playboy of the western world-第7章

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WIDOW　QUIN　　＇stiffly。＇　　What　kind　was　he？



MAHON。　　An　ugly　young　streeler　with　a　murderous　gob　on　him；　and　a　little

switch　in　his　hand。　　I　met　a　tramper　seen　him　coming　this　way　at　the　fall　of

night。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　There's　harvest　hundreds　do　be　passing　these　days　for　the　Sligo

boat。　　For　what　is　it　you're　wanting　him；　my　poor　man？



MAHON。　　I　want　to　destroy　him　for　breaking　the　head　on　me　with　the　clout　of　a

loy。　　（He　takes　off　a　big　hat；　and　shows　his　head　in　a　mass　of　bandages　and

plaster；　with　some　pride。）　　It　was　he　did　that；　and　amn't　I　a　great　wonder　to

think　I've　traced　him　ten　days　with　that　rent　in　my　crown？



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇taking　his　head　in　both　hands　and　examining　it　with　extreme

delight。＇　　That　was　a　great　blow。　　And　who　hit　you？　A　robber　maybe？



MAHON。　　It　was　my　own　son　hit　me；　and　he　the　divil　a　robber；　or　anything　else；

but　a　dirty；　stuttering　lout。



WIDOW　　＇letting　go　his　skull　and　wiping　her　hands　in　her　apron。＇　　You'd

best　be　wary　of　a　mortified　scalp；　I　think　they　call　it；　lepping　around　with

that　wound　in　the　splendour　of　the　sun。　　It　was　a　bad　blow　surely；　and　you

should　have　vexed　him　fearful　to　make　him　strike　that　gash　in　his　da。



MAHON。　　Is　it　me？



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇amusing　herself。＇　　Aye。　　And　isn't　it　a　great　shame　when　the

old　and　hardened　do　torment　the　young？



MAHON　　＇raging。＇　　Torment　him　is　it？　And　I　after　holding　out　with　the

patience　of　a　martyred　saint　till　there's　nothing　but　destruction　on；　and　I'm

driven　out　in　my　old　age　with　none　to　aid　me。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇greatly　amused。＇　　It's　a　sacred　wonder　the　way　that

wickedness　will　spoil　a　man。



MAHON。　　My　wickedness；　is　it？　　Amn't　I　after　saying　it　is　himself　has　me

destroyed；　and　he　a　liar　on　walls；　a　talker　of　folly；　a　man　you'd　see

stretched　the　half　of　the　day　in　the　brown　ferns　with　his　belly　to　the　sun。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　Not　working　at　all？



MAHON。　　The　divil　a　work；　or　if　he　did　itself；　you'd　see　him　raising　up　a

haystack　like　the　stalk　of　a　rush；　or　driving　our　last　cow　till　he　broke　her

leg　at　the　hip；　and　when　he　wasn't　at　that　he'd　be　fooling　over　little　birds

he　had　　finches　and　felts　　or　making　mugs　at　his　own　self　in　the　bit　of

glass　we　had　hung　on　the　wall。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇looking　at　Christy。＇　　What　way　was　he　so　foolish？　　It　was

running　wild　after　the　girls　may　be？



MAHON　　＇with　a　shout　of　derision。＇　　Running　wild；　is　it？　　If　he　seen　a　red

petticoat　coming　swinging　over　the　hill；　he'd　be　off　to　hide　in　the　sticks；

and　you'd　see　him　shooting　out　his　sheep's　eyes　between　the　little　twigs　and

the　leaves；　and　his　two　ears　rising　like　a　hare　looking　out　through　a　gap。　

Girls；　indeed！



WIDOW　QUIN。　　It　was　drink　maybe？



MAHON。　　And　he　a　poor　fellow　would　get　drunk　on　the　smell　of　a　pint。　　He'd　a

queer　rotten　stomach；　I'm　telling　you；　and　when　I　gave　him　three　pulls　from　my

pipe　a　while　since；　he　was　taken　with　contortions　till　I　had　to　send　him　in

the　ass　cart　to　the　females'　nurse。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇clasping　her　hands。＇　　Well；　I　never　till　this　day　heard　tell

of　a　man　the　like　of　that！



MAHON。　　I'd　take　a　mighty　oath　you　didn't　surely；　and　wasn't　he　the　laughing

joke　of　every　female　woman　where　four　baronies　meet；　the　way　the　girls　would

stop　their　weeding　if　they　seen　him　coming　the　road　to　let　a　roar　at　him；　and

call　him　the　looney　of　Mahon's。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　I'd　give　the　world　and　all　to　see　the　like　of　him。　　What　kind　was

he？



MAHON。　　A　small　low　fellow。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　And　dark？



MAHON。　　Dark　and　dirty。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇considering。＇　　I'm　thinking　I　seen　him。



MAHON　　＇eagerly。＇　　An　ugly　young　blackguard。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　A　hideous；　fearful　villain；　and　the　spit　of　you。



MAHON。　　What　way　is　he　fled？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　Gone　over　the　hills　to　catch　a　coasting　steamer　to　the　north　or

south。



MAHON。　　Could　I　pull　up　on　him　now？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　If　you'll　cross　the　sands　below　where　the　tide　is　out；　you'll　be

in　it　as　soon　as　himself；　for　he　had　to　go　round　ten　miles　by　the　top　of　the

bay。　　（She　points　to　the　door）。　　Strike　down　by　the　head　beyond　and　then

follow　on　the　roadway　to　the　north　and　east。　　＇Mahon　goes　abruptly。＇



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇shouting　after　him。＇　　Let　you　give　him　a　good　vengeance　when

you　come　up　with　him；　but　don't　put　yourself　in　the　power　of　the　law；　for　it'd

be　a　poor　thing　to　see　a　judge　in　his　black　cap　reading　out　his　sentence　on　a

civil　warrior　the　like　of　you。　＇She　swings　the　door　to　and　looks　at　Christy；

who　is　cowering　in　terror；　for　a　moment；　then　she　bursts　into　a　laugh。＇



WIDOW　QUIN。　　Well；　you're　the　walking　Playboy　of　the　Western　World；　and　that's

the　poor　man　you　had　divided　to　his　breeches　belt。



CHRISTY　　＇looking　out：　then；　to　her。＇　　What'll　Pegeen　say　when　she　hears

that　story？　What'll　she　be　saying　to　me　now？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　She'll　knock　the　head　of　you；　I'm　thinking；　and　drive　you　from

the　door。　　God　help　her　to　be　taking　you　for　a　wonder；　and　you　a　little

schemer　making　up　the　story　you　destroyed　your　da。



CHRISTY　　＇turning　to　the　door；　nearly　speechless　with　rage；　half　to

himself。＇　　To　be　letting　on　he　was　dead；　and　coming　back　to　his　life；　and

following　after　me　like　an　old　weazel　tracing　a　rat；　and　coming　in　here　laying

desolation　between　my　own　self　and　the　fine　women　of　Ireland；　and　he　a　kind　of

carcase　that　you'd　fling　upon　the　sea。　。　。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇more　soberly。＇　　There's　talking　for　a　man's　one　only　son。



CHRISTY　　＇breaking　out。＇　　His　one　son；　is　it？　　May　I　meet　him　with　one

tooth　and　it　aching；　and　one　eye　to　be　seeing　seven　and　seventy　divils　in　the

twists　of　the　road；　and　one　old　timber　leg　on　him　to　limp　into　the　scalding

grave。　　（Looking　out。）　　There　he　is　now　crossing　the　strands；　and　that　the

Lord　God　would　send　a　high　wave　to　wash　him　from　the　world。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇scandalised。＇　　Have　you　no　shame？　　（putting　her　hand　on　his

shoulder　and　turning　him　round。）　　What　ails　you？　　Near　crying；　is　it？



CHRISTY　　＇in　despair　and　grief。＇　　Amn't　I　after　seeing　the　love…light　of

the　star　of　knowledge　shining　from　her　brow；　and　hearing　words　would　put　you

thinking　on　the　holy　Brigid　speaking　to　the　infant　saints；　and　now　she'll　be

turning　again；　and　speaking　hard　words　to　me；　like　an　old　woman　with　a

spavindy　ass　she'd　have；　urging　on　a　hill。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　There's　poetry　talk　for　a　girl　you'd　see　itching　and　scratching；

and　she　with　a　stale　stink　of　poteen　on　her　from　selling　in　the　shop。



CHRISTY　　＇impatiently。＇　　It's　her　like　is　fitted　to　be　handling　merchandise

in　the　heavens　above；　and　what'll　I　be　doing　now；　I　ask　you；　and　I　a　kind　of

wonder　was　jilted　by　the　heavens　when　a　day　was　by。　＇There　is　a　distant　noise

of　girls'　voices。　Widow　Quin　looks　from　window　and　comes　to　him；　hurriedly。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　You'll　be　doing　like　myself；　I'm　thinking；　when　I　did　destroy　my

man；　for　I'm　above　many's　the　day；　odd　times　in　great　spirits；　abroad　in　the

sunshine；　darning　a　stocking　or　stitching　a　shift；　and　odd　times　again　looking

out　on　the　schooners；　hookers；　trawlers　is　sailing　the　sea；　and　I　thinking　on

the　gallant　hairy　fellows　are　drifting　beyond；　and　myself　long　years　living

alone。



CHRISTY　　＇interested。＇　　You're　like　me；　so。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　I　am　your　like；　and　it's　for　that　I'm　taking　a　fancy　to　you；　and

I　with　my　little　houseen　above　where　there'd　be　myself　to　tend　you；　and　none

to　ask　were　you　a　murderer　or　what　at　all。



CHRISTY。　　And　what　would　I　be　doing　if　I　left　Pegeen？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　I've　nice　jobs　you　could　be　doing；　gathering　shells　to　make　a

whitewash　for　our　hut　within；　building　up　a　little　goose…house；　or　stretching

a　new　skin　on　an　old　curragh　I　have；　and　if　my　hut　is　far　from　all　sides；　it's

there　you'll　meet　the　wisest　old　men；　I　tell　you；　at　the　corner　of　my　wheel；

and　it's　there　yourself　and　me　will　have　great　times　whispering　and　hugging。　。

。　。



VOICES　　＇outside；　calling　far　away。＇　　Christy！　　Christy　Mahon！　　Christy！



CHRISTY。　　Is　it　Pegeen　Mike？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　It's　the　young　girls；　I'm　thinking；　coming　to　bring　you　to　the

sports　below；　and　what　is　it　you'll　have　me　to　tell　them　now？



CHRISTY。　　Aid　me　for　to　win　Pegeen。　It's　herself　only　that　I'm　seeking　now。　

（Widow　Quin　gets　up　and　goes　to　window。）　　Aid　me　for　to　win　her；　and　I'll　be

asking　God　to　stretch　a　hand　to　you　in　the　hour　of　death；　and　lead　you　short

cuts　through　the　Meadows　of　Ease；　and　up　the　floor　of　Heaven　to　the　Footstool

of　the　Virgin's　Son。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　There's　praying。



VOICES　　＇nearer。＇　　Christy！　　Christy　Mahon！



CHRISTY　　＇with　agitation。＇　　They're　coming。　　Will　you　swear　to　aid　and

save　me　for　the　love　of　Christ？



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇looks　at　him　for　a　moment。＇　　If　I　aid　you；　will　you　swear　to

give　me　a　right　of　way　I　want；　and　a　mountainy　ram；　and　a　load　of　dung　at

Michaelmas；　the　time　that　you'll　be　master　here？



CHRISTY。　　I　will；　by　the　elements　and　stars　of　night。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　Then　we'll　not　say　a　word　of　the　old　fellow；　the　way　Pegeen　won't

know　your　story　till　the　end　of　time。



CHRISTY。　　And　if　he　chances　to　return　again？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　We'll　swear　he's　a　maniac　and　not　your　da。　　I　could　take　an　oath

I　seen　him　raving　on　the　sands　to…day。　　＇Girls　run　in。＇



SUSAN。　　Come　on　to　the　sports　below。　Pegeen　says　you're　to　come。



SARA　TANSEY。　　The　lepping's　beginning；　and　we've　a　jockey's　suit　to　fit　upon

you　for　the　mule　race　on　the　sands　below。



HONOR。　　Come　on；　will　you？



CHRISTY。　　I　will　then　if　Pegeen's　beyond。



SARA。　　She's　in　the　boreen　making　game　of　Shaneen　Keogh。



CHRISTY。　　Then　I'll　be　going　to　her　now。　＇He　runs　out　followed　by　the　girls。＇



WIDOW　QUIN。　　Well；　if　the　worst　comes　in　the　end　of　all；　it'll　be　great　game

to　see　there's　none　to　pity　him　but　a　widow　woman；　the　like　of　me；　has　buried

her　children　and　destroyed　her　man。　　＇She　goes　out。＇



CURTAIN







ACT　III。





SCENE；　＇as　before。　　Later　in　the　day。　　Jimmy　comes　in；　slightly　drunk。＇



JIMMY　　＇calls。＇　　Pegeen！　　（Crosses　to　inner　door。）　　Pegeen　Mike！　　（Comes

back　again　into　the　room。）　　Pegeen！　　（Philly　comes　in　in　the　same　state。）　　（To

Philly。）　　Did　you　see　herself？



PHILLY。　　I　did　not；　but　I　sent　Shawn　Keogh　with　the　ass　cart　for　to　bear　him

home。　（Trying　cupboards　which　are　locked。）　　Well；　isn't　he　a　nasty　man　to　get

into　such　staggers　at　a　morning　wake？　and　isn't　herself　the　divil's　daughter

for　locking；　and　she　so　fussy　after　that　young　gaffer；　you　might　take　your

death　with　drought　and　none　to　heed　you？



JIMMY。　　It's　little　wonder　she'd　be　fussy；　and　he　after　bringing　bankrupt　ruin

on　the　roulette　man；　and　the　trick…o'…the…loop　man；　and　breaking　the　nose　of

the　cockshot…man；　and　winning　all　in　the　sports　below；　racing；　lepping；

dancing；　and　the　Lord　knows　what！　He's　right　luck；　I'm　telling　you。



PHILLY。　　If　he　has；　he'll　be　rightly　hobbled　yet；　and　he　not　able　to　say　ten

words　without　mak