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shell bid against us and so bribe the poor
that our great masterll lack his merchandise。
you know that she has brought into this house
the old and ailing that are pinched the most
at such a time and so should be bought cheap。
youve seen us sitting in the house in the wood；
while the snails crawled about the window？pane
and the mud floor； and not a soul to buy；
not even the wandering fools nor one of those
that when the world goes wrong must rave and talk；
until they are as thin as a cats ear。
but all thats nothing； you sit drowsing there
with your back hooked； your chin upon your knees。
second merchant。 how could i help it？ for she prayed so hard i could not cross the threshold till her
lover
had turned her thoughts to dream。
first merchant； well； well； to labour。
there is the treasury door and time runs on。
（second merchant goes out。 first merchant sits cross？legged against a pillar； yawns and
stretches。）
first merchant。 and so i must endure the weight of the world； far from my master and the revelry；
thats lasted since？？shaped as a worm？？he bore
the knowledgable pippin in his mouth
to the first woman。
（second merchant returns with bags。）
where are those dancers gone？
they knew they were to carry it on their backs。
second merchant。 i heard them breathing but a moment since； but now they are gone； being
unsteadfast things。
first merchant。 they knew their work。 it seems that they imagine wed do such wrong to our great
masters name
as to bear burdens on our backs as men do。
ill call them； and wholl dare to disobey？
e； all you elemental populace
from cruachan and finbars ancient house。
e； break up the long dance under the hill；
or if you lie in the hollows of the sea；
leave lonely the long hoarding surges； leave
the cymbals of the waves to clash alone；
and shaking the sea？tangles from your hair
gather about us。
（the spirits gather under the arches。）
second merchant。 they e。 be still a while。
（spirits dance and sing。）
first spirit。 （singing） our hearts are sore； but we e
because we have heard you call。
second spirit。 sorrow has made me dumb。
first spirit。 her shepherds at nightfall
lay many a plate and cup
down by the trodden brink；
that when the dance break up
we may have meat and drink。
therefore our hearts are sore；
and though we have heard and e
our crying filled the shore。
second spirit。 sorrow has made me dumb。
first merchant。 what lies in the waves should be indifferent to good and evil； and yet it seems that
these；
forgetful of their pure； impartial sea；
take sides with her。
second merchant。 hush； hush； and still your feet。
you are not now upon maeves dancing？floor。
a spirit。 o； look what i have found； a string of pearls！
（they begin taking jewels out of bag。）
second merchant。 you must not touch them； put them in the bag； and now take up the bags upon your
backs
and carry them to shemus ruas house
on the woods border。
spirits。 no； no； no； no！
first spirit。 no； no； let us away；
from this we shall not e
cry out to us who may。
second spirit。 sorrow has made me dumb。
（they go。）
second merchant。 theyre gone； for little do they care for me； and if i called they would but turn and
mock；
but you they dare not disobey。
first merchant （rising） these dancers
are always the most troublesome of spirits。
（he es down the stage and stands facing the arches。 he makes a gesture of mand。 the spirits e
back whimpering。 they lift the bags and go out。 three speak as they are taking ub the bags。
first spirit。 from this day out well never dance again。
second spirit。 never again。
third spirit。 sorrow has made me dumb。
second merchant （looking into chapel door）
she has heard nothing； she has fallen asleep。
our lord would be well pleased if we could win her。
now that the winds are heavy with our kind；
might we not kill her； and bear off her spirit
before the mob of angels were astir？
first merchant。 if we would win this turquoise for our lord it must go dropping down of its free will
but ive a plan。
second merchant。 to take her soul to？night？
first merchant。 because i am of the ninth and mightiest hell where are all kings； i have a plan。
（voices。）
second merchant。 too late；
for somebody is stirring in the house； the noise
that the sea creatures made as they came hither；
their singing and their endless chattering；
has waked the house。 i hear the chairs pushed back；
and many shuffling feet。 all the old men and women
shes gathered in the house are ing hither。
a voice。 （within） it was here。
another voice。 no； farther away。
another voice。 it was in the western tower。
another voice。 e quickly； we will search the western tower。
first merchant。 we still have time？？they search the distant rooms。
second merchant。 brother； i heard a sound in there？？a sound that troubles me。
（going to the door of the oratory and peering through it。）
upon the altar steps the countess tosses； murmuring in her sleep a broken paternoster。
first merchant。 do not fear；
for when she has awaked the prayer will cease。
second merchant。 what； would you wake her？
first merchant。 i will speak with her；
and mix with all her thoughts a thought to serve。？？
lady； weve news thats crying out for speech。
（cathleen wakes and es to door of the chapel。）
cathleen。 who calls？
first merchant。 we have brought news。
cathleen。 what are you？
first merchant。
we are merchants； and we know the book of the world
because we have walked upon its leaves； and there
have read of late matters that much concern you；
and noticing the castle door stand open；
came in to find an ear。
cathleen。 the door stands open；
that no one who is famished or afraid；
despair of help or of a wele with it。
but you have news； you say。
first merchant。 we saw a man；
heavy with sickness in the bog of allen；
whom you had bid buy cattle。 near fair head
we saw your grain ships lying all becalmed
in the dark night； and not less still than they；
b