The Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats. Volume 4 of 8. The Hour-glass. Cathleen ni Houlihan. The Golden Helmet. The Irish Dramatic Movement - William Yeats 2 стр.

He wants somebody to dispute with.

I knew that from the beginning.

That is not the subject for to-day; you were going to talk about the words the beggar wrote upon the walls of Babylon.

If there is one amongst you that believes, he will be my best friend. Surely there is one amongst you. [They are all silent.] Surely what you learned at your mothers knees has not been so soon forgotten.

Master, till you came, no teacher in this land was able to get rid of foolishness and ignorance. But every one has listened to you, every one has learned the truth. You have had your last disputation.

What a fool you made of that monk in the market-place! He had not a word to say.

Pupils, dear friends, I have deceived you all this time. It was I myself who was ignorant. There is a God. There is a Heaven. There is fire that passes, and there is fire that lasts for ever.

[TEIG, through all this, is sitting on a stool by the door, reckoning on his fingers what he will buy with his money.

He will not be satisfied till we dispute with him. [To the WISE MAN.] Prove it, Master. Have you seen them?

Just now, before you came in, someone came to the door, and when I looked up I saw an angel standing there.

You were in a dream. Anybody can see an angel in his dreams.

Oh, my God! It was not a dream! I was awake, waking as I am now. I tell you I was awake as I am now.

Some dream when they are awake, but they are the crazy, and who would believe what they say? Forgive me, Master, but that is what you taught me to say. That is what you said to the monk when he spoke of the visions of the saints and the martyrs.

You see how well we remember your teaching.

Out, out from my sight! I want someone with belief. I must find that grain the Angel spoke of before I die. I tell you I must find it, and you answer me with arguments. Out with you, out of my sight!

How well he plays at faith! He is like the monk when he had nothing more to say.

Out, out! This is no time for laughter! Out with you, though you are a kings son!

Come, come; he wants us to find someone who will dispute with him.[All go out.

I will call my wife. She will believe; women always believe. [He opens the door and calls.] Bridget! Bridget! [BRIDGET comes in wearing her apron, her sleeves turned up from her floury arms.] Bridget, tell me the truth; do not say what you think will please me. Do you sometimes say your prayers?

Prayers! No, you taught me to leave them off long ago. At first I was sorry, but I am glad now for I am sleepy in the evenings.

But do you not believe in God?

Oh, a good wife only believes what her husband tells her!

But sometimes when you are alone, when I am in the school and the children asleep, do you not think about the saints, about the things you used to believe in? What do you think of when you are alone?

I think about nothing. Sometimes I wonder if the linen is bleaching white, or I go out to see if the crows are picking up the chickens food.

Oh, what can I do! Is there nobody who believes he can never die? I must go and find somebody! [He goes towards the door, but stops with his eyes fixed on the hour-glass.] I cannot go out; I cannot leave that. Go, and call my pupils again. I will make them understand. I will say to them that only amid spiritual terror, or only when all that laid hold on life is shaken can we see truth. There is something in Plato, but no, do not call them. They would answer as I have bid.

You want somebody to get up an argument with.

Oh, look out of the door and tell me if there is anybody there in the street. I cannot leave this glass; somebody might shake it! Then the sand would fall more quickly.

I dont understand what you are saying. [Looks out.] There is a great crowd of people talking to your pupils.

Oh, run out, Bridget, and see if they have found somebody that all the time I was teaching understood nothing or did not listen!

Its a hard thing to be married to a man of learning that must be always having arguments. [Goes out and shouts through the kitchen door.] Dont be meddling with the bread, children, while Im out.

Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti beatæ Mariæ. I have forgotten it all. It is thirty years since I have said a prayer. I must pray in the common tongue, like a clown begging in the market, like Teig the Fool! [He prays.] Help me, Father, Son, and Spirit!

[BRIDGET enters, followed by the FOOL, who is holding out his hat to her.

Give me something; give me a penny to buy bacon in the shops, and nuts in the market, and strong drink for the time when the sun grows weak.

I have no pennies. [To the WISE MAN.] Your pupils cannot find anybody to argue with you. There is nobody in the whole country who has enough belief to fill a pipe with since you put down the monk. Cant you be quiet now and not always wanting to have arguments? It must be terrible to have a mind like that.

I am lost! I am lost!

Leave me alone now; I have to make the bread for you and the children.

Out of this, woman, out of this, I say! [BRIDGET goes through the kitchen door.] Will nobody find a way to help me! But she spoke of my children. I had forgotten them. They will believe. It is only those who have reason that doubt; the young are full of faith. Bridget, Bridget, send my children to me.

Your father wants you; run to him now.

[The two CHILDREN come in. They stand together a little way from the threshold of the kitchen door, looking timidly at their father.

Children, what do you believe? Is there a Heaven? Is there a Hell? Is there a Purgatory?

We havent forgotten, father.

O no, father. [They both speak together as if in school.] There is nothing we cannot see; there is nothing we cannot touch.

We havent forgotten, father.

O no, father. [They both speak together as if in school.] There is nothing we cannot see; there is nothing we cannot touch.

Foolish people used to think that there was, but you are very learned and you have taught us better.

You are just as bad as the others, just as bad as the others! Do not run away, come back to me! [The CHILDREN begin to cry and run away.] Why are you afraid? I will teach you better no, I will never teach you again. Go to your mother! no, she will not be able to teach them Help them, O God!.. The grains are going very quickly. There is very little sand in the uppermost glass. Somebody will come for me in a moment; perhaps he is at the door now! All creatures that have reason doubt. O that the grass and the plants could speak! Somebody has said that they would wither if they doubted. O speak to me, O grass blades! O fingers of Gods certainty, speak to me! You are millions and you will not speak. I dare not know the moment the messenger will come for me. I will cover the glass. [He covers it and brings it to the desk. Sees the FOOL, who is sitting by the door playing with some flowers which he has stuck in his hat. He has begun to blow a dandelion-head.] What are you doing?

Wait a moment. [He blows.] Four, five, six.

What are you doing that for?

I am blowing at the dandelion to find out what time it is.

You have heard everything! That is why you want to find out what hour it is! You are waiting to see them coming through the door to carry me away. [FOOL goes on blowing.] Out through the door with you! I will have no one here when they come. [He seizes the FOOL by the shoulders, and begins to force him out through the door, then suddenly changes his mind.] No, I have something to ask you. [He drags him back into the room.] Is there a Heaven? Is there a Hell? Is there a Purgatory?

So you ask me now. When you were asking your pupils, I said to myself, if he would ask Teig the Fool, Teig could tell him all about it, for Teig has learned all about it when he has been cutting the nets.

Tell me; tell me!

I said, Teig knows everything. Not even the cats or the hares that milk the cows have Teigs wisdom. But Teig will not speak; he says nothing.

Tell me, tell me! For under the cover the grains are falling, and when they are all fallen I shall die; and my soul will be lost if I have not found somebody that believes! Speak, speak!

No, no, I wont tell you what is in my mind, and I wont tell you what is in my bag. You might steal away my thoughts. I met a bodach on the road yesterday, and he said, Teig, tell me how many pennies are in your bag; I will wager three pennies that there are not twenty pennies in your bag; let me put in my hand and count them. But I pulled the strings tighter, like this; and when I go to sleep every night I hide the bag where no one knows.

No, no, I have not the courage. [He kneels.] Have pity upon me, Fool, and tell me!

Ah! Now, that is different. I am not afraid of you now. But I must come nearer to you; somebody in there might hear what the Angel said.

Oh, what did the Angel tell you?

Once I was alone on the hills, and an angel came by and he said, Teig the Fool, do not forget the Three Fires; the Fire that punishes, the Fire that purifies, and the Fire wherein the soul rejoices for ever!

He believes! I am saved! The sand has run out [FOOL helps him to his chair.] I am going from the country of the seven wandering stars, and I am going to the country of the fixed stars! I understand it all now. One sinks in on God; we do not see the truth; God sees the truth in us. Ring the bell. They are coming. Tell them, Fool, that when the life and the mind are broken the truth comes through them like peas through a broken peascod. Pray, Fool, that they may be given a sign and carry their souls alive out of the dying world. Your prayers are better than mine.

[FOOL bows his head. WISE MANS head sinks on his arm on the books. PUPILS are heard singing as before, but now they come right on to the stage before they cease their song.

Look at the Fool turned bell-ringer!

What have you called us in for, Teig? What are you going to tell us?

No wonder he has had dreams! See, he is fast asleep now. [Goes over and touches him.] Oh, he is dead!

Do not stir! He asked for a sign that you might be saved. [All are silent for a moment.].. Look what has come from his mouth.. a little winged thing.. a little shining thing It is gone to the door. [The ANGEL appears in the doorway, stretches out her hands and closes them again.] The Angel has taken it in her hands She will open her hands in the Garden of Paradise.[They all kneel.

CATHLEEN NI HOULIHAN

PERSONS IN THE PLAY

Peter Gillane

Michael Gillane, his Son, going to be married

Patrick Gillane, a lad of twelve, Michaels Brother

Bridget Gillane, Peters Wife

Delia Cahel, engaged to Michael

The Poor Old Woman

Neighbours

CATHLEEN NI HOULIHAN

Interior of a cottage close to Killala, in 1798. BRIDGET is standing at a table undoing a parcel. PETER is sitting at one side of the fire, PATRICK at the other.

What is that sound I hear?

I dont hear anything. [He listens.] I hear it now. Its like cheering. [He goes to the window and looks out.] I wonder what they are cheering about. I dont see anybody.

It might be a hurling.

Theres no hurling to-day. It must be down in the town the cheering is.

I suppose the boys must be having some sport of their own. Come over here, Peter, and look at Michaels wedding-clothes.

Those are grand clothes, indeed.

You hadnt clothes like that when you married me, and no coat to put on of a Sunday more than any other day.

That is true, indeed. We never thought a son of our own would be wearing a suit of that sort for his wedding, or have so good a place to bring a wife to.

Theres an old woman coming down the road. I dont know is it here she is coming?