The Complete Works. William Butler Yeats
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does not know the meaning of what he said.
SEANCHAN.
[Standing up.]
There’s no sound hand among you—no sound hand.
Away with you! away with all of you!
You are all lepers! There is leprosy
Among the plates and dishes that you have carried.
And wherefore have you brought me leper’s wine?
[He flings the contents of the cup in their faces.
There, there! I have given it to you again. And now
Begone, or I will give my curse to you.
You have the leper’s blessing, but you think
Maybe the bread will something lack in savour
Unless you mix my curse into the dough.
[They go out hurriedly in all directions. SEANCHAN is staggering in the middle of the stage.
Where did I say the leprosy had come from?
I said it came out of a leper’s hand,
Enter CRIPPLES.
And that he walked the highway. But that’s folly,
For he was walking up there in the sky.
And there he is even now, with his white hand
Thrust out of the blue air, and blessing them
With leprosy.
FIRST CRIPPLE.
He’s pointing at the moon
That’s coming out up yonder, and he calls it
Leprous, because the daylight whitens it.
SEANCHAN.
He’s holding up his hand above them all—
King, noblemen, princesses—blessing all.
Who could imagine he’d have so much patience?
FIRST CRIPPLE.
[Clutching the other CRIPPLE.]
Come out of this!
SECOND CRIPPLE.
[Pointing to food.]
If you don’t need it, sir,
May we not carry some of it away?
[They cross towards food and pass in front of SEANCHAN.
SEANCHAN.
Who’s speaking? Who are you?
FIRST CRIPPLE.
Come out of this!
SECOND CRIPPLE.
Have pity on us, that must beg our bread
From table to table throughout the entire world,
And yet be hungry.
SEANCHAN.
But why were you born crooked?
What bad poet did your mothers listen to
That you were born so crooked?
CRIPPLE.
Come away!
Maybe he’s cursed the food, and it might kill us.
OTHER CRIPPLE.
Yes, better come away.
[They go out.
SEANCHAN.
[Staggering, and speaking wearily.]
He has great strength
And great patience to hold his right hand there,
Uplifted, and not wavering about.
He is much stronger than I am, much stronger.
[Sinks down on steps. Enter MAYOR and FEDELM.
FEDELM.
[Her finger on her lips.]
Say nothing! I will get him out of this
Before I have said a word of food and drink;
For while he is on this threshold and can hear,
It may be, the voices that made mock of him,
He would not listen. I’d be alone with him.
[MAYOR goes out. FEDELM goes to SEANCHAN and kneels before him.
Seanchan! Seanchan!
[He remains looking into the sky.
Can you not hear me, Seanchan?
It is myself.
[He looks at her, dreamily at first, then takes her hand.
SEANCHAN.
Is this your hand, Fedelm?
I have been looking at another hand
That is up yonder.
FEDELM.
I have come for you.
SEANCHAN.
Fedelm, I did not know that you were here.
FEDELM.
And can you not remember that I promised
That I would come and take you home with me
When I’d the harvest in? And now I’ve come,
And you must come away, and come on the instant.
SEANCHAN.
Yes, I will come. But is the harvest in?
This air has got a summer taste in it.
FEDELM.
But is not the wild middle of the summer
A better time to marry? Come with me now!
SEANCHAN.
[Seizing her by both wrists.]
Who taught you that? For it’s a certainty,
Although I never knew it till last night,
That marriage, because it is the height of life,
Can only be accomplished to the full
In the high days of the year. I lay awake:
There had come a frenzy into the light of the stars,
And they were coming nearer, and I knew
All in a minute they were about to marry
Clods out upon the ploughlands, to beget
A mightier race than any that has been.
But some that are within there made a noise,
And frighted them away.
FEDELM.
Come with me now!
We have far to go, and daylight’s running out.
SEANCHAN.
The stars had come so near me that I caught
Their singing. It was praise of that great race
That would be haughty, mirthful, and white-bodied,
With a high head, and open hand, and how,
Laughing, it would take the mastery of the world.
FEDELM.
But you will tell me all about their songs
When we’re at home. You have need of rest and care,
And I can give them you