the young Princes +here till they will see justice done! They are +maybe gone a bit wild and foolish since yesterday, +put out by those Dowager Messengers. But whatever +they were at their worst, they are King George +compared with these! + +_1st Prince_: You _must_ listen! + +_Guardian_: Must! What is that language! +That is a word was never said to me since I was +made the Queen's Chamberlain. Here! Put a +gag upon their mouths! (_Soldiers do so, tying a +handkerchief on mouth of each_.) Tie their hands +behind them with ropes. (_This is done_.) Rapscallions! +Do they think to terrify and command me! +I that am not only Governor of the Island but am +Supreme Judge whenever I come into this Court. + +_Ogre_: That is very good and very right! Keep +the gag in their mouth! You wouldn't like to be +listening to the things they were saying a while +ago! They were giving out great impudence and +very disrespectful talk! + +_Guardian_: Give me here my Judge's wig and +my gown! (_Puts them on_.) Where now are the +young Princes? + +_Servant_: They are coming now. + +_Guardian_: It will be a great help in their education +seeing justice done by me, as straight as was +ever done by Aristides. Give me here that book of +punishments and rewards. I'll see what is bad +enough for these lads! (_He consults book_.) + +_Servant_: Here now are the Princes. + +_(Wrenboys come in wearing Princes' clothes_) + +_1st Wrenboy: (To another_) Do you see who it +is that is in it? + +_2nd Wrenboy_: It is the young Princes in our +clothes! + +_3rd Wrenboy_: What in the world wide brought +them here? Believe me it was through some +villainy of the Grugach. + +_4th Wrenboy_: What at all has happened? + +_5th Wrenboy_: Go ask them what it was brought +them, or what they came doing. + +_1st Wrenboy: (To Princes_) What is it brought +you here so soon? + +(_Princes shake their heads_) + +_2nd Wrenboy: (Coming back_) There is a gag +on their mouths! + +_3rd Wrenboy: (Going and looking_) Their hands +are tied with a rope. + +_4th Wrenboy_: They had not the wit to stand +against the Grugach; it is not long till they were +brought to trouble. + +_5th Wrenboy_: It was seventeen times worse +for them to be under him than for ourselves that +was used to him, and to his cruelty and his ways. + +_1st Wrenboy_: It was bad enough for ourselves. +We were not built for roguery. + +(_The Dowager Messengers rushing in_.) + +_Dowager Messengers: (Together.)_ What is going +on? What has happened? + +_Guardian_: What you see before you has happened. +Those young thieves came to try and to +rob the house. They were found by myself in the +very act of bringing away my golden-handled +sword! They were stopped by this honest man. +(_Points to Ogre_.) + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: There would seem to be +a great deal of wickedness around this place! + +_Guardian_: I'll put a stop to it! I'll use my +rights as Judge! To have that sort of villainy +running through the Island, it would come through +walls of glass or of marble, and lead away the best. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: There must be something +gone wrong in the stars, our own young +princes having gone wild out of measure, and these +young vagabonds doing no less than house-breaking! +It is hard to live! + +_Ogre_: Indeed, ma'am, it would be a great blessing +to the world if all the boys in it could be born +grown up. + +_Guardian: (Sighing_.) I, myself, am beginning +to have that same opinion. + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: And so am I myself. +Young men have strength and beauty, and old +men have knowledge and wisdom, but as to boys! +After what we saw a while ago in the supper +room! + +_Servant_: The Court is about to sit! Take your +places! + +_(Wrenboys make for the dock and Princes the +jury-box.)_ + +_Guardian_: What do you mean, prisoners, going +up there, that is the place for honourable men! +For a jury! It is here in the criminals' dock your +place is. + +_Servant: (To Wrenboys_.) Oh, that is the wrong +place you're in. That is for the wicked and the +poor that are brought to be tried and condemned. + +_1st Wrenboy_: It is a place the like of that I was +put one time I was charged before a magistrate +for snaring rabbits. + +_Servant_: Silence in the Court. The Judge is +about to speak. + +_Guardian: (Reading out of book.)_ +It's laid down in a clause of the Cretian laws, +That were put through a filter by Solon, +That for theft the first time, though a capital crime +A criminal may keep his poll on. +Though _(consults another book_) some jurists believe +That a wretch who can thieve, +Has earned a full stop, not a colon. + +_Ogre_: That was said by a better than Solon. + +_Guardian_: +And the book says in sum, to cut off the left thumb, +May be penalty enough for a warning; +Though _(looks at another book_) the Commentors say +That one let off that way +Will be thieving again before morning. + +_Ogre_: So he will, and the jury suborning. + +_Guardian:_ +For the second offence, as the crime's more immense, +Take the thumb off the _right_ hand instead; +And the third time he'll steal, without any appeal, +The hangman's to whip off his head. + +_Ogre_: +Very right to do so, for a thief as we know, +Isn't likely to steal when he's dead. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: +You won't order the worst, as this crime is the first, +It's a pity if they have to swing. + +_Guardian_: +In the Commentors' sense, a _primal_ offence +Is as much an impossible thing +As a stream without source, a blow struck without +force, +Or leaves without roots in the spring. + +_Ogre_: Or a catapult wanting a sling. + +_Guardian_: +But although this case is proved on its face +To be what is called _a priori_ +I cannot refuse to consider the views +Of the amiable lady before me. _(Bows to 2nd +Dowager Messenger.)_ +In compliance to her I am ready to err +On the side that she leans to, of mercy, +For she has a kind tongue, and the prisoners are +young; +But that they may not live to curse me, +I give out my decree, the _left_ thumb shall be +Kept in Court till the next time they'll come. +And now if you please let whoever agrees +With my pledge turn down his own thumb. + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: It is very just and right. +(_Turns down hers_.) + +_Ogre_: You're letting them off too easy. They're +a bad example to the world. But to take the +thumb off them is better than nothing! _(Turns +down both his thumbs.)_ + +_Guardian: (To Wrenboys.)_ Well, my dear pupils, +I don't see you turn down your thumbs. + +_1st Wrenboy_: We cannot do it. _(They cover +their faces with their hands.)_ + +_Ogre_: Get on so. I never saw the work I'd +sooner do than checking youngsters! + +_Guardian_: Where is the Executioner? + +_Servant_: I sent seeking him a while ago, thinking +he might be needed. + +_Guardian_: Bring him in. + +_Servant_: He is not in it. There was so little +business for him this long time under your own +peaceable rule, that he is after leaving us, and +taking a job in a slaughter house out in foreign. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: Maybe that is a token +we should let them off. + +_Ogre: (Briskly.)_ I am willing to be useful; give +me here a knife or a hatchet! + +_Servant: (To Ogre.)_ You need not be pushing +yourself forward. _(To Guardian.)_ There is a +stranger of an Executioner chanced to be passing +the road, just as I sent out, and he looking for +work. He said he would do the job for a four-penny +bit and his dinner, that he is sitting down +to now. + +_Guardian: (Sitting up straight and taking up sword.)_ + + Bring him in quick. It often seems a curious thing that I, + Who in my ordinary clothes would hardly hurt a fly, + Hold to the rigour of the law when I put on gown and wig, + As if for mere humanity I didn't care a fig. + For once I'm seated on the bench I do not shrink or flinch + From the reddest laws of Draco, or the practice of Judge Lynch. + +_Servant: (At door.)_ Here he is now. + +_(Jester comes in, disguised as Executioner, a +long cloak with hood over his head.)_ + +_Guardian_: Here is the sword _(hands it to him +and reads)_, "In case of the first act of theft the +left thumb is to be struck off." There are the +criminals before you. That is what you have to do. + +_Jester: (Taking the sword.)_ Stretch out your +hands! There is hurry on me. I was sitting at +the dinner I engaged for. I was called away from +the first mouthful, and I would wish to go back +to the second mouthful that is getting cold. + +_Guardian: (Relenting.)_ Maybe now the fright +would be enough to keep them from crimes from +this out. They are but young. + +_Jester: (To Princes.)_ Don't be keeping me +waiting! Put out now your hands. _(They shake +their heads.)_ + +_Servant_: They cannot do that, being bound. + +_Jester_: If you will not stretch out your hands +when I ask you, I will strike off your heads without +asking! _(Flourishes sword.)_ + +_Guardian: (Standing up.)_ I did not empower +you to go so far as that! It is without my +authority! + +_Jester_: You have given over the power of the +law to the power of the sword. It must take its way! + +_Guardian_: I will not give in to that! I have +all authority here! + +_Jester_: If you grow wicked with the Judge's +wig on your head, so do I with this sword in my +hand! You called me in to do a certain business +and I am going to do it! I am not going to get a +bad name put on me for breach of contract! If +a labourer is given piece work cutting thistles with +a hook he is given leave to do it, or a rat catcher +doing away with vermin in the same way! He +is not bid after his trouble to let them go loose out +of his bag! And why would an Executioner that +is higher again in the profession be checked. Isn't +my pride in my work the same as theirs? And +along with that, let me tell you I belong to a +Trades Union! + +_(Guardian moans and covers his face.)_ + +_(To the Princes.)_ Kneel down now! Where you +kept me so long waiting and that the Judge attempted +to interfere with me, I have my mind +made up to make an end of you! _(Holds up sword.)_ + +_1st Wrenboy: (Rushing forward and putting his +arms about Prince.)_ You must not touch him! +These lads never did any harm! + +_2nd Wrenboy: (Protecting a Prince.)_ It is we +ourselves are to be punished if anyone must be +punished. + +_3d Wrenboy_: They are innocent whoever is to +blame. + +_Jester_: Take their place so! Someone must be +put an end to. + +_(All the Wrenboys kneel.)_ + +_1st Wrenboy_: Here we are so. We changed +places with them for our own pleasure, thinking +to lead a prince's life, and if there is anyone must +suffer by reason of that change let it be ourselves. + +_Jester_: I'll take off their gags so and let them free. + +_(He cuts cord of gags and hands, then throws +some dust over all boys as before, saying):_ + + Dust of Mullein leave the eyes + You made fail to recognise + Princes in their poor disguise; + Princes all, had men clear eyes! + +_(The Princes throw off their masks.)_ + +_1st Prince_: It is all a mistake! Oh, Guardian, +don't you know now that we are your murslings +and your wards! Look at the royal mark upon +our arm, that we brought with us into the world. +_(They turn up sleeves and show their arms.)_ + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: I am satisfied without +looking at the royal sign. I have been looking at +their finger nails. Those other nails _(pointing to +Wrenboys)_ have never been touched with a soapy +brush. + +_2nd Prince_: It is strange you did not recognise +us. It was that Jester yesterday when we changed +our coats that threw a dust of disguise between you +and us. + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: Was it that these lads +robbed you of your clothes? + +_3d. Prince_: Not at all. + +_4th Prince_: We ourselves that were discontented +and wishful to change places with them. + +_Guardian_: A very foolish thing, and that I have +never read of in any of my histories. + +_5th Prince_: We were the first to wish the change. +It is we should be blamed. + +_5th Wrenboy_: No, but put the blame on us! +The Wrenboys you seen yesterday. + +_Guardian_: Ah, be quiet, how do I know who +you are, or if ever I saw you before! My poor +head is going round and round. + +_1st Wrenboy_: Now do you know us! _(All recite +"The Wren, the Wren, the King of All Birds." Give +first verse.)_ + +_Guardian: (Stopping his ears.)_ Oh, stop it! +That makes my poor head worse again. + +_2nd Wrenboy: (Pulling up sleeve.)_ If you had +chanced to see our right arm you would recognise +us. We were not without bringing a mark into +the world with us, if it is not royal itself. + +_(Wrenboys strip their arms.)_ + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: What is he talking +about? _(Seizes arm and looks at it.)_ + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: It is the same mark as +is on the princes, the sign and token of a King! + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: It is certain these must +be their five little royal cousins, that were stolen +away from the coast. + +_1st Wrenboy_: If we were brought away it was +by that Grugach that has kept us in his service +through the years. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger_: It is no wonder they +took to one another. It was easy to know by the +way they behaved they had in them royal blood. + +_(The Boys turn to each other, the Ogre is +slipping out.)_ + +_Jester: (Throwing off his cloak and showing his +green ragged clothes.)_ Stop where you are! + +_Ogre_: Do your best! You cannot hinder me! +I have spells could change the whole of ye to a +cairn of grey stones! _(Makes signs with his hands.)_ + +_Jester: (In a terrible voice.)_ Are you thinking +to try your spells against _mine_? + +_Ogre: (Trembling and falling on his knees.)_ Oh, +spare me! Hold your hand! Do not use against +me your spells of life and death! I know you +now! I know you well through your ragged dress! +What are my spells beside yours? You the great +Master of all magic and all enchantments, Manannan, +Son of the Sea! + +_Jester_: Yes, I am Manannan, that men are apt +to call a Jester and a Fool, and a Disturber, and a +Mischief-maker, upsetting the order of the world +and making confusion in its order and its ways. +_(Recites or sings.)_ + + For when I see a master + Hold back his hireling's fee + I shake my pepper castor + Into his sweetened tea! + + And when I see a plan make + The Birds that watch us frown, + I come and toss the pancake + And turn it upside down! + + In this I follow after + Lycurgus who was wise; + To the little god of laughter + I make my sacrifice! + +And now here is my word of command! Everyone +into his right place! + +_Ogre_: Spare me! Let me go this time! + +_Jester_: Go out now! I will not bring a blemish +on this sword by striking off your ugly head. But +as you have been through seven years an enemy +to these young boys, keeping them in ignorance +and dirt, they that are sons of a king, I cross and +command you to go groping through holes and dirt +and darkness through three times seven years in +the shape of a rat, with every boy, high or low, +gentle or simple, your pursuer and your enemy. +And along with that I would recommend you to +keep out of the way of your own enchanted cats! + +_(Ogre gives a squeal and creeps away on all fours.)_ + +_Guardian_: I think I will give up business and +go back to my old trade of Chamberlain and of +shutting out draughts from the Court. The +weight of years is coming on me, and it is time for +me to set my mind to some quiet path. + +_1st Dowager Messenger_: Come home with us +so, and help us to attend to our cats, that they will +be able to destroy the rats of the world. + +_2nd Dowager Messenger: (To Princes.)_ It is best +for you come to your Godmother's Court, as your +Guardian is showing the way. + +_1st Prince_: We may come and give news of our +doings at the end of a year and a day. + +But now we will go with our comrades to learn +their work and their play. + +_2nd Prince_: For lying on silken cushions, or +stretched on a feathery bed. + +We would long again for the path by the lake, +and the wild swans overhead. + +_3d Prince_: Till we'll harden our bodies with +wrestling and get courage to stand in a fight. + +_4th Prince_: And not to be blind in the woods +or in dread of the darkness of night. + +_1st Wrenboy_: And we who are ignorant blockheads, +and never were reared to know +The art of the languaged poets, it's along with +you we will go. + +_5th Prince_: Come show us the wisdom of woods, +and the way to outrun the wild deer, +Till we'll harden our minds with courage, and +be masters of hardship and fear. + +_2nd Wrenboy_: But you are candles of knowledge, +and we'll give you no ease or peace, +Till you'll learn us manners and music, and news +of the Wars of Greece. + +_1st Prince_: Come on, we will help one another, +and going together we'll find, +Joy with those great companions, Earth, Water, +Fire, and Wind. _(They join hands.)_ + +_Jester_: It's likely you'll do great actions, for +there is an ancient word, +That comradeship is better than the parting of +the sword, +And that if ever two natures should join and +grow into one, +They will do more together than the world has +ever done. +So now I've ended my business, and I'll go, for +my road is long, +But be sure the Jester will find you out, if ever +things go wrong! + +_(He goes off singing.)_ + + And so I follow after + Lycurgus who was wise; + To the little god of laughter + I pay my sacrifice! + +CURTAIN + + + + +NOTES FOR THE JESTER + +I was asked one Christmas by a little schoolboy to write +a play that could be acted at school; and in looking for +a subject my memory went back to a story I had read in +childhood called "The Discontented Children," where, +though I forget its incidents, the gamekeeper's children +changed places for a while with the children of the Squire, +and I thought I might write something on these lines. +But my mind soon went miching as our people (and +Shakespeare) would say, and broke through the English +hedges into the unbounded wonder-world. Yet it did +not quite run out of reach of human types, for having found +some almost illegible notes, I see that at the first appearance +of Manannan I had put in brackets the initials "G.B.S." +And looking now at the story of that Great Jester, in the +history of the ancient gods, I see that for all his quips and +mischief and "tricks and wonders," he came when he +was needed to the help of Finn and the Fianna, and gave +good teaching to the boy-hero, Cuchulain; and I read +also that "all the food he would use would be a vessel of +sour milk or a few crab-apples. And there never was any +music sweeter than the music he used to be playing." + +I have without leave borrowed a phrase from "The +Candle of Vision," written by my liberal fellow-countryman, +A.E., where he says, "I felt at times as one raised from +the dead, made virginal and pure, who renews exquisite +intimacies with the divine companions, with Earth, Water, +Air, and Fire." And I think he will forgive me for quoting +another passage now from the same book, for I think it +must have been in my mind when I wrote of my Wrenboys: +"The lands of Immortal Youth which flush with magic +the dreams of childhood, for most sink soon below far +horizons and do not again arise. For around childhood +gather the wizards of the darkness and they baptize it +and change its imagination of itself, as in the Arabian +tales of enchantment men were changed by sorcerers who +cried, 'Be thou beast or bird.' So ...is the imagination +of life about itself changed and one will think he is a worm +in the sight of Heaven, he who is but a god in exile.... +What palaces they were born in, what dominions they are +rightly heir to, are concealed from them as in the fairy +tale the stolen prince lives obscurely among the swineherd. +Yet at times men do not remember, in dreams or in the +deeps of sleep, they still wear sceptre and diadem and +partake of the banquet of the gods." + +The Wrenboys still come to our door at Coole on +St. Stephen's Day, as they used in my childhood to come +to Roxborough, but it is in our bargain that the wren +itself must be symbolic, unmolested, no longer killed in +vengeance for that one in the olden times that awakened +the sentinels of the enemy Danes by pecking at crumbs +on a drum. And, indeed, these last two or three years +the rhymes concerning that old history have been lessened, +and their place taken by "The Soldiers Song." + +I think the staging of the play is easy. The Ogre's hut +may be but a shallow front scene, a curtain that can be +drawn away. The masks are such as might be used by +Wrenboys, little paper ones, such as one finds in a Christmas +cracker, held on with a bit of elastic, and would help to +get the change into the eyes of the audience, which +Manannan's Mullein-dust may not have reached. + + + + +Air: "Shule Aroon" + +[Music] + +Air: "Mo Bhuachailin Buidhe" + +_Brightly_ +[Music] + +Air: "The Bells of Shandon" + +My brain grows rus-ty, my mind is dus-ty +The time I'm dwelling with the like of ye; While my spirit +rang-es through all the changes could turn the +world to fel-is-it-y When Ar-is-tot-le + +[Music] + +The Time I've Lost in Wooing + +_Poco allegretto_ +[Music] + +My Molly-O +[Music] + +Air: "O Donall Abu" + +[Music] + +The Bard of Armagh + +_Slow_. +[Music] + +Air: "Dear Harp of My Country" + +[Music] + +I wish I had the shepherd's lamb + +I wish I had the shep-herd's lamb, the shep-herd's lamb, the +shepherd's lamb, I wish I had the shepherd's lamb, And +Ka-tie com-ing af-ter: Iso o gur-rim +gur-rim hoo iso gra-ma-chree gon kel-lig hoo, Iso +o gur-rim gur-rim hoo, Sthoo pat-tha beg dho wau-her. + +[Music] + +Air: "Let Erin Remember" + +[Music] + +Air: "And doth not a meeting like this" + +[Music] + +Garryowen + +_Quickly_. +[Music] + +Air: "O Bay of Dublin" + +[Music] + +The Cruiskeen Lan + +_With expression_. +[Music] + +The Beautiful City of Sligo + +_Quickly_. +[Music] + +The Deserter's Meditation + +_Slow_. +[Music] + +Oft in the Stilly Night + +_Slow_. +[Music] + +Johnny, I hardly knew you + +_Spirited_ +[Music] + +By Memory Inspired + +[Music] + +Eileen Aroon + +[Music] + +Air: "The Shan Van Vocht" + +[Music] + +Air: "I saw from the beach" + +[Music] + +Air: "Silent, O Moyle" + +[Music] + +An Spailin Fanach + +_Moderately_ +[Music] + +Air: "The Last Rose of Summer" + +[Music] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Three Wonder Plays, by Lady I. 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