They are out of spirit, sir, with lack of food, Save four or five. Here, sir, is one of these; The others will gain courage in good time. MIDDLE-AGED-MAN I come to deal--if you give honest price. FIRST MERCHANT (_reading in a book_) "John Maher, a man of substance, with dull mind, And quiet senses and unventurous heart. The angels think him safe." Two hundred crowns, All for a soul, a little breath of wind. THE MAN I ask three hundred crowns. You have read there That no mere lapse of days can make me yours. FIRST MERCHANT There is something more writ here--"Often at night He is wakeful from a dread of growing poor, And thereon wonders if there's any man That he could rob in safety." A PEASANT Who'd have thought it? And I was once alone with him at midnight. ANOTHER PEASANT I will not trust my mother after this. FIRST MERCHANT There is this crack in you--two hundred crowns. A PEASANT That's plenty for a rogue. ANOTHER PEASANT I'd give him nothing. SHEMUS You'll get no more--so take what's offered you. (_A general murmur, during which the_ MIDDLE-AGED MAN _takes money, and slips into background, where he sinks on to a seat_.) FIRST MERCHANT Has no one got a better soul than that? If only for the credit of your parishes, Traffic with us. A WOMAN What will you give for mine? FIRST MERCHANT (_reading in book_) "Soft, handsome, and still young"--not much, I think. "It's certain that the man she's married to Knows nothing of what's hidden in the jar Between the hour-glass and the pepper-pot." THE WOMAN The scandalous book. FIRST MERCHANT "Nor how when he's away At the horse fair the hand that wrote what's hid Will tap three times upon the window-pane." THE WOMAN And if there is a letter, that is no reason Why I should have less money than the others. FIRST MERCHANT You're almost safe, I give you fifty crowns. (_She turns to go._) A hundred, then. SHEMUS Woman, have sense--come, come. Is this a time to haggle at the price? There, take it up. There, there. That's right. (_She takes them and goes into the crowd._) FIRST MERCHANT Come, deal, deal, deal. It is but for charity We buy such souls at all; a thousand sins Made them our Master's long before we came. (ALEEL _enters_.) ALEEL Here, take my soul, for I am tired of it. I do not ask a price. SHEMUS Not ask a price? How can you sell your soul without a price? I would not listen to his broken wits; His love for Countess Cathleen has so crazed him He hardly understands what he is saying. ALEEL The trouble that has come on Countess Cathleen, The sorrow that is in her wasted face, The burden in her eyes, have broke my wits, And yet I know I'd have you take my soul.