In Shadow of the Glen | Page 3

Project of 20% of the net profits
you derive calculated using the method you already use to calculate
your applicable taxes. If you don't derive profits, no royalty is due.
Royalties are payable to "Project Gutenberg
Association/Carnegie-Mellon University" within the 60 days following
each date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) your annual
(or equivalent periodic) tax return.

WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU
DON'T HAVE TO?
The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, scanning
machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty free copyright
licenses, and every other sort of contribution you can think of. Money
should be paid to "Project Gutenberg Association / Carnegie-Mellon
University".
*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN
ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END*

IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLEN
By J. M. SYNGE
JOHN W. LUCE & COMPANY BOSTON 1911
Copyright, 1904 By J. M. Synge

IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLEN
A PLAY IN ONE ACT
First performed at the Molesworth Hall, Dublin, October 8th, 1903.
PERSONS
DAN BURKE farmer and herd). . George Roberts NORA BURKE (his
wife) . . . . Maire Nic Shiubhlaigh MICHEAL DARA (a young herd) .
P. J. Kelly A TRAMP . . . . . . . . . . . W. G. Fay

IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLEN
A PLAY IN ONE ACT
First performed at the Molesworth Hall, Dublin, October 8th, 1903.
SCENE. -- The last cottage at the head of a long glen in County
Wicklow. (Cottage kitchen; turf fire on the right; a bed near it against
the wall with a body lying on it covered with a sheet. A door is at the
other end of the room, with a low table near it, and stools, or wooden
chairs. There are a couple of glasses on the table, and a bottle of whisky,
as if for a wake, with two cups, a tea-pot, and a home-made cake. There
is another small door near the bed. Nora Burke is moving about the

room, settling a few things, and lighting candles on the table, looking
now and then at the bed with an uneasy look. Some one knocks softly
at the door. She takes up a stocking with money from the table and puts
it in her pocket. Then she opens the door.)
TRAMP [Outside.] Good evening to you, lady of the house.
NORA Good evening, kindly stranger, it's a wild night, God help you,
to be out in the rain falling.
TRAMP It is, surely, and I walking to Brittas from the Aughrim fair.
NORA Is it walking on your feet, stranger?
TRAMP On my two feet, lady of the house, and when I saw the light
below I thought maybe if you'd a sup of new milk and a quiet decent
corner where a man could sleep (he looks in past her and sees the dead
man).] The Lord have mercy on us all!
NORA It doesn't matter anyway, stranger, come in out of the rain.
TRAMP [Coming in slowly and going towards the bed.] Is it departed
he is?
NORA It is, stranger. He's after dying on me, God forgive him, and
there I am now with a hundred sheep beyond on the hills, and no turn
drawn for the winter.
TRAMP [Looking closely at the dead man.] It's a queer look is on him
for a man that's dead.
NORA [Half-humorously.] He was always queer, stranger, and I
suppose them that's queer and they living men will be queer bodies
after.
TRAMP Isn't it a great wonder you're letting him lie there, and he is not
tidied, or laid out itself?
NORA [Coming to the bed.] I was afeard, stranger, for he put a black
curse on me this morning if I'ld touch his body the time he'ld die
sudden, or let any one touch it except his sister only, and it's ten miles
away she lives in the big glen over the hill.
TRAMP [Looking at her and nodding slowly.] It's a queer story he
wouldn't let his own wife touch him, and he dying quiet in his bed.
NORA He was an old man, and an odd man, stranger, and it's always
up on the hills he was thinking thoughts in the dark mist. (She pulls
back a bit of the sheet.) Lay your hand on him now, and tell me if it's
cold he is surely.
TRAMP Is it getting the curse on me you'ld be, woman of the house? I

wouldn't lay my hand on him for the Lough Nahanagan and it filled
with gold.
NORA [Looking uneasily at the body.] Maybe cold would be no sign
of death with the like of him, for he was always cold, every day since I
knew him, -- and every night, stranger, -- [she covers