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height of the day。 (He goes over shouting。) Let you get up out
of that。 You were near losing a great chance by your sleepiness
this day; Martin Doul。 。 。 。 The two of them's in it; God help us
all!
MARTIN DOUL 'scrambling up with Mary Doul。' What is it you
want; Timmy; that you can't leave us in peace?
TIMMY。 The Saint's come to marry the two of us; and I'm after
speaking a word for yourselves; the way he'll be curing you now;
for if you're a foolish man itself; I do be pitying you; for I've
a kind heart; when I think of you sitting dark again; and you
after seeing a while and working for your bread。 'Martin Doul
takes Mary Doul's hand and tries to grope his way off right; he
has lost his hat; and they are both covered with dust and grass
seeds。'
PEOPLE。 You're going wrong。 It's this way; Martin Doul。
'They push him over in front of the Saint; near centre。 Martin
Doul and Mary Doul stand with piteous hang…dog dejection。'
SAINT。 Let you not be afeard; for there's great pity with the
Lord。
MARTIN DOUL。 We aren't afeard; holy father。
SAINT。 It's many a time those that are cured with the well of
the four beauties of God lose their sight when a time is gone;
but those I cure a second time go on seeing till the hour of
death。 (He takes the cover from his can。) I've a few drops only
left of the water; but; with the help of God; It'll be enough for
the two of you; and let you kneel down now upon the road。 'Martin
Doul wheels round with Mary Doul and tries to get away。
SAINT。 You can kneel down here; I'm saying; we'll not trouble
this time going to the church。
TIMMY 'turning Martin Doul round; angrily。' Are you going
mad in your head; Martin Doul? It's here you're to kneel。 Did
you not hear his reverence; and he speaking to you now?
SAINT。 Kneel down; I'm saying; the ground's dry at your feet。
MARTIN DOUL 'with distress。' Let you go on your own way;
holy father。 We're not calling you at all。
SAINT。 I'm not saying a word of pen… ance; or fasting itself;
for I'm thinking the Lord has brought you great teaching in the
blindness of your eyes; so you've no call now to be fearing me;
but let you kneel down till I give you your sight。
MARTIN DOUL 'more troubled。' We're not asking our sight;
holy father; and let you walk on your own way; and be fasting; or
praying; or doing anything that you will; but leave us here in
our peace; at the crossing of the roads; for it's best we are
this way; and we're not asking to see。
SAINT 'to the People。' Is his mind gone that he's no wish
to be cured this day; or to be living or working; or looking on
the wonders of the world?
MARTIN DOUL。 It's wonders enough I seen in a short space for the
life of one man only。
SAINT 'severely。' I never heard tell of any person wouldn't
have great joy to be looking on the earth; and the image of the
Lord thrown upon men。
MARTIN DOUL 'raising his voice。' Them is great sights; holy
father。 。 。 。 What was it I seen when I first opened my eyes but
your own bleeding feet; and they cut with the stones? That was a
great sight; maybe; of the image of God。 。 。 。 And what was it I
seen my last day but the villainy of hell looking out from the
eyes of the girl you're coming to marry the Lord forgive you
with Timmy the smith。 That was a great sight; maybe。 And
wasn't it great sights I seen on the roads when the north winds
would be driving; and the skies would be harsh; till you'd see
the horses and the asses; and the dogs itself; maybe; with their
heads hanging; and they closing their eyes 。
SAINT。 And did you never hear tell of the summer; and the fine
spring; and the places where the holy men of Ireland have built
up churches to the Lord? No man isn't a madman; I'm thinking;
would be talking the like of that; and wishing to be closed up
and seeing no sight of the grand glittering seas; and the furze
that is opening above; and will soon have the hills shining as if
it was fine creels of gold they were; rising to the sky。
MARTIN DOUL。 Is it talking now you are of Knock and Ballavore?
Ah; it's ourselves had finer sights than the like of them; I'm
telling you; when we were sitting a while back hearing the birds
and bees humming in every weed of the ditch; or when we'd be
smelling the sweet; beautiful smell does be rising in the warm
nights; when you do hear the swift flying things racing in the
air; till we'd be looking up in our own minds into a grand sky;
and seeing lakes; and big rivers; and fine hills for taking the
plough。
SAINT 'to People。' There's little use talking with the like
of him。
MOLLY BYRNE。 It's lazy he is; holy father; and not wanting to
work; for a while before you had him cured he was always talking;
and wishing; and longing for his sight。
MARTIN DOUL 'turning on her。' I was longing; surely for
sight; but I seen my fill in a short while with the look of my
wife; and the look of yourself; Molly Byrne; when you'd the queer
wicked grin in your eyes you do have the time you're making game
with a man。
MOLLY BYRNE。 Let you not mind him; holy father; for it's bad
things he was saying to me a while back bad things for a
married man; your reverence and you'd do right surely to leave
him in darkness; if it's that is best fitting the villainy of his
heart。
TIMMY 'to Saint。' Would you cure Mary Doul; your reverence;
who is a quiet poor woman; never did hurt to any; or said a hard
word; saving only when she'd be vexed with himself; or with young
girls would be making game of her below?
SAINT 'to Mary Doul。' If you have any sense; Mary; kneel
down at my feet; and I'll bring the sight again into your eyes。
MARTIN DOUL 'more defiantly。' You will not; holy father。
Would you have her looking on me; and saying hard words to me;
till the hour of death?
SAINT 'severely。' If she's wanting her sight I wouldn't
have the like of you stop her at all。 (To Mary Doul。) Kneel
down; I'm saying。
MARY DOUL 'doubtfully。' Let us be as we are; holy father;
and then we'll be known again in a short while as the people is
happy and blind; and be having an easy time; with no trouble to
live; and we getting halfpence on the road。
MOLLY BYRNE。 Let you not be a raving fool; Mary Doul。 Kneel
down now; and let him give you your sight; and himself can be
sitting here if he likes it best; and taking halfpence on the
road。
TIMMY。 That's the truth; Mary; and if it's choosing a wilful
blindness you are; I'm thinking there isn't anyone in this place
will ever be giving you a hand's turn or a hap'orth of meal; or
be doing the little things you need to keep you at all living in
the world。
MAT SIMON。 If you had your sight; Mary; you could be walking up
for him and down with him; and be stitching his clothes; and
keeping a watch on him day and night the way no other woman would
come near him at all。
MARY DOUL 'half persuaded。' That's the truth; maybe。
SAINT。 Kneel down now; I'm saying; for it's in haste I am to be
going on with the marriage and be walking my own way before the
fall of night。
THE PEOPLE。 Kneel down; Mary! Kneel down when you're bid by the
Saint!
MARY DOUL 'looking uneasily towards Martin Doul。' Maybe
it's right they are; and I will if you wish it; holy father。
'She kneels down。 The Saint takes off his hat and gives it to
some one near him。 All the men take off their hats。 He goes
forward a step to take Martin Doul's hand away from Mary Doul。'
SAINT 'to Martin Doul。' Go aside now; we're not wanting you
here。
MARTIN DOUL 'pushes him away roughly; and stands with his left
hand on Mary Doul's shoulder。' Keep off yourself; holy father;
and let you not be taking my rest from me in the darkness of my
wife。 。 。 。 What call has the like of you to be coming between
married people that you're not understanding at all and be
making a great mess with the holy water you have; and the length
of your prayers? Go on now; I'm saying; and leave us here on the
road。
SAINT。 If it was a seeing man I heard talking to me the like of
that I'd put a black curse on him would weigh down his soul till
it'd be falling to hell; but you're a poor blind sinner; God
forgive you; and I don't mind you at all。 (He raises his can。)
Go aside now till I give the blessing to your wife; and if you
won't go with your own will; there are those standing by will
make you; surely。
MARTIN DOUL 'pulling Mary Doul。' Come along now; and don't
mind him at all。
SAINT 'imperiously; to the People。' Let you take that man
and drive him down upon the road。 'Some men seize Martin Doul。'
MARTIN DOUL 'struggling and shouting。' Make them leave me
go; holy father! Make them leave me go; I'm saying; and you may
cure her this day; or do anything that you will。