Poets and Dreamers Part 23

(_The boys run out, tumbling over one another._)

MARTIN. Are you Raftery, the great poet I heard talk of since I was born! (_taking his hand_). Seven hundred thousand welcomes before you; and it is a great honour to us you to be here.

MARY. Raftery the poet! Now there is luck on us! The first man that brought us his blessing, and that eat food in my own house, he to be Raftery the poet! And I hearing the other day you were sick and near your death. And I see no sign of sickness on you now.

BLIND MAN. I am well, I am well now, the Lord be praised for it.

MARTIN. I heard talk of you as often as there are fingers on my hands, and toes on my feet. But indeed I never thought to have the luck of seeing you.

MARY. And it is you that made 'County Mayo,' and the 'Repentance,' and 'The Weaver,' and the 's.h.i.+ning Flower.' It is often I thought there should be no woman in the world so proud as Mary Hynes, with the way you praised her.

BLIND MAN. O my poor Mary Hynes, without luck! (_They hear the wheels of a cart outside the house, and an old farmer comes in, a frieze coat on him._)

OLD FARMER. G.o.d save you, Martin; and is this your wife? G.o.d be with you, woman of the house. And, O Raftery, seven hundred thousand welcomes before you to this country. I would sooner see you than King George. When they told me you were here, I said to myself I would not go past without seeing you, if I didn't get home till morning.

BLIND MAN. But didn't you get my message?

OLD FARMER. What message is that?

BLIND MAN. Didn't they tell you to bring a present to the new-married woman and her husband. What have you got for them?

OLD FARMER. Wait till I see; I have something in the cart. (_He goes out._)

MARTIN. O Raftery, you see now what a great name you have here.

(_Old farmer comes in again_ _with a bag of meal on his shoulders. He throws it on the floor._)

OLD FARMER. Four bags of meal I was bringing from the mill; and there is one of them for the woman of the house.

MARY. A thousand thanks to G.o.d and you. (MARTIN _carries the bag to other side of table._)

BLIND MAN. Now don't forget the fiddler. (_He takes a plate and holds it out._)

OLD FARMER. I'll not break my word, Raftery, the first time you came to this country. There is two s.h.i.+llings for you in the plate. (_He throws the money into it._)

BLIND MAN.

This is a man has love to G.o.d, Opening his hand to give out food; Better a small house filled with wheat, Than a big house that's bare of meat.

OLD FARMER. _Maisead_, long life to you, Raftery.

BLIND MAN. Are you there, boy?

BOY. I am.

BLIND MAN. I hear more wheels coming. Go out, and tell the people Raftery will let no person come in here without a present for the woman of the house.

BOY. I am going. (_He goes out._)

OLD FARMER. They say there was not the like of you for a poet in Connacht these hundred years back.

(_A middle-aged woman comes in, a pound of tea and a parcel of sugar in her hand._)

WOMAN. G.o.d save all here! I heard Raftery the poet was in it; and I brought this little present to the woman of the house. (_Puts them into_ MARY'S _hands._) I would sooner see Raftery than be out there in the cart.

BLIND MAN. Don't forget the fiddler, O right woman.

WOMAN. And are you Raftery?

BLIND MAN.

I am Raftery the poet, Full of gentleness and love; With eyes without light, With quietness, without misery.

WOMAN. Good the man.

BLIND MAN.

Quick, quick, quick, for no man Need speak twice to a handy woman; I'll praise you when I hear the clatter Of your s.h.i.+lling on my platter.

(_A young man comes in with a side of bacon in his arms, and stands waiting._)

WOMAN. Indeed, I would not begrudge it to you if it was a piece of gold I had (_puts s.h.i.+lling in plate_). The 'Repentance' you made is at the end of my fingers. Here's another customer for you now. (_The young man comes forward, and gives the bacon to_ MARTIN, _who puts it with the meal._)

MARY. I thank you kindly. Oh, it's like the miracle worked for Saint Colman, sending him his dinner in the bare hills!

BLIND MAN.

May that young man with yellow hair Find yellow money everywhere!

FAIR YOUNG MAN. I heard the world and his wife were stopping at the door to give a welcome to Raftery, and I thought I would not be behindhand. And here is something for the fiddler (_puts money in the plate_). I would sooner see that fiddler than any other fiddler in the world.

BLIND MAN.

May that young man with yellow hair Buy cheap, sell dear, in every fair.

FAIR YOUNG MAN (_to_ MARTIN). How does he know I have yellow hair and he blind? How does he know that?

MARTIN. Hush, my head is going round with the wonder is on me.

MARY. No wonder at all in that. Maybe it is dreaming we all are.

(_A grey-haired man and two girls come in._)

GREY-HAIRED MAN (_laying down a sack_). The blessing of G.o.d here! I heard Raftery was here in the wedding-house, and that he would let no one in without a present. There was nothing in the cart with us but a sack of potatoes, and there it is for you, ma'am.

MARY. Oh, it's too good you all are to me. Whether it's asleep or awake I am, I thank you kindly.

BLIND MAN. Don't forget the fiddler.