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.)“)

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