ColmanandAloysiusrun on.
ColmanandAloysiusrun on.
One of the Mob outside.They are here in the ruins!
Another Voice.This way! This way!
Paul Ruttledge.I will not go. I have a little reason for staying, but no reason is too little to be the foundation of martyrdom. People have been martyred for all kinds of reasons, and my reason that is not worth a rush will do as well as any other. [Looks round.] Ah! they are gone. A little reason, a little reason. I have entered into the second freedom—the irresponsibility of the saints.
Sings.
Parasti in conspectu meo mensamAdversus eos qui tribulant me.Impinguasti in oleo caput meum,Et calix meus inebrians quam praeclarus est.
[Peoplerush in with sticks uplifted.
One of the Mob.Where are the heretics?
Another.We'll make an end of their witchcraft!
Another.Here is the worst of them!
Another.Give me back my cattle you put the sickness on!
Another.We'll have no witchcraft here! Drive away the unfrocked priest!
Another.Make an end of him when we have the chance!
Paul Ruttledge.Yes, make an end of me. I have tried hard to live a good life; give me a good death now.
One of the Crowd.Quick, don't give him time to put the evil eye on us!
[They rush at him. His hands are seen swaying about above the crowd.
[They rush at him. His hands are seen swaying about above the crowd.
Paul Ruttledge.I go to the invisible heart of flame!
One of the Crowd.Throw him there now! Where are the others?
Another.They must be among the rocks.
Another.They are not; they are gone down the road!
Another.I tell you it's in the rocks they are! It's in the rocks they're hiding!
Another.They are not; they couldn't run in the rocks; they're running down the road.
Several Voices.They're on the road; they're on the road.
[They all rush out, leavingPaul Ruttledgelying on the ground. It grows darker.Fathers ColmanandAloysiuscreep up.
[They all rush out, leavingPaul Ruttledgelying on the ground. It grows darker.Fathers ColmanandAloysiuscreep up.
Colman.Paul, Paul, come; we have still time to get to the boat.
Aloysius.Oh! they have killed him; there is a wound in his neck! Oh! he has been the first of us to get the crown!
Colman.There are voices! They mustbe coming back! Come to the boat, maybe we can bury him to-morrow!
[They go out.Paul Ruttledgehalf rises and sinks back.
[They go out.Paul Ruttledgehalf rises and sinks back.
EnterCharlie WardandSabina Silver.
Charlie Ward.They have done for him. I thought they would.
Sabina Silver.Oh, Paul, I never thought to find you like this! He's not dead; he'll come round yet.
Charlie Ward.[Opens his shirt and puts in his hand on his heart.] Paul!
Paul Ruttledge.Ah! Charlie, give me the soldering iron—no, bring me the lap anvil—I'm as good a tinker as any of you.
Charlie Ward.He thinks he's back on the roads with us! He is done for.
Sabina Silver.I knew he'd have to come back to me to die after all; it's a lonesome thing to die among strangers.
Paul Ruttledge.That is right, that is right, take me up in your brazen claws. But no—no—I will not go out beyondSaturn into the dark. Take me down—down to that field under the earth, under the roots of the grave.
Sabina Silver.I don't know what he is saying. I never could understand his talk.
Paul Ruttledge.O plunge me into the wine barrel, into the wine barrel of God.
Sabina Silver.Won't you speak to me, Paul? Don't you know me? I am Sibby; don't you remember me, Sibby, your wife?
Charlie Ward.He sees you now; I think he knows you.
[Paul Ruttledgehas raised himself on his elbow and is looking atSabina Silver.
[Paul Ruttledgehas raised himself on his elbow and is looking atSabina Silver.
Sabina Silver.He knows me. I was sure he would know me.
Paul Ruttledge.Colman, Colman, remember always where there is nothing there is God. [He sinks down again.
One of the Crowd.[Coming back with two or three others.] I knew they must be in the rocks.
Charlie Ward.Well, he's gone! There'll soon be none of us left at all. And I never knew what it was he did that brought him to us.
Sabina Silver.Oh, Paul, Paul!
[Begins to keen very low, swaying herself to and fro.
[Begins to keen very low, swaying herself to and fro.
One of the Crowd.[ToCharlie Ward.] Was he a friend of yours?
Charlie Ward.He was, indeed. I must do what I can for him now.
One of the Crowd.That's natural, that's natural. It's a pity they did it. They'd best have left him alone. We'd best be going back to the town.
[Sabina Silverraises the keen louder. TheStrangersandCharlie Wardtake off their hats.
[Sabina Silverraises the keen louder. TheStrangersandCharlie Wardtake off their hats.