Three Wonder Plays. Lady Gregory

my own way, mocking and humbugging.

      Nurse: I never will give in that there is no way to save you from that Dragon that is foretold to be your destruction. I would give the four divisions of the world, and Ireland along with them, if I could see you pelting your ball in at the window the same as an hour ago!

      Princess: Maybe you will, so long as it will hurt nobody.

      Nurse: Ah, sure it's no wonder there to be the tracks of tears upon your face, and that great terror before you.

      Princess: I will wipe them away! I will not give in to danger or to dragons! No one will see a dark face on me. I am a king's daughter of Ireland, I did not come out of a herd's hut like Deirdre that went sighing and lamenting till she was put to death, the world being sick and tired of her complaints, and her finger at her eye dripping tears!

      Nurse: That's right, now. You had always great courage.

      Princess: There is like a change within me. You never will hear a cross word from me again. I would wish to be pleasant and peaceable until such time …

      (Puts handkerchief to eyes and goes.)

      Dall Glic: (Coming in.) The King is greatly put out with all he went through, and the way the passion rose in him a while ago.

      Nurse: That he may be twenty times worse before he is better! Showing such fury towards the innocent child the way he did!

      Dall Glic: The Queen has brought him to the grass plot for to give him his exercise, walking his seven steps east and west.

      Nurse: Hasn't she great power over him to make him to that much?

      Dall Glic: I tell you I am in dread of her myself. Some plan she has for making my two eyes equal. I vexed her someway, and she got queer and humpy, and put a lip on herself, and said she would take me in hand. I declare I never will have a minute's ease thinking of it.

      Nurse: The King should have done his seven steps, for I hear her coming.

      (Dall Glic goes to recess of window.)

      Queen: (Coming in.) Did you, Nurse, ever at any time turn and dress a dinner?

      Nurse: (Very stiff.) Indeed I never did. Any house I ever was in there was a good kitchen and well attended, the Lord be praised!

      Queen: Ah, but just to be kind and to oblige the King.

      Nurse: Troth, the same King will wait long till he'll see any dish I will ready for him! I am not one that was reared between the flags and the oven in the corner of the one room! To be a nurse to King's children is my trade, and not to go stirring mashes, for hens or for humans!

      Queen: I heard a crafty woman lay down one time there was no way to hold a man, only by food and flattery.

      Nurse: Sure any mother of children walking the road could tell you that much.

      Queen: I went maybe too far urging him not to lessen so much food the way he did. I only thought to befriend him. But now he is someway upset and nothing will rightly smooth him but to be thinking upon his next meal; and what it will be I don't know, unless the berries of the bush.

      Dall Glic: (Leaning out of the window.) Here! Hi! Come this way!

      Queen: Who are you calling to?

      Dall Glic: It is someone with the appearance of a cook.

      Queen: Are you saying it is a cook? That now will put the King in great humour!

      (Manus appears at the window.)

      Nurse: (Looking at him.) I wouldn't hardly think he'd suit. He has a sort of innocent look. I wouldn't say him to be a country lad. I don't know is he fitted to go readying meals for a royal family, and the King so wrathful if they do not please him as he is. And as to the Princess Nu! There to be the size of a hayseed of fat overhead on her broth, she'd fall in a dead faint.

      Manus: I'll go on so.

      Queen: No, no. Bring him in till I'll take a look at him!

      Manus: (Coming inside.) I am a lad in search of a master.

      Manus: (Inside.) I am a lad in search of a master.

      Queen: And I myself that am wanting a cook.

      Manus: I got word of that and I going the road.

      Queen: You would seem to be but a young lad.

      Manus: I am not very far in age to-day. But I'll be a day older to-morrow.

      Queen: In what country were you born and reared?

      Manus: I came from over, and I am coming hither.

      Queen: What wages now would you be asking?

      Manus: Nothing at all unless what you think I will have earned at the time I will be leaving your service.

      Queen: That is very right and fair. I hope you will not be asking too much help. The last cook had a whole fleet of scullions that were no use but to chatter and consume.

      Manus: I am asking no help at all but the help of the ten I bring with me.

      (Holds up fingers.)

      Queen: That will be a great saving in the house! Can I depend upon you now not to be turning to your own use the King's ale and his wine?

      Manus: If you take me to be a thief I will go upon my road. It was no easier for me to come than to go out again.

      Queen: (Holding him.) No, now, don't be so proud and thinking so much of yourself. If I give you trial here I would wish you to be ready to turn your hand to this and that, and not be saying it is or is not your business.

      Manus: My business is to do as the King wishes.

      Queen: That's right. That is the way the servants were in the palace of the King of Alban.

      Manus: That's the way I was myself in the King's house of Sorcha.

      Queen: Are you saying it is from that place you are come? Sure that should be a great household! The King of Sorcha, they were telling me, has seven castles on land and seven on the sea, and provision for a year and a day in every one of them.

      Manus: That might be. I never was in more than one of them at the one time.

      Queen: Anyone that has been in that place would surely be fitting here. Keep him, Nurse! Don't let him make away from us till I will go call the King!

      (Goes out.)

      Nurse: Sure it was I myself that fostered the young King of Sorcha and reared him in my lap! What way is he at all? My lovely child! Give me news of him!

      Manus: I will do that. …

      Nurse: To hear of him would delight me!

      Manus: It is I that can tell you. …

      Nurse: It is himself should be a grand king!

      Manus: Listen till you hear! …

      Nurse: His father was good and his mother was good, and it's likely, himself will be the best of all!

      Manus: Be quiet now and hearken! …

      Nurse: I remember well the first day I saw him in the cradle, two and a score of years back! Oh, it is glad, and very glad, I'll be to get word of him!

      Manus: He is come to sensible years. …

      Nurse: A golden cradle it was and it standing on four golden balls the very round of the sun!