THREE WONDER PLAYS

By LADY GREGORY

Drama

Other works:

SEVEN SHORT PLAYS. FOLK-HISTORY PLAYS. 2 VOLS. NEW COMEDIES. THE GOLDEN APPLE. THE DRAGON. OUR IRISH THEATRE. A CHAPTER OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY. THE KILTARTAN MOLIERE. THE IMAGE AND OTHER PLAYS. THREE WONDER PLAYS. 

Irish Folk-Lore and Legend

VISIONS AND BELIEFS. 2 VOLS. CUCHULAIN OF MURITHEMNE. GODS AND FIGHTING MEN. SAINTS AND WONDERS. POETS AND DREAMERS. THE KILTARTAN POETRY BOOK. THE KILTARTAN HISTORY BOOK. 

 * * * * *

HUGH LANE'S LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENT WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE DUBLIN GALLERIES. 

Three Wonder Plays

By

Lady Gregory

G. P. Putnam's SonsLondon & New York

Note

These plays have been copyrighted in the UnitedStates and Great Britain. 

All rights reserved, including that of translationinto foreign languages. 

All acting rights, both professional and amateur, are reserved in the United States, Great Britain, andall countries of the Copyright Union, by the author. Performances are forbidden and right of presentationis reserved. 

Application for the right of performing these playsor reading them in public should be made to SamuelFrench, 26, Southampton Street, Strand, London, W. C. 2. 

_Made in Great Britain by_

THE BOTOLPH PRINTING WORKSGATE STREET, KINGSWAY, W. C. 2

CONTENTS

THE DRAGON

ARISTOTLE'S BELLOWS

THE JESTER

THE DRAGON

ACT I

PERSONS

_The King_

_The Queen_. 

_The Princess Nuala_. 

_The Dall Glic_ (THE BLIND WISE MAN). 

_The Nurse_. 

_The Prince of the Marshes_. 

_Manus, King of Sorcha_. 

_Fintan, The Astrologer_. 

_Taig_. 

_Sibby_ (TAIG'S MOTHER). 

_Gatekeeper_. 

_Two Aunts of the Prince of the Marshes_. 

_Foreign Men Bringing in Food_. 

_The Dragon_. 

ACT I

_Scene: A room in the King's house at Burren. Large window at back with deep window seat. Doors right and left. A small table and somechairs_. 

_Dall Glic: (Coming in with tray, which he putson table. Goes back to door. )_ You can come in, King. There is no one here. 

_King: (Coming in. )_ That's very good. I wasin dread the Queen might be in it. 

_Dall Glic_: It is a good thought I had bringingit in here, and she gone to give learning to thePrincess. She is not likely to come this side. Itwould be a great pity to annoy her. 

_King: (Hastily swallowing a mouthful. )_ Lookout now the door and keep a good watch. Thetime she will draw upon me is when I am eatingmy little bite. 

_Dall Glic_: I'll do that. What I wouldn'tsee with my one eye, there's no other would seewith three. 

_King_: A month to-day since I wed with her, andwell pleased I am to be back in my own place. Igive you word my teeth are rusting with the wantof meat. On the journey I got no fair play. Shewouldn't be willing to see me nourish myself, unless maybe with the marrow bone of a wren. 

_Dall Glic_: Sure she lays down she is but thinkingof the good of your health. 

_King_: Maybe so. She is apt to be paying toomuch attention to what will be for mine and forthe world's good. I kept my health fair enough, and the first wife not begrudging me my enough. I don't know what in the world led me not to stopas I was. 

_Dall Glic_: It is what you were saying, it wasfor the good of the Princess Nuala, and of yourself. 

_King_: That is what herself laid down. Itwould be a great ease to my mind, she was saying, to have in the house with the young girl, a far-offcousin of the King of Alban, and that had beenconversation woman in his Court. 

_Dall Glic_: So it might be too. She is a greatmanager of people. 

_King_: She is that . .. I think I hear hercoming. .. . Throw a cloth over the plates. 

_Queen: (Coming in. )_ I was in search of you. 

_King_: I thought you were in Nuala's sunnyparlour, learning her to play music and to go throughbooks. 

_Queen_: That is what I thought to do. But Ihadn't hardly started to teach her the principlesof conversation and the branches of relationshipsand kindred of the big people of the earth, whenshe plucked off the coverings I had put over thecages, and set open their doors, till the fiery birdsof Sabes and the canaries of the eastern worldwere screeching around my head, giving out everyclass of cry and call. 

_King_: So they would too. 

_Queen_: The royal eagles stirred up till I mustquit the place with their squawking, and theenchanted swans raising up their heads and peckingat the beadwork on my gown. 

_King_: Ah, she has a wish for the birds of the air, that are by nature light and airy the same as herself. 

_Queen:_ It is time for her to turn her mindto good sense. What's that? (_Whipping clothfrom tray_. ) Is it that you are eating again, andit is but one half-hour since your breakfast?

_King_: Ah, that wasn't a breakfast you'd calla breakfast. 

_Queen_: Very healthy food, oaten meal flummerywith whey, and a griddle-cake; dandelion teaand sorrel from the field. 

_King_: My old fathers ate their enough of wildherbs and the like in the early time of the world. I'm thinking that it is in my nature to require agood share of nourishment as if to make up for thehardships they went through. 

_Queen_: What now have you within that pastrywall?

_King_: It is but a little leveret pie. 

_Queen: (Poking with fork. )_ Leveret! What'sthis in it? The thickness of a blanket of beef;calves' sweetbreads; cocks' combs; balls mixedwith livers and with spice. You to so much astaste of it, you'll be crippled and crappled withthe gout, and roaring out in your pain. 

_King_: I tell you my generations have enoughdone of fasting and for making little of the juicymeats of the world. 

_Queen_: And the waste of it! Goose eggs andjellies. .. . That much would furnish out a dinnerfor the whole of the King of Alban's Court. _King_: Ah, I wouldn't wish to be using anythingat all, only for to gather strength for to steerthe business of the whole of the kingdom!

_Queen_: Have you enough ate now, my dear?Are you satisfied?

_King:_ I am not. I would wish for a little tasteof that saffron cake having in it raisins of the sun. 

_Queen_: Saffron! Are you raving? You tohave within you any of the four-and-twenty sicknessesof the race, it would throw it out in redblisters on your skin. 

_King_: Let me just taste one little slab of thatvenison ham. 

_Queen: (Poking with a fork. )_ It would takeseven chewings! Sudden death it would be!Leave it alone now and rise up. To keep in healthevery man should quit the table before he is satisfied--there are some would walk to the door and backwith every bite. 

_King_: Is it that I am to eat my meal standing, the same as a crane in a shallow, or moving fromtuft to thistle like you'd see a jennet on the highroad?

_Queen_: Well, at the least, let you drink downa share of this tansy juice. I was telling you itwould be answerable to your health. 

_King_: You are doing entirely too much for me. 

_Queen_: Sure I am here to be comfortable toyou. This house before I came into it was buta ship without a rudder! Here now, take thespoon in your hand. 

_Dall Glic_: Leave it there, Queen, and I'llengage he'll swallow it down bye-and-bye. 

_Queen_: Is it that _you_ are meddling, Dall Glic?It is time some person took you in hand. I wondernow could that dark eye of yours be cured?

_Dall Glic_: It is given in that it can not, bydoctors and by druids. 

_Queen_: That is a pity now, it gives you a sortof a one-sided look. It might not be so hard athing to put out the sight of the other. 

_Dall Glic_: I'd sooner leave them the way theyare. 

_Queen_: I'll put a knot on my handkerchief tillsuch time as I can give my mind to it. .. . Now, my dear (_to King_), make no more delay. It isright to drink it down after your meal. Thestomach to be bare empty, the medicine mightprey upon the body till it would be wore awayand consumed. 

_King_: Time enough. Let it settle now fora minute. 

_Queen_: Here, now, I'll hold your nose the wayyou will not get the taste of it. 

(_She holds spoon to his mouth. A ball fliesin at window; he starts and medicineis spilled_. )

_Princess: (Coming in with Nurse. )_ Is it truewhat they are telling me?

_Queen_: Do you see that you near hit the Kingwith your ball, and, what is worse again, you havehis medicine spilled from the spoon. 

_Princess: (Patting him. )_ Poor old King. 

_Queen_: Have you your lessons learned?

_Princess: (Throwing books in the air. )_ Neitherline nor letter of them! Poem book! BrehonLaws! I have done with books! I am seventeenyears old to-day!

_Queen:_ There is no one would think it andyou so flighty as you are. 

_Princess: (To King. )_ Is it true that the cookis gone away?

_King: (Aghast. )_ What's that you're saying?

_Queen:_ Don't be annoying the King's mindwith such things. He should be hidden from everytrouble and care. 

_Princess:_ Was it you sent him away?

_Queen:_ Not at all. If he went it was throughfoolishness and pride. 

_Princess:_ It is said in the house that you annoyedhim. 

_Queen:_ I never annoyed any person in my life, unless it might be for their own good. But itfails some to recognise their best friend. Justteaching him I was to pickle onion thinnings as itwas done at the King of Alban's Court. 

_Princess:_ Didn't he know that before?

_Queen:_ Whether or no, he gave me very littlethanks, but turned around and asked his wages. Hurrying him and harrying him he said I was, and away with him, himself and his four-and-twentyapprentices. 

_King:_ That is bad news, and pitiful news. 

_Queen:_ Do not be troubling yourself at all. Itwill be easy find another. 

_King:_ It might not be easy to find so good aone. A great pity! A dinner or a supper notto be rightly dressed is apt to give no pleasure inthe eating or in the bye-and-bye. 

_Queen:_ I have taken it in hand. I have a goodheadpiece. I put out a call with running ladsand with the army captains through the wholeof the five provinces; and along with that, I haveit put up on tablets at the post office. 

_Princess:_ I am sorry the old one to be gone. To remember him is nearly the farthest spot inmy memory. 

_Queen: (Sharply. )_ If you want the house tobe under your hand only, it is best for you to settleinto one of your own. 

_Princess:_ Give me the little rush cabin by thestream and I'll be content. 

_Queen:_ If you mind yourself and profit bymy instruction it is maybe not a cabin you willbe moving to but a palace. 

_Princess:_ I'm tired of palaces. There are toomany people in them. 

_Queen:_ That is talking folly. When you settleyourself it must be in the station where you wereborn. 

_Princess:_ I have no mind to settle myself yetawhile. 

_Nurse:_ Ah, you will not be saying that thetime Mr. Right will come down the chimney, and will give you the marks and tokens of a king. 

_Queen:_ There might have some come lookingfor her before this, if it was not for you pettingand pampering her the way you do, and encouragingher flightiness and follies. It is likely she will getno offers till such time as I will have taught herthe manners and the right customs of courts. 

_Nurse:_ Sure I am acquainted with courts myself. Wasn't it I fostered comely Manus that is presentlyKing of Sorcha, since his father went out of theworld? And as to lovers coming to look for her!They do be coming up to this as plenty as the eyecould hold them, and she refusing them, and theylaying the blame upon the King!

_King:_ That is so, they laying the blame uponmyself. There was the uncle of the King ofLeinster; he never sent me another car-load ofasparagus from the time you banished him away. 

_Princess:_ He was a widower man. 

_King:_ As to the heir of Orkney, since the timeyou sent him to the right about, I never got somuch as a conger eel from his hand. 

_Princess:_ As dull as a fish he was. He had afish's eyes. 

_King:_ That wasn't so with the champion ofthe merings of Ulster. 

_Princess:_ A freckled man. He had hair thecolour of a fox. 

_King:_ I wish he didn't stop sending me histribute of heather beer. 

_Queen:_ It is a poor daughter that will notwish to be helpful to her father. 

_Princess:_ If I am to wed for the furnishingof my father's table, it's as good for you to wrapme in a speckled fawnskin and roast me!

_(Runs out, tossing her ball_. )

_Queen:_ She is no way fit for marriage unlesswith a herd to the birds of the air, till she has acouple of years schooling. 

_King:_ It would be hard to put her back tothat. 

_Queen:_ I must take it in hand. She is gettingentirely too much of her own way. 

_Nurse:_ Leave her alone, and in the end it willbe a good way. 

_Queen:_ To keep rules and hours she must learn, and to give in to order and good sense. _(To King. )_There is a pigeon messenger I brought from AlbanI am about to let loose on this day with news ofmyself and of yourself. I will send with it a messageto a friend I have, bidding her to make ready forNuala a place in her garden of learning and herschool. 

_King:_ That is going too fast. There is nohurry. 

_Queen:_ She is seventeen years. There is noday to be lost. I will go write the letter. 

_Nurse:_ Oh, you wouldn't send away the poorchild!

_Dall Glic:_ It would be a great hardship tosend her so far. Our poor little Princess Nu!

_Queen: (Sharply. )_ What are saying? _(DallGlic is silent. )_

_King:_ I would not wish her to be sent outof this. 

_Queen:_ There is no other way to set her mindto sense and learning. It will be for her owngood. 

_Nurse:_ Where's the use troubling her withlessons and with books that maybe she will neverbe in need of at all. Speak up for her, King. 

_King:_ Let her stop for this year as she is. 

_Queen:_ You are all too soft and too easy. Shewill turn on you and will blame you for it, andanother year or two years slipped by. 

_Nurse:_ That she may!

_Dall Glic:_ Who knows what might take placewithin the twelvemonth that is coming?

_King:_ Ah, don't be talking about it. Maybeit never might come to pass. 

_Dall Glic_: It will come to pass, if there is truthin the clouds of sky. 

_King_: It will not be for a year, anyway. There'llbe many an ebbing and flowing of the tide withina year. 

_Queen_: What at all are you talking about?

_King_: Ah, where's the use of talking toomuch. 

_Queen_: Making riddles you are, and strivingto keep the meaning from your comrade, that ismyself. 

_King_: It's best not be thinking about the thingyou would not wish, and maybe it might nevercome around at all. To strive to forget a threatyourself, it might maybe be forgotten by theuniverse. 

_Queen_: Is it true something was threatened?

_King_: How would I know is anything true, and the world so full of lies as it is?

_Nurse_: That is so. He might have been wrongin his foretelling. What is he in the finish but anold prophecy?

_Dall Glic_: Is it of Fintan you are saying that?

_Queen_: And who, will you tell me, is Fintan?

_Dall Glic_: Anyone that never heard tell ofFintan never heard anything at all. 

_Queen_: His name was not up on the tabletsof big men at the King of Alban's Court, or ofBritain. 

_Nurse_: Ah, sure in those countries they arewithout religion or belief. 

_Queen_: Is it that there was a prophecy?

_King_: Don't mind it. What are prophecies?Don't we hear them every day of the week? Andif one comes true there may be seven blind andcome to nothing. 

_Queen: (To Dall Glic_). I must get to the rootof this, and the handle. Who, now, is Fintan?

_Dall Glic:_ He is an astrologer, and understandingthe nature of the stars. 

_Nurse:_ He wore out in his lifetime three eaglesand three palm trees and three earthen dykes. It is down in a cleft of the rocks beyond he hashis dwelling presently, the way he can be watchingthe stars through the daytime. 

_Dall Glic:_ He prophesied in a prophecy, andit is written in clean letters in the King's yew-treebox. 

_King:_ It is best to keep it out of sight. Itbeing to be, it will be; and, if not, where's theuse troubling our mind?

_Queen:_ Sound it out to me. 

_Dall Glic: (Looking from window and drawingcurtain. )_ There is no story in the world is worseto me or more pitiful; I wouldn't wish any personto hear. 

_Nurse:_ Oh, take care it would come to theears of my darling Nu!

_Dall Glic:_ It is said by himself and the heavensthat in a year from this day the King's daughter willbe brought away and devoured by a scaly GreenDragon that will come from the North of theWorld. 

_Queen:_ A Dragon! I thought you were talkingof some danger. I wouldn't give in to dragons. I never saw one. I'm not in dread of beasts unlessit might be a mouse in the night-time!

_King:_ Put it out of mind. It is likely anywaythat the world will soon be ended the wayit is. 

_Queen: I_ will send and search out this astrologerand will question him. 

_Dall Glic_: You have not far to search. Heis outside at the kitchen door at this minute, andas if questioning after something, and it a half-scoreand seven years since I knew him to comeout of his cave. 

_King_: Do not! He might waken up the Dragonand put him in mind of the girl, for to make hisown foretelling come true. 

_Nurse_: Ah, such a thing cannot be! Thepoor innocent child! _(Weeps. )_

_Queen_: Where's the use of crying and roaring?The thing must be stopped and put an end to. I don't say I give in to your story, but that wouldbe an unnatural death. I would be scandalisedbeing stepmother to a girl that would be swallowedby a sea-serpent!

_Nurse_: Ochone! Don't be talking of it atall!

_Queen_: At the King of Alban's Court, oneof the royal family to die over, it will be naturallyon a pillow, and the dead-bells ringing, and aburying with white candles, and crape on theknocker of the door, and a flagstone put over thegrave. What way could we put a stone or somuch as a rose-bush over Nuala and she in theinside of a water-worm might be ploughing its waydown to the north of the world?

_Nurse_: Och! that is what is killing me entirely!O save her, save her. 

_King_: I tell you, it being to be, it will be. 

_Queen_: You may be right, so, when you wouldnot go to the expense of paying her charges at theRoyal school. But wait, now, there is a plancoming into my mind. 

_Nurse_: There must surely be some way!

_Queen_: It is likely a king's daughter the beast--ifthere is a beast--will come questing after, andnot after a king's wife. 

_Dall Glic_: That is according to custom. 

_Queen_: That's what I am saying. What wehave to do is to join Nuala with a man of a husband, and she will be safe from the danger ahead of her. In all the inventions made by poets, for to putterror on children or to knock laughter out of fools, did any of you ever hear of a Dragon swallowingthe wedding ring?

_All_: We never did. 

_Queen_: It's easy enough so. There must beno delay till Nuala will be married and wed withsomeone that will bring her away out of this, andlet the Dragon go hungry home!

_Nurse_: That she may! Isn't it a pity nowshe being so hard to please!

_Queen_: Young people are apt to be selfish andto have no thought but for themselves. She mustnot be hard to please when it will be to save andto serve her family and to keep up respect fortheir name. Here she is coming. 

_Nurse_: Ah, you would not tell her! Youwould not put the dear child under the shadowof such a terror and such a threat!

_King_: She must not be told. I never couldbear up against it. 

_(Nuala comes in_. )

_Queen:_ Look now at your father the way he is. 

_Princess: (Touching his hand. )_ What is frettingyou?

_Queen:_ His heart as weighty as that the chairnear broke under him. 

_Princess:_ I never saw you this way before. 

_Queen:_ And all on the head of yourself!

_Princess:_ I am sorry, and very sorry, for that. 

_Queen:_ He is loth to say it to you, but he istired and wore out waiting for you to settle withsome match. See what a troubled look he has onhis face. 

_Princess: (To King. )_ Is it that you want meto leave you? _(He gives a sob. ) (To Dall Glic. )_Is it the Queen urged him to this?

_Dall Glic:_ If she did, it was surely for your good. 

_Nurse:_ Oh, my child and my darling, let youstrive to take a liking to some good man that willcome!

_Princess:_ Are you going against me with the rest?

_Nurse:_ You know well I would never do that!

_Princess:_ Do you, father, urge me to go?

_King:_ They are in too big a hurry whywouldn't they wait a while, for a quarter, or three-quartersof a year. 

_Princess:_ Is that all the delay I am given, andthe term is set for me, like a servant that would bebanished from the house?

_King:_ That's not it. That's not right. Iwould never give in to let you go . .. If itwasn't . .. 

_Princess_: I know. _(Stands up. )_ For my owngood!

_(Trumpet outside. )_

_Gatekeeper_: (_Coming in_. ) There is companyat the door. 

_Queen_: Who is it?

_Gatekeeper_: Servants, and a company of women, and one that would seem to be a Prince, and young. 

_Princess_: Then he is come asking me in marriage. 

_Dall Glic_: Who is he at all?

_Gatekeeper_: They were saying he is the sonof the King of the Marshes. 

_King_: Go bring him in. 

_(Gatekeeper goes_. )

_Dall Glic_: That's right! He has great richesand treasure. There are some say he is the firstmatch in Ireland. 

_Nurse_: He is not. If his father has a coppercrown, and our own King a silver one, it is theKing of Sorcha has a crown of gold! The youngKing of Sorcha that is the first match. 

_Dall Glic_: If he is, this one is apt to be thesecond first. 

_Queen_: Do you hear, Nuala, what luck is flowingto you?

_Dall Glic_: Do not now be turning your backon him as you did to so many. 

_Princess_: No; whoever he is, it is likely I willnot turn away from this one. 

_Queen_: Go now and ready yourself to meet him. 

_Princess_: Am I not nice enough the way I am?

_Queen_: You are not. The King of Alban'sdaughter has hair as smooth as if a cow had licked it. 

_(Princess goes_. )

_Gatekeeper_: Here is the Prince of the Marshes!

_(Enter Prince, very young and timid, an old ladyon each side slightly in advance of him_. )

_King_: A great welcome before you. .. . And who may these be?

_Prince_: Seven aunts I have. .. . 

_First Aunt: (Interrupting. )_ If he has, thereare but two of us have come along with him. 

_Second Aunt_: For to care him and be companyfor him on his journey, it being the first time heever quitted home. 

_Queen_: This is a great honour. Will you takea chair?

_First Aunt_: Leave that for the Prince of theMarshes. It is away from the draught of thewindow. 

_Second Aunt_: We ourselves are in charge ofhis health. I have here his eel-skin boots for thedays that will be wet under foot. 

_First Aunt_: And I have here my little bag ofcures, with a cure in it that would rise the bodyout of the grave as whole and as sound as the timeyou were born. 

_(Lays it down_. )

_King: (To Prince_. ) It is many a day yourfather and myself were together in our early time. What way is he? He was farther out in age thanmyself. 

_Prince_: He is . .. 

_First Aunt: (Interrupting_. ) He is only middlingthese last years. The doctors have taken him inhand. 

_King_: He was more for fowling, and I wasmore for horses--before I increased so much ingirth. Is it for horses you are, Prince?

_Prince_: I didn't go up on one up to this. 

_First Aunt_: Kings and princes are getting scarce. They are the most class is wearing away, and it isright for them keep in mind their safety. 

_Second Aunt_: The Prince has no need to goupon a horse, where he has always a coach at hiscommand. 

_King_: It is fowling that suits you so?

_Prince_: I would be well pleased . .. 

_First Aunt_: There is great danger going outfowling with a gun that might turn on you afterand take your life. 

_Second Aunt_: Why would the Prince go intodanger, having servants that will go followingafter birds?

_Queen_: He is likely waiting till his enemies willmake an attack upon the country to defend it. 

_First Aunt_: There is a good dyke around aboutthe marshes, and a sort of quaking bog. It is notlikely war will come till such time as it will be madeby the birds of the air. 

_King_: Well, we must strive to knock out somesport or some pleasure. 

_Prince_: It was not on pleasure I was sent. 

_First Aunt_: That's so, but on business. 

_Second Aunt_: Very weighty business. 

_King_: Let the lad tell it out himself. 

_Prince_: I hope there is no harm in me cominghither. I would be loth to push on you . .. 

_First Aunt_: We thought it was right, as hewas come to sensible years . .. 

_King_: Stop a minute, ma'am, give him histime. 

_Prince_: My father . .. And his counsellors . .. And my seven aunts . .. That said it would beright for me to join with a wife. 

_Queen_: They showed good sense in that. 

_Prince: (Rapidly. )_ They bade me come andtake a look at your young lady of a Princess to seewould she be likely to be pleasing to them. 

_First Aunt_: That's it, and that is what broughtourselves along with him--to see would we besatisfied. 

_King_: I don't know. The girl is young--she'syoung. 

_First Aunt_: It is what we were saying, thatmight be no drawback. It might be easier trainher in our own ways, and to do everything thatis right. 

_King_: Sure we are all wishful to do the thingthat is right, but it's sometimes hard to know. 

_Second Aunt_: Not in our place. What theKing of the Marshes would not know, his counsellorsand ourselves would know. 

_Queen_: It will be very answerable to the Princessto be under such good guidance. 

_First Aunt_: For low people and for middlingpeople it is well enough to follow their own opinionand their will. But for the Prince's wife to haveany choice or any will of her own, the people wouldnot believe her to be a _real_ princess. 

_(Princess comes to door, listening unseen. )_

_King_: Ah, you must not be too strict with agirl that has life in her. 

_Prince_: My seven aunts that were saying theyhave a great distrust of any person that is lively. 

_First Aunt_: We would rather than the greatestbeauty in the world get him a wife who would becontent to stop in her home. 

_(Princess comes in very stately and with a__fine dress. She curtseys. Aunts curtseyand sit down again. Prince bows uneasilyand sidles away. )_

_First Aunt_: Will you sit, now, between thetwo of us?

_Princess_: It is more fitting for a young girlto stay in her standing in the presence of a king'skindred and his son, since he is come so far to lookfor me. 

_Second Aunt_: That is a very nice thought. 

_Princess_: My far-off grandmother, the oldpeople were telling me, never sat at the tableto put a bit in her mouth till such time as herlord had risen up satisfied. She was that obedientto him that if he had bidden her, she would havelaid down her hand upon red coals. 

_(Prince looks bored and fidgets. )_

_First Aunt_: Very good indeed. 

_Princess_: That was a habit with my grandmother. I would wish to follow in her ways. 

_King_: This is some new talk. 

_Queen_: Stop; she is speaking fair and good. 

_Princess_: A little verse, made by some goodwife, I used to be learning. "I always should:Be very good: At home should mind: My husbandkind: Abroad obey: What people say. "

_First Aunt: (Getting up. )_ To travel the world, I never thought to find such good sense before me. Do you hear that, Prince?

_Prince_: Sure I often heard yourselves shapingthat sort. 

_Second Aunt_: I'll engage the royal family willmake no objection to this young lady taking chargeof your house. 

_Princess_: I can do that! _(Counts on fingers. )_To send linen to the washing-tub on Monday, anddry it on Tuesday, and to mangle it Wednesday, and starch it Thursday, and iron it Friday, andfold it in the press against Sunday!

_Second Aunt_: Indeed there is little to learnyou! And on Sundays, now, you will go drivingin a painted coach, and your dress sewed with goldand with pearls, and the poor of the world envyingyou on the road. 

_Queen: (Claps hands. )_ There is no one butmust envy her, and all that is before her for herlifetime!

_First Aunt_: Here is the golden arm-ring thePrince brought for to slip over your hand. 

_Second Aunt_: It was put on all our generations ofqueens at the time of the making of their match. 

_Princess: (Drawing back her hand. )_ Mine isnot made yet. 

_First Aunt_: Didn't you hear me saying, andthe Prince saying, there is nothing could be laiddown against it. 

_Princess_: There is one thing against it. 

_Queen_: Oh, there can be nothing worth while!

_Princess_: A thing you would think a greatdrawback and all your kindred would think it. 

_Queen: (Rapidly. )_ There is nothing, but maybethat she is not so tall as you might think, throughthe length of the heels of her shoes. 

_Second Aunt_: We would put up with that much. 

_Princess: (Rapidly. )_ It is that there was aspell put upon me--by a water-witch that was ofmy kindred. At some hours of the day I am asyou see me, but at other hours I am changed intoa sea-filly from the Country-under-Wave. Andwhen I smell salt on the west wind I must race andrace and race. And when I hear the call of thegulls or the sea-eagles over my head, I must leapup to meet them till I can hardly tell what is myright element, is it the high air or is it the loosenedspring-tide!

_Queen_: Stop your nonsense talk. She is gonewild and raving with the great luck that is cometo her!

_(Prince has stood up, and is watching hereagerly. )_

_Princess_: I feel a wind at this very time thatis blowing from the wilderness of the sea, andI am changing with it. .. . There. _(Pulls downher hair. )_ Let my mane go free! I will raceyou, Prince, I will race you! The wind of Marchwill not overtake me, Prince, and I running on thetop of the white waves!

_(Runs out; Prince entranced, rushes to door. )_

_Aunts: (Catching hold of him. )_ Are you goingmad wild like herself?

_Prince_: Oh, I will go after her!

_First Aunt: (Clutching him)_ Do not! Shewill drag you to destruction. 

_Prince: (Struggling to door. )_ What matter! Letme go or she will escape me! _(Shaking himselffree. )_ I will never stop till I come to her. 

_(He rushes out, Second Aunt still holding onto him. )_

_First Aunt_: What at all has come upon him?I never knew him this way before!

_(She trots after him. )_

_Princess: (Comes leaping in by window. )_ Theyare gone running the road to Muckanish! Butthey won't find me!

_Queen_: You have a right to be ashamed ofyourself and your play-game. It's easy for youto go joking, having neither cark nor care: thatis no way to treat the second best match in Ireland!

_King_: You were saying you had your mindmade up to take him. 

_Princess_: It failed me to do it! Himself andhis counsellors and his seven aunts!

_Queen_: He will give out that you are crazedand mad. 

_Princess_: He will be thankful to his life's endto have got free of me!

_King_: I don't know. It seemed to me hewas better pleased with you in the finish thanin the commencement. But I'm in dread hisfather may not be well pleased. 

_Princess: (Patting him. )_ Which now of thetwo of you is the most to be pitied? He tohave such a timid son or you to have such an unrulydaughter?

_Queen_: It is likely he will make an attack onyou. There was a war made by the King of Britainon the head of a terrier pup that was sent to himand that made away on the road following hares. It's best for you to make ready to put yourself atthe head of your troop. 

_King_: It's long since I went into my battledress. I'm in dread it would not close upon mychest. 

_Queen_: Ah, it might, so soon as you wouldgo through a few hardships in the fight. 

_King_: If the rest of Adam's race was of myopinion there'd be no fighting in the world atall. 

_Queen_: It is this child's stubbornness is leadingyou into it. Go out, Nuala, after the Prince. Tellhim you are sorry you made a fool of him. 

_Princess_: He was that before--thinking toput me sitting and sewing in a cushioned chair, listening to stories of kings making a slaughterof one another. 

_Queen_: Tell him you have changed your mind, that you were but funning; that you will wedwith him yet. 

_Princess_: I would sooner wed with the Kingof Poison! I to have to go to his kingdom, I'dsooner go earning my wages footing turf, with askirt of heavy flannel and a dress of the grey frieze!Himself and his bogs and his frogs!

_Queen_: I tell you it is time for you to take ahusband. 

_Princess_: You said that before! And I wasgiving in a while ago, and I felt the blood of myheart to be rising against it! And I will not givein to you again! It is my own business and I willtake my own way. 

_Queen: (To King. )_ This is all one with theraving of a hag against heaven!

_King_: What the Queen is saying is right. Trynow and come around to it. 

_Princess_: She has set you against me with hertalk!

_Queen: (To King. )_ It is best for you to layorders on her. 

_Princess_: The King is not under yourorders!

_Queen_: You are striving to make him give into your own!

_King_: I will take orders from no one at all!

_Queen_: Bid her go bring back the Prince. 

_Princess_: I say that I will not!

_Queen_: She is standing up against you! Willyou give in to that?

_King_: I am bothered with the whole of you!I will give in to nothing at all!

_Queen_: Make her do your bidding so. 

_King_: Can't you do as you are told?

_Princess_: This concerns myself. 

_King_: It does, and the whole of us. 

_Princess_: Do you think you can force me towed?

_King_: I do think it, and I will do it. 

_Princess_: It will fail you!

_King_: It will not! I was too easy with youup to this. 

_Princess_: Will you turn me out of the house?

_King_: I will give you my word, it is little butI will!

_Princess_: Then I have no home and no father!It is to my mother you must give an account. You know well it is with the first wife you will goat the Judgment!

_Queen_: Is it that you would make threats tothe King? And put insults upon myself? Nowshe is daring and defying you! Let you put an endto it!

_King_: I will do that! _(Stands up. )_ I swearby the oath my people swear by, the seven thingscommon to us all; by sun and moon; sea and dew;wind and water; the hours of the day and night, I will give you in marriage and in wedlock to thefirst man that will come into the house!

_Princess: (Shrinking as from a blow. )_ It is theQueen has done this. 

_Queen_: I will give you out the reason, andsee will you put blame on me or praise!

_Nurse_: Oh, let you stop and not draw it downupon her!

_Queen_: It is right for me to tell it; it is truetelling! You not to be married and wed by thisday twelvemonth, there will be a terrible thinghappen you . .. 

_Nurse_: Be quiet! Don't you see Fintan himselflooking in the window!

_King_: Fintan! What is it bring you hereon this day?

_Fintan: (A very old man in strange clothes atwindow. )_ What brings me is to put my curseupon the whole tribe of kitchen boys that are goneand vanished out of this, without bringing me myrequest, that was a bit of rendered lard that wouldlimber the swivel of my spy-glass, that is cloggedwith the dripping of the cave. 

_Nurse_: And you have no bad news?

_Queen_: Nothing to say on the head of thePrincess, this being, as it is, her birthday?

_Fintan_: What birthday? This is not a birthdaythat signifies. It is the next will be the birthdayconcerned with the great story that is foretold. 

_Queen_: It is right for her to know it. 

_King_: It is not! It is not!

_Princess_: Whatever the story is, let me knowit, and not be treated as a child that is withoutcourage or sense. 

_Fintan_: It's long till I'll come out from mycleft again, and getting no peace or quiet on theridge of the earth. It is laid down by the starsthat cannot lie, that on this day twelvemonth, youyourself will be ate and devoured by a scaly GreenDragon from the North!

END OF ACT I. 

ACT II

ACT II

_Scene: The Same. Princess and Nurse_. 

_Nurse_: Cheer up now, my honey bird, anddon't be fretting. 

_Princess_: It is not easy to quit fretting, andthe terrible story you are after telling me of allthat is before and all that is behind me. 

_Nurse_: They had no right at all to go makeyou aware of it. The Queen has too much talk. An unlucky stepmother she is to you!

_Princess_: It is well for me she is here. It iswell I am told the truth, where the whole of youwere treating me like a child without sense, sogiddy I was and contrary, and petted and humouredby the whole of you. What memory would therebe left of me and my little life gone by, but of aheadstrong, unruly child with no thought butfor myself. 

_Nurse_: No, but the best in the world, youare; there is no one seeing you pass by but wouldlove you. 

_Princess_: That is not so. I was wild and takingmy own way, mocking and humbugging. 

_Nurse_: I never will give in that there is noway to save you from that Dragon that is foretoldto be your destruction. I would give thefour divisions of the world, and Ireland alongwith them, if I could see you pelting your ballin at the window the same as an hour ago!

_Princess_: Maybe you will, so long as it will hurtnobody. 

_Nurse_: Ah, sure it's no wonder there to be thetracks of tears upon your face, and that great terrorbefore you. 

_Princess_: I will wipe them away! I will notgive in to danger or to dragons! No one willsee a dark face on me. I am a king's daughterof Ireland, I did not come out of a herd's hut likeDeirdre that went sighing and lamenting till shewas put to death, the world being sick and tiredof her complaints, and her finger at her eye drippingtears!

_Nurse_: That's right, now. You had alwaysgreat courage. 

_Princess_: There is like a change within me. You never will hear a cross word from me again. I would wish to be pleasant and peaceable untilsuch time . .. 

_(Puts handkerchief to eyes and goes. )_

_Dall Glic: (Coming in. )_ The King is greatlyput out with all he went through, and the waythe passion rose in him a while ago. 

_Nurse_: That he may be twenty times worsebefore he is better! Showing such fury towardsthe innocent child the way he did!

_Dall Glic_: The Queen has brought him to thegrass plot for to give him his exercise, walking hisseven steps east and west. 

_Nurse_: Hasn't she great power over him tomake him to that much?

_Dall Glic_: I tell you I am in dread of her myself. Some plan she has for making my two eyes equal. I vexed her someway, and she got queer and humpy, and put a lip on herself, and said she would takeme in hand. I declare I never will have a minute'sease thinking of it. 

_Nurse_: The King should have done his sevensteps, for I hear her coming. 

_(Dall Glic goes to recess of window. )_

_Queen: (Coming in. )_ Did you, Nurse, ever atany time turn and dress a dinner?

_Nurse: (Very stiff. )_ Indeed I never did. Anyhouse I ever was in there was a good kitchen andwell attended, the Lord be praised!

_Queen_: Ah, but just to be kind and to obligethe King. 

_Nurse_: Troth, the same King will wait longtill he'll see any dish I will ready for him! I amnot one that was reared between the flags and theoven in the corner of the one room! To be a nurseto King's children is my trade, and not to go stirringmashes, for hens or for humans!

_Queen_: I heard a crafty woman lay down onetime there was no way to hold a man, only by foodand flattery. 

_Nurse_: Sure any mother of children walking theroad could tell you that much. 

_Queen_: I went maybe too far urging him notto lessen so much food the way he did. I onlythought to befriend him. But now he is somewayupset and nothing will rightly smooth him but tobe thinking upon his next meal; and what it willbe I don't know, unless the berries of the bush. 

_Dall Glic: (Leaning out of the window. )_ Here!Hi! Come this way!

_Queen_: Who are you calling to?

_Dall Glic_: It is someone with the appearanceof a cook. 

_Queen_: Are you saying it is a cook? Thatnow will put the King in great humour!

_(Manus appears at the window. )_

_Nurse: (Looking at him. )_ I wouldn't hardlythink he'd suit. He has a sort of innocent look. I wouldn't say him to be a country lad. I don'tknow is he fitted to go readying meals for a royalfamily, and the King so wrathful if they do notplease him as he is. And as to the Princess Nu!There to be the size of a hayseed of fat overheadon her broth, she'd fall in a dead faint. 

_Manus_: I'll go on so. 

_Queen_: No, no. Bring him in till I'll take alook at him!

_Manus: (Coming inside. )_ I am a lad in searchof a master. 

_Manus: (Inside. )_ I am a lad in search of amaster. 

_Queen_: And I myself that am wanting a cook. 

_Manus_: I got word of that and I going the road. 

_Queen_: You would seem to be but a young lad. 

_Manus_: I am not very far in age to-day. ButI'll be a day older to-morrow. 

_Queen_: In what country were you born andreared?

_Manus_: I came from over, and I am cominghither. 

_Queen_: What wages now would you be asking?

_Manus_: Nothing at all unless what you thinkI will have earned at the time I will be leavingyour service. 

_Queen_: That is very right and fair. I hopeyou will not be asking too much help. The lastcook had a whole fleet of scullions that were nouse but to chatter and consume. 

_Manus_: I am asking no help at all but thehelp of the ten I bring with me. 

_(Holds up fingers. )_

_Queen_: That will be a great saving in the house!Can I depend upon you now not to be turningto your own use the King's ale and his wine?

_Manus_: If you take me to be a thief I will goupon my road. It was no easier for me to comethan to go out again. 

_Queen: (Holding him. )_ No, now, don't be soproud and thinking so much of yourself. If Igive you trial here I would wish you to be readyto turn your hand to this and that, and not besaying it is or is not your business. 

_Manus_: My business is to do as the King wishes. 

_Queen_: That's right. That is the way theservants were in the palace of the King of Alban. 

_Manus_: That's the way I was myself in theKing's house of Sorcha. 

_Queen_: Are you saying it is from that place youare come? Sure that should be a great household!The King of Sorcha, they were telling me, hasseven castles on land and seven on the sea, andprovision for a year and a day in every one of them. 

_Manus_: That might be. I never was in morethan one of them at the one time. 

_Queen_: Anyone that has been in that place wouldsurely be fitting here. Keep him, Nurse! Don't lethim make away from us till I will go call the King!

_(Goes out. )_

_Nurse_: Sure it was I myself that fostered theyoung King of Sorcha and reared him in my lap!What way is he at all? My lovely child! Giveme news of him!

_Manus_: I will do that. .. . 

_Nurse_: To hear of him would delight me!

_Manus_: It is I that can tell you. .. . 

_Nurse_: It is himself should be a grand king!

_Manus_: Listen till you hear!. .. 

_Nurse_: His father was good and his mother wasgood, and it's likely, himself will be the best of all!

_Manus_: Be quiet now and hearken!. .. 

_Nurse_: I remember well the first day I saw himin the cradle, two and a score of years back! Oh, it is glad, and very glad, I'll be to get word of him!

_Manus_: He is come to sensible years. .. . 

_Nurse_: A golden cradle it was and it standingon four golden balls the very round of the sun!

_Manus_: He is out of his cradle now. _(Shakesher shoulder. )_ Let you hearken! He is in needof your help. 

_Nurse_: He'll get it, he'll get it. I doted downon that child! The best to laugh and to roar!

_Manus: (Putting hand on her mouth. )_ Willyou be silent, you hag of a nurse? Can't you seethat I myself am Manus, the new King of Sorcha?

_Nurse: (Starting back. )_ Do you say that?And how's every bit of you? Sure I'd know youin any place. Stand back till I'll get the full ofmy eyes of you! Like the father you are, and youneed never be sorry to be that! Well, I said tomyself and you looking in at the window, I wouldnot believe but there's some drop of king's bloodin that lad!

_Manus_: That was not what you said to me!

_Nurse_: And wasn't the journey long on youfrom Sorcha, that is at the rising of the sun? Isit your foot-soldiers and your bullies you broughtwith you, or did you come with your hound andyour deer-hound and with your horn?

_Manus_: There was no one knew of my journey. I came bare alone. I threw a shell in the sea andmade a boat of it, and took the track of the wildduck across the mountains of the waves. 

_Nurse_: And where in the world wide did youget that dress of a cook?

_Manus_: It was at a tailor's place near Oughtmana. There was no one in the house but the mother. Ileft my own clothes in her charge and my purseof gold; I brought nothing but my own bluesword. _(Throws open blouse and shows it. )_ She gaveme this suit, where a cook from this house hadthrown it down in payment for a drink of milk. I have no mind any person should know I am a king. I am letting on to be a cook. 

_Nurse_: I would sooner you to come as a championseeking battle, or a horseman that had gone astray, or so far as a poet making praises or curses accordingto his treatment on the road. It would be a badday I would see your father's son taken for a kitchenboy. 

_Manus_: I was through the world last night ina dream. It was dreamed to me that the King'sdaughter in this house is in a great danger. 

_Nurse_: So she is, at the end of a twelvemonth. 

_Manus_: My warning was for this day. Seeingher under trouble in my dream, my heart was hotto come to her help. I am here to save her, tomeet every troublesome thing that will come ather. 

_Nurse_: Oh, my heavy blessing on you doingthat!

_Manus_: I was not willing to come as a king, that she would feel tied and bound to live for ifI live, or to die with if I should die. I am comeas a poor unknown man, that may slip away afterthe fight, to my own kingdom or across the bordersof the world, and no thanks given him and no moreabout him, but a memory of the shadow of a cook!

_Nurse_: I would not think that to be right, and you the last of your race. It is best for youto tell the King. 

_Manus_: I lay my orders on you to tell no oneat all. 

_Nurse_: Give me leave but to _whisper_ it to thePrincess Nu. It's ye would be the finest two theworld ever saw. You will not find her equal in allIreland!

_Manus_: I lay it as crosses and as spells on youto say no word to her or to any other that willmake known my race or my name. Give me nowyour oath. 

_Nurse: (Kneeling. )_ I do, I do. But they willknow you by your high looks. 

_Manus_: Did you yourself know me a while ago?

_Nurse: (Getting up. )_ Oh, they're coming! Oh, my poor child, what way will you that never handleda spit be able to make out a dinner for theKing?

_Manus_: This silver whistle, that was her pipeof music, was given to me by a queen among theSidhe that is my godmother. At the sound of itthat will come through the air any earthly thingI wish for, at my command. 

_Nurse_: Let it be a dinner so. 

_Manus_: So it will come, on a green tableclothcarried by four swans as white as snow. Thefreshest of every meat, the oldest of every drink, nuts from the trees in Adam's Paradise!

_(King, Queen, Princess, Dall Glic come in. Princess sits on window sill. )_

_Queen: (To King. )_ Here now, my dear. Wasn'tI telling you I would take all trouble from yourmind, and that I would not be without finding acook for you?

_King_: He came in a good hour. The want of aright dinner has downed kingdoms before this. 

_Queen_: Travelling he is in search of servicefrom the kings of the earth. His wages are in noway out of measure. 

_King_: Is he a good hand at his trade?

_Queen_: Honest he is, I believe, and ready togive a hand here and there. 

_King_: What way does he handle flesh, I'd wishto know? And all that comes up from the tide?Bream, now; that is a fish is very pleasant to me--stewedor fried with butter till the bones of it meltin your mouth. There is nothing in sea or strandbut is the better of a quality cook--only oysters, that are best left alone, being as they are all gravyand fat. 

_Queen_: I didn't question him yet about cookery. 

_King_: It's seldom I met a woman with rightrespect for food, but for show and silly dishes andtrash that would leave you in the finish as dwindledas a badger on St. Bridget's day. 

_Queen_: If this youth of a young man was able togive satisfaction at the King of Sorcha's Court, I am sure that he will make a dinner to pleaseyourself. 

_Manus_: I will do more than that. I will dressa dinner that will please _my_self. 

_Princess: (Clapping hands. )_ Very well said!

_King_: Sound out now some good dishes suchas you used to be giving in Sorcha, and the Queenwill put them down in a line of writing, that I canbe thinking about them till such time as you willhave them readied. 

_Queen_: There are sheeps' trotters below; youmight know some tasty way to dress them. 

_Manus_: I do surely. I'll put the trotters withina fowl, and the fowl within a goose, and the goose ina suckling pig, and the suckling pig in a fat lamb, and the lamb in a calf, and the calf in a Maderalla . .. 

_King_: What now is a Maderalla?

_Manus_: He is a beast that saves the cook trouble, swallowing all those meats one after another--inSorcha. 

_King_: That should be a very pretty dish. Letyou go make a start with it the way we will not befamished before nightfall. Bring him, Dall Glic, to the larder. 

_Dall Glic_: I'm in dread it's as good for him tostop where he is. 

_King_: What are you saying?

_Dall Glic_: Those lads of apprentices that leftnothing in it only bare hooks. 

_Nurse_: It is the Queen would give no leavefor more provision to come in, saying there wasno one to prepare it. 

_Manus_: If that is so, I will be forced to laymy orders on the Hawk of the Grey Rock and theBrown Otter of the Stream to bring in meat atmy bidding. 

_King_: Hurry on so. 

_Queen_: I myself will go and give you instructionswhat way to use the kitchen. 

_Manus_: Not at all! What I do I'd as lief doin your own royal parlour! _(Blows whistle; two dark-skinnedmen come in with vessels. )_ Give me herethose pots and pans!

_Queen_: What now is about to take place?

_Dall Glic_: I not to be blind, I would say thoseto be very foreign-looking men. 

_King_: It would seem as if the world was grownto be very queer. 

_Queen_: So it is, and the mastery being givento a cook. 

_Manus_: So it should be too! It is the Kingof Shades and Shadows would have rule over theworld if it wasn't for the cooks!

_King_: There's some sense in that now. 

_(Strange men are moving and arranging basketsand vessels. )_

_Manus_: There was respect for cooks in theearly days of the world. What way did the Sonsof Tuireann get their death but going questingafter a cooking spit at the bidding of Lugh of theLong Hand! And if a spit was worthy of the deathof heroes, what should the man be worth that isskilled in turning it? What is the differencebetween man and beast? Beast and bird devourwhat they find and have no power to change it. But we are Druids of those mysteries, havingmagic and virtue to turn hard grain to tender cakes, and the very skin of a grunting pig to cracklingcausing quarrels among champions, and it singingupon the coals. A cook! If I am I am not withoutgood generations before me! Who was the firstold father of us, roasting and reddening the fruitsof the earth from hard to soft, from bitter to kind, till they are fit for a lady's platter? What is itleaves us in the hard cold of Christmas but therobbery from earth of warmth for the kitchenfire of _(takes off cap)_ the first and foremost of allmaster cooks--the Sun!

_Princess_: You are surely not ashamed of yourtrade!

_Manus_: To work now, to work. I'll engage toturn out a dinner fit for Pharaoh of Egypt orPharamond King of the Franks! Here, Queen, isa silver-breast phoenix--draw out the feathers--theyare pure silver--fair and clean. _(Queen pluckseagerly. )_ King, take your golden sceptre and stirthis pot. 

_(Gives him one. )_

_King: (Interested. )_ What now is in it?

_Manus_: A broth that will rise over the sideand be consumed and split if you stop stirringit for one minute only! _(King stirs furiously. )_Princess _(She is looking on and he goes over to her)_, there are honey cakes to roll out, but I will notask you to do it in dread that you might spoil thewhiteness . .. 

_Princess_: I have no mind to do it. 

_Manus_: Of the flour!

_Princess_: Give them here. 

_(Rolls them out indignantly. )_

_Manus_: That is right. Take care, King, wouldthe froth swell over the brim. 

_Princess_: It seems to me you are doing butlittle yourself. 

_Manus_: I will turn now and . .. Boil theseeggs. 

_(Takes some on a plate; they roll off. )_

_Princess_: You have broken them. 

_Manus: (Disconcerted. )_ It was to show you agood trick, how to make them sit up on the narrowend. 

_Princess_: That is an old trick in the world. 

_Manus_: Every trick is an old one, but witha change of players, a change of dress, it comesout as new as before. Princess _(speaks low)_, Ihave a message to give you and a pardon to ask. 

_Princess_: Give me out the message. 

_Manus_: Take courage and keep courage throughthis day. Do not let your heart fail. There ishelp beside you. 

_Princess_: It has been a troublesome day indeed. But there is a worse one and a great danger beforeme in the far away. 

_Manus_: That danger will come to-day, themessage said in the dream. Princess, I have apardon to ask you. I have been playing vanities. I think I have wronged you doing this. It wassurely through no want of respect. 

_Gatekeeper: (Coming in. )_ There is word comefrom Ballyvelehan there is a coach and horsesfacing for this place over from Oughtmana. 

_Queen_: Who would that be?

_Gatekeeper_: Up on the hill a woman was, broughtword it must be some high gentleman. She couldsee all colours in the coach, and flowers on thehorse's heads. 

_Goes out_. )

_Dall Glic_: That is good hearing. I was indread some man we would have no welcome forwould be the first to come in this day. 

_Queen_: Not a fear of it. I had orders givento the Gateman who he would and would notkeep out. I did that the very minute after theKing making his proclamation and his law. 

_King_: Pup, pup. You need not be drawingthat down. 

_Queen_: It is well you have myself to care youand to turn all to good. I gave orders to theGateman, I say, no one to be let in to the doorunless carriage company, no other ones, even if theyshould wipe their feet upon the mat. I notchedthat in his mind, telling him the King was afterpromising the Princess Nu in marriage to the firstman that would come into the house. 

_Manus_: The King gave out that word?

_Queen_: I am after saying that he did. 

_Dall Glic_: Come along, lad. Don't be puttingears on yourself. 

_Manus_: I ask the King did he give out thatpromise as the Queen says?

_King_: I have but a poor memory. 

_Nurse_: The King did say it within the hour, and swore to it by the oath of his people, takingcontracts of the sun and moon of the air!

_Dall Glic_: What is it to you if he did? Comeon, now. 

_Manus_: No. This is a matter that concernsmyself. 

_Queen_: How do you make that out?

_Manus_: You, that called me in, know well thatI was the first to come into the house. 

_Queen_: Ha, ha! You have the impudence! Itis a _man_ the King said. He was not talking aboutcooks. 

_Manus: (To the King. )_ I am before you as aserving lad, and you are a King in Ireland. Becauseyou are a King and I your hired servant you will notrefuse me justice. You gave your word. 

_King_: If I did it was in haste and in vexation, and striving to save her from destruction. 

_Manus_: I call you to keep to your word andto give your daughter to no other one. 

_Queen_: Speak out now, Dall Glic, and giveyour opinion and your advice. 

_Dall Glic_: I would say that this lad going awaywould be no great loss. 

_Manus_: I did not ask such a thing, but as ithas come to me I will hold to my right. 

_Queen_: It would be right to throw him to thehounds in the kennel!

_Manus: (To King. )_ I leave it to the judgmentof your blind wise man. 

_Queen: (To Dall Glic. )_ Take care would youoffend myself or the King!

_Manus_: I put it on you to split justice as itis measured outside the world. 

_Dall Glic_: It is hard for me to speak. Hehas laid it hard on me. My good eye may goasleep, but my blind eye never sleeps. In theplace where it is waking, an honourable man, kingor beggar, is held to his word. 

_King_: Is it that I must give my daughter toa lad that owns neither clod nor furrow? Whoseestate is but a shovel for the ashes and a tongs forthe red coals. 

_Queen_: It is likely he is urged by the sting ofgreed--it is but riches he is looking for. 

_King_: I will not begrudge him his own askingof silver and of gold!

_Manus_: Throw it out to the beggars on theroad! I would not take a copper half-penny!I'll take nothing but what has come to me fromyour own word!

_(King bows his head. )_

_Princess: (Coming forward. )_ Then this battleis not between you and an old king that is feeble, but between yourself and myself. 

_Manus_: I am sorry, Princess, if it must be abattle. 

_Princess_: You can never bring me away againstmy will. 

_Manus_: I said no word of doing that. 

_Princess_: You think, so, I will go with you ofmyself? The day I will do that will be the dayyou empty the ocean!

_Manus_: I will not wait longer than to-day. 

_Princess_: Many a man waited seven years fora king's daughter!

_Manus_: And another seven--and seven generationsof hags. But that is not my nature. I will not kneel to any woman, high or low, orcrave kindness that she cannot give. 

_Princess_: Then I can go free!

_Manus_: For this day I take you in my charge. I cross and claim you to myself, unless a betterman will come. 

_Princess_: I would think it easier to find a betterman than one that would be worse to me!

_Manus_: If one should come that you thinkto be a better man, I will give you your own way. 

_Princess_: It is you being in the world at allthat is my grief. 

_Manus_: Time makes all things clear. Youdid not go far out in the world yet, my poor littlePrincess. 

_Princess_: I would be well pleased to driveyou out through the same world!

_Manus_: With or without your goodwill, Iwill not go out of this place till I have carried outthe business I came to do. 

_Dall Glic_: Is it the falling of hailstones I hearor the rumbling of thunder, or is it the trots ofhorses upon the road?

_Queen: (Looking out. )_ It is the big man thatis coming--Prince or Lord or whoever he may be. _(To Dall Glic. )_ Go now to the door to welcomehim. This is some man worth while. _(To Manus. )_Let you get out of this. 

_Manus_: No, whoever he is I'll stop and facehim. Let him know we are players in the one game!

_King_: And what sort of a fool will you makeof me, to have given in to take the like of you fora son-in-law? They will be putting ridicule on mein the songs. 

_Queen_: If he must stop here we might putsome face on him. .. . If I had but a decentsuit. .. . Give me your cloak, Dall Glic. _(Hegives it. )_ Here now . .. _(To Manus. )_ Put thisaround you. .. . _(Manus takes it awkwardly. )_ Itwill cover up your kitchen suit. 

_Manus_: Is it this way?

_Queen_: You have no right handling of it--stupidclown! This way!

_Manus: (Flinging it off. )_ No, I'll change nomore suits! It is time for me to stop fooling andgive you what you did not ask yet, my name. Iwill tell out all the truth. 

_Gatekeeper: (At door. )_ The King of Sorcha!_(Taig comes in. )_

_King and Queen_: The King of Sorcha! _(Theyrush forward to greet him. )_

_Nurse: (To Manus. )_ Did ever anyone hearthe like!

_Manus_: It seems as if there will be a judgmentbetween the man and the clothes!

_Queen: (To Taig. )_ There is someone here thatyou know, King. This young man is giving outthat he was your cook. 

_Taig_: He was not. I never laid an eye on himtill this minute. 

_Queen_: I was sure he was nothing but a liarwhen he said he would tell the truth! Now, King, will you turn him out the door?

_King_: And what about the great dinner he hasme promised?

_Manus_: Be easy King. Whether or no youkeep your word to me I'll hold to mine! _(Blowswhistle. )_ In with the dishes! Take your places!Let the music play out!

_(Music plays, the strange men wheel in tablesand dishes. )_

CURTAIN

ACT III

ACT III

_Scene: Same. Table cleared of all but vessels offruit, cocoa-nuts, etc. Queen and Taig sittingin front, Nurse and Dall Glic standing in background_. 

_Queen_: Now, King, the dinner being at an end, and the music, we have time and quiet to betalking. 

_Taig_: It is with the King's daughter I am cometo talk. 

_Queen_: Go, Dall Glic, call the Princess. Shewill be here on the minute, but it is best for youto tell me out if it is to ask her in marriage youare come. 

_Taig_: It is so, where I was after being toldshe would be given as a wife to the first man thatwould come into the house. 

_Queen_: And who in the world wide gave thatout?

_Taig_: It was the Gateman said it to a hawkerbringing lobsters from the strand, and that got noleave to cross the threshold by reason of the oathgiven out by the King. The half of the kingdomshe will get, they were telling me, and the kingliving, and the whole of it after he will be dead. 

_Nurse_: There did another come in before you. Let me tell you that much!

_Taig_: There did not. The lobster man thatset a watch upon the door. 

_Queen_: A great honour you did us comingasking for her, and you being King of Sorcha!

_Taig_: Look at my ring and my crown. Theywill bear witness that I am. And my kind coat ofcotton and my golden shirt! And under thatagain there's a stiff pocket. _(Slaps it. )_ Is theree'er a looking-glass in any place? _(Gets up. )_

_Dall Glic_: There is the shining silver basin ofthe swans in the garden without. 

_Taig_: That will do. I would wish to looktasty when I come looking for a lady of a wife. _(He and Dall Glic go outside window but in sight. )_

_(Princess comes in very proud and sad. )_

_Queen_: You should be proud this day, Nuala, and so grand a man coming asking you in marriageas the King of Sorcha. 

_Nurse_: Grand, indeed! As grand as hands andpins can make him. 

_Princess_: Are you not satisfied to have urgedme to one man and promised me to another sincesunrise?

_Queen_: What way could I know there wasthis match on the way, and a better match beyondmeasure? This is no black stranger going theroad, but a man having a copper crown over hisgateway and a silver crown over his palace door!I tell you he has means to hang a pearl of goldupon every rib of your hair! There is no oneahead of him in all Ireland, with his chain and hisring and his suit of the dearest silk!

_Princess_: If it was a suit I was to wed with hemight do well enough. 

_Queen_: Equal in blood to ourselves! Broughtup to good behaviour and courage and mannerly ways. 

_Princess_: In my opinion he is not. 

_Queen_: You are talking foolishness. A Kingof Sorcha must be mannerly, seeing it is he himselfsets the tune for manners. 

_Princess_: He gave out a laugh when old Michelinslipped on the threshold. He kicked at the dogunder the table that came looking for bones. 

_Queen_: I tell you what might be ugly behaviourin a common man is suitable and right in a king. But you are so hard to please and so pettish, I amseven times tired of yourself and your ways. 

_Princess_: If no one could force me to give into the man that made a claim to me to-day, accordingto my father's bond, that bond is there yet toprotect me from any other one. 

_Queen_: Leave me alone! Myself and theDall Glic will take means to rid you of that ladfrom the oven. I'll send in now to you the Kingof Sorcha. Let you show civility to him, and thewedding day will be to-morrow. 

_Princess_: I will not see him, I will have nothingto do with him; I tell you if he had the rents ofthe whole world I would not go with him by dayor by night, on foot or on horseback, in light or indarkness, in company or alone!

_(Queen has gone while she cries this out. )_

_Nurse_: The luck of the seven Saturdays onhimself and on the Queen!

_Princess_: Oh, Muime, do not let him comenear me! Have you no way to help me?

_Nurse_: It's myself that could help you if Iwas not under bonds not to speak!

_Princess_: What is it you know? Why won'tyou say one word?

_Nurse_: He put me under spells. .. . Therenow, my tongue turned with the word to be dumb. 

_Taig: (At the window. )_ Not a fear of me, Queen. It won't be long till I bring the Princessaround. 

_Princess_: I will not stay! Keep him here tillI will hide myself out of sight! _(Goes. )_

_Taig: (Coming in. )_ They told me the Princesswas in it. 

_Nurse_: She has good sense, she is in some otherplace. 

_Taig: (Sitting down. )_ Go call her to me. 

_Nurse_: Who is it I will call her for?

_Taig_: For myself. You know who I am. 

_Nurse_: My grief that I do not!

_Taig_: I am the King of Sorcha. 

_Nurse_: If you say that lie again there will blistersrise up on your face. 

_Taig_: Take care what you are saying, youhag!

_Nurse_: I know well what I am saying. I havegood judgment between the noble and the meanblood of the world. 

_Taig_: The Kings of Sorcha have high, nobleblood. 

_Nurse_: If they have, there is not so much ofit in you as would redden a rib of scutch-grass. 

_Taig_: You are crazed with folly and age. 

_Nurse_: No, but I have my wits good enough. You ought to be as slippery as a living eel, I'llget satisfaction on you yet! I'll show out whoyou are!

_Taig_: Who am I so?

_Nurse_: That is what I have to get knowledgeof, if I must ask it at the mouth of cold hell!

_Taig_: Do your best! I dare you!

_Nurse_: I will save my darling from you as sureas there's rocks on the strand! A girl that refusedsons of the kings of the world!

_Taig_: And I will drag your darling from youas sure as there's foxes in Oughtmana!

_Nurse_: Oughtmana . .. Is that now your livingplace?

_Taig_: It is not. .. . I told you I came fromthe far-off kingdom of Sorcha. Look at my cloakthat has on it the sign of the risen sun!

_Nurse_: Cloaks and suits and fringes. You havea great deal of talk of them. .. . Have you e'er aneedle around you, or a shears?

_Taig: (His hand goes to breast of coat, but hewithdraws it quickly. )_ Here . .. No . .. Whatare you talking about? I know nothing at all ofsuch things. 

_Nurse_: In my opinion you do. Hearken now. I know where is the real King of Sorcha!

_Taig_: Bring him before me now till I'll downhim!

_Nurse_: Say that the time you will come faceto face with him! Well, I'm under bonds to tellout nothing about him, but I have liberty to makeknown all I will find out about yourself. 

_Taig_: Hurry on so. Little I care when onceI'm wed with the King's daughter!

_Nurse_: That will never be!

_Taig_: The Queen is befriending me and indread of losing me. I will threaten her if thereis any delay I'll go look for another girl of awife. 

_Nurse_: I will make no delay. I'll have mystory and my testimony before the white dawnof the morrow. 

_Taig_: Do so and welcome! Before the yellowlight of this evening I'll be the King's son-in-law!Bring your news, then, and little thanks you'llget for it! The King and Queen must keep upmy name then for their own credit's sake. _(Makesa face at her as King comes in with Dall Glic, andservants with cushions. Nurse goes out, shaking herfist. ) (Rises. )_ I was just asking to see you, King, to say there is a hurry on me. .. . 

_King: (Sitting down on window seat while Servantarranges cushions about him. )_ Keep your businessa while. It's a poor thing to be going throughbusiness the very minute the dinner is ended. 

_Taig_: I wouldn't but that it is pressing. 

_King_: Go now to the Queen, in her parlour, and be chatting and whistling to the birds. I giveyou my word since I rose up from the table I amgoing here and there, up and down, craving andstriving to find a place where I'll get leave to laymy head on the cushions for one little minute. 

_(Taig goes reluctantly. )_

_Dall Glic: (Taking cushions from servants. )_ Letyou go now and leave the King to his rest. 

_(They go out. )_

_King_: I don't know in the world why anyonewould consent to be a king, and never to be leftto himself, but to be worried and wearied andinterfered with from dark to daybreak and frommorning to the fall of night. 

_Dall Glic_: I will be going out now. I havebut one word only to say. .. . 

_King_: Let it be a short word! I would bebetter pleased to hear the sound of breezes inthe sycamores, and the humming of bees in thehive and the crooning and sleepy sounds of thesea!

_Dall Glic_: There is one thing only could causeme to annoy you. 

_King_: It should be a queer big thing thatwouldn't wait till I have my rest taken. 

_Dall Glic_: So it is a big matter, and a weightyone. 

_King_: Not to be left in quiet and all I am afterusing! Food that was easy to eat! Drink thatwas easy to drink! That's the dinner that _was_a dinner. That cook now is a wonder!

_Dall Glic_: That is now the very one I am wishfulto speak about. 

_King_: I give you my word, I'd sooner haveone goose dressed by him than seven dressed byany other one!

_Dall Glic_: The Queen that was urging me forto put my mind to make out some way to get quitof him. 

_King_: Isn't it a hard thing the very minuteI find a lad can dress a dinner to my liking, I mustbe made an attack on to get quit of him?

_Dall Glic_: It is on the head of the Princess Nu. 

_King_: Tell me this, Dall Glic. Supposing, now, he was . .. In spite of me . .. To wed with her. .. Against my will . .. And it might be unknownstto me. 

_Dall Glic_: Such a thing must not happen. 

_King_: To be sure, it must not happen. Whywould it happen? But supposing--I only saidsupposing it did. Would you say would thatlad grow too high in himself to go into the kitchen. .. It might be only an odd time . .. To obligeme . .. And dress a dinner the same as he didto-day?

_Dall Glic_: I am sure and certain that he wouldnot. It is the way, it is, with the common sort, the lower orders. He'd be wishful to sit on a chairat his ease and to leave his hand idle till he'd growto be bulky and wishful for sleep. 

_King_: That is a pity, a great pity, and a greatloss to the world. A big misfortune he to havegot it in his head to take a liking to the girl. Itell you he was a great lad behind the saucepans!

_Dall Glic_: Since he did get it in his head, it iswhat we have to do now, to make an end ofhim. 

_King_: To gaol him now, and settle up ovensand spits and all sorts in the cell, wouldn't he, to shorten the day, be apt to start cooking?

_Dall Glic_: In my belief he will do nothing atall, but to hold you to the promise you made, and to force you to send away the King of Sorcha. 

_King_: To have the misfortune of a cook fora son-in-law, and without the good luck of profitingby what he can do in his trade! That is a hard thingfor a father to put up with, let alone a king!

_Dall Glic_: If you will but listen to the adviceI have to give. .. . 

_King_: I know it without you telling me. Youare asking me to make away with the lad! Andwho knows but the girl might turn on me after, women are so queer, and say I had a right to haveasked leave from herself?

_Dall Glic_: There will no one suspect you ofdoing it, and you to take my plan. Bid themheat the big oven outside on the lawn that is forroasting a bullock in its full bulk. 

_King_: Don't be talking of roasted meat! Ithink I can eat no more for a twelvemonth!

_Dall Glic_: There will be nothing roasted thatany person will have occasion to eat. When theoven door will be open, give orders to your bulliesand your foot-soldiers to give a tip to him thatwill push him in. When evening comes, news willgo out that he left the meat to burn and made offon his rambles, and no more about him. 

_King_: What way can I send orders when I'mnear crazed in my wits with the want of rest. Alittle minute of sleep might soothe and settle mybrain. 

_(Lies down. )_

_Dall Glic_: The least little word to give leave. .. Or a sign . .. Such as to nod the head. 

_King_: I give you my word, my head is tirednodding! Be off now and close the door afteryou and give out that anyone that comes to thisside of the house at all in the next half-hour, hisneck will be on the block before morning!

_Dall Glic: (Hurriedly. )_ I'm going! I'mgoing. 

_(Goes. )_

_King: (Locking door and drawing window curtains. )_That you may never come back till I ask you!_(Lies down and settles himself on pillows. )_ I'll belying here in my lone listening to the pigeonsseeking their meal. "Coo-coo, " they're saying, "Coo-coo. "

_(Closes eyes. )_

_Nurse: (At door. )_ Who is it locked the door?_(Shakes it. )_ Who is it is in it? What is going onwithin? Is it that some bad work is after beingdone in this place? Hi! Hi! Hi!

_King: (Sitting up. )_ Get away out of that, you torment of a nurse! Be off before I'll havethe life of you!

_Nurse_: The Lord be praised, it is the King'sown voice! There's time yet!

_King_: There's time, is there? There's timefor everyone to give out their chat and their gab, and to do their business and take their ease and havea comfortable life, only the King! The beastsof the field have leave to lay themselves down in themeadow and to stretch their limbs on the greengrass in the heat of the day, without being pesteredand plagued and tormented and called to andwakened and worried, till a man is no less thanwore out!

_Nurse_: Up or down, I'll say what I have tosay, if it cost me my life. It is that I have to tellyou of a plot that is made and a plan!

_King_: I won't listen! I heard enough ofplots and plans within the last three minutes!

_Nurse_: You didn't hear this one. No one knowsof it only myself. 

_King_: I was told it by the Dall Glic. 

_Nurse_: You were not! I am only after makingit out on the moment!

_King_: A plot against the lad of the saucepans?

_Nurse_: That's it! That's it! Open now the door!

_King: (Putting a cushion over each ear andsettling himself to sleep. )_ Tell away and welcome!

_(Shuts eyes. )_

_Nurse_: That's right! You're listening. Giveheed now. That schemer came a while ago lettingon to be the King of Sorcha is no such thing! Whatdo you say?. .. Maybe you knew it before?I wonder the Dall Glic not to have seen that forhimself with his one eye. .. . Maybe you don'tbelieve it? Well, I'll tell it out and prove it. I have got sure word by running messenger thatcame cross-cutting over the ridge of the hill. .. . That carrion that came in a coach, pressing to bringaway the Princess before nightfall, giving himselfout to be some great one, is no other than Taig theTailor, that should be called Taig the Twister, down from his mother's house from Oughtmana, that stole grand clothes which were left in themother's charge, he being out at the time cuttingcloth and shaping lies, and has himself dressed outin them the way you'd take him to be King! _(Kinghas slumbered peacefully all through. )_ Now, whatdo you say? Now, will you open the door?

_Queen: (Outside. )_ What call have you toshouting and disturbing the King?

_Nurse_: I have good right and good reason todisturb him!

_Queen_: Go away and let me open the door. 

_Nurse_: I will go and welcome now; I havetold out my whole story to the King. 

_Queen: (Shaking door. )_ Open the door, mydear! It is I myself that is here! _(King looksup, listens, shakes his head and sinks back. )_ Areyou there at all, or what is it ails you?

_Nurse_: He is there, and is after conversingwith myself. 

_Queen: (Shaking again. )_ Let me in, my dearKing! Open! Open! Open! unless that thefalling sickness is come upon you, or that you aremaybe lying dead upon the floor!

_Nurse_: Not a dead in the world. 

_Queen_: Go, Nurse, I tell you, bring the smithfrom the anvil till he will break asunder the lockof the door!

_(King annoyed, waddles to door and opens itsuddenly. Queen stumbles in. )_

_King_: What at all has taken place that youcome bawling and calling and disturbing my rest?

_Queen_: Oh! Are you sound and well? I wasin dread there did something come upon you, when you gave no answer at all. 

_King_: Am I bound to answer every call andclamour the same as a hall-porter at the door?

_Queen_: It is business that cannot wait. Herenow is a request I have written to the bully ofthe King of Alban, bidding him to strike the headoff whatever man will put the letter in his hand. Write your name and sign to it, in three royal words. 

_King_: I wouldn't sign a letter out of my righthour if it was to make the rivers run gold. Thereis nothing comes of signing letters but more troublein the end. 

_Queen_: Give me, so, to bind it a drop of yourown blood as a token and a seal. You will notrefuse, and I telling you the messenger will gowith it, and that will lose his head through it, is noless than that troublesome cook!

_King: (With a roar. )_ Anyone to say that wordagain I will not leave a head on any neck in thekingdom! I declare on my oath it would bebest for me to take the world for my pillow andput that lad upon the throne!

_(Queen goes back frightened to door. )_

_Gateman: (Coming in. )_ There is a man comingin that will take no denial. It is Fintan theAstrologer. 

_(Fintan enters with Dall Glic, Nurse, Princess, Taig, Manus and Prince of the Marshescrowding after him. )_

_King_: Another disturbance! The whole worldwould seem to be on the move!

_Queen_: Fintan! What brings him here again?

_Fintan_: A great deceit? A terrible deception!

_King_: What at all is it?

_Fintan_: Long and all as I'm in the world, sucha thing never happened in my lifetime!

_Queen_: What is it has happened?

_Fintan_: It is not any fault of myself or anymiscounting of my own! I am certain sure ofthat much. Is it that the stars of heaven aregone astray, they that are all one with a clock--unlessit might be on a stormy night when theyare wild-looking around the moon. 

_King_: Go on with your story and stop yourraving. 

_Fintan_: The first time ever I came to this placeI made a prophecy. 

_Dall Glic_: You did, about the child was in thecradle. 

_Fintan_: And that was but new in the world. It is what I said, that she was born under a certainstar, and that in a score of years all but two, whatever acting was going on in that star at thetime she was born, she would get her crosses in thesame way. 

_Dall Glic_: The cross you foretold to her wasto be ate by a Dragon. You laid down it wouldcome upon a twelvemonth from this very day. 

_Fintan_: That's it. That was according tomy reckoning. There was no mistake in that. And I thought better of the Seven Stars thanthey to make a fool of me, after all the respectI had showed them, giving my life to watchingthemselves and the plans they have laid downfor men and for mortals. 

_King_: It seems as if I myself was the best prophetand that there is no Dragon at all. 

_Fintan_: What a bad opinion you have of methat I would be so far out as that! It would bea deception and a disappointment out of measure, there to come no Dragon, and I after foretellingand prophesying him. 

_King_: Troth, it would be no disappointmentat all to ourselves. 

_Fintan_: It would be better, I tell you, a scoreof king's daughters to be ate and devoured, thanthe high stars in their courses to be proved wrong. But it must be right, it surely must be right. Igave the prophecy according to her birth hour, that was one hour before the falling back of the sun. 

_Dall Glic_: It was not, but an hour before therising of the sun. 

_Fintan_: Not at all! It was the Nurse herselftold me it was at evening she was born. 

_Queen_: There is the Nurse now. Let you askher account. 

_Fintan: (To Nurse. )_ It was yourself laid downit was evening!

_Nurse_: Sure I wasn't in the place at all tillSamhuin time, when she was near three monthsin the world. 

_Fintan_: Then it was some other hag the veryspit of you! I wish she didn't tell a lie. 

_Nurse_: Sure that one was banished out of thison the head of telling lies. An hour ere sunrise, and before the crowing of the cocks. The DallGlic will tell you that much. 

_Dall Glic_: That is so. I have it marked uponthe genealogies in the chest. 

_Fintan_: That is great news! It was a heavywrong was done me! It had me greatly upset. Twelve hours out in laying down the birth-time!That clears the character of myself andof the carwheel of the stars. I knew I couldmake no mistake in my office and in mybillet!

_King_: Will you stop praising yourself and giveout some sense?

_Fintan_: Knowledge is surely the greatest thingin the world! And truth! Twelve hours withthe planets is equal to twelve months on earth. I am well satisfied now. 

_Queen_: So the Dragon is not coming, and thegirl is in no danger at all?

_Fintan_: Not coming! Heaven help your poorhead! Didn't I get word within the last half-hourhe is after leaving his den in the Kingdoms of theCold, and is at this minute ploughing his way toIreland, the same as I foretold him, but that Imade a miscount of a year?

_Nurse: (Putting her arm round Princess. )_ Och!do not listen or give heed to him at all!

_Queen_: When is he coming so?

_Fintan_: Amn't I tired telling you this dayin the place of this day twelvemonth. But as tothe minute, there's too much lies in this placefor me to be rightly sure. 

_King_: The curse of the seven elements uponhim!

_Fintan_: Little he'll care for your cursing. Thewhole world wouldn't stop him coming to yourown grand gate. 

_Princess: (Coming forward. )_ Then I am to dieto-night?

_Fintan_: You are, without he will be turnedback by someone having a stronger star than yourown, and I know of no star is better, unless it mightbe the sun. 

_Queen_: If you had minded me, and given into ring the wedding bells, you would be safe outof this before now. 

_Fintan_: That Dragon not to find her beforehim, he will ravage and destroy the whole districtwith the poisonous spittle of his jaw, till the wantwill be so great the father will disown his son andwill not let him in the door. Well, good-bye to ye!Ye'll maybe believe me to have foreknowledgeanother time, and I proved to be right. I haveknocked great comfort out of that!

_(Goes. )_

_King_: Oh, my poor child! My poor littleNu! I thought it never would come to pass, Ito be sending you to the slaughter. And I toobulky to go out and face him, having led an easy life!

_Princess_: Do not be fretting. 

_King_: The world is gone to and fro! I'llnever ask satisfaction again either in bed or board, but to be wasting away with watercresses and risingup of a morning before the sun rises in Babylon!_(Weeps. )_ Oh, we might make out a way to bafflehim yet! Is there no meal will serve him onlyflesh and blood? Try him with Grecian wine, and with what was left of the big dinner a while ago!

_Gateman: (Coming in. )_ There is some strangething in the ocean from Aran out. At first it wasbut like a bird's shadow on the sea, and now youwould nearly say it to be the big island would haveleft its moorings, and it steering its course towardsAughanish!

_Dall Glic_: I'm in dread it should be the Dragonthat has cleared the ocean at a leap!

_King: (Holding Princess. )_ I will not give youup! Let him devour myself along with you!

_Dull Glic: (To Princess. )_ It is best for meto put you in a hiding-hole under the ground, that has seven locked doors and seven locks onthe farthest door. It might fail him to makeyou out. 

_Nurse_: Oh, it would be hard for her to gowhere she cannot hear the voice of a friend orsee the light of day!

_Princess_: Would you wish me to save myselfand let all the district perish? You heard whatFintan said. It is not right for destruction to beput on a whole province, and the women and thechildren that I know. 

_Queen_: There is maybe time yet for you towed. 

_Princess_: So long as I am living I have a choice. I will not be saved in that way. It is alone I willbe in my death. 

_Manus: (Coming to King. )_ I am going outfrom you, King. I might not be coming in toyou again. I would wish to set you free fromthe promise you made me a while ago, and the bond. 

_King_: What does it signify now? What doesanything signify, and the world turning here andthere!

_Manus_: And another thing. I would wish toask pardon of the King's daughter. I ought notto have laid any claim to her, being a stranger inthis place and without treasure or attendance. And yet . .. And yet . .. _(stoops and kisses hemof her dress)_, she was dear to me. It is a man whonever may look on her again is saying that. 

_(Turns to door. )_

_Taig_: He is going to run from the Dragon!It is kind father for a scullion to be timid!

_Queen_: It is in his blood. He is maybe notto blame for what is according to his nature. 

_Manus_: That is so. I am doing what is accordingto my nature. 

_(Goes, Nurse goes after him. )_

_Queen: (To Dall Glic. )_ Go throw a dishclothafter him that the little lads may be mocking himalong the road!

_Dall Glic_: I will not. I have meddled enoughat your bidding. I am done with living underdread. Let you blind me entirely! I am freeof you. It might be best for me the two eyes tobe withered, and I seeing nothing but the ever-livinglaws!

_Prince of Marshes: (Coming to Princess. )_ It ismy grief that with all the teachers I had there wasnot one to learn me the handling of weapons orof arms. But for all that I will not run away, but will strive to strike one blow in your defenceagainst that wicked beast. 

_Princess_: It is a good friend that would ridus of him. But it grieves me that you shouldgo into such danger. 

_Prince of Marshes: (To Dall Glic. )_ Give mesome sword or casting spears. 

_(Dall Glic gives him spears. )_

_Princess_: I am sorry I made fun of you a whileago. I think you are a good kind man. 

_Prince of Marshes; (Kissing her hand. )_ Havingthat word of praise I will bring a good heart intothe fight. 

_(Goes. )_

_(Taig is slipping out after him. )_

_Queen_: See now the King of Sorcha slippingaway into the fight. Stop here now! _(Pulls himback. )_ You have a life that is precious to manybesides yourself. Do not go without being wellarmed--and with a troop of good fighting menat your back. 

_Taig_: I am greatly obliged to you. I thinkI'll be best with myself. 

_Queen_: You have no suit or armour upon you. 

_Taig_: That is what I was thinking. 

_Queen_: Here anyway is a sword. 

_Taig: (Taking it. )_ That's a nice belt now. Well worked, silver thread and gold. 

_Queen_: The King's own guard will go out withyou. 

_Taig_: I wouldn't ask one of them! Whatwould you think of me wanting help! A Dragon!Little I'd think of him. I'll knock the life out ofhim. I'll give him cruelty!

_Queen_: You have great courage indeed!

_Taig_: I'll cut him crossways and lengthwaysthe same as a yard of frieze! I'll make garters ofhis body! I'll smooth him with a smoothing iron!Not a fear of me! I never lost a bet yet that Iwasn't able to pay it!

_Gateman: (As he rushes in, Taig slips away. )_The Dragon! The Dragon! I seen it coming andits mouth open and a fiery flame from it! Andnine miles of the sea is dry with all it drank of it!The whole country is gathering the same as of afair day for to see him devour the Princess. 

_(Princess trembles and sinks into a chair. King, Queen and Dall Glic look fromwindow. They turn to her as theyspeak. )_

_Queen_: There is a terrible splashing in the sea!It is like as if the Dragon's tail had beaten it intosuds of soap!

_Dall Glic_: He is near as big as a whale!

_King_: He is, and bigger!

_Queen_: I see him! I see him! He would seemto have seven heads!

_Dall Glic_: I see but one. 

_Queen_: You would see more if you had yourtwo eyes! He has six heads at the least!

_King_: He has but one. He is twisting andturning it around. 

_Dall Glic_: He is coming up towards the flaggyshore!

_King_: I hear him! He is snoring like a flockof pigs!

_Queen_: He is rearing his head in the air! Hehas teeth as long as a tongs!

_Doll Glic_: No, but his tail he is rearing up!It would take a ladder forty feet long to get tothe tip of it!

_Queen_: There is the King of Sorcha going outthe gate for to make an end of him. 

_Dall Glic_: So he is, too. That is great bravery. 

_King_: He is going to one side. He is cometo a stop. 

_Dall Glic_: It seems to me he is ready to fall inhis standing. He is gone into a little thicket offurze. He is not coming out, but is lying crouchedup in it the same as a hare in a tuft. I can see hisshoulders narrowed up. 

_Queen_: He maybe got a weakness. 

_King_: He did, maybe, of courage. Shakingand shivering, he is like a hen in thunder. In myopinion, he is hiding from the fight. 

_Queen_: There is the Prince of the Marshesgoing out now, and his coach after him! Andhis two aunts sitting in it and screeching to himnot to run into danger!

_King_: He will not do much. He has not pithor power to handle arms. That sort brings a badname on kings. 

_Dall Glic_: He is gone away from the coach. He is facing to the flaggy shore!

_Queen_: Oh, the Dragon has put up his headand is spitting at him!

_King_: He has cast a spear into its jaw! Good man!

_(Princess goes over to window. )_

_Dall Glic_: He is casting another! His handshook . .. It did not go straight. He is goneon again! He has cast another spear! It shouldhit the beast . .. It let a roar!

_Princess_: Good little Prince! What way isthe battle now?

_Dall Glic_: It will kill him with its fiery breath!He is running now . .. He is stumbling . .. TheDragon is after him! He is up again! The twoAunts have pushed him into the coach and haveclosed the iron door. 

_King_: It will fail the beast to swallow him coachand all. It is gone back to refresh itself in the sea. You can hear it puffing and plunging!

_Queen_: There is nothing to stop it now. _(ToPrincess. )_ If you have e'er a prayer, now is thetime to say it. 

_Dall Glic_: Stop a minute . .. There is anotherchampion going out. 

_King_: A man wearing a saffron suit . .. Whois he at all? He has the look of one used to givingorders. 

_Princess: (Looking out. )_ Oh! he is but goingto his death. It would be better for me to throwmyself into the tide and make an end of it. 

_(Is rushing to door. )_

_King: (Holding her. )_ He is drawing his sword. Himself and the Dragon are thrusting at oneanother on the flags!

_Princess_: Oh, close the curtains! Shut out thesound of the battle. 

_(Dall Glic closes curtains. )_

_King_: Strike up now a tune of music that willdeafen the sound!

_(Orchestra plays. Princess is kneeling byKing. Music changes from discord tovictory. Two Aunts and Gateman rushin. Noise of cheering heard without asthe Gateman silences music. )_

_Gateman_: Great news and wonderful news anda great story!

_First Aunt_: The fight is ended!

_Second Aunt_: The Dragon is brought to hislast goal!

_Gateman_: That young fighting man that hashim flogged! Made at him like a wave breakingon the strand! They crashed at one another liketwo days of judgment! Like the battle of thecold with the heat!

_First Aunt_: You'd say he was going throughdragons all his life!

_Second Aunt_: It can hardly put a stir out ofitself!

_Gateman_: That champion has it baffled andmastered! It is after being chased over sevenacres of ground!

_First Aunt_: Drove it to its knees on the flaggyshore and made an end of it!

_King_: God bless that man to-day and to-morrow!

_Second Aunt_: He has put it in a way it will eatno more kings' daughters!

_Princess_: And the stranger that mastered it--ishe safe?

_First Aunt_: What signifies if he is or is not, solong as we have our own young prince to bringhome!

_Gatekeeper_: He is not safe. No sooner had hethe beast killed and conquered than he fell dead, and the life went out of him. 

_Princess_: Oh, that is not right! He to be deadand I living after him!

_King_: He was surely noble and high-blooded. There are some that will be sorry for his death. 

_Princess_: And who should be more sorry thanI myself am sorry? Who should keen him unlessmyself? There is a man that gave his life for me, and he young and all his days before him and shuthis eyes on the white world for my sake!

_Queen_: Indeed he was a man you might havebeen content to wed with, hard and all as you areto please. 

_Princess_: I never will wed with any man solong as my life will last, that was bought for mewith a life was more worthy by far than my own!He is gone out of my reach; let him wait for meto give him my thanks on the other side. Bringme now his sword and his shield till I will putthem before me and cry my eyes down with grief!

_Gateman_: Here is his cap for you, anyway, andhis cleaver and his bunch of skivers. For thechampion you are crying was no other than thatlad of a cook!

_Queen_: That is not true! It is not possible!

_Gateman_: Sure I seen him myself going out thegate a while ago. He put off his cook's appareland threw it along with these behind the turfstack. Igathered them up presently and I coming in the door. 

_King_: The world is gone beyond me entirely!But what I was saying all through, there wassomething beyond the common in that boy!

_Queen: (To Princess, who is clinging to chair. )_Let you be comforted now, knowing he cannotcome back to lay claim to you in marriage, as itis likely he would, and he living. 

_Princess_: It is he saved me after my unkindness!. .. Oh, I am ashamed . .. Ashamed!

_Queen_: It is a queer thing a king's daughterto be crying after a man used to twisting the spitin place of weapons, and over skivers in the placeof a sword!

_Princess: (Gropes and totters. )_ What has happened?There is something gone astray! I haveno respect for myself. .. . I cannot live! I amashamed. Where is Nurse? Muime! Come tome, Muime!. .. My grief! The man that diedfor me, whether he is of the noble or the simpleof the world, it is to him I have given the love ofmy soul!

_(Dall Glic supports her and lays her onwindow seat. )_

_Nurse: (Rushing in. )_ What is it, honey?What at all are they after doing to you?

_Queen_: Throw over her a skillet of water. Sheis gone into a faint. 

_Dall Glic: (Who is bending over her. )_ She isin no faint. She is gone out. 

_Nurse_: Oh, my child and my darling! Whatcall had I to leave you among them at all?

_King_: Raise her up. It is impossible she canbe gone. 

_Dall Glic_: Gone out and spent, as sudden asa candle in a blast of wind. 

_King_: Who would think grief would do awaywith her so sudden, there to be seven of the likeof him dead?

_Nurse: (Rises. )_ What did you do to her at all, at all? Or was it through the fright and terrorof the beast?

_Queen_: She died of the heartbreak, being toldthat the strange champion that had put down theDragon was killed dead. 

_Nurse_: Killed, is it? Who now put that lieout of his mouth? _(Shouts in her ear. )_ Whatwould ail him to be dead? It is myself can tellyou the true story. No man in Ireland ever washalf as good as him! It was himself mastered thebeast and dragged the heart out of him and forceddown a squirrel's heart in its place, and slapped abridle on him. And he himself did but staggerand go to his knees in the heat and drunkennessof the battle, and rose up after as good as ever hewas! It is out putting ointments on him that Iwas up to this, and healing up his cuts and wounds!Oh, what ails you, honey, that you will not waken?

_Queen_: She thought it to be a champion and ahigh up man that had died for her sake. It iswhat broke her down in the latter end, hearinghim to be no big man at all, but a clown!

_Nurse_: Oh, my darling! And I not here totell you! You are a motherless child, and thecurse of your mother will be on me! It was noclown fought for you, but a king, having generationsof kings behind him, the young King of Sorcha, Manus, son of Solas son of Lugh. 

_King_: I would believe that now sooner thanmany a thing I would hear. 

_Nurse: (Keening. )_ Oh, my child, and myshare! I thought it was you would be closing myeyes, and now I am closing your own! You tobe brought away in your young youth! Your handthat was whiter than the snow of one night, andthe colour of the foxglove on your cheek. 

_(A great shouting outside and burst of music. A march played. Manus comes in, followedby Fintan and Prince of the Marshes. Shouts and music continue. He leads theDragon by a bridle. The others are infront of Princess, huddled from Dragon. Queen gets up on a chair. )_

_Manus_: Where is the Princess Nu? I havebrought this beast to bow itself at her feet. 

_(All are silent. Manus flings bridle toFintan's hand. Dragon backs out. Allgo aside from Princess. )_

_Nurse_: She is here dead before you. 

_Manus_: That cannot be! She was well andliving half an hour ago. 

_Nurse: (Rises. )_ Oh, if she could but wakenand hear your voice! She died with the fret oflosing you, that is heaven's truth! It is tormentedshe was with these giving out you were done awaywith, and mocking at your weapons that they laiddown to be the cleaver and the spit, till the heartbroke in her like a nut. 

_Manus: (Kneeling beside her. )_ Then it is myselfhave brought the death darkness upon you at thevery time I thought to have saved you!

_Nurse_: There is no blame upon you, but somethat had too much talk!

_(Goes on keening. )_

_Manus_: What call had I to come humbuggingand letting on as I did, teasing and tormentingher, and not coming as a King should that is cometo ask for a Queen! Oh, come back for one minuteonly till I will ask your pardon!

_Dall Glic_: She cannot come to you or answeryou at all for ever. 

_Manus_: Then I myself will go follow you andwill ask for your forgiveness wherever you are gone, on the Plain of Wonder or in the Many-ColouredLand! That is all I can do . .. To go after youand tell you it was no want of respect that broughtme in that dress, but hurry and folly and takingmy own way. For it is what I have to say to you, that I gave you my heart's love, what I never gaveto any other, since first I saw you before me inmy sleep! Here, now, is a short road to reach you!

_(Takes sword. )_

_Prince of Marshes: (Catching his hand. )_ Goeasy now, go easy. 

_Manus_: Take off your hand! I say I will diewith her!

_Prince of Marshes_: That will not raise her upagain. But I, now, if I have no skill in killingbeasts or men, have maybe the means of bringingher back to life. 

_Nurse_: Oh, my blessing on you! What is ityou have at all?

_Prince of Marshes: (Taking bag from his Aunt. )_These three leaves from the Tree of Power thatgrows by the Well of Healing. Here they arenow for you, tied with a thread of the wool ofthe sheep of the Land of Promise. There is powerin them to bring one person only back to life. 

_First Aunt_: Give them back to me! Youhave your own life to think of as well as any otherone!

_Second Aunt_: Do not spend and squander thatcure on any person but yourself!

_Prince of Marshes: (Giving the leaves. )_ And ifI have given her my love that it is likely I willgive to no other woman for ever, indeed andindeed, I would not ask her or wish her to wedwith a very frightened man, and that is what Iwas a while ago. But you yourself have earned her, being brave. 

_Manus: (Taking leaves. )_ I never will forget itto you. You will be a brave man yet. 

_Prince of Marshes_: Give me in place of it yoursword; for I am going my lone through the worldfor a twelvemonth and a day, till I will learn tofight with my own hand. 

_(Manus gives him sword. He throws off cloakand outer coat and fastens it on. )_

_Nurse_: Stand back, now. Let the whole of yestand back. _(She lays a leaf on the Princess's mouthand one on each of her hands. )_ I call on you bythe power of the Seven Belts of the Heavens, ofthe Twelve Winds of the World, of the ThreeWaters of the Sea!

_(Princess stirs slightly. )_

_King_: That is a wonder of wonders! She is stirring!

_Manus_: Oh, my share of the world! Are youcome back to me?

_Princess_: It was a hard fight he wrestled with. . .. I thought I heard his voice. .. . Is he comefrom danger?

_Nurse_: He did. Here he is. He that savedyou and that killed the Dragon, and that let onto be a serving boy, and he no less than one ofthe world's kings!

_Manus_: Here I am, my dear, beside you, to beyour comrade and your company for ever. 

_Princess_: You!. .. Yes, it is yourself. Forgiveme. I am sorry that I spoke unkindly to youa while ago; I am ashamed that it failed me toknow you to be a king. 

(_She stands up, helped by Nurse_. )

_Manus_: It was my own fault and my folly. What way could you know it? There is nothingto forgive. 

_Princess_: But . .. If I did not recognise youas a king . .. Anyway . .. The time you droppedthe eggs . .. I was nearly certain that you wereno cook!

(_They embrace_. )

_Queen_: There now I have everything broughtabout very well in the finish!

(_A scream at door. Taig rushes in, followedby Sibby, in country dress. He kneels atthe Queen's feet, holding on to her skirt_. )

_Sibby_: Bad luck and bad cess to you! Tormentand vexation on you! (_Seizes him by back of neckand shakes him_. ) You dirty little scum and leavings!You puny shrimp you! You miserable ninth partof a man!

_Queen_: Is it King or the Dragon Killer he isletting on to be yet, or do you know what he isat all?

_Sibby_: It's myself knows that, and does knowit! He being Taig the tailor, my own son andmy misfortune, that stole away from me a whileago, bringing with him the grand clothes of thatyoung champion (_points to Manus_) and his gold!To borrow a team of horses from the plough hedid, and to bring away the magistrate's coach! ButI followed him! I came tracking him on the road!Put off now those shoes that are too narrow foryou, you red thief, you! For, believe me, you'llgo facing home on shank's mare!

_Taig: (Whimpering. )_ It's a very unkind thingyou to go screeching that out before the King, that will maybe strike my head off!

_Sibby_: Did ever you know of anyone making aquarrel in a whisper? To wed with the King'sdaughter, you would? To go vanquish the water-worm, you would? I'll engage you ran before youwent anear him!

_Taig_: If I didn't I'd be tore with his clawsand scorched with his fiery breath. It is likelyI'd be going home dead!

_Sibby_: Strip off now that cloak and that body-coatand come along with me, or I'll make splitmarrow of you! What call have you to a suitthat is worth more than the whole of the CountyMayo? You're tricky and too much tricks in you, and you were born for tricks! It would be rightyou to be turned into the shape of a limpingfoxy cat!

_Taig: (Weeping as he takes off clothes. )_ SureI thought it no harm to try to go bettermyself. 

_Prince of Marshes: (Giving his cloak and coat. )_Here, I bestow these to you. If you were a whileago a tailor among kings, from this out you willbe a king among tailors. 

_Sibby: (Curtseying. )_ Well, then, my thousandblessings on you! He'll be as proud as the worldof that. Now, Taig, you'll be as dressed up as the

best of them! Come on now to Oughtmana, asit is long till you'll quit it. 

_(They go towards door. )_

_Dragon: (Putting his head in at window. )_ Manus, King of Sorcha, I am starved with the want of food. Give me a bit to eat. 

_Fintan_: He is not put down! He will devourthe whole of us! I'd sooner face a bullet andten guns!

_Dragon_: It is not mannerly to eat withoutbeing invited. Is it any harm to ask where willI find a meal will suit me?

_Princess_: Oh, does he ask to make a meal ofme, after all?

_Dragon_: I am hungry and dancing with thehunger! It was you, Manus, stopped me from theone meal. Let you set before me another. 

_King_: There is reason in that. Drive up nowfor him a bullock from the meadow. 

_Dragon_: Manus, it is not bullocks I am craving, since the time you changed the heart within mefor the heart of a little squirrel of the wood. 

_Manus: (Taking a cocoa-nut from table. )_ Hereis a nut from the island of Lanka, that is calledAdam's Paradise. Milk there is in it, and a kernelas white as snow. 

_(He throws it out. Dragon is heard crunching. )_

_Dragon: (Putting head in again. )_ More! Giveme more of them! Give them out to me by thedozen and by the score!

_Manus_: You must go seek them in the east ofthe world, where you can gather them in bushelson the strand. 

_Dragon_: So I will go there! I'll make no delay!I give you my word, I'd sooner one of them thanto be cracking the skulls of kings' daughters, andthe blood running down my jaws. Blood! Ugh!It would disgust me! I'm in dread it would causevomiting. That and to have the plaits of hairtickling and tormenting my gullet!

_Princess_: (_Claps hands_. ) That is good hearing, and a great change of heart. 

_Dragon_: But if it's a tame dragon I am from thisout, I'm thinking it's best for me to make awaybefore you know it, or it's likely you'll be yokingme to harrow the clods, or to be dragging thewater-car from the spring well. So good-bye thewhole of ye, and get to your supper. Much goodmay it do you! I give you my word there isnothing in the universe I despise, only the flesh-eatersof Adam's race!

CURTAIN. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I wrote _The Dragon_ in 1917, that now seems so manylong years away, and I have been trying to remember howI came to write it. I think perhaps through some unseeninevitable kick of the swing towards gay-coloured comedyfrom the shadow of tragedy. It was begun seriouslyenough, for I see among my scraps of manuscripts that theearliest outline of it is entitled "The Awakening of a Soul, "the soul of the little Princess who had not gone "far outin the world. " And that idea was never quite lost, foreven when it had all turned to comedy I see as an alternativename "A Change of Heart. " For even the Dragon's heartis changed by force, as happens in the old folk tales andthe heart of some innocent creature put in its place by theconqueror's hand; all change more or less except theQueen. She is yet satisfied that she has moved all thingswell, and so she must remain till some new breaking up orre-birth. 

As to the framework, that was once to have been theoften-told story of a King's daughter given to whateverman can "knock three laughs out of her. " As well as Iremember the first was to have been when the eggs werebroken, and another when she laughed with the joy ofhappy love. But the third was the stumbling-block. Itwas necessary the ears of the Abbey audience should betickled at the same time as those of the Princess, and old-timejests like those of Sir Dinadin of the Round Tableseem but dull to ears of to-day. So I called to my help theDragon that has given his opportunity to so many a herofrom Perseus in the Greek Stories to Shawneen in thoseof Kiltartan. And he did not sulk or fail me, for afterone of the first performances the producer wrote: "Iwish you had seen the play last night when a big Northernin the front of the stalls was overcome with helplesslaughter, first by Sibby and then by the Dragon. He satthere long after the curtain fell, unable to move and wipingthe tears from his eyes; the audiences stopped going outand stood and laughed at him. " And even a Dragon maythink it a feather in his cap to have made Ulster laugh. 

A. G. 

Coole, February, 1920. 

ORIGINAL CAST

"The Dragon " was first produced at the AbbeyTheatre, Dublin, on 21st April, 1919, with thefollowing cast:

The King BARRY FITZGERALD

The Queen MARY SHERIDAN

The Princess Nuala EITHNE MAGEE

The Dall Glic (The Blind Wise Man) PETER NOLAN

The Nurse MAUREEN DELANY

The Prince of the Marshes J. HUGH NAGLE

Manus--King of Sorcha ARTHUR SHIELDS

Fintan--The Astrologer F. J. MACCORMICK

Taig FLORENCE MARKS

The Dragon SEAGHAN BARLOW

The Porter STEPHEN CASEY

The Gatekeeper HUBERT M'GUIRE

Two Aunts of the Prince of the Marshes {ESME WARD {DYMPHNA DALY

ARISTOTLE'S BELLOWS

PERSONS

_The Mother_. 

_Celia_ (HER DAUGHTER). 

_Conan_ (HER STEPSON). 

_Timothy_ (HER SERVING MAN). 

_Rock_ (A NEIGHBOUR). 

_Flannery_ (HIS HERD). 

_Two Cats_. 

ACT I

ACT I

_Scene: A Room in an old half-ruined castle_. 

_Mother_: Look out the door, Celia, and see isyour uncle coming. 

_Celia_: (_Who is lying on the ground, a bunch ofribbons in her hand, and playing with a pigeon, lookstowards door without getting up_. ) I see no sign ofhim. 

_Mother_: What time were you telling me it wasa while ago?

_Celia_: It is not five minutes hardly since I wastelling you it was ten o'clock by the sun. 

_Mother_: So you did, if I could but have keptit in mind. What at all ails him that he does notcome in to the breakfast?

_Celia_: He went out last night and the full moonshining. It is likely he passed the whole nightabroad, drowsing or rummaging, whatever he doesbe looking for in the rath. 

_Mother_: I'm in dread he'll go crazy with diggingin it. 

_Celia_: He was crazy with crossness before that. 

_Mother_: If he is it's on account of his learning. Them that have too much of it are seven timescrosser than them that never saw a book. 

_Celia_: It is better to be tied to any thorny bushthan to be with a cross man. He to know theseventy-two languages he couldn't be more crabbedthan what he is. 

_Mother_: It is natural to people do be so cleverto be fiery a little, and not have a long patience. 

_Celia_: It's a pity he wouldn't stop in thatschool he had down in the North, and not to comeback here in the latter end of life. 

_Mother_: Ah, he was maybe tired with enlighteninghis scholars and he took a notion to acquaintourselves with knowledge and learning. I wastrying to reckon a while ago the number of theyears he was away, according to the buttons of mygown (_fingers bodice_), but they went astray on meat the gathers of the neck. 

_Celia_: If the hour would come he'd go out ofthis, I'd sing, I'd play on all the melodeons thatever was known! (_Sings_. ) (_Air, "Shule Aroon_. ")

 "I would not wish him any ill, But were he swept to some far hill It's then I'd laugh and laugh my fill, Coo, Coo, my birdeen b�n astore. 

 "I wish I was a linnet free To rock and rustle on the tree With none to haste or hustle me, Coo, Coo, my birdeen b�n astore!"

_Mother_: Did you make ready now what willplease him for his breakfast?

_Celia_: (_Laughing_. ) I'm doing every wholething, but you know well to please him is notpossible. 

_Mother_: It is going astray on me what sort ofegg best suits him, a pullet's egg or the egg of aduck. 

_Celia_: I'd go search out if it would satisfy himthe egg of an eagle having eyes as big as the moon, and feathers of pure gold. 

_Mother_: Look out again would you see him. 

_Celia_: (_Sitting up reluctantly_. ) I wonder willthe rosy ribbon or the pale put the best appearanceon my party dress to-night? (_Looks out_. ) He iscoming down the path from the rath, and he havinghis little old book in his hand, that he gives outfell down before him from the skies. 

_Mother_: So there is a little book, whateverlanguage he does be wording out of it. 

_Celia_: If you listen you'll hear it now, or hearhis own talk, for he's mouthing and muttering ashe travels the path. 

_Conan_: (_Comes in: the book in his hand open, he is not looking at it_. ) "Life is the flame of theheart . .. That heat is of the nature of the stars. " . .. Itis Aristotle had knowledge to turn thatflame here and there. .. . What way now did hedo that?

_Mother_: Ah, I'm well pleased to see you comingin, Conan. I was getting uneasy thinking youwere gone astray on us. 

_Conan_: (_Dropping his book and picking it upagain_. ) I never knew the like of you, Maryanne, under the canopy of heaven. To be questioningme with your talk, and I striving to keep my mindupon all the wisdom of the ancient world. (_Sitsdown beside fire_. )

_Mother_: So you would be too. It is well ableyou are to do that. 

_Conan_: (_To Celia_. ) Have you e'er a meal toleave down to me?

_Celia_: It will be ready within three minutes oftime. 

_Conan_: Wasting the morning on me! Whatgood are you if you cannot so much as boil thebreakfast? Hurry on now. 

_Celia_: Ah, hurry didn't save the hare. (_Singsironically as she prepares breakfast_. ) (_Air, "MoBhuachailin Buidhe_. ")

 "Come in the evening or come in the morning, Come when you're looked for or come without warning; Kisses and welcome you'll find here before you And the oftner you come here the more I'll adore you. "

_Conan_: Give me up the tea-pot. 

_Celia_: Best leave it on the coals awhile. 

_Conan_: Give me up those eggs so. (_Seizes them_. )

_Celia_: You can take the tea-pot too if you arecalling for it. (_Goes on singing mischievously asshe turns a cake_. )

 "I'll pull you sweet flowers to wear if you'll choose them, Or after you've kissed them they'll lie on my bosom. "

_Conan_: (_Breaking eggs_. ) They're raw andrunning!

_Celia_: There's no one can say which is best, hurry or delay. 

_Conan_: You had them boiled in cold water!

_Celia_: That's where you're wrong. 

_Conan_: The young people that's in the worldnow, if you had book truth they wouldn't believeit. (_Flings eggs into the fire and pours out tea_. )

_Mother_: I hope now that is pleasing to you?

_Conan_: (_Threatening Celia with spoon_. ) Myseven curses on yourself and your fair-haired tea. (_Puts back tea-pot_. )

_Celia_: (_Laughing_. ) It was hurry left it so weakon you!

_Mother_: Ah, don't be putting reproaches onhim. Crossness is a thing born with us. It do runin the blood. Strive now to let him have a quiet life. 

_Conan_: I am not asking a quiet life! But tocome live with your own family you might as welltake your coffin on your back!

_Celia_: (_Sings_. )

 "We'll look on the stars and we'll list to the river 'Till you ask of your darling what gift you can give her. "

_Conan_: That girl is a disgrace sitting on thefloor the way she is! If I had her for a while I'dput betterment on her. No one that was underme ever grew slack!

_Celia_: _You_ would never be satisfied and youto see me working from dark to dark as hard as apismire in the tufts. 

_Mother_: Leave her now, she's a quiet little girland comely. 

_Conan_: Comely! I'd sooner her to be like theugliest sod of turf that is pockmarked in the bog, and a handy housekeeper, and her pigeon doingsomething for the world if it was but scaring itscomrades on a stick in a barley garden!

_Celia_: Ah, do you hear him! (_Stroking pigeon_. )(_Sings_. )

 "But when your friend is forced to flee You'll spread your white wings on the sea And fly and follow after me-- Go-d� tu Mavourneen sl�n!"

_Mother_: I wonder you to be going into the raththe way you do, Conan. It is a very haunted place. 

_Conan_: Don't be bothering me. I have myreason for that. 

_Mother_: I often heard there is many a one losthis wits in it. 

_Conan_: It's likely they hadn't much to lose. Without the education anyone is no good. 

_Mother_: Ah, indeed you were always a tip-topscholar. I didn't ever know how good you weretill I had my memory lost. 

_Conan_: Indeed, it is a strange thing any witsat all to be found in _this_ family. 

_Mother_: Ah, sure we are as is allotted to us atthe time God made the world. 

_Conan_: Now _I_ to make the world--

_Mother_: You are not saying you would make abetter hand of it?

_Conan_: I am certain sure I could. 

_Mother_: Ah, don't be talking that way!

_Conan_: I'd make changes you'd wonder at. 

_Celia_: It's likely you'd make the world in oneday in place of six. 

_Mother_: It's best make changes little by littlethe same as you'd put clothes upon a growingchild, and to knock every day out of what Godwill give you, and to live as long as we can, anddie when we can't help it. 

_Conan_: And the first thing I'd do would be togive you back your memory and your sense. _(Sings. )(Air, "The Bells of Shandon. ")_

 "My brain grows rusty, my mind is dusty, The time I'm dwelling with the likes of ye, While my spirit ranges through all the changes Could turn the world to felicity! When Aristotle. .. "

_Mother_: It is like a dream to me I heard thatname. Aristotle of the books. 

_Conan: (Eagerly. )_ What did you hear about him?

_Mother_: I don't know was it about him or wasit some other one. My memory to be as good asit is bad I might maybe bring it to mind. 

_Conan_: Hurry on now and remember!

_Mother_: Ah, it's hard remember anything andthe weather so uncertain as what it is. 

_Conan_: Is it of late you heard it?

_Mother_: It was maybe ere yesterday or someday of the sort; I don't know. Since the agetampered with me the thing I'd hear to-day Iwouldn't think of to-morrow. 

_Conan_: Try now and tell me was it thatAristotle, the time he walked Ireland, had come tothis place. 

_Mother_: It might be that, unless it might besome other thing. 

_Conan_: And that he left some great treasurehid--it might be in the rath without. 

_Mother_: And what good would it do you a pot ofgold to be hid in the rath where you would nevercome near to it, it being guarded by enchantedcats and they having fiery eyes?

_Conan_: Did I say anything about a pot ofgold? This was better again than gold. Thiswas an enchantment would raise you up if youwere gasping from death. Give attention now . .. Aristotle. 

_Mother_: It's Harry he used to be called. 

_Conan_: Listen now. _(Sings. ) (Air, "Bells ofShandon. ")_

 "Once Aristotle hid in a bottle Or some other vessel of security A spell had power bring sweet from sour Or bring blossoms blooming on the blasted tree. "

_Mother: (Repeating last line_. ) "Or bring blossomsblooming on the blasted tree. "

_Conan_: Is that now what you heard . .. ThatAristotle has hid some secret spell?

_Mother_: I won't say what I don't know. Mymemory is too weak for me to be telling lies. 

_Conan_: You could strengthen it if you took itin hand, putting a knot in the corner of your shawlto keep such and such a thing in mind. 

_Mother_: If I did I should put another knot inthe other corner to remember what was the firstone for. 

_Conan_: You'd remember it well enough if itwas a pound of tea!

_Mother_: Ah, maybe it's best be as I am and notto be running carrying lies here and there, puttingtrouble on people's mind. 

_Conan_: Isn't it terrible to be seeing all thisfolly around me and not to have a way tobetter it!

_Mother_: Ah, dear, it's best leave the time underthe mercy of the Man that is over us all. 

_Conan_: (_Jumping up furious_. ) Where's theuse of old people being in the world at all if theycannot keep a memory of things gone by! (_Sings_. )(_Air, "O the time I've lost in wooing_. ")

 "O the time I've lost pursuing And feeling nothing doing, The lure that led me from my bed Has left me sad and rueing! Success seemed very near me! High hope was there to cheer me! I asked my book where would I look And all it did was fleer me!"

_Mother_: What is it ails you?

_Conan_: That secret to be in the world, and Iall to have laid my hand on it, and it to have goneastray on me!

_Mother_: So it would go too. 

_Conan_: A secret that could change the world!I'd make it as good a world to live in as it was inthe time of the Greeks. I don't see much goodnessin the trace of the people in it now. Tochange everything to its contrary the way thebook said it would! There would be great satisfactiondoing that. Was there ever in the worlda family was so little use to a man? (_Sings indejection_. ) (_Air, "My Molly O. "_)

 "There is a rose in Ireland, I thought it would be mine But now that it is hid from me I must forever pine. Till death shall come and comfort me for to the grave I'll go And all for the sake of Aristotle's secret O!"

_Celia_: I wonder you wouldn't ask Timothythat is older again than what my mother is. 

_Conan_: Timothy! He has the hearing lost. 

_Celia_: Well there is no harm to try him. 

_Conan_: (_Going to door_. ) Timothy!. .. There, he's as deaf as a beetle. 

_Mother_: It might be best for him. The thingthe ear will not hear will not put trouble on theheart. 

_Celia_: (_Who has gone out comes pushing him in_. )Here he is now for you. 

_Conan_: Did ever you hear of Aristotle?

_Timothy_: Aye?

_Conan_: Aristotle!

_Timothy_: Ere a bottle? I might . .. 

_Conan_: Aristotle. .. . That had some power?

_Timothy_: I never seen no flower. 

_Conan_: Something he hid near this place. 

_Timothy_: I never went near no race. 

_Conan_: Has the whole world its mind made upto annoy me!

_Celia_: Raise your voice into his ear. 

_Conan_: (_Chanting_. )

 "Aristotle in the hour He left Ireland left a power In a gift Eolus gave Could all Ireland change and save!"

_Timothy:_ Would it now?

_Conan:_ You said you had heard of a bottle. 

_Timothy:_ A charmed bottle. It is Biddy Earlyput a cure in it and bestowed it in her will to her son. 

_Conan:_ Aristotle that left one in the same way. 

_Timothy:_ It is what I am thinking that my oldgenerations used to be talking about a bellows. 

_Conan:_ A bellows! There's no sense in that!

_Timothy:_ Have it your own way so, and giveme leave to go feeding the little chickens and thehens, for if I cannot hear what they say and theycannot understand what I say, they put no reproachon me after, no more than I would putit on themselves. (_Goes_. )

_Celia:_ Let you be satisfied now and not tormentyourself, for if you got the world wide youcouldn't discover it. You might as well think tothrow your hat to hit the stars. 

_Conan:_ You have me tormented among thewhole of ye. To be without ye would be no harmat all. (_Sits down and weeps_. ) Of all the familiesanyone would wish to live away from I am fullsure my family is the worst. 

_Mother:_ Ah, dear, you're worn out and contrarywith the want of sleep. Come now into theroom and stretch yourself on the bed. To gosleeping out in the grass has no right rest in it atall! (_Takes his arm_. )

_Conan:_ Where's the use of lying on my bedwhere it is convenient to the yard, that I'd beafflicted by the turkeys yelping and the pulletspraising themselves after laying an egg! and thecackling and hissing of the geese. 

_Mother:_ Lie down so on the settle, and I'll letno one disturb you. You're destroyed, avic, withthe want of sleep. 

_Conan:_ There'll be no peace in this kitchen nomore than on the common highway with thepeople running in and out. 

_Mother:_ I'll go sit in the little gap without, andthe whole place will be as quiet as St. Colman'swilderness of stones. 

_Conan:_ The boards are too hard. 

_Mother:_ I'll put a pillow in under you. 

_Conan:_ Now it's too narrow. Leave me nowit'll be best. 

_Mother:_ Sleep and good dreams to you. (_Goessinging sleepy song_. )

_Conan:_ The most troublesome family ever Iknew in all my born days! Why is that peoplecannot have behaviour now the same as in ancientGreece. (_Sits up_. ) I'll not give them the satisfactionof going asleep. I'll drink a sup of thetea that is black with standing and with strength. (_Drinks and lies down_. ) I'll engage that'll keepme waking. (_Music heard_. ) Is it to annoy methey are playing tunes of music? I'll let on to beasleep! (_Shuts eyes_. )

(_Two large Cats with fiery eyes look over topof settle_. )

_1st Cat:_

 See the fool that crossed our path Rummaging within the rath. 

 Coveting a spell is bound Agelong in our haunted ground. 

 Hid that none disturb its peace By a Druid out from Greece. 

 Spies and robbers have no call Rooting in our ancient wall. 

 Man or mortal what is he Matched against the mighty Sidhe?

_2nd Cat_:

 Bid our riders of the night Daze and craze him with affright, Leave him fainting and forlorn Hanging on the moon's young horn. 

 Let the death-bands turn him pale Through the venom of our tail. 

 Let him learn to love our law With the sharpness of our claw. 

 Let our King-cat's fiery flash Turn him to a heap of ash. 

_1st Cat_:

 Punishment enough he'll find In his cross and cranky mind. 

 Ha, ha, ha, and ho, ho, ho, He'd a sharper penance know, We'd have better sport to-day If he got his will and way, Found the spell that lies unknown Underneath his own hearthstone. 

(_They disappear saying together_:)

 Men and mortals what are ye Matched against the mighty Sidhe?

_Conan_: (_Looking out timidly_. ) Are they gone?Here, Puss, puss! Come hither now poor Puss!They're not in it. .. . Here now! here's milkfor ye. And a drop of cream. .. . (_Gets up, peeps under settle and around_. ) They are gone!And that they may never come back! I wouldn'twish to be brought riding a thorny bush in the nighttime into the cold that is behind the sun! Whatnow did they say? Or is it dreaming I was? Oh, it was not! They spoke clear and plain. Thehidden spell that I was seeking, they said it to bein the hiding hole under the hearth. (_Pokes, sneezes_. ) Bad cess to Celia leaving that muchashes to be choking me. Well, the luck has cometo me at last!

(_Sings as he searches_. )

 "Proudly the note of the trumpet is sounding, Loudly the war cries rise on the gale; Fleetly the steed by Lough Swilly is bounding To join the thick squadrons in Saimear's green vale. On every mountaineer, strangers to flight and fear; Rush to the standard of dauntless Red Hugh Bonnaught and gallowglass, throng from each mountain pass. On for old Erin, O'Donnall Abu. "

(_Pokes at hearthstone_. ) Sure enough, it'sloose! It's moving! Wait till I'll geta wedge under it!

(_Takes fork from table_. ) It's coming!

(_Door suddenly opens and he drops fork andsprings back_. )

_Mother_: (_Coming in with Rock and Flannery_. )Here now, come in the two of ye. Here now, Conan, is two of the neighbours, James Rock of Lis Crohanand Fardy Flannery the rambling herd, that arecome to get a light for the pipe and they walkingthe road from the Fair. 

_Conan_: That's the way you make a fool of mepromising me peace and quiet for to sleep!

_Mother_: Ah, so I believe I did. But it slippedaway from me, and I listening to the blackbird onthe bush. 

_Conan_: (_To Rock_. ) I wonder, James Rock, that you wouldn't have on you so much as a halfpennybox of matches!

_Rock_: (_Trying to get to hearth_. ) So I havematches. But why would I spend one when I canget for nothing a light from a sod?

_Flannery_: Sure, I could give you a match Ihave this long time, waiting till I'll get as muchtobacco as will fill a pipe. 

_Mother_: It's the poor man does be generous. It's gone from my mind, Fardy, what was itbrought you to be a servant of poverty?

_Flannery_: Since the day I lost on the road myforty pound that I had to stock my little farm ofland, all has wore away from me and left me bareowning nothing unless daylight and the run ofwater. It was that put me on the Shaughrann. 

(_Sings "The Bard of Armagh. "_)

 "Oh, list to the lay of a poor Irish harper, And scorn not the strains of his old withered hand, But remember the fingers could once move sharper To raise the merry strains of his dear native land; It was long before the shamrock our dear isle's loved emblem. Was crushed in its beauty 'neath the Saxon Lion's paw I was called by the colleens of the village and valley Bold Phelim Brady, the bard of Armagh. "

_Rock_: Bad management! Look what I broughtfrom the Fair through minding my own property--�20for a milch cow, and thirty for a score oflambs!

_Mother_: �20 for a cow! Isn't that terriblemoney!

_Conan_: Let you whist now! You are puttinga headache on me with all your little newses andcountry chat!

(_Mother goes, the others are following_. )

_Rock_: (_Turning from door_. ) It might be betterfor yourself, Conan Creevey, if you had mindedbusiness would bring profit to your hand in placeof your foreign learning, that never put a pennypiece in anyone's pocket that ever I heard. Noearthly profit unless to addle the brain and leavethe pocket empty. 

_Conan_: You think yourself a great sort! Letme tell you that my learning has power to do morethan that!

_Rock_: It's an empty mouth that has big talk. 

_Conan_: What would you say hearing I hadpower put in my hand that could change the entireworld? And that's what you never will have powerto do. 

_Rock_: What power is that?

_Conan_:

 Aristotle in the hour He left Ireland left a power. .. . 

_Rock_: Foolishness! I never would believe inpoetry or in dreams or images, but in ready moneydown. (_Jingles bag_. )

_Conan_: I tell you you'll see me getting thevictory over all Ireland!

_Rock_: You have but a cracked headpiece thinkingthat will come to you. 

_Conan_: I tell you it will! No end at all in theworld to what I am about to bring in!

_Rock_: It's easy praise yourself!

_Conan_: And so I am praising myself, and so willyou all be praising me when you will see all thatI will do!

_Rock_: It is what I think you got demented inthe head and in the mind. 

_Conan_: It is soon the wheel will be turned andthe whole of the nation will be changed for thebest. (_Sings_. )

 "Dear Harp of my country, in darkness I found thee, The cold chain of silence had hung o'er thee long, When proudly, my own Irish Harp, I unbound thee, And gave all thy chords to light, freedom and song, The warm lay of love and the light note of gladness Have waken'd thy fondest, thy liveliest thrill; But so oft hast thou echo'd the deep sigh of sadness, That ev'n in thy mirth it will steal from thee still. "

_Flannery_: That's a great thought, if it is but avanity or a dream. 

_Rock_: (_Sneeringly_. ) Well now and what would_you_ do?

_Flannery_: I would wish a great lake of milk, the same as blessed St. Bridget, to be sharing withthe family of Heaven. I would wish vessels fullof alms that would save every sorrowful man. Dothat now, Conan, and you'll have the world ofprayers down on you!

_Rock_: It's what I'd do, to turn the whole ofGalway Bay to dry land, and I to have it for myself, the red land, the green land, the fallow and thelea! The want of land is a great stoppage to a manhaving means to lay out in stock. 

(_Sings_. ) (_Air, "I wish I had the shepherd's lamb. "_)

 "I wish I had both mill and kiln, I wish I had of land my fill; I wish I had both mill and kiln, And all would follow after!"

_Flannery_: Ah, the land, the land, the rottenland, and what will you have in the end but thebreadth of your back of it? Let you now softenthe heart in that one (_points to Rock_) till he wouldrestore to me the thing he is aware of. 

_Conan_: It was not for that the spell waspromised, to be changing a few neighbours or athing of the kind, or to be doing wonders in thisbroken little place. A town of dead factions! Tochange any of the dwellers in this place would beto make it better, for it would be impossible tomake it worse. The time you wouldn't be meddlingwith them you wouldn't know them to bebad, but the time you'd have to do business withthem that's the time you'd know it!

_Rock_: I suppose it is what you are asking todo, to make yourself rich?

_Conan_: I do not! I would be loth take anyprofit, and Aristotle after laying down that _to_pleasure or _to_ profit every wealthy man is a slave!

_Flannery_: What would you do, so?

_Conan_: I will change all into the similitude ofancient Greece! There is no man at all can understandargument but it is from Greece he is. I knowwell what I'm doing. I'm not like a potato havingeyes this way and that. People were harmlesslong ago and why wouldn't they be made harmlessagain? Aristotle said, "Fair play is morebeautiful than the morning and the evening star!"

"Be friendly with one another, " he said, "andlet the lawyers starve!" I'll turn the captains ofsoldiers to be as peaceable as children pickingstrawberries in the grass. I've a mind to changethe tongue of the people to the language of theGreeks, that no farmer will be grumbling over ahalfpenny Independent, but be following the ploughin full content, giving out Homer and the praisesof the ancient world!

_Flannery_: If you make the farmers content youwill make the world content. 

_Rock_: You will, when you'll bring the sun fromGreece to ripen our little lock of oats!

_Conan_: So I will drag Ireland from its mooringstill I'll bring it to the middling sea that has no ebbor flood!

_Rock_: You will do well to put a change on thecollege that harboured you, and that left you somuch of folly. 

_Conan_: I'll do that! I'll be in College Greenbefore the dawn is white--no but before the nightis grey! It is to Dublin I will bring my spell, forI ever and always heard it said what Dublin willdo to-day Ireland will do to-morrow! (_Sings_. )

 "Let Erin remember the days of old Ere her faithless sons betrayed her-- When Malachy wore the collar of gold Which he won from her proud invader-- When her kings with standards of green unfurl'd, Led the Red-Branch knights to danger; Ere the emerald gem of the western world Was set in the crown of a stranger. "

_Rock_: And maybe you'll tell us now by whatmeans you will do all this?

_Conan_: Go out of the house and I will tell youin the by and bye. 

_Rock_: That is what I was thinking. You aretalking nothing but lies. 

_Conan_: I tell you that power is not far fromwhere you stand! But I will let no one see it onlymyself. 

_Flannery_: There might be some truth in it. There are some say enchantments never went outof Ireland. 

_Conan_: It is a spell, I say, that will changeanything to its contrary. To turn it upon a snail, there is hardly a greyhound but it would overtake;but a hare it would turn to be the slowest thing inthe universe; too slow to go to a funeral. 

_Rock_: I'll believe it when I'll see it. 

_Conan_: You could see it if I let you look inthis hiding-hole. 

_Rock_: Good-morrow to you!

_Conan_: Then you will see it, for I'll raise upthe stone. (_Kneels_. )

_Rock_: It to be anything it is likely a pot ofsovereigns. 

_Flannery_: It might be the harp of Angus. 

_Rock_: I see no trace of it. 

_Conan_: There is something hard! It shouldlikely be a silver trumpet or a hunting-horn of gold!

_Rock_: Give me a hold of it. 

_Conan_: Leave go! (_Lifts out bellows_. )

_Rock_: Ha! Ha! Ha! after all your chat, nothingbut a little old bellows!. .. 

_Conan_: There is seven rings on it. .. . Theyshould signify the seven blasts. .. . 

_Rock_: If there was seventy times seven whatuse would it be but to redden the coals?

_Conan_: Every one of these blasts has power tomake some change. 

_Rock_: Make one so, and I'll plough the worldfor you. 

_Conan_: Is it that I would spend one of myseven blasts convincing the like of ye?

_Rock_: It is likely the case there is no power init at all. 

_Conan_: I'm very sure there is surely. The worldwill be a new world before to-morrow's Angelus bell. 

_Flannery_: I never could believe in a bellows. 

_Rock_: Here now is a fair offer. I'll loan youthis bag of notes to pay your charges to Dublin ifyou will change that little pigeon in the crib into acrow. 

_Conan_: I will do no such folly. 

_Rock_: You wouldn't because you'd be afearedto try. 

_Conan_: Hold it up to me. I'll show you amI afeared!

_Rock_: There it is now. (_Holds up cage_. )

_Conan_: Have a care! (_Blows_. )

_Rock_: (_Dropping it with a shriek_. ) It has mebit with its hard beak, it is turned to be an oldblack crow. 

_Flannery_: As black as the bottom of the pot. 

_Crow_: Caw! Caw! Caw!

(_Cats reappear and look over back of settle_. )

(_Music from behind_. ) ("_O'Donnall Abu_. ")

CURTAIN

ACT II

ACT II

_Conan alone holding up bellows, singing_:

_Conan:_

 "And doth not a meeting like this make amends For all the long years I've been wandering away Deceived for a moment it's now in my hands-- breathe the fresh air of life's morning again!"

_Celia_: (_Comes in having listened amused atdoor; claps hands_. ) Very good! It is you yourselfshould be going to the dance house to-night inplace of myself. It is long since I heard you riseso happy a tune!

_Conan_: (_Putting bellows behind him_. ) Whatbrings you here? Is there no work for you out inthe garden--the cabbages to be cutting for thecow. .. . 

_Celia_: I wouldn't wish to roughen my handsbefore evening. Music there will be for the dancing!

(_She lilts Miss McLeod's Reel_. )

_Conan_: Let you go ready yourself for it so. 

_Celia_: Is it at this time of the day? Youshould be forgetting the hours of the clock thesame as the poor mother. 

_Conan_: It is a strange thing since I came tothis house I never can get one minute's ease andquiet to myself. 

_Celia_: It was hearing you singing brought me in. 

_Conan:_ I'd sooner have you without! Begoing now. 

_Celia:_ I will and welcome. It is to bring outmy little pigeon I will, where there is a few grainsof barley fell from a car going the road. 

_Conan:_ Hurry on so!

_Celia: (Taking up cage. )_ He is not in his crib. _(Looking here and there. )_ Where now can hehave gone?

_Conan:_ He should have gone out the door. 

_Celia:_ He did not. He could not have comeout unknown to me. Coo, coo, --coo--coo. 

_Conan:_ Never mind him now. You are puttingmy mind astray with your Coo, coo--

_Celia:_ He might be in under the settle. _(Stoops. )_ Where are you, my little bird. _(Sings. )(Air, "Shule Aroon_. ")

 "But now my love has gone to France His own fair fortune to advance; If he comes back again 'tis but a chance; Os go d� tu Mavourneen sl�n!"

_Conan: (Putting her away. )_ What way wouldhe be in it? Let you put a stop to that humming. _(Seizes her. )_ Come here to the light . .. Is ityou sewed this button on my coat?

_Celia:_ It was not. It is likely it was sometailor down in the North. 

_Conan:_ It is getting loose on the sleeve. 

_Celia_: Ah, it will last a good while yet. Coo, coo!

_Conan: (Getting before her. )_ It would be nogreat load on you to get a needle and put a stitchwould tighten it. 

_Celia:_ I'll do it in the by and bye. There, Itwisted the thread around it. That'll hold goodenough for a while. 

_Conan:_ "Anything worth doing at all is worthdoing well. "

_Celia:_ Aren't you getting very dainty in yourdress?

_Conan:_ Any man would like to have a decentappearance on his suit. 

_Celia:_ Isn't it the same to-day as it wasyesterday?

_Conan:_ Have you ne'er a needle?

_Celia:_ I don't know where is it gone. 

_Conan:_ You haven't a stim of sense. Can'tyou keep in mind "Everything in its right place. "

_Celia:_ Sure, there's no hurry--the day is long. 

_Conan:_ Anything has to be done, the quickestto do it is the best. 

_Celia:_ I'm not working by the hour or the day. 

_Conan:_ Look now at Penelope of the Greeks, and all her riches, and her man not at hand to urgeher, how well she sat at the loom from morn tillnight till she'd have the makings of a suit of frieze. 

_Celia:_ Ah, that was in the ancient days, whenyou wouldn't buy it made and ready in the shops. 

_Conan:_ Will you so much as go to find a towelwould take the dust off of the panes of glass?

_Celia:_ I wonder at you craving to disturb thespider and it after making its web. 

_Conan:_ Well, go sit idle outside. I wouldn'twish to be looking at you! Aristotle that said alazy body is all one with a lazy mind. You'll bebegging your bread through the world's streetsbefore your poll will be grey. 

(_Sings_. )

 "You'll dye your petticoat, you'll dye it red, And through the world you'll beg your bread; And you not hearkening to e'er a word I said, It's then you'll know it to be true!"

_Celia_: (_Sings_. )

 "Come here my little birdeen! Coo!"

_Conan_: (_Putting his hand on her mouth_. ) Begoing out now in place of calling that bird that isas lazy and as useless as yourself. 

_Celia_: My little dove! Where are you at all!

_Conan_: A cat to have ate it would be no greatloss!

_Celia_: Did you yourself do away with him?

_Conan_: I did not. 

_Celia_: (_Wildly breaking free throws herself down_. )There is no place for him to be only in underthe settle!

_Conan_: (_Dragging at her_. ) It is not there. 

_Celia_: (_Who has put in her hand_. ) O what isthat? It has hurt me!

_Conan_: A nail sticking up out of the floor. 

_Celia_: (_Jumping up with a cry_. ) It's a crow!A great big wicked black crow!

_Conan_: If it is let you leave it there. 

_Celia_: (_Weeping_. ) I'm certain sure it has mypigeon killed and ate!

_Conan_: To be so doleful after a pigeon! Youhaven't a stim of sense!

_Celia_: It was you gave it leave to do that!

_Conan_: Stop your whimpering and blubbering!What way can I settle the world and I beingharassed and hampered with such a contrary class!I give you my word I have a mind to changemyself into a ravenous beast will kill and devour yeall! That much would be no sin when it would beaccording to my nature. (_Sings or chants_. )

 "On Clontarf he like a lion fell, Thousands plunged in their own gore; I to be such a lion now I'd ask for nothing more!"

_Celia: (Sitting down miserable_. ) You are a verywicked man!

_Conan_: Get up out of that or I'll make you!

_Celia_: I will not! I'm certain you did thiscruel thing!

_Conan: (Taking up bellows_. ) I'd hardly begrudgeone of my six blasts to be quit of your slownessand your sluggish ways! Rise up now beforeI'll make you that you'll want shoes that will neverwear out, you being ever on the trot and on therun from morning to the fall of night! Start upnow! I'm on the bounds of doing it!

_Celia_: What are you raving about?

_Conan_: To get quit of you I cannot, but tochange your nature I might! I give you warning. .. One, two, three!

_(Blows. ) (Sings: "With a chirrup. ") (Air, "Garryowen. ")_

 "Let you rise and go light like a bird of the air That goes high in its flight ever seeking its share; Let you never go easy or pine for a rest Till you'll be a world's wonder and work with the best!

 With a chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup, A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup, A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup, A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup!"

_Celia_: (_Staring and standing up_. ) What isthat? Is it the wind or is it a wisp of flame thatis going athrough my bones!

(_Rock and Flannery come in_. )

(_Celia rushes out_. )

_Rock_: (_Out of breath_. ) We went looking for acar to bring you to the train!

_Flannery_: There was not one to be found. 

_Rock_: But those that are too costly!

_Flannery_: Till we went to the Doctor of theUnion. 

_Rock_: For to ask a lift for you on the ambulance. .. . 

_Flannery_: But when he heard what we had totell--

_Rock_: He said he would bring you and gladto do it on his own car, and no need to hanselhim. 

_Flannery_: And welcome, if it was as far as thegrave!

_Rock_: All he is sorry for he hasn't a horse thatwould rise you up through the sky--

_Conan_: Let him give me the lift so--it will bea help to me. It wasn't only with his own handAlexander won the world!

_Flannery_: Unless you might give him, he wassaying, a blast of the bellows, that would changehis dispensary into a racing stable, and all thatcome to be cured into jockeys and into grooms!

_Conan_: What chatterers ye are! I gave ye noleave to speak of that. 

_Rock_: Ah, it costs nothing to be giving outnewses. 

_Flannery_: The world and all will be coming tothe door to throw up their hats for you, and youmaking your start, cars and ass cars, jennets andtraps. _(Sings. )_

 "O Bay of Dublin, how my heart your troublin', Your beauty haunts me like a fever dream; Like frozen fountains that the sun set bubblin' My heart's blood warms when I but hear your name!"

_Conan_: It's my death I'll come to in Dublin. That news to get there ahead of me I'll be pressedin the throng as thin as a griddle. 

_Flannery_: So you might be, too. All I havethat might protect you I offer free, and that's thisgood umbrella that was given to me in a rainstormby a priest. _(Holds it out. )_

_Rock_: And what do you say to me giving youthe loan of your charges for the road?

_Conan_: Come in here, Maryanne! and give aglass to these honest men till they'll wish me goodluck upon my journey, as it's much I'll need it, with the weight of all I have to do. 

_Mother: (Coming in. )_ So I will, so I will andwelcome . .. But that I disremember where didI put the key of the chest. 

_Conan_: I'll engage you do! There it is beforeyou in the lock since ere yesterday. _(Mother putsbottle and glasses on table. )_

_Flannery: (Lifting glass. )_ That you may bringgreat good to Ireland and to the world!

_Rock_: Here's your good health!

_Conan_: I'm obliged to you!

_Rock and Flannery: (Sing. ) (Air, "The Cruiskeenl�n. ")_

 "Gramachree ma cruiskeen Slainte geal mavourneen, Gramachree a cool-in bawn, bawn, bawn, b�n-b�n-b�n, Oh, Gra-ma-chree a cool-in bawn. "

_(They nod as they finish and take out theirpipes and sit down. A banging is heard. )_

_Conan_: What disturbance is that?

_(Celia comes in, her hair screwed up tight, skirt tucked up, is carrying a pail, brush, cloth, etc. , lets them drop andproceeds to fasten up skirt. )_

_Mother_: Ah, Celia, what is on you? I neversaw you that way before. 

_Conan_: Ha! Very good! I think that you willsay there is a great change come upon her, and aright change. 

_Celia_: Look now at the floor the way it is. 

_Mother_: I see no other way but the way it isalways. 

_Celia_: There's a bit of soot after falling downthe chimney. _(Picks up tongs. )_

_Mother:_ Ah, leave it now, dear, a while. 

_Celia_: Anything has to be done, the quickestway to do it is the best. _(Having taken up soot, flings down tongs. )_

_Conan_: Listen to that! Now am I able towork wonders?

_Rock_: It is that you have spent on her a blast?

_Conan_: If I did it was well spent. 

_Flannery_: I'm in dread you have been robbingthe poor. 

_Rock_: It is myself you have robbed doing that. You have no call to be using those blasts for yourown profit!

_Conan_: I have every right to bring order inmy own dwelling before I can do any other thing!

_Celia_: All the dust of the world's roads isgathered in this kitchen. The whole place atewith filth and dirt. 

_(Begins to sweep. )_

_Conan_: Ah, you needn't hardly go as far as that. 

_Celia_: Anything that is worth doing is worthdoing well. _(To Rock. )_ Look now at the marksof your boots upon the ground. Get up out ofthat till I'll bustle it with the broom!

_Rock: (Getting up. )_ There is a change indeedand a queer change. Where she used to be singingshe is screeching the same as a slate where you'dbe casting sums!

_Celia: (To Flannery. )_ What's that I see inunder your chair? Rise up. _(He gets up. )_ It'sa pin! _(Sticks it in her dress. )_ Everything in itsright place! _(Goes on flicking at the furniture. )_

_Mother_: Leave now knocking the furniture toflitters. 

_Celia_: I will not, till I'll free it from the dustand dander of the year. 

_Mother_: That'll do now. I see no dust. 

_Celia_: You'll see it presently. _(Sweeps up a cloud. )_

_Mother_: Let you speak to her, Conan. 

_Conan_: Leave now buzzing and banging aboutthe room the same as a fly without a head!

_Celia_: Never put off till to-morrow what youcan do to-day. 

_Conan_: I tell you I have things to settle andto say before the car will come that is to bring meon my road to Dublin. 

_Celia: (Stopping short. )_ Is it that you are goingto Dublin?

_Conan_: I am, and within the hour. 

_Celia_: Pull off those boots from your feet!

_Conan_: I will not! Let you leave my bootsalone!

_Celia_: You are not going out of the house withthat slovenly appearance on you! To have it saidout in Dublin that you are a class of man never hasclean boots but of a Sunday!

_Conan_: They'll do well enough without youmeddling!

_Celia_: Clean them yourself so! _(Gives him arag and blacking and goes on dusting. )_

_(Sings. ) (Air, "City of Sligo. ")_

 "We may tramp the earth For all that we're worth, But what odds where you and I go, We never shall meet A spot so sweet As the beautiful city of Sligo. "

_Conan_: What ailed me that I didn't leave heras she was before. 

_Celia: (Stopping work. )_ What way are they now?

_Conan: (Having cleaned his boots, putting themon hurriedly. )_ They're very good. _(Wipes his brow, drawing hand across leaving mark of blacking. )_

_Celia_: The time I told you to put black onyour shoes I didn't bid you rub it upon your brow!

_Conan_: I didn't put it in any wrong place. 

_Celia_: I ask the whole of you, is it black his faceis or white?

_All_: It is black indeed. 

_Celia_: Would you put a reproach on the wholeof the barony, going up among big citizens with aface on you the like of that?

_Conan_: I'll do well enough. There will bethe black of the smoke from the engine on it anyway, and I after journeying in the train. 

_Celia_: You will not go be a disgrace to me. 

_Conan_: If it is black it is yourself forced me to it. 

_Celia_: If I did I'll make up for it, putting aclean face upon you now. _(Dips towel in pail andsings "With a fillip"--air, "Garryowen"--as shewashes him. )_

 "Bring to mind how the thrush gathers twigs for his nest And the honey bee toils without ever a rest And the fishes swim ever to keep themselves clean, And you'll praise me for making you fit to be seen! With a fillip, a fillip, a fillip. A fillip, a fillip, a fillip. A fillip, a fillip, a fillip, a fillip, A fillip, a fillip, a fillip, a fillip!"

_Conan_: Let me go, will you! Let you stop!The soap that is going into my eye!

_Celia_: My grief you are! Let you be willingto suffer, so long as you will be tasty and decentand be a credit to ourselves. 

_Conan_: The suds are in my mouth!

_Celia_: One minute now and you'll be as cleanas a bishop!

_Conan_: Let me go, can't you!

_Celia_: Only one thing wanting now. 

_Conan_: I'm good enough, I tell you!

_Celia_: To cut the wisp from the back of yourpoll. 

_Conan_: You will not cut it!

_Celia_: And you'll go into the grandeurs ofDublin and you being as neat as an egg. 

_Conan: (With a roar. )_ Leave meddling withmy hair. I that can change the world with oneturn of my hand!

_Celia_: Wait till I'll find the scissors! That'snot the way to be going showing off in the town, if you were all the saints and Druids of the universe!

_Conan: (Breaking free and rushing out. )_ Myseven thousand curses on the minute when I didn'tleave you as you were. _(Goes. )_

_Celia: (Looking at Mother. )_ There's meal onyour dress from the cake you're after putting inthe oven--where now did that bellows fall from?_(Taking up bellows. )_ It comes as handy as agimlet. There _(blows the meal off)_, that now willmake a big difference in you. 

_Rock: (Seizing bellows. )_ Leave now that downout of your hand. Let you go looking for ascissors!

_(Celia goes off singing "The Beautiful Cityof Sligo. ")_

_Mother: (Sitting down. )_ I'm thinking it's sevenyears to-day, James Rock, since you took a lendof my clock. 

_Rock_: You're raving! What call would I haveto ask a lend of your clock?

_Mother_: The way you would rise in time forthe fair of Feakle in the morning. 

_Rock_: Did I now?

_Mother_: You did, and that's my truth. I wasstanding here, and you were standing there, andCelia that was but ten years was sucking the sugaroff a spoon I was after putting in a bag that hadcome from the shop, for to put a grain into mytea. 

_Rock: (Sneering. )_ Well now, didn't your memoryget very sharp!

_Mother_: You thought I had it forgot, but Iremember it as clear as pictures. The time it stoodat was seven minutes after four o'clock, and Inever saw it from that day till now. This veryday of the month it was, the year of the blacksheep having twins. 

_Rock_: It was but an old clock anyway. 

_Mother_: If it was it is seven years older sinceI laid an eye on it. And it's kind father for yourobbing me, where it's often you robbed your ownmother, and you stealing away to go cardplayingthe half crowns she had hid in the churn. 

_Rock_: Didn't you get very wicked and hurtful, you that was a nice class of a woman without noharm!

_Flannery_: Ah, Ma'am, you that was easy-minded, it is not kind for you to be a scold. 

_Mother_: And another thing, it was the sameday where Michael Flannery _(turns to him)_ came inan' told me of you being grown so covetous youhad made away with your dog, by reason youbegrudged it its diet. 

_Rock: (To Flannery. )_ You had a great deal tosay about me!

_Mother_: And more than that again, he saidyou had it buried secretly, and had it personated, creeping around the haggard in the half darkand you barking, the way the neighbours wouldthink it to be living yet and as wicked as it wasbefore. 

_Rock: (To Flannery. )_ I'll bring you into theCourts for telling lies!

_Mother: (Coming near Rock and speaking intohis ear. )_ And there's another thing I know, andthat I made a promise to her that was your wifenot to tell, but death has that promise broke. 

_Rock_: Stop, can't you!

_Mother_: I know by sure witness that it wasyou found the forty pound _he (points to Flannery, who nods)_ lost on the road, and kept it for yourown profit. Bring me now, I dare you, into theCourts!

_Rock: (Fearfully. )_ That one would rememberthe world! It is as if she went to the grindingyoung!

_(Conan's voice heard. Singing: "Let me bemerry" in a melancholy voice. )_

 "If sadly thinking with spirits sinking Could more than drinking my cares compose, A cure for to-morrow from sighs I'd borrow, And hope to-morrow would end my woes. 

 But as in wailing there's nought availing, And Death unfailing will strike the blow, Then for that reason and for a season, Let us be merry before we go!"

_Mother_: It is Conan will near lose his witswith joy when he knows what is come back to me!

_Conan: (Peeping in. )_ Is Celia gone?

_Flannery_: She is, Conan. 

_Conan_: It's a queer thing with women. Ifyou'll turn them from one road it's likely they'llgo into another that is worse again. 

_Rock_: That is so indeed. There is Celia'smother that is running telling lies, and leaving aheavy word upon a neighbour. 

_Mother_: I'll give my promise not to tell it outin Court if he will give to poor Michael Flannerywhat is due to him, and that is the whole of whathe has in his bag!

_Conan: (Laughing scornfully. )_ Sure _she_ has nomemory at all. It fails her to remember that twoand two makes four. 

_Mother_: You think that? Well, listen now tome. Two and two is it? No, nine times two thatis eighteen and nine times three twenty-seven, nine times four thirty-six, nine times five forty-five, nine times six fifty-four, nine times sevensixty-three, nine times eight seventy-two, ninetimes nine eighty-one. .. . Yes, and eleven times, and any times that you will put before me!

_Conan_: That's enough, that's enough!

_Mother_: Ha, ha! You giving out that I cankeep no knowledge in mind and no learning, whenI should sit on the chapel roof to have enough ofslates for all I can cast up of sums! Multiplication, Addition, subtraction, and the rule of three!

_Conan_: Whist your tongue!

_Mother_: Is it the verses of Raftery's talk intothe Bush you would wish me to give out, or thethree hundred and sixty-nine verses of the Contentionof the Bards--_(Repeats verse of "The Talkwith the Bush" in Irish. )_

 "C�ad agus m�le roi�mh am na h-Airce T�s agus crothugadh m'aois agus mo dhata Th� me o shoin im' shuidhe san �it so Agus is iomdha sg�al a bhf�adain tr�cht air. "

Or I'll English it if that will please you:

 "A hundred years and a thousand before the time of the Ark Was the beginning and creation of my age and my date; I am from that time sitting in this place, And it's many a story I am able to give news of. "

_Conan: (Putting hands to ears and walkingaway. )_ I am thinking your mind got unsettledwith the weight of years. 

_Mother: (Following him. )_ No, but your ownthat got scattered from the time you ran barefootcarrying worms in a tin can for that Professor of aCollegian that went fishing in the stream, and thatyou followed after till you got to think yourself alamp of light for the universe!

_Conan_: Will you stop deafening the whole worldwith your babble!

_Mother_: There was always a bad drop in youthat attached to you out of the grandfather. Whatdid your languages do for you but to sharpenyour tongue, till the scrape of it would take theskin off, the same as a cat! My blessing on you, Conan, but my curse upon your mouth!

_Conan_: Oh, will you stop your chat!

_Mother_: Every word you speak having in itthe sting of a bee that was made out of the cursesof a saint!

_Conan_: Stop your gibberish!

_Mother_: Are you satisfied now?

_Conan_: I'm not satisfied!

_Mother_: And never will be, for you were everand always a fault-finder and full of crossnessfrom the day that you were small suited. 

_Conan_: You remember that, too?

_Mother_: I do well!

_Conan_: Where is the bellows? Was it you_(to Flannery)_ that blew a blast on her?

_Flannery_: It was not. 

_Conan_: Or you?

_Rock_: It's long sorry I'd be to do such a thing!

_Conan_: It is certain someone did it on her. Where now is it?

_Mother: (Seizing him. )_ And I remember theday you threw out your mug of milk into the street, by reason, says you, you didn't like the colour ofthe cow that gave it!

_Conan_: Will you stop ripping up little annoyances, till I'll find the bellows!

_Rock_: It's what I'm thinking, her memory willsoon be back at the far side of Solomon'sTemple. 

_Mother: (Repeats in Irish. )_ Agus is iomdhasg�al a bhf�adain tra�cht air!

_Conan: (Shouting. )_ Is it that you'll drive theseven senses out of me!

_Mother_: Is it that you begrudge me my recollection?Ha! I have it in spite of you. _(Sings. )_

 "Oft in the stilly night Ere slumber's chain hath bound me Fond memory brings the light Of other days around me. The smiles, the tears, of childhood's years, The words of love then spoken-- The eyes that shone, now dimmed and gone, The cheerful hearts now broken. 

 "Thus in the stilly night--ere slumber's chain hath bound me Fond memory brings the light Of other days around me!"

_Celia: (Bursting in. )_ Where is Conan?

_Conan_: What do you want of me?

_Celia_: I have got the hair brush. 

_Conan_: Let you not come near me!

_Celia_: And the comb!

_Conan_: Get away from me!

_Celia_: And the scissors. 

_Conan_: Will you drive me out of the house orwill I drive you out of it!

_Celia_: Ah, be easy!

_Conan_: I will not be easy!

_Celia: (Pushing him back in a chair. )_ It willdelight the world to see the way I'll send you out!

_Conan_: Is the universe gone distracted mad!

_Celia_: Be quiet now!

_Conan_: Leave your hold of me!

_Celia_: One stir, and the scissors will run intoyou!

_(Sings "With a snippet, a snippet, a snippet. ")_

CURTAIN

ACT III

ACT III

_The two Cats are looking over the settle_. 

_Music behind scene: "O Johnny, I hardly knewyou!"_

_1st Cat_: We did well leaving the bellows forthat foolish Human to see what he can do. Thereis great sport before us and behind. 

_2nd Cat_: The best I ever saw since the Jesterswent out from Tara. 

_1st Cat_: They to be giving themselves highnotions and to be looking down on Cats!

_2nd Cat_: Ha, Ha, Ha, the folly and the crazinessof men! To see him changing them from onething to the next, as if they wouldn't be a two-leggedlaughing stock whatever way they wouldchange. 

_1st Cat_: There's apt to be more changes yettill they will hardly know one another, or everyother one, to be himself! _(Sings. )_

 "Where are your eyes that looked so mild, Hurroo! Hurroo! Where are your eyes that looked so mild When my poor heart you first beguiled, Why did you run from me and the child? O Johnny, I hardly knew you!

 "With drums and guns and guns and drums, The enemy nearly slew you! My darling dear you look so queer, O Johnny, I hardly knew you!

 "Where are the legs with which you run, When you went to carry a gun. Indeed your dancing days are done, O Johnny, I hardly knew you!"

_(Timothy and Mother come in from oppositedoors. Cats disappear--music still heardfaintly. )_

_Mother: (Looking at little bellows in her hand. )_Do you know _That_ what it is, Timothy?

_Timothy_: Is it now a hand-bellows? It's longsince I seen the like of that. 

_Mother_: It is, but _what_ bellows?

_Timothy_: Not a bellows? I'd nearly say it to be one. 

_Mother_: There has strange things come to pass. 

_Timothy_: That's what we've all been prayingfor this long time!

_Mother_: Ah, can't you give attention and striveto listen to me. It is all coming back to my mind. All the things I am remembering have my mindtattered and tossed. 

_Timothy: (Who has been trying to hear the music, sings a verse. )_

 "You haven't an arm and you haven't a leg, Hurroo! Hurroo! You're a yellow noseless chickenless egg, You'll have to put up with a bowl to beg. O Johnny, I hardly knew you!

_(Music ceases. )_

_Mother_: Will you give attention, I say! Itwill be worth while for you to go chat with me nowI can be telling you all that happened in my yearsgone by. What was it Conan was questioning meabout a while ago? What was it now. .. . 

 "Aristotle in the hour He left Ireland left a power!". .. 

_Timothy_: That now is a very nice sort of alittle prayer. 

_Mother: (Calling out. )_ That's it! Aristotle'sBellows! I know now what has happened. Thisthat is in my hand has in it the power to makechanges. Changes! Didn't great changes come inthe house to-day! _(Shouts. )_ Did you see any greatchange in Celia?

_Timothy_: Why wouldn't I, and she at thisminute fighting and barging at some poor travellingman, saying he laid a finger mark of bacon-grease uponthe lintel of the door. Driving him off with a broken-toothedrake she is, she that was so gentle that shewouldn't hardly pluck the feathers of a dead duck!

_Mother_: It was surely a blast of this workedthat change in her, as the blast she blew upon meworked a change in myself. O! all the thoughtsand memories that are thronging in my mind andin my head! Rushing up within me the same aschaff from the flail! Songs and stories and thenewses I heard through the whole course of mylifetime! And I having no person to tell them outto! Do you hear me what I'm saying, Timothy?_(Shouts in his ear. )_ What is come back to me iswhat I lost so long ago, my MEMORY. 

_Timothy_: So it is a very good song. 

_(Sings. )_

 "By Memory inspired, and love of glory fired, The deeds of men I love to dwell upon, And the sympathetic glow of my spirit must bestow On the memory of Mitchell that is gone, boys, gone-- The memory of Mitchell that is gone!"

_Mother_: Thoughts crowding on one another, mixing themselves up with one another for thewant of sifting and settling! They'll have medistracted and I not able to speak them out tosome person! Conan as surly as a bramble bush, and Celia wrapped up in her bucket and her broom!And yourself not able to hear one word I say. _(Sobs, and bellows falls from her hands. )_

_Timothy_: I'll lay it down now out of your way, ma'am, the way you can cry your fill whateverails you. 

_Mother: (Snatching it back. )_ Stop! I'll notpart with it! I know now what I can do! Now!_(Points it at him. )_ I'll make a companion to belistening to me through the long winter nights andthe long summer days, and the world to be withoutany end at all, no more than the round of thefull moon! You that have no hearing, this willbring back your hearing, the way you'll be alistener and a benefit to myself for ever. Iwouldn't feel the weeks long that time!

_(Blows. Timothy turns away and gropestoward wall. )_

_(She sings: Air, "Eileen Aroon. ")_

 "What if the days go wrong, When you can hear! What if the evening's long, You being near, I'll tell my troubles out, Put darkness to the rout And to the roundabout! Having your ear!"

_(Rock at door: sneezes. Mother drops bellowsand goes. Timothy gives a cry, claps hands to ears and rushes out as ifterrified. )_

_Rock: (Coming in seizes bellows. )_ Well now, didn't this turn to be very lucky and very good!The very thing I came looking for to be left thereunder my hands! _(Puts it hurriedly under coat. )_

_Flannery: (Coming in. )_ What are you doinghere, James Rock?

_Rock_: What are you doing yourself?

_Flannery_: What is that in under your coat?

_Rock_: What's that to you?

_Flannery_: I'll know that when I see it. 

_Rock_: What call have you to be questioning me?

_Flannery_: Open now your coat!

_Rock_: Stand out of my way!

_Flannery: (Suddenly tearing open coat and seizingbellows. )_ Did you think it was unknownst to meyou stole the bellows?

_Rock_: Ah, what steal?

_Flannery_: Put it back in the place it was!

_Rock_: I will within three minutes. 

_Flannery_: You'll put it back here and now. 

_Rock: (Coaxingly. )_ Look at here now, MichaelFlannery, we'll make a league between us. Didyou ever see such folly as we're after seeing to-day?Sitting there for an hour and a half till that onesettled the world upside down!

_Flannery_: If I did see folly, what I see now istreachery. 

_Rock_: Didn't you take notice of the way thatfoolish old man is wasting and losing what wasgiven him for to benefit mankind? A blast he haslost turning a pigeon to a crow, as if there wasn'tenough in it before of that tribe picking the spudsout of the ridges. And another blast he has lostturning poor Celia, that was harmless, to be a holyterror of cleanness and a scold. 

_Flannery_: Indeed, he'd as well have left heras she was. There was something very pleasingin her little sleepy ways. 

_(Sings. )_

 "But sad it is to see you so And to think of you now as an object of woe; Your Peggy'll still keep an eye on her beau. O Johnny, I hardly knew you!"

_Rock_: Bringing back to the memory of hismother every old grief and rancour. She that hasa right to be making her peace with the grave!

_Flannery_: Indeed it seems he doesn't mindwhat he'll get so long as it's something that hewants. 

_Rock_: Three blasts gone! And the world didn'tbegin to be cured. 

_Flannery_: Sure enough he gave the bellows nofair play. 

_Rock_: He has us made a fool of. He using itthe way he did, he has us robbed. 

_Flannery_: There's power in the four blastsleft would bring peace and piety and prosperityand plenty to every one of the four provinces ofIreland. 

_Rock_: That's it. There's no doubt but I'llmake a better use of it than him, because I am abetter man than himself. 

_Flannery_: I don't know. You might not getso much respect in Dublin. 

_Rock_: Dublin, where are you! What wouldI'd do going to Dublin? Did you never hear saidthe skin to be nearer than the shirt?

_Flannery_: What do you mean saying that?

_Rock_: The first one I have to do good to ismyself. 

_Flannery_: Is it that you would grab the benefitof the bellows?

_Rock_: In troth I will. I've got a hold of it, andby cripes I'll knock a good turn out of it. 

_Flannery_: To rob the country and the poor foryour own profit? You are a class of man that isgathering all for himself. 

_Rock_: It is not worth while we to fall out offriendship. I will use but the one blast. 

_Flannery_: You have no right or call to meddlewith it. 

_Rock_: The first thing I will meddle with is myown rick of turf. And I'll give you leave to go dothe same with your own umbrella, or whateverproperty you may own. 

_Flannery_: Sooner than be covetous like yourselfI'd live and die in a ditch, and be buriedfrom the Poorhouse!

_Rock_: Turf being black and light in the hand, and gold being shiny and weighty, there will beno delay in turning every sod into a solid brick ofgold. I give you leave to do the same thing, andwe'll be two rich men inside a half an hour!

_Flannery_: You are no less than a thief! _(Snatchesat bellows. )_

_Rock_: Thief yourself. Leave your hand off it!

_Flannery_: Give it up here for the man thatowns it!

_Rock_: You may set your coffin making for I'llbeat you to the ground. 

_Flannery: (As he clutches. )_ Ah, you have givenit a shove. It has blown a blast on yourself!

_Rock_: Yourself that blew it on me! Bad cessto you! But I'll do the same bad turn upon you!_(Blows. )_

_Flannery_: There is some footstep without. Heave it in under the ashes. 

_Rock_: Whist your tongue! _(Flings bellowsbehind hearth. )_

_(Conan comes in. )_

_Conan_: With all the chattering of women Ihave the train near lost. The car is coming forme and I'll make no delay now but to set out. 

_(Sings. )_

 "Oh the French are on the sea, Says the Sean Van Vocht, Oh the French are on the sea, Says the Sean Van Vocht, Oh the French are in the bay, They'll be here without delay, And the Orange will decay, Says the Sean Van Vocht!"

Here now is my little pack. You were saying, Thomas Flannery, you would be lending me theloan of your umbrella. 

_Flannery_: Ah, what umbrella? There's no fearof rain. 

_Conan: (Taking it. )_ You to have proffered itI would not refuse it. 

_Flannery: (Seizing it. )_ I don't know. I haveto mind my own property. It might not serveit to be loaning it to this one and that. It mightleave the ribs of it bare. 

_Conan_: That's the way with the whole of ye. Ito give you my heart's blood you'd turn me upsidedown for a pint of porter!

_Flannery_: I see no sense or charity in lending toanother anything that might be of profit to myself. 

_Conan_: Let you keep it so! That your ribs maybe as bare as its own ribs that are bursting outthrough the cloth!

_Rock_: Do not give heed to him, Conan. Thereis in this bag _(takes it out)_ what will bring you everywhole thing you might be wanting in the town. _(Takes out notes and gold and gives them. )_

_Conan_: It is only a small share I'll ask the lend of. 

_Rock_: The lend of! No, but a free gift!

_Conan_: Well now, aren't you turned to be verykind? _(Takes notes. )_

_Rock_: Put that back in the bag. Here it is, thewhole of it. Five and fifty pounds. Take it andwelcome! It is yourself will make a good use ofit laying it out upon the needy and the poor. Changing all for their benefit and their good! Oh, since St. Bridget spread her cloak upon the Curraghthis is the most day and the happiest day evercame to Ireland. 

_Conan: (Giving bag to Flannery. )_ Take it you, as is your due by what the mother said a while agoabout the robbery he did on you in the time past. 

_Flannery_: Give it here to me. I'll engage I'llkeep a good grip on it from this out. It's longbefore any other one will get a one look at it!

_Conan_: There would seem to be a great change--anda sudden change come upon the two of ye. . .. _(With a roar. )_ Where now is the bellows?

_Flannery: (Sulkily. )_ What way would I know?

_Conan: (Shaking him. )_ I know well whathappened! It is _ye_ have stolen two of my blasts!Putting changes on yourselves ye would--muchgood may it do ye--. Thieving with your covetousnessthe last two nearly I had left!

_Rock: (Sulkily. )_ Leave your hand off me! Inever stole no blast!

_Conan_: There's a bad class going through theworld. The most people you will give to will bethe first to cry you down. This was a wrong outof measure! Thieves ye are and pickpockets!Ye that were not worth changing from one toanother, no more than you'd change a pinch ofdust off the road into a puff of ashes. Stealingaway my lovely blasts, bad luck to ye, the same asPrometheus stole the makings of a fire from theancient gods!

_Flannery_: That is enough of keening andlamenting after a few blasts of barren wind--I'llbe going where I have my own business to attend. 

_Conan_: Where, so, is the bellows?

_Flannery_: How would I know?

_Conan_: The two of ye won't quit this till I'llfind it! There is another two blasts in it thatwill bring sense and knowledge into Ireland yet!

_Rock_: Indeed they might bring comfort yetto many a sore heart!

_Conan: (Searching. )_ Where now is it? Icouldn't find it if the earth rose up and swallowedit. Where now did I lay it down?

_Rock_: There's too much changes in this placefor me to know where anything is gone. 

_Conan: (At door. )_ Where are you, Maryanne!Celia! Timothy! Let ye come hither and searchout my little bellows!

_(Timothy comes in, followed by Mother. )_

_Conan_: Hearken now, Timothy!

_Timothy: (Stopping his ears. )_ Speak easy, speak easy!

_Conan_: Take down now your fingers from yourears the way you will hear my voice!

_Timothy_: Have a care now with your screechingwould you split the drum of my ear?

_Conan_: Is it that you have got your hearing?

_Timothy_: My hearing is it? As good as that Ican hear a lie, and it forming in the mind. 

_Conan_: Is that the truth you're saying?

_Timothy_: Hear, is it! I can hear every whisperin this parish and the seven parishes are nearest. And the little midges roaring in the air. --Let yewhist now with your sneezing in the draught!

_Conan_: This is surely the work of the bellows. Another blast gone!

_Rock_: So it would be too. Mostly the wholeof them gone and spent. It's hard know in themorning what way will it be with you at night. _(Sings. )_

 "I saw from the beach when the morning was shining A bark o'er the waters move gloriously on-- came when the sun o'er the beach was declining, The bark was still there, but the waters were gone. "

_Timothy_: It is yourself brought the misfortuneon me, calling your Druid spells into the house. 

_Conan_: It is not upon you I ever turned it. 

_Timothy_: You have a great wrong done to me!

_Mother_: It is glad you should be and happy. 

_Timothy_; Happy, is it? Give me a hareskin capfor to put over my ears, having wool in it very thick! _(Sings. )_

 "Silent, O Moyle, be the roar of thy water, Break not ye breezes your chain of repose, While murmuring mournfully Lir's lonely daughter Tells to the night-star her tale of woes. 

 "When shall the swan, her death-note singing, Sleep with wings in darkness furl'd? When will heaven its sweet bells ringing Call my spirit from this stormy world?"

_Mother_: Come with me now and I'll be chattingto you. 

_Timothy_: Why would I be listening to yourblather when I have the voices of the four winds tobe listening to? The night wind, the east wind, the black wind and the wind from the south!

_Conan_: Such a thing I never saw before in allmy natural life. 

_Timothy_: To be hearing, without understandingit, the language of the tribes of the birds! (_Putshands over ears again_. ) There's too many soundsin the world! The sounds of the earth are terrible!The roots squeezing and jostling one anotherthrough the clefts, and the crashing of the acornfrom the oak. The cry of the little birdeen inunder the silence of the hawk!

_Conan:_ (_To Mother_. ) As it you let it looseupon him, let you bring him away to some hole orcave of the earth. 

_Timothy_: It is my desire to go cast myself inthe ocean where there'll be but one sound of itswaves, the fishes in its meadows being dumb!(_Goes to corner and hides his head in a sack_. )

_Mother_: Even so there might likely be a mermaidplaying reels on her silver comb, and yourselfcraving after the world you left. (_Sings: Air, "Spailpin Fanach_. ")

 "You think to go from every woe to peace in the wide ocean, But you will find your foolish mind repent its foolish notion. When dog-fish dash and mermaids splash their finny tails to find you, I'll make a bet that you'll regret the world you left behind you!"

_Celia:_ (_Clattering in with broom, etc_. ) Whatare ye doing, coming in this room again after Ihaving it settled so nice? I'll allow no one in theplace again, only carriage company that will haveno speck of dust upon the sole of their shoe!

_Mother_: Oh, Celia, there has strange thingshappened!

_Celia_: What I see strange is that some personhas meddled with that hill of ashes on the hearthand set it flying athrough the air. Is it hens yeare wishful to be, that would be searching andscratching in the dust for grains? And this throwndown in the midst! (_Holds up bellows_. )

_Conan_: Give me my bellows!

_Mother_: No, but give it to me!

_Rock and Flannery_: Give it to myself!

_Timothy:_ (_Looking up, with hands on ears_. )My curse upon it and its work. Little I care if itgoes up with the clouds. 

_Celia_: What in the world wide makes the wholeof ye so eager to get hold of such a thing?

_Conan_: It has but the one blast left! (_Sings_. )

 "'Tis the last Rose of Summer Left blooming alone, All her lovely companions Are faded and gone. No flower of her kindred, No rosebud is nigh, To reflect back her blushes Or give sigh for sigh!"

_Celia_: What are you fretting about blasts andabout roses?

_Rock:_ It has a charm on it--

_Flannery:_ To change the world--

_Mother:_ That chedang myself--

_Conan:_ For the worse--

_Mother:_ And Timothy--

_Conan:_ For the worse--

_Rock:_ Myself and Flannery--

_Conan:_ For the worse, for the worse--

_Mother:_ Conan that changed yourself with it--

_Conan:_ For the very worst!

_Celia:_ (_To Conan_. ) Is it riddles, or is it thatyou put a spell and a change upon me?

_Conan:_ If I did, it was for your own good!

_Celia:_ Do you call it for my good to set merunning till I have my toes going through my shoes?(_Holds them out_. )

_Conan:_ I didn't think to go that length. 

_Celia:_ To roughen my hands with soap andscalding water till they're near as knotted and asugly as your own!

_Conan:_ Ah, leave me alone! I tell you it is notby my own fault. My plan and my purpose thatwent astray and that broke down. 

_Celia:_ I will not leave you till you'll change meback to what I was. What way can these hands goto the dance house to-night? Change me back, I say!

_Rock:_ And me--

_Timothy:_ And myself, that I'll have quiet in myhead again. 

_Conan:_ I cannot undo what has been done. There is no back way. 

_Timothy:_ Is there no way at all to come out ofit safe and sane?

_Conan:_ (_Shakes head_. ) Let ye make the best of it. 

_Flannery: (Sings. ) (Air, "I saw from the Beach. ")_

 "Ne'er tell me of glories serenely adorning The close of our day, the calm eve of our night. Give me back, give me back the wild freshness of morning, Her clouds and her tears are worth evening's best light. "

_Mother: (Who has bellows in her hand. )_ Stop!Stop--my mind is travelling backward . .. So farI can hardly reach to it . .. But I'll come to it. .. The way I'll be changed to what I was before, and the town and the country wishing me well, Ihaving got my enough of unfriendly looks and hardwords!

_Timothy:_ Hurry on, Ma'am, and remember, andtake the spell off the whole of us. 

_Mother:_ I am going back, back, to the longestthing that is in my mind and my memory!. .. I myself a child in my mother's arms the very dayI was christened. .. . 

_Conan:_ Ah, stop your raving!

_Mother:_ Songs and storytelling, and my oldgenerations laying down news of this spell that isnow come to pass. .. . 

_Rock:_ Did they tell what way to undo thecharm?

_Mother:_ You have but to turn the bellows thesame as the smith would turn the anvil, or St. Patrick turned the stone for fine weather . .. And to blow a blast . .. And a twist will comeinside in it and the charm will fall off with thatblast, and undo the work that has been done!

_All:_ Turn it so! (_Cats look over, playing on fiddles "O Johnny, I hardly knew you, " while mother blows on each_. )

_Timothy:_ Ha! (_Takes hands from ears and putsone behind his ear_. )

_Rock:_ Ha! Where now is my bag? (_Turnsout his pockets, unhappy to find them empty_. )

_Flannery:_ Ha! (_Smiles and holds out umbrellato Conan, who takes it_. )

_Mother: (To Celia. )_ Let you blow a blast on me. (_Celia does so_. ) Now it's much if I can rememberto blow a blast backward upon yourself!

_Celia:_ Stop a minute! Leave what is in me oflife and of courage till I will blow the last blast isin the bellows upon Conan. 

_Conan:_ Stop that! Do you think to changeand to crow over me. You will not or I'll lay mycurse upon you, unless you would change me intoan eagle would be turning his back upon the wholeof ye, and facing to his perch upon the right handof the master of the gods!

_Celia:_ Is it to waste the last blast you would?Not at all. As we burned the candle we'll burn theinch! I'll not make two halves of it, I'll give it toyou entirely!

_Conan:_ You will not, you unlucky witch of illwill! (_Protects himself with umbrella_. )

_Celia: (Having got him to a corner. )_ Let youtake things quiet and easy from this out, and be ascontent as you have been contrary from the veryday and hour of your birth! _(She blows upon him and he sits down smiling. Mother blows on Celia, and she sits down in first attitude_. )

_Celia:_ (_Taking up pigeon_. ) Oh, there you arecome back my little dove and my darling! (_Sings: "Shule Aroon. "_)

 "Come sit and settle on my knee And I'll tell you and you'll tell me A tale of what will never be, Go-d�-t�u-Mavourneen slan!"

_Conan:_ (_Lighting pipe_. ) So the dove is there, too. Aristotle said there is nothing at the end butwhat there used to be at the beginning. Well now, what a pleasant day we had together, and whatgood neighbours we all are, and what a comfortablefamily entirely. 

_Rock:_ You would seem to have done with yourcomplaints about the universe, and your great planto change it overthrown. 

_Conan:_ Not a complaint! What call have I togo complaining? The world is a very good world, the best nearly I ever knew. (_Sings_. )

 "O, a little cock sparrow he sat on a tree, O, a little cock sparrow he sat on a tree, O, a little cock sparrow he sat on a tree, And he was as happy as happy could be, With a chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup!

 "A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup! A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup! A chirrup, a chirrup, a chirrup! A chirrup, a chirrup, a----!"

CURTAIN

NOTE TO ARISTOTLE'S BELLOWS

I had begun to put down some notes for this play whenin the autumn of 1919 I was suddenly obliged (throughthe illness and death of the writer who had undertaken it)to take in hand the writing of the "Life and Achievement"of my nephew Hugh Lane, and this filled my mind andkept me hard at work for a year. 

When the proofs were out of my hands I turned withbut a vague recollection to these notes, and was surprisedto find them fuller than they had appeared in my memory, so that the idea was rekindled and the writing was soonbegun. And I found a certain rest and ease of mind inhaving turned from a long struggle (in which, alas, I hadbeen too often worsted) for exactitude in dates and namesand in the setting down of facts, to the escape into a worldof fantasy where I could create my own. And so beforethe winter was over the play was put in rehearsal at theAbbey Theatre, and its first performance was on St. Patrick's Day, 1921. 

I have been looking at its first scenario, made accordingto my habit in rough pen and ink sketches, coloured witha pencil blue and red, and the changes from that earlyidea do not seem to have been very great, except that inthe scene where Conan now hears the secret of the hiding-placeof the Spell from the talk of the cats, the Bellowshad been at that time left beside him by a dwarf from therath, in his sleep. The cats work better, and I owe theirsuccess to the genius of our Stage Carpenter, Mr. SeanBarlow, whose head of the Dragon from my play of thatname had been such a masterpiece that I longed to seethese other enchanted heads from his hand. 

The name of the play in that first scenario was "TheFault-Finder, " but my cranky Conan broke from thatnarrowness. If the play has a moral it is given in the wordsof the Mother, "It's best make changes little by little, the same as you'd put clothes upon a growing child. " Therestlessness of the time may have found its way into Conan'smind, or as some critic wrote, "He thinks of the Bellowsas Mr. Wilson thought of the League of Nations, " and sohis disappointment comes. As A. E. Writes in "The NationalBeing, " "I am sympathetic with idealists in a hurry, butI do not think the world can be changed suddenly bysome heavenly alchemy, as St. Paul was smitten by a lightfrom the overworld. Though the heart in us cries outcontinually, 'Oh, hurry, hurry to the Golden Age, ' thoughwe think of revolutions, we know that the patient marshallingof human forces is wisdom. .. . Not by revolutionscan humanity be perfected. I might quote from an oldoracle, 'The gods are never so turned away from man aswhen he ascends to them by disorderly methods. ' Ourspirits may live in the Golden Age but our bodily lifemoves on slow feet, and needs the lantern on the pathand the staff struck carefully into the darkness before us tosee that the path beyond is not a morass, and the lightnot a will o' the wisp. " (But this may not refer to ourown Revolution, seeing that has been making a step nowand again towards what many judged to be a will o' thewisp through over seven hundred years. )

As to the machinery of the play, the spell was first tohave been worked by a harp hung up by some wanderingmagician, and that was to work its change according tothe wind, as it blew from north or south, east or west. But that would have been troublesome in practice, andthe Bellows having once entered my mind, brought thereI think by some scribbling of the pencil that showed Conanprotecting himself with an umbrella, seemed to have everynecessary quality, economy, efficiency, convenience. 

As to Aristotle, his name is a part of our folklore. Theold wife of one of our labourers told me one day, as a beebuzzed through the open door: "Aristotle of the Bookswas very wise but the bees got the better of him in theend. He wanted to know how did they pack the comb, and he wasted the best part of a fortnight watching them, and he could not see them doing it. Then he made ahive with a glass cover on it and put it over them, andhe thought to watch them. But when he went to put hiseye to the glass, they had it all covered with wax so thatit was as black as the pot, and he was as blind as before. He said he was never rightly killed till then. The beeshad him beat that time surely. " And Douglas Hydebrought home one day a story from Kilmacduagh bog, inwhich Aristotle took the place of Solomon, the Wise Manin our tales as well as in those of the East. And he saidthat as the story grew and the teller became more familiar, the name of Aristotle was shortened to that of Harry. 

As to the songs they are all sung to the old Irish airs Igive at the end. 

A. GREGORY. 

August 18, 1921. 

THE JESTER

A PLAY IN THREE ACTS

FOR RICHARD

January, 1919

A. G. 

PERSONS

_The Five Princes_. 

_The Five Wrenboys_. 

_The Guardian of the Princes and Governor of the Island_. 

_The Servant_. 

_The Two Dowager Messengers_. 

_The Ogre_. 

_The Jester_. 

_Two Soldiers_. 

_The Scene is laid in The Island of Hy Brasil, thatappears every seven years_. 

_Time: Out of mind_. 

ACT I

ACT I

_Scene: A winter garden, with pots of floweringtrees or fruit-trees. There are books about andsome benches with cushions on them and manycushions on the ground. The young_ PRINCES _aresitting or lying at their ease. One is playing"Home, Sweet Home" on a harp. The_SERVANT--_an old man_--_is standing in thebackground_. 

_1st Prince_: Here, Gillie, will you please take offmy shoe and see what there is in it that is pressingon my heel. 

_Servant_: (_Taking it off and examining it_. ) Isee nothing. 

_1st Prince_: Oh, yes, there is something; I havefelt it all the morning. I have been thinking thislong time of taking the shoe off, but I waited foryou. 

_Servant_: All I can find is a grain of poppy seed. 

_1st Prince_: That is it of course--it was enoughto hurt my skin. 

_2nd Prince_: Gillie, there is a mayfly ticklingmy cheek. Will you please brush it away. 

_Servant_: I will and welcome. (_Fans it off_. )

_3rd Prince_: Just give me, please, that bookthat is near my elbow. I cannot reach to it withouttaking my hand off my cheek. 

_Servant_: I wouldn't wish you to do that. (_Gives him book_. )

_4th Prince_: Gillie, I think, I am nearly sure, there is a feather in this cushion that has the quillin it yet. I feel something hard. 

_Servant_: Give it to me till I will open it andmake a search. 

_4th Prince_: No, wait a while till I am not lyingon it. I will put up with the discomfort till then. 

_5th Prince_: Would it give you too much trouble, Gillie, when you waken me in the morning, tocome and call me three times, so that I can havethe joy of dropping off again?

_Servant_: Why wouldn't I? And there is athing I would wish to know. There will be asupper laid out here this evening for the DowagerMessengers that are coming to the Island, and Iwould wish to provide for yourselves whateverfood would be pleasing to you. 

_1st Prince_: It is too warm for eating. All Iwill ask is a few grapes from Spain. 

_2nd Prince_: A mouthful of jelly in a silverspoon . .. Or in the shape of a little castle withtowers. When will the Lady Messengers be here?

_Servant_: Not before the fall of day. 

_2nd Prince_: The time passes so quietly andpeaceably it does not feel like a year and a day sincethey came here before. 

_Servant_: No wonder the time to pass easy andquiet where you are, with comfort all around you, and nothing to mark its course, and every seasonfeeling the same as another, within the glass wallsand the crystal roof of this place. And the oldQueen, your godmother, sending her own Chamberlainto take charge of you, and to be your Guardian, and Governor of the Island. Sure, the winditself must slacken coming to this sheltered place. 

_3rd Prince_: That is a great thing. I wouldnot wish the rough wind to be blowing upon me. 

_4th Prince_: Or the dust to be rising and comingin among us to spoil our suits. 

_5th Prince_: Or to be walking out on the hardroads, or climbing over stone walls, or tearingourselves in hedges. 

_1st Prince_: That is the reason we were senthere by the Queen, our Godmother, in place ofbeing sent to any school. To be kept safe andsecure. 

_2nd Prince_: Not to be running here and therelike our own poor five first cousins, that used tobe slipping out and rambling in their young youth, till they were swallowed up by the sea. 

_3rd Prince_: It was maybe by some big fish ofthe sea. 

_2nd Prince_: It might be they were broughtaway by sea-robbers coming in a ship. 

_3rd Prince_: Foolish they were and very foolishnot to stay in peace and comfort in the house wherethey were safe. 

_Servant_: There is no fear of _ye_ stirring fromwhere you are, having every whole thing ye canwish. 

_4th Prince_: Here is the Guardian coming!

(_They all rise_. )

_Guardian_: (_A very old man, much encumberedwith wraps, coming slowly in_. ) Are you all here, all the five of you?

_All_: We are here!

_Guardian_: (_Standing, leaning on a stick, toaddress them_. ) It's a pity that these being holidays, your teachers and tutors are far away. 

Gone off afloat in a cedar boat to a College ofLearning out in Cathay. 

_1st Prince_: It's a pity indeed they're not hereto-day. 

_Guardian_: For it's likely you looked in youralmanacs, or judged by the shape of the lesseningmoon, That your Godmother's Dowager Messengers aredue to arrive this afternoon. 

_2nd Prince_: We did and we think they'll behere very soon. 

_Guardian_: But I know they'll be glad that eachroyal lad, put under my rule in place of a school, Can fashion his life without trouble or strife, andbe shielded from care in a nice easy chair. 

_3rd Prince_: As we always are and we alwayswere. 

_Guardian_: It is part of my knowledge that ladsin a college, and made play one and all with a batand a ball, Come often to harm with a knock on the arm, and their hands get as hard as the hands of a clown. 

_4th Prince_: But ours are as soft as thistledown. 

_Guardian_: And I've seen young princes notfar from your age, go chasing beasts on a winter day, And carted home with a broken bone, and ayard of a doctor's bill to pay;Or going to sail in the teeth of a gale, when thewaves were rising mountains high, Or fall from a height that was near out of sight, robbing rooks from their nest in a poplar tree. 

_5th Prince: (To another_. ) But that neverhappened to you or me. 

_Guardian_: Or travelling far to a distant war, with battles and banners rilling their mind, And creeping back like a crumpled sack, contentif they'd left no limbs behind. 

_1st Prince_: But we'll have nothing to do withthat, but stop at home with an easy mind. 

_Guardian: (Sitting down. )_ That's right. Andnow I would wish you to say over some of yourtasks, to make ready for the Dowager Messengers, that they may bring back a good report to theQueen, your Godmother. 

_1st Prince_: We'll do that. We would wish to bea credit to you, sir, and to our teachers. 

_Guardian_: Say out now some little piece ofLatin; that one that is my favourite. 

_1st Prince_:

 Aere sub gelido nullus rosa fundit odores, Ut placeat tellus, sole calesce Dei. 

_Guardian_: Say out the translation. 

_2nd Prince_: Beneath a chilly blast the rose, loses its sweet, and scentless blows;

If you would have earth keep its charm, stopin the sunshine and keep warm. 

_Guardian_: Very good. Now your history book;you were learning of late some genealogies of kings, might suit your Godmother. 

_3rd Prince_:

 William the First as the Conqueror known At the Battle of Hastings ascended the throne, His Acts were all made in the Norman tongue And at eight every evening the curfew was rung When each English subject by royal desire

 Extinguished his candle and put out his fire. He bridled the kingdom with forts round the Border And the Tower of London was built by his order. 

_2nd Prince_:

 William called Rufus from having red hair, Of virtues possessed but a moderate share, But though he was one whom we covetous call, He built the famed structure called Westminster Hall. Walter Tyrrell his favourite, when hunting one day, Attempted a deer with an arrow to slay, But missing his aim, shot the King to the heart And the body was carried away in a cart. 

_Guardian_: That will do. You have that verywell in your memory. Now let me hear thegrammar lesson. 

_3rd Prince_:

 A noun's the name of anything As school or garden, hoop or swing. 

_Guardian_: Very good, go on. 

_4th Prince_:

 Adjectives tell the kind of noun As strong or pretty, white or brown. 

_5th Prince_:

 Conjunctions join the nouns together As men and children, wind or weather. 

_Guardian_: It will be very useful to you to havethat so well grafted in your mind. .. . Whatnoise is that outside?

_Servant_: It is some strolling people. 

_1st Prince_: Oh, Guardian, let them come in. We will do our work all the better if we have someamusement now. 

_Guardian_: Maybe so. I am well pleased whenamusements come to our door, that you can seewithout going outside the walls. 

_(A Jester enters in very ragged green clothesand broken shoes. )_

But this is a very ragged looking man. Do youknow anything about him, Gillie?

_Servant_: I seen him one time before. .. . Atthe time of the earthquake out in Foreign. A madjester he was. A tramp class of a man. _(To Jester. )_Where is it you stop?

_Jester_: Where do I stop? Where would I bebut everywhere, like the bad weather. I stop inno place, but going through the whole roads ofthe world. 

_Guardian_: What brought you in here?

_Jester_: Hearing questions going on, and answers. I am well able to give help in that. It'snot long since I was giving instruction to the sonsof the King of Babylon. Here now is a question. How many ladders would it take to reach to themoon?

_1st Prince_: It should be a great many. 

_2nd Prince_: I give it up. 

_Jester_: One . .. If it is long enough! Whichis it easier to spell, ducks or geese?

_3rd Prince_: Ducks I suppose because it's shorter. 

_Jester_: Not at all but geese. Do you knowwhy? Because it is spelled with _ees_. Tell menow, can you spell pup backwards?

_4th Prince_: P-u-p. .. . 

_Jester_: Not at all. 

_4th Prince_: But it is. 

_Jester_: No, that is pup straight forwards. .. . Can you run back and forwards at the same time?

_4th Prince_: Answer it yourself so. 

_Jester_: You would be as wise as myself then. But I'll show you some tricks. Look at thesethree straws on my hand. Will I be able to blowtwo of them away, and the other to stay in its place?

_5th Prince_: They would all blow away. 

_Jester_: Look now. Puff! (_He has put hisfinger on the middle one_. ) Now is it possible?

_5th Prince_: It is easy when you know the way. 

_Jester_: That is so with all knowledge. Can youwag one ear and keep the other quiet?

_1st Prince_: Nobody can do that. 

_Jester: (Wagging one ear with his finger. )_ There, now you see I have done it! There's more learningthan is taught in books. Wait now and I'll giveyou out a song I'll engage you never heard. (_Singsor repeats_. )

 It's I can rhyme you out the joy That's ready for a lively boy. Cuchulain flung a golden ball And followed it where it would fall, And when they counted him a child He took the flying swans alive. And Finn was given hares to mind Till he outran them and the wind; And he could swim and overtake The wild duck swimming on the lake. Osgar's young music was to thwack The enemy and drive him back. .. . 

_Guardian_: That's enough now. I have nofancy for that class of song. What other amusementsare there?

_Servant_: There are the Wrenboys are come hereat the end of their twelve days' funning. 

_Jester_: That's it! The Wrenboys; a ramblingtroop; rambling the world like myself. I will makeplace for them. The old must give way to theyoung. 

(_He goes and sits down in a corner, munchinga crust and dozing_. )

_Servant_: Come in here let ye, and show whatye can do!

(_Wrenboys come in playing a fife. They arewearing little masks and are dressed inragged tunics; they carry drum and, fife, and stand in a line_. )

_All Five Wrenboys: (Together. )_

 The wren, the wren, the King of all birds, On Stephen's Day was caught in the furze. Although he's small his family's great, Rise up kind gentry and give us a treat! (_Rub-a-tub-tub-tub, on the drum_. )

 Down with the kettle and up with the pan And give us money to bury the wren! _(Rub-a-tub. )_

 We followed him twenty miles since morn, The Wrenboys are all tattered and torn. From Kyle-na-Gno we started late And here we are at this grand gate! _(Rub-a-tub. )_

 He dipped his wing in a barrel of beer-- We wish you all a Happy New Year! Give us now money to buy him a bier And if you don't, we'll bury him here! (_Rub-a-tub, and fife_. )

(_Princes laugh and clap hands_. )

_1st Prince_: That is very good. 

_2nd Prince_: We must give them some money tobury the wren!

_Guardian_: Come on then and I will give yousome. They will be glad of it. Play now theharp as you go. 

(_Princes go off playing, "Home, Sweet Home_. "_The Wrenboys sit down_. )

_1st Wrenboy_: It is likely we'll get good treatment. 

_Jester: (Coming forward. )_ Ye should be tired. 

_2nd Wrenboy_: We should be, but that we haveour feet well soled, --with the dust of the road!

_3rd Wrenboy_: If walking could tire us we mightbe tired. But we're as well pleased to be moving, where we have no house or home that you'll call ahouse or a home. 

_Jester_: That's not so with those young princes. Wouldn't you be well pleased if ye could changeplaces with them? (_He goes back to his corner_. )

_4th Wrenboy_: They are lovely kind youngprinces. I was near in dread they might set thedogs at us. 

_5th Wrenboy_: They would do that if theyknew the Ogre had sent us to spy out the placefor him. 

_1st Wrenboy_: It failed us to see what he wantedus to see. It is likely he will beat us, when we goback, with his cat-o'-nine-tails. 

_2nd Wrenboy_: Wouldn't it be good if we coulddo as that Jester was saying and change places withthose sons of kings! They that can lie in thesunshine on soft pillows. 

_3rd Wrenboy_: They that can use food when theyask it, and not have to wait till they can find it, or steal it, or get it what way they can. 

_3rd Wrenboy_: And not to be waiting till you'llhear a rabbit squealing, with the teeth of a weaselin his neck. 

_4th Wrenboy_: And the weasel when you takeit to be spitting poison at you, the same as a serpent. 

_5th Wrenboy_: It would be a nice thing to beeating sweet red apples in place of the green crabs. 

_1st Wrenboy_: Or to be maybe sucking marrow-bones. 

_2nd Wrenboy_: It is likely they are as airy andas careless as the blackbird singing on the bush. 

_3rd Wrenboy_: It's likely they go following afterfoxes on horses, having huntsmen and beagles attheir feet. 

_4th Wrenboy_: Or go out sporting and fowlingwith their greyhound and with their gun. 

_5th Wrenboy_: Or matching fighting cocks. 

_1st Wrenboy_: It's likely they lead a gentleman'slife, card-playing and eating and drinking, andracing with jockeys in speckled clothes. 

_2nd Wrenboy_: Their brooches were shining likegreen fire, the same as a marten cat's eyes. Theyhave everything finer than another. 

_3rd Wrenboy_: Their faces as clean as a linensheet. Their hair as if combed with a silver comb. 

_4th Wrenboy_: There is no one to so much asput a clean shirt on ourselves. 

_5th Wrenboy: (Rubbing his hand_. ) I neverfelt uneasy at the dirt that is grinted into me tillI saw them so nice. 

_1st Wrenboy_: That music they were playingput me in mind of some far thing. It is dreamedto me, and it is never leaving my mind, that thereis something I remember in the long ago . .. Music in a house that was as bright as the moon, or as the brightest night of stars. 

_5th Wrenboy_: Whisht! They are coming!

(_The Princes come back_. )

_1st Prince_: Here are coppers for you. 

_2nd Prince_: And white money. 

_3rd Prince_: And here is a piece of gold. 

_3rd Wrenboy_: We are thankful to you! We'llbury the Wren in grand style now!

_4th Prince_: Have you far to go?

_1st Wrenboy_: Not very far if it was a straightroad. But it is through the forest we go, beyondthe lake. 

_2nd Wrenboy_: We will hardly be there beforethe moon rises. 

_1st Prince_: Are you afraid in the night time?

_2nd Wrenboy_: I am not. But I've seen a greatdeal of strange things at that time. 

_2nd Prince_: What sort of things?

_2nd Wrenboy_: Fairies you'd see. 

_3rd Prince_: Are there such things?

_2nd Wrenboy_: One night I was attending a pot-still, roasting oats for to make still-whiskey, and Iseen hares coming out of the wood, by fours and bysixes, and they as thin as thin. .. . 

_3rd Wrenboy_: Hares are the biggest fairies of all. 

_4th Wrenboy_: And down by the sea _I_ met aweasel bringing up a fish in his mouth from thetide. And I often seen seals there, seals that areenchanted and look like humans, and will hold upa hand the same as a Christian. 

_5th Wrenboy_: I that saw a hedgehog runningup the side of a mountain as swift as a racehorse. 

_1st Wrenboy_: It's the moonlight is the only time!

_1st Prince_: I never saw the moon but througha window. 

_1st Wrenboy_: That's the time to go ramble. _(He chants_. )You'll see the crane in the water standing, And never landing a fish, for fright, For he can but shiver seeing in the riverHis shadow shaking in the bright moonlight. 

_2nd Wrenboy_:Or you may listen to the plover's whistle, When high above him the wild geese screech;Or the mallard flying, as the night is dying, His neck out-stretched towards the salt sea beach. 

_3rd Wrenboy_:When dawn discloses the oak and shows usThe wide sky whitening through the scanty ash, High in the beeches the furry creatures, Squirrel and marten lightly pass. 

_4th Wrenboy_:The badger scurries to find his burrowThe rabbit hurries to hide underground. 

_5th Wrenboy_:The pigeon rouses the thrush that drowses, The woods awaken and the world goes round!

_1st Wrenboy_: Come now, it's time to be takingthe road. Thank you, noble Gentlemen! Thatyou may be doing the same thing this day fifty years!_(They go off playing fife and beating drum_. )

_1st Prince_: I would nearly wish to be in theirplace to go through the world at large. 

_2nd Prince_: They can go visit strange cities, sailing in white-sailed ships. 

_3rd Prince_: They have no lessons to learn. 

_4th Prince_: No hours to keep. No clocks tostrike. 

_5th Prince_: No Lady Messengers coming toshow off to. 

_1st Prince_: They should be as merry as midges. 

_2nd Prince_: As free as the March wind. 

_3rd Prince_: I don't know how we stopped solong shut up in this place. 

_4th Prince_: I would be nearly ready to changeplaces with them if such a thing were possible. 

_Jester: (Who has had his back to them comesforward; the Princes stand on his right in a halfcircle. )_ And why wouldn't you change?

_5th Prince_: It is a thing not possible. 

_Jester_: I never could know the meaning of thatword "impossible. " Where there's a will there'sa way. 

_1st Prince_: It seems to me like the sound of abell ringing a long way off, that I had leave at onetime to go here and there. 

_Jester_: If you are in earnest wanting to come tothat freedom again you will get it. 

_2nd Prince_: No, we would be followed andbrought back through kindness. 

_Jester_: If you have the strong wish to makethe change you can make it. 

_1st Prince_: I think I was never so much inearnest in all my life. 

_(The Jester takes his pipe and plays a noteon it. The Wrenboys come back beatingtheir drum. They stand in a half circleon Jester's left. )_

_Jester: (To all. )_

 If it's true ye wish to change, Some to have a wider range, Some to have an easy life, Some to rove into the wild, If you do it, do it fast, Do it while you have the chance. 

_Wrenboys: (Together. )_ We will change! We will!

_Jester: (To Princes. )_

 If you wish to leave your ease And live wild and free like these Like the fawn free and wild, Not closed in as is a child, Take your chance as it has come, Let you run and run and run, Where you'll get your joy and fun!

_2nd Prince:_ They will know us, they will know us!

_Jester:_ Change your clothes, change your clothes!

_3rd Prince:_ They will know us every place. 

_Jester:_ Put their masks upon your face. 

_(Wrenboys give them the masks. )_

 You never will be missed For I will throw a dust Before everybody's eye That wants to look or pry To see if you are here, -- And if you should appear To be someway strange or queer They will think themselves are blind Or confused in the mind!

_(Throws a handful of dust over all the boys. )_

 Dust of Mullein, work your spell; Keep the double secret well!

_5th Prince: (To a Wrenboy. )_

 Give me here your coat now fast I don't want to be the last. 

_(They all rapidly change coats and caps. )_

_Jester:_ That will do, that is enough. 

_1st Wrenboy_: But my hands are very rough. 

_Jester_:

 Never mind; never mind, The truth is hard to find!

_Guardian: (Off stage. )_ Gillie, do as you aretold, shut the door, it's getting cold. 

_1st Prince_: Oh, I'm in dread! What will besaid!

_2nd Prince_: I'd sooner stay in my old way!

_Jester_:

 Never mind, never mind! The truth is hard to find! Keep steady. Are you ready?

_1st Wrenboy_: I'll be ashamed if I am blamed. 

_2nd Wrenboy_: I have no grace or lovely face!

_Jester: (To Princes. )_ Too late, too late! Goout the gate!

(_The Princes have taken up fife and drum. They march out playing_. )

CURTAIN

ACT II

ACT II

SCENE I

(_A front scene. A poor hut or tent, thePrinces are coming in slowly, some limping. They are in Wrenboys' clothes and themasks are in their hands_. )

_1st Prince_: This should be the hut where theWrenboys told us to come. 

_2nd Prince_: It is a poor looking place. 

_3d Prince_: It is good to have any place to sitdown in for a while. My back is aching. 

_4th Prince_: My feet are all scratched and torn. There are blisters rising. 

_5th Prince:_ I thought we would never come tothe end of the road. The stones by the lake wereso hard and so sharp. 

_1st Prince_: It was a root of a tree I fell overthat made these bruises on my knees. I waswatching a hawk that was still and quiet up in theair, and when it made a swoop all of a suddenI stumbled and fell. 

_2nd Prince_: It was in slipping where the rocksare high I gave this twist to my arm. I can hardlymove it. 

_3rd Prince_: But wasn't the sight of the sunsetsplendid over the lake? And the hills so blue!

_4th Prince_: I like the tall trees best. I triedto climb up one of them, but it was so smooth Idid but slip and fall. 

_1st Prince_: I would wish to walk as far as thehills, and to have a view of the ocean that is beyond. 

_5th Prince_: I am hungry. I wonder where wewill get our supper. 

_4th Prince_: Not in this place, anyway, it mustbe making ready in some big guesthouse. 

_3rd, Prince_: What will they give us, I wonder?

_2nd Prince_: I wish we had in our hand whatthey have ready for us at home. 

_1st Prince_: What use would it be to us? Doyou remember what we asked to be given, somejellies and a few grapes? It is not that muchwould satisfy me now. 

_2nd Prince_: Indeed it would not. I never feltso sharp a hunger in my longest memory. 

_3rd Prince_: It is roasted meat I would wish for. 

_4th Prince_: There were pigeons in the talltrees. They will maybe give us a pigeon pie. 

_5th Prince_: I would be content with a plate ofminced turkey with poached eggs. 

_1st Prince_: I would sooner have a roastedchicken, with bread sauce. 

_2nd Prince_: Be quiet. .. . I think I hear someonecoming! _(Looks out. )_

_3rd Prince: (Looking out. )_ I see him. He is nota right man . .. He is very strange looking. .. . 

_4th Prince: (Looking out. )_ Oh! It is an Ogre!A Grugach!

_(All shrink back and hurriedly put on masks. )_

_Ogre: (Coming in: he wears a frightful mask, hasred hair and a cloak of rough skins and carries awhip with many lashes_. ) What makes ye late to-night, ye young schemers? What was it delayedye? Lagging along the road. 

_1st Prince_: We came as fast as we could. Itwas getting dusk in the wood. 

_Ogre_: Dusk, good morrow to you! I'll duskye! I had a mind to go after ye and to changemyself into the form of a wolf, and catch a hold ofye with my long sharp teeth!

_2nd Prince_: We did not know there was anygreat hurry. 

_Ogre_: There is always hurry when you are onmy messages. What did I bring you away fromyour own house for and put ye on the shaughraunfor and keep ye wandering, if it was not to beserviceable and helpful to myself. Show me nowwhat ye have in your pocket or your bag. 

_3rd Prince_: This is all we got in the bag. (_Holdsit out_. ) It is but very little. 

_Ogre_: (_Turning it out and counting it_. ) Coppers!Silver! What is this? A piece of gold! Is thatwhat ye call little? What notions ye have! Takecare did ye keep any of it back! If ye did I'llskin ye with the lash of my cat-o'-nine-tails. (_Shakes it_. )

_4th Prince_: That is all we got. It should maybepay for our supper in some place. 

_Ogre_: What supper? To go buy supper withmy money! It will go to add to my store oftreasure in the cave that is under ground. 

_5th Prince_: We are hungry, very hungry. Whenwill the supper be ready?

_Ogre_: It will be ready whenever ye will readyit for yourselves. Ye should know that by this time. 

_1st Prince_: We would make it ready if we wereacquainted with the way. 

_Ogre_: It is gone cracked ye are? What is itye are thinking to get for your supper? Whatailed ye that ye didn't climb a tree and suck a fewpigeon's eggs?

_2nd Prince_: We were thinking of a pigeon pie. 

_Ogre_: A what!!!

_2nd Prince_: A pigeon pie. 

_Ogre_: Hurry on then making your pigeon pie!There are pigeons enough there in the corner, thata hawk that is my carrier brought me in a whileago. And there's a pike that was in the lake thesehundred years, an otter is after leaving at my door. 

_3rd Prince_: (_Taking a pigeon_. ) I don't thinkthis is a right pigeon. 

_4th Prince_: Pigeons in a pie are not the pigeonsthat have feathers. 

_5th Prince_: (_To Ogre_. ) Please, sir, where canwe find pigeons without feathers, that are trussedon a silver skewer?

_Ogre_: Aye? What's that?

_1st Prince_: Never mind. You'll anger him. Maybe we can pull the feathers off these. I haveread of plucking a pigeon in our books. (_Theybegin to pluck_. )

_2nd Prince_: It is very hard work. 

_3rd Prince_: I never knew feathers could stickin so hard. 

_4th Prince_: The more we pull out the morethere would seem to be left. 

_5th Prince_: It will be a feather pie we will begetting in the end. 

_1st Prince_: (_Throwing it down_. ) It is no use. We might work at it to-day and to-morrow and beno nearer to a finish. 

_2nd Prince_: The pike might be better. 

_3rd Prince_: It has no feathers anyway. 

_4th Prince_: (_Touching it_. ) It is raw and bleeding!

_5th Prince_: We might roast it. 

_1st Prince_: The fire is black out. 

_2nd Prince_: I wonder what way can we kindle it?

_3rd Prince_: Better ask him. (_Points to Ogre_. )

_2nd Prince_: Please, sir, what way can we kindlethe fire?

_Ogre_: What!

_4th Prince_: We would wish to light the fire. 

_Ogre_: Well, do so. 

_5th Prince_: If we had a box of matches. .. . 

_Ogre_: Matches! What are you talking about?Matches won't be invented for the next sevenhundred years. 

_1st Prince_: What can we do then, we are starvingwith hunger. 

_Ogre_: Let ye blow a breath upon a coal underthe ashes, and bring in small sticks from the wood. 

_2nd Prince_: (_Blowing_. ) The ashes are choking me. 

_Ogre_: Very good. Then you'll put no delayon me, waiting till you'll cook your supper. 

_3rd Prince_: Where can we get it then?

_Ogre_: You'll go without it, as you were toohelpless to catch it, or to dress it, there's no onewill force you to eat it. 

_4th Prince_: If there is nothing for us to eat wehad best pass the time in sleep. 

_5th Prince_: I am all covered with ashes anddirt. (_To Ogre_. ) Please, where can I find a toweland a piece of soap?

_Ogre_: Soap! Is it bewitched ye are or dementedin the head? Did ever anyone hear ofsoap unless of a Saturday night? Letting on to beas dainty and as useless as those young princesbeyond, that are kept closed up in a tower of glass. Come on now. If there is no food that suits you, leave it. It is time for us to get to work. 

_1st Prince_: But it is bed-time. 

_Ogre_: Your bed-time is the time when I haveno more use for you. Don't you know I havemade a plan? What was it I sent you for, spyingout that place of the young princes? Wasn't itto see where is it that treasure is kept, the golden-handledsword of Justice that is used by theGuardian when he turns Judge. 

_2nd Prince_: That is kept in the Courthouse. 

_Ogre_: That's right . .. In what part of it?

_3rd Prince_: What do you want it for?

_Ogre_: I have it in my mind this long time toget and to keep it in my cave under ground, alongwith the rest of my treasures that are in charge ofmy two enchanted cats. I have had near enoughof grubbing for gold with a pick in the clefts andcrannies of the earth. It is time for me to findsome rest, and get into my hand what is readyworked and smelted and purified. We are goingto that Courthouse to-night. If we cannot get inat the door, I will put ye in at the window and yecan open the door to myself. I will find outwhere the sword is, and away with us, and it inmy hand. 

_4th Prince_: But that would be stealing. 

_Ogre_: What else would it be?

_4th Prince_: But that is wrong. It is against the law. 

_Ogre_: The law! That is the Judge's trade. Breaking it is mine. 

_5th Prince_: Ask him for it and maybe he willgive it to you, he is so kind. 

_Ogre_: I'll take no charity! What I get I'llearn by taking it. I would feel no pleasure it beinggiven to me, any more than a huntsman wouldtake pleasure being made a present of a dead fox, in place of getting a run across country after it. Come on now! We'll have the moon wasted. We'll hardly get there before the dawn of day. 

_1st Prince_: Whatever time you get there theGuardian will be awake. There is a cock of Denmarkperched on the curtain rod of his bed, specially to waken him if there is any stir. 

_Ogre_: There is, is there? What a fool youthink me to be. Do you see that pot?

_2nd Prince_: We do see it. 

_Ogre_: Look what there is in it. 

_3rd Prince_: Nothing but a few bare bones. 

_Ogre_: Well, that is all that is left of the Judge'scock of Denmark, that was brought to me awhileago by a fox that is my messenger, and that I haveboiled and ate and devoured. 

_All the Princes_: O! O! O!

_Ogre_: (_Cracking his whip_. ) He was boiled inthe little pot. Come on now and lead the way, orI give you my word it is in the big pot your ownbones will be making broth for my breakfast in themorning! (_Cracks whip_. ) Now, right about face!Quick march!

CURTAIN

SCENE II

_(The Winter Garden, evening. The Servantsettling benches and a table. )_

_Guardian: (Coming in. )_ Are the DowagerMessengers come? They are late. 

_Servant:_ They are come. They are at thelooking-glasses settling themselves. 

_Guardian:_ As soon as they are ready you willcall in the Princes for their examination beforethem, and their tasks. 

_Servant:_ I will. 

_Guardian:_ The Messengers will have a goodreport to bring back of them. They have cometo be good scholars, in poetry, in music, in languages, in history, in numbers and all sorts. Theold Queen-Godmother will be well satisfied withtheir report. 

_Servant:_ She might and she might not. 

_Guardian:_ They would be hard to please if theyare not well pleased with the lads, as to learningand as to manners and behaviour. 

_Servant:_ Maybe so. Maybe so. There arestrange things in the world. 

_Guardian:_ You're in bad humour, my poorGillie. Have you been quarrelling with the cook, or did you get up on the wrong side of yourbed?

_Servant:_ There is times when it is hard not tobe in a bad humour. 

_Guardian:_ What are you grumbling and hinting at?

_Servant:_ There's times when it's hard to believethat witchcraft is gone out of the world. 

_Guardian:_ That is a thing that has been doneaway with in this Island through my government, and through enlightenment and through learning. 

_Servant:_ Maybe so. Maybe so. 

_Guardian:_ I suppose a three-legged chicken hascome out of the shell, or a magpie has come beforeyou in your path? Or maybe some token in thestars?

_Servant:_ It would take more than that to putme astray. 

_Guardian:_ Whatever it is you had best tell it out. 

_Servant:_ To see lads of princes, sons of kings, and the makings of kings, that were mannerly andwell behaved and as civil as a child a few hoursago, to be sitting in a corner at one time as if indread of the light, and tricking and fooling andgrabbing at other times. 

_Guardian:_ Oh, is that all! The poor lads. They're out of their habits because of their Godmother'sMessengers coming. They are makingmerry and funning, thinking there might bemessages for them or presents. 

_Servant:_ Funning is natural. But blowing theirnose with their fingers is not natural. 

_Guardian:_ High spirits. Just to torment youin their joy. 

_Servant:_ To get a bit of chalk, and to makemarks in the Hall of dancing, and to go playinghop-scotch. 

_Guardian:_ High spirits, high spirits! I neversaw boys better behaved or more gentle or withmore sweetness of speech. I am thinking there isnot one among them but will earn the name ofHoney-mouth. 

_Servant:_ Have it your own way. But is it anatural thing, I am asking, for the finger nails tomake great growth in one day?

_Guardian:_ Stop, stop, be quiet. Here now arethe Dowager Messengers. _(Two old ladies intravelling costume appear; bowing low to them. )_You are welcome for the sake of her that sent you, and for your own sakes. 

_1st Dowager Messenger:_ We are come from theCourt of the Godmother Queen, for news of thePrinces now in your charge;

She hopes they have manners, are minded well, and never let run at large;

For she never has yet got over the fret, of theirfive little cousins were swept away. 

_Guardian:_ Let your mind be at ease, for you'llbe well pleased with the youngsters you're goingto see to-day. 

They're learning the laws to speak and to pause--maybe orators then, or Parliament men. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger:_ Are they shielded fromharm?

_Guardian:_

In my sheltering arm;Do their work and their play in a mannerly wayAnd go holding their nose, and tipped on theirtoes, If they pass through a street, that they'll not soiltheir feet. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: And next to goodmanners and next to good looks . .. 

_Guardian_:I know what you'll say . .. She asks news of the cooks;I'm with her in putting them equal to books;There's some rule by coaxing and some rule by beating, But my principle is, tempt them on with good eating. When everything's said, isn't Sparta as deadAs many a place never heard of black bread?And as to a lad who a tartlet refuses, --If Cato stewed parsnips he hated the Muses!

_1st Dowager Messenger_: And at meals are theytaught to behave as they ought?

_Guardian_:You'll be well satisfied and the Queen will have pride, You will see every Prince use a fork with his mince, And eating his peas like Alcibiades, Who would sooner go mute than play on the fluteLest it made him grimace and contorted his face. 

_1st Dowager Messenger_: Oh, all that you saydelights us to-day!

We'll have good news to bring of these sons ofa king. 

_Servant_: Here they are now coming. 

(_Wrenboys in Princes' clothes come in awkwardly_. )

_Guardian_:Now put out a chair. Where these ladies may hear. Come over, my boys . .. (Now what is that noise?)Come here, take your places, and show us yourfaces, And say out your task as these ladies will ask. I would wish them to know how you say _Parlez-vous_, And I'd like you to speak in original GreekAnd make numeration, and add up valuation;But to lead you with ease and on by degreesIn case you are shy in the visitors' eyeI will let you recite, as you easily might, The kings of that Island that no longer are silentBut ask recognition and to take a position--(Though if stories are true they ran about blue, While we in Hy-Brasil wore our silks to a frazzle--)So the rhymes you may say that I heard you to-day;And the opening will fall on the youngest of all. 

_Servant:_ Let you stand up now and do as youare bid. _(Touches 5th Wrenboy_. )

_Guardian:_ Go on, my child, say out your lesson. William the First as the Conqueror known. .. . _(Boy puts finger in mouth and hangs his head. )_Ah, he is shy. Don't be affrighted, go on now;don't you remember it?

_5th Wrenboy:_ I do not. 

_Guardian:_ Try it again now. You said it offquite well this morning. 

_5th Wrenboy:_ It fails me. 

_Guardian:_ Now I will give you a start: "Williamthe First as the Conqueror known, At the Battle of Hastings ascended the throne. .. " Say that now. 

_5th Wrenboy: (Nudging 4th. )_ Let you word it. 

_4th Wrenboy: (To Guardian. )_ Let you word itagain, sir. 

_Guardian_: "William the First as the Conquerorknown. "

_4th Wrenboy_: William the First as the congereelknown. .. . 

_Guardian_: What is that? You would not doit to vex me! Gillie is maybe right. There issomething strange. .. . (_To another_. ) You maytry now. Go on to the next verse. "Williamcalled Rufus from having red hair. " . .. _(He doesnot answer_. ) Say it anyone who knows. .. . 

_3rd Wrenboy: (Putting up his hand_. ) I knowa man that has red hair!

_All the Wrenboys: (Cheerfully)_ So do I! Sodo I!

_2nd Wrenboy_: He lives in the wood beyond!He is no way good! He is an Ogre, a Grugach. .. . 

_1st Wrenboy_: He can turn himself into the shapeof a beast, or he can change his face at any time;sometimes he'll be that wicked you would thinkhe was a wolf; he would skin you with his cat-o'-nine-tails!

_Guardian_: What gibberish are you talking?

_2nd Wrenboy_: He goes working underground toget gold!

_3rd Wrenboy_: It is minded by enchanted cats!

_4th Wrenboy_: They would tear in bits anyonethat would find it!

_Guardian_: Now take care, lads, this is carryinga joke too far. I was wrong to begin with thatsilly history. Tell me out now the parts of speech. 

 "A noun's the name of anything As school or garden, hoop or swing. "

_5th Wrenboy_: An owl's the name of anything. .. . 

_Guardian_: A _noun_. 

_5th Wrenboy_: An _owl_. 

_Guardian_: Don't pretend you don't know it. 

_5th Wrenboy_: I do know it. I know an owlthat sits in the cleft of the hollow sycamore andeats its fill of mice, till it can hardly put a stirout of itself. 

_Guardian_: I do wish you would stop talkingnonsense. 

_1st Wrenboy_: It is not, but sense. It devouredere yesterday a whole fleet of young rats. 

_2nd Wrenboy_: It's as wise as King Solomon. 

_Guardian_: Gillie was right. There is surelysomething gone wrong in their heads. 

_2nd Wrenboy_: Go out yourself and you'll see arewe wrong in the head! Inside in the old sycamorehe is sitting through the daylight. 

_1st Dowager Messenger_: There is something gonewrong in _somebody's_ head. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: (_Tapping her forehead_. )The poor Guardian; he is too long past his youth. It is well we came to look how things were goingbefore it is too late. 

_1st Dowager Messenger_: Ask them to say somethingthey _do_ know. 

_Guardian_: Here, you're good at arithmetic, saynow your numbers. 

_1st Wrenboy_: Twelve coppers make a shilling. I never handled more than that. 

_Guardian_: (_Angrily_. ) Well, do as the lady said, tell us something you _do_ know. 

_2nd Wrenboy_: (_Standing up, excited_. ) I knowthe way to make bird-lime, steeping willow rods inthe stream. .. . 

_3rd Wrenboy_: I know how to use my fists; Iknocked a tinker bigger than myself. 

_4th Wrenboy_: I am the best at wrestling. Iknocked _him_self. (_Pointing at 3rd_. )

_5th Wrenboy_: I that can skin a fawn aftercatching him running!

_2nd Dowager Messenger_. Where now did you getthat learning?

_5th Wrenboy_: Here and there, rambling thewoods, sleeping out at night. I would neverstarve in any place where grass grows!

_1st Dowager Messenger_: This is worse thanneglect. The poor old Guardian the Queen puther trust in must be in his dotage. 

_Guardian_: (_Hastily_. ) Here, there is at least onething you will not fail in. Take the harp (_handsit to the 1st Wrenboy_) and draw out of it sweetsounds, (_To Dowager Messengers_. ) He can playa tune so sweet it has been known to send all thehearers into a sound sleep. Here now, touch thestrings with all your skill. 

(_1st Wrenboy bangs harp, making a crash_. )

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: (_With hands to ears_. )Mercy! Our poor ears!

_1st Dowager Messenger_: That is the poorestmusic we have ever heard. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: That sound would sendno one into their sleep. It would be more likelyto send them into Bedlam. 

_1st Dowager Messenger_: Whatever they knewlast year, they have forgotten it all now. 

_Guardian_: (_Weeping into his handkerchief_. ) Idon't know what has come upon them! At noonthey were the most charming lads in the wholeworld. Their memory seems to have leftthem!

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: It is as if anothermemory had come to them. They did not learnthose wild tricks shut up in the garden. 

_Servant: (To Boys_. ) Can't ye behave nice andnot ugly? _(To Guardian_. ) You would not believeme a while ago. I said and I say still there isenchantment on them, and spells. 

_Guardian_: Oh, I would be sorry to think sucha thing. But they never went on this way in theirgreenest youth. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: If there is a spell uponthem what way can it be taken off?

_Servant_: It is what I always heard, that to makea rod of iron red in the fire, and to burn the enchantmentout of them is the only way. 

_Guardian_: Oh, boys, do you hear that! Youwould not like to be burned with a red hot rod!Say out now what at all is the matter with you?What is it you feel within you that is putting youfrom your gentle ways?

_1st Wrenboy_: The thing that I feel in me ishunger. The thing I would wish to feel inside meis a good fistful of food. 

_1st Dowager Messenger_: They have been starvedand stinted! It would kill their Godmother onthe moment if she was aware of that!

_Guardian_: It is a part of their playgame. Theyhave everything they ask. 

_2nd Wrenboy: I_ did not eat a farthing's worthsince yesterday. 

_3rd Wrenboy_: My teeth are rusty with the wantof food!

_4th Wrenboy_: I want some dinner!

_5th Wrenboy_: We want something to eat!

_Guardian_: Give them whatever you have readyfor them, Gillie. 

_Servant: (Giving the plates. )_ Here is the supperye gave orders for this morning. 

_1st Wrenboy_: What is it at all?

_Servant_: It is your choice thing. Jellies andgrapes from Spain. 

_2nd Wrenboy: (Pushing away grapes)_ Berries!I thought to get better than berries from the bush. 

_3rd Wrenboy_: There's not much satisfaction inberries!

_4th Wrenboy_: If it was a pig's foot now; or asmuch as a potato with a bit of dripping. 

_5th Wrenboy: (Looking at jelly. )_ What now isthis? It has like the appearance of frog spawn. 

_1st Wrenboy_; Or the leavings of a fallen star. 

_5th Wrenboy_: Shivering it is and shaking. It'snot natural! (_Drops his plate_. )

_4th Wrenboy_: There is nothing here to satisfyour need. 

_2nd. Dowager Messenger:_ I am nearly sorry forthem, poor youngsters. When they were but littletoddlers they never behaved like that at home. 

_3rd Wrenboy_: It's the starvingest place ever Iwas in!

_1st Dowager Messenger_: There must be somethingin what they say. They would not ask forfood if they were not in need of it. And theGuardian making so much talk about his table andhis cooks. We cannot go home and report thatthey have no learning and no food. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: As to learning I don'tmind. But as to food, I would not wish to leavethem without it for the night. They might be assmall as cats in the morning. 

_Guardian_: They are dreaming when they saythey are in want of food. 

_1st Dowager Messenger_: It is a dream that willwaken up their Godmother. 

_Servant_: Look, ma'am, at the table behind you, and you will see is this a scarce house! That iswhat is set out for yourselves, ma'am, lobstersfrom Aughanish! A fat turkey from the barleygardens! A spiced and larded sucking pig! Cakesand sweets and all sorts! It is not the want ofprovision was ever brought against us up to this!

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: If all this is for us, wewould sooner give it up to those poor children. 

(_To Wrenboys_. ) Here, my dears, we will not eatwhile you are in want of food. We will give it allto you. 

_1st Wrenboy_: Is it that we can have what is onthat table?

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: You may, and welcome. 

_1st Wrenboy: (With a shout. )_ Do you hearthat news! Come on now. Take your chance!I'll have the first start! Skib scab! Hip, hip, hooray!

(_They rush at table and upset it, flingingthemselves on the food_)

CURTAIN

ACT III

ACT III

_The Hall of Justice. It is nearly dawn. The lastof the Princes is getting in through the window. They are wearing their masks_. 

_Ogre: (Outside door to left. )_ Open now the doorfor myself. 

_1st Prince_: No, we will get rid of him now. Letthe Grugach stay outside. 

_2nd Prince_: That will be best. He cannotbreak the bars of this door, or get round over thehigh wall to the door on the other side. 

_3rd Prince_: I am sore with the blows he put onus, driving us before him through the wood. 

_4th Prince_: Let us call to the Guardian, and lethim deal with him. He can bring his foot soldiersand his guns. 

_5th Prince_: A villain that Ogre is and a thief, wanting to steal away the golden-handled sword. But we would not tell him where it was, and henever will find it under the step of the Judge'schair. (_Lifts top of step, takes out sword and puts itback again_. )

_Ogre: (Outside. )_ Are ye going to open the door?

_1st Prince_: It is a great thing to have thatstrong door between us. 

_2nd Prince_: Take care would he break it in. 

_3rd Prince_: No fear. It would make too muchnoise. It would bring every person in the houserunning. 

_4th Prince_: Let us go quick and call theGuardian. 

_5th Prince_: What will he _say_ seeing us in theseclothes? He will be vexed with us. 

_1st Prince_: It was folly of us running away. But he will forgive us, knowing it will teach usbetter sense. 

_2nd Prince_: Come to him then, I don't mindwhat he will do to us so long as we are safe fromthe terrible Grugach of an Ogre. (_All go to rightdoor, it opens and Ogre bursts in_. )

_Ogre_: Ye thought to deceive me, did ye? Yethought to bar me out and to keep me out? AndI after minding you and caring you these sevenyears!

_3rd Prince_: What way did you get in?

_Ogre_: It's easy for me to get in any place. IfI had a mind I could turn into a house fly and comethrough the lockhole of the door. It's much if Idon't change the whole lot of ye into small birds, and myself to a hawk going through you! Or, intofrightened mice, and I myself into a starving cat!It's much if I don't skin you with this whip, andgrind your bones as fine as rape seed!

_4th Prince_: I will call for help! (_Tries to shout_. )

_Ogre: (Putting hand over his mouth and liftingwhip. )_ Shout now and welcome, and it is barebones will be left of you! If it wasn't that I needyou to search out the golden-handled sword for meI'd throttle the whole of ye as easy as I'd squeezean egg! Come on now! Show me where thetreasure is hid. 

_5th Prince_: How would we know?

_Ogre_: Didn't I send ye spying it out, and if itfails ye to make it out, I'll boil and bake you!

_1st Prince: (Looking about and pointing to endof room_. ) It might be there. 

_Ogre_: What way would it be on the bare floor?Search it out. 

_2nd Prince: (Looking under a bench_. ) It mightbe here. 

_Ogre_: It is not there. 

_3rd Prince: (Looking up chimney_?) This wouldbe a good hiding-place. 

_Ogre: (Looks up_. ) There is nothing in it, onlyan old nest of a jackdaw, --a bundle of bare twigs. Trying to deceive me you are and to lead me astray. 

_4th Prince_: It might be on the shelf. 

_Ogre_: Stop your chat unless you have somethingworth saying. 

_5th Prince: (Sitting down on step under whichsword is hidden_. ) Are you certain there is anytreasure at all?

_Ogre_: You are humbugging and making a foolof me! _(Lashes whip and seizes him_. ) Get upnow out of that! _(Drags him up and taps board. )_ There is a hollow sort of a sound. .. . That isa sort of place where a treasure might be hid. _(Drags up board_. ) I see something shining. _(Pullsout sword_. ) Oh, it is a lovely sword! And thehandle of pure gold. The best I ever seen!

_1st Prince: (To the others_. ) I'll make a run nowand call out and awaken all in the house! _(Is goingtowards door_. )

_Ogre: (Seizing him_. ) You'd make your escapewould you?

_1st Prince: (Calling out_. ) Ring the big bell, ring the bell! I forgot it till now. 

(_They pull a bell-rope and bell is beard clanging_. )

_Ogre: (Rushing at them as they ring it_. ) I'll stopthat!

_(Voices are heard, at door to right. Ogre rushes to other door_. )

_2nd Prince_: I'll get the sword from him. _(Snatchesit away as Ogre is rushing at him. Servant andGuardian come in_. )

_Guardian_: What is going on! (_Blows a whistle_. )Here, soldiers of the guard!

_(Feet are heard marching and bugle blowing atleft door. Ogre rapidly slips off his mask, and appears as a harmless old man. )_

_Guardian:_ Thieves! Robbers! Burglars!Here, soldiers, surround the place; who are theseruffians? Murder! Robbery! Fire!

_(Two soldiers come in_. )

_Servant_: They are the very same youngsterswere at our door this morning, doing their play;those Wrenboys!

_Guardian_: They are thieves. There is one ofthem bringing away my gold-handled sword. _(Heand Servant seize sword_. )

_Ogre: (Coming forward and bowing low_. ) Itis time for you to come, your honour my lordship!I am proud to see you coming! It was I myselfthat rang the bell and that called and awakenedyou, where I would not like to see the place robbedand left bare by these scum of the world!

_All the Princes_: Oh! Oh! Oh!

_Guardian_: What have you to do with it?Where do you come from?

_Ogre_: An honest poor man I am. .. . 

_Servant_: You have a queer wild sort of adress. 

_Ogre_: Making a living I do be, dressing up as ahobgoblin and a bogey man to get an odd copperfrom a mother here and there, would be wishful tofrighten a stubborn child from bawling or fromtricks. Passing the door I was, and hearing a noiseI looked in, and these young villains were afterrising a board and taking out that sword you seenin their hands. It is then that I made a clamourwith the bell. 

(_Princes laugh_. )

_Guardian_: Who are they at all?

_Ogre_: It is I myself say it; they are the terrorof the whole district. 

_1st Prince_: You may save your breath and stopthat talk. This gentleman knows us well. Heknows us and will recognise us. 

_Guardian_: I do recognise you. I saw you butyesterday. 

_2nd Prince_: There now, what do you say?

_Guardian_: You are those vagabond Wrenboysthat came tricking and begging to my gate. 

_Princes_: Oh! Oh! Oh!

_Ogre_: That's it! Spying round they were!Thinking to do a robbery! Robbery they're afterdoing!

_3rd Prince_: We were doing no such thing!

_Guardian_: You were! I stopped you makingoff with my sword of Justice. 

_Ogre_: If it wasn't for me hindering them theywould have it swept. 

_Guardian_: That was very honest of you. 

_4th Prince_: (_Rushing at Ogre_. ) It is you thatare a rogue and a thief!

_Other Princes_: Throw him down while we havethe chance. (_They surround him_. )

_Guardian_: Silence! Don't make that disturbance!I felt a suspicion yesterday the firsttime I saw your faces there was villainy hiddenbeneath the dust that was on your cheeks. 

_4th Prince_: Listen to us, listen!

_Guardian_: And whatever I thought then, youare seventeen times more wicked looking now!And the very scum of the roads!

_5th Prince_: Oh, have you forgotten yournurslings!

_Guardian: It_ is well you reminded me of them. (_To Servant_. ) Go now and bring the young Princeshere till they will see justice done! They aremaybe gone a bit wild and foolish since yesterday, put out by those Dowager Messengers. But whateverthey were at their worst, they are King Georgecompared with these!

_1st Prince_: You _must_ listen!

_Guardian_: Must! What is that language!That is a word was never said to me since I wasmade the Queen's Chamberlain. Here! Put agag upon their mouths! (_Soldiers do so, tying ahandkerchief on mouth of each_. ) Tie their handsbehind them with ropes. (_This is done_. ) Rapscallions!Do they think to terrify and command me!I that am not only Governor of the Island but amSupreme Judge whenever I come into this Court. 

_Ogre_: That is very good and very right! Keepthe gag in their mouth! You wouldn't like to belistening to the things they were saying a whileago! They were giving out great impudence andvery disrespectful talk!

_Guardian_: Give me here my Judge's wig andmy gown! (_Puts them on_. ) Where now are theyoung Princes?

_Servant_: They are coming now. 

_Guardian_: It will be a great help in their educationseeing justice done by me, as straight as wasever done by Aristides. Give me here that book ofpunishments and rewards. I'll see what is badenough for these lads! (_He consults book_. )

_Servant_: Here now are the Princes. 

_(Wrenboys come in wearing Princes' clothes_)

_1st Wrenboy: (To another_) Do you see who itis that is in it?

_2nd Wrenboy_: It is the young Princes in ourclothes!

_3rd Wrenboy_: What in the world wide broughtthem here? Believe me it was through somevillainy of the Grugach. 

_4th Wrenboy_: What at all has happened?

_5th Wrenboy_: Go ask them what it was broughtthem, or what they came doing. 

_1st Wrenboy: (To Princes_) What is it broughtyou here so soon?

(_Princes shake their heads_)

_2nd Wrenboy: (Coming back_) There is a gagon their mouths!

_3rd Wrenboy: (Going and looking_) Their handsare tied with a rope. 

_4th Wrenboy_: They had not the wit to standagainst the Grugach; it is not long till they werebrought to trouble. 

_5th Wrenboy_: It was seventeen times worsefor them to be under him than for ourselves thatwas used to him, and to his cruelty and his ways. 

_1st Wrenboy_: It was bad enough for ourselves. We were not built for roguery. 

(_The Dowager Messengers rushing in_. )

_Dowager Messengers: (Together. )_ What is goingon? What has happened?

_Guardian_: What you see before you has happened. Those young thieves came to try and torob the house. They were found by myself in thevery act of bringing away my golden-handledsword! They were stopped by this honest man. (_Points to Ogre_. )

_1st Dowager Messenger_: There would seem to bea great deal of wickedness around this place!

_Guardian_: I'll put a stop to it! I'll use myrights as Judge! To have that sort of villainyrunning through the Island, it would come throughwalls of glass or of marble, and lead away the best. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: There must be somethinggone wrong in the stars, our own youngprinces having gone wild out of measure, and theseyoung vagabonds doing no less than house-breaking!It is hard to live!

_Ogre_: Indeed, ma'am, it would be a great blessingto the world if all the boys in it could be borngrown up. 

_Guardian: (Sighing_. ) I, myself, am beginningto have that same opinion. 

_1st Dowager Messenger_: And so am I myself. Young men have strength and beauty, and oldmen have knowledge and wisdom, but as to boys!After what we saw a while ago in the supperroom!

_Servant_: The Court is about to sit! Take yourplaces!

_(Wrenboys make for the dock and Princes thejury-box. )_

_Guardian_: What do you mean, prisoners, goingup there, that is the place for honourable men!For a jury! It is here in the criminals' dock yourplace is. 

_Servant: (To Wrenboys_. ) Oh, that is the wrongplace you're in. That is for the wicked and thepoor that are brought to be tried and condemned. 

_1st Wrenboy_: It is a place the like of that I wasput one time I was charged before a magistratefor snaring rabbits. 

_Servant_: Silence in the Court. The Judge isabout to speak. 

_Guardian: (Reading out of book. )_It's laid down in a clause of the Cretian laws, That were put through a filter by Solon, That for theft the first time, though a capital crimeA criminal may keep his poll on. Though _(consults another book_) some jurists believeThat a wretch who can thieve, Has earned a full stop, not a colon. 

_Ogre_: That was said by a better than Solon. 

_Guardian_:And the book says in sum, to cut off the left thumb, May be penalty enough for a warning;Though _(looks at another book_) the Commentors sayThat one let off that wayWill be thieving again before morning. 

_Ogre_: So he will, and the jury suborning. 

_Guardian:_For the second offence, as the crime's more immense, Take the thumb off the _right_ hand instead;And the third time he'll steal, without any appeal, The hangman's to whip off his head. 

_Ogre_:Very right to do so, for a thief as we know, Isn't likely to steal when he's dead. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger_:You won't order the worst, as this crime is the first, It's a pity if they have to swing. 

_Guardian_:In the Commentors' sense, a _primal_ offenceIs as much an impossible thingAs a stream without source, a blow struck withoutforce, Or leaves without roots in the spring. 

_Ogre_: Or a catapult wanting a sling. 

_Guardian_:But although this case is proved on its faceTo be what is called _a priori_I cannot refuse to consider the viewsOf the amiable lady before me. _(Bows to 2ndDowager Messenger. )_In compliance to her I am ready to errOn the side that she leans to, of mercy, For she has a kind tongue, and the prisoners areyoung;But that they may not live to curse me, I give out my decree, the _left_ thumb shall beKept in Court till the next time they'll come. And now if you please let whoever agreesWith my pledge turn down his own thumb. 

_1st Dowager Messenger_: It is very just and right. (_Turns down hers_. )

_Ogre_: You're letting them off too easy. They'rea bad example to the world. But to take thethumb off them is better than nothing! _(Turnsdown both his thumbs. )_

_Guardian: (To Wrenboys. )_ Well, my dear pupils, I don't see you turn down your thumbs. 

_1st Wrenboy_: We cannot do it. _(They covertheir faces with their hands. )_

_Ogre_: Get on so. I never saw the work I'dsooner do than checking youngsters!

_Guardian_: Where is the Executioner?

_Servant_: I sent seeking him a while ago, thinkinghe might be needed. 

_Guardian_: Bring him in. 

_Servant_: He is not in it. There was so littlebusiness for him this long time under your ownpeaceable rule, that he is after leaving us, andtaking a job in a slaughter house out in foreign. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: Maybe that is a tokenwe should let them off. 

_Ogre: (Briskly. )_ I am willing to be useful; giveme here a knife or a hatchet!

_Servant: (To Ogre. )_ You need not be pushingyourself forward. _(To Guardian. )_ There is astranger of an Executioner chanced to be passingthe road, just as I sent out, and he looking forwork. He said he would do the job for a four-pennybit and his dinner, that he is sitting downto now. 

_Guardian: (Sitting up straight and taking up sword. )_

 Bring him in quick. It often seems a curious thing that I, Who in my ordinary clothes would hardly hurt a fly, Hold to the rigour of the law when I put on gown and wig, As if for mere humanity I didn't care a fig. For once I'm seated on the bench I do not shrink or flinch From the reddest laws of Draco, or the practice of Judge Lynch. 

_Servant: (At door. )_ Here he is now. 

_(Jester comes in, disguised as Executioner, along cloak with hood over his head. )_

_Guardian_: Here is the sword _(hands it to himand reads)_, "In case of the first act of theft theleft thumb is to be struck off. " There are thecriminals before you. That is what you have to do. 

_Jester: (Taking the sword. )_ Stretch out yourhands! There is hurry on me. I was sitting atthe dinner I engaged for. I was called away fromthe first mouthful, and I would wish to go backto the second mouthful that is getting cold. 

_Guardian: (Relenting. )_ Maybe now the frightwould be enough to keep them from crimes fromthis out. They are but young. 

_Jester: (To Princes. )_ Don't be keeping mewaiting! Put out now your hands. _(They shaketheir heads. )_

_Servant_: They cannot do that, being bound. 

_Jester_: If you will not stretch out your handswhen I ask you, I will strike off your heads withoutasking! _(Flourishes sword. )_

_Guardian: (Standing up. )_ I did not empoweryou to go so far as that! It is without myauthority!

_Jester_: You have given over the power of thelaw to the power of the sword. It must take its way!

_Guardian_: I will not give in to that! I haveall authority here!

_Jester_: If you grow wicked with the Judge'swig on your head, so do I with this sword in myhand! You called me in to do a certain businessand I am going to do it! I am not going to get abad name put on me for breach of contract! Ifa labourer is given piece work cutting thistles witha hook he is given leave to do it, or a rat catcherdoing away with vermin in the same way! Heis not bid after his trouble to let them go loose outof his bag! And why would an Executioner thatis higher again in the profession be checked. Isn'tmy pride in my work the same as theirs? Andalong with that, let me tell you I belong to aTrades Union!

_(Guardian moans and covers his face. )_

_(To the Princes. )_ Kneel down now! Where youkept me so long waiting and that the Judge attemptedto interfere with me, I have my mindmade up to make an end of you! _(Holds up sword. )_

_1st Wrenboy: (Rushing forward and putting hisarms about Prince. )_ You must not touch him!These lads never did any harm!

_2nd Wrenboy: (Protecting a Prince. )_ It is weourselves are to be punished if anyone must bepunished. 

_3d Wrenboy_: They are innocent whoever is toblame. 

_Jester_: Take their place so! Someone must beput an end to. 

_(All the Wrenboys kneel. )_

_1st Wrenboy_: Here we are so. We changedplaces with them for our own pleasure, thinkingto lead a prince's life, and if there is anyone mustsuffer by reason of that change let it be ourselves. 

_Jester_: I'll take off their gags so and let them free. 

_(He cuts cord of gags and hands, then throwssome dust over all boys as before, saying):_

 Dust of Mullein leave the eyes You made fail to recognise Princes in their poor disguise; Princes all, had men clear eyes!

_(The Princes throw off their masks. )_

_1st Prince_: It is all a mistake! Oh, Guardian, don't you know now that we are your murslingsand your wards! Look at the royal mark uponour arm, that we brought with us into the world. _(They turn up sleeves and show their arms. )_

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: I am satisfied withoutlooking at the royal sign. I have been looking attheir finger nails. Those other nails _(pointing toWrenboys)_ have never been touched with a soapybrush. 

_2nd Prince_: It is strange you did not recogniseus. It was that Jester yesterday when we changedour coats that threw a dust of disguise between youand us. 

_1st Dowager Messenger_: Was it that these ladsrobbed you of your clothes?

_3d. Prince_: Not at all. 

_4th Prince_: We ourselves that were discontentedand wishful to change places with them. 

_Guardian_: A very foolish thing, and that I havenever read of in any of my histories. 

_5th Prince_: We were the first to wish the change. It is we should be blamed. 

_5th Wrenboy_: No, but put the blame on us!The Wrenboys you seen yesterday. 

_Guardian_: Ah, be quiet, how do I know whoyou are, or if ever I saw you before! My poorhead is going round and round. 

_1st Wrenboy_: Now do you know us! _(All recite"The Wren, the Wren, the King of All Birds. " Givefirst verse. )_

_Guardian: (Stopping his ears. )_ Oh, stop it!That makes my poor head worse again. 

_2nd Wrenboy: (Pulling up sleeve. )_ If you hadchanced to see our right arm you would recogniseus. We were not without bringing a mark intothe world with us, if it is not royal itself. 

_(Wrenboys strip their arms. )_

_1st Dowager Messenger_: What is he talkingabout? _(Seizes arm and looks at it. )_

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: It is the same mark asis on the princes, the sign and token of a King!

_1st Dowager Messenger_: It is certain these mustbe their five little royal cousins, that were stolenaway from the coast. 

_1st Wrenboy_: If we were brought away it wasby that Grugach that has kept us in his servicethrough the years. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: It is no wonder theytook to one another. It was easy to know by theway they behaved they had in them royal blood. 

_(The Boys turn to each other, the Ogre isslipping out. )_

_Jester: (Throwing off his cloak and showing hisgreen ragged clothes. )_ Stop where you are!

_Ogre_: Do your best! You cannot hinder me!I have spells could change the whole of ye to acairn of grey stones! _(Makes signs with his hands. )_

_Jester: (In a terrible voice. )_ Are you thinkingto try your spells against _mine_?

_Ogre: (Trembling and falling on his knees. )_ Oh, spare me! Hold your hand! Do not use againstme your spells of life and death! I know younow! I know you well through your ragged dress!What are my spells beside yours? You the greatMaster of all magic and all enchantments, Manannan, Son of the Sea!

_Jester_: Yes, I am Manannan, that men are aptto call a Jester and a Fool, and a Disturber, and aMischief-maker, upsetting the order of the worldand making confusion in its order and its ways. _(Recites or sings. )_

 For when I see a master Hold back his hireling's fee I shake my pepper castor Into his sweetened tea!

 And when I see a plan make The Birds that watch us frown, I come and toss the pancake And turn it upside down!

 In this I follow after Lycurgus who was wise; To the little god of laughter I make my sacrifice!

And now here is my word of command! Everyoneinto his right place!

_Ogre_: Spare me! Let me go this time!

_Jester_: Go out now! I will not bring a blemishon this sword by striking off your ugly head. Butas you have been through seven years an enemyto these young boys, keeping them in ignoranceand dirt, they that are sons of a king, I cross andcommand you to go groping through holes and dirtand darkness through three times seven years inthe shape of a rat, with every boy, high or low, gentle or simple, your pursuer and your enemy. And along with that I would recommend you tokeep out of the way of your own enchanted cats!

_(Ogre gives a squeal and creeps away on all fours. )_

_Guardian_: I think I will give up business andgo back to my old trade of Chamberlain and ofshutting out draughts from the Court. Theweight of years is coming on me, and it is time forme to set my mind to some quiet path. 

_1st Dowager Messenger_: Come home with usso, and help us to attend to our cats, that they willbe able to destroy the rats of the world. 

_2nd Dowager Messenger: (To Princes. )_ It is bestfor you come to your Godmother's Court, as yourGuardian is showing the way. 

_1st Prince_: We may come and give news of ourdoings at the end of a year and a day. 

But now we will go with our comrades to learntheir work and their play. 

_2nd Prince_: For lying on silken cushions, orstretched on a feathery bed. 

We would long again for the path by the lake, and the wild swans overhead. 

_3d Prince_: Till we'll harden our bodies withwrestling and get courage to stand in a fight. 

_4th Prince_: And not to be blind in the woodsor in dread of the darkness of night. 

_1st Wrenboy_: And we who are ignorant blockheads, and never were reared to knowThe art of the languaged poets, it's along withyou we will go. 

_5th Prince_: Come show us the wisdom of woods, and the way to outrun the wild deer, Till we'll harden our minds with courage, andbe masters of hardship and fear. 

_2nd Wrenboy_: But you are candles of knowledge, and we'll give you no ease or peace, Till you'll learn us manners and music, and newsof the Wars of Greece. 

_1st Prince_: Come on, we will help one another, and going together we'll find, Joy with those great companions, Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. _(They join hands. )_

_Jester_: It's likely you'll do great actions, forthere is an ancient word, That comradeship is better than the parting ofthe sword, And that if ever two natures should join andgrow into one, They will do more together than the world hasever done. So now I've ended my business, and I'll go, formy road is long, But be sure the Jester will find you out, if everthings go wrong!

_(He goes off singing. )_

 And so I follow after Lycurgus who was wise; To the little god of laughter I pay my sacrifice!

CURTAIN

NOTES FOR THE JESTER

I was asked one Christmas by a little schoolboy to writea play that could be acted at school; and in looking fora subject my memory went back to a story I had read inchildhood called "The Discontented Children, " where, though I forget its incidents, the gamekeeper's childrenchanged places for a while with the children of the Squire, and I thought I might write something on these lines. But my mind soon went miching as our people (andShakespeare) would say, and broke through the Englishhedges into the unbounded wonder-world. Yet it didnot quite run out of reach of human types, for having foundsome almost illegible notes, I see that at the first appearanceof Manannan I had put in brackets the initials "G. B. S. "And looking now at the story of that Great Jester, in thehistory of the ancient gods, I see that for all his quips andmischief and "tricks and wonders, " he came when hewas needed to the help of Finn and the Fianna, and gavegood teaching to the boy-hero, Cuchulain; and I readalso that "all the food he would use would be a vessel ofsour milk or a few crab-apples. And there never was anymusic sweeter than the music he used to be playing. "

I have without leave borrowed a phrase from "TheCandle of Vision, " written by my liberal fellow-countryman, A. E. , where he says, "I felt at times as one raised fromthe dead, made virginal and pure, who renews exquisiteintimacies with the divine companions, with Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. " And I think he will forgive me for quotinganother passage now from the same book, for I think itmust have been in my mind when I wrote of my Wrenboys:"The lands of Immortal Youth which flush with magicthe dreams of childhood, for most sink soon below farhorizons and do not again arise. For around childhoodgather the wizards of the darkness and they baptize itand change its imagination of itself, as in the Arabiantales of enchantment men were changed by sorcerers whocried, 'Be thou beast or bird. ' So . .. Is the imaginationof life about itself changed and one will think he is a wormin the sight of Heaven, he who is but a god in exile. .. . What palaces they were born in, what dominions they arerightly heir to, are concealed from them as in the fairytale the stolen prince lives obscurely among the swineherd. Yet at times men do not remember, in dreams or in thedeeps of sleep, they still wear sceptre and diadem andpartake of the banquet of the gods. "

The Wrenboys still come to our door at Coole onSt. Stephen's Day, as they used in my childhood to cometo Roxborough, but it is in our bargain that the wrenitself must be symbolic, unmolested, no longer killed invengeance for that one in the olden times that awakenedthe sentinels of the enemy Danes by pecking at crumbson a drum. And, indeed, these last two or three yearsthe rhymes concerning that old history have been lessened, and their place taken by "The Soldiers Song. "

I think the staging of the play is easy. The Ogre's hutmay be but a shallow front scene, a curtain that can bedrawn away. The masks are such as might be used byWrenboys, little paper ones, such as one finds in a Christmascracker, held on with a bit of elastic, and would help toget the change into the eyes of the audience, whichManannan's Mullein-dust may not have reached. 

Air: "Shule Aroon"

[Music]

Air: "Mo Bhuachailin Buidhe"

_Brightly_[Music]

Air: "The Bells of Shandon"

My brain grows rus-ty, my mind is dus-tyThe time I'm dwelling with the like of ye; While my spiritrang-es through all the changes could turn theworld to fel-is-it-y When Ar-is-tot-le

[Music]

The Time I've Lost in Wooing

_Poco allegretto_[Music]

My Molly-O[Music]

Air: "O Donall Abu"

[Music]

The Bard of Armagh

_Slow_. [Music]

Air: "Dear Harp of My Country"

[Music]

I wish I had the shepherd's lamb

I wish I had the shep-herd's lamb, the shep-herd's lamb, theshepherd's lamb, I wish I had the shepherd's lamb, AndKa-tie com-ing af-ter: Iso o gur-rimgur-rim hoo iso gra-ma-chree gon kel-lig hoo, Isoo gur-rim gur-rim hoo, Sthoo pat-tha beg dho wau-her. 

[Music]

Air: "Let Erin Remember"

[Music]

Air: "And doth not a meeting like this"

[Music]

Garryowen

_Quickly_. [Music]

Air: "O Bay of Dublin"

[Music]

The Cruiskeen L�n

_With expression_. [Music]

The Beautiful City of Sligo

_Quickly_. [Music]

The Deserter's Meditation

_Slow_. [Music]

Oft in the Stilly Night

_Slow_. [Music]

Johnny, I hardly knew you

_Spirited_[Music]

By Memory Inspired

[Music]

Eileen Aroon

[Music]

Air: "The Shan Van Vocht"

[Music]

Air: "I saw from the beach"

[Music]

Air: "Silent, O Moyle"

[Music]

An Spailin F�nach

_Moderately_[Music]

Air: "The Last Rose of Summer"

[Music]