cathleen。 is it because they have short memories they live so long？ aleel。 whats memory but the ash that chokes our fires that have begun to sink？ and theyve a dizzy； everlasting fire。 oona。 there is your own house； lady。 cathleen。 why； thats true； and wed 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； thats what they sing； those young dancers that in a ring raved but now of the hearts that break 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 e 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 e 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 cathleens steward。） steward。 i am not to blame； for i had locked the gate； the foresters to blame。 the men climbed in at the east corner where the elm？tree is。 cathleen。 i do not understand you； who has climbed？ steward。 then god be thanked； i am the first to tell you。 i was afraid some other of the servants？？ though ive been on the watch？？had been the first and mixed up truth and lies； your ladyship。 cathleen （rising） has some misfortune happened？ steward。 yes； indeed。 the forester that let the branches lie against the walls to blame for everything； for that is how the rogues got into the garden。 cathleen。 i thought to have escaped misfortune here。 has any one been killed？ steward。 oh； no； not killed。 they have stolen half a cart？load of green cabbage。 cathleen。 but maybe they were starving。 steward。 that is certain。 to rob or starve； that was the choice they had。 cathleen。 a learned theologian has laid down that starving men may take whats necessary； and yet be sinless。 oona。 sinless and a thief there should be broken bottles on the wall。 cathleen。 and if it be a sin； while faiths unbroken god cannot help but pardon。 there is no soul but its unlike all others in the world； nor one but lifts a strangeness to gods love till thats grown infinite； and therefore none whose loss were less than irremediable although it were the wickedest in the world。 （enter teig and shemus。） steward。 what are you running for？ pull off your cap； do you not see whos there？ shemus。 i cannot wait。 i am running to the world with the best news that has been brought it for a thousand years。 steward。 then get your breath and speak。 shemus。 if youd my news youd run as fast and be as out of breath。 teig。 such news； we shall be carried on mens shoulders。 shemus。 theres something every man has carried with him and thought no more about than if it were a mouthful of the wind； and now its grown a marketable thing！ teig。 and yet it seemed as useless as the paring of ones nails。 shemus。 what sets me laughing when i think of it； is that a rogue whos lain in lousy straw； if he but sell it； may set up his coach。 teig。 （laughing） there are two gentlemen who buy mens souls。 cathleen。 o god！ teig。 and maybe theres no soul at all。 steward。 theyre drunk or mad。 teig。 look at the price they give。 （showing money。） shemus。 （tossing up money） 〃go cry it all about the world；〃 they said。 〃money for souls； good money for a soul。〃 cathleen。 give twice and thrice and twenty times their money； and get your souls again。 i will pay all。 shemus。 not we！ not we！ for souls？？if there are souls？？ but keep the flesh out of its merriment。 i shall be drunk and merry。 teig。 e； lets away。 （he goes。） cathleen。 but theres a world to e。 shemus。 and if there is； id rather trust myself into the hands that can pay money down than to the hands that have but shaken famine from the bag。 （he goes out r。） （lilting） 〃theres money for a soul； sweet yellow money。 theres money for mens souls； good money； money。〃 cathleen。 （to aleel） go call them here again； bring them by force； beseech them； bribe； do anything you like； （aleel goes。） and you too follow； add your prayers to his。 （oona； who has been praying； goes out。） steward； you know the secrets of my house。 how much have i？ steward。 a hundred kegs of gold。 cathleen。 how much have i in castles？ steward。 as much more。 cathleen。 how much have i in pasture？ steward。 as much more。 cathleen。 how much have i in forests？ steward。 as much more。 cathleen。 keeping this house alone； sell all i have； go barter where you please； but e again with herds of cattle and with ships of meal。 steward。 gods blessing light upon your ladyship。 you will have saved the land。 cathleen。 make no de