Cathleen Ni Houlihan | MusicalTheatreResourceCenter

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PETER. I think I knew someone of that name once. Who was it, I wonder? It must have been someone I knew when I was a boy. No, no, I remember, I heard it in a song. OLD WOMAN [who is standing in the doorway]. They are wondering that there were songs made for me; there have been many songs made for me. I heard one on the wind this morning. [She sings.] Do not make a great keening When the graves have been dug to-morrow. Do not call the white-scarfed riders To the burying that shall be to-morrow. Do not spread food to call strangers To the wakes that shall be to-morrow; Do not give money for prayers For the dead that shall die to-morrow. They will have no need of prayers, they will have no need of prayers. MICHAEL. I do not know what that song means, but tell me something I can do for you. PETER. Come over to me, Michael. MICHAEL. Hush, father, listen to her. OLD WOMAN. It is a hard service they take that help me. Many that are red-cheeked now will be pale-cheeked; many that have been free to walk the hills and the bogs and the rushes will be sent to walk hard streets in far countries; many a good plan will be broken; many that have gathered money will not stay to spend it; many a child will be born, and there will be no father at its christening to give it a name. They that had red cheeks will have pale cheeks for my sake; and for all that, they will think they are well paid. [She goes out; her voice is heard outside singing.] They shall be remembered for ever, They shall be alive for ever, They shall be speaking for ever, The people shall hear them for ever. BRIDGET [to PETER]. Look at him, Peter; he has the look of a man that has got the touch. [Raising her voice.] Look here, Michael, at the wedding-clothes. Such grand clothes as these are. You have a right to fit them on now; it would be a pity to-morrow if they did not fit. The boys would be laughing at you. Take them, Michael, and go into the room and fit them on. [She puts them on his arm.] MICHAEL. What wedding are you talking of? What clothes will I be wearing to-morrow? BRIDGET. These are the clothes you are going to wear when you marry Delia Cahel to-morrow. MICHAEL. I had forgotten that.