I'll put a new name upon
This strong farmer, of Thrippeny John.
He'll be called, without a doubt,
Thrippeny John from this time out.
Put your sovereign on my plate,
Or that and worse will be your fate.
MISER. O, in the name of God, Raftery, stop your mouth and let
me go! Here is the sovereign for you; and indeed it's not with my
blessing I give it.
(BLIND MAN _plays on the fiddle. They all stand up and dance
but_ SEAGAN NA STUCIARE, _who shakes his fist in_ BLIND
MAN'S _face, and goes out._
_When they have danced for a minute or two_, BLIND MAN _stops
fiddling and stands up._)
BLIND MAN. I was near forgetting: I am the only person here
gave nothing to the woman of the house. (_Hands the plate of money to_
MARY.) Take that and my seven hundred blessings along with it,
and that you may be as well as I wish you to the end of life and time.
Count the money now, and see what the neighbours did for you.
MARY. That is too much indeed.
MARTIN. You have too much done for us already.
BLIND MAN. Count it, count it; while I go over and try can I
hear what sort of blessings Seagan na Stucaire is leaving after him.
(_Neighbours all crowd round counting the money._ BLIND MAN
_goes to the door, looks back with a sigh, and goes quietly out._)
OLD FARMER. Well, you have enough to set you up altogether,
Martin. You'll be buying us all up within the next six months.
MARTIN. Indeed I don't think I'll be going digging potatoes for
other men this year, but to be working for myself at home.
(_The sound of horse's steps are heard. A young man comes into the
house._)
YOUNG MAN. What is going on here at all? All the cars in the
country gathered at the door, and Seagan na Stucaire going swearing down
the road.
OLD FARMER. Oh, this is the great wedding was made by
Raftery.--Where is Raftery? Where is he gone?
MARTIN (_going to the door_). He's not here. I don't see him on
the road. (_Turns to young farmer._) Did you meet a blind fiddler going
out the door--the poet Raftery?
YOUNG MAN. The poet Raftery? I did not; but I stood by his
grave at Killeenan three days ago.
MARY. His grave? Oh, Martin, it was a dead man was in it!
MARTIN. Whoever it was, it was a man sent by God was in it.