playboy of the western world-第8章

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

words　without　making　a　brag　of　the　way　he　killed　his　father；　and　the　great

blow　he　hit　with　the　loy。



JIMMY。　　A　man　can't　hang　by　his　own　informing；　and　his　father　should　be　rotten

by　now。　＇Old　Mahon　passes　window　slowly。＇



PHILLY。　　Supposing　a　man's　digging　spuds　in　that　field　with　a　long　spade；　and

supposing　he　flings　up　the　two　halves　of　that　skull；　what'll　be　said　then　in

the　papers　and　the　courts　of　law？



JIMMY。　　They'd　say　it　was　an　old　Dane；　maybe；　was　drowned　in　the　flood。　　（Old

Mahon　comes　in　and　sits　down　near　door　listening。）　Did　you　never　hear　tell　of

the　skulls　they　have　in　the　city　of　Dublin；　ranged　out　like　blue　jugs　in　a

cabin　of　Connaught？



PHILLY。　　And　you　believe　that？



JIMMY　　＇pugnaciously。＇　　Didn't　a　lad　see　them　and　he　after　coming　from

harvesting　in　the　Liverpool　boat？　　〃They　have　them　there；〃　says　he；　〃making　a

show　of　the　great　people　there　was　one　time　walking　the　world。　　White　skulls

and　black　skulls　and　yellow　skulls；　and　some　with　full　teeth；　and　some　haven't

only　but　one。〃



PHILLY。　　It　was　no　lie；　maybe；　for　when　I　was　a　young　lad　there　was　a

graveyard　beyond　the　house　with　the　remnants　of　a　man　who　had　thighs　as　long

as　your　arm。　　He　was　a　horrid　man；　I'm　telling　you；　and　there　was　many　a　fine

Sunday　I'd　put　him　together　for　fun；　and　he　with　shiny　bones；　you　wouldn't

meet　the　like　of　these　days　in　the　cities　of　the　world。



MAHON　　＇getting　up。＇　　You　wouldn't　is　it？　　Lay　your　eyes　on　that　skull；

and　tell　me　where　and　when　there　was　another　the　like　of　it；　is　splintered

only　from　the　blow　of　a　loy。



PHILLY。　　Glory　be　to　God！　　And　who　hit　you　at　all？



MAHON　　＇triumphantly。＇　　It　was　my　own　son　hit　me。　　Would　you　believe　that？　　



JIMMY。　　Well；　there's　wonders　hidden　in　the　heart　of　man！



PHILLY　　＇suspiciously。＇　　And　what　way　was　it　done？



MAHON　　＇wandering　about　the　room。＇　　I'm　after　walking　hundreds　and　long

scores　of　miles；　winning　clean　beds　and　the　fill　of　my　belly　four　times　in　the

day；　and　I　doing　nothing　but　telling　stories　of　that　naked　truth。　（He　comes　to

them　a　little　aggressively。）　　Give　me　a　supeen　and　I'll　tell　you　now。　＇Widow

Quin　comes　in　and　stands　aghast　behind　him。　　He　is　facing　Jimmy　and　Philly；

who　are　on　the　left。＇



JIMMY。　　Ask　herself　beyond。　　She's　the　stuff　hidden　in　her　shawl。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇coming　to　Mahon　quickly。＇　　you　here；　is　it？　　You　didn't　go

far　at　all？



MAHON。　　I　seen　the　coasting　steamer　passing；　and　I　got　a　drought　upon　me　and　a

cramping　leg；　so　I　said；　〃The　divil　go　along　with　him；〃　and　turned　again。　

（Looking　under　her　shawl。）　　And　let　you　give　me　a　supeen；　for　I'm　destroyed

travelling　since　Tuesday　was　a　week。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇getting　a　glass；　in　a　cajoling　tone。＇　　Sit　down　then　by　the

fire　and　take　your　ease　for　a　space。　　You've　a　right　to　be　destroyed　indeed；

with　your　walking；　and　fighting；　and　facing　the　sun　（giving　him　poteen　from　a

stone　jar　she　has　brought　in。）　　There　now　is　a　drink　for　you；　and　may　it　be　to

your　happiness　and　length　of　life。



MAHON　　＇taking　glass　greedily　and　sitting　down　by　fire。＇　　God　increase

you！



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇taking　men　to　the　right　stealthily。＇　　Do　you　know　what？　　That

man's　raving　from　his　wound　to…day；　for　I　met　him　a　while　since　telling　a

rambling　tale　of　a　tinker　had　him　destroyed。　　Then　he　heard　of　Christy's　deed；

and　he　up　and　says　it　was　his　son　had　cracked　his　skull。　　O　isn't　madness　a

fright；　for　he'll　go　killing　someone　yet；　and　he　thinking　it's　the　man　has

struck　him　so？



JIMMY　　＇entirely　convinced。＇　　It's　a　fright；　surely。　　I　knew　a　party　was

kicked　in　the　head　by　a　red　mare；　and　he　went　killing　horses　a　great　while；

till　he　eat　the　insides　of　a　clock　and　died　after。



PHILLY　　＇with　suspicion。＇　　Did　he　see　Christy？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　He　didn't。　　（With　a　warning　gesture。）　　Let　you　not　be　putting　him

in　mind　of　him；　or　you'll　be　likely　summoned　if　there's　murder　done。　　（Looking

round　at　Mahon。）　　Whisht！　　He's　listening。　　Wait　now　till　you　hear　me　taking

him　easy　and　unravelling　all。　　（She　goes　to　Mahon。）　　And　what　way　are　you

feeling；　mister？　　Are　you　in　contentment　now？



MAHON　　＇slightly　emotional　from　his　drink。＇　　I'm　poorly　only；　for　it's　a

hard　story　the　way　I'm　left　to…day；　when　it　was　I　did　tend　him　from　his　hour

of　birth；　and　he　a　dunce　never　reached　his　second　book；　the　way　he'd　come　from

school；　many's　the　day；　with　his　legs　lamed　under　him；　and　he　blackened　with

his　beatings　like　a　tinker's　ass。　　It's　a　hard　story；　I'm　saying；　the　way　some

do　have　their　next　and　nighest　raising　up　a　hand　of　murder　on　them；　and　some

is　lonesome　getting　their　death　with　lamentation　in　the　dead　of　night。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇not　knowing　what　to　say。＇　　To　hear　you　talking　so　quiet；

who'd　know　you　were　the　same　fellow　we　seen　pass　to…day？



MAHON。　　I'm　the　same　surely。　　The　wrack　and　ruin　of　three　score　years；　and

it's　a　terror　to　live　that　length；　I　tell　you；　and　to　have　your　sons　going　to

the　dogs　against　you；　and　you　wore　out　scolding　them；　and　skelping　them；　and

God　knows　what。



PHILLY　　＇to　Jimmy。＇　　He's　not　raving。　（To　Widow　Quin。）　　Will　you　ask　him

what　kind　was　his　son？



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇to　Mahon；　with　a　peculiar　look。＇　　Was　your　son　that　hit　you　a

lad　of　one　year　and　a　score　maybe；　a　great　hand　at　racing　and　lepping　and

licking　the　world？



MAHON　　＇turning　on　her　with　a　roar　of　rage。＇　　Didn't　you　hear　me　say　he

was　the　fool　of　men；　the　way　from　this　out　he'll　know　the　orphan's　lot　with

old　and　young　making　game　of　him　and　they　swearing；　raging；　kicking　at　him

like　a　mangy　cur。　＇A　great　burst　of　cheering　outside；　someway　off。＇



MAHON　　＇putting　his　hands　to　his　ears。＇　　What　in　the　name　of　God　do　they

want　roaring　below？



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇with　the　shade　of　a　smile。＇　　They're　cheering　a　young　lad；

the　champion　Playboy　of　the　Western　World。　　＇More　cheering。＇



MAHON　　＇going　to　window。＇　　It'd　split　my　heart　to　hear　them；　and　I　with

pulses　in　my　brain…pan　for　a　week　gone　by。　　Is　it　racing　they　are？



JIMMY　　＇looking　from　door。＇　　It　is　then。　They　are　mounting　him　for　the

mule　race　will　be　run　upon　the　sands。　　That's　the　playboy　on　the　winkered

mule。



MAHON　　＇puzzled。＇　　That　lad；　is　it？　　If　you　said　it　was　a　fool　he　was；　I'd

have　laid　a　mighty　oath　he　was　the　likeness　of　my　wandering　son　（uneasily；

putting　his　hand　to　his　head。）　　Faith；　I'm　thinking　I'll　go　walking　for　to

view　the　race。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇stopping　him；　sharply。＇　　You　will　not。　　You'd　best　take　the

road　to　Belmullet；　and　not　be　dilly…dallying　in　this　place　where　there　isn't　a

spot　you　could　sleep。



PHILLY　　＇coming　forward。＇　　Don't　mind　her。　　Mount　there　on　the　bench　and

you'll　have　a　view　of　the　whole。　　They're　hurrying　before　the　tide　will　rise；

and　it'd　be　near　over　if　you　went　down　the　pathway　through　the　crags　below。



MAHON　　＇mounts　on　bench；　Widow　Quin　beside　him。＇　　That's　a　right　view　again

the　edge　of　the　sea。　　They're　coming　now　from　the　point。　　He's　leading。　　Who

is　he　at　all？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　He's　the　champion　of　the　world；　I　tell　you；　and　there　isn't　a

hop'orth　isn't　falling　lucky　to　his　hands　to…day。



PHILLY　　＇looking　out；　interested　in　the　race。＇　　Look　at　that。　　They're

pressing　him　now。



JIMMY。　　He'll　win　it　yet。



PHILLY。　　Take　your　time；　Jimmy　Farrell。　It's　too　soon　to　say。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇shouting。＇　　Watch　him　taking　the　gate。　　There's　riding。



JIMMY　　＇cheering。＇　　More　power　to　the　young　lad！



MAHON。　　He's　passing　the　third。



JIMMY。　　He'll　lick　them　yet！



WIDOW　QUIN。　　He'd　lick　them　if　he　was　running　races　with　a　score　itself。



MAHON。　　Look　at　the　mule　he　has；　kicking　the　stars。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　There　was　a　lep！　（catching　hold　of　Mahon　in　her　excitement。）　He's

fallen！　　He's　mounted　again！　　Faith；　he's　passing　them　all！



JIMMY。　　Look　at　him　skelping　her！



PHILLY。　　And　the　mountain　girls　hooshing　him　on！



JIMMY。　It's　the　last　turn！　　The　post's　cleared　for　them　now！



MAHON。　　Look　at　the　narrow　place。　　He'll　be　into　the　bogs！　　（With　a　yell。）　

Good　rider！　He's　through　it　again！



JIMMY。　　He　neck　and　neck！



MAHON。　　Good　boy　to　him！　　Flames；　but　he's　in！　　＇Great　cheering；　in　which　all

join。＇



MAHON　　＇with　hesitation。＇　　What's　that？　They're　raising　him　up。　　They're

coming　this　way。　　（With　a　roar　of　rage　and　astonishment。）　　It's　Christy！　by

the　stars　of　God！　　I'd　know　his　way　of　spitting　and　he　astride　the　moon。　＇He

jumps　down　and　makes　for　the　door；　but　Widow　Quin　catches　him　and　pulls　him

back。＇



WIDOW　QUIN。　　Stay　quiet；　will　you。　That's　not　your　son。　　（To　Jimmy。）　　Stop

him；　or　you'll　get　a　month　for　the　abetting　of　manslaughter　and　be　fined　as

well。



JIMMY。　　I'll　hold　him。



MAHON　　＇struggling。＇　　Let　me　out！　　Let　me　out；　the　lot　of　you！　till　I　have　my

vengeance　on　his　head　to…day。



WIDOW　QUIN　　＇shaking　him；　vehemently。＇　　That's　not　your　son。　　That's　a　man

is　going　to　make　a　marriage　with　the　daughter　of　this　house；　a　place　with　fine

trade；　with　a　license；　and　with　poteen　too。



MAHON　　＇amazed。＇　　That　man　marrying　a　decent　and　a　moneyed　girl！　　Is　it　mad

yous　are？　　Is　it　in　a　crazy…house　for　females　that　I'm　landed　now？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　It's　mad　yourself　is　with　the　blow　upon　your　head。　　That　lad　is

the　wonder　of　the　Western　World。



MAHON。　　I　seen　it's　my　son。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　You　seen　that　you're　mad。　　（Cheering　outside。）　　Do　you　hear　them

cheering　him　in　the　zig…zags　of　the　road？　Aren't　you　after　saying　that　your

son's　a　fool；　and　how　would　they　be　cheering　a　true　idiot　born？



MAHON　　＇getting　distressed。＇　　It's　maybe　out　of　reason　that　that　man's

himself。　（Cheering　again。）　　There's　none　surely　will　go　cheering　him。　　Oh；　I'm

raving　with　a　madness　that　would　fright　the　world！　　（He　sits　down　with　his

hand　to　his　head。）　　There　was　one　time　I　seen　ten　scarlet　divils　letting　on

they'd　cork　my　spirit　in　a　gallon　can；　and　one　time　I　seen　rats　as　big　as

badgers　sucking　the　life　blood　from　the　butt　of　my　lug；　but　I　never　till　this

day　confused　that　dribbling　idiot　with　a　likely　man。　　I'm　destroyed　surely。



WIDOW　QUIN。　　And　who'd　wonder　when　it's　your　brain…pan　that　is　gaping　now？



MAHON。　　Then　the　blight　of　the　sacred　drought　upon　myself　and　him；　for　I　never

went　mad　to　this　day；　and　I　not　three　weeks　with　the　Limerick　girls　drinking

myself　silly；　and　parlatic　from　the　dusk　to　dawn。　　（To　Widow　Quin；　suddenly。）　

Is　my　visage　astray？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　It　is　then。　　You're　a　sniggering　maniac；　a　child　could　see。



MAHON　　＇getting　up　more　cheerfully。＇　　Then　I'd　best　be　going　to　the　union

beyond；　and　there'll　be　a　welcome　before　me；　I　tell　you　（with　great　pride）；

and　I　a　terrible　and　fearful　case；　the　way　that　there　I　was　one　time；

screeching　in　a　straightened　waistcoat；　with　seven　doctors　writing　out　my

sayings　in　a　printed　book。　　Would　you　believe　that？



WIDOW　QUIN。　　If