More food taken; Yet learned theologians have laid down That he who has no food, offending no way, May take his meat and bread from too-full larders. FIRST PEASANT. We come to make amends for robbery. I stole five hundred apples from your trees, And laid them in a hole; and my friend here Last night stole two large mountain sheep of yours And hung them on a beam under his thatch. SECOND PEASANT. His words are true. FIRST PEASANT. Since then our luck has changed. As I came down the lane by Tubber-vanach I fell on Shemus Rua and his son, And they led me where two great gentlemen Buy souls for money, and they bought my soul. I told my friend here—my friend also trafficked. SECOND PEASANT. His words are true. FIRST PEASANT. Now people throng to sell, Noisy as seagulls tearing a dead fish. There soon will be no man or woman’s soul Unbargained for in fivescore baronies. SECOND PEASANT. His words are true. FIRST PEASANT. When we had sold we talked, And having no more comfortable life Than this that makes us warm—our souls being bartered For all this money— SECOND PEASANT. And this money here. [_They bring handfuls of money from their pockets. CATHLEEN starts up._ FIRST PEASANT. And fearing much to hang for robbery, We come to pay you for the sheep and fruit. How do you price them? CATHLEEN. Gather up your money. Think you that I would touch the demons’ gold? Begone, give twice, thrice, twenty times their money, And buy your souls again. I will pay all. FIRST PEASANT. We will not buy our souls again: a soul But keeps the flesh out of its merriment. We shall be merry and drunk from moon to moon. Keep from our way. Let no one stop our way. [_They go._ CATHLEEN [_to servant_]. Follow and bring them here again—beseech them. [_The SERVANT goes._ [_To STEWARD._] Steward, you know the secrets of this house. How much have I in gold? STEWARD. A hundred thousand. CATHLEEN. How much have I in castles? STEWARD. As much more. CATHLEEN. How much have I in pastures? 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 to some distant country and come again With many herds of cows and ships of grain. STEWARD. God’s blessing light upon your ladyship; You will have saved the land. CATHLEEN. Make no delay. [_He goes._ [_Enter SERVANT._] How did you thrive? Say quickly. You are pale. SERVANT. Their eyes burn like the eyes of birds of prey: I did not dare go near. CATHLEEN.