And yet it seemed As useless as the paring of one's nails. SHEMUS What sets me laughing when I think of it, Is that a rogue who's lain in lousy straw, If he but sell it, may set up his coach. TEIG (_laughing_) There are two gentlemen who buy men's souls. CATHLEEN O God! TEIG And maybe there's no soul at all. STEWARD They're drunk or mad. TEIG Look at the price they give. (_Showing money._) SHEMUS (_tossing up money_) "Go cry it all about the world," they said. "Money for souls, good money for a soul." CATHLEEN Give twice and thrice and twenty times their money, And get your souls again. I will pay all. SHEMUS Not we! not we! For souls--if there are souls-- But keep the flesh out of its merriment. I shall be drunk and merry. TEIG Come, let's away. (_He goes._) CATHLEEN But there's a world to come. SHEMUS And if there is, I'd rather trust myself into the hands That can pay money down than to the hands That have but shaken famine from the bag. (_He goes out_ R.) (_Lilting_) "There's money for a soul, sweet yellow money. There's money for men's souls, good money, money." CATHLEEN (_to_ ALEEL) Go call them here again, bring them by force, Beseech them, bribe, do anything you like; (ALEEL _goes_.) And you too follow, add your prayers to his. (OONA, _who has been praying, goes out_.) Steward, you know the secrets of my house. How much have I? STEWARD A hundred kegs of gold. CATHLEEN How much have I in castles? STEWARD As much more. CATHLEEN How much have I in pasture? STEWARD As much more. CATHLEEN How much have I in forests? STEWARD As much more. CATHLEEN Keeping this house alone, sell all I have, Go barter where you please, but come again With herds of cattle and with ships of meal. STEWARD God's blessing light upon your ladyship. You will have saved the land. CATHLEEN Make no delay. (_He goes_ L.) (ALEEL _and_ OONA _return_) CATHLEEN They have not come; speak quickly. ALEEL One drew his knife And said that he would kill the man or woman That stopped his way; and when I would have stopped him He made this stroke at me; but it is nothing. CATHLEEN You shall be tended. From this day for ever I'll have no joy or sorrow of my own. OONA Their eyes shone like the eyes of birds of prey. CATHLEEN