The Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats. Volume 3 of 8. The Countess Cathleen. The Land of Heart's Desire. The Unicorn from the Stars

SECOND MERCHANTHis gaze has filled me, brother,With shaking and a dreadful fear.FIRST MERCHANTLean forwardAnd kiss the circlet where my master’s lipsWere pressed upon it when he sent us hither:You will have peace once more.

[The SECOND MERCHANT kisses the gold circlet that is about the head of the FIRST MERCHANT.

SHEMUSHe is called Aleel,And has been crazy now these many days;But has no harm in him: his fits soon pass,And one can go and lead him like a child.FIRST MERCHANTCome, deal, deal, deal, deal, deal; you are all dumb?SHEMUSThey say you beat the woman down too low.FIRST MERCHANTI offer this great price: a thousand crownsFor an old woman who was always ugly.

[An old peasant woman comes forward, and he takes up a parchment and reads.]

There is but little set down here against her;She stole fowl sometimes when the harvest failed,But always went to chapel twice a week,And paid her dues when prosperous. Take your money.THE OLD PEASANT WOMAN [curtseying]God bless you, sir. [She screams.O, sir, a pain went through me.FIRST MERCHANTThat name is like a fire to all damned souls.Begone. [She goes.] See how the red gold pieces glitter.Deal: do you fear because an old hag screamed?Are you all cowards?A PEASANTNay, I am no coward.I will sell half my soul.FIRST MERCHANTHow half your soul?THE PEASANTHalf my chance of heaven.FIRST MERCHANTIt is writ hereThis man in all things takes the moderate course,He sits on midmost of the balance beam,And no man has had good of him or evil.Begone, we will not buy you.SECOND MERCHANTDeal, come, deal.FIRST MERCHANTWhat, will you keep us from our ancient home,And from the eternal revelry? Come, deal,And we will hence to our great master again.Come, deal, deal, deal.THE PEASANTS SHOUTThe Countess Cathleen comes!CATHLEEN [entering]

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