the well of the saints-第4章

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streams　falling　to　the　sea。　　For　if　it's　on　the　like　of　that　you

do　be　thinking；　you'll　not　be　minding　the　faces　of　men；　but

you'll　be　saying　prayers　and　great　praises；　till　you'll　be　living

the　way　the　great　saints　do　be　living；　with　little　but　old　sacks；

and　skin　covering　their　bones。　　（To　Timmy。）　　Leave　him　go　now；

you're　seeing　he's　quiet　again。　（He　frees　Martin　Doul。）　　And　let

you　（he　turns　to　Mary　Doul）　not　be　raising　your　voice；　a　bad

thing　in　a　woman；　but　let　the　lot　of　you；　who　have　seen　the　power

of　the　Lord；　be　thinking　on　it　in　the　dark　night；　and　be　saying

to　yourselves　it's　great　pity　and　love　He　has　for　the　poor；

starving　people　of　Ireland。　　（He　gathers　his　cloak　about　him。）

And　now　the　Lord　send　blessing　to　you　all；　for　I　am　going　on　to

Annagolan；　where　there　is　a　deaf　woman；　and　to　Laragh；　where

there　are　two　men　without　sense；　and　to　Glenassil；　where　there

are　children　blind　from　their　birth；　and　then　I'm　going　to　sleep

this　night　in　the　bed　of　the　holy　Kevin；　and　to　be　prais…　ing

God；　and　asking　great　blessing　on　you　all。　＇He　bends　his　head。＇



CURTAIN







ACT　II



＇Village　roadside；　on　left　the　door　of　a　forge；　with　broken

wheels；　etc。；　lying　about。　　A　well　near　centre；　with　board　above

it；　and　room　to　pass　behind　it。　　Martin　Doul　is　sitting　near

forge；　cutting　sticks。＇



TIMMY　　＇heard　hammering　inside　forge；　then　calls。＇　　Let　you

make　haste　out　there。　。　。　。　　I'll　be　putting　up　new　fires　at　the

turn　of　day；　and　you　haven't　the　half　of　them　cut　yet。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇gloomily。＇　　It's　destroyed　I'll　be　whacking

your　old　thorns　till　the　turn　of　day；　and　I　with　no　food　in　my

stomach　would　keep　the　life　in　a　pig。　　（He　turns　towards　the

door。）　　Let　you　come　out　here　and　cut　them　yourself　if　you　want

them　cut；　for　there's　an　hour　every　day　when　a　man　has　a　right　to

his　rest。



TIMMY　　＇coming　out；　with　a　hammer；　impatiently。＇　　Do　you　want

me　to　be　driving　you　off　again　to　be　walking　the　roads？　　There

you　are　now；　and　I　giving　you　your　food；　and　a　corner　to　sleep；

and　money　with　it；　and；　to　hear　the　talk　of　you；　you'd　think　I

was　after　beating　you；　or　stealing　your　gold。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　You'd　do　it　handy；　maybe；　if　I'd　gold　to　steal。



TIMMY　　＇throws　down　hammer；　picks　up　some　of　the　sticks　already

cut；　and　throws　them　into　door。）　　There's　no　fear　of　your　having

gold　　a　lazy；　basking　fool　the　like　of　you。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　No　fear；　maybe；　and　I　here　with　yourself；　for　it's

more　I　got　a　while　since　and　I　sitting　blinded　in　Grianan；　than　I

get　in　this　place　working　hard；　and　destroying　myself；　the　length

of　the　day。



TIMMY　　＇stopping　with　amazement。＇　　Working　hard？　　（He　goes

over　to　him。）　　I'll　teach　you　to　work　hard；　Martin　Doul。　　Strip

off　your　coat　now；　and　put　a　tuck　in　your　sleeves；　and　cut　the

lot　of　them；　while　I'd　rake　the　ashes　from　the　forge；　or　I'll　not

put　up　with　you　another　hour　itself。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇horrified。＇　　Would　you　have　me　getting　my　death

sitting　out　in　the　black　wintry　air　with　no　coat　on　me　at　all？



TIMMY　　＇with　authority。＇　　Strip　it　off　now；　or　walk　down　upon

the　road。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇bitterly。＇　　Oh；　God　help　me！　　（He　begins　taking

off　his　coat。）　I've　heard　tell　you　stripped　the　sheet　from　your

wife　and　you　putting　her　down　into　the　grave；　and　that　there

isn't　the　like　of　you　for　plucking　your　living　ducks；　the　short

days；　and　leaving　them　running　round　in　their　skins；　in　the　great

rains　and　the　cold。　　（He　tucks　up　his　sleeves。）　　Ah；　I've　heard　a

power　of　queer　things　of　yourself；　and　there　isn't　one　of　them

I'll　not　believe　from　this　day；　and　be　telling　to　the　boys。



TIMMY　　＇pulling　over　a　big　stick。＇　　Let　you　cut　that　now；　and

give　me　rest　from　your　talk；　for　I'm　not　heeding　you　at　all。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇taking　stick。＇　　That's　a　hard；　terrible　stick；

Timmy；　and　isn't　it　a　poor　thing　to　be　cutting　strong　timber　the

like　of　that；　when　it's　cold　the　bark　is；　and　slippy　with　the

frost　of　the　air？



TIMMY　　＇gathering　up　another　armful　of　sticks。＇　　What　way

wouldn't　it　be　cold；　and　it　freezing　since　the　moon　was　changed？

＇He　goes　into　forge。＇



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇querulously；　as　he　cuts　slowly。＇　　What　way；

indeed；　Timmy？　　For　it's　a　raw；　beastly　day　we　do　have　each　day；

till　I　do　be　thinking　it's　well　for　the　blind　don't　be　seeing

them　gray　clouds　driving　on　the　hill；　and　don't　be　looking　on

people　with　their　noses　red；　the　like　of　your　nose；　and　their

eyes　weeping　and　watering；　the　like　of　your　eyes；　God　help　you；

Timmy　the　smith。



TIMMY　　＇seen　blinking　in　doorway。＇　　Is　it　turning　now　you　are

against　your　sight？



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇very　miserably。＇　　It's　a　hard　thing　for　a　man

to　have　his　sight；　and　he　living　near　to　the　like　of　you　（he　cuts

a　stick　and　throws　it　away）；　or　wed　with　a　wife　（cuts　a　stick）；

and　I　do　be　thinking　it　should　be　a　hard　thing　for　the　Almighty

God　to　be　looking　on　the　world；　bad　days；　and　on　men　the　like　of

yourself　walking　around　on　it；　and　they　slipping　each　way　in　the

muck。



TIMMY　　＇with　pot…hooks　which　he　taps　on　anvil。＇　　You'd　have　a

right　to　be　minding；　Martin　Doul；　for　it's　a　power　the　Saint

cured　lose　their　sight　after　a　while。　　Mary　Doul's　dimming　again；

I've　heard　them　say；　and　I'm　thinking　the　Lord；　if　he　hears　you

making　that　talk；　will　have　little　pity　left　for　you　at　all。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　There's　not　a　bit　of　fear　of　me　losing　my　sight；

and　if　it's　a　dark　day　itself　it's　too　well　I　see　every　wicked

wrinkle　you　have　round　by　your　eye。



TIMMY　　＇looking　at　him　sharply。＇　　The　day's　not　dark　since

the　clouds　broke　in　the　east。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　Let　you　not　be　tormenting　yourself　trying　to　make

me　afeard。　You　told　me　a　power　of　bad　lies　the　time　I　was　blind；

and　it's　right　now　for　you　to　stop；　and　be　taking　your　rest　（Mary

Doul　comes　in　unnoticed　on　right　with　a　sack　filled　with　green

stuff　on　her　arm）；　for　it's　little　ease　or　quiet　any　person　would

get　if　the　big　fools　of　Ireland　weren't　weary　at　times。　（He　looks

up　and　sees　Mary　Doul。）　　Oh；　glory　be　to　God；　she's　coming　again。



＇He　begins　to　work　busily　with　his　back　to　her。＇



TIMMY　　＇amused；　to　Mary　Doul；　as　she　is　going　by　without

looking　at　them。＇　　Look　on　him　now；　Mary　Doul。　　You'd　be　a

great　one　for　keeping　him　steady　at　his　work；　for　he's　after

idling　and　blathering　to　this　hour　from　the　dawn　of　day。



MARY　DOUL　　＇stiffly。＇　　Of　what　is　it　you're　speaking；　Timmy

the　smith？



TIMMY　　＇laughing。＇　　Of　himself；　surely。　Look　on　him　there；

and　he　with　the　shirt　on　him　ripping　from　his　back。　　You'd　have　a

right　to　come　round　this　night；　I'm　thinking；　and　put　a　stitch

into　his　clothes；　for　it's　long　enough　you　are　not　speaking　one

to　the　other。



MARY　DOUL。　　Let　the　two　of　you　not　torment　me　at　all。



＇She　goes　out　left；　with　her　head　in　the　air。＇



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇stops　work　and　looks　after　her。＇　　Well；　isn't

it　a　queer　thing　she　can't　keep　herself　two　days　without　looking

on　my　face？



TIMMY　　＇jeeringly。＇　　Looking　on　your　face　is　it？　　And　she

after　going　by　with　her　head　turned　the　way　you'd　see　a　priest

going　where　there'd　be　a　drunken　man　in　the　side　ditch　talking

with　a　girl。　　（Martin　Doul　gets　up　and　goes　to　corner　of　forge；

and　looks　out　left。）　　Come　back　here　and　don't　mind　her　at　all。　

Come　back　here；　I'm　saying；　you've　no　call　to　be　spying　behind

her　since　she　went　off；　and　left　you；　in　place　of　breaking　her

heart；　trying　to　keep　you　in　the　decency　of　clothes　and　food。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇crying　out　indignantly。＇　　You　know　rightly；

Timmy；　it　was　myself　drove　her　away。



TIMMY。　　That's　a　lie　you're　telling；　yet　it's　little　I　care　which

one　of　you　was　driving　the　other；　and　let　you　walk　back　here；　I'm

saying；　to　your　work。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇turning　round。＇　　I'm　coming；　surely。



＇He　stops　and　looks　out　right；　going　a　step　or　two　towards

centre。＇



TIMMY。　　On　what　is　it　you're　gaping；　Martin　Doul？



MARTIN　DOUL。　　There's　a　person　walking　above。　。　。　。　　It's　Molly

Byrne；　I'm　thinking；　coming　down　with　her　can。



TIMMY。　　If　she　is　itself　let　you　not　be　idling　this　day；　or

minding　her　at　all；　and　let　you　hurry　with　them　sticks；　for　I'll

want　you　in　a　short　while　to　be　blowing　in　the　forge。　＇He　throws

down　pot…hooks。＇



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇crying　out。＇　　Is　it　roasting　me　now　you'd　be？　

（Turns　back　and　sees　pot…hooks；　he　takes　them　up。）　　Pot…hooks？　

Is　it　over　them　you've　been　inside　sneezing　and　sweating　since

the　dawn　of　day？



TIMMY　　＇resting　himself　on　anvil；　with　satisfaction。＇　　I'm

making　a　power　of　things　you　do　have　when　you're　settling　with　a

wife；　Martin　Doul；　for　I　heard　tell　last　night　the　Saint'll　be

passing　again　in　a　short　while；　and　I'd　have　him　wed　Molly　with

myself。　。　。　。　He'd　do　it；　I've　heard　them　say；　for　not　a　penny　at

all。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇lays　down　hooks　and　looks　at　him　steadily。＇　

Molly'll　be　saying　great　praises　now　to　the　Almighty　God　and　He

giving　her　a　fine；　stout；　hardy　man　the　like　of　you。



TIMMY　　＇uneasily。＇　　And　why　wouldn't　she；　if　she's　a　fine

woman　itself？



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇looking　up　right。＇　　Why　wouldn't　she；　indeed；

Timmy？　。　。　。　。　The　Almighty　God's　made　a　fine　match　in　the　two　of

you；　for　if　you　went　marrying　a　woman　was　the　like　of　yourself

you'd　be　having　the　fearfullest　little　children；　I'm　thinking；

was　ever　seen　in　the　world。



TIMMY　　＇seriously　offended。＇　　God　forgive　you！　if　you're　an

ugly　man　to　be　looking　at；　I'm　thinking　your　tongue's　worse　than

your　view。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇hurt　also。＇　　Isn't　it　destroyed　with　the　cold　I

am；　and　if　I'm　ugly　itself　I　never　seen　anyone　the　like　of　you

for　dreepiness　this　day；　Timmy　the　smith；　and　I'm　thinking　now

herself's　coming　above　you'd　have　a　right　to　step　up　into　your

old　shanty；　and　give　a　rub　to　your　face；　and　not　be　sitting　there

with　your　bleary　eyes；　and　your　big　nose；　the　like　of　an　old

scarecrow　stuck　down　upon　the　road。



TIMMY　　＇looking　up　the　road　uneasily。＇　She's　no　call　to　mind

what　way　I　look；　and　I　after　building　a　house　with　four　rooms　in

it　above　on　the　hill。　　（He　stands　up。）　　But　it's　a　queer　thing

the　way　yourself　and　Mary　Doul　are　after　setting　every　person　in

this　place；　and　up　beyond　to　Rathvanna；　talking　of　nothing；　and

thinking　of　nothing；　but　the　way　they　do　be　looking　in　the　face。　

（Going　towards　forge。）　　It's　the　devil's　work　you're　after　doing

with　your　talk　of　fine　looks；　and　I'd　do　right；　maybe；　to　step　in

and　wash　the　blackness　from　my　eyes。



＇He　goes　into　forge。　　Martin　Doul　rubs　his　face　furtively　with

the　tail　of　his　coat。　　Molly　Byrne　comes　on　right　with　a

water…can；　and　begins　to　fill　it　at　the　well。＇



MARTIN　DOUL。　　God　save　you；　Molly　Byrne。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇indifferently。＇　　God　save　you。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　That's　a　dark；　gloomy　day；　and　the　Lord　have　mercy

on　us　all。



MOLLY　BYRNE。　　Middling　dark。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　It's　a　power　of　dirty　days；　and　dark　mornings；　and