the well of the saints-第2章

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

ourselves；　for　I'm　told　the　holiness　of　the　water　does　be　getting

soiled　with　the　villainy　of　your　heart；　the　time　you'd　be

carrying　it；　and　you　looking　round　on　the　girls；　maybe；　or

drinking　a　small　sup　at　a　still。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇with　disappointment。＇　　It'd　be　a　long　terrible

way　to　be　walking　ourselves；　and　I'm　thinking　that's　a　wonder

will　bring　small　joy　to　us　at　all。



TIMMY　　＇turning　on　him　impatiently。＇　　What　is　it　you　want

with　your　walking？　　It's　as　deaf　as　blind　you're　growing　if

you're　not　after　hearing　me　say　it's　in　this　place　the　wonder

would　be　done。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇with　a　flash　of　anger。＇　　If　it　is　can't　you

open　the　big　slobbering　mouth　you　have　and　say　what　way　it'll　be

done；　and　not　be　making　blather　till　the　fall　of　night。



TIMMY　　＇jumping　up。＇　　I'll　be　going　on　now　（Mary　Doul　rises）；

and　not　wasting　time　talking　civil　talk　with　the　like　of　you。



MARY　DOUL　　＇standing　up；　disguising　her　impatience。＇　　Let　you

come　here　to　me；　Timmy；　and　not　be　minding　him　at　all。　（Timmy

stops；　and　she　gropes　up　to　him　and　takes　him　by　the　coat）。＇　

You're　not　huffy　with　myself；　and　let　you　tell　me　the　whole　story

and　don't　be　fooling　me　more。　。　。　。　　Is　it　yourself　has　brought

us　the　water？



TIMMY。　　It　is　not；　surely。



MARY　DOUL。　　Then　tell　us　your　wonder；　Timmy。　。　。　。　　What

person'll　bring　it　at　all？



TIMMY　　＇relenting。＇　　It's　a　fine　holy　man　will　bring　it；　a

saint　of　the　Almighty　God。



MARY　DOUL　　＇overawed。＇　　A　saint　is　it？



TIMMY。　　Ay；　a　fine　saint；　who's　going　round　through　the　churches

of　Ireland；　with　a　long　cloak　on　him；　and　naked　feet；　for　he's

brought　a　sup　of　the　water　slung　at　his　side；　and；　with　the　like

of　him；　any　little　drop　is　enough　to　cure　the　dying；　or　to　make

the　blind　see　as　clear　as　the　gray　hawks　do　be　high　up；　on　a

still　day；　sailing　the　sky。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇feeling　for　his　stick。＇　　What　place　is　he；

Timmy？　　I'll　be　walking　to　him　now。



TIMMY。　　Let　you　stay　quiet；　Martin。　He's　straying　around　saying

prayers　at　the　churches　and　high　crosses；　between　this　place　and

the　hills；　and　he　with　a　great　crowd　go…　ing　behind　　for　it's

fine　prayers　he　does　be　saying；　and　fasting　with　it；　till　he's　as

thin　as　one　of　the　empty　rushes　you　have　there　on　your　knee；　then

he'll　be　coming　after　to　this　place　to　cure　the　two　of　you　

we're　after　telling　him　the　way　you　are　　and　to　say　his　prayers

in　the　church。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇turning　suddenly　to　Mary　Doul。＇　　And　we'll　be

seeing　ourselves　this　day。　　Oh；　glory　be　to　God；　is　it　true

surely？



MARY　DOUL　　＇very　pleased；　to　Timmy。＇　　Maybe　I'd　have　time　to

walk　down　and　get　the　big　shawl　I　have　below；　for　I　do　look　my

best；　I've　heard　them　say；　when　I'm　dressed　up　with　that　thing　on

my　head。



TIMMY。　　You'd　have　time　surely。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇listening。＇　　Whisht　now。　。　。　。　　I　hear　people

again　coming　by　the　stream。



TIMMY　　＇looking　out　left；　puzzled。＇　　It's　the　young　girls　I

left　walking　after　the　Saint。　。　。　。　　They're　coming　now　（goes　up

to　entrance）　carrying　things　in　their　hands；　and　they　walking　as

easy　as　you'd　see　a　child　walk　who'd　have　a　dozen　eggs　hid　in　her

bib。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇listening。＇　　That's　Molly　Byrne；　I'm　thinking。



＇Molly　Byrne　and　Bride　come　on　left　and　cross　to　Martin　Doul；

carrying　water…can；　Saint's　bell；　and　cloak。＇



MOLLY　　＇volubly。＇　　God　bless　you；　Martin。　　I've　holy　water

here；　from　the　grave　of　the　four　saints　of　the　west；　will　have

you　cured　in　a　short　while　and　seeing　like　ourselves。



TIMMY　　＇crosses　to　Molly；　interrupting　her。＇　　He's　heard

that。　　God　help　you。　　But　where　at　all　is　the　Saint；　and　what　way

is　he　after　trusting　the　holy　water　with　the　likes　of　you？



MOLLY　BYRNE。　　He　was　afeard　to　go　a　far　way　with　the　clouds　is

coming　beyond；　so　he's　gone　up　now　through　the　thick　woods　to　say

a　prayer　at　the　crosses　of　Grianan；　and　he's　coming　on　this　road

to　the　church。



TIMMY　　＇still　astonished。＇　　And　he's　after　leaving　the　holy

water　with　the　two　of　you？　　It's　a　wonder；　surely。　＇Comes　down

left　a　little。＇



MOLLY　BYRNE。　　The　lads　told　him　no　person　could　carry　them　things

through　the　briars；　and　steep；　slippy…feeling　rocks　he'll　be

climbing　above；　so　he　looked　round　then；　and　gave　the　water；　and

his　big　cloak；　and　his　bell　to　the　two　of　us；　for　young　girls；

says　he；　are　the　cleanest　holy　people　you'd　see　walking　the

world。　＇Mary　Doul　goes　near　seat。＇



MARY　DOUL　　＇sits　down；　laughing　to　herself。＇　　Well；　the

Saint's　a　simple　fellow；　and　it's　no　lie。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇leaning　forward；　holding　out　his　hands。＇　　Let

you　give　me　the　water　in　my　hand；　Molly　Byrne；　the　way　I'll　know

you　have　it　surely。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇giving　it　to　him。＇　　Wonders　is　queer　things；

and　maybe　it'd　cure　you；　and　you　holding　it　alone。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇looking　round。＇　　It　does　not；　Molly。　　I'm　not

seeing　at　all。　　（He　shakes　the　can。）　　There's　a　small　sup　only。

Well；　isn't　it　a　great　wonder　the　little　trifling　thing　would

bring　seeing　to　the　blind；　and　be　showing　us　the　big　women　and

the　young　girls；　and　all　the　fine　things　is　walking　the　world。



＇He　feels　for　Mary　Doul　and　gives　her　the　can。＇



MARY　DOUL　　＇shaking　it。＇　　Well；　glory　be　to　God。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇pointing　to　Bride。＇　　And　what　is　it　herself

has；　making　sounds　in　her　hand？



BRIDE　　＇crossing　to　Martin　Doul。＇　　It's　the　Saint's　bell；

you'll　hear　him　ringing　out　the　time　he'll　be　going　up　some

place；　to　be　saying　his　prayers。





＇Martin　Doul　holds　out　his　hand；　she　gives　it　to　him。＇



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇ringing　it。＇　　It's　a　sweet；　beautiful　sound。



MARY　DOUL。　　You'd　know；　I'm　thinking；　by　the　little　silvery　voice

of　it；　a　fasting　holy　man　was　after　carrying　it　a　great　way　at

his　side。



＇Bride　crosses　a　little　right　behind　Martin　Doul。＇



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇unfolding　Saint's　cloak。＇　　Let　you　stand　up

now；　Martin　Doul；　till　I　put　his　big　cloak　on　you。　　（Martin　Doul

rises；　comes　forward；　centre　a　little。）　　The　way　we'd　see　how

you'd　look；　and　you　a　saint　of　the　Almighty　God。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇standing　up；　a　little　diffidently。＇　　I've　heard

the　priests　a　power　of　times　making　great　talk　and　praises　of　the

beauty　of　the　saints。　＇Molly　Byrne　slips　cloak　round　him。＇



TIMMY　　＇uneasily。＇　　You'd　have　a　right　to　be　leaving　him

alone；　Molly。　　What　would　the　Saint　say　if　he　seen　you　making

game　with　his　cloak？



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇recklessly。＇　　How　would　he　see　us；　and　he

saying　prayers　in　the　wood？　　（She　turns　Martin　Doul　round。）　Isn't

that　a　fine　holy…looking　saint；　Timmy　the　smith？　　（Laughing

foolishly。）　　There's　a　grand；　handsome　fellow；　Mary　Doul；　and　if

you　seen　him　now　you'd　be　as　proud；　I'm　thinking；　as　the

archangels　below；　fell　out　with　the　Almighty　God。



MARY　DOUL　　＇with　quiet　confidence　going　to　Martin　Doul　and

feeling　his　cloak。＇　　It's　proud　we'll　be　this　day；　surely。

＇Martin　Doul　is　still　ringing。＇



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇to　Martin　Doul。＇　　Would　you　think　well　to　be

all　your　life　walking　round　the　like　of　that；　Martin　Doul；　and

you　bell…ringing　with　the　saints　of　God？



MARY　DOUL　　＇turning　on　her；　fiercely。＇　　How　would　he　be

bell…ringing　with　the　saints　of　God　and　he　wedded　with　myself？



MARTIN　DOUL。　　It's　the　truth　she's　saying；　and　if　bell…ringing　is

a　fine　life；　yet　I'm　thinking；　maybe；　it's　better　I　am　wedded

with　the　beautiful　dark　woman　of　Ballinatone。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇scornfully。＇　　You're　thinking　that；　God　help

you；　but　it's　little　you　know　of　her　at　all。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　It's　little　surely；　and　I'm　destroyed　this　day

waiting　to　look　upon　her　face。



TIMMY　　＇awkwardly。＇　　It's　well　you　know　the　way　she　is；　for

the　like　of　you　do　have　great　knowledge　in　the　feeling　of　your

hands。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇still　feeling　the　cloak。＇　　We　do；　maybe。　　Yet

it's　little　I　know　of　faces；　or　of　fine　beautiful　cloaks；　for

it's　few　cloaks　I've　had　my　hand　to；　and　few　faces　（plaintively）；

for　the　young　girls　is　mighty　shy；　Timmy　the　smith　and　it　isn't

much　they　heed　me；　though　they　do　be　saying　I'm　a　handsome　man。



MARY　DOUL　　＇mockingly；　with　good　humour。＇　　Isn't　it　a　queer

thing　the　voice　he　puts　on　him；　when　you　hear　him　talking　of　the

skinny…looking　girls；　and　he　married　with　a　woman　he's　heard

called　the　wonder　of　the　western　world？



TIMMY　　＇pityingly。＇　　The　two　of　you　will　see　a　great　wonder

this　day；　and　it's　no　lie。



MARTIN　DOUL。　　I've　heard　tell　her　yellow　hair；　and　her　white

skin；　and　her　big　eyes　are　a　wonder；　surely。



BRIDE　　＇who　has　looked　out　left。＇　　Here's　the　saint　coming

from　the　selvage　of　the　wood。　。　。　。　　Strip　the　cloak　from　him；

Molly；　or　he'll　be　seeing　it　now。



MOLLY　BYRNE　　＇hastily　to　Bride。＇　　Take　the　bell　and　put

yourself　by　the　stones。　（To　Martin　Doul。）　　Will　you　hold　your

head　up　till　I　loosen　the　cloak？　　（She　pulls　off　the　cloak　and

throws　it　over　her　arm。　　Then　she　pushes　Martin　Doul　over　and

stands　him　beside　Mary　Doul。）　　Stand　there　now；　quiet；　and　let

you　not　be　saying　a　word。



＇She　and　Bride　stand　a　little　on　their　left；　demurely；　with　bell；

etc。；　in　their　hands。＇



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇nervously　arranging　his　clothes。＇　　Will　he　mind

the　way　we　are；　and　not　tidied　or　washed　cleanly　at　all？



MOLLY　BYRNE。　　He'll　not　see　what　way　you　are。　。　。　。　　He'd　walk　by

the　finest　woman　in　Ireland；　I'm　thinking；　and　not　trouble　to

raise　his　two　eyes　to　look　upon　her　face。　。　。　。　Whisht！



＇The　Saint　comes　left；　with　crowd。＇



SAINT。　　Are　these　the　two　poor　people？



TIMMY　　＇officiously。＇　　They　are；　holy　father；　they　do　be

always　sitting　here　at　the　crossing　of　the　roads；　asking　a　bit　of

copper　from　them　that　do　pass；　or　stripping　rushes　for　lights；

and　they　not　mournful　at　all；　but　talking　out　straight　with　a

full　voice；　and　making　game　with　them　that　likes　it。



SAINT　　＇to　Martin　Doul　and　Mary　Doul。＇　　It's　a　hard　life

you've　had　not　seeing　sun　or　moon；　or　the　holy　priests　itself

praying　to　the　Lord；　but　it's　the　like　of　you　who　are　brave　in　a

bad　time　will　make　a　fine　use　of　the　gift　of　sight　the　Almighty

God　will　bring　to　you　today。　　（He　takes　his　cloak　and　puts　it

about　him。）　　It's　on　a　bare　starving　rock　that　there's　the　grave

of　the　four　beauties　of　God；　the　way　it's　little　wonder；　I'm

thinking；　if　it's　with　bare　starving　people　the　water　should　be

used。　　（He　takes　the　water　and　bell　and　slings　them　round　his

shoulders。）　　So　it's　to　the　like　of　yourselves　I　do　be　going；　who

are　wrinkled　and　poor；　a　thing　rich　men　would　hardly　look　at　at

all；　but　would　throw　a　coin　to　or　a　crust　of　bread。



MARTIN　DOUL　　＇moving　uneasily。＇　　When　they　look　on　herself；

who　is　a　fine　woman。



TIMMY　　＇shaking　him。＇　　Whisht　now；　and　be　listening　to　the

Saint。



SAINT　　＇looks　at　them　a　moment；　continues。＇　　If　it's　raggy

and　dirty　you　are　itself；　I'm　saying；　the　Almighty　God　isn't　at

all　like　the　rich　men　o