The Colleen Bawn. Dion Boucicault
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I’m Connaught to the core of my heart.
Anne To the roots of your hair, you mean. I bought a horse at Ballinasloe fair that deceived me; I hope you won’t turn out to belong to the same family.
Kyrle [R. C.] What did he do?
Anne Oh! like you, he looked well enough – deep in the chest as a pool – a-dhiol, and broad in the back as the Gap of Dunloe – but after two days’ warm work he came all to pieces, and Larry, my groom, said he’d been stuck together with glue.
Kyrle [R.] Really, Miss Chute! [Music.—Exeunt, R. 1 E.
Hard [Advancing, laughing.] That girl is as wild as a coppleen, – she won’t leave him a hair on the head. [Goes up.
Corrigan [L.] Your humble servant, Mrs. Cregan – my service t’ye, ’Squire – it’s a fine night, entirely.
Mrs. C [C.] May I ask to what business, sir, we have the honor of your call?
Corrig [Aside, L. C.] Proud as a Lady Beelzebub, and as grand as a queen. [Aloud.] True for you, ma’am; I would not have, come, but for a divil of a pinch I’m in entirely. I’ve got to pay £8,000 to-morrow or lose the Knockmakilty farms.
Mrs. C Well, sir?
Corrig And I wouldn’t throuble ye —
Mrs. C Trouble me, sir?
Corrig Iss, ma’am – ye’d be forgettin’ now that mortgage I have on this property. It ran out last May, and by rights —
Mrs. C It will be paid next month.
Corrig Are you reckonin’ on the marriage of Mister Hardress and Miss Anne Chute?
Hard [Advancing, R.] Mr. Corrigan, you forget yourself.
Mrs. C Leave us, Hardress, a while. [Hardress retires, R.] Now, Mr. Corrigan, state, in as few words as possible, what you demand.
Corrig Mrs. Cregan, ma’am, you depend on Miss Anne Chute’s fortune to pay me the money, but your son does not love the lady, or, if he does, he has a mighty quare way of showing it. He has another girl on hand, and betune the two he’ll come to the ground, and so bedad will I.
Mrs. C That is false – it is a calumny, sir!
Corrig I wish it was, ma’am. D’ye see that light over the lake? your son’s eyes are fixed on it. What would Anne Chute say if she knew that her husband, that is to be, had a mistress beyant – that he slips out every night after you’re all in bed, and like Leandher, barrin’ the wettin’, he sails across to his sweetheart?
Mrs. C Is this the secret of his aversion to the marriage? Fool! fool! what madness, and at such a moment.
Corrig That’s what I say, and no lie in it.
Mrs. C He shall give up this girl – he must!
Corrig I would like to have some security for that. I want, by to-morrow, Anne Chute’s written promise to marry him, or my £8,000.
Mrs. C It is impossible, sir; you hold ruin over our heads.
Corrig Madam, it’s got to hang over your head or mine.
Mrs. C Stay; you know that what you ask is out of our power – you know it – therefore this demand only covers the true object of your visit.
Corrig ’Pon my honor! and you are as ’cute, ma’am, as you are beautiful!
Mrs. C Go on, sir.
Corrig Mrs. Cregan, I’m goin’ to do a foolish thing – now, by gorra I am! I’m richer than ye think, maybe, and if you’ll give me your personal security, I’ll take it.
Mrs. C What do you mean?
Corrig I meant that I’ll take a lien for life on you, instead of the mortgage I hold on the Cregan property. [Aside.] That’s nate, I’m thinkin’.
Mrs. C Are you mad?
Corrig I am – mad in love with yourself, and that’s what I’ve been these fifteen years. [Music through dialogue, till Anne Chute is off.
Mrs. C Insolent wretch! my son shall answer and chastise you. [Calls.] Hardress!
Hard [Advancing.] Madam.
Corrig Miss Chute! }
Hard Well, mother?} [Together.]
Anne Well, sir? }
Mrs. C [Aside.] Scoundrel! he will tell her all and ruin us! [Aloud.] Nothing. [Turns aside.
Corrig Your obedient.
Anne Oh! [Crosses with Kyrle and exit, L. U. E. —Music ceases.
Corrig You are in my power, ma’am. See, now, not a sowl but myself knows of this secret love of Hardress Cregan, and I’ll keep it as snug as a bug in a rug, if you’ll only say the word.
Mrs. C Contemptible hound, I loathe and despise you!
Corrig I’ve known that fifteen years, but it hasn’t cured my heart ache.
Mrs. C And you would buy my aversion and disgust!
Corrig Just as Anne Chute buys your son, if she knew but all. Can he love his girl beyant, widout haten this heiress he’s obliged to swallow? – ain’t you sthriven to sell him? But you didn’t feel the hardship of being sold till you tried it on yourself.
Mrs. C I beg you, sir, to leave me.
Corrig That’s right, ma’am – think over it, sleep on it. To-morrow, I’ll call for your answer. Good evenin’ kindly.
Mrs. C Hardress.
Hard What did he want?
Mrs. C He came to tell me the meaning of yonder light upon Muckross Head.
Hard Ah! has it been discovered? Well, mother, now you know the cause of my coldness, my indifference for Anne.
Mrs. C Are you in your senses, Hardress? Who is this girl?
Hard She is known at every fair and pattern in Munster as the Colleen Bawn – her name is Eily O’Connor.
Mrs. C A peasant girl – a vulgar, barefooted beggar!
Hard Whatever she is, love has made her my equal, and when you set your foot upon her you tread upon my heart.
Mrs. C ’Tis well, Hardress. I feel that perhaps I have no right to dispose of your life and your happiness – no, my dear son – I would not wound you – heaven knows how well I love my darling boy, and you shall feel it. Corrigan has made me an offer by which you may regain the estate, and without selling yourself to Anne Chute.
Hard What is it? Of course you accepted it?
Mrs. C No, but I will accept, yes, for your sake – I – I will. He offers to cancel this mortgage if – if – I will consent to – become his wife.
Hard You – you, mother? Has he dared —
Mrs. C Hush! he is right. A sacrifice must be made – either you or I must suffer. Life is before you – my days are well nigh past – and for your sake, Hardress – for yours; my pride, my only one. – Oh! I would give you more than my life.
Hard Never – never! I will not – can not accept it. I’ll tear that dog’s tongue from his throat that dared insult you with the offer.
Mrs. C Foolish boy, before