the well of the saints-第5章

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on　us　all。



MOLLY　BYRNE。　　Middling　dark。



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

shabby…looking　fellows　（he　makes　a　gesture　over　his　shoulder）　we

do　have　to　be　looking　on　when　we　have　our　sight；　God　help　us；　but

there's　one　fine　thing　we　have；　to　be　looking　on　a　grand；　white；

handsome　girl；　the　like　of　you　。　。　。　。　and　every　time　I　set　my

eyes　on　you　I　do　be　blessing　the　saints；　and　the　holy　water；　and

the　power　of　the　Lord　Almighty　in　the　heavens　above。



MOLLY　BYRNE。　　I've　heard　the　priests　say　it　isn't　looking　on　a

young　girl　would　teach　many　to　be　saying　their　prayers。　＇Bailing

water　into　her　can　with　a　cup。＇



MARTIN　DOUL。　　It　isn't　many　have　been　the　way　I　was；　hearing　your

voice　speaking；　and　not　seeing　you　at　all。



MOLLY　BYRNE。　　That　should　have　been　a　queer　time　for　an　old；

wicked；　coaxing　fool　to　be　sitting　there　with　your　eyes　shut；　and

not　seeing　a　sight　of　girl　or　woman　passing　the　road。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　If　it　was　a　queer　time　itself　it　was　great　joy　and

pride　I　had　the　time　I'd　hear　your　voice　speaking　and　you　passing

to　Grianan　（beginning　to　speak　with　plaintive　intensity）；　for

it's　of　many　a　fine　thing　your　voice　would　put　a　poor　dark　fellow

in　mind；　and　the　day　I'd　hear　it　it's　of　little　else　at　all　I

would　be　thinking。



MOLLY　BYRNE。　　I'll　tell　your　wife　if　you　talk　to　me　the　like　of

that。　。　。　。　　You've　heard；　maybe；　she's　below　picking　nettles　for

the　widow　O'Flinn；　who　took　great　pity　on　her　when　she　seen　the

two　of　you　fighting；　and　yourself　putting　shame　on　her　at　the

crossing　of　the　roads。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇impatiently。＇　　Is　there　no　living　person　can

speak　a　score　of　words　to　me；　or　say　〃God　speed　you；〃　itself；

without　putting　me　in　mind　of　the　old　woman；　or　that　day　either

at　Grianan？



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇maliciously。＇　　I　was　thinking　it　should　be　a

fine　thing　to　put　you　in　mind　of　the　day　you　called　the　grand　day

of　your　life。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　Grand　day；　is　it？　（Plaintively　again；　throwing

aside　his　work；　and　leaning　towards　her。）　　Or　a　bad　black　day

when　I　was　roused　up　and　found　I　was　the　like　of　the　little

children　do　be　listening　to　the　stories　of　an　old　woman；　and　do

be　dreaming　after　in　the　dark　night　that　it's　in　grand　houses　of

gold　they　are；　with　speckled　horses　to　ride；　and　do　be　waking

again；　in　a　short　while；　and　they　destroyed　with　the　cold；　and

the　thatch　dripping；　maybe；　and　the　starved　ass　braying　in　the

yard？



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇working　indifferently。＇　　You've　great　romancing

this　day；　Martin　Doul。　　Was　it　up　at　the　still　you　were　at　the

fall　of　night？



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇stands　up；　comes　towards　her；　but　stands　at　far

（right）　side　of　well。＇　　It　was　not；　Molly　Byrne；　but　lying　down

in　a　little　rickety　shed。　。　。　。　　Lying　down　across　a　sop　of

straw；　and　I　thinking　I　was　seeing　you　walk；　and　hearing　the

sound　of　your　step　on　a　dry　road；　and　hearing　you　again；　and　you

laughing　and　making　great　talk　in　a　high　room　with　dry　timber

lining　the　roof。　　For　it's　a　fine　sound　your　voice　has　that　time；

and　it's　better　I　am；　I'm　thinking；　lying　down；　the　way　a　blind

man　does　be　lying；　than　to　be　sitting　here　in　the　gray　light

taking　hard　words　of　Timmy　the　smith。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇looking　at　him　with　interest。＇　　It's　queer　talk

you　have　if　it's　a　little；　old；　shabby　stump　of　a　man　you　are

itself。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　I'm　not　so　old　as　you　do　hear　them　say。



MOLLY　BYRNE。　　You're　old；　I'm　thinking；　to　be　talking　that　talk

with　a　girl。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇despondingly。＇　　It's　not　a　lie　you're　telling；

maybe；　for　it's　long　years　I'm　after　losing　from　the　world；

feeling　love　and　talking　love；　with　the　old　woman；　and　I　fooled

the　whole　while　with　the　lies　of　Timmy　the　smith。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇half　invitingly。＇　　It's　a　fine　way　you're

wanting　to　pay　Timmy　the　smith。　。　。　。　　And　it's　not　his　LIES

you're　making　love　to　this　day；　Martin　Doul。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　It　is　not；　Molly；　and　the　Lord　forgive　us　all。　　（He

passes　behind　her　and　comes　near　her　left。）　　For　I've　heard　tell

there　are　lands　beyond　in　Cahir　Iveraghig　and　the　Reeks　of　Cork

with　warm　sun　in　them；　and　fine　light　in　the　sky。　　（Bending

towards　her。）　　And　light's　a　grand　thing　for　a　man　ever　was

blind；　or　a　woman；　with　a　fine　neck；　and　a　skin　on　her　the　like

of　you；　the　way　we'd　have　a　right　to　go　off　this　day　till　we'd

have　a　fine　life　passing　abroad　through　them　towns　of　the　south；

and　we　telling　stories；　maybe；　or　singing　songs　at　the　fairs。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇turning　round　half　amused；　and　looking　him　over

from　head　to　foot。＇　　Well；　isn't　it　a　queer　thing　when　your　own

wife's　after　leaving　you　because　you're　a　pitiful　show；　you'd

talk　the　like　of　that　to　me？



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇drawing　back　a　little；　hurt；　but　indignant。＇　

It's　a　queer　thing；　maybe；　for　all　things　is　queer　in　the　world。　

（In　a　low　voice　with　peculiar　emphasis。）　　But　there's　one　thing

I'm　telling　you；　if　she　walked　off　away　from　me；　it　wasn't

because　of　seeing　me；　and　I　no　more　than　I　am；　but　because　I　was

looking　on　her　with　my　two　eyes；　and　she　getting　up；　and　eating

her　food；　and　combing　her　hair；　and　lying　down　for　her　sleep。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇interested；　off　her　guard。＇　　Wouldn't　any

married　man　you'd　have　be　doing　the　like　of　that？



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇seizing　the　moment　that　he　has　her　attention。＇　

I'm　thinking　by　the　mercy　of　God　it's　few　sees　anything　but　them

is　blind　for　a　space　（with　excitement。）　It's　a　few　sees　the　old

woman　rotting　for　the　grave；　and　it's　few　sees　the　like　of

yourself。　（He　bends　over　her。）　　Though　it's　shining　you　are；　like

a　high　lamp　would　drag　in　the　ships　out　of　the　sea。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇shrinking　away　from　him。＇　　Keep　off　from　me；

Martin　Doul。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇quickly；　with　low；　furious　intensity。＇　　It's

the　truth　I'm　telling　you。　　（He　puts　his　hand　on　her　shoulder　and

shakes　her。）　　And　you'd　do　right　not　to　marry　a　man　is　after

looking　out　a　long　while　on　the　bad　days　of　the　world；　for　what

way　would　the　like　of　him　have　fit　eyes　to　look　on　yourself；　when

you　rise　up　in　the　morning　and　come　out　of　the　little　door　you

have　above　in　the　lane；　the　time　it'd　be　a　fine　thing　if　a　man

would　be　seeing；　and　losing　his　sight；　the　way　he'd　have　your　two

eyes　facing　him；　and　he　going　the　roads；　and　shining　above　him；

and　he　looking　in　the　sky；　and　springing　up　from　the　earth；　the

time　he'd　lower　his　head；　in　place　of　the　muck　that　seeing　men　do

meet　all　roads　spread　on　the　world。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇who　has　listened　half　mesmerized；　starting　away。＇

　It's　the　like　of　that　talk　you'd　hear　from　a　man　would　be

losing　his　mind。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇going　after　her；　passing　to　her　right。＇　　It'd

be　little　wonder　if　a　man　near　the　like　of　you　would　be　losing

his　mind。　　Put　down　your　can　now；　and　come　along　with　myself；　for

I'm　seeing　you　this　day；　seeing　you；　maybe；　the　way　no　man　has

seen　you　in　the　world。　　（He　takes　her　by　the　arm　and　tries　to

pull　her　away　softly　to　the　right。）　　Let　you　come　on　now；　I'm

saying；　to　the　lands　of　Iveragh　and　the　Reeks　of　Cork；　where　you

won't　set　down　the　width　of　your　two　feet　and　not　be　crushing

fine　flowers；　and　making　sweet　smells　in　the　air。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇laying　down　the　can；　trying　to　free　herself。＇　

Leave　me　go；　Martin　Doul！　　Leave　me　go；　I'm　saying！



MARTIN　DOUL。　　Let　you　not　be　fooling。　　Come　along　now　the　little

path　through　the　trees。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇crying　out　towards　forge。＇　　Timmy　the　smith。

（Timmy　comes　out　of　forge；　and　Martin　Doul　lets　her　go。　　Molly

Byrne；　excited　and　breathless；　pointing　to　Martin　Doul。）　　Did

ever　you　hear　that　them　that　loses　their　sight　loses　their　senses

along　with　it；　Timmy　the　smith！



TIMMY　　＇suspicious；　but　uncertain。＇　　He's　no　sense；　surely；

and　he'll　be　having　himself　driven　off　this　day　from　where　he's

good　sleeping；　and　feeding；　and　wages　for　his　work。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇as　before。＇　　He's　a　bigger　fool　than　that；

Timmy。　　Look　on　him　now；　and　tell　me　if　that　isn't　a　grand　fellow

to　think　he's　only　to　open　his　mouth　to　have　a　fine　woman；　the

like　of　me；　running　along　by　his　heels。



＇Martin　Doul　recoils　towards　centre；　with　his　hand　to　his　eyes；

Mary　Doul　is　seen　on　left　coming　forward　softly。＇



TIMMY　　＇with　blank　amazement。＇　　Oh；　the　blind　is　wicked

people；　and　it's　no　lie。　But　he'll　walk　off　this　day　and　not　be

troubling　us　more。



＇Turns　back　left　and　picks　up　Martin　Doul's　coat　and　stick；　some

things　fall　out　of　coat　pocket；　which　he　gathers　up　again。＇



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇turns　around；　sees　Mary　Doul；　whispers　to　Molly

Byrne　with　imploring　agony。＇　　Let　you　not　put　shame　on　me；

Molly；　before　herself　and　the　smith。　　Let　you　not　put　shame　on　me

and　I　after　saying　fine　words　to　you；　and　dreaming　。　。　。　dreams　。

。　。　。　in　the　night。　　（He　hesitates；　and　looks　round　the　sky。）　　Is

it　a　storm　of　thunder　is　coming；　or　the　last　end　of　the　world？　

（He　staggers　towards　Mary　Doul；　tripping　slightly　over　tin　can。）　

The　heavens　is　closing；　I'm　thinking；　with　darkness　and　great

trouble　passing　in　the　sky。　　（He　reaches　Mary　Doul；　and　seizes

her　left　arm　with　both　his　hands　　with　a　frantic　cry。）　　Is　it

darkness　of　thunder　is　coming；　Mary　Doul！　　Do　you　see　me　clearly

with　your　eyes？



MARY　DOUL　　＇snatches　her　arm　away；　and　hits　him　with　empty　sack

across　the　face。＇　　I　see　you　a　sight　too　clearly；　and　let　you

keep　off　from　me　now。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇clapping　her　hands。＇　　That's　right；　Mary。　

That's　the　way　to　treat　the　like　of　him　is　after　standing　there

at　my　feet　and　asking　me　to　go　off　with　him；　till　I'd　grow　an　old

wretched　road…woman　the　like　of　yourself。



MARY　DOUL　　＇defiantly。＇　　When　the　skin　shrinks　on　your　chin；

Molly　Byrne；　there　won't　be　the　like　of　you　for　a　shrunk　hag　in

the　four　quarters　of　Ireland。　。　。　。　　It's　a　fine　pair　you'd　be；

surely！



＇Martin　Doul　is　standing　at　back　right　centre；　with　his　back　to

the　audience。＇



TIMMY　　＇coming　over　to　Mary　Doul。＇　　Is　it　no　shame　you　have

to　let　on　she'd　ever　be　the　like　of　you？



MARY　DOUL。　　It's　them　that's　fat　and　flabby　do　be　wrinkled　young；

and　that　whitish　yellowy　hair　she　has　does　be　soon　turning　the

like　of　a　handful　of　thin　grass　you'd　see　rotting；　where　the　wet

lies；　at　the　north　of　a　sty。　（Turning　to　go　out　on　right。）　　Ah；

it's　a　better　thing　to　have　a　simple；　seemly　face；　the　like　of　my

face；　for　two…score　years；　or　fifty　itself；　than　to　be　setting

fools　mad　a　short　while；　and　then　to　be　turning　a　thing　would

drive　off　the　little　children　from　your　feet。



＇She　goes　out；　Martin　Doul　has　come　forward　again；　mastering

himself；　but　uncertain。＇



TIMMY。　　Oh；　God　protect　us；　Molly；　from　the　words　of　the　blind。　

（He　throws　down　Martin　Doul's　coat　and　stick。）　　There's　your　old

rubbish　now；　Martin　Doul；　and　let　you　take　it　up；　for　it's　all

you　have；　and　walk　off　through　the　world；　for　if　ever　I　meet　you

coming　again；　if　it's　seeing　or　blind　you　are　itself；