The Land Of Hearts Desire | Page 5

old.
(BRIDGET gives her more bread and honey.)
MAURTEEN. O, who would think to find so young a girl Loving old
age and wisdom?
THE CHILD. No more, mother.
MAURTEEN. What a small bite! The milk is ready now.
(Hands it to her.)

What a small sip!
THE CHILD. Put on my shoes, old mother. Now I would like to dance
now I have eaten, The reeds are dancing by Coolaney lake, And I
would like to dance until the reeds And the white waves have danced
themselves asleep.
(BRIDGET puts on the shoes, and the CHILD is about to dance, but
suddenly sees the crucifix and shrieks and covers her eyes.)
What is that ugly thing on the black cross?
FATHER HART. You cannot know how naughty your words are! That
is our Blessed Lord.
THE CHILD. Hide it away,
BRIDGET. I have begun to be afraid again.
THE CHILD. Hide it away!
MAURTEEN. That would be wickedness!
BRIDGET. That would be sacrilege!
THE CHILD. The tortured thing Hide it away!
MAURTEEN. Her parents are to blame.
FATHER HART. That is the image of the Son of God.
THE CHILD (caressing him) Hide it away, hide it away!
MAURTEEN. No, no.
FATHER HART. Because you are so young and like a bird, That must
take fright at every stir of the leaves, I will go take it down.
THE CHILD. Hide it away! And cover it out of sight and out of mind!

(FATHER HART takes crucifix from wall and carries it towards inner
room.)
FATHER HART. Since you have come into this barony, I will instruct
you in our blessed faith And being so keen witted you'll soon learn.
(To the others.)
We must be tender to all budding things, Our Maker let no thought of
Calvary Trouble the morning stars in their first song.
(Puts crucifix in inner room.)
THE CHILD. Here is level ground for dancing; I will dance.
(Sings.)
"The wind blows out of the gates of the day, The wind blows over the
lonely of heart, And the lonely of heart is withered away."
(She dances.)
MARY (to SHAWN). just now when she came near I thought I heard
Other small steps beating upon the floor, And a faint music blowing in
the wind, Invisible pipes giving her feet the tune.
SHAWN. I heard no steps but hers.
MARY. I hear them now, The unholy powers are dancing in the house.
MAURTEEN. Come over here, and if you promise me Not to talk
wickedly of holy things I will give you something.
THE CHILD. Bring it me, old father.
MAURTEEN. Here are some ribbons that I bought in the town For my
son's wife--but she will let me give them To tie up that wild hair the
winds have tumbled.

THE CHILD. Come, tell me, do you love me?
MAURTEEN. Yes, I love you.
THE CHILD. Ah, but you love this fireside. Do you love me?
FATHER HART. When the Almighty puts so great a share Of His own
ageless youth into a creature, To look is but to love.
THE CHILD. But you love Him?
BRIDGET. She is blaspheming.
THE CHILD. And do you love me too
MARY. I do not know.
THE CHILD. You love that young man there, Yet I could make you
ride upon the winds, Run on the top of the dishevelled tide, And dance
upon the mountains like a flame.
MARY. Queen of Angels and kind saints defend us! Some dreadful
thing will happen. A while ago She took away the blessed quicken
wood.
FATHER HART. You fear because of her unmeasured prattle; She
knows no better. Child, how old are you?
THE CHILD. When winter sleep is abroad my hair grows thin, My feet
unsteady. When the leaves awaken My mother carries me in her golden
arms; I'll soon put on my womanhood and marry The spirits of wood
and water, but who can tell When I was born for the first time? I think I
am much older than the eagle cock That blinks and blinks on
Ballygawley Hill, And he is the oldest thing under the moon.
FATHER HART. O she is of the faery people.
THE CHILD. One called, I sent my messengers for milk and fire, She
called again and after that I came.

(All except SHAWN and MARY BRUIN gather behind the priest for
protection.)
SHAWN (rising) Though you have made all these obedient, You have
not charmed my sight and won from me A wish or gift to make you
powerful; I'll turn you from the house.
FATHER HART. No, I will face her.
THE CHILD. Because you took away the crucifix I am so mighty that
there's none can pass, Unless I will it, where my feet have danced Or
where I've whirled my