Chapter 4

Were it but true 'twould alter everythingUntil the stream of the world had changed its course,And that and all our thoughts had runInto some cloudy thunderous springThey dream to be its source—Aye, to some frenzy of the mind;And all that we have done would be undone,Our speculation but as the wind.

Were it but true 'twould alter everything

Until the stream of the world had changed its course,

And that and all our thoughts had run

Into some cloudy thunderous spring

They dream to be its source—

Aye, to some frenzy of the mind;

And all that we have done would be undone,

Our speculation but as the wind.

[A pause.

I have dreamed it twice.

First Pupil

Something has troubled him.

[Pupils go out.

Wise Man

Twice have I dreamed it in a morning dream,Now nothing serves my pupils but to comeWith a like thought. Reason is growing dim;A moment more and Frenzy will beat his drumAnd laugh aloud and scream;And I must dance in the dream.No, no, but it is like a hawk, a hawk of the air,It has swooped down—and this swoop makes the third—And what can I, but tremble like a bird?

Twice have I dreamed it in a morning dream,

Now nothing serves my pupils but to come

With a like thought. Reason is growing dim;

A moment more and Frenzy will beat his drum

And laugh aloud and scream;

And I must dance in the dream.

No, no, but it is like a hawk, a hawk of the air,

It has swooped down—and this swoop makes the third—

And what can I, but tremble like a bird?

Fool

Give me a penny.

Wise Man

That I should dream it twice, and after that, that they should pick it out.

Fool

Won't you give me a penny?

Wise Man

What do you want? What can it matter to you whether the words I am reading are wisdom or sheer folly?

Fool

Such a great, wise teacher will not refuse a penny to a fool.

Wise Man

Seeing that everybody is a fool when he is asleep and dreaming, why do you call me wise?

Fool

O, I know,—I know, I know what I have seen.

Wise Man

Well, to see rightly is the whole of wisdom, whatever dream be with us.

Fool

When I went by Kilcluan, where the bells used to be ringing at the break of every day, I could hear nothing but the people snoring in their houses. When I went by Tubbervanach,where the young men used to be climbing the hill to the blessed well, they were sitting at the cross-roads playing cards. When I went by Carrigoras, where the friars used to be fasting and serving the poor, I saw them drinking wine and obeying their wives. And when I asked what misfortune had brought all these changes, they said it was no misfortune, but that it was the wisdom they had learned from your teaching.

Wise Man

And you too have called me wise—you would be paid for that good opinion doubtless—Run to the kitchen, my wife will give you food and drink.

Fool

That's foolish advice for a wise man to give.

Wise Man

Why, Fool?

Fool

What is eaten is gone—I want pennies for my bag. I must buy bacon in the shops, and nuts in the market, and strong drink for the time the sun is weak, and snares to catch the rabbits and the hares, and a big pot to cook them in.

Wise Man

I have more to think about than giving pennies to your like, so run away.

Fool

Give me a penny and I will bring you luck. The fishermen let me sleep among their nets in the loft because I bring them luck; and in the summer time, the wild creatures let me sleep near their nests and their holes. Itis lucky even to look at me, but it is much more lucky to give me a penny. If I was not lucky I would starve.

Wise Man

What are the shears for?

Fool

I won't tell you. If I told you, you would drive them away.

Wise Man

Drive them away! Who would I drive away?

Fool

I won't tell you.

Wise Man

Not if I give you a penny?

Fool

No.

Wise Man

Not if I give you two pennies?

Fool

You will be very lucky if you give me two pennies, but I won't tell you.

Wise Man

Three pennies?

Fool

Four, and I will tell you.

Wise Man

Very well—four, but from this out I will not call you Teigue the Fool.

Fool

Let me come close to you, where nobody will hear me; but first you must promise not to drive them away.(Wise Man nods.)Every day men go out dressed in black and spread great black nets over the hills, great black nets.

Wise Man

A strange place that to fish in.

Fool

They spread them out on the hills that they may catch the feet of the angels; but every morning just before the dawn, I go out and cut the nets with the shears and the angels fly away.

Wise Man

(Speaking with excitement)Ah, now I know that you are Teigue the Fool. You say that I am wise, and yet I say, there are no angels.

Fool

I have seen plenty of angels.

Wise Man

No, no, you have not.

Fool

They are plenty if you but look about you. They are like the blades of grass.

Wise Man

They are plenty as the blades of grass—I heard that phrase when I was but a child and was told folly.

Fool

When one gets quiet. When one is so quiet that there is not a thought in one's head maybe, there is something that wakes up inside one, something happy and quiet, and then all in a minute one can smell summer flowers, and tall people go by, happy and laughing, but they will not let us look at their faces. Oh no, it is not right that we should look at their faces.

Wise Man

You have fallen asleep upon a hill, yet, even those that used to dream of angels dream now of other things.

Fool

I saw one but a moment ago—that is because I am lucky. It was coming behind me, but it was not laughing.

Wise Man

There's nothing but what men can see when they are awake. Nothing, nothing.

Fool

I knew you would drive them away.

Wise Man

Pardon me, Fool,I had forgotten who I spoke to.Well, there are your four pennies—Fool you are called,And all day long they cry, 'Come hither, Fool.'

Pardon me, Fool,

I had forgotten who I spoke to.

Well, there are your four pennies—Fool you are called,

And all day long they cry, 'Come hither, Fool.'

[The Fool goes close to him.

Or else it's, 'Fool, be gone.'

[The Fool goes further off.

Or, 'Fool, stand there.'

[The Fool straightens himself up.

Or, 'Fool, go sit in the corner.'

[The Fool sits in the corner.

And all the whileWhat were they all but fools before I came?What are they now, but mirrors that seem men,Because of my image? Fool, hold up your head.

And all the while

What were they all but fools before I came?

What are they now, but mirrors that seem men,

Because of my image? Fool, hold up your head.

[Fool does so.

What foolish stories they have told of the ghostsThat fumbled with the clothes upon the bed,Or creaked and shuffled in the corridor,Or else, if they were pious bred,Of angels from the skies,That coming through the door,Or, it may be, standing there,Would solidly out stareThe steadiest eyes with their unnatural eyes,Aye, on a man's own floor.

What foolish stories they have told of the ghosts

That fumbled with the clothes upon the bed,

Or creaked and shuffled in the corridor,

Or else, if they were pious bred,

Of angels from the skies,

That coming through the door,

Or, it may be, standing there,

Would solidly out stare

The steadiest eyes with their unnatural eyes,

Aye, on a man's own floor.

[An angel has come in. It should be played by a man if a man can be found with the right voice, and may wear a little golden domino and a halo made of metal. Or the whole face may be a beautiful mask, in which case the last sentence on page136should not be spoken.

Yet it is strange, the strangest thing I have known,That I should still be haunted by the notionThat there's a crisis of the spirit whereinWe get new sight, and that they know some trickTo turn our thoughts for their own ends to frenzy.Why do you put your finger to your lip,And creep away?

Yet it is strange, the strangest thing I have known,

That I should still be haunted by the notion

That there's a crisis of the spirit wherein

We get new sight, and that they know some trick

To turn our thoughts for their own ends to frenzy.

Why do you put your finger to your lip,

And creep away?

[Fool goes out.

(Wise Man sees Angel.)What are you? Who are you?I think I saw some like you in my dreams,When but a child. That thing about your head,—That brightness in your hair—that flowery branch;But I have done with dreams, I have done with dreams.

(Wise Man sees Angel.)What are you? Who are you?

I think I saw some like you in my dreams,

When but a child. That thing about your head,—

That brightness in your hair—that flowery branch;

But I have done with dreams, I have done with dreams.

Angel

I am the crafty one that you have called.

Wise Man

How that I called?

Angel

I am the messenger.

Wise Man

What message could you bring to one like me?

Angel(turning the hour-glass)

That you will die when the last grain of sandHas fallen through this glass.

That you will die when the last grain of sand

Has fallen through this glass.

Wise Man

I have a wife.Children and pupils that I cannot leave:Why must I die, my time is far away?

I have a wife.

Children and pupils that I cannot leave:

Why must I die, my time is far away?

Angel

You have to die because no soul has passedThe heavenly threshold since you have opened school,But grass grows there, and rust upon the hinge;And they are lonely that must keep the watch.

You have to die because no soul has passed

The heavenly threshold since you have opened school,

But grass grows there, and rust upon the hinge;

And they are lonely that must keep the watch.

Wise Man

And whither shall I go when I am dead?

Angel

You have denied there is a purgatory,Therefore that gate is closed; you have deniedThere is a heaven, and so that gate is closed.

You have denied there is a purgatory,

Therefore that gate is closed; you have denied

There is a heaven, and so that gate is closed.

Wise Man

Where then? For I have said there is no hell.

Angel

Hell is the place of those who have denied;They find there what they planted and what dug,A Lake of Spaces, and a Wood of Nothing,And wander there and drift, and never ceaseWailing for substance.

Hell is the place of those who have denied;

They find there what they planted and what dug,

A Lake of Spaces, and a Wood of Nothing,

And wander there and drift, and never cease

Wailing for substance.

Wise Man

Pardon me, blessed Angel,I have denied and taught the like to others.But how could I believe before my sightHad come to me?

Pardon me, blessed Angel,

I have denied and taught the like to others.

But how could I believe before my sight

Had come to me?

Angel

It is too late for pardon.

Wise Man

Had I but met your gaze as now I met it—But how can you that live but where we goIn the uncertainty of dizzy dreamsKnow why we doubt? Parting, sickness and death,The rotting of the grass, tempest and drouth,These are the messengers that came to me.Why are you silent? You carry in your handsGod's pardon, and you will not give it me.Why are you silent? Were I not afraid,I'd kiss your hands—no, no, the hem of your dress.

Had I but met your gaze as now I met it—

But how can you that live but where we go

In the uncertainty of dizzy dreams

Know why we doubt? Parting, sickness and death,

The rotting of the grass, tempest and drouth,

These are the messengers that came to me.

Why are you silent? You carry in your hands

God's pardon, and you will not give it me.

Why are you silent? Were I not afraid,

I'd kiss your hands—no, no, the hem of your dress.

Angel

Only when all the world has testified,May soul confound it, crying out in joy,And laughing on its lonely precipice.What's dearth and death and sickness to the soulThat knows no virtue but itself? Nor could it,So trembling with delight and mother-naked,Live unabashed if the arguing world stood by.

Only when all the world has testified,

May soul confound it, crying out in joy,

And laughing on its lonely precipice.

What's dearth and death and sickness to the soul

That knows no virtue but itself? Nor could it,

So trembling with delight and mother-naked,

Live unabashed if the arguing world stood by.

Wise Man

It is as hard for you to understandWhy we have doubted, as it is for usTo banish doubt—what folly have I said?There can be nothing that you do not know:Give me a year—a month—a week—a day,I would undo what I have done—an hour—Give me until the sand has run in the glass.

It is as hard for you to understand

Why we have doubted, as it is for us

To banish doubt—what folly have I said?

There can be nothing that you do not know:

Give me a year—a month—a week—a day,

I would undo what I have done—an hour—

Give me until the sand has run in the glass.

Angel

Though you may not undo what you have done,I have this power—if you but find one soul,Before the sands have fallen, that still believes,One fish to lie and spawn among the stonesTill the great fisher's net is full again,You may, the purgatorial fire being passed,Spring to your peace.

Though you may not undo what you have done,

I have this power—if you but find one soul,

Before the sands have fallen, that still believes,

One fish to lie and spawn among the stones

Till the great fisher's net is full again,

You may, the purgatorial fire being passed,

Spring to your peace.

[Pupils sing in the distance.

'Who stole your wits awayAnd where are they gone?'

'Who stole your wits away

And where are they gone?'

Wise Man

My pupils come,Before you have begun to climb the skyI shall have found that soul. They say they doubt,But what their mothers dinned into their earsCannot have been so lightly rooted up;Besides, I can disprove what I once proved—And yet give me some thought, some argument,More mighty than my own.

My pupils come,

Before you have begun to climb the sky

I shall have found that soul. They say they doubt,

But what their mothers dinned into their ears

Cannot have been so lightly rooted up;

Besides, I can disprove what I once proved—

And yet give me some thought, some argument,

More mighty than my own.

Angel

Farewell—farewell,For I am weary of the weight of time.

Farewell—farewell,

For I am weary of the weight of time.

[Angel goes out. Wise Man makes a step to follow and pauses. Some of his pupils come in at the other side of the stage.

First Pupil

Master, master, you must choose the subject.

[Enter other pupils with Fool, about whom they dance; all the pupils may have little cushions on which presently they seat themselves.

Second Pupil

Here is a subject—where have the Fool's wits gone?(singing)'Who dragged your wits awayWhere no one knows?Or have they run offOn their own pair of shoes?'

Here is a subject—where have the Fool's wits gone?(singing)

'Who dragged your wits away

Where no one knows?

Or have they run off

On their own pair of shoes?'

Fool

Give me a penny.

First Pupil

The Master will find your wits,

Second Pupil

And when they are found, you must not beg for pennies.

Third Pupil

They are hidden somewhere in the badger's hole,But you must carry an old candle endIf you would find them.

They are hidden somewhere in the badger's hole,

But you must carry an old candle end

If you would find them.

Fourth Pupil

They are up above the clouds.

Fool

Give me a penny, give me a penny.

First Pupil(singing)

'I'll find your wits again,Come, for I saw them roll,To where old badger mumblesIn the black hole.'

'I'll find your wits again,

Come, for I saw them roll,

To where old badger mumbles

In the black hole.'

Second Pupil(singing)

'No, but an angel stole themThe night that you were born,And now they are but a rag,On the moon's horn.'

'No, but an angel stole them

The night that you were born,

And now they are but a rag,

On the moon's horn.'

Wise Man

Be silent.

First Pupil

Can you not see that he is troubled?

[All the pupils are seated.

Wise Man

What do you think of when alone at night?Do not the things your mothers spoke about,Before they took the candle from the bedside,Rush up into the mind and master it,Till you believe in them against your will?

What do you think of when alone at night?

Do not the things your mothers spoke about,

Before they took the candle from the bedside,

Rush up into the mind and master it,

Till you believe in them against your will?

Second Pupil(to first pupil)

You answer for us.

Third Pupil(in a whisper to first pupil)

Be careful what you say;If he persuades you to an argument,He will but turn us all to mockery.

Be careful what you say;

If he persuades you to an argument,

He will but turn us all to mockery.

First Pupil

We had no minds until you made them for us;Our bodies only were our mothers' work.

We had no minds until you made them for us;

Our bodies only were our mothers' work.

Wise Man

You answer with incredible things. It is certainThat there is one,—though it may be but one—Believes in God and in some heaven and hell—In all those things we put into our prayers.

You answer with incredible things. It is certain

That there is one,—though it may be but one—

Believes in God and in some heaven and hell—

In all those things we put into our prayers.

First Pupil

We thought those things before our minds were born,But that was long ago—we are not children.

We thought those things before our minds were born,

But that was long ago—we are not children.

Wise Man

You are afraid to tell me what you thinkBecause I am hot and angry when I am crossed.I do not blame you for it; but have no fear,For if there's one that sat on smiling there,As though my arguments were sweet as milkYet found them bitter, I will thank him for it,If he but speak his mind.

You are afraid to tell me what you think

Because I am hot and angry when I am crossed.

I do not blame you for it; but have no fear,

For if there's one that sat on smiling there,

As though my arguments were sweet as milk

Yet found them bitter, I will thank him for it,

If he but speak his mind.

First Pupil

There is no one, Master,There is not one but found them sweet as milk.

There is no one, Master,

There is not one but found them sweet as milk.

Wise Man

The things that have been told us in our childhoodAre not so fragile.

The things that have been told us in our childhood

Are not so fragile.

Second Pupil

We are no longer children.

Third Pupil

We all believe in you and in what you have taught.

Other Pupils

All, all, all, all, in you, nothing but you.

Wise Man

I have deceived you—where shall I go for words—I have no thoughts—my mind has been swept bare.The messengers that stand in the fiery cloud,Fling themselves out, if we but dare to question,And after that, the Babylonian moonBlots all away.

I have deceived you—where shall I go for words—

I have no thoughts—my mind has been swept bare.

The messengers that stand in the fiery cloud,

Fling themselves out, if we but dare to question,

And after that, the Babylonian moon

Blots all away.

First Pupil(to other pupils)

I take his words to meanThat visionaries, and martyrs when they are raisedAbove translunary things, and there enlightened,As the contention is, may lose the light,And flounder in their speech when the eyes open.

I take his words to mean

That visionaries, and martyrs when they are raised

Above translunary things, and there enlightened,

As the contention is, may lose the light,

And flounder in their speech when the eyes open.

Second Pupil

How well he imitates their trick of speech.

Third Pupil

Their air of mystery.

Fourth Pupil

Their empty gaze,As though they'd looked upon some winged thing,And would not condescend to mankind after.

Their empty gaze,

As though they'd looked upon some winged thing,

And would not condescend to mankind after.

First Pupil

Master, we have all learnt that truth is learntWhen the intellect's deliberate and cold,As it were a polished mirror that reflectsAn unchanged world; and not when the steel melts,Bubbling and hissing, till there's naught but fume.

Master, we have all learnt that truth is learnt

When the intellect's deliberate and cold,

As it were a polished mirror that reflects

An unchanged world; and not when the steel melts,

Bubbling and hissing, till there's naught but fume.

Wise Man

When it is melted, when it all fumes up,They walk, as when beside those three in the furnaceThe form of the fourth.

When it is melted, when it all fumes up,

They walk, as when beside those three in the furnace

The form of the fourth.

First Pupil

Master, there's none among usThat has not heard your mockery of these,Or thoughts like these, and we have not forgot.

Master, there's none among us

That has not heard your mockery of these,

Or thoughts like these, and we have not forgot.

Wise Man

Something incredible has happened—some one has comeSuddenly like a grey hawk out of the air,And all that I declared untrue is true.

Something incredible has happened—some one has come

Suddenly like a grey hawk out of the air,

And all that I declared untrue is true.

First Pupil(to other pupils)

You'd think the way he says it, that he felt it.There's not a mummer to compare with him.He's something like a man.

You'd think the way he says it, that he felt it.

There's not a mummer to compare with him.

He's something like a man.

Second Pupil

Give us some proof.

Wise Man

What proof have I to give, but that an angelAn instant ago was standing on that spot.

What proof have I to give, but that an angel

An instant ago was standing on that spot.

[The pupils rise.

Third Pupil

You dreamed it.

Wise Man

I was awake as I am now.

First Pupil(to the others)

I may be dreaming now for all I know.He wants to show we have no certain proofOf anything in the world.

I may be dreaming now for all I know.

He wants to show we have no certain proof

Of anything in the world.

Second Pupil

There is this proofThat shows we are awake—we have all one worldWhile every dreamer has a world of his own,And sees what no one else can.

There is this proof

That shows we are awake—we have all one world

While every dreamer has a world of his own,

And sees what no one else can.

Third Pupil

Teigue sees angels.So when the Master says he has seen an angel,He may have seen one.

Teigue sees angels.

So when the Master says he has seen an angel,

He may have seen one.

First Pupil

Both may still be dreamers;Unless it's proved the angels were alike.

Both may still be dreamers;

Unless it's proved the angels were alike.

Second Pupil

What sort are the angels, Teigue?

Third Pupil

That will prove nothing,Unless we are sure prolonged obedienceHas made one angel like another angelAs they were eggs.

That will prove nothing,

Unless we are sure prolonged obedience

Has made one angel like another angel

As they were eggs.

First Pupil

The Master's silent now:For he has found that to dispute with us—Seeing that he has taught us what we know—Is but to reason with himself. Let us away,And find if there is one believer left.

The Master's silent now:

For he has found that to dispute with us—

Seeing that he has taught us what we know—

Is but to reason with himself. Let us away,

And find if there is one believer left.

Wise Man

Yes, yes. Find me but one that still believesThe things that we were told when we were children.

Yes, yes. Find me but one that still believes

The things that we were told when we were children.

Third Pupil

He'll mock and maul him.

Fourth Pupil

From the first I knewHe wanted somebody to argue with.

From the first I knew

He wanted somebody to argue with.

[They go.

Wise Man

I have no reason left. All dark, all dark!

[Pupils return laughing. They push forward fourth pupil.

First Pupil

Here, Master, is the very man you want.He said, when we were studying the book,That maybe after all the monks were right,And you mistaken, and if we but gave him time,He'd prove that it was so.

Here, Master, is the very man you want.

He said, when we were studying the book,

That maybe after all the monks were right,

And you mistaken, and if we but gave him time,

He'd prove that it was so.

Fourth Pupil

I never said it.

Wise Man

Dear friend, dear friend, do you believe in God?

Fourth Pupil

Master, they have invented this to mock me.

Wise Man

You are afraid of me.

Fourth Pupil

They know well, Master,That all I said was but to make them argue.They've pushed me in to make a mock of me,Because they knew I could take either sideAnd beat them at it.

They know well, Master,

That all I said was but to make them argue.

They've pushed me in to make a mock of me,

Because they knew I could take either side

And beat them at it.

Wise Man

If you believe in God,You are my soul's one friend.

If you believe in God,

You are my soul's one friend.

[Pupils laugh.

Mistress or wifeCan give us but our good or evil luckAmid the howling world, but you shall giveEternity, and those sweet-throated thingsThat drift above the moon.

Mistress or wife

Can give us but our good or evil luck

Amid the howling world, but you shall give

Eternity, and those sweet-throated things

That drift above the moon.

[The pupils look at one another and are silent.

Second Pupil

How strange he is.

Wise Man

The angel that stood there upon that spot,Said that my soul was lost unless I found outOne that believed.

The angel that stood there upon that spot,

Said that my soul was lost unless I found out

One that believed.

Fourth Pupil

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