the well of the saints-第7章

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your　two　knees　is　black　with　knocking　one　on　the　other？



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇with　delighted　scorn。＇　　There's　talking　for　a

cute　woman。　　There's　talking；　surely！



MARY　DOUL　　＇puzzled　at　joy　of　his　voice。＇　　If　you'd　anything

but　lies　to　say　you'd　be　talking　to　yourself。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇bursting　with　excitement。＇　　I've　this　to　say；

Mary　Doul。　　I'll　be　letting　my　beard　grow　in　a　short　while；　a

beautiful；　long；　white；　silken；　streamy　beard；　you　wouldn't　see

the　like　of　in　the　eastern　world。　。　。　。　　Ah；　a　white　beard's　a

grand　thing　on　an　old　man；　a　grand　thing　for　making　the　quality

stop　and　be　stretching　out　their　hands　with　good　silver　or　gold；

and　a　beard's　a　thing　you'll　never　have；　so　you　may　be　holding

your　tongue。



MARY　DOUL　　＇laughing　cheerfully。＇　　Well；　we're　a　great　pair；

surely；　and　it's　great　times　we'll　have　yet；　maybe；　and　great

talking　before　we　die。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　Great　times　from　this　day；　with　the　help　of　the

Almighty　God；　for　a　priest　itself　would　believe　the　lies　of　an

old　man　would　have　a　fine　white　beard　growing　on　his　chin。



MARY　DOUL。　　There's　the　sound　of　one　of　them　twittering　yellow

birds　do　be　coming　in　the　spring…time　from　beyond　the　sea；　and

there'll　be　a　fine　warmth　now　in　the　sun；　and　a　sweetness　in　the

air；　the　way　it'll　be　a　grand　thing　to　be　sitting　here　quiet　and

easy　smelling　the　things　growing　up；　and　budding　from　the　earth。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　I'm　smelling　the　furze　a　while　back　sprouting　on

the　hill；　and　if　you'd　hold　your　tongue　you'd　hear　the　lambs　of

Grianan；　though　it's　near　drowned　their　crying　is　with　the　full

river　making　noises　in　the　glen。



MARY　DOUL　　＇listens。＇　　The　lambs　is　bleating；　surely；　and

there's　cocks　and　laying　hens　making　a　fine　stir　a　mile　off　on

the　face　of　the　hill。　　（She　starts。）



MARTIN　DOUL。　　What's　that　is　sounding　in　the　west？　＇A　faint　sound

of　a　bell　is　heard。＇



MARY　DOUL。　　It's　not　the　churches；　for　the　wind's　blowing　from

the　sea。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇with　dismay。＇　　It's　the　old　Saint；　I'm

thinking；　ringing　his　bell。



MARY　DOUL。　　The　Lord　protect　us　from　the　saints　of　God！　　（They

listen。）　　He's　coming　this　road；　surely。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇tentatively。＇　　Will　we　be　running　off；　Mary

Doul？



MARY　DOUL。　　What　place　would　we　run？



MARTIN　DOUL。　　There's　the　little　path　going　up　through　the

sloughs。　。　。　。　　If　we　reached　the　bank　above；　where　the　elders　do

be　growing；　no　person　would　see　a　sight　of　us；　if　it　was　a

hundred　yeomen　were　passing　itself；　but　I'm　afeard　after　the　time

we　were　with　our　sight　we'll　not　find　our　way　to　it　at　all。



MARY　DOUL　　＇standing　up。＇　　You'd　find　the　way；　surely。　

You're　a　grand　man　the　world　knows　at　finding　your　way　winter　or

summer；　if　there　was　deep　snow　in　it　itself；　or　thick　grass　and

leaves；　maybe；　growing　from　the　earth。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇taking　her　hand。＇　　Come　a　bit　this　way；　it's

here　it　begins。　（They　grope　about　gap。）　　There's　a　tree　pulled

into　the　gap；　or　a　strange　thing　happened；　since　I　was　passing　it

before。



MARY　DOUL。　　Would　we　have　a　right　to　be　crawling　in　below　under

the　sticks？



MARTIN　DOUL。　　It's　hard　set　I　am　to　know　what　would　be　right。　

And　isn't　it　a　poor　thing　to　be　blind　when　you　can't　run　off

itself；　and　you　fearing　to　see？



MARY　DOUL　　＇nearly　in　tears。＇　　It's　a　poor　thing；　God　help

us；　and　what　good'll　our　gray　hairs　be　itself；　if　we　have　our

sight；　the　way　we'll　see　them　falling　each　day；　and　turning　dirty

in　the　rain？



＇The　bell　sounds　nearby。＇



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇in　despair。＇　　He's　coming　now；　and　we　won't　get

off　from　him　at　all。



MARY　DOUL。　　Could　we　hide　in　the　bit　of　a　briar　is　growing　at　the

west　butt　of　the　church？



MARTIN　DOUL。　　We'll　try　that；　surely。　（He　listens　a　moment。）　　Let

you　make　haste；　I　hear　them　trampling　in　the　wood。　＇They　grope

over　to　church。＇



MARY　DOUL。　　It's　the　words　of　the　young　girls　making　a　great　stir

in　the　trees。　（They　find　the　bush。）　　Here's　the　briar　on　my　left；

Martin；　I'll　go　in　first；　I'm　the　big　one；　and　I'm　easy　to　see。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇turning　his　head　anxiously。＇　　It's　easy　heard

you　are；　and　will　you　be　holding　your　tongue？



MARY　DOUL　　＇partly　behind　bush。＇　　Come　in　now　beside　of　me。　

（They　kneel　down；　still　clearly　visible。）　　Do　you　think　they　can

see　us　now；　Martin　Doul？



MARTIN　DOUL。　　I'm　thinking　they　can't；　but　I'm　hard　set　to　know；

for　the　lot　of　them　young　girls；　the　devil　save　them；　have　sharp；

terrible　eyes；　would　pick　out　a　poor　man；　I'm　thinking；　and　he

lying　below　hid　in　his　grave。



MARY　DOUL。　　Let　you　not　be　whispering　sin；　Martin　Doul；　or　maybe

it's　the　finger　of　God　they'd　see　pointing　to　ourselves。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　It's　yourself　is　speaking　madness；　Mary　Doul；

haven't　you　heard　the　Saint　say　it's　the　wicked　do　be　blind？



MARY　DOUL。　　If　it　is　you'd　have　a　right　to　speak　a　big；　terrible

word　would　make　the　water　not　cure　us　at　all。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　What　way　would　I　find　a　big；　terrible　word；　and　I

shook　with　the　fear；　and　if　I　did　itself；　who'd　know　rightly　if

it's　good　words　or　bad　would　save　us　this　day　from　himself？



MARY　DOUL。　　They're　coming。　　I　hear　their　feet　on　the　stones。



＇The　Saint　comes　in　on　right；　with　Timmy　and　Molly　Byrne　in

holiday　clothes；　the　others　as　before。＇



TIMMY。　　I've　heard　tell　Martin　Doul　and　Mary　Doul　were　seen　this

day　about　on　the　road；　holy　father；　and　we　were　thinking　you'd

have　pity　on　them　and　cure　them　again。



SAINT。　　I　would；　maybe；　but　where　are　they　at　all？　　I　have　little

time　left　when　I　have　the　two　of　you　wed　in　the　church。



MAT　SIMON　　＇at　their　seat。＇　　There　are　the　rushes　they　do

have　lying　round　on　the　stones。　　It's　not　far　off　they'll　be；

surely。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇pointing　with　astonishment。＇　　Look　beyond；

Timmy。　＇They　all　look　over　and　see　Martin　Doul。＇



TIMMY。　　Well；　Martin's　a　lazy　fellow　to　be　lying　in　there　at　the

height　of　the　day。　（He　goes　over　shouting。）　　Let　you　get　up　out

of　that。　　You　were　near　losing　a　great　chance　by　your　sleepiness

this　day；　Martin　Doul。　。　。　。　The　two　of　them's　in　it；　God　help　us

all！



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇scrambling　up　with　Mary　Doul。＇　　What　is　it　you

want；　Timmy；　that　you　can't　leave　us　in　peace？



TIMMY。　　The　Saint's　come　to　marry　the　two　of　us；　and　I'm　after

speaking　a　word　for　yourselves；　the　way　he'll　be　curing　you　now；

for　if　you're　a　foolish　man　itself；　I　do　be　pitying　you；　for　I've

a　kind　heart；　when　I　think　of　you　sitting　dark　again；　and　you

after　seeing　a　while　and　working　for　your　bread。　＇Martin　Doul

takes　Mary　Doul's　hand　and　tries　to　grope　his　way　off　right；　he

has　lost　his　hat；　and　they　are　both　covered　with　dust　and　grass

seeds。＇



PEOPLE。　　You're　going　wrong。　　It's　this　way；　Martin　Doul。



＇They　push　him　over　in　front　of　the　Saint；　near　centre。　　Martin

Doul　and　Mary　Doul　stand　with　piteous　hang…dog　dejection。＇



SAINT。　　Let　you　not　be　afeard；　for　there's　great　pity　with　the

Lord。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　We　aren't　afeard；　holy　father。



SAINT。　　It's　many　a　time　those　that　are　cured　with　the　well　of

the　four　beauties　of　God　lose　their　sight　when　a　time　is　gone；

but　those　I　cure　a　second　time　go　on　seeing　till　the　hour　of

death。　　（He　takes　the　cover　from　his　can。）　I've　a　few　drops　only

left　of　the　water；　but；　with　the　help　of　God；　It'll　be　enough　for

the　two　of　you；　and　let　you　kneel　down　now　upon　the　road。　＇Martin

Doul　wheels　round　with　Mary　Doul　and　tries　to　get　away。



SAINT。　　You　can　kneel　down　here；　I'm　saying；　we'll　not　trouble

this　time　going　to　the　church。



TIMMY　　＇turning　Martin　Doul　round；　angrily。＇　　Are　you　going

mad　in　your　head；　Martin　Doul？　　It's　here　you're　to　kneel。　　Did

you　not　hear　his　reverence；　and　he　speaking　to　you　now？



SAINT。　　Kneel　down；　I'm　saying；　the　ground's　dry　at　your　feet。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇with　distress。＇　　Let　you　go　on　your　own　way；

holy　father。　　We're　not　calling　you　at　all。



SAINT。　　I'm　not　saying　a　word　of　pen…　ance；　or　fasting　itself；

for　I'm　thinking　the　Lord　has　brought　you　great　teaching　in　the

blindness　of　your　eyes；　so　you've　no　call　now　to　be　fearing　me；

but　let　you　kneel　down　till　I　give　you　your　sight。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇more　troubled。＇　　We're　not　asking　our　sight；

holy　father；　and　let　you　walk　on　your　own　way；　and　be　fasting；　or

praying；　or　doing　anything　that　you　will；　but　leave　us　here　in

our　peace；　at　the　crossing　of　the　roads；　for　it's　best　we　are

this　way；　and　we're　not　asking　to　see。



SAINT　　＇to　the　People。＇　　Is　his　mind　gone　that　he's　no　wish

to　be　cured　this　day；　or　to　be　living　or　working；　or　looking　on

the　wonders　of　the　world？



MARTIN　DOUL。　　It's　wonders　enough　I　seen　in　a　short　space　for　the

life　of　one　man　only。



SAINT　　＇severely。＇　　I　never　heard　tell　of　any　person　wouldn't

have　great　joy　to　be　looking　on　the　earth；　and　the　image　of　the

Lord　thrown　upon　men。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇raising　his　voice。＇　　Them　is　great　sights；　holy

father。　。　。　。　　What　was　it　I　seen　when　I　first　opened　my　eyes　but

your　own　bleeding　feet；　and　they　cut　with　the　stones？　　That　was　a

great　sight；　maybe；　of　the　image　of　God。　。　。　。　　And　what　was　it　I

seen　my　last　day　but　the　villainy　of　hell　looking　out　from　the

eyes　of　the　girl　you're　coming　to　marry　　the　Lord　forgive　you

　with　Timmy　the　smith。　　That　was　a　great　sight；　maybe。　　And

wasn't　it　great　sights　I　seen　on　the　roads　when　the　north　winds

would　be　driving；　and　the　skies　would　be　harsh；　till　you'd　see

the　horses　and　the　asses；　and　the　dogs　itself；　maybe；　with　their

heads　hanging；　and　they　closing　their　eyes　。



SAINT。　　And　did　you　never　hear　tell　of　the　summer；　and　the　fine

spring；　and　the　places　where　the　holy　men　of　Ireland　have　built

up　churches　to　the　Lord？　　No　man　isn't　a　madman；　I'm　thinking；

would　be　talking　the　like　of　that；　and　wishing　to　be　closed　up

and　seeing　no　sight　of　the　grand　glittering　seas；　and　the　furze

that　is　opening　above；　and　will　soon　have　the　hills　shining　as　if

it　was　fine　creels　of　gold　they　were；　rising　to　the　sky。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　Is　it　talking　now　you　are　of　Knock　and　Ballavore？　

Ah；　it's　ourselves　had　finer　sights　than　the　like　of　them；　I'm

telling　you；　when　we　were　sitting　a　while　back　hearing　the　birds

and　bees　humming　in　every　weed　of　the　ditch；　or　when　we'd　be

smelling　the　sweet；　beautiful　smell　does　be　rising　in　the　warm

nights；　when　you　do　hear　the　swift　flying　things　racing　in　the

air；　till　we'd　be　looking　up　in　our　own　minds　into　a　grand　sky；

and　seeing　lakes；　and　big　rivers；　and　fine　hills　for　taking　the

plough。



SAINT　　＇to　People。＇　　There's　little　use　talking　with　the　like

of　him。



MOLLY　BYRNE。　　It's　lazy　he　is；　holy　father；　and　not　wanting　to

work；　for　a　while　before　you　had　him　cured　he　was　always　talking；

and　wishing；　and　longing　for　his　sight。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇turning　on　her。＇　　I　was　longing；　surely　for

sight；　but　I　seen　my　fill　in　a　short　while　with　the　look　of　my

wife；　and　the　lo