playboy of the western world-第3章

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PHILLY　　＇nodding　wisely。＇　　It's　only　with　a　common　week…day　kind　of　a

murderer　them　lads　would　be　trusting　their　carcase；　and　that　man　should　be　a

great　terror　when　his　temper's　roused。



MICHAEL。　　He　should　then。　　（To　Christy。）　And　where　was　it；　mister　honey；　that

you　did　the　deed？



CHRISTY　　＇looking　at　him　with　suspicion。＇　　Oh；　a　distant　place；　master　of

the　house；　a　windy　corner　of　high；　distant　hills。



PHILLY　　＇nodding　with　approval。＇　　He's　a　close　man；　and　he's　right；

surely。



PEGEEN。　　That'd　be　a　lad　with　the　sense　of　Solomon　to　have　for　a　pot…boy；

Michael　James；　if　it's　the　truth　you're　seeking　one　at　all。



PHILLY。　　The　peelers　is　fearing　him；　and　if　you'd　that　lad　in　the　house　there

isn't　one　of　them　would　come　smelling　around　if　the　dogs　itself　were　lapping

poteen　from　the　dungpit　of　the　yard。



JIMMY。　　Bravery's　a　treasure　in　a　lonesome　place；　and　a　lad　would　kill　his

father；　I'm　thinking；　would　face　a　foxy　divil　with　a　pitchpike　on　the　flags　of

hell。



PEGEEN。　　It's　the　truth　they're　saying；　and　if　I'd　that　lad　in　the　house；　I

wouldn't　be　fearing　the　loosed　kharki　cut…throats；　or　the　walking　dead。



CHRISTY　　＇swelling　with　surprise　and　triumph。＇　　Well；　glory　be　to　God！



MICHAEL　　＇with　deference。＇　　Would　you　think　well　to　stop　here　and　be

pot…boy；　mister　honey；　if　we　gave　you　good　wages；　and　didn't　destroy　you　with

the　weight　of　work？



SHAWN　　＇coming　forward　uneasily。＇　　That'd　be　a　queer　kind　to　bring　into　a

decent　quiet　household　with　the　like　of　Pegeen　Mike。



PEGEEN　　＇very　sharply。＇　　Will　you　whisht？　　Who's　speaking　to　you？



SHAWN　　＇retreating。＇　　A　bloody…handed　murderer　the　like　of　。　。　。



PEGEEN　　＇snapping　at　him。＇　　Whisht　I　am　saying；　we'll　take　no　fooling　from

your　like　at　all。　　（To　Christy　with　a　honeyed　voice。）　And　you；　young　fellow；

you'd　have　a　right　to　stop；　I'm　thinking；　for　we'd　do　our　all　and　utmost　to

content　your　needs。



CHRISTY　　＇overcome　with　wonder。＇　　And　I'd　be　safe　in　this　place　from　the

searching　law？



MICHAEL。　　You　would；　surely。　　If　they're　not　fearing　you；　itself；　the　peelers

in　this　place　is　decent　droughty　poor　fellows；　wouldn't　touch　a　cur　dog　and

not　give　warning　in　the　dead　of　night。



PEGEEN　　＇very　kindly　and　persuasively。＇　　Let　you　stop　a　short　while

anyhow。　Aren't　you　destroyed　walking　with　your　feet　in　bleeding　blisters；　and

your　whole　skin　needing　washing　like　a　Wicklow　sheep。



CHRISTY　　＇looking　round　with　satisfaction。＇　　It's　a　nice　room；　and　if　it's

not　humbugging　me　you　are；　I'm　thinking　that　I'll　surely　stay。



JIMMY　　＇jumps　up。＇　　Now；　by　the　grace　of　God；　herself　will　be　safe　this

night；　with　a　man　killed　his　father　holding　danger　from　the　door；　and　let　you

come　on；　Michael　James；　or　they'll　have　the　best　stuff　drunk　at　the　wake。



MICHAEL　　＇going　to　the　door　with　men。＇　And　begging　your　pardon；　mister；　what

name　will　we　call　you；　for　we'd　like　to　know？



CHRISTY。　　Christopher　Mahon。



MICHAEL。　　Well；　God　bless　you；　Christy；　and　a　good　rest　till　we　meet　again

when　the　sun'll　be　rising　to　the　noon　of　day。



CHRISTY。　　God　bless　you　all。



MEN。　　God　bless　you。　＇They　go　out　except　Shawn；　who　lingers　at　door。＇



SHAWN　　＇to　Pegeen。＇　　Are　you　wanting　me　to　stop　along　with　you　and　keep

you　from　harm？



PEGEEN　　＇gruffly。＇　　Didn't　you　say　you　were　fearing　Father　Reilly？



SHAWN。　　There'd　be　no　harm　staying　now；　I'm　thinking；　and　himself　in　it　too。



PEGEEN。　　You　wouldn't　stay　when　there　was　need　for　you；　and　let　you　step　off

nimble　this　time　when　there's　none。



SHAWN。　　Didn't　I　say　it　was　Father　Reilly　。　。　。



PEGEEN。　　Go　on；　then；　to　Father　Reilly　（in　a　jeering　tone）；　and　let　him　put

you　in　the　holy　brotherhoods；　and　leave　that　lad　to　me。



SHAWN。　　If　I　meet　the　Widow　Quin　。　。　。



PEGEEN。　　Go　on；　I'm　saying；　and　don't　be　waking　this　place　with　your　noise。　

（She　hustles　him　out　and　bolts　the　door。）　　That　lad　would　wear　the　spirits

from　the　saints　of　peace。　　（Bustles　about；　then　takes　off　her　apron　and　pins

it　up　in　the　window　as　a　blind。　Christy　watching　her　timidly。　　Then　she　comes

to　him　and　speaks　with　bland　good…humour。）　　Let　you　stretch　out　now　by　the

fire；　young　fellow。　　You　should　be　destroyed　travelling。



CHRISTY　　＇shyly　again；　drawing　off　his　boots。）　　I'm　tired；　surely；　walking

wild　eleven　days；　and　waking　fearful　in　the　night。　＇He　holds　up　one　of　his

feet；　feeling　his　blisters；　and　looking　at　them　with　compassion。＇



PEGEEN　　＇standing　beside　him；　watching　him　with　delight。＇　　You　should　have

had　great　people　in　your　family；　I'm　thinking；　with　the　little；　small　feet　you

have；　and　you　with　a　kind　of　a　quality　name；　the　like　of　what　you'd　find　on

the　great　powers　and　potentates　of　France　and　Spain。



CHRISTY　　＇with　pride。＇　　We　were　great　surely；　with　wide　and　windy　acres　of

rich　Munster　land。



PEGEEN。　　Wasn't　I　telling　you；　and　you　a　fine；　handsome　young　fellow　with　a

noble　brow？



CHRISTY　　＇with　a　flash　of　delighted　surprise。＇　　Is　it　me？



PEGEEN。　　Aye。　　Did　you　never　hear　that　from　the　young　girls　where　you　come

from　in　the　west　or　south？



CHRISTY　　＇with　venom。＇　　I　did　not　then。　　Oh；　they're　bloody　liars　in　the

naked　parish　where　I　grew　a　man。



PEGEEN。　　If　they　are　itself；　you've　heard　it　these　days；　I'm　thinking；　and　you

walking　the　world　telling　out　your　story　to　young　girls　or　old。



CHRISTY。　　I've　told　my　story　no　place　till　this　night；　Pegeen　Mike；　and　it's

foolish　I　was　here；　maybe；　to　be　talking　free；　but　you're　decent　people；　I'm

thinking；　and　yourself　a　kindly　woman；　the　way　I　wasn't　fearing　you　at　all。



PEGEEN　　＇filling　a　sack　with　straw。＇　　You've　said　the　like　of　that；　maybe；

in　every　cot　and　cabin　where　you've　met　a　young　girl　on　your　way。



CHRISTY　　＇going　over　to　her；　gradually　raising　his　voice。＇　　I've　said　it

nowhere　till　this　night；　I'm　telling　you；　for　I've　seen　none　the　like　of　you

the　eleven　long　days　I　am　walking　the　world；　looking　over　a　low　ditch　or　a

high　ditch　on　my　north　or　my　south；　into　stony　scattered　fields；　or　scribes　of

bog；　where　you'd　see　young；　limber　girls；　and　fine　prancing　women　making

laughter　with　the　men。



PEGEEN。　　If　you　weren't　destroyed　travelling；　you'd　have　as　much　talk　and

streeleen；　I'm　thinking；　as　Owen　Roe　O'Sullivan　or　the　poets　of　the　Dingle

Bay；　and　I've　heard　all　times　it's　the　poets　are　your　like；　fine　fiery　fellows

with　great　rages　when　their　temper's　roused。



CHRISTY　　＇drawing　a　little　nearer　to　her。＇　　You've　a　power　of　rings；　God

bless　you；　and　would　there　be　any　offence　if　I　was　asking　are　you　single　now？



PEGEEN。　　What　would　I　want　wedding　so　young？



CHRISTY　　＇with　relief。＇　　We're　alike；　so。



PEGEEN　　＇she　puts　sack　on　settle　and　beats　it　up。＇　　I　never　killed　my

father。　　I'd　be　afeard　to　do　that；　except　I　was　the　like　of　yourself　with

blind　rages　tearing　me　within；　for　I'm　thinking　you　should　have　had　great

tussling　when　the　end　was　come。



CHRISTY　　＇expanding　with　delight　at　the　first　confidential　talk　he　has　ever

had　with　a　woman。＇　　We　had　not　then。　　It　was　a　hard　woman　was　come　over　the

hill；　and　if　he　was　always　a　crusty　kind　when　he'd　a　hard　woman　setting　him

on；　not　the　divil　himself　or　his　four　fathers　could　put　up　with　him　at　all。



PEGEEN　　＇with　curiosity。＇　　And　isn't　it　a　great　wonder　that　one　wasn't

fearing　you？



CHRISTY　　＇very　confidentially。＇　　Up　to　the　day　I　killed　my　father；　there

wasn't　a　person　in　Ireland　knew　the　kind　I　was；　and　I　there　drinking；　waking；

eating；　sleeping；　a　quiet；　simple　poor　fellow　with　no　man　giving　me　heed。



PEGEEN　　＇getting　a　quilt　out　of　the　cupboard　and　putting　it　on　the　sack。＇　

It　was　the　girls　were　giving　you　heed　maybe；　and　I'm　thinking　it's　most

conceit　you'd　have　to　be　gaming　with　their　like。



CHRISTY　　＇shaking　his　head；　with　simplicity。＇　　Not　the　girls　itself；　and　I

won't　tell　you　a　lie。　　There　wasn't　anyone　heeding　me　in　that　place　saving

only　the　dumb　beasts　of　the　field。　　＇He　sits　down　at　fire。＇



PEGEEN　　＇with　disappointment。＇　　And　I　thinking　you　should　have　been　living

the　like　of　a　king　of　Norway　or　the　Eastern　world。　＇She　comes　and　sits　beside

him　after　placing　bread　and　mug　of　milk　on　the　table。＇



CHRISTY　　＇laughing　piteously。＇　　The　like　of　a　king；　is　it？　　And　I　after

toiling；　moiling；　digging；　dodging　from　the　dawn　till　dusk　with　never　a　sight

of　joy　or　sport　saving　only　when　I'd　be　abroad　in　the　dark　night　poaching

rabbits　on　hills；　for　I　was　a　devil　to　poach；　God　forgive　me；　（very　naively）

and　I　near　got　six　months　for　going　with　a　dung　fork　and　stabbing　a　fish。



PEGEEN。　　And　it's　that　you'd　call　sport；　is　it；　to　be　abroad　in　the　darkness

with　yourself　alone？



CHRISTY。　　I　did；　God　help　me；　and　there　I'd　be　as　happy　as　the　sunshine　of　St。

Martin's　Day；　watching　the　light　passing　the　north　or　the　patches　of　fog；　till

I'd　hear　a　rabbit　starting　to　screech　and　I'd　go　running　in　the　furze。　Then

when　I'd　my　full　share　I'd　come　walking　down　where　you'd　see　the　ducks　and

geese　stretched　sleeping　on　the　highway　of　the　road；　and　before　I'd　pass　the

dunghill；　I'd　hear　himself　snoring　out；　a　loud　lonesome　snore　he'd　be　making

all　times；　the　while　he　was　sleeping；　and　he　a　man　'd　be　raging　all　times；　the

while　he　was　waking；　like　a　gaudy　officer　you'd　hear　cursing　and　damning　and

swearing　oaths。



PEGEEN。　　Providence　and　Mercy；　spare　us　all！



CHRISTY。　　It's　that　you'd　say　surely　if　you　seen　him　and　he　after　drinking　for

weeks；　rising　up　in　the　red　dawn；　or　before　it　maybe；　and　going　out　into　the

yard　as　naked　as　an　ash　tree　in　the　moon　of　May；　and　shying　clods　against　the

visage　of　the　stars　till　he'd　put　the　fear　of　death　into　the　banbhs　and　the

screeching　sows。



PEGEEN。　　I'd　be　well…night　afeard　of　that　lad　myself；　I'm　thinking。　　And　there

was　no　one　in　it　but　the　two　of　you　alone？



CHRISTY。　　The　divil　a　one；　though　he'd　sons　and　daughters　walking　all　great

states　and　territories　of　the　world；　and　not　a　one　of　them；　to　this　day；　but

would　say　their　seven　curses　on　him；　and　they　rousing　up　to　let　a　cough　or

sneeze；　maybe；　in　the　deadness　of　the　night。



PEGEEN　　＇nodding　her　head。＇　　Well；　you　should　have　been　a　queer　lot。　　I

never　cursed　my　father　the　like　of　that；　though　I'm　twenty　and　more　years　of

age。



CHRISTY。　　Then　you'd　have　cursed　mine；　I'm　telling　you；　and　he　a　man　never

gave　peace　to　any；　saving　when　he'd　get　two　months　or　three；　or　be　locked　in

the　asylums　for　battering　peelers　or　assaulting　men　（with　depression）　the　way

it　was　a　bitter　life　he　led　me　till　I　did　up　a　Tuesday　and　halve　his　skull。



PEGEEN　　＇putting　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。＇　　Well；　you'll　have　peace　in

this　place；　Christy　Mahon；　and　none　to　trouble　you；　and　it's　near　time　a　fine

lad　like　you　should　have　your　good　share　of　the　earth。



CHRISTY。　　It's　time　surely；　and　I　a　seemly　fellow　with　great　strength　in　me

and　bravery　of　。　。　。　　＇Someone　knocks。＇



CHRISTY　　＇clinging　t