I can hear songs and
dancing!
Yeats
Remember when I met you by the well
And took your hand in mine and spoke of love.
MAIRE BRUIN.
Dear face! Dear voice!
THE CHILD.
Come, newly-married bride!
MAIRE BRUIN.
I always loved her world--and yet--and yet--
[_Sinks into his arms. _
THE CHILD [_from the door_].
White bird, white bird, come with me, little bird.
MAIRE BRUIN.
She calls my soul!
THE CHILD.
Come with me, little bird!
MAIRE BRUIN.
I can hear songs and dancing!
SHAWN BRUIN.
Stay with me!
MAIRE BRUIN.
I think that I would stay--and yet--and yet--
THE CHILD.
Come, little bird with crest of gold!
MAIRE BRUIN [_very softly_].
And yet--
THE CHILD.
Come, little bird with silver feet!
[_MAIRE dies, and THE CHILD goes. _
SHAWN BRUIN.
She is dead!
BRIDGET BRUIN.
Come from that image there: she is far away:
You have thrown your arms about a drift of leaves
Or bole of an ash-tree changed into her image.
FATHER HART.
Thus do the spirits of evil snatch their prey
Almost out of the very hand of God;
And day by day their power is more and more,
And men and women leave old paths, for pride
Comes knocking with thin knuckles on the heart.
