Ay, because her face, The face of Countess Cathleen, dwells with me: The sadness of the world upon her brow: The crying of these strings grew burdensome, Therefore I tore them; see; now take my soul. FIRST MERCHANT. We cannot take your soul, for it is hers. ALEEL. Ah, take it; take it. It nowise can help her, And, therefore, do I tire of it. FIRST MERCHANT. No; no. We may not touch it. ALEEL. Is your power so small, Must I then bear it with me all my days? May scorn close deep about you! FIRST MERCHANT. Lead him hence; 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 will have peace once more. [_The SECOND MERCHANT kisses the gold circlet that is about the head of the FIRST MERCHANT._ SHEMUS. He is called Aleel, And has been crazy now these many days; But has no harm in him: his fits soon pass, And one can go and lead him like a child. FIRST MERCHANT. Come, deal, deal, deal, deal, deal; you are all dumb? 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 parchment and reads._] There is but little set down here against her; She stole fowl sometimes when the harvest failed, But always went to chapel twice a week, And paid her dues when prosperous. Take your money. THE OLD PEASANT WOMAN [_curtseying_]. God bless you, sir. [_She screams._ O, sir, a pain went through me. FIRST MERCHANT. That name is like a fire to all damned souls. Begone. [_She goes._] See how the red gold pieces glitter. Deal: do you fear because an old hag screamed? Are you all cowards? A PEASANT. Nay, I am no coward. I will sell half my soul. FIRST MERCHANT. How half your soul? THE PEASANT. Half my chance of heaven. FIRST MERCHANT. It is writ here This man in all things takes the moderate course, He sits on midmost of the balance beam, And no man has had good of him or evil. Begone, we will not buy you. SECOND MERCHANT. Deal, come, deal. FIRST MERCHANT. What, will you keep us from our ancient home, And from the eternal revelry? Come, deal, And we will hence to our great master again. Come, deal, deal, deal. THE PEASANTS SHOUT. The Countess Cathleen comes! CATHLEEN [_entering_].