The Colleen Bawn
TextDanny
I’m wake and cowld! What’s this come over me? Mother, mother, acushla.
Enter
Sheelah, R
Sheelah
What is it, Danny?
Danny
[
Staggering to table.
] Give me a glass of spirits!
[Falls in chair – Change quickly
SCENE IV. —
The old Weir Bridge, or a Wood on the verge of the Lake
– [
1st grooves.
]
Enter
Anne Chute, R
Anne
Married! the wretch is married! and with that crime already on his conscience he was ready for another and similar piece of villainy. It’s the Navy that does it. It’s my belief those sailors have a wife in every place they stop at.
Myles
[
Sings outside
, R.]
“Oh! Eily astoir, my love is all crost,
Like a bud in the frost.”
Anne
Here’s a gentleman who has got my complaint – his love is all crost, like a bud in the frost.
Enter
Myles, R
Myles
“And there’s no use at all in my goin’ to bed,
For it’s drames, and not sleep, that comes into my head,
And it’s all about you,” etc., etc.
Anne
My good friend, since you can’t catch your love, d’ye think you could catch my horse? [
Distant thunder.
Myles
Is it a black mare wid a white stockin on the fore off leg?
Anne
I dismounted to unhook a gate – a peal of thunder frightened her, and she broke away.
Myles
She’s at Torc Cregan stables by this time – it was an admiration to watch her stride across the Phil Dolan’s bit of plough.
Anne
And how am I to get home?
Myles
If I had four legs, I wouldn’t ax betther than to carry ye, and a proud baste I’d be. [
Thunder – rain.
Anne
The storm is coming down to the mountain – is there no shelter near?
Myles
There may be a corner in this ould chapel. [
Rain.
] Here comes the rain – murdher! ye’ll be wet through.
[
Music – pulls off coat.
] Put this round yez.
Anne
What will you do? You’ll catch your death of cold.
Myles
[
Taking out bottle.
] Cowld is it? Here’s a wardrobe of top coats. [
Thunder.
] Whoo! this is a fine time for the water – this way, ma’am.
[
Exeunt
Myles
and
Anne, L
Enter
Eily,
cloak and hood
, R
Eily
Here’s the place where Danny was to meet me with the boat. Oh! here he is.
Enter
Danny, L
How pale you are!
Danny
The thunder makes me sick.
Eily
Shall we not wait till the storm is over?
Danny
If it comes on bad we can put into the Divil’s Island Cave.
Eily
I feel so happy that I am going to see him, yet there is a weight about my heart that I can’t account for.
Danny
I can. [
Aside.
] Are you ready now?
Eily
Yes; come – come.
Danny
[
Staggering.
] I’m wake yet. My throat is dry – if I’d a draught of whisky now.
Eily
Sheelah gave you a bottle.
Danny
I forgot – it’s in the boat. [
Rain.
Eily
Here comes the rain – we shall get wet.
Danny
There’s the masther’s boat cloak below.
Eily
Come, Danny, lean on me. I’m afraid you are not sober enough to sail the skiff.
Danny
Sober! The dhrunker I am, the better I can do the work I’ve got to do.
Eily
Come, Danny, come – come.
[
Exeunt
Eily
and
Danny, R. —
Music ceases
Re-enter
Anne Chute
and
Myles, L
Myles
It was only a shower, I b’lieve – are ye wet, ma’am?
Anne
Dry as a biscuit.
Myles
Ah! then it’s yerself is the brave and beautiful lady – as bould an’ proud as a ship before the blast. [Anne
looks off
, R.
Anne
Why, there is my mare, and who comes with – [
Crosses to
R.
Myles
It’s Mr. Hardress Cregan himself.
Anne
Hardress here?
Myles
Eily gave me a letter for him this morning.
Enter
Hardress, R
Hard
Anne, what has happened? Your horse galloped wildly into the stable – we thought you had been thrown.
Myles
Here is a lether Eily tould me to give him. [
To
Hardress.] I beg your pardon, sir, but here’s the taste of a lether I was axed to give your honor. [
Gives letter.
Hard
[
Aside.
] From Eily!
Anne
Thanks, my good fellow, for your assistance.
Myles
Not at all, ma’am. Sure, there isn’t a boy in the County Kerry that would not give two thumbs off his hands to do a service to the Colleen Ruaidh, as you are called among us – iss indeed, ma’am. [
Going – aside.
] Ah! then it’s the purty girl she is, in them long clothes. [
Exit
Myles, R.
Hard
[
Reads, aside.
] “I am the cause of your ruin; I can’t live with that thought killin’ me. If I do not see you before night you will never again be throubled with your poor Eily.” Little simpleton! she is capable of doing herself an injury.
Anne
Hardress! I have been very blind and very foolish, but today I have learned to know my own heart. There’s my hand; I wish to seal my fate at once. I know the delicacy which prompted you to release me from my engagement to you. I don’t accept that release; I am yours.
Hard
Anne, you don’t know all.
Anne
I know more than I wanted, that’s enough. I forbid you ever to speak on this subject.
Hard
You don’t know my past life.
Anne
And I don’t want to know. I’ve had enough of looking into past lives; don’t tell me anything you wish to forget.
Hard
Oh, Anne – my dear cousin; if I could forget – if silence could be oblivion. [
Exeunt
Hardress
and
Anne, L.
SCENE V. —
Exterior of Myles’ Hut.
[
1st grooves.
]
Enter
Myles, R.,
singing “Brian O’Linn.”
“Brian O’Linn had no breeches to wear,
So he bought him a sheepskin to make him a pair;
The skinny side out, the woolly side in,
‘They are cool and convanient,’ said Brian O’Linn.”
[
Locks door of cabin.
] Now I’ll go down to my whisky-still. It is under my feet this minute, bein’ in a hole in the rocks they call O’Donoghue’s stables, a sort of water cave; the people around here think that the cave is haunted with bad spirits, and they say that of a dark stormy night strange unearthly noises is heard comin’ out of it – it is me singing, “The night before Larry was stretched.” Now I’ll go down to that cave, and wid a sod of live turf under a kettle of worty, I’ll invoke them sperrits – and what’s more, they’ll come.
[
Exit
Myles,
singing
, R.
Music till
Myles
begins to speak next scene
SCENE VI. —
A Cave; through large opening at back is seen the Lake and the Moon; rocks
R.
and
L. —
flat rock
, R. C.;
gauge waters all over stage; rope hanging from
C.,
hitched on wing
, R. U. E
Enter
Myles,
singing, top of rock
, R. U. E
Myles
And this is a purty night for my work! The smoke of my whisky-still will not be seen; there’s my distillery beyant in a snug hole up there, [
Unfastens rope
, L.] and here’s my bridge to cross over to it. I think it would puzzle a gauger to folly me; this is a patent of my own – a tight-rope bridge. [
Swings across from
R.
to
L.] Now I tie up my drawbridge at this side till I want to go back – what’s that – it was an otter I woke from a nap he was takin’ on that bit of rock there – ow! ye divil! if I had my gun I’d give ye a leaden supper. I’ll go up and load it, may be I’ll get a shot; them stones is the place where they lie out of a night, and many a one I’ve shot of them.
[
Music. – Disappears up rock
, L. U. E
Eily
What place is this you have brought me to?
Danny
Never fear – I know where I’m goin’ – step out on that rock – mind yer footin’; ’tis wet there.
Eily
I don’t like this place – it’s like a tomb.
Danny
Step out, I say; the boat is laking.
[Eily
steps on to rock
, R. C
Eily
Why do you spake to me so rough and cruel?
Danny
Eily, I have a word to say t’ye; listen now, and don’t trimble that way.
Eily
I won’t, Danny – I won’t.
Danny
Wonst, Eily, I was a fine brave boy, the pride of my ould mother, her white haired-darlin’ – you wouldn’t think it to look at me now. D’ye know how I got changed to this?
Eily
Yes, Hardress told me.
Danny
He done it – but I loved him before it, an’ I loved him after it – not a dhrop of blood I have, but I’d pour out like wather for the masther.
Eily
I know what you mean – as he has deformed your body – ruined your life – made ye what ye are.
Danny
Have you, a woman, less love for him than I, that you wouldn’t give him what he wants of you, even if he broke your heart as he broke my back, both in a moment of passion? Did I ax him to ruin himself and his ould family, and all to mend my bones? No! I loved him, and I forgave him that.
Eily
Danny, what do you want me to do?
[Danny
steps out on to rock
Danny
Give me that paper in your breast?
[
Boat floats off slowly
, R
Eily
I can’t – I’ve sworn never to part with it! You know I have!
Danny
Eily, that paper stands between Hardress Cregan and his fortune; that paper is the ruin of him. Give it, I tell yez.
Eily
Take me to the priest; let him lift the oath off me. Oh, Danny, I swore a blessed oath on my two knees, and would ye ax me to break that?
Danny
[
Seizes her hands.
] Give it up, and don’t make me hurt ye.
Eily
I swore by my mother’s grave, Danny. Oh! Danny dear, don’t. Don’t, acushla, and I’ll do anything. See now, what good would it be? sure, while I live I’m his wife. [
Music changes.
Danny
Then you’ve lived too long. Take your marriage lines wid ye to the bottom of the lake.
[
He throws her from rock backwards into the water
, L. C.,
with a cry; she reappears, clinging to rock
Eily
No! save me! Don’t kill me! Don’t, Danny, I’ll do anything – only let me live.
Danny
He wants ye dead. [
Pushes her off.
Eily
Oh, heaven! help me! Danny – Dan – [
Sinks.
Danny
[
Looking down.
] I’ve done it – she’s gone.
[
Shot is fired
, L. U. E.;
he falls – rolls from the rock into the water
, R. C
Myles
appears with gun, on rock
, L. U. E
Myles
I hit one of them bastes that time. I could see well, though it was so dark. But there was somethin’ moving on that stone. [
Swings across to
R. U. E.] Divil a sign of him. Stop! [
Looks down.
] What’s this? It’s a woman – there’s something white there. [
Figure rises near rock
, R. U. E.;
kneels down; tries to take the hand of figure
.] Ah! that dress! – it’s Eily. My own darlin’ Eily.
[
Pulls off waistcoat – jumps off rock.
Eily
rises
, R.;
then
Myles
and
Eily
rise up
, C.;
he turns, and seizes rock
, R. C.; Eily
across left arm
ACT III
SCENE I. —
Interior of an Irish hut; door and small opening
, R. C.
Door
L. C.
in flat
Truckle bed and bedding
, R. C.,
on which
Danny Mann
is discovered; table with jug of water; lighted candle stuck in bottle
, L.;
two stools
– Sheelah
at table
, L.
Music.
Danny
[
In his sleep.
] Gi’ me the paper, thin – screeching won’t save ye – down – down! [
Wakes.
] Oh, mother! darlin’ mother!
Sheelah
[
Waking.
] Eh! did ye call me, Danny?
Danny
Gi’ me a dhrop of wather – it’s the thirst that’s a killin’ me.
Sheelah
[
Takes jug.
] The fever’s on ye mighty bad.
Danny
[
Drinks, falls back, groans.
] Oh, the fire in me won’t go out! How long have I been here?
Sheelah
Ten days this night.
Danny
Ten days dis night! Have I been all that time out of my mind?
Sheelah
Iss, Danny. Ten days ago, that stormy night, ye crawled in at that dure, wake an’ like a ghost.
Danny
I remind me now.
Sheelah
Ye tould me that ye’d been poachin’ salmon, and had been shot by the keepers.
Danny
Who said I hadn’t?
Sheelah
Divil a one! Why did ye make me promise not to say a word about it? Didn’t ye refuse even to see a doctor itself?
Danny
Has any one axed after me?
Sheelah
No one but Mr. Hardress.
Danny
Heaven bless him!
Sheelah
I told him I hadn’t seen ye, and here ye are this day groanin’ when there’s great doin’s up at Castle Chute. To-morrow the masther will be married to Miss Anne.
Danny
Married! but – the – his —
Sheelah
Poor Eily, ye mane?
Danny
Hide the candle from my eyes – it’s painin’ me; shade it off. Go on, mother.
Sheelah
The poor Colleen! Oh, no, Danny, I knew she’d die of the love that was chokin’ her. He didn’t know how tindher she was when he gave her the hard word. What was that message the masther sent to her, that he wouldn’t let me hear? It was cruel, Danny, for it broke her heart entirely; she went away that night, and, two days after, a cloak was found floatin’ in the reeds, under Brikeen Bridge; nobody knew it but me. I turned away, and never said – . The creature is drowned, Danny, and woe to them as dhruv her to it. She has no father, no mother to put a curse on him, but the Father above that niver spakes till the last day, and then – [
She turns and sees
Danny
gasping, his eyes fixed on her, supporting himself on his arm
.] Danny! Danny! he’s dyin’ – he’s dyin’!
[
Runs to him
, R.
of bed
Danny
Who said that? Ye lie! I never killed her – sure he sent me the glove – where is it?
Sheelah
He’s ravin’ again.
Danny
The glove – he sent it to me full of blood. Oh, master, dear, there’s your token. I told ye I would clear the path foreninst ye.
Sheelah
Danny, what d’ye mane?
Danny
I’ll tell ye how I did it, masther; ’twas dis way – but don’t smile like dat – don’t, sir! She wouldn’t give me de marriage lines, so I sunk her and her proofs wid her. She’s gone! she came up wonst, but I put her down agin. Never fear – she’ll never throuble yer again – never – never!
[
Lies down; mutters.
Sheelah
on her knees, in horror and prayer
Sheelah
’Twas he! he! – my own son – he’s murdered her, and he’s dyin’ now – dyin’, wid blood on his hands! Danny! Danny! spake to me!
Danny
A docther! will they let me die like a baste, and never a docther?
Sheelah
I’ll run for one that’ll cure ye. Oh, weerasthrue, Danny! Is it for this I’ve loved ye? No, forgive, acushla, it isn’t your own mother that ’ud add to yer heart-breakin’ and pain. I’ll fetch the docther, avick. [
Music – puts on cloak, and pulls hood over her head.
] Oh, hone! oh hone!
[
Exit
Sheelah, L.
door in flat – a pause – knock – pause – knock
Enter
Corrigan,
door in flat
, L. C
Corrig
Sheelah! Sheelah! Nobody here? I’m bothered entirely. The cottage on Muckross Head is empty – not a sowl in it but a cat. Myles has disappeared, and Danny gone – vanished, bedad, like a fog – Sheelah is the only one remaining. I called to see Miss Chute; I was kicked out. I sent her a letter; it was returned to me, unopened. Her lawyer has paid off the mortgage, and taxed my bill of costs – the spalpeen! [Danny
groans
.] What’s that? Some one is asleep there. ’Tis Danny!
Danny
A docther! – gi’ me a docther!
Corrig
Danny here – concealed, too! Oh, there’s something going on that’s worth peepin’ into. Whist! there’s footsteps comin’. If I could hide a bit. I’m a magistrate, an’ I ought to know what’s goin’ on – here’s a turf-hole, wid a windy in it.
[
Exit
Corrigan,
opening in flat
, R. C
Enter
Sheelah
and
Father Tom, L. C.
door
Sheelah
[
Goes to
Danny.] Danny!
Danny
Is that you, mother?
Sheelah
I’ve brought the docther, asthore. [Danny
looks up
.
Danny
The priest!
Sheelah
[
On her knees
, R.
of bed
.] Oh, my darlin’! don’t be angry wid me, but dis is the docther you want; it isn’t in your body where the hurt is; the wound is in your poor sowl – there’s all the harrum.
Father T
Danny, my son – [
Sits
L.
of bed
.] – it’s sore-hearted I am to see you down this way.
Sheelah
And so good a son he was to his ould mother.
Danny
Don’t say that – don’t! [
Covering his face.
Sheelah
I will say it – my blessin’ on ye – see that, now, he’s cryin’.
Father T
Danny, the hand of death is on ye. Will ye lave your sins behind ye here below, or will ye take them with ye above, to show them on ye? Is there anything ye can do that’ll mend a wrong? leave that legacy to your friend, and he’ll do it. Do ye want pardon of any one down here? tell me, avick; I’ll get it for ye and send it after you – may be ye’ll want it.
Danny
[
Rising up an arm.
] I killed Eily O’Connor.
Sheelah
[
Covers her face with her hands.
] Oh! oh!
Father T
What harrum had ye agin the poor Colleen Bawn?
[Corrigan
takes notes
Danny
She stud in
his
way, and he had my heart and sowl in his keeping.
Father T
Hardress?
Danny
Hisself! I said I’d do it for him, if he’d give me the token.
Father T
Did Hardress employ you to kill the girl?
Danny
He sent me the glove; that was to be the token that I was to put her away, and I did – I – in the Pool a Dhiol. She would not gi’ me the marriage lines; I threw her in and then I was kilt.
Father T
Killed! by whose hand?
Danny
I don’t know, unless it was the hand of heaven.
Father T
[
Rising, goes down – aside.
] Myles na Coppaleen is at the bottom of this; his whisky-still is in that cave, and he has not been seen for ten days past. [
Aloud – goes to
Danny.] Danny, after ye fell, how did ye get home?
Danny
I fell in the wather; the current carried me to a rock; how long I was there half drowned I don’t know, but on wakin’ I found my boat floatin’ close by, an’ it was still dark; I got in and crawled here.
Father T
[
Aside.
] I’ll go and see Myles – there’s more in this than has come out.
Sheelah
Won’t yer riverince say a word of comfort to the poor boy? He’s in great pain entirely.
Father T
Keep him quiet, Sheelah. [
Music.
] I’ll be back again with the comfort for him. Danny, your time is short; make the most of it. [
Aside.
] I’m off to Myles na Coppaleen. Oh, Hardress Cregan – [
Going up.
] – ye little think what a bridal day ye’ll have!
[
Exit door in flat
, L. C
Corrig
[
Who has been writing in note-book, comes out at back.
] I’ve got down every word of the confession. Now, Hardress Cregan, there will be guests at your weddin’ to-night ye little dhrame of.
[
Exit
L.
door in flat
, L. C
Danny
[
Rising up.
] Mother, mother! the pain is on me. Wather – quick – wather!
[Sheelah
runs to
L.
table; takes jug; gives it to
Danny;
he drinks
; Sheelah
takes jug
; Danny
struggles – falls back on bed; close on picture
.
SCENE II. —
Chamber in Castle Chute.
[
1st Grooves.
]
Enter
Kyrle Daly
and
Servant, R
Kyrle
Inform Mrs. Cregan that I am waiting upon her.
Enter
Mrs. Cregan, L
Mrs. C
I am glad to see you, Kyrle. [
Exit
Servant, L.
Kyrle
You sent for me, Mrs. Cregan. My ship sails from Liverpool to-morrow. I never thought I could be so anxious to quit my native land.
Mrs. C
I want you to see Hardress. For ten days past he shuns the society of his bride. By night he creeps out alone in his boat on the lake – by day he wanders round the neighborhood, pale as death. He is heart-broken.
Kyrle
Has ye asked to see me?
Mrs. C
Yesterday he asked where you were.
Kyrle
Did he forget that I left your house when Miss Chute, without a word of explanation, behaved so unkindly to me?
Mrs. C
She is not the same girl since she accepted Hardress. She quarrels – weeps – complains, and has lost her spirits.
Kyrle
She feels the neglect of Hardress.
Anne
[
Without
, R.] Don’t answer me! Obey, and hold your tongue!
Mrs. C
Do you hear? she is rating one of the servants.
Anne
[
Without.
] No words – I’ll have no sulky looks, neither.
Enter
Anne, R.,
dressed as a bride, with a vail and wreath in her hand
Anne
Is that the vail and wreath I ordered? How dare you tell me that? [
Throws it off
, R.
Mrs. C
Anne! [Anne
sees
Kyrle —
stands confused
.
Kyrle
You are surprised to see me in your house, Miss Chute?
Anne
You are welcome, sir.
Kyrle
[
Aside.
] She looks pale! She’s not happy – that’s gratifying.
Anne
[
Aside.
] He doesn’t look well – that’s some comfort.
Mrs. C
I’ll try to find Hardress. [
Exit
Mrs. Cregan, L.
Kyrle
I hope you don’t think I intrude – that is – I came to see Mrs. Cregan.
Anne
[
Sharply.
] I don’t flatter myself you wished to see me; why should you?
Kyrle
Anne, I am sorry I offended you; I don’t know what I did, but no matter.
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