THECOUNTESSCATHLEEN
SCENE??Aroomwithlightedfire，andadoorintotheopenair，throughwhichonesees，perhaps，thetreesofawood，andthesetreesshouldbepaintedinflatcolouruponagoldordiaperedsky.Thewallsareofonecolour.ThesceneshouldhavetheeffectofmissalPainting.MARY，awomanoffortyyearsorso，isgrindingaquern.
MARY.Whatcanhavemadethegreyhenflutterso?
(TEIG，aboyoffourteen，iscominginwithturf，whichhelaysbesidethehearth.)
TEIG.Theysaythatnowthelandisfaminestruck
Thegravesarewalking.
MARY.Thereissomethingthatthehenhears.
TEIG.Andthatisnottheworst;atTubber?vanach
Awomanmetamanwithearsspreadout，
Andtheymovedupanddownlikeabatswing.
MARY.Whatcanhavekeptyourfatherallthiswhile?
TEIG.Twonightsago，atCarrick?oruschurchyard，
Aherdsmanmetamanwhohadnomouth，
Noreyes，norears;hisfaceawallofflesh;
Hesawhimplainlybythelightofthemoon.
MARY.Lookout，andtellmeifyourfatherscoming.
(TEIGgoestodoor.)
TEIG.Mother!
MARY.Whatisit?
TEIG.Inthebushbeyond，
Therearetwobirds??ifyoucancallthembirds??
Icouldnotseethemrightlyfortheleaves.
Buttheyvetheshapeandcolourofhornedowls
AndImhalfcertaintheyveahumanface.
MARY.MotherofGod，defendus!
TEIG.Theyrelookingatme.
Whatisthegoodofpraying?fathersays.
GodandtheMotherofGodhavepedasleep.
Whatdotheycare，hesays，thoughthewholeland
Squeallikearabbitunderaweaselstooth?
MARY.Youllbringmisfortunewithyourblasphemies
Uponyourfather，oryourself，orme.
IwouldtoGodhewerehome??ah，thereheis.
(SHEMUScomesin.)
Whatwasitkeptyouinthewood?Youknow
Icannotgetallsortsofaccidents
Outofmymindtillyouarehomeagain.
SHEMUS.Iminnomoodtolistentoyourclatter.
AlthoughItrampedthewoodsforhalfaday，
Ivetakennothing，fortheveryrats，
Badgers，andhedgehogsseemtohavediedofdrought，
Andtherewasscarceawindintheparchedleaves.
TEIG.Thenyouhavebroughtnodinner.
SHEMUS.Afterthat
Isatamongthebeggarsatthecross?roads，
Andheldahollowhandamongtheothers.
MARY.What，didyoubeg?
SHEMUS.Ihadnochancetobeg，
Forwhenthebeggarssawmetheycriedout
Theywouldnothaveanothersharetheiralms，
Andhuntedmeawaywithsticksandstones.
TEIG.Yousaidthatyouwouldbringusfoodormoney.
SHEMUS.Whatsinthehouse?
TEIG.Abitofmouldybread.
MARY.Theresflourenoughtomakeanotherloaf.
TEIG.Andwhenthatsgone?
MARY.Thereistheheninthecoop.
SHEMUS.Mycurseuponthebeggars，myCurseuponthem!
TEIG.Andthelastpennygone.
SHEMUS.Whenthehensgone，
Whatcanwedobutliveonsorrelanddock)
Anddandelion，tillourmouthsaregreen?
MARY.God，thattothishoursfoundbitandsup，
Willcaterforusstill.
SHEMUS.Hiskitchensbare.
TherewerefivedoorsthatIlookedthroughthisday
Andsawthedeadandnotasoultowakethem.
MARY.MaybeHedhaveusdiebecauseHeknows，
Whentheearisstoppedandwhentheeyeisstopped，
Thateverywickedsightishidfromtheeye，
Andallfooltalkfromtheear.
SHEMUS.Whospassingthere?
Andmockinguswithmusic?
(Astringedinstrumentwithout.)
TEIG.Ayoungmanplaysit，
Theresanoldwomanandaladywithhim.
SHEMUS.Whatisthetroubleofthepoortoher?
Nothingatalloraharshradishysauce
Forthedaysmeat.
MARY.Godspityontherich，
Hadwebeenthroughasmanydoors，andseen
Thedishesstandingonthepolishedwood
Inthewaxcandlelight，wedbeashard，
Andtherestheneedleseyeattheendofall，
SHEMUS.Mycurseupontherich.
TEIG.Theyrecominghere.
SHEMUS.Thendownuponthatstool，downquick，Isay，
Andcallupawheyfaceandawhiningvoice，
Andletyourheadbeboweduponyourknees，
MARY.HadIbuttimetoputtheplacetorights.
(CATHLEEN，OONA，andALEELenter.)
CATHLEEN.Godsaveallhere.Thereisacertainhouse，
Anoldgreycastlewithakitchengarden，
Aciderorchardandaplotforflowers，
Somewhereamongthesewoods.
MARY.Weknowit，lady.
Aplacethatssetamongimpassablewalls
Asthoughworldstroublecouldnotfinditout.
CATHLEEN.Itmaybethatwearethattrouble，forwe??
Althoughwevewanderedinthewoodthishour??
Havelostittoo，yetIshouldknowmyway，
ForIlivedallmychildhoodinthathouse.
MARY.ThenyouareCountessCathleen?
CATHLEEN.Andthiswoman，
Oona，mynurse，shouldhaverememberedit，
Forwewerehappyforalongtimethere.
OONA.Thepathsareovergrownwiththicketsnow，
Orelsesomechangehascomeuponmysight.
CATHLEEN.Andthisyoungman，thatshouldhaveknownthewoods??Becausewemethimontheirborder
butnow，
Wanderingandsinginglikeawaveofthesea??
Issowrappedupindreamsofterrorstocome
Thathecangivenohelp.
MARY.Youhavestillsomeway，
ButIcanputyouonthetroddenpath
Yourservantstakewhentheyaremarketing.
Butfirstsitdownandrestyourselfawhile，
Formyoldfathersservedyourfathers，lady，
Longerthanbookscantell??anditwerestrange
Ifyouandyoursshouldnotbewelcomehere.
CATHLEEN.AnditwerestrangerstillwereIungrateful
ForsuchkindwelcomebutImustbegone，
Forthenightsgatheringin.
SHEMUS.Itisalongwhile
SinceIveseteyesonbreadoronwhatbuysit.
CATHLEEN.Soyouarestarvingeveninthiswood，
WhereIhadthoughtIwouldfindnothingchanged.
Butthatsadream，fortheoldwormotheworld
Caneatitswayintowhatplaceitpleases.
(Shegivesmoney.)
TEIG.Beautifullady，givemesomethingtoo;
Ifellbutnow，beingweakwithhungerandthirst，
Andlayuponthethresholdlikea.
CATHLEEN.IgaveforallandthatwasallIhad.
Look，mypurseisempty.Ihavepassed
Bystarvingmenandwomenallthisday，
Andtheyhavehadtherest;buttakethepurse，
Thesilverclaspsontmaybeworthatrifle.
Butifyoullcometo?morrowtomyhouse
Youshallhavetwicethesum.
(ALEELbeginstoplay.)
SHEMUS(muttering).What，music，music!
CATHLEEN.Ah，donotblamethefingeronthestring;
Thedoctorsbidmeflytheunluckytimes
Andfinddistractionformythoughts，orelse
Pinetomygrave.
SHEMUS.Ihavesaidnothing，lady.
Whyshouldthelikeofuscomplain?
OONA.Havedone.Sorrowsthatshesbutreadofinabook
Weighonhermindasiftheyhadbeenherown.
(OONA，MARY，andCATHLEENgoOut.ALEELlooksdefiantlyat
SHEMUS.)
ALEEL.(Singing)Impetuousheart，bestill，bestill，
Yoursorrowfullovecanneverbetold，
Coveritupwithalonelytune，
HethatcouldbendallthingstoHiswill
Hascoveredthedooroftheinfinitefold
Withthepalestarsandthewanderingmoon.
(Hetakesasteptowardsthedoorandthenturnsagain.)
Shuttothedoorbeforethenighthasfallen，
Forwhocansaywhatwalks，orinwhatshape
Somedevilishcreaturefliesintheair，butnow
Twogrey?hornedowlshootedaboveourheads.
(Hegoesout，hissingingdiesaway.MARYcomesin.SHEmushasbeencountingthemoney.)
TEIG.Theresnogoodluckinowls，butitmaybe
Thattheillluckstofallupontheirheads.
MARY.Youneverthankedherladyship.
SHEMUS.Thankher，
Forsevenhalfpenceandasilverbit?
TEIG.Butforthisemptypurse?
SHEMUS.Whatsthatforthanks，
Orwhatsthedoubleofitthatshepromised?
Withbreadandfleshandeverysortoffood
Uptoapricenomanhasheardthelikeof
Andrisingeveryday.
MARY.Wehaveallshehad;
Sheemptiedoutthepursebeforeoureyes.
SHEMUS(toMARY，whohasgonetoclosethedoor)
Leavethatdooropen.
MARY.Whenthosethathavereadbooks，
Andseenthesevenwondersoftheworld，
Fearwhatsaboveorwhatsbelowtheground，
Itstimethatpovertyshouldboltthedoor.
SHEMUS.Illhavenobolts，forthereisnotathing
Thatwalksabovethegroundorunderit
Ihadnotratherwelcometothishouse
Thananymoreofmankind，richorpoor.
TEIG.Sothattheybroughtusmoney.
SHEMUS.Iheardsay
Theressomethingthatappearslikeawhitebird，
Apigeonoraseagullorthelike，
Butifyouhititwithastoneorastick
Itclangsasthoughithadbeenmadeofbrass;
Andthatifyoudigdownwhereitwasscratching
Youllfindacrockofgold.
TEIG.Butdreamofgold
Forthreenightsrunning，andtheresalwaysgold.
SHEMUS.Youmightbestarvedbeforeyouvedugitout.
TEIG.Butmaybeifyoucalled，somethingwouldcome，
Theyhavebeenseenoflate.
MARY.Isitcalldevils?
Calldevilsfromthewood，calltheminhere?
SHEMUS.Soyoudstandupagainstme，andyoudsay
WhoorwhatIamtowelcomehere.
(Hehitsher.)
Thatistoshowwhosmaster.
TEIG.Callthemin.
MARY.Godhelpusall!
SHEMUS.Pray，ifyouhaveamindto.
itslittlethatthesleepyearsabove
Careforyourwords;butIllcallwhatIplease.
TEIG.Thereismanyaone，theysay，hadmoneyfromthem.
SHEMUS.(atdoor)
Whateveryouarethatwalkthewoodsatnight，
Sobeitthatyouhavenotshoulderedup
Outofagrave??forIllhavenothinghuman??
Andhavefreehands，afriendlytrickofspeech，
Iwelcomeyou.Come，sitbesidethefire.
Whatmatterifyourheadsbelowyourarms
Oryouveahorsestailtowhipyourflank，
Feathersinsteadofhair，thatsbutastraw，
Come，sharewhatbreadandmeatisinthehouse，
Andstretchyourheelsandwarmthemintheashes.
Andafterthat，letsshareandsharealike
Andcurseallmenandwomen.Comein，comein.
What，istherenoonethere?
(Turningfromdoor)
Andyettheysay
Theyareascommonasthegrass，andride
Evenuponthebookinthepriestshand.
(TEIGliftsonearmslowlyandpointstowardthedoorandbeginsmovingbackwards.SHEMUSturns，he
alsoseessomethingandbeginsmovingbackward.MARYdoesthesame.Amandressedasan
Easternmerchantcomesincarryingasmallcarpet.Heunrollsitandsitscross?leggedatoneendofit.
Anothermandressedinthesamewayfollows，andsitsattheotherend.Thisisdoneslowlyanddeliberately.
Whentheyareseatedtheytakemoneyoutofembroideredpursesattheirgirdlesandbeginarrangingitonthe
carpet.
TEIG.Youspeaktothem.
SHEMUS.No，you.
TEIG.Twasyouthatcalledthem.
SHEMUS.(comingnearer)
Idmakesobold，ifyouwouldpardonit，
Toaskiftheresathingyoudhaveofus.
Althoughwearebutpoorpeople，ifthereis，
Why，ifthereis??
FIRSTMERCHANT.Wevetravelledalongroad，
Forwearemerchantsthatmusttramptheworld，
Andnowwelookforsupperandafire
Andasafecornertocountmoneyin.
SHEMUS.Ithoughtyouwere....butthatsnomatternow??
Therehadbeenwordsbetweenmywifeandme
BecauseIsaidIwouldbemasterhere，
AndaskinwhatIpleasedorwhoIpleased
Andso....butthatisnothingtothepoint，
Becauseitscertainthatyouarebutmerchants.
FIRSTMERCHANT.WetravelfortheMasterofallmerchants.
SHEMUS.YetifyouwerethatIhadthoughtbutnow
Idwelcomeyounoless.Bewhatyouplease
Andyoullhavesupperatthemarketrate，
Thatmeansthatwhatwassoldforbutapenny
Isnowworthfifty.
(MERCHANTSbeginputtingmoneyoncarpet.)
FIRSTMERCHANT.OurMasterbidsuspay
Sogoodaprice，thatallwhodealwithus
Shalleat，drink，andbemerry.
SHEMUS.(toMARY)Bestiryourself，
Gokillanddrawthefowl，whileTeigandI
Layouttheplatesandmakeabetterfire.
MARY.Iwillnotcookforyou.
SHEMUS.Notcook!notcook!
Donotbeangry.Shewantstopaymeback
BecauseIstruckherinthatargument.
Butshellgetsenseagain.Sincethedearthcame
Werattleoneonanotherasthoughwewere
Knivesthrownintoabaskettobecleaned.
MARY.Iwillnotcookforyou，becauseIknow
Inwhatunluckyshapeyousatbutnow
Outsidethisdoor.
TEIG.Itsthis，yourhonours:
Becauseofsomewildwordsmyfathersaid
Shethinksyouarenotofthosewhocastashadow.
SHEMUS.IsaidIdmakethedevilsofthewood
Welcome，iftheydamindtoeatanddrink;
Butitiscertainthatyouaremenlikeus.
FIRSTMERCHANT.
Itsstrangethatsheshouldthinkwecastnoshadow，
Forthereisnothingontheridgeoftheworld
Thatsmoresubstantialthanthemerchantsare
Thatbuyandsellyou.
MARY.Ifyouarenotdemons，
Andseeingwhatgreatwealthisspreadoutthere，
Givefoodormoneytothestarvingpoor.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Ifweknewhowtofinddeservingpoor
Weddoourshare.
MARY.Butseekthempatiently.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Weknowtheevilsofmerecharity.
MARY.Thosescruplesmaybefitacommontime.
Ihadthoughttherewasapushingtoandfro，
Attimeslikethis，thatoversetthescale
Andtrampledmeasuredown.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Butifalready
Wedthoughtofamoreprudentwaythanthat?
SECONDMERCHANT.Ifeachonebringsabitofmerchandise，
Wellgivehimsuchapriceheneverdreamtof.
MARY.Whereshallthestarvingcomeatmerchandise?
FIRSTMERCHANT.Wewillasknothingbutwhatallmenhave.
MARY.Theirswineandcattle，fieldsandimplements
Aresoldandgone.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Theyhavenotsoldallyet.
Fortheresavaporousthing??thatmaybenothing，
Butthatsthebuyersrisk??asecondself，
Theycallimmortalforastoryssake.
SHEMUS.Youcometobuyoursouls?
TEIG.Illbartermine.
Whyshouldwestarveforwhatmaybebutnothing?
MARY.TeigandShemus??
SHEMUS.Whatcanitbebutnothing?
WhathasGodpouredoutofHisbagbutfamine?
Satangivesmoney.
TEIG.Yetnothunderstirs.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Thereisaheapforeach.
(SHEMUSgoestotakemoney.)
Butno，notyet，
FortheresaworkIhavetosetyouto.
SHEMUS.Sothenyoureasdeceitfulastherest，
Andallthattalkofbuyingwhatsbutavapour
Isfancybred.Imighthaveknownasmuch，
Becausethatshowthetrick?o?the?loopmantalks.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Thatsforthework，eachhasitsseparateprice;Butneitherpriceispaidtilltheworks
done.
TEIG.Thesameforme.
MARY.Oh，God，whyareyoustill?
FIRSTMERCHANT.Youvebuttocryaloudateverycross?road，Ateveryhousedoor，thatwebuymens
souls，
Andgivesogoodapricethatallmaylive
Inmirthandcomforttillthefaminesdone，
BecauseweareChristianmen.
SHEMUS.Come，letsaway.
TREIGgt;IshallkeeprunningtillIveearnedtheprice.
SECONDMERCHANT.(whohasrisenandgonetowardsfire)
Stop，forweobeyagenerousMaster，
ThatwouldbeservedbyComfortablemen.
Andheresyourentertainmentontheroad.
(TRIGandSHEMUShavestopped.TEIGtakesthemoney.Theygoout.)
MARY.Destroyersofsouls，Godwilldestroyyouquickly.
Youshallatlastdrylikedryleavesandhang
NailedlikedeadvermintothedoorsofGod.
SECONDMERCHANT.
Cursetoyourfill，forsaintswillhavetheirdreams.
FIRSTMERCHANTmThoughwerebutverminthatourMastersentTooverruntheworld，heattheend
Shallpullapartthepaleribsofthemoon
Andquenchthestarsintheancestralnight.
MARY.，Godisallpowerful.
SECONDMERCHANT.Pray，youshallneedHim.
Youshalleatdockandgrass，anddandelion，
Tillthatlowthresholdtherebecomesawall，
Andwhenyourhandscanscarcelydragyourbody
Weshallbenearyou.
(MARYfaints.)(TheFIRSTMERCHANTtakesupthecarPet，spreadsitbeforethefireandstandsinfrontof
itwarminghishands.)
FIRSTMERCHANT.Ourfacesgounscratched，
Forshehasfainted.Wringtheneckothatfowl，
Scattertheflourandsearchtheshelvesforbread.
Wellturnthefowluponthespitandroastit，
Andeatthesupperwewerebiddento，
Nowthatthehouseisquiet，praiseourmaster，
Andstretchandwarmourheelsamongtheashes.
ENDOFSCENE1“)