The Playboy of the Western World: A Comedy in Three Acts — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Playboy of the Western World: A Comedy in Three Acts
John Stuart Mill · en
WIDOW QUIN.
You’ll be doing like myself, I’m thinking, when I did destroy my man,
for I’m above many’s the day, odd times in great spirits, abroad in the
sunshine, darning a stocking or stitching a shift; and odd times again
looking out on the schooners, hookers, trawlers is sailing the sea, and
I thinking on the gallant hairy fellows are drifting beyond, and myself
long years living alone.
CHRISTY.
_interested._—You’re like me, so.
WIDOW QUIN.
I am your like, and it’s for that I’m taking a fancy to you, and I with
my little houseen above where there’d be myself to tend you, and none
to ask were you a murderer or what at all.
CHRISTY.
And what would I be doing if I left Pegeen?
WIDOW QUIN.
I’ve nice jobs you could be doing, gathering shells to make a whitewash
for our hut within, building up a little goose-house, or stretching a
new skin on an old curragh I have, and if my hut is far from all sides,
it’s there you’ll meet the wisest old men, I tell you, at the corner of
my wheel, and it’s there yourself and me will have great times
whispering and hugging....
VOICES.
_outside, calling far away._—Christy! Christy Mahon! Christy!
CHRISTY.
Is it Pegeen Mike?
WIDOW QUIN.
It’s the young girls, I’m thinking, coming to bring you to the sports
below, and what is it you’ll have me to tell them now?
CHRISTY.
Aid me for to win Pegeen. It’s herself only that I’m seeking now.
(_Widow Quin gets up and goes to window._) Aid me for to win her, and
I’ll be asking God to stretch a hand to you in the hour of death, and
lead you short cuts through the Meadows of Ease, and up the floor of
Heaven to the Footstool of the Virgin’s Son.
WIDOW QUIN.
There’s praying.
VOICES.
_nearer._—Christy! Christy Mahon!
CHRISTY.
_with agitation._—They’re coming. Will you swear to aid and save me for
the love of Christ?
WIDOW QUIN.
_looks at him for a moment._—If I aid you, will you swear to give me a
right of way I want, and a mountainy ram, and a load of dung at
Michaelmas, the time that you’ll be master here?
CHRISTY.
I will, by the elements and stars of night.
WIDOW QUIN.
Then we’ll not say a word of the old fellow, the way Pegeen won’t know
your story till the end of time.
CHRISTY.
And if he chances to return again?
WIDOW QUIN.
We’ll swear he’s a maniac and not your da. I could take an oath I seen
him raving on the sands to-day. [_Girls run in._]
SUSAN.
Come on to the sports below. Pegeen says you’re to come.
SARA TANSEY.
The lepping’s beginning, and we’ve a jockey’s suit to fit upon you for
the mule race on the sands below.
HONOR.
Come on, will you?
CHRISTY.
I will then if Pegeen’s beyond.
SARA.
She’s in the boreen making game of Shaneen Keogh.
CHRISTY.
Then I’ll be going to her now. [_He runs out followed by the girls._]
WIDOW QUIN.
Well, if the worst comes in the end of all, it’ll be great game to see
there’s none to pity him but a widow woman, the like of me, has buried
her children and destroyed her man. [_She goes out._]
CURTAIN.
ACT III.