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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 of Ireland； and； with the power of the
water I'm after bringing in a little curagh into Cashla Bay；
He'll have pity on you； and put sight into your eyes。
MARTIN DOUL ＇taking off his hat。＇ I'm ready now； holy
father。
SAINT ＇taking him by the hand。＇ I'll cure you first； and
then I'll come for your wife。 We'll go up now into the church；
for I must say a prayer to the Lord。 （To Mary Doul； as he moves
off。） And let you be making your mind still and saying praises
in your heart； for it's a great wonderful thing when the power of
the Lord of the world is brought down upon your like。
PEOPLE ＇pressing after him。＇ Come now till we watch。
BRIDE。 Come； Timmy。
SAINT ＇waving them back。＇ Stay back where you are； for I'm
not wanting a big crowd making whispers in the church。 Stay back
there； I'm saying； and you'd do well to be thinking on the way
sin has brought blindness to the world； and to be saying a prayer
for your own sakes against false prophets and heathens； and the
words of women and smiths； and all knowledge that would soil the
soul or the body of a man。
＇People shrink back。 He goes into church。 Mary Doul gropes
half…way towards the door and kneels near path。 People form a
group at right。＇
TIMMY。 Isn't it a fine； beautiful voice he has； and he a fine；
brave man if it wasn't for the fasting？
BRIDE。 Did you watch him moving his hands？
MOLLY BYRNE。 It'd be a fine thing if some one in this place
could pray the like of him； for I'm thinking the water from our
own blessed well would do rightly if a man knew the way to be
saying prayers； and then there'd be no call to be bringing water
from that wild place； where； I'm told； there are no decent
houses； or fine…looking people at all。
BRIDE ＇who is looking in at door from right。＇ Look at the
great trembling Martin has shaking him； and he on his knees。
TIMMY ＇anxiously。＇ God help him。 。 。 What will he be doing
when he sees his wife this day？ I'm thinking it was bad work we
did when we let on she was fine…looking； and not a wrinkled；
wizened hag the way she is。
MAT SIMON。 Why would he be vexed； and we after giving him great
joy and pride； the time he was dark？
MOLLY BYRNE ＇sitting down in Mary Doul's seat and tidying her
hair。＇ If it's vexed he is itself； he'll have other things now
to think on as well as his wife； and what does any man care for a
wife； when it's two weeks or three； he is looking on her face？
MAT SIMON。 That's the truth now； Molly； and it's more joy dark
Martin got from the lies we told of that hag is kneeling by the
path than your own man will get from you； day or night； and he
living at your side。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇defiantly。＇ Let you not be talking； Mat Simon；
for it's not yourself will be my man； though you'd be crowing and
singing fine songs if you'd that hope in you at all。
TIMMY ＇shocked； to Molly Byrne。＇ Let you not be raising
your voice when the Saint's above at his prayers。
BRIDE ＇crying out。＇ Whisht。 。 。 。 Whisht。 。 。 。 I'm
thinking he's cured。
MARTIN DOUL ＇crying out in the church。＇ Oh； glory be to
God。 。 。 。
SAINT ＇solemnly。＇ Laus Patri sit et Filio cum Spiritu
Paraclito Qui Suae dono gratiae misertus est Hiberniae。 。 。 。
MARTIN DOUL ＇ecstatically。＇ Oh； glory be to God； I see now
surely。 。 。 。 I see the walls of the church； and the green bits
of ferns in them； and yourself； holy father； and the great width
of the sky。
＇He runs out half…foolish with joy； and comes past Mary Doul as
she scrambles to her feet； drawing a little away from her as he
goes by。＇
TIMMY ＇to the others。＇ He doesn't know her at all。
＇The Saint comes out behind Martin Doul； and leads Mary Doul into
the church。 Martin Doul comes on to the People。 The men are
between him and the Girls； he verifies his position with his
stick。＇
MARTIN DOUL ＇crying out joyfully。＇ That's Timmy； I know
Timmy by the black of his head。 。 。 。 That's Mat Simon； I know
Mat by the length of his legs。 。 。 。 That should be Patch Ruadh；
with the gamey eyes in him； and the fiery hair。 （He sees Molly
Byrne on Mary Doul's seat； and his voice changes completely。）
Oh； it was no lie they told me； Mary Doul。 Oh； glory to God and
the seven saints I didn't die and not see you at all。 The
blessing of God on the water； and the feet carried it round
through the land。 The blessing of God on this day； and them that
brought me the Saint； for it's grand hair you have （she lowers
her head a little confused）； and soft skin； and eyes would make
the saints； if they were dark awhile and seeing again； fall down
out of the sky。 （He goes nearer to her。） Hold up your head；
Mary； the way I'll see it's richer I am than the great kings of
the east。 Hold up your head； I'm saying； for it's soon you'll be
seeing me； and I not a bad one at all。 ＇He to