The Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats. Volume 4 of 8. The Hour-glass. Cathleen ni Houlihan. The Golden Helmet. The Irish Dramatic Movement

Once I was alone on the hills, and an angel came by and he said, ‘Teig the Fool, do not forget the Three Fires; the Fire that punishes, the Fire that purifies, and the Fire wherein the soul rejoices for ever!’

WISE MAN

He believes! I am saved! The sand has run out… [FOOL helps him to his chair.] I am going from the country of the seven wandering stars, and I am going to the country of the fixed stars! I understand it all now. One sinks in on God; we do not see the truth; God sees the truth in us. Ring the bell. They are coming. Tell them, Fool, that when the life and the mind are broken the truth comes through them like peas through a broken peascod. Pray, Fool, that they may be given a sign and carry their souls alive out of the dying world. Your prayers are better than mine.

[FOOL bows his head. WISE MAN’S head sinks on his arm on the books. PUPILS are heard singing as before, but now they come right on to the stage before they cease their song.

A YOUNG MAN

Look at the Fool turned bell-ringer!

ANOTHER

What have you called us in for, Teig? What are you going to tell us?

ANOTHER

No wonder he has had dreams! See, he is fast asleep now. [Goes over and touches him.] Oh, he is dead!

FOOL

Do not stir! He asked for a sign that you might be saved. [All are silent for a moment.].. Look what has come from his mouth.. a little winged thing.. a little shining thing… It is gone to the door. [The ANGEL appears in the doorway, stretches out her hands and closes them again.] The Angel has taken it in her hands… She will open her hands in the Garden of Paradise.[They all kneel.

CATHLEEN NI HOULIHAN

PERSONS IN THE PLAY

Peter Gillane

Michael Gillane, his Son, going to be married

Patrick Gillane, a lad of twelve, Michael’s Brother

Bridget Gillane, Peter’s Wife

Delia Cahel, engaged to Michael

The Poor Old Woman

Neighbours

CATHLEEN NI HOULIHAN

Interior of a cottage close to Killala, in 1798. BRIDGET is standing at a table undoing a parcel. PETER is sitting at one side of the fire, PATRICK at the other.

PETER

What is that sound I hear?

PATRICK

I don’t hear anything. [He listens.] I hear it now. It’s like cheering. [He goes to the window and looks out.] I wonder what they are cheering about. I don’t see anybody.

PETER

It might be a hurling.

PATRICK

There’s no hurling to-day. It must be down in the town the cheering is.

BRIDGET

I suppose the boys must be having some sport of their own. Come over here, Peter, and look at Michael’s wedding-clothes.

PETER [shifts his chair to table]

Those are grand clothes, indeed.

BRIDGET

You hadn’t clothes like that when you married me, and no coat to put on of a Sunday more than any other day.

PETER

That is true, indeed. We never thought a son of our own would be wearing a suit of that sort for his wedding, or have so good a place to bring a wife to.

PATRICK [who is still at the window]

There’s an old woman coming down the road. I don’t know is it here she is coming?

BRIDGET

It will be a neighbour coming to hear about Michael’s wedding. Can you see who it is?

PATRICK

I think it is a stranger, but she’s not coming to the house. She’s turned into the gap that goes down where Murteen and his sons are shearing sheep. [He turns towards BRIDGET.] Do you remember what Winny of the Cross Roads was saying the other night about the strange woman that goes through the country whatever time there’s war or trouble coming?

BRIDGET

Don’t be bothering us about Winny’s talk, but go and open the door for your brother. I hear him coming up the path.

PETER

I hope he has brought Delia’s fortune with him safe, for fear her people might go back on the bargain and I after making it. Trouble enough I had making it.

    [PATRICK opens the door and MICHAEL comes in.