ThehouseofSHEMUSRUA.
Thereisanalcoveatthebackwithcurtains;initabed，andonthe
bedisthebodyofMARYwithcandlesroundit.ThetwoMERCHANTSwhiletheyspeakputalargebook
uponatable，arrangemoney，andsoon.
FIRSTMERCHANT.ThankstothatlieItoldaboutherships
Andthatabouttheherdsmanlyingsick，
Weshallbetoomuchthrongedwithsoulsto?morrow.
SECONDMERCHANT.Whathassheinhercoffersnowbutmice?
FIRSTMERCHANT.WhenthenightfellandIhadshapedmyselfIntotheimageoftheman?headedowl，
IhurriedtothecliffsofDonegal，
Andsawwithalltheircanvasfullofwind
Andrushingthroughtheparti?colouredsea
Thoseshipsthatbringthewomangrainandmeal.
Theyrebutthreedaysfromus.
SECONDMERCHANT.Whenthedewrose
Ihurriedinlikefeatherstotheeast，
AndsawninehundredoxendriventhroughMeath
Withgoadsofiron，Theyrebutthreedaysfromus.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Threedaysfortraffic.
(PEASANTScrowdinwithTEIGandSHEMUS.)
SHEMUS.Comein，comein，youarewelcome.
Thatismywife.Shemockedatmygreatmasters，
Andwouldnotdealwiththem.Nowtheresheis;
Shedoesnotevenknowshewasafool，
Sogreatafoolshewas.
TEIG.Shewouldnoteat
Onecrumbofbreadboughtwithourmastersmoney，
Butlivedonnettles，dock，anddandelion.
SHEMUS.Theresnobodycouldputintoherhead
ThatDeathistheworstthingcanhappenus.
Thoughthatsoundssimple，forhertonguegrewrank
Withalltheliesthatshehadheardinchapel.
Drawtothecurtain.
(TEIGdrawsit.)
Youllnotplaythefool
Whilethesegoodgentlemenaretheretosaveyou.
SECONDMERCHANT.
Sincethedroughtcametheydriftaboutinathrong，
Likeautumnleavesblownbythedrearywinds.
Come，deal??come，deal.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Whowillcomedealwithus?
SHEMUS.Theyareoutofspirit，Sir，withlackoffood，
Savefourorfive.Here，sir，isoneofthese;
Theotherswillgaincourageingoodtime.
MIDDLE?AGED?MAN.Icometodeal??ifyougivehonestprice.
FIRSTMERCHANT(readinginabook)
JohnMaher，amanofsubstance，withdullmind，
Andquietsensesandunventurousheart.
Theangelsthinkhimsafe.quot;Twohundredcrowns，
Allforasoul，alittlebreathofwind.
THEMAN.Iaskthreehundredcrowns.Youhavereadthere
Thatnomerelapseofdayscanmakemeyours.
FIRSTMERCHANT.
Thereissomethingmorewrithere??quot;oftenatnight
Heiswakefulfromadreadofgrowingpoor，
Andthereonwondersiftheresanyman
Thathecouldrobinsafety.quot;
APEASANT.Whodhavethoughtit?
AndIwasoncealonewithhimatmidnight.
ANOTHERPEASANT.Iwillnottrustmymotherafterthis.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Thereisthiscrackinyou??twohundredcrowns.
APEASANT.Thatsplentyforarogue.
ANOTHERPEASANT.Idgivehimnothing.
SHEMUS.Youllgetnomore??sotakewhatsofferedyou.
(Ageneralmurmur，duringwhichtheMIDDLE?AGED?MANtakesmoney，andslipsintobackground，
wherehesinksontoaseat.)
FIRSTMERCHANT.Hasnoonegotabettersoulthanthat?
Ifonlyforthecreditofyourparishes，Trafficwithus.
AWOMAN.Whatwillyougiveformine?
FIRSTMERCHANT(readinginbook)
quot;Soft，handsome，andstillyoungquot;??notmuch，Ithink.quot;
Itscertainthatthemanshesmarriedto
Knowsnothingofwhatshiddeninthejar
Betweenthehour?glassandthepepper?pot.quot;
THEWOMAN.Thescandalousbook.
FIRSTMERCHANT.quot;Norhowwhenhesaway
Atthehorsefairthehandthatwrotewhatshid
Willtapthreetimesuponthewindow?pane.quot;
THEWOMAN.Andifthereisaletter，thatisnoreason
WhyIshouldhavelessmoneythantheothers.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Yourealmostsafe，Igiveyoufiftycrowns
(Sheturnstogo.)
Ahundred，then.
SHEMUS.Woman，havesense?come，Come.
Isthisatimetohaggleattheprice?
There，takeitup.There，there.Thatsright.
(Shetakesthemandgoesintothecrowd.)
FIRSTMERCHANT.Come，deal，deal，deal.ItisbutforcharityWebuysuchsoulsatall;athousandsins
MadethemourMasterslongbeforewecame.
(ALEELenters.)
ALEEL.Here，takemysoul，forIamtiredofit.
Idonotaskaprice.
SHEMUS.Notaskaprice?
Howcanyousellyoursoulwithoutaprice?
Iwouldnotlistentohisbrokenwits;
HisloveforCountessCathleenhassocrazedhim
Hehardlyunderstandswhatheissaying.
ALEEL.ThetroublethathascomeonCountessCathleen，
Thesorrowthatisinherwastedface，
Theburdeninhereyes，havebrokemywits，
AndyetIknowIdhaveyoutakemysoul.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Wecannottakeyoursoul，foritishers.
ALEEL.No.butyoumust.Seeingitcannothelpher
Ihavegrowntiredofit.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Begonefromme
Imaynottouchit.
ALEEL.Isyourpowersosmall?
AndmustIbearitwithmeallmydays?
Mayyoubescornedandmocked!
FIRSTMERCHANT.Draghimaway.
Hetroublesme.
(TEIGandSHEMUSleadALEELintothecrowd.)
SECONDMERCHANT.Hisgazehasfilledme，brother，
Withshakingandadreadfulfear.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Leanforward
AndkissthecircletwheremyMasterslips
Werepresseduponitwhenhesentushither;
Youshallhavepeaceoncemore.
(SECONDMERCHANTkissesthegoldcircletthatisaboutthe
headoftheFIRSTMERCHANT.)
I，too，growweary，
Butthereissomethingmovinginmyheart
WherebyIknowthatwhatweseekthemost
Isdrawingnear??ourlabourwillsoonend.
Come，deal，deal，deal，deal，deal;areyoualldumb?
What，willyoukeepmefromourancienthome
Andfromtheeternalrevelry?
SECONDMERCHANT.Deal，deal.
SHEMUS.Theysayyoubeatthewomandowntoolow.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Iofferthisgreatprice:a?thousandcrownsForanoldwomanwhowasalwaysugly.
(AnOldPEASANTWOMANcomesforward，andhetakesupabookandreads.)
Thereisbutlittlesetdownhereagainsther.
quot;Shehasstoleneggsandfowlwhentimeswerebad，
Butwhenthetimesgrewbetterhasconfessedit;
ShenevermissedherchapelofaSunday
Andwhenshecould，paiddues.quot;Takeupyourmoney.
OLDWOMAN.Godblessyou，Sir.
(Shescreams.)
Oh，sir，apainwentthroughme!
FIRSTMERCHANT.Thatnameislikeafiretoalldamnedsouls.
(MurmuramongthePEASANTS，whoshrinkbackfromherasshegoesout.)
APEASANT.Howshescreamedout!
SECONDPEASANT.Andmaybeweshallscreamso.
THIRDPEASANT.Itellyouthereisnosuchplaceashell.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Cansuchatrifleturnyoufromyourprofit?Come，deal;come，deal，
MIDDLE?AGEDMAN.Master，Iamafraid.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Iboughtyoursoul，andtheresnosenseinfearNowthesoulsgone.
MIDDLE?AGEDMAN.Givememysoulagain.
WOMAN(goingonherkneesandclingingtoMERCHANT)
Andtakethismoneytoo，andgivememine.
SECONDMERCHANT.Bearbastards，drinkorfollowsomewildfancy;Forsighsandcriesarethesouls
work，
Andyouhavenone.
(Throwsthewomanoff.)
PEASANT.Come，letsaway.
ANOTHERPEASANT.Yes，yes.
ANOTHERPEASANT.Comequickly;ifthatwomanhadnotscreamedIwouldhavelostmysoul.
ANOTHERPEASANT.Come，comeaway.
(Theyturntodoor，butarestoppedbyshoutsofquot;Countess
Cathleen!CountessCathleen!quot;)
CATHLEEN(entering)Andsoyoutradeoncemore?
FIRSTMERCHANT.Inspiteofyou.
Whatbringsyouhere，saintwiththesapphireeyes?
CATHLEEN.Icometobarterasoulforagreatprice.
SECONDMERCHANT.Whatmatter，ifthesoulbeworththeprice?
CATHLEEN.Thepeoplestarve，thereforethepeoplego
Throngingtoyou.Ihearacrycomefromthem
Anditisinmyearsbynightandday，
AndIwouldhavefivehundredthousandcrowns
ThatImayfeedthemtillthedearthgoby.
FIRSTMERCHANT..Itmaybethesoulsworthit.
CATHLEEN.Thereismore:
Thesoulsthatyouhaveboughtmustbesetfree.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Weknowofbutonesoulthatsworththeprice.
CATHLEEN.Beingmyownitseemsapricelessthing.
SECONDMERCHANT.Youofferus??
CATHLEEN.Ioffermyownsoul.
APEASANT.Donot，donot，forsoulsthelikeofours
ArenotprecioustoGodasyoursoulis.
O!whatwouldHeavendowithoutyou，lady?
ANOTHERPEASANT.
Lookhowtheirclawsclutchintheirleatherngloves.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Fivehundredthousandcrowns;wegivetheprice.Thegoldishere;thesoulseven
whileyouspeak
Haveslippedoutofourbond，becauseyourface
Hasshedalightonthemandfilledtheirhearts.
Butyoumustsign，forweomitnoform
Inbuyingasoullikeyours.
SECONDMERCHANT.Signwiththisquill.
Itwasafeathergrowingonthecock
ThatcrowedwhenPeterdareddenyhisMaster，
AndallwhouseithavegreathonourinHell.
(CATHLEENleansforwardtosign.)
ALEEL(rushingforwardandsnatchingtheparchmentfromher)Leaveallthingstothebuilderofthe
heavens.
CATHLEEN.Ihavenothoughts;Ihearacry??acry.
ALEEL(castingtheparchmentontheground)
Ihaveseenavisionunderagreenhedge，
Ahedgeofhipsandhaws?menyetshallhear
TheArchangelsrollingSatansemptyskull
Overthemountain?tops.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Takehimaway.
(TEIGandSHEMUSdraghimroughlyawaysothathefallsupontheflooramongthePEASANTS.
CATHLEENpicksupparchmentandsigns，thenturnstowardsthePEASANTS.)
CATHLEEN.Takeupthemoney，andnowcomewithme;
Whenwearefarfromthispollutedplace
Iwillgiveeverybodymoneyenough.
(Shegoesout，thePEASANTScrowdingroundherandkissingherdress.ALEELandthetwoMERCHANTS
areleftalone.)
SECONDMERCHANT.Wemustawayandwaituntilshedies，
Sittingabovehertowerastwogreyowls，
Waitingasmanyyearsasmaybe，guarding
Ourpreciousjewel;waitingtoseizehersoul.
FIRSTMERCHANT.Weneedbuthoveroverherheadintheair，Forshehasonlyminutes.Whenshesigned
Herheartbegantobreak.Hush，hush，Ihear
ThebrazendoorofHellmoveonitshinges，
Andtheeternalrevelryfloathither
Toheartenus.
SECONDMERCHANT.Leapfeatheredontheair
Andmeetthemwithhersoulcaughtinyourclaws.
(TheyrushOut.ALEELcrawlsintothemiddleoftheroom.Thetwilighthasfallenandgraduallydarkensas
thescenegoeson.Thereisadistantmutteringofthunderandasoundofrisingstorm.)
ALEEL.Thebrazendoorstandswide，andBalorcomes
Borneinhisheavycar，anddemonshavelifted
Theage?wearyeyelidsfromtheeyesthatofold
Turnedgodstostone;Barach，thetraitor，comes
Andthelasciviousrace，Cailitin，
Thatcastadruidweaknessanddecay
OverSualtemsandoldDecteraschild;
AndthatgreatkingHellfirsttookholdupon
WhenhekilledNaisiandbrokeDeirdresheart，
Andalltheirheadsaretwistedtooneside，
Forwhentheylivedtheywarredonbeautyandpeace
Withobstinate，crafty，sidelongbitterness.
(Hemovesaboutasthoughtheairwasfullofspirits.OONAenters.)
Crouchdown，oldheron，outoftheblindstorm.
OONA.WhereistheCountessCathleen?Allthisday
Hereyeswerefulloftears，andwhenforamoment
Herhandwaslaiduponmyhandittrembled，
AndnowIdonotknowwheresheisgone.
ALEEL.Cathleenhaschosenotherfriendsthanus，
Andtheyarerisingthroughthehollowworld.
Demonsareout，oldheron.
OONA.Godguardhersoul.
ALEEL.Shesbartereditawaythisveryhour，
Asthoughwetwowereneverintheworld.
Andtheyarerisingthroughthehollowworld.
(HePointsdownward.)
First，Orchill，herpale，beautifulheadalive，
Herbodyshadowyasvapourdrifting
Underthedawn，forshewhoawokedesire
Hasbutaheartofbloodwhenothersdie;
Aboutherisavapourymultitude
Ofwomenalluringdevilswithsoftlaughter
Behindherahostheatofthebloodmadesin，
Butallthelittlepink?whitenailshavegrown
Tobegreattalons.
(HeseizesOONAanddragsherintothemiddleoftheroom
andPointsdownwardwithvehementgestures.Thewindroars.)
Theybeginasong
Andthereisstillsomemusicontheirtongues.
OONA(castingherselffacedownwardsonthefloor)
O，Makerofall，protectherfromthedemons，
Andifasoulmustneedbelost，takemine.
(ALEELkneelsbesideher，butdoesnotseemtohearherwords.ThePEASANTSreturn.Theycarrythe
COUNTESSCATHLEENandlayheruponthegroundbeforeOONAandALEEL.Sheliesthereasifdead.)
OONA.O，thatsomanypitchersofroughclay
Shouldprosperandtheporcelainbreakintwo!
(ShekissesthehandsofCATHLEEN.)
APEASANT.Wewereunderthetreewherethepathturns，
Whenshegrewpaleasdeathandfaintedaway.
Andwhileweboreherhithercloudygusts
Blackenedtheworldandshookusonourfeet
Drawthegreatbolt，fornomanhasbeheld
Soblack，bitter，blinding，andsuddenastorm.
(Onewhoisnearthedoordrawsthebolt.)
CATHLEEN.O，holdme，andholdmetightly，forthestorm
Isdraggingmeaway.
(OONAtakesherinherarms.AWOMANbeginstowail.)
PEASANT.Hush!
PEASANTS.Hush!
PEASANTWOMENHush!
OTHERPEASANTWOMENHush!
CATHLEEN(halfrising)Layallthebagsofmoneyinaheap，AndwhenIamgone，oldOona，sharethemout
Toeverymanandwoman:judge，andgive
Accordingtotheirneeds.
APEASANTWOMAN.Andwillshegive
Enoughtokeepmychildrenthroughthedearth?
ANOTHERPEASANTWOMAN.
O，QueenofHeaven，andallyoublessedsaints，
Letusandoursbelostsoshebeshriven.
CATHLEEN.Benddownyourfaces，OonaandAleel;
Igazeuponthemastheswallowgazes
Uponthenestundertheeave，before
Shewandertheloudwaters.Donotweep
Toogreatawhile，forthereismanyacandle
OntheHighAltarthoughonefall.Aleel，
Whosangaboutthedancersofthewoods，
Thatknownotthehardburdenoftheworld，
Havingbutbreathintheirkindbodies，farewell
Andfarewell，Oona，youwhoplayedwithme，
Andboremeinyourarmsaboutthehouse
WhenIwasbutachildandthereforehappy，
Thereforehappy，evenlikethosethatdance.
ThestormisinmyhairandImustgo.
(Shedies.)
OONA.Bringmethelooking?glass.
(AWOMANbringsittoheroutoftheinnerroom.OONAholdsitoverthelipsOfCATHLEEN.Allissilent
foramoment.Andthenshespeaksinahalfscream:)
O，sheisdead!
APEASANT.Shewasthegreatwhitelilyoftheworld.
APEASANT.Shewasmorebeautifulthanthepalestars.
ANOLDPEASANTWOMAN.ThelittleplantIloveisbrokenintwo.
(ALEELtakeslooking?glassfromOONAandflingsituponthefloorsothatitisbrokeninmanypieces.)
ALEEL.Ishatteryouinfragments，fortheface
Thatbrimmedyouupwithbeautyisnomore:
Anddie，dullheart，forshewhosemournfulwords
Madeyoualivingspirithaspassedaway
Andleftyoubutaballofpassionatedust.
Andyou，proudearthandplumysea，fadeout!
Foryoumayhearnomoreherfalteringfeet，
Butareleftlonelyamidtheclamorouswar
Ofangelsupondevils.
(Hestandsup;almosteveryoneiskneeling，butithasgrownsodarkthatonlyconfusedformscanbeseen.)
AndIwhoweep
Callcursesonyou，TimeandFateandChange，
Andhavenoexcellenthopebutthegreathour
Whenyoushallplungeheadlongthroughbottomlessspace.
(Aflashoflightningfollowedimmediatelybythunder.)
APEASANTWOMAN.Pullhimuponhiskneesbeforehiscurses
Havepluckedthunderandlightningonourheads.
ALEEL.Angelsanddevilsclashinthemiddleair，
Andbrazenswordsclanguponbrazenhelms.
(Aflashoflightningfollowedimmediatelybythunder.)
Yonderabrightspear，castoutofasling，
HastornthroughBalorseye，andthedarkclans
FlyscreamingastheyfledMoyturaofold.
(Everythingislostindarkness.)
ANOLDMAN.TheAlmightywrathatourgreatweaknessandsinHasblottedouttheworldandwemust
die.
(Thedarknessisbrokenbyavisionarylight.ThePEASANTSseemtobekneelingupontherockyslopeofa
mountain，and
vapourfullofstormandever?changinglightissweepingabovethemandbehindthem.Halfinthelight，haff
intheshadow，standarmedangels.Theirarmourisoldandworn，andtheirdrawnswordsdimanddinted.
Theystandasifupontheair
informationofbattleandlookdownwardwithsternfaces.
ThePEASANTScastthemselvesontheground.)
ALEEL.Looknomoreonthehalf?closedgatesofHell，
Butspeaktome，whosemindissmittenofGod，
Thatitmaybenomorewithmortalthings，
Andtellofherwholiesthere.
(Heseizesoneoftheangels.)
Tillyouspeak
Youshallnotdriftintoeternity.
THEANGEL.Thelightbeatsdown;thegatesofpearlarewide.Andsheispassingtothefloorofpeace，
AndMaryoftheseventimeswoundedheart
Haskissedherlips，andthelongblessedhair
Hasfallenonherface;TheLightofLights
Looksalwaysonthemotive，notthedeed，
TheShadowofShadowsonthedeedalone.
(ALEELreleasestheANGELandkneels.)
OONA.Tellthemwhowalkuponthefloorofpeace
ThatIwoulddieandgotoherIlove;
Theyearslikegreatblackoxentreadtheworld，
AndGodtheherdsmangoadsthemonbehind，
AndIambrokenbytheirpassingfeet.
(Asoundoffar?offhornsseemstocomefromtheheartoftheLight.Thevisionmeltsaway，andtheformsof
thekneelingPEASANTSappearfaintlyinthedarkness.)“)