第1章

INTHESHADOWOFTHEGLEN

APLAYINONEACT

FirstperformedattheMolesworthHall，Dublin，October8th，1903。

PERSONS

DANBURKE（farmerandherd）。GeorgeRobertsNORABURKE（hiswife）……MaireNicShiubhlaighMICHEALDARA（ayoungherd）。P。J。KellyATRAMP……W。G。FayINTHESHADOWOFTHEGLEN

APLAYINONEACT

SCENE。——{ThelastcottageattheheadofalonggleninCountyWicklow。

Cottagekitchen;turffireontheright;abednearitagainstthewallwithabodylyingonitcoveredwithasheet。Adoorisattheotherendoftheroom，withalowtablenearit，andstools，orwoodenchairs。Thereareacoupleofglassesonthetable，andabottleofwhisky，asifforawake，withtwocups，ateapot，andahome—madecake。Thereisanothersmalldoornearthebed。NoraBurkeismovingabouttheroom，settlingafewthings，andlightingcandlesonthetable，lookingnowandthenatthebedwithanuneasylook。Someoneknockssoftlyatthedoor。Shetakesupastockingwithmoneyfromthetableandputsitinherpocket。Thensheopensthedoor。}

TRAMP

{Outside。}

Goodeveningtoyou，ladyofthehouse。

NORA

Goodevening，kindlystranger，it’sawildnight，Godhelpyou，tobeoutintherainfalling。

TRAMP

Itis，surely，andIwalkingtoBrittasfromtheAughrimfair。

NORA

Isitwalkingonyourfeet，stranger？

TRAMP

Onmytwofeet，ladyofthehouse，andwhenIsawthelightbelowIthoughtmaybeifyou’dasupofnewmilkandaquietdecentcornerwhereamancouldsleep{helooksinpastherandseesthedeadman。}TheLordhavemercyonusall！

NORA

Itdoesn’tmatteranyway，stranger，comeinoutoftherain。

TRAMP

{Cominginslowlyandgoingtowardsthebed。}

Isitdepartedheis？

NORA

Itis，stranger。He’safterdyingonme，Godforgivehim，andthereIamnowwithahundredsheepbeyondonthehills，andnoturndrawnforthewinter。

TRAMP

{Lookingcloselyatthedeadman。}

It’saqueerlookisonhimforamanthat’sdead。

NORA

{Half—humorously。}

Hewasalwaysqueer，stranger，andIsupposethemthat’squeerandtheylivingmenwillbequeerbodiesafter。

TRAMP

Isn’titagreatwonderyou’relettinghimliethere，andheisnottidied，orlaidoutitself？

NORA

{Comingtothebed。}

Iwasafeard，stranger，forheputablackcurseonmethismorningifI’ldtouchhisbodythetimehe’lddiesudden，orletanyonetouchitexcepthissisteronly，andit’stenmilesawayshelivesinthebigglenoverthehill。

TRAMP

{Lookingatherandnoddingslowly。}

It’saqueerstoryhewouldn’tlethisownwifetouchhim，andhedyingquietinhisbed。

NORA

Hewasanoldman，andanoddman，stranger，andit’salwaysuponthehillshewasthinkingthoughtsinthedarkmist。{Shepullsbackabitofthesheet。}Layyourhandonhimnow，andtellmeifit’scoldheissurely。

TRAMP

Isitgettingthecurseonmeyou’ldbe，womanofthehouse？I

wouldn’tlaymyhandonhimfortheLoughNahanagananditfilledwithgold。

NORA

{Lookinguneasilyatthebody。}

Maybecoldwouldbenosignofdeathwiththelikeofhim，forhewasalwayscold，everydaysinceIknewhim，——andeverynight，stranger，——{shecoversuphisfaceandcomesawayfromthebed};butI’mthinkingit’sdeadheissurely，forhe’scomplainingawhilebackofapaininhisheart，andthismorning，thetimehewasgoingofftoBrittasforthreedaysorfour，hewastakenwithasharpturn。Thenhewentintohisbedandhewassayingitwasdestroyedhewas，thetimetheshadowwasgoingupthroughtheglen，andwhenthesunsetonthebogbeyondhemadeagreatlep，andletagreatcryoutofhim，andstiffenedhimselfoutthelikeofadeadsheep。

TRAMP

{Crosseshimself。}

Godresthissoul。

NORA

{Pouringhimoutaglassofwhisky。}

MaybethatwoulddoyoubetterthanthemilkofthesweetestcowinCountyWicklow。

TRAMP

TheAlmightyGodrewardyou，andmayitbetoyourgoodhealth。

{Hedrinks。}

NORA

{Givinghimapipeandtobacco。}

I’venopipessavinghisown，stranger，butthey’resweetpipestosmoke。

TRAMP

Thankyoukindly，ladyofthehouse。

NORA

Sitdownnow，stranger，andbetakingyourrest。

TRAMP

{Fillingapipeandlookingabouttheroom。}

I’vewalkedagreatwaythroughtheworld，ladyofthehouse，andseengreatwonders，butIneverseenawaketillthisdaywithfinespirits，andgoodtobacco，andthebestofpipes，andnoonetotastethembutawomanonly。

NORA

Didn’tyouhearmesayitwasonlyafterdyingonmehewaswhenthesunwentdown，andhowwouldIgooutintotheglenandtelltheneighbours，andIalonewomanwithnohousenearme？

TRAMP

{Drinking。}

There’snooffence，ladyofthehouse？

NORA

Nooffenceinlife，stranger。Howwouldthelikeofyou，passinginthedarknight，knowthelonesomewayIwaswithnohousenearmeatall？

TRAMP

{Sittingdown。}

Iknewrightly。{Helightshispipesothatthereisasharplightbeneathhishaggardface。}AndIwasthinking，andI

cominginthroughthedoor，thatit’smanyalonewomanwouldbeafeardofthelikeofmeinthedarknight，inaplacewouldn’tbesolonesomeasthisplace，wheretherearen’ttwolivingsoulswouldseethelittlelightyouhaveshiningfromtheglass。

NORA

{Slowly。}

I’mthinkingmanywouldbeafeard，butIneverknewwhatwayI’dbeafeardofbeggarorbishoporanymanofyouatall。{Shelookstowardsthewindowandlowershervoice。}It’sotherthingsthanthelikeofyou，stranger，wouldmakeapersonafeard。

TRAMP

{Lookingroundwithahalf—shudder。}

Itissurely，Godhelpusall！

NORA

{Lookingathimforamomentwithcuriosity。}

You’resayingthat，stranger，asifyouwereeasyafeard。

TRAMP

{Speakingmournfully。}

Isitmyself，ladyofthehouse，thatdoesbewalkingroundinthelongnights，andcrossingthehillswhenthefogisonthem，thetimealittlestickwouldseemasbigasyourarm，andarabbitasbigasabayhorse，andastackofturfasbigasatoweringchurchinthecityofDublin？Ifmyselfwaseasilyafeard，I’mtellingyou，it’slongagoI’ldhavebeenlockedintotheRichmondAsylum，ormaybehaverunupintothebackhillswithnothingonmebutanoldshirt，andbeeneatenwithcrowsthelikeofPatchDarcy——theLordhavemercyonhim——intheyearthat’sgone。

NORA

{Withinterest。}

YouknewDarcy？

TRAMP

Wasn’tIthelastoneheardhislivingvoiceinthewholeworld？

NORA

Thereweregreatstoriesofwhatwasheardatthattime，butwouldanyonebelievethethingstheydobesayingintheglen？

TRAMP

Itwasnolie，ladyofthehouse……Iwaspassingbelowonadarknightthelikeofthisnight，andthesheepwerelyingundertheditchandeveryoneofthemcoughing，andchoking，likeanoldman，withthegreatrainandthefog。ThenIheardathingtalking——queertalk，youwouldn’tbelieveatall，andyououtofyourdreams，——and\"MercifulGod，\"saysI，\"ifIbeginhearingthelikeofthatvoiceoutofthethickmist，I’mdestroyedsurely。\"ThenIrun，andIrun，andIrun，tillIwasbelowinRathvanna。Igotdrunkthatnight，Igotdrunkinthemorning，anddrunkthedayafter，——Iwascomingfromtheracesbeyond——andthethirddaytheyfoundDarcy……ThenIknewitwashimselfIwasafterhearing，andIwasn’tafeardanymore。

NORA

{Speakingsorrowfullyandslowly。}

GodspareDarcy，he’ldalwayslookinhereandhepassinguporpassingdown，andit’sverylonesomeIwasafterhimalongwhile{shelooksoveratthebedandlowershervoice，speakingveryclearly，}andthenIgothappyagain——ifit’severhappyweare，stranger，——forIgotusedtobeinglonesome。

{Ashortpause;thenshestandsup。}

NORA

Wasthereanyoneonthelastbitoftheroad，stranger，andyoucomingfromAughrim？

TRAMP

Therewasayoungmanwithadriftofmountainewes，andherunningafterthemthiswayandthat。

NORA

{Withahalf—smile。}

Fardown，stranger？

TRAMP

Apieceonly。

{Shefillsthekettleandputsitonthefire。}

NORA

Maybe，ifyou’renoteasyafeard，you’ldstayhereashortwhilealonewithhimself。

TRAMP

Iwouldsurely。Amanthat’sdeadcandonohurt。

NORA

{Speakingwithasortofconstraint。}

I’mgoingalittlebacktothewest，stranger，forhimselfwouldgothereonenightandanotherandwhistleatthatplace，andthentheyoungmanyou’reafterseeing——akindofafarmerhascomeupfromtheseatoliveinacottagebeyond——wouldwalkroundtoseeiftherewasathingwe’ldhavetobedone，andI’mwantinghimthisnight，thewayhecangodownintotheglenwhenthesungoesupandtellthepeoplethathimselfisdead。

TRAMP

{Lookingatthebodyinthesheet。}

It’smyselfwillgoforhim，ladyofthehouse，andletyounotbedestroyingyourselfwiththegreatrain。

NORA

Youwouldn’tfindyourway，stranger，forthere’sasmallpathonly，anditrunningupbetweentwosluigswhereanassandcartwouldbedrowned。{Sheputsashawloverherhead。}Letyoubemakingyourselfeasy，andsayingaprayerforhissoul，andit’snotlongI’llbecomingagain。

TRAMP

{Movinguneasily。}

Maybeifyou’dapieceofagreythreadandasharpneedle——

there’sgreatsafetyinaneedle，ladyofthehouse——I’ldbeputtingalittlestitchhereandthereinmyoldcoat，thetimeI’llbeprayingforhissoul，anditgoingupnakedtothesaintsofGod。

NORA

{Takesaneedleandthreadfromthefrontofherdressandgivesittohim。}

There’stheneedle，stranger，andI’mthinkingyouwon’tbelonesome，andyouusedtothebackhills，forisn’tadeadmanitselfmorecompanythantobesittingalone，andhearingthewindscrying，andyounotknowingonwhatthingyourmindwouldstay？

TRAMP

{Slowly。}

It’strue，surely，andtheLordhavemercyonusall！

{Noragoesout。TheTrampbeginsstitchingoneofthetagsinhiscoat，sayingthe\"DeProfundis\"underhisbreath。Inaninstantthesheetisdrawnslowlydown，andDanBurkelooksout。

TheTrampmovesuneasily，thenlooksup，andspringstohisfeetwithamovementofterror。}

DAN

{Withahoarsevoice。}

Don’tbeafeard，stranger;amanthat’sdeadcandonohurt。

TRAMP

{Trembling。}

Imeantnoharm，yourhonour;andwon’tyouleavemeeasytobesayingalittleprayerforyoursoul？

{Alongwhistleisheardoutside。}

DAN

{Sittingupinhisbedandspeakingfiercely。}

Ah，thedevilmendher……Doyouhearthat，stranger？Dideveryouhearanotherwomancouldwhistlethelikeofthatwithtwofingersinhermouth？{Helooksatthetablehurriedly。}

I’mdestroyedwiththedrouth，andletyoubringmeadropquicklybeforeherselfwillcomeback。

TRAMP

{Doubtfully。}

Isitnotdeadyouare？

DAN

HowwouldIbedead，andIasdryasabakedbone，stranger？

TRAMP

{Pouringoutthewhisky。}

Whatwillherselfsayifshesmellsthestuffonyou，forI’mthinkingit’snotfornothingyou’relettingontobedead？

DAN

Itisnot，stranger，butshewon’tbecomingnearmeatall，andit’snotlongnowI’llbelettingon，forI’veacrampinmyback，andmyhip’sasleeponme，andthere’sbeenthedevil’sownflyitchingmynose。It’sneardeadIwaswantingtosneeze，andyoublatheringabouttherain，andDarcy{bitterly}——thedevilchokehim——andthetoweringchurch。{Cryingoutimpatiently。}

Givemethatwhisky。WouldyouhaveherselfcomebackbeforeI

tasteadropatall？

{Trampgiveshimtheglass。}

DAN

{Afterdrinking。}

Goovernowtothatcupboard，andbringmeablackstickyou’llseeinthewestcornerbythewall。

TRAMP

{Takingastickfromthecupboard}

Isitthat？

DAN

Itis，stranger;it’salongtimeI’mkeepingthatstickforI’veabadwifeinthehouse。

TRAMP

{Withaqueerlook。}

Isitherself，masterofthehouse，andsheagrandwomantotalk？

DAN

It’sherself，surely，it’sabadwifesheis——abadwifeforanoldman，andI’mgettingold，Godhelpme，thoughI’veanarmtomestill。{Hetakesthestickinhishand。}Letyouwaitnowashortwhile，andit’sagreatsightyou’llseeinthisroomintwohoursorthree。{Hestopstolisten。}Isthatsomebodyabove？

TRAMP

{Listening。}

There’savoicespeakingonthepath。

DAN

Putthatstickhereinthebedandsmooththesheetthewayitwaslying。{Hecovershimselfuphastily。}Befallingtosleepnowanddon’tletonyouknowanything，orI’llbehavingyourlife。Iwouldn’thavetoldyouatallbutit’sdestroyedwiththedrouthIwas。

TRAMP

{Coveringhishead。}

Havenofear，masterofthehouse。WhatisitIknowofthelikeofyouthatI’ldbesayingawordorputtingoutmyhandtostayyouatall？

{Hegoesbacktothefire，sitsdownonastoolwithhisbacktothebedandgoesonstitchinghiscoat。}

DAN

{Underthesheet，querulously。}

Stranger。

TRAMP

{Quickly。}

Whisht，whisht。BequietI’mtellingyou，they’recomingnowatthedoor。

{NoracomesinwithMichealDara，atall，innocentyoungmanbehindher。}