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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 heart the seven sorrows have pierced；
to pray before this altar until my heart
has grown to heaven like a tree； and there
rustled its leaves； till heaven has saved my people。
aleel。 （who has risen）
when one so great has spoken of love to one
so little as i； though to deny him love；
what can he but hold out beseeching hands；
then let them fall beside him； knowing how greatly
they have overdared？
（he goes towards the door of the hall。 the countess cathleen takes a few steps towards him。）
cathleen。 if the old tales are true；
queens have wed shepherds and kings beggar？maids；
gods procreant waters flowing about your mind
have made you more than kings or queens； and not you
but i am the empty pitcher。
aleel。 being silent；
i have said all； yet let me stay beside you。
cathleen。no； no； not while my heart is shaken。 no；
but you shall hear wind cry and water cry；
and curlews cry； and have the peace i longed for。
aleel。 give me your hand to kiss。
cathleen。 i kiss your forehead。
and yet i send you from me。 do not speak；
there have been women that bid men to rob
crowns from the country？under？wave or apples
upon a dragon？guarded hill； and all
that they might sift mens hearts and wills；
and trembled as they bid it； as i tremble
that lay a hard task on you； that you go；
and silently； and do not turn your head；
goodbye； but do not turn your head and look；
above all else； i would not have you look。
（aleel goes。）
i never spoke to him of his wounded hand；
and now he is gone。
（she looks out。）
i cannot see him； for all is dark outside。
would my imagination and my heart
were as little shaken as this holy flame！
（she goes slowly into the
chapel。 the two merchants enter。）
first merchant。 although i bid you rob her treasury；
i find you sitting drowsed and motionless；
and yet you understand that while its full
shell bid against us and so bribe the poor
that our great masterll lack his merchandise。
you know that she has brought into this house
the old and ailing that are pinched the most
at such a time and so should be bought cheap。
youve seen us sitting in the house in the wood；
while the snails crawled about the window？pane
and the mud floor； and not a soul to buy；
not even the wandering fools nor one of those
that when the world goes wrong must rave and talk；
until they are as thin as a cats ear。
but all thats nothing； you sit drowsing there
with your back hooked； your chin upon your knees。
second merchant。 how could i help it？ for she prayed so hard i could not cross the threshold till her
lover
had turned her thoughts to dream。
first merchant； well； well； to labour。
there is the treasury door and time runs on。
（second merchant goes out。 first merchant sits cross？legged against a pillar； yawns and
stretches。）
first merchant。 and so i must endure the weight of the world； far from my master and the revelry；
thats lasted since？？shaped as a worm？？he bore
the knowledgable pippin in his mouth
to the first woman。
（second merchant returns with bags。）
where are those dancers gone？
they knew they were to carry it on their backs。
second merchant。 i heard them breathing but a moment since； but now they are gone； being
unsteadfast things。
first merchant。 they knew their work。 it seems that they imagine wed do such wrong to our great
masters name
as to bear burdens on our backs as men do。
ill call them； and wholl dare to disobey？
e； all you elemental populace
from cruachan and finbars ancient house。
e； break up the long dance under the hill；
or if you lie in the hollows of the sea；
leave lonely the long hoarding surges； leave
the cymbals of the waves to clash alone；
and shaking the sea？tangles from your hair
gather about us。
（the spirits gather under the arches。）
second merchant。 they e。 be still a while。
（spirits dance and sing。）
first spirit。 （singing） our hearts are sore； but we e
be