No More Learning

FIRST MERCHANT.

Lead him hence;
He troubles me.

[_TEIG and SHEMUS lead ALEEL into the crowd. _

SECOND MERCHANT.

His gaze has filled me, brother,
With shaking and a dreadful fear.

FIRST MERCHANT.

Lean forward
And kiss the circlet where my master's lips
Were pressed upon it when he sent us hither:
You will have peace once more.

[_The SECOND MERCHANT kisses the gold circlet that is
about the head of the FIRST MERCHANT. _

SHEMUS.

He is called Aleel,
And has been crazy now these many days;
But has no harm in him: his fits soon pass,
And one can go and lead him like a child.

FIRST MERCHANT.

Come, deal, deal, deal, deal, deal; you are all dumb?

SHEMUS.

They say you beat the woman down too low.

FIRST MERCHANT.
I offer this great price: a thousand crowns
For an old woman who was always ugly.

[_An old peasant woman comes forward, and he takes up a parchment and
reads. _]

There is but little set down here against her;
She stole fowl sometimes when the harvest failed,
But always went to chapel twice a week,
And paid her dues when prosperous. Take your money.

THE OLD PEASANT WOMAN [_curtseying_].

God bless you, sir. [_She screams. _
O, sir, a pain went through me.

FIRST MERCHANT.

That name is like a fire to all damned souls.
Begone. [_She goes. _] See how the red gold pieces glitter.
Deal: do you fear because an old hag screamed?
Are you all cowards?

A PEASANT.