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because of seeing me； and I no more than I am； but because I was
looking on her with my two eyes； and she getting up； and eating
her food； and combing her hair； and lying down for her sleep。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇interested； off her guard。＇ Wouldn't any
married man you'd have be doing the like of that？
MARTIN DOUL ＇seizing the moment that he has her attention。＇
I'm thinking by the mercy of God it's few sees anything but them
is blind for a space （with excitement。） It's a few sees the old
woman rotting for the grave； and it's few sees the like of
yourself。 （He bends over her。） Though it's shining you are； like
a high lamp would drag in the ships out of the sea。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇shrinking away from him。＇ Keep off from me；
Martin Doul。
MARTIN DOUL ＇quickly； with low； furious intensity。＇ It's
the truth I'm telling you。 （He puts his hand on her shoulder and
shakes her。） And you'd do right not to marry a man is after
looking out a long while on the bad days of the world； for what
way would the like of him have fit eyes to look on yourself； when
you rise up in the morning and come out of the little door you
have above in the lane； the time it'd be a fine thing if a man
would be seeing； and losing his sight； the way he'd have your two
eyes facing him； and he going the roads； and shining above him；
and he looking in the sky； and springing up from the earth； the
time he'd lower his head； in place of the muck that seeing men do
meet all roads spread on the world。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇who has listened half mesmerized； starting away。＇
It's the like of that talk you'd hear from a man would be
losing his mind。
MARTIN DOUL ＇going after her； passing to her right。＇ It'd
be little wonder if a man near the like of you would be losing
his mind。 Put down your can now； and come along with myself； for
I'm seeing you this day； seeing you； maybe； the way no man has
seen you in the world。 （He takes her by the arm and tries to
pull her away softly to the right。） Let you come on now； I'm
saying； to the lands of Iveragh and the Reeks of Cork； where you
won't set down the width of your two feet and not be crushing
fine flowers； and making sweet smells in the air。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇laying down the can； trying to free herself。＇
Leave me go； Martin Doul！ Leave me go； I'm saying！
MARTIN DOUL。 Let you not be fooling。 Come along now the little
path through the trees。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇crying out towards forge。＇ Timmy the smith。
（Timmy comes out of forge； and Martin Doul lets her go。 Molly
Byrne； excited and breathless； pointing to Martin Doul。） Did
ever you hear that them that loses their sight loses their senses
along with it； Timmy the smith！
TIMMY ＇suspicious； but uncertain。＇ He's no sense； surely；
and he'll be having himself driven off this day from where he's
good sleeping； and feeding； and wages for his work。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇as before。＇ He's a bigger fool than that；
Timmy。 Look on him now； and tell me if that isn't a grand fellow
to think he's only to open his mouth to have a fine woman； the
like of me； running along by his heels。
＇Martin Doul recoils towards centre； with his hand to his eyes；
Mary Doul is seen on left coming forward softly。＇
TIMMY ＇with blank amazement。＇ Oh； the blind is wicked
people； and it's no lie。 But he'll walk off this day and not be
troubling us more。
＇Turns back left and picks up Martin Doul's coat and stick； some
things fall out of coat pocket； which he gathers up again。＇
MARTIN DOUL ＇turns around； sees Mary Doul； whispers to Molly
Byrne with imploring agony。＇ Let you not put shame on me；
Molly； before herself and the smith。 Let you not put shame on me
and I after saying fine words to you； and dreaming 。 。 。 dreams 。
。 。 。 in the night。 （He hesitates； and looks round the sky。） Is
it a storm of thunder is coming； or the last end of the world？
（He staggers towards Mary Doul； tripping slightly over tin can。）
The heavens is closing； I'm thinking； with darkness and great
trouble passing in the sky。 （He reaches Mary Doul； and seizes
her left arm with both his hands with a frantic cry。） Is it
darkness of thunder is coming； Mary Doul！ Do you see me clearly
with your eyes？
MARY DOUL ＇snatches her arm away； and hits him with empty sack
across the face。＇ I see you a sight too clearly； and let you
keep off from me now。
MOLLY BYRNE ＇clapping her hands。＇ That's right； Mary。
That's the way to treat the like of him is after standing there
at my feet and asking me to go off with him； till I'd grow an old
wretched road…woman the like of yourself。
MARY DOUL ＇defiantly。＇ When the skin shrinks on your chin；
Molly Byrne； there won't be the like of you for a shrunk hag in
the four quarters of Ireland。 。 。 。 It's a fine pair you'd be；
surely！
＇Martin Doul is standing at back right centre； with his back to
the audience。＇
TIMMY ＇coming over to Mary Doul。＇ Is it no shame you have
to let on she'd ever be the like of you？
MARY DOUL。 It's them that's fat and flabby do be wrinkled young；
and that whitish yellowy hair she has does be soon turning the
like of a handful of thin grass you'd see rotting； where the wet
lies； at the north of a sty。 （Turning to go out on right。） Ah；
it's a better thing to have a simple； seemly face； the like of my
face； for two…score years； or fifty itself； than to be setting
fools mad a short while； and then to be turning a thing would
drive off the little children from your feet。
＇She goes out； Martin Doul has come forward again； mastering
himself； but uncertain。＇
TIMMY。 Oh； God protect us； Molly； from the words of the blind。
（He throws down Martin Doul's coat and stick。） There's your old
rubbish now； Martin Doul； and let you take it up； for it's all
you have； and walk off through the world； for if ever I meet you
coming again； if it's seeing or blind you are itself； I'll bring
out the big hammer and hit you a welt with it will leave you easy
till the judgment day。
MARTIN DOUL ＇rousing himself with an effort。＇ What call
have you to talk the like of that with myself？
TIMMY ＇pointing to Molly Byrne。＇ It's well you know what
call I have。 It's well you know a decent girl； I'm thinking to
wed； has no right to have her heart scalded with hearing talk
and queer； bad talk； I'm thinking from a raggy…looking fool
the like of you。
MARTIN DOUL ＇raising his voice。＇ It's making game of you
she is； for what seeing girl would marry with yourself？ Look on
him； Molly； look on him； I'm saying； for I'm seeing him still；
and let you raise your voice； for the time is come； and bid him
go up into his forge； and be sitting there by himself； sneezing
and sweating； and he beating pot…hooks till the judgment day。 ＇He
seizes her arm again。＇
MOLLY BYRNE。 Keep him off from me； Timmy！
TIMMY ＇pushing Martin Doul aside。＇ Would you have me strike
you； Martin Doul？ Go