The Unicorn from the Stars and Other Plays Part 16

[BRIDGET _enters, followed by the_ FOOL, _who is holding out his hat to her._]

FOOL. Give me something; give me a penny to buy bacon in the shops, and nuts in the market, and strong drink for the time when the sun is weak.

BRIDGET. I have no pennies. [_To the_ WISE MAN.] Your pupils cannot find anybody to argue with you. There is n.o.body in the whole country who has enough belief to fill a pipe with since you put down the monk.

Can't you be quiet now and not always wanting to have arguments? It must be terrible to have a mind like that.

WISE M. I am lost! I am lost!

BRIDGET. Leave me alone now; I have to make the bread for you and the children.

WISE M. Out of this, woman, out of this, I say! [BRIDGET _goes through the kitchen door._] Will n.o.body find a way to help me! But she spoke of my children. I had forgotten them. They will believe. It is only those who have reason that doubt; the young are full of faith. Bridget, Bridget, send my children to me.

BRIDGET [_inside_]. Your father wants you; run to him now.

[_The two_ CHILDREN _come in. They stand together a little way from the threshold of the kitchen door, looking timidly at their father._]

WISE M. Children, what do you believe? Is there a Heaven? Is there a h.e.l.l? Is there a Purgatory?

FIRST CHILD. We haven't forgotten, father.

THE OTHER CHILD. Oh, no, father. [_They both speak together, as if in school._] There is nothing we cannot see; there is nothing we cannot touch.

FIRST CHILD. Foolish people used to think that there was, but you are very learned and you have taught us better.

WISE M. You are just as bad as the others, just as bad as the others!

Do not run away; come back to me. [_The_ CHILDREN _begin to cry and run away._] Why are you afraid? I will teach you better--no, I will never teach you again. Go to your mother! no, she will not be able to teach them.... Help them, O G.o.d!... The grains are going very quickly. There is very little sand in the uppermost gla.s.s. Somebody will come for me in a moment; perhaps he is at the door now! All creatures that have reason doubt. O that the gra.s.s and the plants could speak! Somebody has said that they would wither if they doubted. O speak to me, O gra.s.s blades! O fingers of G.o.d's certainty, speak to me! You are millions and you will not speak. I dare not know the moment the messenger will come for me. I will cover the gla.s.s. [_He covers it and brings it to the desk. Sees the_ FOOL, _who is sitting by the door playing with some flowers which he has stuck in his hat. He has begun to blow a dandelion head._] What are you doing?

FOOL. Wait a moment. [_He blows._] Four, five, six.

WISE M. What are you doing that for?

FOOL. I am blowing at the dandelion to find out what time it is.

WISE M. You have heard everything! That is why you want to find out what hour it is! You are waiting to see them coming through the door to carry me away. [FOOL _goes on blowing._] Out through the door with you!

I will have no one here when they come. [_He seizes the_ FOOL _by the shoulders, and begins to force him out through the door, then suddenly changes his mind._] No, I have something to ask you. [_He drags him back into the room._] Is there a Heaven? Is there a h.e.l.l? Is there a Purgatory?

FOOL. So you ask me now. When you were asking your pupils, I said to myself, if he would ask Teigue the Fool, Teigue could tell him all about it, for Teigue has learned all about it when he has been cutting the nets.

WISE M. Tell me; tell me!

FOOL. I said, Teigue knows everything. Not even the cats or the hares that milk the cows have Teigue's wisdom. But Teigue will not speak; he says nothing.

WISE M. Tell me, tell me! For under the cover the grains are falling, and when they are all fallen I shall die; and my soul will be lost if I have not found somebody that believes! Speak, speak!

FOOL [_looking wise_]. No, no, I won't tell you what is in my mind, and I won't tell you what is in my bag. You might steal away my thoughts. I met a bodach on the road yesterday, and he said, "Teigue, tell me how many pennies are in your bag; I will wager three pennies that there are not twenty pennies in your bag; let me put in my hand and count them." But I pulled the strings tighter, like this; and when I go to sleep every night I hide the bag where no one knows.

WISE M. [_goes towards the hour-gla.s.s as if to uncover it_]. No, no, I have not the courage. [_He kneels._] Have pity upon me, Fool, and tell me!

FOOL. Ah! Now, that is different. I am not afraid of you now. But I must come nearer to you; somebody in there might hear what the Angel said.

WISE M. Oh, what did the Angel tell you?

FOOL. Once I was alone on the hills, and an angel came by and he said, "Teigue the Fool, do not forget the Three Fires; the Fire that punishes, the Fire that purifies, and the Fire wherein the soul rejoices for ever!"

WISE M. He believes! I am saved! The sand has run out.... [FOOL _helps him to his chair._] I am going from the country of the seven wandering stars, and I am going to the country of the fixed stars!... I understand it all now. One sinks in on G.o.d; we do not see the truth; G.o.d sees the truth in us. Ring the bell. [FOOL _rings bell._] Are they coming? Tell them, Fool, that when the life and the mind are broken the truth comes through them like peas through a broken peascod. Pray, Fool, that they may be given a sign and carry their souls alive out of the dying world. Your prayers are better than mine.

[FOOL _bows his head_. WISE MAN's _head sinks on his arm on the books_. PUPILS _are heard singing as before, but now they come right into the room before they cease their song._]

A YOUNG MAN. Look at the Fool turned bell-ringer!

ANOTHER. What have you called us in for, Teigue? What are you going to tell us?

ANOTHER. No wonder he has had dreams! See, he is fast asleep now.

[_Goes over and touches him._] Oh, he is dead!

FOOL. Do not stir! He asked for a sign that you might be saved. [_All are silent for a moment._] ... Look what has come from his mouth ... a little winged thing ... a little shining thing.... It is gone to the door. [_The_ ANGEL _appears in the doorway, stretches out her hands and closes them again._] The Angel has taken it in her hands.... She will open her hands in the Garden of Paradise. [_They all kneel._]

CURTAIN