steward。 gods blessing light upon your ladyship。 you will have saved the land。 cathleen。 make no delay。 （he goes l。） （aleel and oona return） cathleen。 they have not e； speak quickly。 aleel。 one drew his knife and said that he would kill the man or woman that stopped his way； and when i would have stopped him he made this stroke at me； but it is nothing。 cathleen。 you shall be tended。 from this day for ever ill have no joy or sorrow of my own。 oona。 their eyes shone like the eyes of birds of prey。 cathleen。 e； follow me； for the earth burns my feet till i have changed my house to such a refuge that the old and ailing； and all weak of heart； may escape from beak and claw； all； all； shall e till the walls burst and the roof fall on us。 from this day out i have nothing of my own。 （she goes。） oona （taking aleel by the arm and as she speaks bandaging his wound） she has found something now to put her hand to； and you and i are of no more account than flies upon a window？pane in the winter。 （they go out。） end of scene 2。 ．． SCENE 3 hall in the house of countess cathleen。 at the left an oratory with steps leading up to it。 at the right a tapestried wall； more or less repeating the form of the oratory； and a great chair with its back against the wall。 in the centre are two or more arches through which one can see dimly the trees of the garden。 cathleen is kneeling in front of the altar in the oratory； there is a hanging lighted lamp over the altar。 aleel enters。 aleel。 i have e to bid you leave this castle and fly out of these woods。 cathleen。 what evil is there here？ that is not everywhere from this to the sea？ aleel。 they who have sent me walk invisible。 cathleen。 so it is true what i have heard men say； that you have seen and heard what others cannot。 aleel。 i was asleep in my bed； and while i slept my dream became a fire； and in the fire one walked and he had birds about his head。 cathleen。 i have heard that one of the old gods walked so。 aleel。 it may be that he is angelical； and； lady； he bids me call you from these woods。 and you must bring but your old foster？mother； and some few serving men； and live in the hills； among the sounds of music and the light of waters； till the evil days are done。 for here some terrible death is waiting you； some unimagined evil； some great darkness that fable has not dreamt of； nor sun nor moon scattered。 cathleen。 no； not angelical。 aleel。 this house you are to leave with some old trusty man； and bid him shelter all that starve or wander while there is food and house room。 cathleen。 he bids me go where none of mortal creatures but the swan dabbles； and there you would pluck the harp； when the trees had made a heavy shadow about our door； and talk among the rustling of the reeds； when night hunted the foolish sun away with stillness and pale tapers。 no？no？no！ i cannot。 although i weep； i do not weep because that life would be most happy； and here i find no way； no end。 nor do i weep because i had longed to look upon your face； but that a night of prayer has made me weary。 aleel （。prostrating himself before her） let him that made mankind； the angels and devils and death and plenty； mend what he has made； for when we labour in vain and eye still sees heart breaks in vain。 cathleen。 how would that quiet end？ aleel。 how but in healing？ cathleen。 you have seen my tears and i can see your hand shake on the floor。 aleel。 （faltering） i thought but of healing。 he was angelical。 cathleen （turning away from him） no； not angelical； but of the old gods； who wander about the world to waken the heart the passionate； proud heart？？that all the angels； leaving nine heavens empty； would rock to sleep。 （she goes to chapel door； aleel holds his clasped hands towards her for a moment hesitating； and then lets them fall beside him。） cathleen。 do not hold out to me beseeching hands。 this heart shall never waken on earth。 i have sworn； by her whose heart the seven sorrows have pierced； to pray before this altar until my heart has grown to heaven like a tree； and there rustled its leaves； till heaven has saved my people。 aleel。 （who has risen） when one so great has spoken of love to one so little as i； though to deny him love； what can he but hold out beseeching hands； then let them fall beside him； knowing how greatly they have overdared？ （he goes towards the door of the hall。 the countess cathleen takes a few steps towards him。） cathleen。 if the old tales are true； queens have wed shepherds and kings beggar？maids； gods procreant waters flowing about your mind have made you more than kings or queens； and not you but i am the empty pitcher。 aleel。 being silent； i have said all； yet let me stay beside you。 cathleen。no； no； not while my heart is shaken。 no； but you shall hear wind cry and water cry； and curlews cry； and have the peace i longed for。 aleel。 give me your hand to kiss。 cathleen。 i kiss your forehead。 and yet i send you from me。 do not speak； there have been women that bid men to rob crowns from the country？under？wave or apples upon a dragon？guarded hill； and all that they might sift mens hearts and wills； and trembled as they bid it； as i tremble that lay a hard task on you； that you go； and silently； and do not turn your head； goodbye； but do not turn your head and look； above all else； i would not have you look。 （aleel goes。） i never spoke to him of his wounded hand； and now he is gone。 （she looks out。） i cannot see him； for all is dark outside。 would my imagination and my heart were as little shaken as this holy flame！ （she goes slowly into the chapel。 the two merchants enter。） first merchant。 although i bid you rob her treasury； i find you sitting drowsed and motionless； and yet you understand that while its full shell bid against us and so bribe the poor that our great masterll lack his merchandise。