playboy of the western world-第4章

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and　bravery　of　。　。　。　　＇Someone　knocks。＇



CHRISTY　　＇clinging　to　Pegeen。＇　　Oh；　glory！　it's　late　for　knocking；　and

this　last　while　I'm　in　terror　of　the　peelers；　and　the　walking　dead。　　＇Knocking

again。＇



PEGEEN。　　Who's　there？　



VOICE　　＇outside。＇　　Me。



PEGEEN。　　Who's　me？



VOICE。　　The　Widow　Quin。



PEGEEN　　＇jumping　up　and　giving　him　the　bread　and　milk。＇　　Go　on　now　with　your

supper；　and　let　on　to　be　sleepy；　for　if　she　found　you　were　such　a　warrant　to

talk；　she'd　be　stringing　gabble　till　the　dawn　of　day。　　（He　takes　bread　and

sits　shyly　with　his　back　to　the　door。）



PEGEEN　　＇opening　door；　with　temper。＇　　What　ails　you；　or　what　is　it　you're

wanting　at　this　hour　of　the　night？



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇coming　in　a　step　and　peering　at　Christy。＇　　I'm　after　meeting

Shawn　Keogh　and　Father　Reilly　below；　who　told　me　of　your　curiosity　man；　and

they　fearing　by　this　time　he　was　maybe　roaring；　romping　on　your　hands　with

drink。



PEGEEN　　＇pointing　to　Christy。＇　　Look　now　is　he　roaring；　and　he　stretched

away　drowsy　with　his　supper　and　his　mug　of　milk。　Walk　down　and　tell　that　to

Father　Reilly　and　to　Shaneen　Keogh。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇coming　forward。＇　　I'll　not　see　them　again；　for　I've　their

word　to　lead　that　lad　forward　for　to　lodge　with　me。



PEGEEN　　＇in　blank　amazement。＇　　This　night；　is　it？



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇going　over。＇　　This　night。　　〃It　isn't　fitting；〃　says　the

priesteen；　〃to　have　his　likeness　lodging　with　an　orphaned　girl。〃　　（To

Christy。）　　God　save　you；　mister！



CHRISTY　　＇shyly。＇　　God　save　you　kindly。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇looking　at　him　with　half…amazed　curiosity。＇　　Well；　aren't　you

a　little　smiling　fellow？　　It　should　have　been　great　and　bitter　torments　did

rouse　your　spirits　to　a　deed　of　blood。



CHRISTY　　＇doubtfully。＇　　It　should；　maybe。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　It's　more　than　〃maybe〃　I'm　saying；　and　it'd　soften　my　heart　to

see　you　sitting　so　simple　with　your　cup　and　cake；　and　you　fitter　to　be　saying

your　catechism　than　slaying　your　da。



PEGEEN　　　＇at　counter；　washing　glasses。＇　　There's　talking　when　any'd　see

he's　fit　to　be　holding　his　head　high　with　the　wonders　of　the　world。　　Walk　on

from　this；　for　I'll　not　have　him　tormented　and　he　destroyed　travelling　since

Tuesday　was　a　week。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇peaceably。＇　　We'll　be　walking　surely　when　his　supper's　done；

and　you'll　find　we're　great　company；　young　fellow；　when　it's　of　the　like　of

you　and　me　you'd　hear　the　penny　poets　singing　in　an　August　Fair。



CHRISTY　　＇innocently。＇　　Did　you　kill　your　father？



PEGEEN　　＇contemptuously。＇　　She　did　not。　　She　hit　himself　with　a　worn　pick；

and　the　rusted　poison　did　corrode　his　blood　the　way　he　never　overed　it；　and

died　after。　　That　was　a　sneaky　kind　of　murder　did　win　small　glory　with　the

boys　itself。　＇She　crosses　to　Christy's　left。＇



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇with　good…humour。＇　　If　it　didn't；　maybe　all　knows　a　widow

woman　has　buried　her　children　and　destroyed　her　man　is　a　wiser　comrade　for　a

young　lad　than　a　girl；　the　like　of　you；　who'd　go　helter…skeltering　after　any

man　would　let　you　a　wink　upon　the　road。



PEGEEN　　＇breaking　out　into　wild　rage。＇　　And　you'll　say　that；　Widow　Quin；

and　you　gasping　with　the　rage　you　had　racing　the　hill　beyond　to　look　on　his

face。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇laughing　derisively。＇　　Me；　is　it？　　Well；　Father　Reilly　has

cuteness　to　divide　you　now。　　（She　pulls　Christy　up。）　There's　great　temptation

in　a　man　did　slay　his　da；　and　we'd　best　be　going；　young　fellow；　so　rise　up　and

come　with　me。



PEGEEN　　＇seizing　his　arm。＇　　He'll　not　stir。　　He's　pot…boy　in　this　place；

and　I'll　not　have　him　stolen　off　and　kidnabbed　while　himself's　abroad。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　It'd　be　a　crazy　pot…boy'd　lodge　him　in　the　shebeen　where　he　works

by　day；　so　you'd　have　a　right　to　come　on；　young　fellow；　till　you　see　my　little

houseen；　a　perch　off　on　the　rising　hill。



PEGEEN。　　Wait　till　morning；　Christy　Mahon。　　Wait　till　you　lay　eyes　on　her

leaky　thatch　is　growing　more　pasture　for　her　buck　goat　than　her　square　of

fields；　and　she　without　a　tramp　itself　to　keep　in　order　her　place　at　all。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　When　you　see　me　contriving　in　my　little　gardens；　Christy　Mahon；

you'll　swear　the　Lord　God　formed　me　to　be　living　lone；　and　that　there　isn't　my

match　in　Mayo　for　thatching；　or　mowing；　or　shearing　a　sheep。



PEGEEN　　＇with　noisy　scorn。＇　　It's　true　the　Lord　God　formed　you　to　contrive

indeed。　Doesn't　the　world　know　you　reared　a　black　lamb　at　your　own　breast；　so

that　the　Lord　Bishop　of　Connaught　felt　the　elements　of　a　Christian；　and　he

eating　it　after　in　a　kidney　stew？　　Doesn't　the　world　know　you've　been　seen

shaving　the　foxy　skipper　from　France　for　a　threepenny　bit　and　a　sop　of　grass

tobacco　would　wring　the　liver　from　a　mountain　goat　you'd　meet　leaping　the

hills？



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇with　amusement。＇　　Do　you　hear　her　now；　young　fellow？　　Do　you

hear　the　way　she'll　be　rating　at　your　own　self　when　a　week　is　by？



PEGEEN　　＇to　Christy。＇　　Don't　heed　her。　Tell　her　to　go　into　her　pigsty　and

not　plague　us　here。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　I'm　going；　but　he'll　come　with　me。



PEGEEN　　＇shaking　him。＇　　Are　you　dumb；　young　fellow？



CHRISTY　　＇timidly；　to　Widow　Quin。＇　　God　increase　you；　but　I'm　pot…boy　in

this　place；　and　it's　here　I'd　liefer　stay。



PEGEEN　　＇triumphantly。＇　　Now　you　have　heard　him；　and　go　on　from　this。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇looking　round　the　room。＇　　It's　lonesome　this　hour　crossing

the　hill；　and　if　he　won't　come　along　with　me；　I'd　have　a　right　maybe　to　stop

this　night　with　yourselves。　　Let　me　stretch　out　on　the　settle；　Pegeen　Mike；

and　himself　can　lie　by　the　hearth。



PEGEEN　　＇short　and　fiercely。＇　　Faith；　I　won't。　　Quit　off　or　I　will　send

you　now。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇gathering　her　shawl　up。＇　　Well；　it's　a　terror　to　be　aged　a

score。　　（To　Christy。）　　God　bless　you　now；　young　fellow；　and　let　you　be　wary；

or　there's　right　torment　will　await　you　here　if　you　go　romancing　with　her

like；　and　she　waiting　only；　as　they　bade　me　say；　on　a　sheepskin　parchment　to

be　wed　with　Shawn　Keogh　of　Killakeen。



CHRISTY　　＇going　to　Pegeen　as　she　bolts　the　door。＇　　What's　that　she's　after

saying？



PEGEEN。　　Lies　and　blather；　you've　no　call　to　mind。　　Well；　isn't　Shawn　Keogh　an

impudent　fellow　to　send　up　spying　on　me？　　Wait　till　I　lay　hands　on　him。　　Let

him　wait；　I'm　saying。



CHRISTY。　　And　you're　not　wedding　him　at　all？



PEGEEN。　　I　wouldn't　wed　him　if　a　bishop　came　walking　for　to　join　us　here。



CHRISTY。　　That　God　in　glory　may　be　thanked　for　that。



PEGEEN。　　There's　your　bed　now。　　I've　put　a　quilt　upon　you　I'm　after　quilting　a

while　since　with　my　own　two　hands；　and　you'd　best　stretch　out　now　for　your

sleep；　and　may　God　give　you　a　good　rest　till　I　call　you　in　the　morning　when

the　cocks　will　crow。



CHRISTY　　＇as　she　goes　to　inner　room。＇　　May　God　and　Mary　and　St。　Patrick

bless　you　and　reward　you；　for　your　kindly　talk。　　（She　shuts　the　door　behind

her。　　He　settles　his　bed　slowly；　feeling　the　quilt　with　immense　satisfaction。＇

　Well；　it's　a　clean　bed　and　soft　with　it；　and　it's　great　luck　and　company

I've　won　me　in　the　end　of　time　　two　fine　women　fighting　for　the　likes　of　me

　till　I'm　thinking　this　night　wasn't　I　a　foolish　fellow　not　to　kill　my

father　in　the　years　gone　by。



CURTAIN







ACT　II。



SCENE；　＇as　before。　　Brilliant　morning　light。　Christy；　looking　bright　and

cheerful；　is　cleaning　a　girl's　boots。＇



CHRISTY　　＇to　himself；　counting　jugs　on　dresser。＇　　Half　a　hundred　beyond。　

Ten　there。　　A　score　that's　above。　　Eighty　jugs。　　Six　cups　and　a　broken　one。　

Two　plates。　　A　power　of　glasses。　　Bottles；　a　school…master'd　be　hard　set　to

count；　and　enough　in　them；　I'm　thinking；　to　drunken　all　the　wealth　and　wisdom

of　the　County　Clare。　　（He　puts　down　the　boot　carefully。）　　There's　her　boots

now；　nice　and　decent　for　her　evening　use；　and　isn't　it　grand　brushes　she　has？　

（He　puts　them　down　and　goes　by　degrees　to　the　looking…glass。）　　Well；　this'd　be

a　fine　place　to　be　my　whole　life　talking　out　with　swearing　Christians；　in

place　of　my　old　dogs　and　cat；　and　I　stalking　around；　smoking　my　pipe　and

drinking　my　fill；　and　never　a　day's　work　but　drawing　a　cork　an　odd　time；　or

wiping　a　glass；　or　rinsing　out　a　shiny　tumbler　for　a　decent　man。　　（He　takes

the　looking…glass　from　the　wall　and　puts　it　on　the　back　of　a　chair；　then　sits

down　in　front　of　it　and　begins　washing　his　face。）　　Didn't　I　know　rightly　I　was

handsome；　though　it　was　the　divil's　own　mirror　we　had　beyond；　would　twist　a

squint　across　an　angel's　brow；　and　I'll　be　growing　fine　from　this　day；　the　way

I'll　have　a　soft　lovely　skin　on　me　and　won't　be　the　like　of　the　clumsy　young

fellows　do　be　ploughing　all　times　in　the　earth　and　dung。　　（He　starts。）　Is　she

coming　again？　　（He　looks　out。）　Stranger　girls。　　God　help　me；　where'll　I　hide

myself　away　and　my　long　neck　nacked　to　the　world？　　（He　looks　out。）　　I'd　best

go　to　the　room　maybe　till　I'm　dressed　again。　＇He　gathers　up　his　coat　and　the

looking…glass；　and　runs　into　the　inner　room。　The　door　is　pushed　open；　and

Susan　Brady　looks　in；　and　knocks　on　door。＇



SUSAN。　　There's　nobody　in　it。　　＇Knocks　again。＇



NELLY　　＇pushing　her　in　and　following　her；　with　Honor　Blake　and　Sara　Tansey。＇　

It'd　be　early　for　them　both　to　be　out　walking　the　hill。



SUSAN。　　I'm　thinking　Shawn　Keogh　was　making　game　of　us　and　there's　no　such　man

in　it　at　all。



HONOR　　＇pointing　to　straw　and　quilt。＇　　Look　at　that。　　He's　been　sleeping

there　in　the　night。　　Well；　it'll　be　a　hard　case　if　he's　gone　off　now；　the　way

we'll　never　set　our　eyes　on　a　man　killed　his　father；　and　we　after　rising　early

and　destroying　ourselves　running　fast　on　the　hill。



NELLY。　　Are　you　thinking　them's　his　boots？



SARA　　＇taking　them　up。＇　　If　they　are；　there　should　be　his　father's　track

on　them。　　Did　you　never　read　in　the　papers　the　way　murdered　men　do　bleed　and

drip？



SUSAN。　　Is　that　blood　there；　Sara　Tansey？



SARAH　　＇smelling　it。＇　　That's　bog　water；　I'm　thinking；　but　it's　his　own

they　are　surely；　for　I　never　seen　the　like　of　them　for　whity　mud；　and　red　mud；

and　turf　on　them；　and　the　fine　sands　of　the　sea。　　That　man's　been　walking；　I'm

telling　you。　＇She　goes　down　right；　putting　on　one　of　his　boots。＇



SUSAN　　＇going　to　window。＇　　Maybe　he's　stolen　off　to　Belmullet　with　the

boots　of　Michael　James；　and　you'd　have　a　right　so　to　follow　after　him；　Sara

Tansey；　and　you　the　one　yoked　the　ass　cart　and　drove　ten　miles　to　set　your

eyes　on　the　man　bit　the　yellow　lady's　nostril　on　the　northern　shore。　　＇She

looks　out。＇



SARA　　＇running　to　window　with　one　boot　on。＇　　Don't　be　talking；　and　we

fooled　to…day。　　（Putting　on　other　boot。）　　There's　a　pair　do　fit　me　well；　and

I'll　be　keeping　them　for　walking　to　the　priest；　when　you'd　be　ashamed　this

place；　going　up　winter　and　summer　with　nothing　worth　while　to　confess　at　all。　　



HONOR　　＇who　has　been　listening　at　the　door。＇　　Whisht！　there's　someone

inside　the　room。　　（She　pushes　door　a　chink　open。）　　It's　a　man。　＇Sara　kicks　off

boots　and　puts　them　where　they　were。