Corrig No, Myles! I am not that blackguard I’ve been represented.
Myles [Sits on keg.] See that now – how people take away a man’s character. You are another sort of blackguard entirely.
Corrig You shall find me a gentleman – liberal, ready to protect you.
Myles Long life t’ye sir.
Corrig Myles, you have come down in the world lately; a year ago you were a thriving horse-dealer, now you are a lazy, ragged fellow.
Myles Ah, it’s the bad luck, sir, that’s in it.
Corrig No, it’s the love of Eily O’Connor that’s in it – it’s the pride of Garryowen that took your heart away, and made ye what ye are – a smuggler and a poacher.
Myles Thim’s hard words.
Corrig But they are true. You live like a wild beast in some cave or hole in the rocks above; by night your gun is heard shootin’ the otter as they lie out on the stones, or you snare the salmon in your nets; on a cloudy night your whisky-still is going – you see, I know your life.
Myles Better than the priest, and devil a lie in it.
Corrig Now, if I put ye in a snug farm – stock ye with pigs and cattle, and rowl you up comfortable – d’ye think the Colleen Bawn wouldn’t jump at ye?
Myles Bedad, she’d make a lape, I b’lieve – and what would I do for all this luck?
Corrig Find out for me who it is that lives at the cottage on Muckross Head.
Myles That’s aisy – it’s Danny Mann – no less and his ould mother Sheelah.
Corrig Yes, Myles, but there’s another – a girl who is hid there.
Myles Ah, now!
Corrig She only goes out at night.
Myles Like the owls.
Corrig She’s the misthress of Hardress Cregan.
Myles [Seizing Corrigan.] Thurra mon dhiol, what’s that?
Corrig Oh, lor! Myles – Myles – what’s the matter – are you mad?
Myles No – that is – why – why did ye raise your hand at me in that way?
Corrig I didn’t.
Myles I thought ye did – I’m mighty quick at takin’ thim hints, bein’ on me keepin’ agin the gaugers – go on – I didn’t hurt ye.
Corrig Not much.
Myles You want to find out who this girl is?
Corrig I’ll give £20 for the information – there’s ten on account.
[Gives money
Myles Long life t’ye; that’s the first money I iver got from a lawyer, and bad luck to me, but there’s a cure for the evil eye in thim pieces.
Corrig You will watch to-night?
Myles In five minutes I’ll be inside the cottage itself.
Corrig That’s the lad.
Myles [Aside.] I was goin’ there.
Corrig And to-morrow you will step down to my office with the particulars?
Myles To-morrow you shall breakfast on them.
Corrig Good night, entirely. [Exit Corrigan, L.
Myles I’ll give ye a cowstail to swally, and make ye think it’s a chapter in St. Patrick, ye spalpeen? When he called Eily the misthress of Hardress Cregan, I nearly sthretched him – begorra, I was full of sudden death that minute! Oh, Eily! acushla agrah asthore machree! as the stars watch over Innisfallen, and as the wathers go round it and keep it, so I watch and keep round you, avourneen!
Song.– Myles
Oh, Limerick is beautiful, as everybody knows,
The river Shannon’s full of fish, beside that city flows;
But it is not the river, nor the fish that preys upon my mind,
Nor with the town of Limerick have I any fault to find.
The girl I love is beautiful, she’s fairer than the dawn;
She lives in Garryowen, and she’s called the Colleen Bawn.
As the river, proud and bold, goes by that famed city,
So proud and cold, without a word, that Colleen goes by me!
Oh, hone! Oh, hone!
Oh, if I was the Emperor of Russia to command,
Or, Julius Cæsar, or the Lord Lieutenant of the land,
I’d give up all my wealth, my manes, I’d give up my army,
Both the horse, the fut, and the Royal Artillery;
I’d give the crown from off my head, the people on their knees,
I’d give my fleet of sailing ships upon the briny seas,
And a beggar I’d go to sleep, a happy man at dawn,
If by my side, fast for my bride, I’d the darlin’ Colleen Bawn.
Oh, hone! Oh, hone!
I must reach the cottage before the masther arrives; Father Tom is there waitin’ for this keg o’ starlight – it’s my tithe; I call every tenth keg “his riverince.” It’s worth money to see the way it does the old man good, and brings the wather in his eyes, the only place I ever see any about him – heaven bless him!
[Sings. Exit Myles, R. —Music
SCENE III. —Interior of Eily’s Cottage on Muckross Head; fire burning, R. 3 E.; table, R. C.; arm chair; two stools, R. of table; stool L. of table; basin, sugar spoon, two jugs, tobacco, plate, knife, and lemon on table
Father Tom discovered smoking in arm chair, R. C. – Eily in balcony, watching over lake
Father Tom [Sings.] “Tobacco is an Injun weed.” And every weed want’s wathering to make it come up; but tobacco bein’ an’ Injun weed that is accustomed to a hot climate, water is entirely too cold for its warrum nature – it’s whisky and water it wants. I wonder if Myles has come; I’ll ask Eily. [Calls.] Eily, alanna! Eily, a suilish machree!
Eily [Turning.] Is it me, Father Tom?
Father T Has he come?
Eily No; his boat is half a mile off yet.
Father T Half a mile! I’ll choke before he’s here.
Eily Do you mean Hardress?
Father T No, dear! Myles na Coppaleen – cum spiritu Hiberneuse – which manes in Irish, wid a keg of poteen.
Enter Myles, R. U. E., down C
Myles Here I am, your riverince, never fear. I tould Sheelah to hurry up with the materials, knowin’ ye be dhry and hasty.
Enter Sheelah, with kettle of water, R. U. E
Sheelah Here’s the hot water.
Myles Lave it there till I brew Father Tom a pint of mother’s milk.
Sheelah Well thin, ye’ll do your share of the work, an not a ha’porth more.
Myles Didn’t I bring the sperrits from two miles and more? and I deserve to have pref’rence to make the punch for his riverince.
Sheelah And didn’t I watch the kettle all night, not to let it off the boil? – there now.
Myles [Quarreling with Sheelah.] No, you didn’t, etc.
Sheelah [Quarreling.] Yes, I did, etc.
Eily No, no; I’ll make it, and nobody else.
Father T Aisy now, ye becauns, and whist; Myles shall put in the whisky, Sheelah shall put in the hot water, and Eily, my Colleen, shall put the sugar in the cruiskeen. A blessin’ on ye all three that loves the ould man. [Myles takes off hat– Women curtsey – they make punch.] See now, my children, there’s a moral in everthing, e’en in a jug of punch. There’s the sperrit, which is the sowl and strength of the man. [Myles pours spirit from keg.] That’s the whisky. There’s the sugar, which is the smile of woman; [Eily puts sugar.] without that life is without taste or sweetness. Then there’s the lemon, [Eily puts lemon.] which is love; a squeeze now and again does a boy no harm; but not too much. And the hot water [Sheelah pours water.] which is adversity – as little as possible if ye plaze – that makes the good things better still.
Myles And it’s complate, ye see, for it’s a woman that gets into hot wather all the while. [Pours from jug to jug.
Sheelah Myles, if I hadn’t the kettle, I’d bate ye.
Myles Then, why didn’t ye let me make the punch? There’s a guinea for your riverince that’s come t’ye – one in ten I got a while ago – it’s your tithe – put a hole in it, and hang it on your watch chain, for it’s a mighty great charm entirely.
[They sit, Sheelah near fire, Colleen on stool beside her, Father Tom in chair, Myles on stool, L. of table
Father T Eily, look at that boy, and tell me, haven’t ye a dale to answer for?
Eily He isn’t as bad about me as he used to be; he’s getting over it.
Myles Yes, darlin’, the storm has passed over, and I’ve got into settled bad weather.
Father T Maybe, afther all, ye’d have done better to have married Myles there, than be the wife of a man that’s ashamed to own ye.
Eily He isn’t – he’s proud of me. It’s only when I spake like the poor people, and say or do anything wrong, that he’s hurt; but I’m gettin’ clane of the brogue, and learnin’ to do nothing – I’m to be changed entirely.
Myles Oh! if he’d lave me yer own self, and only take away wid him his improvements. Oh! murder – Eily, aroon, why wasn’t ye twins, an’ I could have one of ye, only nature couldn’t make two like ye – it would be onreasonable to ax it.
Eily Poor Myles, do you love me still so much?
Myles Didn’t I lave the world to folley ye, and since then there’s been neither night nor day in my life – I lay down on Glenna Point above, where I see this cottage, and I lived on the sight of it. Oh! Eily, if tears were pison to the grass there wouldn’t be a green blade on Glenna Hill this day.
Eily But you knew I was married, Myles.
Myles Not thin, aroon – Father Tom found me that way, and sat beside, and lifted up my soul. Then I confessed to him, and, sez he, “Myles, go to Eily, she has something to say to you – say I sent you.” I came, and ye tould me ye were Hardress Cregan’s wife, and that was a great comfort entirely. Since I knew that [Drinks – voice in cup.] I haven’t been the blackguard I was.
Father T See the beauty of the priest, my darlin’ —videte et admirate– see and admire it. It was at confession that Eily tould me she loved Cregan, and what did I do? – sez I, “Where did you meet your sweetheart?” “At Garryowen,” sez she. “Well,” says I; “that’s not the place.” “Thrue, your riverince, it’s too public entirely,” sez she. “Ye’ll mate him only in one place,” sez I; “and that’s the stile that’s behind my chapel,” for, d’ye see, her mother’s grave was forenint the spot, and there’s a sperrit round the place, [Myles drinks,] that kept her pure and strong. Myles, ye thafe, drink fair.
Sheelah Come now, Eily, couldn’t ye cheer up his riverince wid the tail of a song?
Eily Hardress bid me not sing any ould Irish songs, he says the words are vulgar.
Sheelah Father Tom will give ye absolution.
Father T Put your lips to that jug; there’s only the strippens left. Drink! and while that thrue Irish liquor warms your heart, take this wid it. May the brogue of ould Ireland niver forsake your tongue – may her music niver lave yer voice – and may a true Irishwoman’s virtue niver die in your heart!
Myles Come, Eily, it’s my liquor – haven’t ye a word to say for it?
Song, Eily – “Cruiskeen Lawn.”
Let the farmer praise his grounds,
As the huntsman doth his hounds,
And the shepherd his fresh and dewy morn;
But I, more blest than they,
Spend each night and happy day.
With my smilin’ little Crusikeen Lawn, Lawn, Lawn.
Chorus [Repeat.] Gramachree, mavourneen, slanta gal avourneen,
Gramachree ma Cruiskeen Lawn, Lawn, Lawn,
With my smiling little Cruiskeen Lawn.
[Chorused by Myles, Father T., and Sheelah
Myles
And when grim Death appears,
In long and happy years,
To tell me that my glass is run,
I’ll say, begone you slave,
For great Bacchus gave me lave
To have another Cruiskeen Lawn – Lawn – Lawn.
Chorus. – Repeat
Gramachree, &c., &c.
Hard [Without, L. U. E.] Ho! Sheelah – Sheelah!
Sheelah [Rising.] Whist! it’s the master.
Eily [Frightened.] Hardress! oh, my! what will he say if he finds us here – run, Myles – quick, Sheelah – clear away the things.
Father T Hurry now, or we’ll get Eily in throuble.
[Takes keg– Myles takes jugs– Sheelah kettle
Hard Sheelah, I say!
[Exeunt Father Tom and Myles, R. U. E., quickly
Sheelah Comin’, Sir, I’m puttin’ on my petticoat.
[Exit Sheelah, R. U. E., quickly
Enter Hardress and Danny, L. U. E. opening– Danny immediately goes off, R. U. E
Eily [C.] Oh, Hardress, asthore?
Hard [L. C.] Don’t call me by those confounded Irish words – what’s the matter? you’re trembling like a bird caught in a trap.
Eily Am I, mavou – no I mean – is it tremblin’ I am, dear?
Hard What a dreadful smell of tobacco there is here, and the fumes of whisky punch, too; the place smells like a shebeen. Who has been here?
Eily There was Father Tom, an’ Myles dhropped in.
Hard Nice company for my wife – a vagabond.
Eily Ah! who made him so but me, dear? Before I saw you, Hardress, Myles coorted me, and I was kindly to the boy.
Hard Damn it, Eily, why will you remind me that my wife was ever in such a position?
Eily I won’t see him again – if yer angry, dear, I’ll tell him to go away, and he will, because the poor boy loves me.
Hard Yes, better than I do you mean?
Eily No, I don’t – oh! why do you spake so to your poor Eily!
Hard Spake so! Can’t you say speak?
Eily I’ll thry, aroon – I’m sthrivin’ – ’tis mighty hard, but what wouldn’t I undert-tee-ta – undergo for your sa-se – for your seek.
Hard Sake – sake!
Eily Sake – seek – oh, it is to bother people entirely they mixed ’em up! Why didn’t they make them all one way?
Hard [Aside.] It is impossible! How can I present her as my wife? Oh! what an act of madness to tie myself to one so much beneath me – beautiful – good as she is —
Eily Hardress, you are pale – what has happened?
Hard Nothing – that is, nothing but what you will rejoice at.
Eily What d’ye mane?
Hard What do I mane! Mean – mean!
Eily I beg your pardon, dear.
Hard Well; I mean that after to-morrow there will be no necessity to hide our marriage, for I shall be a beggar, my mother will be an outcast, and amidst all the shame, who will care what wife a Cregan takes?
Eily And d’ye think I’d like to see you dhragged down to my side – ye don’t know me – see now – never call me wife again – don’t let on to mortal that we’re married – I’ll go as a servant in your mother’s house – I’ll work for the smile ye’ll give me in passing, and I’ll be happy, if ye’ll only let me stand outside and hear your voice.
Hard You’re a fool. I told you that I was bethrothed to the richest heiress in Kerry; her fortune alone can save us from ruin. To-night my mother discovered my visits here, and I told her who you were.
Eily Oh! what did she say?
Hard It broke her heart.
Eily Hardress! is there no hope?
Hard None. That is none – that – that I can name.
Eily There is one – I see it.
Hard There is. We were children when we were married, and I could get no priest to join our hands but one, and he had been disgraced by his bishop. He is dead. There was no witness to the ceremony but Danny Mann – no proof but his word, and your certificate.
Eily [Takes paper from her breast.] This!
Hard Eily! if you doubt my eternal love, keep that security; it gives you the right to the shelter of my roof; but oh! if you would be content with the shelter of my heart.
Eily And will it save ye, Hardress? And will your mother forgive me?
Hard She will bless you – she will take you to her breast.
Eily But you – another will take you to her breast.
Hard Oh, Eily, darling, d’ye think I could forget you, machree – forget the sacrifice more than blood you give me?
Eily Oh! when you talk that way to me, ye might take my life, and heart, and all. Oh! Hardress, I love you – take the paper and tare it. [Hardress takes paper.
Enter Myles C., opening
Myles No. I’ll be damned if he shall.
Hard Scoundrel! you have been listening?
Myles To every word. I saw Danny, wid his ear agin that dure, so as there was only one kay-hole, I adopted the windy. Eily, aroon, Mr. Cregan will giv’ ye back that paper; you can’t tare up an oath; will ye help him then to cheat this other girl, and to make her his mistress, for that’s what she’ll be if ye are his wife. An’ after all, what is there agin’ the crature? Only the money she’s got. Will you stop lovin’ him when his love belongs to another? No! I know it by myself; but if ye jine their hands together your love will be an adultry.
Eily Oh, no!
Hard Vagabond! outcast! jail bird! dare you prate of honor to me?
Myles [C.] I am an outlaw, Mr. Cregan – a felon, may be – but if you do this thing to that poor girl that loves you so much – had I my neck in the rope – or my fut on the deck of a convict ship – I’d turn round and say to ye, “Hardress Cregan, I make ye a present of the contimpt of a rogue.” [Snaps fingers.
Music till end Act. – Enter Father Tom, Sheelah and Danny, R. U. E. – Hardress throws down paper – goes to table – takes hat
Hard Be it so, Eily, farewell! until my house is clear of these vermin – [Danny appears at back] – you will see me no more.
[Exit Hardress, L. C., followed by Danny
Eily Hardress – Hardress! [Going up.] Don’t leave me, Hardress!
Father T [Intercepts her.] Stop, Eily! [Danny returns and listens.
Eily He’s gone – he’s gone!
Father T Give me that paper, Myles. [Myles picks it up – gives it.] Kneel down there, Eily, before me – put that paper in your breast.
Eily [Kneeling.] Oh, what will I do – what will I do?
Father T Put your hand upon it now.
Eily Oh, my heart – my heart!
Father T Be thee hush, and spake after me – by my mother that’s in heaven.
Eily By my mother that’s in heaven.
Father T By the light and the word.
Eily By the light and the word.
Father T Sleepin’ or wakin’.
Eily Sleepin’ or wakin’.
Father T This proof of my truth.
Eily This proof of my truth.
Father T Shall never again quit my breast.
Eily Shall never again quit my breast.