THE COUNTESS CATHLEEN

‘The sorrowful are dumb for thee.’

Lament of Morion Shehone for Miss Mary Bourke.

To Maud Gonne.

PERSONS IN THE PLAY

Shemus Rua, a peasant

Teig, his son

Aleel, a young bard

Maurteen, a gardener

The Countess Cathleen

Oona, her foster-mother

Maire, wife of Shemus Rua

Two Demons disguised as merchants

Musicians

Peasants, Servants, &c.

Angelical Beings, Spirits, and Faeries

The scene is laid in Ireland, and in old times

THE COUNTESS CATHLEEN

ACT I

The cottage of SHEMUS REA. The door into the open air is at right side of room. There is a window at one side of the door, and a little shrine of the Virgin Mother at the other. At the back is a door opening into a bedroom, and at the left side of the room a pantry door. A wood of oak, beech, hazel, and quicken is seen through the window half hidden in vapour and twilight. MAIRE watches TEIG, who fills a pot with water. He stops as if to listen, and spills some of the water.

MAIRE

 
You are all thumbs.
 

TEIG

 
Hear how the dog bays, mother,
And how the gray hen flutters in the coop.
Strange things are going up and down the land,
These famine times: by Tubber-vanach crossroads
A woman met a man with ears spread out,
And they moved up and down like wings of bats.
 

MAIRE

 
Shemus stays late.
 

TEIG

 
By Carrick-orus churchyard,
A herdsman met a man who had no mouth,
Nor ears, nor eyes: his face a wall of flesh;
He saw him plainly by the moon.
 

MAIRE

[Going over to the little shrine.]

 
White Mary,
Bring Shemus home out of the wicked woods;
Save Shemus from the wolves; Shemus is daring;
And save him from the demons of the woods,
Who have crept out and wander on the roads,
Deluding dim-eyed souls now newly dead,
And those alive who have gone crazed with famine.
Save him, White Mary Virgin.
 

TEIG

 
And but now
I thought I heard far-off tympans and harps.
 

[Knocking at the door.

MAIRE

 
Shemus has come.
 

TEIG

 
May he bring better food
Than the lean crow he brought us yesterday.
 

[MAIRE opens the door, and SHEMUS comes in with a dead wolf on his shoulder.

MAIRE

 
Shemus, you are late home: you have been lounging
And chattering with some one: you know well
How the dreams trouble me, and how I pray,
Yet you lie sweating on the hill from morn,
Or linger at the crossways with all comers,
Telling or gathering up calamity.
 

SHEMUS

 
You would rail my head off. Here is a good dinner.
 

[He throws the wolf on the table.

 
A wolf is better than a carrion crow.
I searched all day: the mice and rats and hedgehogs
Seemed to be dead, and I could hardly hear
A wing moving in all the famished woods,
Though the dead leaves and clauber of four forests
Cling to my footsole. I turned home but now,
And saw, sniffing the floor in a bare cow-house,
This young wolf here: the crossbow brought him down.
 

MAIRE

 
Praise be the saints![After a pause.
Why did the house dog bay?
 

SHEMUS

 
He heard me coming and smelt food – what else?
 

TEIG

 
We will not starve awhile.
 

SHEMUS

 
What food is within?
 

TEIG

 
There is a bag half full of meal, a pan
Half full of milk.
 

SHEMUS

 
And we have one old hen.
 

TEIG

 
The bogwood were less hard.
 

MAIRE

 
Before you came
She made a great noise in the hencoop, Shemus.
What fluttered in the window?
 

TEIG

 
Two horned owls
Have blinked and fluttered on the window sill
From when the dog began to bay.
 

SHEMUS

 
Hush, hush.
 

[He fits an arrow to the crossbow, and goes towards the door. A sudden burst of music without.

 
They are off again: ladies or gentlemen
Travel in the woods with tympan and with harp.
Teig, put the wolf upon the biggest hook
And shut the door.
 

[TEIG goes into the cupboard with the wolf: returns and fastens the door behind him.

 
Sit on the creepy stool
And call up a whey face and a crying voice,
And let your head be bowed upon your knees.
 

[He opens the door of the cabin.

 
Come in, your honours: a full score of evenings
This threshold worn away by many a foot
Has been passed only by the snails and birds
And by our own poor hunger-shaken feet.
 

[The COUNTESS CATHLEEN, ALEEL, who carries a small square harp, OONA, and a little group of fantastically dressed musicians come in.

CATHLEEN

 
Are you so hungry?
 

TEIG

[From beside the fire.]

 
Lady, I fell but now,
And lay upon the threshold like a log.
I have not tasted a crust for these four days.
 

[The COUNTESS CATHLEEN empties her purse on to the table.

CATHLEEN

 
Had I more money I would give it you,
But we have passed by many cabins to-day;
And if you come to-morrow to my house
You shall have twice the sum. I am the owner
Of a long empty castle in these woods.
 

MAIRE

 
Then you are Countess Cathleen: you and yours
Are ever welcome under my poor thatch.
Will you sit down and warm you by the sods?
 

CATHLEEN

 
We must find out this castle in the wood
Before the chill o’ the night.
 

[The musicians begin to tune their instruments.

 
Do not blame me,
Good woman, for the tympan and the harp:
I was bid fly the terror of the times
And wrap me round with music and sweet song
Or else pine to my grave. I have lost my way;
Aleel, the poet, who should know these woods,
Because we met him on their border but now
Wandering and singing like the foam of the sea,
Is so wrapped up in dreams of terrors to come
That he can give no help.
 

MAIRE

[Going to the door with her.]

 
You’re almost there.
There is a trodden way among the hazels
That brings your servants to their marketing.
 

ALEEL

 
When we are gone draw to the door and the bolt,
For, till we lost them half an hour ago,
Two gray horned owls hooted above our heads
Of terrors to come. Tympan and harp awake!
For though the world drift from us like a sigh,
Music is master of all under the moon;
And play ‘The Wind that blows by Cummen Strand.’
 

[Music.

[Sings.]

 
Impetuous heart, be still, be still:
Your sorrowful love may never be told;
Cover it up with a lonely tune.
He who could bend all things to His will
Has covered the door of the infinite fold
With the pale stars and the wandering moon.
 

[While he is singing the COUNTESS CATHLEEN, OONA, and the musicians go out.

ALEEL

 
Shut to the door and shut the woods away,
For, till they had vanished in the thick of the leaves,
Two gray horned owls hooted above our heads.
 

[He goes out.

MAIRE

[Bolting the door.]

 
When wealthy and wise folk wander from their peace
And fear wood things, poor folk may draw the bolt
And pray before the fire.
 

[SHEMUS counts out the money, and rings a piece upon the table.

SHEMUS

 
The Mother of God,
Hushed by the waving of the immortal wings,
Has dropped in a doze and cannot hear the poor:
I passed by Margaret Nolan’s; for nine days
Her mouth was green with dock and dandelion;
And now they wake her.
 

MAIRE

 
I will go the next;
Our parents’ cabins bordered the same field.
 

SHEMUS

 
God, and the Mother of God, have dropped asleep,
For they are weary of the prayers and candles;
But Satan pours the famine from his bag,
And I am mindful to go pray to him
To cover all this table with red gold.
Teig, will you dare me to it?
 

TEIG

 
Not I, father.
 

MAIRE

 
O Shemus, hush, maybe your mind might pray
In spite o’ the mouth.
 

SHEMUS

 
Two crowns and twenty pennies.
 

MAIRE

 
Is yonder quicken wood?
 

SHEMUS

[Picking the bough from the table.]

 
He swayed about,
And so I tied him to a quicken bough
And slung him from my shoulder.
 

MAIRE

[Taking the bough from him.]

 
Shemus! Shemus!
What, would you burn the blessed quicken wood?
A spell to ward off demons and ill faeries.
You know not what the owls were that peeped in,
For evil wonders live in this old wood,
And they can show in what shape please them best.
And we have had no milk to leave of nights
To keep our own good people kind to us.
And Aleel, who has talked with the great Sidhe,
Is full of terrors to come.
 

[She lays the bough on a chair.

SHEMUS

 
I would eat my supper
With no less mirth if squatting by the hearth
Were dulacaun or demon of the pit
Clawing its knees, its hoof among the ashes.
 

[He rings another piece of money. A sound of footsteps outside the door.

MAIRE

 
Who knows what evil you have brought to us?
I fear the wood things, Shemus.
 

[A knock at the door.

 
Do not open.
 

SHEMUS

 
A crown and twenty pennies are not enough
To stop the hole that lets the famine in.
 

[The little shrine falls.

MAIRE

 
Look! look!
 

SHEMUS

[Crushing it underfoot.]

 
The Mother of God has dropped asleep,
And all her household things have gone to wrack.
 

MAIRE

 
O Mary, Mother of God, be pitiful!
 

[SHEMUS opens the door. TWO MERCHANTS stand without. They have bands of gold round their foreheads, and each carries a bag upon his shoulder.

FIRST MERCHANT

 
Have you food here?
 

SHEMUS

 
For those who can pay well.
 

SECOND MERCHANT

 
We are rich merchants seeking merchandise.
 

SHEMUS

 
Come in, your honours.
 

MAIRE

 
No, do not come in:
We have no food, not even for ourselves.
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
There is a wolf on the big hook in the cupboard.
 

[They enter.

SHEMUS

 
Forgive her: she is not used to quality,
And is half crazed with being much alone.
How did you know I had taken a young wolf?
Fine wholesome food, though maybe somewhat strong.
 

[The SECOND MERCHANT sits down by the fire and begins rubbing his hands. The FIRST MERCHANT stands looking at the quicken bough on the chair.

FIRST MERCHANT

 
I would rest here: the night is somewhat chilly,
And my feet footsore going up and down
From land to land and nation unto nation:
The fire burns dimly; feed it with this bough.
 

[SHEMUS throws the bough into the fire. The FIRST MERCHANT sits down on the chair. The MERCHANTS’ chairs are on each side of the fire. The table is between them. Each lays his bag before him on the table. The night has closed in somewhat, and the main light comes from the fire.

MAIRE

 
What have you in the bags?
 

SHEMUS

 
Don’t mind her, sir:
Women grow curious and feather-thoughted
Through being in each other’s company
More than is good for them.
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
Our bags are full
Of golden pieces to buy merchandise.
 

[They pour gold pieces on to the table out of their bags. It is covered with the gold pieces. They shine in the firelight. MAIRE goes to the door of pantry, and watches the MERCHANTS, muttering to herself.

TEIG

 
These are great gentlemen.
 

FIRST MERCHANT

[Taking a stone bottle out of his bag.]

 
Come to the fire,
Here is the headiest wine you ever tasted.
 

SECOND MERCHANT

 
Wine that can hush asleep the petty war
Of good and evil, and awake instead
A scented flame flickering above that peace
The bird of prey knows well in his deep heart.
 

SHEMUS

[Bringing drinking-cups.]

 
I do not understand you, but your wine
Sets me athirst: its praise made your eyes lighten.
I am thirsting for it.
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
Ay, come drink and drink,
I bless all mortals who drink long and deep.
My curse upon the salt-strewn road of monks.
 

[TEIG and SHEMUS sit down at the table and drink.]

TEIG

 
You must have seen rare sights and done rare things.
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
What think you of the master whom we serve?
 

SHEMUS

 
I have grown weary of my days in the world
Because I do not serve him.
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
More of this
When we have eaten, for we love right well
A merry meal, a warm and leaping fire
And easy hearts.
 

SHEMUS

 
Come, Maire, and cook the wolf.
 

MAIRE

 
I will not cook for you.
 

SHEMUS

 
Maire is mad.
 

[TEIG and SHEMUS stand up and stagger about.

SHEMUS

 
That wine is the suddenest wine man ever tasted.
 

MAIRE

 
I will not cook for you: you are not human:
Before you came two horned owls looked at us;
The dog bayed, and the tongue of Shemus maddened.
When you came in the Virgin’s blessed shrine
Fell from its nail, and when you sat down here
You poured out wine as the wood sidheogs do
When they’d entice a soul out of the world.
Why did you come to us? Was not death near?
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
We are two merchants.
 

MAIRE

 
If you be not demons,
Go and give alms among the starving poor,
You seem more rich than any under the moon.
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
If we knew where to find deserving poor,
We would give alms.
 

MAIRE

 
Then ask of Father John.
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
We know the evils of mere charity,
And have been planning out a wiser way.
Let each man bring one piece of merchandise.
 

MAIRE

 
And have the starving any merchandise?
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
We do but ask what each man has.
 

MAIRE

 
Merchants,
Their swine and cattle, fields and implements,
Are sold and gone.
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
They have not sold all yet.
 

MAIRE

 
What have they?
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
They have still their souls.
 

[MAIRE shrieks. He beckons to TEIG and SHEMUS.

 
Come hither.
See you these little golden heaps? Each one
Is payment for a soul. From charity
We give so great a price for those poor flames.
Say to all men we buy men’s souls – away.
 

[They do not stir.

 
This pile is for you and this one here for you.
 

MAIRE

 
Shemus and Teig, Teig —
 

TEIG

 
Out of the way.
 

[SHEMUS and TEIG take the money.

FIRST MERCHANT

 
Cry out at cross-roads and at chapel doors
And market-places that we buy men’s souls,
Giving so great a price that men may live
In mirth and ease until the famine ends.
 

[TEIG and SHEMUS go out.

MAIRE [kneeling]

 
Destroyers of souls, may God destroy you quickly!
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
No curse can overthrow the immortal demons.
 

MAIRE

 
You shall at last dry like dry leaves, and hang
Nailed like dead vermin to the doors of God.
 

FIRST MERCHANT

 
You shall be ours. This famine shall not cease.
You shall eat grass, and dock, and dandelion,
And fail till this stone threshold seem a wall,
And when your hands can scarcely drag your body
We shall be near you.
 

[To SECOND MERCHANT.

 
Bring the meal out.
 

[The SECOND MERCHANT brings the bag of meal from the pantry.

 
Burn it.      [MAIRE faints.
Now she has swooned, our faces go unscratched;
Bring me the gray hen, too.
 

The SECOND MERCHANT goes out through the door and returns with the hen strangled. He flings it on the floor. While he is away the FIRST MERCHANT makes up the fire. The FIRST MERCHANT then fetches the pan of milk from the pantry, and spills it on the ground. He returns, and brings out the wolf, and throws it down by the hen.

 
These need much burning.
This stool and this chair here will make good fuel.
 

[He begins breaking the chair.

 
My master will break up the sun and moon
And quench the stars in the ancestral night
And overturn the thrones of God and the angels.