CATHLEEN. She'd sleep that trouble away--though it must be A heavy trouble to forget his name-- If she had better sense. OONA. Your own house, lady. ALEEL. She sleeps high up on wintry Knock-na-rea In an old cairn of stones; while her poor women Must lie and jog in the wave if they would sleep Being water born--yet if she cry their names They run up on the land and dance in the moon Till they are giddy and would love as men do, And be as patient and as pitiful. But there is nothing that will stop in their heads, They've such poor memories, though they weep for it. Oh, yes, they weep; that's when the moon is full. CATHLEEN. is it because they have short memories They live so long? ALEEL. What's memory but the ash That chokes our fires that have begun to sink? And they've a dizzy, everlasting fire. OONA. There is your own house, lady. CATHLEEN. Why, that's true, And we'd have passed it without noticing. ALEEL. A curse upon it for a meddlesome house! Had it but stayed away I would have known What Queen Maeve thinks on when the moon is pinched; And whether now--as in the old days--the dancers Set their brief love on men. OONA. Rest on my arm. These are no thoughts for any Christian ear. ALEEL. I am younger, she would be too heavy for you. (He begins taking his lute out of the bag, CATHLEEN, Who has turned towards OONA, turns back to him.) This hollow box remembers every foot That danced upon the level grass of the world, And will tell secrets if I whisper to it. (Sings.) Lift up the white knee; That's what they sing, Those young dancers That in a ring Raved but now Of the hearts that break Long, long ago For their sake. OONA. New friends are sweet. ALEEL. "But the dance changes. Lift up the gown, All that sorrow Is trodden down." OONA. The empty rattle-pate! Lean on this arm, That I can tell you is a christened arm, And not like some, if we are to judge by speech. But as you please. It is time I was forgot. Maybe it is not on this arm you slumbered When you were as helpless as a worm. ALEEL. Stay with me till we come to your own house. CATHLEEN (Sitting down) When I am rested I will need no help. ALEEL. I thought to have kept her from remembering The evil of the times for full ten minutes; But now when seven are out you come between. OONA. Talk on; what does it matter what you say, For you have not been christened? ALEEL. Old woman, old woman, You robbed her of three minutes peace of mind, And though you live unto a hundred years, And wash the feet of beggars and give alms, And climb Croaghpatrick, you shall not be pardoned. OONA. How does a man who never was baptized Know what Heaven pardons? ALEEL. You are a sinful woman OONA. I care no more than if a pig had grunted. (Enter CATHLEEN's Steward.) STEWARD. I am not to blame, for I had locked the gate, The forester's to blame. The men climbed in At the east corner where the elm-tree is. CATHLEEN. I do not understand you, who has climbed?