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or whats the double of it that she promised？
with bread and flesh and every sort of food
up to a price no man has heard the like of
and rising every day。
mary。 we have all she had；
she emptied out the purse before our eyes。
shemus （to mary； who has gone to close the door）
leave that door open。
mary。 when those that have read books；
and seen the seven wonders of the world；
fear whats above or whats below the ground；
its time that poverty should bolt the door。
shemus。 ill have no bolts； for there is not a thing
that walks above the ground or under it
i had not rather wele to this house
than any more of mankind； rich or poor。
teig。 so that they brought us money。
shemus。 i heard say
theres something that appears like a white bird；
a pigeon or a seagull or the like；
but if you hit it with a stone or a stick
it clangs as though it had been made of brass；
and that if you dig down where it was scratching
youll find a crock of gold。
teig。 but dream of gold
for three nights running； and theres always gold。
shemus。 you might be starved before youve dug it out。
teig。 but maybe if you called； something would e；
they have been seen of late。
mary。 is it call devils？
call devils from the wood； call them in here？
shemus。 so youd stand up against me； and youd say
who or what i am to wele here。
（he hits her。）
that is to show whos master。
teig。 call them in。
mary。 god help us all！
shemus。 pray； if you have a mind to。
its little that the sleepy ears above
care for your words； but ill call what i please。
teig。 there is many a one； they say； had money from them。
shemus。 （at door）
whatever you are that walk the woods at night；
so be it that you have not shouldered up
out of a grave？？for ill have nothing human？？
and have free hands； a friendly trick of speech；
i wele you。 e； sit beside the fire。
what matter if your heads below your arms
or youve a horses tail to whip your flank；
feathers instead of hair； thats but a straw；
e； share what bread and meat is in the house；
and stretch your heels and warm them in the ashes。
and after that； lets share and share alike
and curse all men and women。 e in； e in。
what； is there no one there？
（turning from door）
and yet they say
they are as mon as the grass； and ride
even upon the book in the priests hand。
（teig lifts one arm slowly and points toward the door and begins moving backwards。 shemus turns； he
also sees something and begins moving backward。 mary does the same。 a man dressed as an
eastern merchant es in carrying a small carpet。 he unrolls it and sits cross？legged at one end of it。
another man dressed in the same way follows； and sits at the other end。 this is done slowly and deliberately。
when they are seated they take money out of embroidered purses at their girdles and begin arranging it on the
carpet。
teig。 you speak to them。
shemus。 no； you。
teig。 twas you that called them。
shemus。 （ing nearer）
id make so bold； if you would pardon it；
to ask if theres a thing youd have of us。
although we are but poor people； if there is；
why； if there is？？
first merchant。 weve travelled a long road；
for we are merchants that must tramp the world；
and now we look for supper and a fire
and a safe corner to count money in。
shemus。 i thought you were 。。。。 but thats no matter now？？
there had been words between my wife and me
because i said i would be master here；
and ask in what i pleased or who i pleased
and so。 。 。 。 but that is nothing to the point；
because its certain that you are but merchants。
first merchant。 we travel for the master of all merchants。
shemus。 yet if you were that i had thought but now
id wele you no less。 be what you please
and youll have supper at the market rate；
that means that what was sold for but a penny
is now worth fifty。
（merchants begin putting money on carpet。）
first merchant。 our master bids us pay
so good a price； that all who deal with us
shall eat； drink； and be merry。
shemus。 （to mary） bestir yourself；
go kill and draw the fowl； while teig and i
lay out the plates and make a better fire。
mary。 i will not cook for you。
shemus。 not cook！ not cook！
do not be angry。 she wants to pay me back
because i struck her in that argument。
but shell get sense again。 since the dearth came
we rattle one on another as though we were
knives thrown into a basket to be cleaned。
mary。 i will not cook for you； because i know
in what unlucky shape you sat but now
outside this door。
teig。 its this； your honours：
because of some wild words my father said
she thinks you are not of those who cast a shadow。
shemus。 i said id make the devils of the wood
wele； if theyd a mind to eat and drink；
but it is certain that you are men like us。
first merchant。
its strange that she should think we cast no shadow；
for there is nothing on the ridge of the world
thats more substantial than the merchants are
that buy and sell you。
mary。 if you are not demons；
and seeing what great wealth is spread out there；
give food or money to the starving poor。
first merchant。 if we knew how to find deserving poor
wed do our share。
mary。 but seek them patiently。
first merchant。 we know the evils of mere charity。
mary。 those scruples may befit a mon time。
i had thought there was a pushing to and fro；
at times like this； that overset the scale
and trampled measure down。
first merchant。 but if already
wed thought of a more prudent way than that？
second merchant。 if each one brings a bit of merchandise；
well give him such a price he never dreamt of。
mary。 where shall the starving e at merchandise？
first merchant。 we will ask nothing but what all men have。
mary。 their swine and cattle； fields and implements
are sold and gone。
first merchant。 they have not sold all yet。
for theres a vaporous thing？？that may be nothing；
but thats the buyers risk？？a second self；
they call immortal for a storys sake。
shemus。 you e to buy our souls？
teig。 ill barter mine。
why should we starve for what may be but nothing？
mary。 teig and shemus？？
shemus。 what can it be but nothing？
what has god poured out of his bag but famine？
satan gives money。
teig。 yet no thunder stirs。
first merchant。 there is a heap for each。
（shemus goes to take money。）
but no； not yet；
for theres a work i have to set you to。
shemus。 so then youre as deceitful as the rest；
and all that talk of buying whats but a vapour
is fancy bred。 i might have known as much；
because thats how the trick？o？the？loop man talks。
first merchant。 thats for the work； each has its separate price； but neither price is paid till the works
done。
teig。 the same for me。
mary。 oh； god； why are you still？
first merchant。 youve but to cry aloud at every cross？road； at every house door； that we buy mens
souls；
and give so good a price that all may live
in mirth and fort till the famines done；
because we are christian men。
shemus。 e； lets away。
treig》 i shall keep running till ive earned the price。
second merchant。 （who has risen and gone towards fire）
stop； for we obey a generous master；
that would be served by fortable men。
and heres your entertainment on the road。
（trig and shemus have stopped。 teig takes the money。 they go out。）
mary。 destroyers of souls； god will destroy you quickly。
you shall at last dry like dry leaves and hang
nailed like dead vermin to the doors of god。
second merchant。
curse to your fill； for saints will have their dreams。
first merchantm though were but vermin that our master sent to overrun the world； he at the end
shall pull apart the pale ribs of the moon
and quench the stars in the ancestral night。
mary。； god is all powerful。
second merchant。 pray； you shall need him。
you shall eat dock and grass； and dandelion；
till that low threshold there bees a wall；
and when your hands can scarcely drag your body
we shall be near you。
（mary faints。） （the first mercha