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Read Ebook: The Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats Vol. 3 (of 8) The Countess Cathleen. The Land of Heart's Desire. The Unicorn from the Stars by Yeats W B William Butler
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Ebook has 1184 lines and 31708 words, and 24 pages
PAGE THE COUNTESS CATHLEEN 1
THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE 89
THE UNICORN FROM THE STARS, BY LADY GREGORY AND W. B. YEATS 121
NOTES 214
THE COUNTESS CATHLEEN
TO MAUD GONNE.
THE COUNTESS CATHLEEN.
MAIRE.
You are all thumbs.
TEIG.
Hear how the dog bays, mother, And how the gray hen flutters in the coop. Strange things are going up and down the land, These famine times: by Tubber-vanach crossroads A woman met a man with ears spread out, And they moved up and down like wings of bats.
MAIRE.
Shemus stays late.
TEIG.
MAIRE.
White Mary, Bring Shemus home out of the wicked woods; Save Shemus from the wolves; Shemus is daring; And save him from the demons of the woods, Who have crept out and wander on the roads, Deluding dim-eyed souls now newly dead, And those alive who have gone crazed with famine. Save him, White Mary Virgin.
TEIG.
And but now I thought I heard far-off tympans and harps.
Lady, I fell but now, And lay upon the threshold like a log. I have not tasted a crust for these four days.
You're almost there. There is a trodden way among the hazels That brings your servants to their marketing.
ALEEL.
When we are gone draw to the door and the bolt, For, till we lost them half an hour ago, Two gray horned owls hooted above our heads Of terrors to come. Tympan and harp awake! For though the world drift from us like a sigh, Music is master of all under the moon; And play 'The Wind that blows by Cummen Strand.'
When wealthy and wise folk wander from their peace And fear wood things, poor folk may draw the bolt And pray before the fire.
He swayed about, And so I tied him to a quicken bough And slung him from my shoulder.
MAIRE.
Shemus! Shemus! What, would you burn the blessed quicken wood? A spell to ward off demons and ill faeries. You know not what the owls were that peeped in, For evil wonders live in this old wood, And they can show in what shape please them best. And we have had no milk to leave of nights To keep our own good people kind to us. And Aleel, who has talked with the great Sidhe, Is full of terrors to come.
The Mother of God has dropped asleep, And all her household things have gone to wrack.
MAIRE.
O Mary, Mother of God, be pitiful!
Come to the fire, Here is the headiest wine you ever tasted.
SECOND MERCHANT.
Wine that can hush asleep the petty war Of good and evil, and awake instead A scented flame flickering above that peace The bird of prey knows well in his deep heart.
SHEMUS.
I do not understand you, but your wine Sets me athirst: its praise made your eyes lighten. I am thirsting for it.
FIRST MERCHANT.
Ay, come drink and drink, I bless all mortals who drink long and deep. My curse upon the salt-strewn road of monks.
TEIG.
You must have seen rare sights and done rare things.
FIRST MERCHANT.
What think you of the master whom we serve?
SHEMUS.
I have grown weary of my days in the world Because I do not serve him.
FIRST MERCHANT.
More of this When we have eaten, for we love right well A merry meal, a warm and leaping fire And easy hearts.
SHEMUS.
Come, Maire, and cook the wolf.
MAIRE.
I will not cook for you.
SHEMUS.
Maire is mad.
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