The Colleen Bawn

Anne And does he think I’d let him be ruined any way? Does he think I wouldn’t sell the last rood of land – the gown off my back, and the hair off my head, before that boy that protected and loved me, the child, years ago, should come to a hap’orth of harrum?

[Crosses to R

Kyrle Miss Chute!

Anne Well, I can’t help it. When I am angry the brogue comes out, and my Irish heart will burst through manners, and graces, and twenty stay-laces. [Crosses to L.] I’ll give up my fortune – that I will!

Kyrle You can’t – you’ve got a guardian who can not consent to such a sacrifice.

Anne Have I? then I’ll find a husband that will.

Kyrle [Aside.] She means me – I see it in her eyes.

Anne [Aside.] He’s trying to look unconscious. [Aloud.] Kyrle Daly, on your honor and word as a gentleman, do you love me and nobody else?

Kyrle Do you think me capable of contaminating your image by admitting a meaner passion into my breast?

Anne Yes, I do.

Kyrle Then you wrong me.

Anne I’ll prove that in one word. Take care, now; it’s coming.

Kyrle Go on.

Anne [Aside.] Now I’ll astonish him. [Aloud.] Eily!

Kyrle What’s that?

Anne “Shule, shule, agrah!”

Kyrle Where to?

Anne Three winks, as much as to say, “Are you coming?” and an extinguisher above here means “Yes.” Now you see I know all about it.

Kyrle You have the advantage of me.

Anne Confess now, and I’ll forgive you.

Kyrle I will; tell me what to confess, and I’ll confess it – I don’t care what it is.

Anne [Aside.] If I hadn’t eye proof he’d brazen it out of me. Isn’t he cunning? He’s one of those that would get fat where a fox would starve.

Kyrle That was a little excursion into my past life – a sudden descent on my antecedents, to see if you could not surprise an infidelity – but I defy you.

Anne You do? I accept that defiance; and, mind me, Kyrle, if I find you true as I once thought, there’s my hand; but if you are false in this, Anne Chute will never change her name for yours. [He kisses her hand.] Leave me now.

Kyrle Oh, the lightness you have given to my heart! The number of pipes I’ll smoke this afternoon will make them think we’ve got a haystack on fire. [Exit Kyrle, through window, R.

Anne [Rings bell on table, R.] Here, Pat, Barney, some one.

Enter Servant, L. door in flat

Tell Larry Dolan, my groom, to saddle the black mare, Fireball, but not bring her round the house – I’ll mount in the stables.

[Exit Servant, L. door in flat

I’ll ride over to Muckross Head, and draw that cottage; I’ll know what’s there. It mayn’t be right, but I haven’t a big brother to see after me – and self-protection is the first law of nature.

[Exit Anne, R. 1 E Music. Enter Mrs. Cregan and Hardress, L. door in flat

Mrs. C [R. C.] What do you say, Hardress?

Hard [L. C.] I say, mother, that my heart and faith are both already pledged to another, and I can not break my engagement.

Mrs. C And this is the end of all our pride!

Hard Repining is useless – thought and contrivance are of no avail – the die is cast.

Mrs. C Hardress, I speak not for myself, but for you – and I would rather see you in your coffin than married to this poor, lowborn, silly, vulgar creature. I know you, my son; you will be miserable when the infatuation of first love is past; when you turn from her and face the world, as one day you must do, you will blush to say, “This is my wife.” Every word from her mouth will be a pang to your pride. You will follow her movements with terror – the contempt and derision she excites will rouse you first to remorse, and then to hatred – and from the bed to which you go with a blessing, you will rise with a curse.

Hard Mother! mother! [Throws himself in chair.

Mrs. C To Anne you have acted a heartless and dishonorable part – her name is already coupled with yours at every fireside in Kerry.

Enter Servant, L. door in flat

Serv Mr. Corrigan, ma’am.

Mrs. C He comes for his answer. Show him in.

[Exit Servant, L. door in flat

The hour has come, Hardress – what answer shall I give him?

Hard Refuse him – let him do his worst.

Mrs. C And face beggary! On what shall we live? I tell you the prison for debt is open before us. Can you work? No! Will you enlist as a soldier, and send your wife into service? We are ruined – d’ye hear? – ruined! I must accept this man only to give you and yours a shelter, and under Corrigan’s roof I may not be ashamed, perhaps, to receive your wife.

Enter Servant, showing in Mr. Corrigan, L. door in flat

Corrig [L.] Good morning, ma’am; I am punctual, you perceive.

Mrs. C [C.] We have considered your offer, sir, and we see no alternative – but – but —

Corrig Mrs. Cregan, I’m proud, ma’am, to take your hand.

Hard [Starting up.] Begone – begone, I say; touch her, and I’ll brain you!

Corrig Squire! Sir! Mr. Hardress!

Hard Must I hurl you from the house?

Enter two Servants, door in flat

Mrs. C Hardress, my darling boy, restrain yourself.

Corrig Good morning, ma’am. I have my answer. [To Servant.] Is Miss Chute within?

Serv No, sir; she’s just galloped out of the stable yard.

Corrig Say I called to see her. I will wait upon her at this hour to-morrow. [Looking at the Cregans.] To-morrow! to-morrow!

[Exit, followed by Servants, L. door in flat

Mrs. C To-morrow will see us in Limerick Jail, and this house in the hands of the sheriff.

Hard Mother, heaven guide and defend me! let me rest for a while – you don’t know all yet, and I have not the heart to tell you.

[Crosses L

Mrs. C With you, Hardress, I can bear anything – anything – but your humiliation and your unhappiness —

Hard I know it, mother, I know it. [Exit, L. 1 E. Music.

Danny appears at window, R., in flat

Danny Whisht – missiz – whisht.

Mrs. C [L. C.] Who’s there?

Danny It’s me, sure, Danny – that is – I know the throuble that’s in it. I’ve been through it all wid him.

Mrs. C You know, then?

Danny Everything, ma’am; and, sure, I shtruv hard and long to impache him from doing it.

Mrs. C Is he, indeed, so involved with this girl that he will not give her up?

Danny No; he’s got over the worst of it, but she holds him tight, and he feels kindly and soft-hearted for her, and daren’t do what another would.

Mrs. C Dare not?

Danny Sure she might be packed off across the wather to Ameriky, or them parts beyant? Who’d ever ax a word afther her? – barrin’ the masther, who’d murdher me if he knew I whispered such a thing.

Mrs. C But would she go?

Danny Ow, ma’am, wid a taste of persuasion, we’d mulvather her aboord. But there’s another way again, and if ye’d only coax the masther to send me his glove, he’d know the manin’ of that token, and so would I.

Mrs. C His glove?

Danny Sorra a ha’porth else. If he’ll do that, I’ll take my oath ye’ll hear no more of the Colleen Bawn.

Mrs. C I’ll see my son. [Exit L. D. F.

Danny Tare an’ ’ouns, that lively girl, Miss Chute, has gone the road to Muckross Head; I’ve watched her – I’ve got my eye on all of them. If she sees Eily – ow, ow, she’ll get the ring itself in that helpin’ maybe, of kale-canon. By the piper, I’ll run across the lake, and get there first; she’s got a long round to go, and the wind rising – a purty blast entirely.

[Goes to window – Music Re-enter Mrs. Cregan, L. D. F., with glove

Mrs. C [Aside.] I found his gloves in the hall, where he had thrown them in his hat.

Danny Did ye ax him, ma’am?

Mrs. C I did – and here is the reply. [Holds out glove.

Danny He has changed his mind, then?

Mrs. C He has entirely.

Danny And – and – I am – to – do it?

Mrs. C That is the token.

Danny I know it – I’ll keep my promise. I’m to make away with her?

Mrs. C Yes, yes – take her away – away with her!

[Exit Mrs. Cregan, L. door in flat

Danny Never fear, ma’am. [Going to window.] He shall never see or hear again of the Colleen Bawn.

[Exit Danny through window – changeSCENE III. —Exterior of Eily’s Cottage; Cottage, R. 3 E.; set pieces, backed by Lake; table and two seats, R. CSheelah and Eily discovered, knitting

Sheelah [R.] Don’t cry, darlin’ – don’t, alanna!

Eily [L.] He’ll never come back to me – I’ll never see him again, Sheelah!

Sheelah Is it lave his own wife?

Eily I’ve sent him a letther by Myles, and Myles has never come back – I’ve got no answer – he won’t spake to me – I am standin’ betune him and fortune – I’m in the way of his happiness. I wish I was dead!

Sheelah Whisht! be thee husht! what talk is that? when I’m tuk sad that way, I go down to the chapel and pray a turn – it lifts the cloud off my heart.

Eily I can’t pray; I’ve tried, but unless I pray for him, I can’t bring my mind to it.

Sheelah I never saw a colleen that loved as you love; sorra come to me, but I b’lieve you’ve got enough to supply all Munster, and more left over than would choke ye if you wern’t azed of it.

Eily He’ll come back – I’m sure he will; I was wicked to doubt. Oh! Sheelah! what becomes of the girls he doesn’t love? Is there anything goin’ on in the world where he isn’t?

Sheelah There now – you’re smilin’ again.

Eily I’m like the first mornin’ when he met me – there was dew on the young day’s eye – a smile on the lips o’ the lake. Hardress will come back – oh! yes; he’ll never leave his poor Eily all alone by herself in this place. Whisht, now, an’ I’ll tell you. [Music.

Song. – Air, “Pretty Girl Milking her Cow.”’Twas on a bright morning in summer,I first heard his voice speaking low,As he said to a colleen beside me,“Who’s that pretty girl milking her cow?”And many times after he met me,And vowed that I always should beHis own little darling alanna,Mavourneen a sweelish machree.I haven’t the manners or gracesOf the girls in the world where ye move,I haven’t their beautiful faces,But I have a heart that can love.If it plase ye, I’ll dress in satins,And jewels I’ll put on my brow,But don’t ye be after forgettin’Your pretty girl milking her cow.

Sheelah Ah, the birds sit still on the boughs to listen to her, and the trees stop whisperin’; she leaves a mighty big silence behind her voice, that nothin’ in nature wants to break. My blessin’ on the path before her – there’s an angel at the other end of it.

[Exit Sheelah in cottage, R

Eily [Repeats last line of song.]

Enter Anne Chute, L. U. E

Anne There she is.

Eily [Sings till facing Anne – stops – they examine each other.]

Anne My name is Anne Chute.

Eily I am Eily O’Connor.

Anne You are the Colleen Bawn – the pretty girl.

Eily And you are the Colleen Ruaidh.

Anne [Aside.] She is beautiful.

Eily [Aside.] How lovely she is.

Anne We are rivals.

Eily I am sorry for it.

Anne So am I, for I feel that I could have loved you.

Eily That’s always the way of it; everybody wants to love me, but there’s something spoils them off.

Anne [Showing letter.] Do you know that writing?

Eily I do, ma’am, well, though I don’t know how you came by it.

Anne I saw your signals last night – I saw his departure, and I have come here to convince myself of his falsehood to me. But now that I have seen you, you have no longer a rival in his love, for I despise him with all my heart, who could bring one so beautiful and simple as you are to ruin and shame!

Eily He didn’t – no – I am his wife! Oh, what have I said!

Anne What?

Eily Oh, I didn’t mane to confess it – no, I didn’t! but you wrung it from me in defense of him.

Anne You his wife?

Enter Danny, L. U. E

Danny [At back – aside.] The divil! they’re at it – an’ I’m too late!

Anne I can not believe this – show me your certificate.

Eily Here it is.

Danny [Advances between them.] Didn’t you swear to the priest that it should niver lave your breast?

Anne Oh! you’re the boatman.

Danny Iss, ma’am!

Anne Eily, forgive me for doubting your goodness, and your purity. I believe you. Let me take your hand. [Crosses to her.] While the heart of Anne Chute beats, you have a friend that won’t be spoiled off, but you have no longer a rival, mind that. All I ask of you is that you will never mention this visit to Mr. Daly – and for you [To Danny.] this will purchase your silence. [Gives money.] Good-by!

[Exit Anne, L. U. E

Danny Long life t’ye. [Aside.] What does it mane? Hasn’t she found me out?

Eily Why did she ask me never to spake to Mr. Daly of her visit here? Sure I don’t know any Mr. Daly.

Danny Didn’t she spake of him before, dear?

Eily Never!

Danny Nor didn’t she name Master Hardress?

Eily Well, I don’t know; she spoke of him and of the letter I wrote to him, but I b’lieve she never named him intirely.

Danny [Aside.] The divil’s in it for sport; she’s got ’em mixed yet.

Enter Sheelah from cottage, R

Sheelah What brings you back, Danny?

Danny Nothing! but a word I have from the masther for the Colleen here.

Eily Is it the answer to the letter I sent by Myles?

Danny That’s it, jewel, he sent me wid a message.

Sheelah [C.] Somethin’ bad has happened. Danny, you are as pale as milk, and your eye is full of blood – yez been drinkin’.

Danny May be I have.

Sheelah You thrimble, and can’t spake straight to me. Oh! Danny, what is it, avick?

Danny Go on now, an’ stop yer keenin’.

Eily Faith, it isn’t yourself that’s in it, Danny; sure there’s nothing happened to Hardress?

Danny Divil a word, good or bad, I’ll say while the mother’s there.

Sheelah I’m goin’. [Aside.] What’s come to Danny this day, at all, at all; bedad, I don’t know my own flesh and blood.

[Runs into cottage

Danny Sorro’ and ruin has come on the Cregans; they’re broke intirely.

Eily Oh, Danny.

Danny Whisht, now! You are to meet Masther Hardress this evenin’, at a place on the Divil’s Island, beyant. Ye’ll niver breathe a word to a mortal where yer goin’, d’ye mind, now; but slip down, unbeknown, to the landin’ below, where I’ll have the boat waitin’ for yez.

Eily At what hour?

Danny Just after dark; there’s no moon to-night, an’ no one will see us crossin’ the water. [Music till end of scene.

Eily I will be there; I’ll go down only to the little chapel by the shore, and pray there ’till ye come. [Exit Eily, into cottage, R.

Danny 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 quicklySCENE 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, RMyles “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 sceneSCENE 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.