Why, that's true,
And we'd have passed it without noticing.
ALEEL
A curse upon it for a meddlesome house!
Had it but stayed away I would have known
What Queen Maeve thinks on when the moon is pinched;
And whether now – as in the old days – the dancers
Set their brief love on men.
OONA
Rest on my arm.
These are no thoughts for any Christian ear.
ALEEL
I am younger, she would be too heavy for you.
(He begins taking his lute out of the bag, CATHLEEN, who has turned towards OONA, turns back to him.)
This hollow box remembers every foot
That danced upon the level grass of the world,
And will tell secrets if I whisper to it.
(Sings.)
Lift up the white knee;
Hear what they sing,
Those young dancers
That in a ring
Raved but now
Of the hearts that brake
Long, long ago
For their sake.
OONA
New friends are sweet.
ALEEL
"But the dance changes.
Lift up the gown,
All that sorrow
Is trodden down."
OONA
The empty rattle-pate! Lean on this arm,
That I can tell you is a christened arm,
And not like some, if we are to judge by speech.
But as you please. It is time I was forgot.
Maybe it is not on this arm you slumbered
When you were as helpless as a worm.
ALEEL
Stay with me till we come to your own house.
CATHLEEN (sitting down)
When I am rested I will need no help.
ALEEL
I thought to have kept her from remembering
The evil of the times for full ten minutes;
But now when seven are out you come between.
OONA
Talk on; what does it matter what you say,
For you have not been christened?
ALEEL
Old woman, old woman,
You robbed her of three minutes peace of mind,
And though you live unto a hundred years,
And wash the feet of beggars and give alms,
And climb Croaghpatrick, you shall not be pardoned.
OONA
How does a man who never was baptized
Know what Heaven pardons?
ALEEL
You are a sinful woman.
OONA
I care no more than if a pig had grunted.
(Enter CATHLEEN'S Steward.)
STEWARD