the well of the saints-第1章

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The　Well　of　the　Saints



by　J。　M。　Synge




A　Comedy　in　Three　Acts










SCENE

Some　lonely　mountainous　district　in　the　east　of　Ireland　one　or

more　centuries　ago。





THE　WELL　OF　THE　SAINTS　was　first　produced　in　the　Abbey　Theatre　in

February；　1905；　by　the　Irish　National　Theatre　Society；　under　the

direction　of　W。　G。　Fay；　and　with　the　following　cast。



Martin　Doul　　W。　G。　FAY

Mary　Doul　　　　EMMA　VERNON

Timmy　　　GEORGE　ROBERTS

Molly　Byrne　　SARA　ALLGOOD

Bride　　　MAIRE　NIC　SHIUBHLAIGH

Mat　Simon　　　　P。　MAC　SHIUBHLAIGH

The　Saint　　　　F。　J。　FAY

OTHER　GIRLS　AND　MEN









MARTIN　DOUL；　weather…beaten；　blind　beggar



MARY　DOUL；　his　Wife；　weather…beaten；　ugly　woman；　blind　also；

nearly　fifty



TIMMY；　a　middle…aged；　almost　elderly；　but　vigorous　smith



MOLLY　BYRNE；　fine…looking　girl　with　fair　hair



BRIDE；　another　handsome　girl



MAT　SIMON



THE　SAINT；　a　wandering　Friar



OTHER　GIRLS　AND　MEN











THE　WELL　OF　THE　SAINTS



ACT　I



＇Roadside　with　big　stones；　etc。；　on　the　right；　low　loose　wall　at

back　with　gap　near　centre；　at　left；　ruined　doorway　of　church　with

bushes　beside　it。　　Martin　Doul　and　Mary　Doul　grope　in　on　left　and

pass　over　to　stones　on　right；　where　they　sit。＇



MARY　DOUL。　　What　place　are　we　now；　Martin　Doul？



MARTIN　DOUL。　　Passing　the　gap。



MARY　DOUL　　　＇raising　her　head。＇　　The　length　of　that！　　Well；

the　sun's　getting　warm　this　day　if　it's　late　autumn　itself。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇putting　out　his　hands　in　sun。＇　　What　way

wouldn't　it　be　warm　and　it　getting　high　up　in　the　south？　　You

were　that　length　plaiting　your　yellow　hair　you　have　the　morning

lost　on　us；　and　the　people　are　after　passing　to　the　fair　of

Clash。



MARY　DOUL。　　It　isn't　going　to　the　fair；　the　time　they　do　be

driving　their　cattle　and　they　with　a　litter　of　pigs　maybe

squealing　in　their　carts；　they'd　give　us　a　thing　at　all。　　（She

sits　down。）　　It's　well　you　know　that；　but　you　must　be　talking。



MARTIN　DOUL　　　＇sitting　down　beside　her　and　beginning　to　shred

rushes　she　gives　him。＇　　If　I　didn't　talk　I'd　be　destroyed　in　a

short　while　listening　to　the　clack　you　do　be　making；　for　you've　a

queer　cracked　voice；　the　Lord　have　mercy　on　you；　if　it's　fine　to

look　on　you　are　itself。



MARY　DOUL。　　Who　wouldn't　have　a　cracked　voice　sitting　out　all　the

year　in　the　rain　falling？　　It's　a　bad　life　for　the　voice；　Martin

Doul；　though　I've　heard　tell　there　isn't　anything　like　the　wet

south　wind　does　be　blowing　upon　us　for　keeping　a　white　beautiful

skin　　the　like　of　my　skin　　on　your　neck　and　on　your　brows；

and　there　isn't　anything　at　all　like　a　fine　skin　for　putting

splendour　on　a　woman。



MARTIN　DOUL　　　＇teasingly；　but　with　good　humour。＇　　I　do　be

thinking　odd　times　we　don't　know　rightly　what　way　you　have　your

splendour；　or　asking　myself；　maybe；　if　you　have　it　at　all；　for

the　time　I　was　a　young　lad；　and　had　fine　sight；　it　was　the　ones

with　sweet　voices　were　the　best　in　face。



MARY　DOUL。　　Let　you　not　be　making　the　like　of　that　talk　when

you've　heard　Timmy　the　smith；　and　Mat　Simon；　and　Patch　Ruadh；　and

a　power　besides　saying　fine　things　of　my　face；　and　you　know

rightly　it　was　〃the　beautiful　dark　woman〃　they　did　call　me　in

Ballinatone。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇as　before。＇　　If　it　was　itself　I　heard　Molly

Byrne　saying　at　the　fall　of　night　it　was　little　more　than　a

fright　you　were。



MARY　DOUL　　＇sharply。＇　　She　was　jealous；　God　forgive　her；

because　Timmy　the　smith　was　after　praising　my　hair。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇with　mock　irony。＇　　Jealous！



MARY　DOUL。　　Ay；　jealous；　Martin　Doul；　and　if　she　wasn't　itself；

the　young　and　silly　do　be　always　making　game　of　them　that's　dark；

and　they'd　think　it　a　fine　thing　if　they　had　us　deceived；　the　way

we　wouldn't　know　we　were　so　fine…looking　at　all。



＇She　puts　her　hand　to　her　face　with　a　complacent　gesture。＇



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇a　little　plaintively。＇　　I　do　be　thinking　in　the

long　nights　it'd　be　a　grand　thing　if　we　could　see　ourselves　for

one　hour；　or　a　minute　itself；　the　way　we'd　know　surely　we　were

the　finest　man　and　the　finest　woman　of　the　seven　counties　of　the

east　　（bitterly）　and　then　the　seeing　rabble　below　might　be

destroying　their　souls　telling　bad　lies；　and　we'd　never　heed　a

thing　they'd　say。



MARY　DOUL。　　If　you　weren't　a　big　fool　you　wouldn't　heed　them　this

hour；　Martin　Doul；　for　they're　a　bad　lot　those　that　have　their

sight；　and　they　do　have　great　joy；　the　time　they　do　be　seeing　a

grand　thing；　to　let　on　they　don't　see　it　at　all；　and　to　be

telling　fool's　lies；　the　like　of　what　Molly　Byrne　was　telling　to

yourself。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　If　it's　lies　she　does　be　telling　she's　a　sweet；

beautiful　voice　you'd　never　tire　to　be　hearing；　if　it　was　only

the　pig　she'd　be　calling；　or　crying　out　in　the　long　grass；　maybe

after　her　hens。　　（Speaking　pensively。）　　It　should　be　a　fine；

soft；　rounded　woman；　I'm　thinking；　would　have　a　voice　the　like　of

that。



MARY　DOUL　　＇sharply　again；　scandalized。＇　　Let　you　not　be

minding　if　it's　flat　or　rounded　she　is；　for　she's　a　flighty；

foolish　woman；　you'll　hear　when　you're　off　a　long　way；　and　she

making　a　great　noise　and　laughing　at　the　well。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　Isn't　laughing　a　nice　thing　the　time　a　woman's

young？



MARY　DOUL　　＇bitterly。＇　　A　nice　thing　is　it？　　A　nice　thing　to

hear　a　woman　making　a　loud　braying　laugh　the　like　of　that？　　Ah；

she's　a　great　one　for　drawing　the　men；　and　you'll　hear　Timmy

himself；　the　time　he　does　be　sitting　in　his　forge；　getting　mighty

fussy　if　she'll　come　walking　from　Grianan；　the　way　you'll　hear

his　breath　going；　and　he　wringing　his　hands。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇slightly　piqued。＇　　I've　heard　him　say　a　power

of　times　it's　nothing　at　all　she　is　when　you　see　her　at　the　side

of　you；　and　yet　I　never　heard　any　man's　breath　getting　uneasy　the

time　he'd　be　looking　on　yourself。



MARY　DOUL。　　I'm　not　the　like　of　the　girls　do　be　running　round　on

the　roads；　swinging　their　legs；　and　they　with　their　necks　out

looking　on　the　men。　。　。　。　　Ah；　there's　a　power　of　villainy

walking　the　world；　Martin　Doul；　among　them　that　do　be　gadding

around　with　their　gaping　eyes；　and　their　sweet　words；　and　they

with　no　sense　in　them　at　all。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇sadly。＇　　It's　the　truth；　maybe；　and　yet　I'm

told　it's　a　grand　thing　to　see　a　young　girl　walking　the　road。



MARY　DOUL。　　You'd　be　as　bad　as　the　rest　of　them　if　you　had　your

sight；　and　I　did　well；　surely；　not　to　marry　a　seeing　man　　it's

scores　would　have　had　me　and　welcome　　for　the　seeing　is　a　queer

lot；　and　you'd　never　know　the　thing　they'd　do。　＇A　moment's

pause。＇



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇listening。＇　　There's　some　one　coming　on　the

road。



MARY　DOUL。　　Let　you　put　the　pith　away　out　of　their　sight；　or

they'll　be　picking　it　out　with　the　spying　eyes　they　have；　and

saying　it's　rich　we　are；　and　not　sparing　us　a　thing　at　all。



＇They　bundle　away　the　rushes。　　Timmy　the　smith　comes　in　on　left。＇



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇with　a　begging　voice。＇　　Leave　a　bit　of　silver

for　blind　Martin；　your　honour。　　Leave　a　bit　of　silver；　or　a　penny

copper　itself；　and　we'll　be　praying　the　Lord　to　bless　you　and　you

going　the　way。



TIMMY　　＇stopping　before　them。＇　　And　you　letting　on　a　while

back　you　knew　my　step！　＇He　sits　down。＇



MARTIN　　＇with　his　natural　voice。＇　　I　know　it　when　Molly

Byrne's　walking　in　front；　or　when　she's　two　perches；　maybe；

lagging　behind；　but　it's　few　times　I've　heard　you　walking　up　the

like　of　that；　as　if　you'd　met　a　thing　wasn't　right　and　you　coming

on　the　road。



TIMMY　　＇hot　and　breathless；　wiping　his　face。＇　　You've　good

ears；　God　bless　you；　if　you're　a　liar　itself；　for　I'm　after

walking　up　in　great　haste　from　hearing　wonders　in　the　fair。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇rather　contemptuously。＇　　You're　always　hearing

queer　wonderful　things；　and　the　lot　of　them　nothing　at　all；　but

I'm　thinking；　this　time；　it's　a　strange　thing　surely　you'd　be

walking　up　before　the　turn　of　day；　and　not　waiting　below　to　look

on　them　lepping；　or　dancing；　or　playing　shows　on　the　green　of

Clash。



TIMMY　　＇huffed。＇　　I　was　coming　to　tell　you　it's　in　this　place

there'd　be　a　bigger　wonder　done　in　a　short　while　（Martin　Doul

stops　working）　than　was　ever　done　on　the　green　of　Clash；　or　the

width　of　Leinster　itself；　but　you're　thinking；　maybe；　you're　too

cute　a　little　fellow　to　be　minding　me　at　all。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇amused；　but　incredulous。＇　　There'll　be　wonders

in　this　place；　is　it？



TIMMY。　　Here　at　the　crossing　of　the　roads。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　I　never　heard　tell　of　anything　to　happen　in　this

place　since　the　night　they　killed　the　old　fellow　going　home　with

his　gold；　the　Lord　have　mercy　on　him；　and　threw　down　his　corpse

into　the　bog。　　Let　them　not　be　doing　the　like　of　that　this　night；

for　it's　ourselves　have　a　right　to　the　crossing　roads；　and　we

don't　want　any　of　your　bad　tricks；　or　your　wonders　either；　for

it's　wonder　enough　we　are　ourselves。



TIMMY。　　If　I'd　a　mind　I'd　be　telling　you　of　a　real　wonder　this

day；　and　the　way　you'll　be　having　a　great　joy；　maybe；　you're　not

thinking　on　at　all。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇interested。＇　　Are　they　putting　up　a　still

behind　in　the　rocks？　　It'd　be　a　grand　thing　if　I'd　sup　handy　the

way　I　wouldn't　be　destroying　myself　groping　up　across　the　bogs　in

the　rain　falling。



TIMMY　　＇still　moodily。＇　　It's　not　a　still　they're　bringing；

or　the　like　of　it　either。



MARY　DOUL　　＇persuasively；　to　Timmy。＇　　Maybe　they're　hanging　a

thief；　above　at　the　bit　of　a　tree。　　I'm　told　it's　a　great　sight

to　see　a　man　hanging　by　his　neck；　but　what　joy　would　that　be　to

ourselves；　and　we　not　seeing　it　at　all？



TIMMY　　＇more　pleasantly。＇　　They're　hanging　no　one　this　day；

Mary　Doul；　and　yet；　with　the　help　of　God；　you'll　see　a　power

hanged　before　you　die。



MARY　DOUL。　　Well　you've　queer　hum…bugging　talk。　。　。　。　　What　way

would　I　see　a　power　hanged；　and　I　a　dark　woman　since　the　seventh

year　of　my　age？



TIMMY。　　Did　ever　you　hear　tell　of　a　place　across　a　bit　of　the

sea；　where　there　is　an　island；　and　the　grave　of　the　four

beautiful　saints？



MARY　DOUL。　　I've　heard　people　have　walked　round　from　the　west　and

they　speaking　of　that。



TIMMY　　＇impressively。＇　　There's　a　green　ferny　well；　I'm　told；

behind　of　that　place；　and　if　you　put　a　drop　of　the　water　out　of

it　on　the　eyes　of　a　blind　man；　you'll　make　him　see　as　well　as　any

person　is　walking　the　world。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇with　excitement。＇　　Is　that　the　truth；　Timmy？　

I'm　thinking　you're　telling　a　lie。



TIMMY　　＇gruffly。＇　　That's　the　truth；　Martin　Doul；　and　you　may

believe　it　now；　for　you're　after　believing　a　power　of　things

weren't　as　likely　at　all。



MARY　DOUL。　　Maybe　we　could　send　us　a　young　lad　to　bring　us　the

water。　　I　could　wash　a　naggin　bottle　in　the　morning；　and　I'm

thinking　Patch　Ruadh　would　go　for　it；　if　we　gave　him　a　good

drink；　and　the　bit　of　money　we　have　hid　in　the　thatch。



TIMMY。　　It'd　be　no　good　to　be　sending　a　sinful　man