No More Learning

Go and tell them that.
Go tell them that she knew me.

MAYOR.

What is he saying?
I never understood a poet's talk
More than the baa of a sheep!

[_Comes over from seat. SEANCHAN turns away. _

You have not heard,
It may be, having been so much away,
How many of the cattle died last winter
From lacking grass, and that there was much sickness
Because the poor have nothing but salt fish
To live on through the winter?

BRIAN.

Get away,
And leave the place to me! It's my turn now,
For your sack's empty!

MAYOR.

Is it 'get away'!
Is that the way I'm to be spoken to!
Am I not Mayor?
Amn't I authority?
Amn't I in the King's place? Answer me that!

BRIAN.

Then show the people what a king is like:
Pull down old merings and root custom up,
Whitewash the dunghills, fatten hogs and geese,
Hang your gold chain about an ass's neck,
And burn the blessed thorn trees out of the fields,
And drive what's comely away!

MAYOR.

Holy Saint Coleman!

FIRST CRIPPLE.

Fine talk! fine talk! What else does the King do?
He fattens hogs and drives the poet away!

SECOND CRIPPLE.

He starves the song-maker!

FIRST CRIPPLE.

He fattens geese!