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they made him cut one down and fashion it to the right length； while the beggars stood round them in a ring； talking and gesticulating。 the abbot then bade him cut off another and shorter piece of wood； and nail it upon the first。 so there was his cross for him； and they put it upon his shoulder； for his crucifixion was to be on the top of the hill where the others were。 a half？mile on the way he asked them to stop and see him juggle for them； for he knew； he said； all the tricks of aengus the subtle？ hearted。 the old friars were for pressing on； but the young friars would see him： so he did many wonders for them； even to the drawing of live frogs out of his ears。 but after a while they turned on him； and said his tricks were dull and a shade unholy； and set the cross on his shoulders again。 another half？mile on the way； and he asked them to stop and hear him jest for them； for he knew； he said； all the jests of conan the bald； upon whose back a sheeps wool grew。 and the young friars； when they had heard his merry tales； again bade him take up his cross； for it ill became them to listen to such follies。 another half？mile on the way； he asked them to stop and hear him sing the story of white？breasted deirdre； and how she endured many sorrows； and how the sons of usna died to serve her。 and the young friars were mad to hear him； but when he had ended they grew angry； and beat him for waking forgotten longings in their hearts。 so they set the cross upon his back and hurried him to the hill。
when he was e to the top； they took the cross from him； and began to dig a hole to stand it in； while the beggars gathered round； and talked among themselves。 i ask a favour before i die； says cumhal。
we will grant you no more delays； says the abbot。
i ask no more delays； for i have drawn the sword； and told the truth； and lived my vision； and am content。
would you； then； confess？
by sun and moon； not i； i ask but to be let eat the food i carry in my wallet。 i carry food in my wallet whenever i go upon a journey； but i do not taste of it unless i am well？nigh starved。 i have not eaten now these two days。
you may eat； then； says the abbot； and he turned to help the friars dig the hole。
the gleeman took a loaf and some strips of cold fried bacon out of his wallet and laid them upon the ground。 i will give a tithe to the poor； says he； and he cut a tenth part from the loaf and the bacon。 who among you is the poorest？ and thereupon was a great clamour； for the beggars began the history of their sorrows and their poverty； and their yellow faces swayed like gara lough when the floods have filled it with water from the bogs。
he listened for a little； and； says he； i am myself the poorest； for i have travelled the bare road； and by the edges of the sea； and the tattered doublet of particoloured cloth upon my back and the torn pointed shoes upon my feet have ever irked me； because of the towered city full of noble raiment which was in my heart。 and i have been the more alone upon the roads and by the sea because i heard in my heart the rustling of the rose？bordered dress of her who is more subtle than aengus； the subtle？hearted； and more full of the beauty of laughter than conan the bald； and more full of the wisdom of tears than white？breasted deirdre； and more lovely than a bursting dawn to them that are lost in the darkness。 therefore； i award the tithe to myself； but yet； because i am done with all things； i give it unto you。
so he flung the bread and the strips of bacon among the beggars； and they fought with many cries until the last scrap was eaten。 but meanwhile the friars nailed the gleeman to his cross； and set it upright in the hole； and shovelled the earth in at the foot； and trampled it level and hard。 so then they went away； but the beggars stared on； sitting round the cross。 but when the sun was sinking； they also got up to go； for the air was getting chilly。 and as soon as they had gone a little way； the wolves； who had been showing themselves on the edge of a neighbouring coppice； came nearer； and the birds wheeled closer and closer。 stay； outcasts； yet a little while； the crucified one called in a weak voice to the beggars； and keep the beasts and the birds from me。 but the beggars were angry because he had called them outcasts； so they threw stones and mud at him； and went their way。 then the wolves gathered at the foot of the cross； and the birds flew lower and lower。 and presently the birds lighted all at once upon his head and arms and shoulders； and began to peck at him； and the wolves began to eat his feet。 outcasts； he moaned； have you also turned against the outcast？
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OUT OF THE ROSE
小说
one winter evening an old knight in rusted chain？armour rode slowly along the woody southern slope of ben bulben； watching the sun go down in crimson clouds over the sea。 his horse was tired； as after a long journey； and he had upon his helmet the crest of no neighbouring lord or king； but a small rose made of rubies that glimmered every moment to a deeper crimson。 his white hair fell in thin curls upon his shoulders； and its disorder added to the melancholy of his face； which was the face of one of those who have e but seldom into the world； and always for its trouble； the dreamers who must do what they dream； the doers who must dream what they do。
after gazing a while towards the sun； he let the reins fall upon the neck of his horse； and； stretching out both arms towards the west； he said； o divine rose of intellectual flame； let the gates of thy peace be opened to me at last！ and suddenly a loud squealing began in the woods some hundreds of yards further up the mountain side。 he stopped his horse to listen； and heard behind him a sound of feet and of voices。 they are beating them to make them go into the narrow path by the gorge； said someone； and in another moment a dozen peasants armed with short spears had e up with the knight； and stood a little apart from him； their blue caps in their hands。 where do you go with the spears？ he asked； and one who seemed the leader answered： a troop of wood？thieves came down from the hills a while ago and carried off the pigs belonging to an old man who lives by glen car lough； and we turned out to go after them。 now that we know they are four times more than we are； we follow to find the way they have taken； and will presently tell our story to de courcey； and if he will not help us； to fitzgerald； for de courcey and fitzgerald have lately made a peace； and we do not know to whom we belong。
but by that time； said the knight； the pigs will have been eaten。
a dozen men cannot do more； and it was not reasonable that the whole valley should turn out and risk their lives for two； or for two dozen pigs。
can you tell me； said the knight； if the old man to whom the pigs belong is pious and true of heart？
he is as true as another and more pious than any； for he says a prayer to a saint every morning before his breakfast。
then it were well to fight in his cause； said the knight； and if you will fight against the wood？thieves i will take the main brunt of the battle； and you know well that a man in armour is worth many like these wood？thieves； clad i