HallinthehouseofCOUNTESSCATHLEEN.AttheLeftanoratorywithstepsleadinguptoit.
AttheRightatapestriedwall，moreorlessrepeatingtheformoftheoratory，andagreatchairwithitsback
againstthewall.IntheCentrearetwoormorearchesthroughwhichonecanseedimlythetreesofthe
garden.CATHLEENiskneelinginfrontofthealtarinthe
oratory;thereisahanginglightedlampoverthealtar.ALEELenters.
ALEEL.Ihavecometobidyouleavethiscastleandfly
Outofthesewoods.
CATHLEEN.Whatevilistherehere?
Thatisnoteverywherefromthistothesea?
ALEEL.Theywhohavesentmewalkinvisible.
CATHLEEN.SoitistruewhatIhaveheardmensay，
Thatyouhaveseenandheardwhatotherscannot.
ALEEL.Iwasasleepinmybed，andwhileIslept
Mydreambecameafire;andinthefire
Onewalkedandhehadbirdsabouthishead.
CATHLEEN.Ihaveheardthatoneoftheoldgodswalkedso.
ALEEL.Itmaybethatheisangelical;
And，lady，hebidsmecallyoufromthesewoods.
Andyoumustbringbutyouroldfoster?mother，
Andsomefewservingmen，andliveinthehills，
Amongthesoundsofmusicandthelight
Ofwaters，tilltheevildaysaredone.
Forheresometerribledeathiswaitingyou，
Someunimaginedevil，somegreatdarkness
Thatfablehasnotdreamtof，norsunnormoon
Scattered.
CATHLEEN.No，notangelical.
ALEEL.Thishouse
Youaretoleavewithsomeoldtrustyman，
Andbidhimshelterallthatstarveorwander
Whilethereisfoodandhouseroom.
CATHLEEN.Hebidsmego
Wherenoneofmortalcreaturesbuttheswan
Dabbles，andthereyouwouldplucktheharp，whenthetreesHadmadeaheavyshadowaboutourdoor，
Andtalkamongtherustlingofthereeds，
Whennighthuntedthefoolishsunaway
Withstillnessandpaletapers.No?no?no!
Icannot.AlthoughIweep，Idonotweep
Becausethatlifewouldbemosthappy，andhere
Ifindnoway，noend.NordoIweep
BecauseIhadlongedtolookuponyourface，
Butthatanightofprayerhasmademeweary.
ALEEL(.prostratinghimselfbeforeher)
LetHimthatmademankind，theangelsanddevils
Anddeathandplenty，mendwhatHehasmade，
Forwhenwelabourinvainandeyestillsees
Heartbreaksinvain.
CATHLEEN.Howwouldthatquietend?
ALEEL.Howbutinhealing?
CATHLEEN.Youhaveseenmytears
AndIcanseeyourhandshakeonthefloor.
ALEEL.(faltering)Ithoughtbutofhealing.Hewasangelical.
CATHLEEN(turningawayfromhim)
No，notangelical，butoftheoldgods，
Whowanderabouttheworldtowakentheheart
Thepassionate，proudheart??thatalltheangels，
Leavingnineheavensempty，wouldrocktosleep.
(Shegoestochapeldoor;ALEELholdshisclaspedhandstowardsherforamomenthesitating，andthenlets
themfallbesidehim.)
CATHLEEN.Donotholdouttomebeseechinghands.
Thisheartshallneverwakenonearth.Ihavesworn，
Byherwhoseheartthesevensorrowshavepierced，
Topraybeforethisaltaruntilmyheart
HasgrowntoHeavenlikeatree，andthere
Rustleditsleaves，tillHeavenhassavedmypeople.
ALEEL.(whohasrisen)
Whenonesogreathasspokenoflovetoone
SolittleasI，thoughtodenyhimlove，
Whatcanhebutholdoutbeseechinghands，
Thenletthemfallbesidehim，knowinghowgreatly
Theyhaveoverdared?
(Hegoestowardsthedoorofthehall.TheCOUNTESSCATHLEENtakesafewstepstowardshim.)
CATHLEEN.Iftheoldtalesaretrue，
Queenshavewedshepherdsandkingsbeggar?maids;
Godsprocreantwatersflowingaboutyourmind
Havemadeyoumorethankingsorqueens;andnotyou
ButIamtheemptypitcher.
ALEEL.Beingsilent，
Ihavesaidall，yetletmestaybesideyou.
CATHLEEN.No，no，notwhilemyheartisshaken.No，
Butyoushallhearwindcryandwatercry，
Andcurlewscry，andhavethepeaceIlongedfor.
ALEEL.Givemeyourhandtokiss.
CATHLEEN.Ikissyourforehead.
AndyetIsendyoufromme.Donotspeak;
Therehavebeenwomenthatbidmentorob
CrownsfromtheCountry?under?Waveorapples
Uponadragon?guardedhill，andall
Thattheymightsiftmensheartsandwills，
Andtrembledastheybidit，asItremble
Thatlayahardtaskonyou，thatyougo，
Andsilently，anddonotturnyourhead;
Goodbye;butdonotturnyourheadandlook;
Aboveallelse，Iwouldnothaveyoulook.
(ALEELgoes.)
Ineverspoketohimofhiswoundedhand，
Andnowheisgone.
(Shelooksout.)
Icannotseehim，forallisdarkoutside.
Wouldmyimaginationandmyheart
Wereaslittleshakenasthisholyflame!
(Shegoesslowlyintothe
chapel.ThetwoMERCHANTSenter.)
FIRSTMERCHANT.AlthoughIbidyourobhertreasury，
Ifindyousittingdrowsedandmotionless，
Andyetyouunderstandthatwhileitsfull
Shellbidagainstusandsobribethepoor
ThatourgreatMasterlllackhismerchandise.
Youknowthatshehasbroughtintothishouse
Theoldandailingthatarepinchedthemost
Atsuchatimeandsoshouldbeboughtcheap.
Youveseenussittinginthehouseinthewood，
Whilethesnailscrawledaboutthewindow?pane
Andthemudfloor，andnotasoultobuy;
Noteventhewanderingfoolsnoroneofthose
Thatwhentheworldgoeswrongmustraveandtalk，
Untiltheyareasthinasacatsear.
Butallthatsnothing;yousitdrowsingthere
Withyourbackhooked，yourchinuponyourknees.
SECONDMERCHANT.HowcouldIhelpit?ForsheprayedsohardIcouldnotcrossthethresholdtillher
lover
Hadturnedherthoughtstodream.
FIRSTMERCHANT，Well，well，tolabour.
Thereisthetreasurydoorandtimerunson.
(SECONDMERCHANTgoesOut.FIRSTMERCHANTsitscross?leggedagainstapillar，yawnsand
stretches.)
FIRSTMERCHANT.AndsoImustenduretheweightoftheworld，FarfrommyMasterandtherevelry，
Thatslastedsince??shapedasaworm??hebore
Theknowledgablepippininhismouth
Tothefirstwoman.
(SECONDMERCHANTreturnswithbags.)
Wherearethosedancersgone?
Theyknewtheyweretocarryitontheirbacks.
SECONDMERCHANT.Iheardthembreathingbutamomentsince，Butnowtheyaregone，being
unsteadfastthings.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Theyknewtheirwork.ItseemsthattheyimagineWeddosuchwrongtoourgreat
Mastersname
Astobearburdensonourbacksasmendo.
Illcallthem，andwholldaretodisobey?
Come，allyouelementalpopulace
FromCruachanandFinbarsancienthouse.
Come，breakupthelongdanceunderthehill，
Orifyoulieinthehollowsofthesea，
Leavelonelythelonghoardingsurges，leave
Thecymbalsofthewavestoclashalone，
Andshakingthesea?tanglesfromyourhair
Gatheraboutus.
(TheSPIRITSgatherunderthearches.)
SECONDMERCHANT.Theycome.Bestillawhile.
(SPIRITSdanceandsing.)
FIRSTSPIRIT.(singing)Ourheartsaresore，butwecome
Becausewehaveheardyoucall.
SECONDSPIRIT.Sorrowhasmademedumb.
FIRSTSPIRIT.Hershepherdsatnightfall
Laymanyaplateandcup
Downbythetroddenbrink，
Thatwhenthedancebreakup
Wemayhavemeatanddrink.
Thereforeourheartsaresore;
Andthoughwehaveheardandcome
Ourcryingfilledtheshore.
SECONDSPIRIT.Sorrowhasmademedumb.
FIRSTMERCHANT.WhatliesinthewavesshouldbeindifferentTogoodandevil，andyetitseemsthat
these，
Forgetfuloftheirpure，impartialsea，
Takesideswithher.
SECONDMERCHANT.Hush，hush，andstillyourfeet.
YouarenotnowuponMaevesdancing?floor.
ASPIRIT.O，lookwhatIhavefound，astringofpearls!
(Theybegintakingjewelsoutofbag.)
SECONDMERCHANT.Youmustnottouchthem，puttheminthebag，Andnowtakeupthebagsuponyour
backs
AndcarrythemtoShemusRuashouse
Onthewoodsborder.
SPIRITS.No，no，no，no!
FIRSTSPIRIT.No，no，letusaway;
Fromthisweshallnotcome
Cryouttouswhomay.
SECONDSPIRIT.Sorrowhasmademedumb.
(Theygo.)
SECONDMERCHANT.Theyregone，forlittledotheycareforme，AndifIcalledtheywouldbutturnand
mock，
Butyoutheydarenotdisobey.
FIRSTMERCHANT(rising)Thesedancers
Arealwaysthemosttroublesomeofspirits.
(Hecomesdownthestageandstandsfacingthearches.Hemakesagestureofcommand.TheSPIRITScome
backwhimpering.Theyliftthebagsandgoout.Threespeakastheyaretakingubthebags.
FIRSTSPIRIT.Fromthisdayoutwellneverdanceagain.
SECONDSPIRIT.Neveragain.
THIRDSPIRIT.Sorrowhasmademedumb.
SECONDMERCHANT(lookingintochapeldoor)
Shehasheardnothing;shehasfallenasleep.
Ourlordwouldbewellpleasedifwecouldwinher.
Nowthatthewindsareheavywithourkind，
Mightwenotkillher，andbearoffherspirit
Beforethemobofangelswereastir?
FIRSTMERCHANT.IfwewouldwinthisturquoiseforourlordItmustgopingdownofitsfreewill
ButIveaplan.
SECONDMERCHANT.Totakehersoulto?night?
FIRSTMERCHANT.BecauseIamoftheninthandmightiesthellWhereareallkings，Ihaveaplan.
(Voices.)
SECONDMERCHANT.Toolate;
Forsomebodyisstirringinthehouse;thenoise
Thattheseacreaturesmadeastheycamehither，
Theirsingingandtheirendlesschattering，
Haswakedthehouse.Ihearthechairspushedback，
Andmanyshufflingfeet.Alltheoldmenandwomen
Shesgatheredinthehousearecominghither.
AVOICE.(within)Itwashere.
ANOTHERVOICE.No，fartheraway.
ANOTHERVOICE.Itwasinthewesterntower.
ANOTHERVOICE.Comequickly，wewillsearchthewesterntower.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Westillhavetime??theysearchthedistantrooms.
SECONDMERCHANT.Brother，Iheardasoundinthere??asoundThattroublesme.
(Goingtothedooroftheoratoryandpeeringthroughit.)
UponthealtarstepsTheCountesstosses，murmuringinhersleepAbrokenPaternoster.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Donotfear，
Forwhenshehasawakedtheprayerwillcease.
SECONDMERCHANT.What，wouldyouwakeher?
FIRSTMERCHANT.Iwillspeakwithher，
Andmixwithallherthoughtsathoughttoserve.??
Lady，wevenewsthatscryingoutforspeech.
(CATHLEENwakesandcomestodoorofthechapel.)
Cathleen.Whocalls?
FIRSTMERCHANT.Wehavebroughtnews.
CATHLEEN.Whatareyou?
FIRSTMERCHANT.
Wearemerchants，andweknowthebookoftheworld
Becausewehavewalkeduponitsleaves;andthere
Havereadoflatemattersthatmuchconcernyou;
Andnoticingthecastledoorstandopen，
Cameintofindanear.
CATHLEEN.Thedoorstandsopen，
Thatnoonewhoisfamishedorafraid，
Despairofhelporofawelcomewithit.
Butyouhavenews，yousay.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Wesawaman，
HeavywithsicknessinthebogofAllen，
Whomyouhadbidbuycattle.NearFairHead
Wesawyourgrainshipslyingallbecalmed
Inthedarknight;andnotlessstillthanthey，
Burnedalltheirmirroredlanthornsinthesea.
CATHLEEN..MythankstoGod，toMaryandtheangels，
ThatIhavemoneyinmytreasury，
Andcanbuygrainfromthosewhohavestoreditup
Toprosperonthehungerofthepoor.
Butyouvebeenfarandknowthesignsofthings，
Whenwillthisyellowvapournomorehang
Andcreepaboutthefields，andthisgreatheat
Vanishaway，andgrassshowitsgreenshoots?
FIRSTMERCHANT.Thereisnosignofchange??daycopiesday，Greenthingsaredead??thecattletooare
dead
Ordying??andonallthevapourhangs，
Andfattenswithdiseaseandglowswithheat.
Inyouisallthehopeofalltheland.
CATHLEEN.Andheardyouofthedemonswhobuysouls?
FIRSTMERCHANT.
Therearesomemenwhoholdtheyhavewolvesheads，
Andsaytheirlimbs??driedbytheinfiniteflame??
Haveallthespeedofstorms;others，again，
Saytheyaregrossandlittle;whileafew
Willhaveittheyseemmuchasmortalsare，
Buttallandbrownandtravelled??likeus??lady，
Yetallagreeapowerisintheirlooks
Thatmakesmenbow，andflingsacasting?net
Abouttheirsouls，andthatallmenwouldgo
Andbarterthosepoorvapours，wereitnot
Youbribethemwiththesafetyofyourgold.
CATHLEEN.PraisebetoGod，toMary，andtheangels
ThatIamwealthy!Whereforedotheysell?
FIRSTMERCHANT.Aswecameinatthegreatdoorwesaw
Yourportersleepinginhisniche??asoul
Toolittletobeworthahundredpence，
Andyettheybuyitforahundredcrowns.
Butforasoullikeyours，Iheardthemsay，
Theywouldgivefivehundredthousandcrownsandmore.
CATHLEEN.Howcanaheapofcrownspayforasoul?
Isthegreengravesoterribleathing?
FIRSTMERCHANT.Somesellbecausethemoneygleams，andsomeBecausetheyareinterrorofthegrave，
Andsomebecausetheirneighbourssoldbefore，
Andsomebecausethereisakindofjoy
Incastinghopeaway，inlosingjoy，
Inceasingallresistance，inatlast
Openingonesarmstotheeternalflames，
Incastingallsailsoutuponthewind;
Tothis??fullofthegaietyofthelost??
Wouldallfolkhurryifyourgoldweregone.
CATHLEEN.Thereissomething，Merchant，inyourvoice
Thatmakesmefear.Whenyouweretellinghow
AmanmaylosehissoulandlosehisGod
Youreyeswerelightedup，andwhenyoutold
Howmypoormoneyservesthepeople，both??
Merchantsforgiveme??seemedtosmile.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Manssins
Moveustolaughteronly;wehaveseen
Somanylandsandseensomanymen.
Howstrangethatallthesepeopleshouldbeswung
Asonaladysshoe?string，??underthem
Theglowingleaguesofnever?endingflame.
CATHLEEN.ThereisasomethinginyouthatIfear;
Asomethingnotofus;butwereyounotborn
Insomemostdistantcorneroftheworld?
(TheSECONDMERCHANT，whohasbeenlisteningatthedoor，comesforward，andashecomesasoundof
voicesandfeetisheard.)
SECONDMERCHANT.Awaynow??theyareinthepassage??hurry，
Fortheywillknowus，andfreezeupourhearts
WithAveMarys，andburnallourskin
Withholywater.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Farewell;forwemustride
Manyamilebeforethemorningcome;
Ourhorsesbeatthegroundimpatiently.
(Theygoout.AnumberofPEASANTsenterbyotherdoor.)
FIRSTPEASANT.Forgiveus，lady，butweheardanoise.
SECONDPEASANT.Wesatbythefiresidetellingvanities.
FIRSTPEASANT.
Weheardanoise，butthoughwehavesearchedthehouse
Wehavefoundnobody.
CATHLEEN.Youaretootimid.
Fornowyouaresafefromalltheeviltimes.
Thereisnoevilthatcanfindyouhere.
OONA(enteringhurriedly)
Ochone!Ochone!Thetreasureroomisbrokenin，
Thedoorstandsopen，andthegoldisgone.
(PEASANTSraisealamentablecry.)
CATHLEEN.Besilent.
(Thecryceases.)
Haveyouseennobody?
OONAOchone!
Thatmygoodmistressshouldloseallthismoney.
CATHLEEN.Letthoseamongyou??nottoooldtoride??
Gethorsesandsearchallthecountryround，
Illgiveafarmtohimwhofindsthethieves.
(Amanwithkeysathisgirdlehascomeinwhileshespeaks.ThereisageneralmurmurofThePorter!the
porter!quot;)
PORTER.Demonswerehere.Isatbesidethedoor
Inmystoneniche，andtwoowlspassedmeby，
Whisperingwithhumanvoices.
OLDPEASANT.Godforsakesus.
CATHLEEN.Oldman，oldman，Heneverclosedadoor
Unlessoneopened.Iamdesolate，
Foramostsadresolvewakesinmyheart
ButIhavestillmyfaith;thereforebesilent
ForsurelyHedoesnotforsaketheworld，
Butstandsbeforeitmodellingintheclay
AndmouldingthereHisimage.Agebyage
TheclaywarswithHisfingersandpleadshard
Foritsold，heavy，dullandshapelessease;
Butsometimes??thoughHishandisonitstill??
Itmovesawryanddemonhordesareborn.
(PEASANTScrossthemselves.)
Yetleavemenow，forIamdesolate，
Ihearawhisperfrombeyondthethunder.
(Shecomesfromtheoratorydoor.)
Yetstayaninstant.Whenwemeetagain
Imayhavegrownforgetful.Oona，take
Thesetwo??thelarderandthedairykeys.
(TothePORTER.)
Buttakeyouthis.Itopensthesmallroom
Ofherbsformedicine，ofhellebore，
Ofvervain，monkshood，plantain，andself?heal.
Thebookofcuresisontheuppershelf.
PORTER.Whydoyoudothis，lady;didyousee
Yourcoffininadream?
CATHLEEN.Ah，no，notthat.
Asadresolvewakesinme.Ihaveheard
Asoundofwailinginunnumberedhovels，
AndImustgodown，down??Iknownotwhere??
Prayforallmenandwomenmadfromfamine;
Pray，yougoodneighbours.
(ThePEASANTSallkneel.COUNTESSCATHLEENascendsthestepstothedooroftheoratory，and
turningroundstandsthere
motionlessforalittle，andthencriesinaloudvoice:)
Mary，Queenofangels，
Andallyoucloudsoncloudsofsaints，farewell!
ENDOFSCENE3.“)