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cathleen。 but maybe they were starving。
steward。 that is certain。
to rob or starve； that was the choice they had。
cathleen。 a learned theologian has laid down
that starving men may take whats necessary；
and yet be sinless。
oona。 sinless and a thief
there should be broken bottles on the wall。
cathleen。 and if it be a sin； while faiths unbroken
god cannot help but pardon。 there is no soul
but its unlike all others in the world；
nor one but lifts a strangeness to gods love
till thats grown infinite； and therefore none
whose loss were less than irremediable
although it were the wickedest in the world。
（enter teig and shemus。）
steward。 what are you running for？ pull off your cap；
do you not see whos there？
shemus。 i cannot wait。
i am running to the world with the best news
that has been brought it for a thousand years。
steward。 then get your breath and speak。
shemus。 if youd my news
youd run as fast and be as out of breath。
teig。 such news； we shall be carried on mens shoulders。
shemus。 theres something every man has carried with him
and thought no more about than if it were
a mouthful of the wind； and now its grown
a marketable thing！
teig。 and yet it seemed
as useless as the paring of ones nails。
shemus。 what sets me laughing when i think of it；
is that a rogue whos lain in lousy straw；
if he but sell it； may set up his coach。
teig。 （laughing） there are two gentlemen who buy mens souls。
cathleen。 o god！
teig。 and maybe theres no soul at all。
steward。 theyre drunk or mad。
teig。 look at the price they give。 （showing money。）
shemus。 （tossing up money）
〃go cry it all about the world；〃 they said。
〃money for souls； good money for a soul。〃
cathleen。 give twice and thrice and twenty times their money； and get your souls again。 i will pay all。
shemus。 not we！ not we！ for souls？？if there are souls？？
but keep the flesh out of its merriment。
i shall be drunk and merry。
teig。 e； lets away。
（he goes。）
cathleen。 but theres a world to e。
shemus。 and if there is；
id rather trust myself into the hands
that can pay money down than to the hands
that have but shaken famine from the bag。
（he goes out r。）
（lilting） 〃theres money for a soul； sweet yellow money。
theres money for mens souls； good money； money。〃
cathleen。 （to aleel） go call them here again； bring them by force； beseech them； bribe； do anything
you like；
（aleel goes。）
and you too follow； add your prayers to his。
（oona； who has been praying； goes out。）
steward； you know the secrets of my house。
how much have i？
steward。 a hundred kegs of gold。
cathleen。 how much have i in castles？
steward。 as much more。
cathleen。 how much have i in pasture？
steward。 as much more。
cathleen。 how much have i in forests？
steward。 as much more。
cathleen。 keeping this house alone； sell all i have；
go barter where you please； but e again
with herds of cattle and with ships of meal。
steward。 gods blessing light upon your ladyship。
you will have saved the land。
cathleen。 make no delay。
（he goes l。）
（aleel and oona return）
cathleen。 they have not e； speak quickly。
aleel。 one drew his knife
and said that he would kill the man or woman
that stopped his way； and when i would have stopped him
he made this stroke at me； but it is nothing。
cathleen。 you shall be tended。 from this day for ever
ill have no joy or sorrow of my own。
oona。 their eyes shone like the eyes of birds of prey。
cathleen。 e； follow me； for the earth burns my feet
till i have changed my house to such a refuge
that the old and ailing； and all weak of heart；
may escape from beak and claw； all； all； shall e
till the walls burst and the roof fall on us。
from this day out i have nothing of my own。
（she goes。）
oona （taking aleel by the arm and as she speaks bandaging his wound） she has found something now to
put her hand to；
and you and i are of no more account
than flies upon a window？pane in the winter。
（they go out。）
end of scene 2。
．．
SCENE 3
hall in the house of countess cathleen。 at the left an oratory with steps leading up to it。
at the right a tapestried wall； more or less repeating the form of the oratory； and a great chair with its back
against the wall。 in the centre are two or more arches through which one can see dimly the trees of the
garden。 cathleen is kneeling in front of the altar in the
oratory； there is a hanging lighted lamp over the altar。 aleel enters。
aleel。 i have e to bid you leave this castle and fly
out of these woods。
cathleen。 what evil is there here？
that is not everywhere from this to the sea？
aleel。 they who have sent me walk invisible。
cathleen。 so it is true what i have heard men say；
that you have seen and heard what others cannot。
aleel。 i was asleep in my bed； and while i slept
my dream became a fire； and in the fire
one walked and he had birds about his head。
cathleen。 i have heard that one of the old gods walked so。
aleel。 it may be that he is angelical；
and； lady； he bids me call you from these woods。
and you must bring but your old foster？mother；
and some few serving men； and live in the hills；
among the sounds of music and the light
of waters； till the evil days are done。
for here some terrible death is waiting you；
some unimagined evil； some great darkness
that fable has not dreamt of； nor sun nor moon
scattered。
cathleen。 no； not angelical。
aleel。 this house
you are to leave with some old trusty man；
and bid him shelter all that starve or wander
while there is food and house room。
cathleen。 he bids me go
where none of mortal creatures but the swan
dabbles； and there you would pluck the harp； when the trees had made a heavy shadow about our door；
and talk among the rustling of the reeds；
when night hunted the foolish sun away
with stillness and pale tapers。 no？no？no！
i cannot。 although i weep； i do not weep
because that life would be most happy； and here
i find no way； no end。 nor do i weep
because i had longed to look upon your face；
but that a night of prayer has made me weary。
aleel （。prostrating himself before her）
let him that made mankind； the angels and devils
and death and plenty； mend what he has made；
for when we labour in vain and eye still sees
heart breaks in vain。
cathleen。 how would that quiet end？
aleel。 how but in healing？
cathleen。 you have seen my tears
and i can see your hand shake on the floor。
aleel。 （faltering） i thought but of healing。 he was angelical。
cathleen （turning away from him）
no； not angelical； but of the old gods；
who wander about the world to waken the heart
the passionate； proud heart？？that all the angels；
leaving nine heavens empty； would rock to sleep。
（she goes to chapel door； aleel holds his clasped hands towards her for a moment hesitating； and then lets
them fall beside him。）
cathleen。 do not hold out to me beseeching hands。
this heart shall never waken on earth。 i have sworn；
by her whose