The Land of Hearts Desire | Page 2

I am in the fields, And mother's tongue were harder still to bear, But for her fancies: this is May Eve too, When the good people post about the world, And surely one may think of them to-night. Maire, have you the primroses to fling Before the door to make a golden path For them to bring good luck into the house. Remember, they may steal new-married brides Upon May Eve.
MAIRE BRUIN _(going over to the window and taking the flowers from the bowl.)_
Here are the primroses.
[She goes to the door and strews the primroses outside.
FATHER HART.
You do well, daughter, because God permits?Great power to the good people on May Eve.
MAURTEEN BRUIN.
They can work all their will with primroses--?Change them to golden money, or little flames?To burn up those who do them any wrong.
MAIRE BRUIN.
I had no sooner flung them by the door?Than the wind cried and hurried them away.
BRIDGET BRUIN.
May God have mercy on us!
MAIRE BRUIN.
The good people?Will not be lucky to the house this year,?But I am glad that I was courteous to them,?For are not they, likewise, children of God?
FATHER HART.
No, child; they are the children of the fiend,?And they have power until the end of Time,?When God shall fight with them a great pitched battle?And hack them into pieces.
MAIRE BRUIN.
He will smile,?Father, perhaps, and open his great door,
FATHER HART.
Did but the lawless angels see that door?They would fall, slain by everlasting peace;?And when such angels knock upon our doors?Who goes with them must drive through the same storm.
[A knock at the door._ MAIRE BRUIN opens it and then goes to the dresser and fills a porringer with milk and hands it through the door and takes it back empty and closes the door._
MAIRE BRUIN.
A little queer old woman cloaked in green?Who came to beg a porringer of milk.
BRIDGET BRUIN.
The good people go asking milk and fire?Upon May Eve--Woe on the house that gives?For they have power upon it for a year.?I knew you would bring evil on the house
MAURTEEN BRUIN.
Who was she?
MAIRE BRUIN.
Both the tongue and face were strange.
MAURTEEN BRUIN.
Some strangers came last week to Clover Hill;?She must be one of them.
BRIDGET BRUIN.
I am afraid.
MAURTEEN BRUIN.
The priest will keep all harm out of the house.
FATHER HART.
The Cross will keep all harm out of the house?While it hangs there.
MAURTEEN BRUIN.
Come, sit beside me, colleen,?And cut away your dreams of discontent,?For I would have you light up my last days?Like a bright torch of pine, and when I die?I will make you the wealthiest hereabout;?For hid away where nobody can find?I have a stocking full of silver and gold.
BRIDGET BRUIN.
You are the fool of every pretty face,?And I must pinch and pare that my son's wife?May have all kinds of ribbons for her head.
MAURTEEN BRUIN.
Do not be cross; she is a right good girl!?The butter's by your elbow, Father Hart.?My colleen, have not Fate and Time and Change?Done well for me and for old Bridget there??We have a hundred acres of good land,?And sit beside each other at the fire,?The wise priest of our parish to our right,?And you and our dear son to left of us.?To sit beside the board and drink good wine?And watch the turf smoke coiling from the fire?And feel content and wisdom in your heart,?This is the best of life; when we are young?We long to tread a way none trod before,?But find the excellent old way through love?And through the care of children to the hour?For bidding Fate and Time and Change good-bye.
[A knock at the door._ MAIRE BRUIN opens it and then takes a sod of turf out of the hearth in the tongs and passes it through the door and closes the door and remains standing by it._
MAIRE BRUIN.
A little queer old man in a green coat,?Who asked a burning sod to light his pipe.
BRIDGET BRUIN.
You have now given milk and fire and brought?For all you know, evil upon the house.?Before you married you were idle and fine,?And went about with ribbons on your head;?And now you are a good-for-nothing wife.
SHAWN BRUIN.
Be quiet, mother!
MAURTEEN BRUIN.
You are much too cross!
MAIRE BRUIN.
What do I care if I have given this house,?Where I must hear all day a bitter tongue,?Into the power of faeries!
BRIDGET BRUIN.
You know, well?How calling the good people by that name?Or talking of them over much at all?May bring all kinds of evil on the house.
MAIRE BRUIN.
Come, faeries, take me out of this dull house!?Let me have all the freedom I have lost--?Work when I will and idle when I will!?Faeries, came take me out of this dull world,?For I would ride with you upon the wind,?Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,?And dance upon the mountains like a flame!
FATHER HART.
You cannot know the meaning of your words!
MAIRE BRUIN.
Father, I am right weary of four tongues:?A tongue that is