按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
cathleen。 so you are starving even in this wood；
where i had thought i would find nothing changed。
but thats a dream； for the old worm o the world
can eat its way into what place it pleases。
（she gives money。）
teig。 beautiful lady； give me something too；
i fell but now； being weak with hunger and thirst；
and lay upon the threshold like a log。
cathleen。 i gave for all and that was all i had。
look； my purse is empty。 i have passed
by starving men and women all this day；
and they have had the rest； but take the purse；
the silver clasps ont may be worth a trifle。
but if youll e to？morrow to my house
you shall have twice the sum。
（aleel begins to play。）
shemus （muttering）。 what； music； music！
cathleen。 ah； do not blame the finger on the string；
the doctors bid me fly the unlucky times
and find distraction for my thoughts； or else
pine to my grave。
shemus。 i have said nothing； lady。
why should the like of us plain？
oona。 have done。 sorrows that shes but read of in a book
weigh on her mind as if they had been her own。
（oona； mary； and cathleen go out。 aleel looks defiantly at
shemus。）
aleel。 （singing） impetuous heart； be still； be still；
your sorrowful love can never be told；
cover it up with a lonely tune；
he that could bend all things to his will
has covered the door of the infinite fold
with the pale stars and the wandering moon。
（he takes a step towards the door and then turns again。）
shut to the door before the night has fallen；
for who can say what walks； or in what shape
some devilish creature flies in the air； but now
two grey？horned owls hooted above our heads。
（he goes out； his singing dies away。 mary es in。 shemus has been counting the money。）
teig。 theres no good luck in owls； but it may be
that the ill lucks to fall upon their heads。
mary。 you never thanked her ladyship。
shemus。 thank her；
for seven halfpence and a silver bit？
teig。 but for this empty purse？
shemus。 whats that for thanks；
or whats the double of it that she promised？
with bread and flesh and every sort of food
up to a price no man has heard the like of
and rising every day。
mary。 we have all she had；
she emptied out the purse before our eyes。
shemus （to mary； who has gone to close the door）
leave that door open。
mary。 when those that have read books；
and seen the seven wonders of the world；
fear whats above or whats below the ground；
its time that poverty should bolt the door。
shemus。 ill have no bolts； for there is not a thing
that walks above the ground or under it
i had not rather wele to this house
than any more of mankind； rich or poor。
teig。 so that they brought us money。
shemus。 i heard say
theres something that appears like a white bird；
a pigeon or a seagull or the like；
but if you hit it with a stone or a stick
it clangs as though it had been made of brass；
and that if you dig down where it was scratching
youll find a crock of gold。
teig。 but dream of gold
for three nights running； and theres always gold。
shemus。 you might be starved before youve dug it out。
teig。 but maybe if you called； something would e；
they have been seen of late。
mary。 is it call devils？
call devils from the wood； call them in here？
shemus。 so youd stand up against me； and youd say
who or what i am to wele here。
（he hits her。）
that is to show whos master。
teig。 call them in。
mary。 god help us all！
shemus。 pray； if you have a mind to。
its little that the sleepy ears above
care for your words； but ill call what i please。
teig。 there is many a one； they say； had money from them。
shemus。 （at door）
whatever you are that walk the woods at night；
so be it that you have not shouldered up
out of a grave？？for ill have nothing human？？
and have free hands； a friendly trick of speech；
i wele you。 e； sit beside the fire。
what matter if your heads below your arms
or youve a horses tail to whip your flank；
feathers instead of hair； thats but a straw；
e； share what bread and meat is in the house；
and stretch your heels and warm them in the ashes。
and after that； lets share and share alike
and curse all men and women。 e in； e in。
what； is there no one there？
（turning from door）
and yet they say
they are as mon as the grass； and ride
even upon the book in the priests hand。
（teig lifts one arm slowly and points toward the door and begins moving backwards。 shemus turns； he
also sees something and begins moving backward。 mary does the same。 a man dressed as an
eastern merchant es in carrying a small carpet。 he unrolls it and sits cross？legged at one end of it。
another man dressed in the same way follows； and sits at the other end。 this is done slowly and deliberately。
when they are seated they take money out of embroidered purses at their girdles and begin arranging it on the
carpet。
teig。 you speak to them。
shemus。 no； you。
teig。 twas you that called them。
shemus。 （ing nearer）
id make so bold； if you would pardon it；
to ask if theres a thing youd have of us。
although we are but poor people； if there is；
why； if there is？？
first merchant。 weve travelled a long road；
for we are merchants that must tramp the world；
and now we look for supper and a fire
and a safe corner to count money in。
shemus。 i thought you were 。。。。 but thats no matter now？？
there had been words between my wife and me
because i said i would be master here；
and ask in what i pleased or who i pleased
and so。 。 。 。 but that is nothing to the point；
because its certain that you are but merchants。
first merchant。 we travel for the master of all merchants。
shemus。 yet if you were that i had thought but now
id wele you no less。 be what you please
and youll have supper at the market rate；
that means that what was sold for but a penny
is now worth fifty。
（merchants begin putting money on carpet。）
first merchant。 our master bids us pay
so good a price； that all who deal with us
shall eat； drink； and be merry。
shemus。 （to mar