William Yeats: Poems

For who can say what walks, or in what shape

Some devilish creature flies in the air, but now

Two grey-horned owls hooted above our heads.

( He goes out, his singing dies away. MARY comes in . SHEMUS has been counting the money. )

SHEMUS

So that fool's gone.

TEIG

He's seen the horned owls too.

There's no good luck in owls, but it may be

That the ill luck's to fall upon his head.

MARY

You never thanked her ladyship.

SHEMUS

Thank her,

For seven halfpence and a silver bit?

TEIG

But for this empty purse?

SHEMUS

What's that for thanks,

Or what's the double of it that she promised?

With bread and flesh and every sort of food

Up to a price no man has heard the like of

And rising every day.

MARY

We have all she had;

She emptied out the purse before our eyes.

SHEMUS ( to MARY, who has gone to close the door )

Leave that door open.

MARY

When those that have read books,

And seen the seven wonders of the world,

Fear what's above or what's below the ground,

It's time that poverty should bolt the door.

SHEMUS

I'll have no bolts, for there is not a thing

That walks above the ground or under it

I had not rather welcome to this house

Than any more of mankind, rich or poor.

TEIG

So that they brought us money.

SHEMUS

I heard say

There's something that appears like a white bird,

A pigeon or a seagull or the like,

But if you hit it with a stone or a stick

It clangs as though it had been made of brass,

And that if you dig down where it was scratching

You'll find a crock of gold.

TEIG

But dream of gold

For three nights running, and there's always gold.

SHEMUS

You might be starved before you've dug it out.

TEIG

But maybe if you called, something would come,

They have been seen of late.

MARY

Is it call devils?

Call devils from the wood, call them in here?

SHEMUS

So you'd stand up against me, and you'd say

Who or what I am to welcome here. ( He hits her. )

That is to show who's master.

TEIG

Call them in.

MARY

God help us all!

SHEMUS

Pray, if you have a mind to.

It's little that the sleepy ears above

Care for your words; but I'll call what I please.

TEIG

There is many a one, they say, had money from them.

SHEMUS ( at door )

Whatever you are that walk the woods at night,

So be it that you have not shouldered up

Out of a grave—for I'll have nothing human—

And have free hands, a friendly trick of speech,

I welcome you. Come, sit beside the fire.

What matter if your head's below your arms

Or you've a horse's tail to whip your flank,

Feathers instead of hair, that's but a straw,

Come, share what bread and meat is in the house,

And stretch your heels and warm them in the ashes.

And after that, let's share and share alike

And curse all men and women. Come in, come in.

What, is there no one there? ( Turning from door )

And yet they say

They are as common as the grass, and ride

Even upon the book in the priest's hand.

(TEIG lifts one arm slowly and points toward the door and begins moving backwards . SHEMUS turns, he also sees something and begins moving backward . MARY does the same. A man dressed as an Eastern merchant comes in carrying a small carpet. He unrolls it and sits cross-legged at one end of it. Another man dressed in the same way follows, and sits at the other end. This is done slowly and deliberately. When they are seated they take money out of embroidered purses at their girdles and begin arranging it on the carpet .)

TEIG

You speak to them.

SHEMUS

No, you.

TEIG

'Twas you that called them.

SHEMUS ( coming nearer )

I'd make so bold, if you would pardon it,

To ask if there's a thing you'd have of us.

Although we are but poor people, if there is,

Why, if there is——

FIRST MERCHANT

We've travelled a long road,

For we are merchants that must tramp the world,

And now we look for supper and a fire

And a safe corner to count money in.

SHEMUS

I thought you were ... but that's no matter now—

There had been words between my wife and me

Because I said I would be master here,

And ask in what I pleased or who I pleased

And so.... but that is nothing to the point,

Because it's certain that you are but merchants.

FIRST MERCHANT

We travel for the Master of all merchants.

SHEMUS

Yet if you were that I had thought but now

I'd welcome you no less. Be what you please

And you'll have supper at the market rate,

That means that what was sold for but a penny

Is now worth fifty.

(MERCHANTS begin putting money on carpet .)

FIRST MERCHANT

Our Master bids us pay

So good a price, that all who deal with us

Shall eat, drink, and be merry.

SHEMUS ( to MARY)

Bestir yourself,

Go kill and draw the fowl, while Teig and I

Lay out the plates and make a better fire.

MARY

I will not cook for you.

SHEMUS

Not cook! not cook!

Do not be angry. She wants to pay me back

Because I struck her in that argument.

But she'll get sense again. Since the dearth came

We rattle one on another as though we were

Knives thrown into a basket to be cleaned.

MARY

I will not cook for you, because I know

In what unlucky shape you sat but now

Outside this door.

TEIG

It's this, your honours:

Because of some wild words my father said

She thinks you are not of those who cast a shadow.

SHEMUS

I said I'd make the devils of the wood

Welcome, if they'd a mind to eat and drink;

But it is certain that you are men like us.

FIRST MERCHANT

It's strange that she should think we cast no shadow,

For there is nothing on the ridge of the world

That's more substantial than the merchants are

That buy and sell you.

MARY

If you are not demons,

And seeing what great wealth is spread out there,

Give food or money to the starving poor.

FIRST MERCHANT

If we knew how to find deserving poor

We'd do our share.

MARY

But seek them patiently.

FIRST MERCHANT

We know the evils of mere charity.

MARY

Those scruples may befit a common time.

I had thought there was a pushing to and fro,

At times like this, that overset the scale

And trampled measure down.

FIRST MERCHANT

But if already

We'd thought of a more prudent way than that?

SECOND MERCHANT

If each one brings a bit of merchandise,

We'll give him such a price he never dreamt of.

MARY

Where shall the starving come at merchandise?

FIRST MERCHANT

We will ask nothing but what all men have.

MARY

Their swine and cattle, fields and implements

Are sold and gone.

FIRST MERCHANT

They have not sold all yet.

For there's a vaporous thing—that may be nothing,

But that's the buyer's risk—a second self,

They call immortal for a story's sake.

SHEMUS

They come to buy our souls?

TEIG

I'll barter mine.

Why should we starve for what may be but nothing?

MARY

Teig and Shemus——

SHEMUS

What can it be but nothing?

What has God poured out of His bag but famine?

Satan gives money.

TEIG

Yet no thunder stirs.