swear her faith to me, for I’m mounted on the spring-tide of the stars of luck, the way it’ll be good for any to have me in the house.

Pegeen (at the other side of Michael). Bless us now, for I swear to God I’ll wed him, and I’ll not renege.

Michael (standing up in the centre, holding on to both of them). It’s the will of God, I’m thinking, that all should win an easy or a cruel end, and it’s the will of God that all should rear up lengthy families for the nurture of the earth. What’s a single man, I ask you, eating a bit in one house and drinking a sup in another, and he with no place of his own, like an old braying jackass strayed upon the rocks? (To Christy.) It’s many would be in dread to bring your like into their house for to end them, maybe, with a sudden end; but I’m a decent man of Ireland, and I liefer face the grave untimely and I seeing a score of grandsons growing up little gallant swearers by the name of God, than go peopling my bedside with puny weeds the like of what you’d breed, I’m thinking, out of Shaneen Keogh. (He joins their hands.) A daring fellow is the jewel of the world, and a man did split his father’s middle with a single clout, should have the bravery of ten, so may God and Mary and St. Patrick bless you, and increase you from this mortal day.

Christy and Pegeen. Amen, O Lord!

Hubbub outside. Old Mahon rushes in, followed by all the crowd, and Widow Quin. He makes a rush at Christy, knocks him down, and begins to beat him.

Pegeen (dragging back his arm). Stop that, will you. Who are you at all?

Mahon His father, God forgive me!

Pegeen (drawing back). Is it rose from the dead?

Mahon Do you think I look so easy quenched with the tap of a loy?

Beats Christy again.

Pegeen (glaring at Christy). And it’s lies you told, letting on you had him slitted, and you nothing at all.

Christy (catching Mahon’s stick). He’s not my father. He’s a raving maniac would scare the world. (Pointing to Widow Quin.) Herself knows it is true.

Crowd You’re fooling Pegeen! The Widow Quin seen him this day, and you likely knew! You’re a liar!

Christy (dumfounded). It’s himself was a liar, lying stretched out with an open head on him, letting on he was dead.

Mahon Weren’t you off racing the hills before I got my breath with the start I had seeing you turn on me at all?

Pegeen And to think of the coaxing glory we had given him, and he after doing nothing but hitting a soft blow and chasing northward in a sweat of fear. Quit off from this.

Christy (piteously). You’ve seen my doings this day, and let you save me from the old man; for why would you be in such a scorch of haste to spur me to destruction now?

Pegeen It’s there your treachery is spurring me, till I’m hard set to think you’re the one I’m after lacing in my heart-strings half-an-hour gone by. (To Mahon.) Take him on from this, for I think bad the world should see me raging for a Munster liar, and the fool of men.

Mahon Rise up now to retribution, and come on with me.