FIRST MERCHANT We cannot take your soul, for it is hers. ALEEL No, but you must. Seeing it cannot help her I have grown tired of it. FIRST MERCHANT Begone from me, I may not touch it. ALEEL Is your power so small? And must I bear it with me all my days? May you be scorned and mocked! FIRST MERCHANT Drag him away. He troubles me. (TEIG _and_ SHEMUS _lead_ ALEEL _into the crowd_.) SECOND MERCHANT His gaze has filled me, brother, With shaking and a dreadful fear. FIRST MERCHANT Lean forward And kiss the circlet where my Master's lips Were pressed upon it when he sent us hither; You shall have peace once more. (SECOND MERCHANT _kisses the gold circlet that is about the head of the_ FIRST MERCHANT.) I, too, grow weary, But there is something moving in my heart Whereby I know that what we seek the most Is drawing near--our labour will soon end. Come, deal, deal, deal, deal, deal; are you all dumb? What, will you keep me from our ancient home, And from the eternal revelry? SECOND MERCHANT Deal, deal. SHEMUS They say you beat the woman down too low. FIRST MERCHANT I offer this great price: a thousand crowns For an old woman who was always ugly. (_An old_ PEASANT WOMAN _comes forward, and he takes up a book and reads_:) There is but little set down here against her. "She has stolen eggs and fowl when times were bad, But when the times grew better has confessed it; She never missed her chapel of a Sunday And when she could, paid dues." Take up your money. OLD WOMAN God bless you, sir. (_She screams._) Oh, sir, a pain went through me! FIRST MERCHANT That name is like a fire to all damned souls. (_Murmur among the_ PEASANTS, _who shrink back from her as she goes out_.) A PEASANT How she screamed out! SECOND PEASANT And maybe we shall scream so. THIRD PEASANT I tell you there is no such place as hell. FIRST MERCHANT Can such a trifle turn you from your profit? Come, deal; come, deal. MIDDLE-AGED MAN Master, I am afraid. FIRST MERCHANT I bought your soul, and there's no sense in fear Now the soul's gone. MIDDLE-AGED MAN Give me my soul again. WOMAN (_going on her knees and clinging to_ MERCHANT) And take this money too, and give me mine. SECOND MERCHANT Bear bastards, drink or follow some wild fancy; For sighs and cries are the soul's work, And you have none. (_Throws the woman off._) PEASANT Come, let's away. ANOTHER PEASANT Yes, yes. ANOTHER PEASANT