FIRST MERCHANT We need but hover over her head in the air, For she has only minutes. When she signed Her heart began to break. Hush, hush, I hear The brazen door of Hell move on its hinges, And the eternal revelry float hither To hearten us. SECOND MERCHANT Leap feathered on the air And meet them with her soul caught in your claws. (_They rush out._ ALEEL _crawls into the middle of the room_. _The twilight has fallen and gradually darkens as the scene goes on. There is a distant muttering of thunder and a sound of rising storm._) ALEEL The brazen door stands wide, and Balor comes Borne in his heavy car, and demons have lifted The age-weary eyelids from the eyes that of old Turned gods to stone; Barach, the traitor, comes And the lascivious race, Cailitin, That cast a druid weakness and decay Over Sualtem's and old Dectera's child; And that great king Hell first took hold upon When he killed Naisi and broke Deirdre's heart And all their heads are twisted to one side, For when they lived they warred on beauty and peace With obstinate, crafty, sidelong bitterness. (_He moves about as though the air above him was full of spirits_. OONA _enters_.) Crouch down, old heron, out of the blind storm. OONA Where is the Countess Cathleen? All this day Her eyes were full of tears, and when for a moment Her hand was laid upon my hand it trembled, And now I do not know where she is gone. ALEEL Cathleen has chosen other friends than us, And they are rising through the hollow world. Demons are out, old heron. OONA God guard her soul. ALEEL She's bartered it away this very hour, As though we two were never in the world. (_He points downward._) First, Orchill, her pale, beautiful head Her body shadowy as vapour drifting Under the dawn, for she who awoke desire Has but a heart of blood when others die; About her is a vapoury multitude Of women alluring devils with soft laughter; Behind her a host heat of the blood made sin, But all the little pink-white nails have grown To be great talons. (_He seizes_ OONA _and drags her into the middle of the room and points downward with vehement gestures_. _The wind roars._) They begin a song And there is still some music on their tongues. OONA (_casting herself face downwards on the floor_) O, Maker of all, protect her from the demons, And if a soul must need be lost, take mine. (ALEEL _kneels beside her, but does not seem to hear her words_. _The_ PEASANTS _return_. _They carry the_ COUNTESS CATHLEEN _and lay her upon the ground before_ OONA _and_ ALEEL. _She lies there as if dead._) OONA O, that so many pitchers of rough clay Should prosper and the porcelain break in two! (_She kisses the hands of_ CATHLEEN.) A PEASANT