No More Learning

She's coming, but I'll hurry her, my lord.
Between ourselves, my lord [_is shoved again_], she is a great coaxer.
Much honoured, my lord. O, she's the girl to do it;
For when the intellect is out, my lord,
Nobody but a woman's any good.

[_Is shoved again. _

Much honoured, my lord [_is shoved again_], much honoured, much
honoured!

[_Is shoved out, shoving BRIAN out before him. _

[_All through this scene, from the outset of the
quarrel, SEANCHAN has kept his face turned away, or
hidden in his cloak. While the CHAMBERLAIN has been
speaking, the SOLDIER and the MONK have come out of the
palace. The MONK stands on top of steps at one side,
SOLDIER a little down steps at the other side. COURT
LADIES are seen at opening in the palace curtain behind
SOLDIER. CHAMBERLAIN is in the centre. _

CHAMBERLAIN.

[_To SEANCHAN. _]

Well, you must be contented, for your work
Has roused the common sort against the King,
And stolen his authority.
The State
Is like some orderly and reverend house,
Wherein the master, being dead of a sudden,
The servants quarrel where they have a mind to,
And pilfer here and there.

[_Pause, finding that SEANCHAN does not answer. _

How many days
Will you keep up this quarrel with the King,
And the King's nobles, and myself, and all,
Who'd gladly be your friends, if you would let them?

[_Going near to MONK. _

If you would try, you might persuade him, father.
I cannot make him answer me, and yet
If fitting hands would offer him the food,
He might accept it.

MONK.

Certainly I will not.
I've made too many homilies, wherein
The wanton imagination of the poets
Has been condemned, to be his flatterer.
If pride and disobedience are unpunished
Who will obey?

CHAMBERLAIN.

[_Going to other side towards SOLDIER. _]

If you would speak to him,
You might not find persuasion difficult,
With all the devils of hunger helping you.

SOLDIER.

I will not interfere, and if he starve
For being obstinate and stiff in the neck,
'Tis but good riddance.

CHAMBERLAIN.