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THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD

this, for I think bad the world should I'll set the young lads to destroy him
see me raging for a Munster liar, and here.
the fool of men. MAHON -- (going to him, shaking
MAHON. Rise up now to retribu- his stick.) -- Come on now if you
tion, and come on with me. wouldn't have the company to see you
CROWD -- (jeeringly.) There's the skelped.
playboy! There's the lad thought he'd PEGEEN -- (half laughing,
rule the roost in Mayo. Slate him through her tears.) -- That's it, now
now, mister. the world will see him pandied, and
CHRISTY -- (getting up in shy he an ugly liar was playing off the
terror.) -- What is it drives you to tor- hero, and the fright of men.
ment me here, when I'd asked the CHRISTY -- (to Mahon, very
thunders of the might of God to blast sharply.) -- Leave me go!
me if I ever did hurt to any saving on- CROWD. That's it. Now Christy.
ly that one single blow. If them two set fighting, it will lick
MAHON -- (loudly.) If you didn't, the world.
you're a poor good-for-nothing, and MAHON -- (making a grab at
isn't it by the like of you the sins of Christy.) -- Come here to me.
the whole world are committed? CHRISTY -- (more threatening-
CHRISTY -- (raising his hands.) - ly.) -- Leave me go, I'm saying.
- In the name of the Almighty God.... MAHON. I will maybe, when your
MAHON. Leave troubling the legs is limping, and your back is blue.
Lord God. Would you have him send- CROWD. Keep it up, the two of
ing down droughts, and fevers, and you. I'll back the old one. Now the
the old hen and the cholera morbus? playboy.
CHRISTY -- (to Widow Quin.) -- CHRISTY -- (in low and intense
Will you come between us and protect voice.) -- Shut your yelling, for if
me now? you're after making a mighty man of
WIDOW QUIN. I've tried a lot, me this day by the power of a lie,
God help me, and my share is done. you're setting me now to think if it's a
CHRISTY -- (looking round in poor thing to be lonesome, it's worse
desperation.) -- And I must go back maybe to go mixing with the fools of
into my torment is it, or run off like a earth. (Mahon makes a movement to-
vagabond straying through the Un- wards him.)
ions with the dusts of August making CHRISTY -- (almost shouting.) --
mudstains in the gullet of my throat, Keep off... lest I do show a blow unto
or the winds of March blowing on me the lot of you would set the guardian
till I'd take an oath I felt them mak- angels winking in the clouds above.
ing whistles of my ribs within? (He swings round with a sudden rapid
SARA. Ask Pegeen to aid you. Her movement and picks up a loy.)
like does often change. CROWD -- (half frightened, half
CHRISTY. I will not then, for amused.) -- He's going mad! Mind
there's torment in the splendour of yourselves! Run from the idiot!
her like, and she a girl any moon of CHRISTY. If I am an idiot, I'm
midnight would take pride to meet, after hearing my voice this day saying
facing southwards on the heaths of words would raise the topknot on a
Keel. But what did I want crawling poet in a merchant's town. I've won
forward to scorch my understanding your racing, and your lepping, and...
at her flaming brow? MAHON. Shut your gullet and
PEGEEN -- (to Mahon, vehe- come on with me.
mently, fearing she will break into CHRISTY. I'm going, but I'll
tears.) -- Take him on from this or stretch you first. (He runs at old Ma-

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