No More Learning

Get farther off! [_To SEANCHAN. _] We would not have you think,
Weighty as these considerations are,
That they have been as weighty in our minds
As our desire that one we take much pride in,
A man that's been an honour to our town,
Should live and prosper; therefore we beseech you
To give way in a matter of no moment,
A matter of mere sentiment--a trifle--
That we may always keep our pride in you.

[_He finishes this speech with a pompous air, motions
to BRIAN to bring the food to SEANCHAN, and sits on
seat. _

BRIAN.

Master, master, eat this! It's not king's food,
That's cooked for everybody and nobody.
Here's barley-bread out of your father's oven,
And dulse from Duras. Here is the dulse, your honour;
It's wholesome, and has the good taste of the sea.

[_Takes dulse in one hand and bread in other and
presses them into SEANCHAN'S hands. SEANCHAN shows by
his movement his different feeling to BRIAN. _

FIRST CRIPPLE.

He has taken it, and there'll be nothing left!

SECOND CRIPPLE.

Nothing at all; he wanted his own sort.
What's honey to a cat, corn to a dog,
Or a green apple to a ghost in a churchyard?

SEANCHAN.

[_Pressing food back into BRIAN'S hands. _]

Eat it yourself, for you have come a journey,
And it may be eat nothing on the way.

BRIAN.

How could I eat it, and your honour starving!
It is your father sends it, and he cried
Because the stiffness that is in his bones
Prevented him from coming, and bid me tell you
That he is old, that he has need of you,
And that the people will be pointing at him,
And he not able to lift up his head,
If you should turn the King's favour away;
And he adds to it, that he cared you well,
And you in your young age, and that it's right
That you should care him now.

SEANCHAN.

[_Who is now interested. _]

And is that all?
What did my mother say?

BRIAN.

She gave no message;
For when they told her you had it in mind to starve,
Or get again the ancient right of the poets,
She said: 'No message can do any good.
He will not send the answer that you want.
We cannot change him. ' And she went indoors,
Lay down upon the bed, and turned her face
Out of the light.