Poems. William Butler Yeats

could, paid dues." Take up your money.

OLD WOMAN

      God bless you, sir. (She screams.) Oh, sir, a pain went through me!

FIRST MERCHANT

      That name is like a fire to all damned souls.

      (Murmur among the PEASANTS, who shrink back from her as she goes out.)

A PEASANT

      How she screamed out!

SECOND PEASANT

      And maybe we shall scream so.

THIRD PEASANT

      I tell you there is no such place as hell.

FIRST MERCHANT

      Can such a trifle turn you from your profit?

      Come, deal; come, deal.

MIDDLE-AGED MAN

      Master, I am afraid.

FIRST MERCHANT

      I bought your soul, and there's no sense in fear

      Now the soul's gone.

MIDDLE-AGED MAN

      Give me my soul again.

WOMAN (going on her knees and clinging to MERCHANT)

      And take this money too, and give me mine.

SECOND MERCHANT

      Bear bastards, drink or follow some wild fancy;

      For sighs and cries are the soul's work,

      And you have none.

      (Throws the woman off.)

PEASANT

      Come, let's away.

ANOTHER PEASANT

      Yes, yes.

ANOTHER PEASANT

      Come quickly; if that woman had not screamed

      I would have lost my soul.

ANOTHER PEASANT

      Come, come away.

      (They turn to door, but are stopped by shouts of "Countess Cathleen! Countess Cathleen!")

CATHLEEN (entering)

      And so you trade once more?