The Well of the Saints: A Comedy in Three Acts — John Shaqi
The Well of the Saints: A Comedy in Three ActsSynge, J. M. (John Millington)
Philosophy
The Well of the Saints: A Comedy in Three Acts
Synge, J. M. (John Millington)
Ireland -- Drama
TIMMY.
_resting himself on anvil, with satisfaction._ — I’m making a power of
things you do have when you’re settling with a wife, Martin Doul; for I
heard tell last night the Saint’ll be passing again in a short while,
and I’d have him wed Molly with myself.... He’d do it, I’ve heard them
say, for not a penny at all.
MARTIN DOUL.
_lays down hooks and looks at him steadily._ — Molly’ll be saying great
praises now to the Almighty God and He giving her a fine, stout, hardy
man the like of you.
TIMMY.
_uneasily._ — And why wouldn’t she, if she’s a fine woman itself?
MARTIN DOUL.
_looking up right._ — Why wouldn’t she, indeed, Timmy?.... The Almighty
God’s made a fine match in the two of you, for if you went marrying a
woman was the like of yourself you’d be having the fearfullest little
children, I’m thinking, was ever seen in the world.
TIMMY.
_seriously offended._ — God forgive you! if you’re an ugly man to be
looking at, I’m thinking your tongue’s worse than your view.
MARTIN DOUL.
_hurt also._ — Isn’t it destroyed with the cold I am, and if I’m ugly
itself I never seen anyone the like of you for dreepiness this day,
Timmy the smith, and I’m thinking now herself’s coming above you’d have
a right to step up into your old shanty, and give a rub to your face,
and not be sitting there with your bleary eyes, and your big nose, the
like of an old scarecrow stuck down upon the road.
TIMMY.
_looking up the road uneasily._ — She’s no call to mind what way I
look, and I after building a house with four rooms in it above on the
hill. (_He stands up._) But it’s a queer thing the way yourself and
Mary Doul are after setting every person in this place, and up beyond
to Rathvanna, talking of nothing, and thinking of nothing, but the way
they do be looking in the face. (_Going towards forge._) It’s the
devil’s work you’re after doing with your talk of fine looks, and I’d
do right, maybe, to step in and wash the blackness from my eyes.
[_He goes into forge. Martin Doul rubs his face furtively with the tail
of his coat. Molly Byrne comes on right with a water-can, and begins to
fill it at the well._]
MARTIN DOUL.
God save you, Molly Byrne.
MOLLY BYRNE.
_indifferently._ — God save you.
MARTIN DOUL.
That’s a dark, gloomy day, and the Lord have mercy on us all.
MOLLY BYRNE.
Middling dark.
MARTIN DOUL.
It’s a power of dirty days, and dark mornings, and shabby-looking
fellows (_he makes a gesture over his shoulder_) we do have to be
looking on when we have our sight, God help us, but there’s one fine
thing we have, to be looking on a grand, white, handsome girl, the like
of you.... and every time I set my eyes on you I do be blessing the
saints, and the holy water, and the power of the Lord Almighty in the
heavens above.
MOLLY BYRNE.
I’ve heard the priests say it isn’t looking on a young girl would teach
many to be saying their prayers.
[_Bailing water into her can with a cup._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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