if

PLAYS

Brian Friel
Translations

OCwi MA Q3d±
I
Donegal

it
I—

,
-
,
 Translations
Brian 1-del was born ii Otnagh, County Tvrone, in 1929.
His plays include Philadelphia, Here I Conic!, Translations,
Faith Healer, Making Histon’, Dancing at Lnghnasa. The
Home Place and Per[orniances.
Brian Friel is one of the most accomplished playwrights
working in English today. His work is developed around
a central poetic vision which has found, and enhanced, a
language of theatre to communicate difficult ideas. This
language of drama works through wider poetic sensibilities
we actually share with the playwright but which we have
lost sight of. Brian End sharpens our perceptions and
makes us able to understand our human condition and
the deepening ironies and contradictions of our age.
This is his poetic vision.’ Michael Etherton, Contenzioraiy
Iris!, Dramatists (Macmillan)
 &v the some author
BRIAN FRIEL
THE ENEMY WITHIN
PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME!
THE LOVES OF CASS MAGUIRE
LOVERS lansiations
VOLUNTEERS
LIVING QUARTERS
• THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY
THREE SISTERS (Chekhov)
- --
. ARISTOCRATS
TIlE
COMMUNICATION CORD
MAKING HISTORY
FATHERS
AND SONS (afterTurgenev)
THE LONDON VERTIGO (after Charles Mackiln)
DANCING AT LUGIINASA
•
- WONDERFUL TENNESSEE
- -
MOLLY SWEENEY
GIVE ME YOUR ANSWER, DO
FAmI IIEALER
THREE
PLAYS AFTER
PERFORMANCES
TIlE HOME PLACE
UNCLE ANYA (ChekhoV)
BRIAN FRIELI PLAYS ONE
(Philadelphia, Here I Conic!, Tile Freedom of the Gift,
Living Quorren, Aristocrats, Fair/i Healer, Translations)
BRIAN FRIEL: PLAYS TWO
(Dancing atLughnasa, Fat/zen and Sons, Making Histo0’,
117,nde,ful Tennessee, Atollv Sweeney)
•
.
also available
FABER CRITICAL GUIDE: BRIAN ERIE!.
(Philadelphia, Here I Conic!, Translations,
•

. A-faking History, Dancing at Lughnasa)

ABOUT FRIEL: TIlE PLAYWRIGHT AND TIlE WORK
ft
E faber andfaber
 1
First published in 1981
by Faber and Faber Limited
Bloomsbu House, 74-77 Great Russell Street,
London wctn IDA
Reset in 200 0
Photoset by Parker Typesetting Service, Leicester
Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY
mr
Stephen Rca
All right reserved
Brian Fnel, 1981
All rights in this play are reserved by the Propnetor
Applications for professional rights should be
addressed to The Agency (London) Ltd,
24 Pottery Lane, Holland Park, London WI’ 4LZ
The amateur rights for this play are held by Samuel French
Amateur applications for permissions to perform this play must
be made in advance, before rehearsals begin, to
Samuel French Ltd., 52 Fitzroy Street, London WI!’ 6JH.
No performance maybe given unless a licence has first been obtained.
This book is sold subject to rho condition that it slid! nor, by wai’ of trade
or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired our or othenusc circulated without the
pzsblisliers prior consenr in unvforni of binding or cover other tItan that
in which it is being published and without a sunder condition iticludnig
this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
A CIP record for this book
is available from the British Library
ISBN 978—0571—117420
FSC
MIX
Pip.t so.,,
r..ooo.iW. saws,.
FSC’ C020471
L
 Translations was first presented by Field Day Theatre
The publisher cknowiedgcs vith thanks the financial
assistance of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Company in the Guildhall, Derrv, on Tuesday, z
September ‘980 with the following cast:
in the publication of this volume.
Maims Mick Lilly
Sarah Ann Hasson
Jimmy Jack Roy Hanlon
Maire Nuala Hayes
Doalty Liam Neeson
Bridget Brenda Scallon
Hugh Ray McAnally
Owen Stephen Rea
Captain Lancey David Heap
Lieutenant Yolland Shaun Scott
Directed h3’ Art 0 Briain
Designed by Consolata Boyle
Assisted by Magdalena Rubalcava and Macv Friel
Lighting b’ Rupert Murray
held Day Theatre Company was Formed by Brian Friel
and Stephen Rea. Translations was their first production.
H
:J
- -
& -
•
-* :
 ge-school in the towniand
The action takes place in a hed peaking community in
Irish-s
of Bade BeaBailybeg, an
County Donegal.
An afternoon in late August
1833.
ACT ONE
ACT TWO A few days later.
day.
ACT THREE The evening of the following
s and performers unfamiliar
(For the convenience of reader
ters have been used for the
with the language, roman let
the text. The originals,
Greek words and quotations in translations, appear in
ral
together with the Latin and lite
the Appendix.)
I
I
a
1
.4-
 —
Act One
The hedge-school is held in a disused barn or hay-shed or
byre. Along the hack ivall are the remains of five or six
stalls wooden posts and chai,zs where totes were once
— —
nulked and bedded. A double door left, large enough to
allow LI cart to enter. A wnzdou’ right. A ,t’ooden stairway
without LI banister leads to the upstairs living—quarters
(oil) of the schoolmaster and his son. Around the room
are broken alit! forgotten implements: Li cart—wheel, sonic
lobster-pots, farming tools, a battle of ha3’, LI churn, etc.
There are also the stools and bench-seats which the pupils
use and a table and chair for the master. At the door a pail
of water and Li soiled towel. The room is comfortless and
dush’ and functional there is no trace 0/ a u’onzan
—
hand.
When the play opens, AELmus is teLlchmg SLIrah to speak.
He kneels beside her. She is sitting on a low stool, her head
down, very tense, chttchhig a slate ott her knees. He is
coaxing her gently and finnlv and Lis with even’thing he
—
does with a kind ofeal.
—
Manus is in his late twenties/early thirtiesc the master’s
older somi. I—Ic is pale—faced, light!)’ built, intense, and
works as an unpaid assistant a monitor to his father.
— —
His clothes arc shabby; and rt’he,, lie motes rue see that he
is lame.
Sarah’s speech defect is so hat] that all her life she has
been considered locally to be thnnb and she has accepted
this: when she wishes to co,nnnuilcate, she grunts and
niakes unintelligible nasal sounds. S/ic has a ivaiflike
appearance alit] could be any age from se,’enteen to thirty—
ft tie.
-‘3 I
 Manus Jimm P. ase! Once more — Just once more —
as the Infant Prodi’ sits
—
Jimmy Jack Cassie — know’; name —‘‘ Good gtr Come on now. Head u p.’ 1outn open
reading Honier in Greek and
by himself, outentedly bachelor hi his sixties, lives Si ah wY
s,nihng to himself. He isa evening classes partly for the
-
‘
alone, and comes to these He is Manus Good
the i,,tellectl!aI stinndatioul. — to
company and partly for is in no way pedantic Sarah My
fluent in Latin and Greek butspeak these tongues. He ijever
to
bun it is perfectly ,zor;nal (op coat, hat, mittens, which Manus Great
washes. His clothes — heavy viler and
and he lives hr them sun and Sarah My name
he wears 7:011’ — are filthy
-
irole reads in
a quiet voice
winter, day and night. He For Jimmy the world of
Manus Yes
smiles hr profound satisfactiolr. is as real and as immediate Sarah My name is
myths
the gods and the ancient own1a,td of Bade Beag.
as everyday life in the in his and he articiilate5 Mantis Yes
Maims holds Sarah’s hands Sarah pauses. Then
slowly and distinctly
into her face. .
-. iii a r 1150.
we!!. And we re going
to try it
Sarah My name is Sarah.
Manus We re doing very
-
, -
breathe in
more. Now — relax and
once more — just once and out...
Manus Marvellous! Bloody marvel!
deep ... and out ...in ...
Mamis hugs Sarah. She s,,rilec 2,2 5
vigorously and 5bbor;ily. ), embarrassed
Sarah shakes her head pleasure.
our secret.
Come on, Sarah. This is Did you hear that, jimmy? — name is Sarah’ — clear a
head.
stubboril shakiiig of Sarah’s a bell. (to Sarah) TI le Infant Prodigy doesn’t know what
Again vigorous and we’re at.
hears you.
Nobody’s ‘istening. Nobody Sarah laughs at this. Ma; 1215 I‘ugs her a g an; anu-‘ stands up.
thea glaukoPis Athene
...‘ -
Jimmy ‘To,, d’emeibet epeita
-
name Now we’re reall I Nothing’Ii stop us
your lips working. ‘My now! Nothing
Manus Get your tongue and‘My name is—’ Good girl, in the wide wohtd
—, Come on. One more try. Jimmy, chuckling at us text, comes over to the;
Sarah My.-- — Jimmy Listen to this, Manus.
Manus Great. My name Manus Soon vo ‘II b
Sarah My... my..• ent head of tt5 that have
listening.
Shout it out. nobody’S y, James what
Manus Raise your head.
. —
AtreIdao donio:s ...‘ Sarah) Mayb e you set out the stools?
(to ‘
alla hekelos esta’ en
-
Jimmy ‘...
 Manus, sir, if you had a woman like that about the house,
Ma,IIis ruus up the stairs. it’s not stripping a turf-bank you’d he thinking about eh?
—
Mantis.
Jimmy Wait till you hear this, Manus She i’as a goddess,Jimmv.
straight down.
Manus Go ahead! I’ll be Jimmy Better still. Sure isn’t our own Crania a class of a
Athene
phanzene rabdo epenza551t —
goddess and
JimmY ‘Hos ara mhz
—
her
she touched Ulysses with
‘After Athene had said this, skin of his supple limbs and
Manus Who?
wand. She withered the lair his
off his head and about Jimmy Crania Crania Diarmuid’s Crania.
destroyed the flaxen hair froni man ...‘l tie divik! The
— —
an old Manus Mi.
limbs she put the skin of
Jimmy And sure she can’t get her fill of men.
with a bowl of ,,,,lk and a
Mantis has emerged again Manus jimmy, you’re impossible.
piece of bread.
Jimmy I was just thinking to myself last night: if you had
not finished with him yet!
And wait till you hear! She’s the choosing between Athene and Arremis and Helen of
his
stairs be toasts Sarah with Troy all three of them Zeus’s girls imagine three
As Mantis descends the —
—
powerful-looking daughters like that all in the one parish
hoivi.
dimmed his two eyes that of Athens! now, if you had the picking between them,
‘K,zzizose” de oi osse ‘She
—
‘
him in a viLe ragged cloak which would you take?
were so beautiful and clothed. Do you see! Smoke!
Mantis (to Sarah) Which should I take, Sarah?
begrimed with filthy smoke . at what the same turfsmoke
.‘!
smoke! D’you see! Sure look display Jimmy No harm to Helen; and no harm to Artemis; and
rapidly removes his hat to
has done to myself! (He indeed no harm to our own Crania, Manus. But I think
call that flaxen hair?
his bald head.) Would you I’ve no choice but to go bull-straight for Athene. By God,
sir, them flashing eyes would fair keep a man jigged up
Manus Of course I would. filthy constant!
cast the great skin of a
Jimmy ‘And about him she a
and into his hand she thrust Suddenly and nzomentardv, as if in spasiir, Jnn’nv stands
hind, stripped of the hair, Athene did that to Ulysses! to attention and salutes, his cc raised in pained
staff and a wallet’! Ha-ha-ha! she the tight one? ecstasy.
Isn’t
Made him into a tramp! Maims laughs. So does Sarah. linznn’ goes back to his
her, jimmy.
Mantis You couldn’t watch seat, and his reading.
call her?
jimmy You know what they Mantis You’re a dangerous bloody man, Jimmy Jack.
Manus ‘GlaukoPis Athene.’ Jimmy ‘Flashing-eyed’! Hah! Sure Homer knows it all,
flashing-eyed Athene! By Cod, boy. 1-lomer knows it all.
That’s it! The
¶
— TO.
 looks out. Mantis ‘Who cared most for his substance’.
Mantis goes to the window and
to? Jimmy That’s it! ‘The good swineherd who cared most for
Manus Where the hell has he got his substance above all the slaves that Ulysses possessed
his elbow. She nzi;;Jes
Sarah goes to Mantis and touches Sarah presents the flowers to Mantis.
rocking a baby.
Manus Those are lovely, Sarah.
hristcning but it doesn’t take them
Yes, I know be’s at the
does it? But Sara?; has fled hi embarrassment to her seat and has
all day to put a name on a baby,
tossing theft back her head buried hi a book. Mantis goes to her.
Sarah nnnws pouring drinks and
quickly. Flow-ers.
You may be sure. Which pub? Pause. Sarah does not look up.
Sarah indicates. Say the word: flow-ers. Come on — flow-ers.
Gracie’s? Sarah Flowers.
No. Further away. Mantis You see? — you’re off!
Con Connie Tim’s? Mantis leans dozen and kisses the top of Sarah’s head.
No. To the right of there. And they’re beautiful flowers. Thank you.
Anna na rnBreag’S? Mairc enters, a strong-nnnded, strong—bodied ivoman in
her twenties with a head of curly hair. She is carn’ing a
Yes. That’s it. small can of milk.
may take the class
Great. She’ll fill him up. I suppose I Maire Is this all’s here? Is there no school this evening?
then.
hooks, slates and Manus If my lather’s not back, i’ll take it.
Mantis begins to distribute some
chalk, texts etc. beside the seats. Mantis stands awkwardly, having been caught kissing
produces a bunch of
Sarah goes over to the straw and Sarah and with the flowers abnost formally at his chest.
floiters she has hidden there. Maire Well now, isn’t that a pretty sight. There’s your
Durlig this: milk. How’s Sarah?
‘But Ulysses went
Jimmy ‘Autar o ek lhnenos prosebe
—,
the woodland to the Sarah grunts a reply.
forth from the harbour and through
he could find the good
place where Athene had shown him kedeto what’s Mantis I saw you our at the hay.
swineherd who ‘o oi hiotoio inabsta ’
—
—
Maire ignores this and goes to Jimmy.
that, Manus?
6 7
It,
t —
 I
Cassie? Maire And Latin. And Greek.
Maire And how’s Jimmy jack
Jimmy I’m telling you a lie: I know one English word.
jhnmy Sit down beside me, Maire.
Maire What?
Maire Would I bc safe?
Jimmy Bo-som.
Jimmy No safer man in Donegal.
Maire What’s a ho-som?
?vlaft’ flops on a stool beside (inuny.
living memory, they Jimmy You know (He illustrates with his hands.) bo
Maire Ooooh. The best harvest in like it. (Shoving
—
—
som bo-som you know Diana, die huntress, she has
another
say; but I don’t want to see
— — —
two powerful bosom.
Jimniy her hands.) Look at the blisters.
Maire You may be sure that’s the one English word you
jimmy Esne [atigata? would know. (Rises.) Is there a drop of water about?
l%kaire Si,;;; fatiga tissinni. Matins gives Maire his bowl of milk.
Jimmy Bene! Optinie! Manus I’m sorry I couldn’t get up last night.
Fit me better if I had
Maire That’s the height of my Latin. Maire Doesn’t matter.
even that much English.
some English? Mantis Biddy Hanna sent for me to write a letter to her
Jimmy English? 1 thought you had sister in Nova Scotia. All the gossip of the parish. I
spake I used to
Maire Three words. ‘Wait there was a
— brought the cow to the bull three times last week but no
was? good. There’s nothing for it now but Big Ned Frank.’
have off by heart. \Vhat’s this it
is speaking a foreign
Her accent is strange because she understand what she Maire (drinking) That’s better.
language and because she does not Mantis And she got so engrossed in it that she forgot who
is saying. she was dictating to: ‘The aul drunken schoolmaster and
around the Inaypoll.’ that lame son of his are still footering about in the hedge-
‘In Norfolk we besport ourselves
What about that! school, wasting people’s good time and money.’
Manus Maypole. Maire has to laugh at this.
Again Maire ignores Matins. Maire She did not!
Aunt Mary she taught me Mantis And me taking it all down. ‘Thank God one of
Make God have mercy on my
—
whatever it means. Do you them new national schools is being built above at Poll na
that when I was about four,
know what it means, jimmy? gCaorach.’ It was after midnight by the time I got back.
Irish like yourself.
Jimmy Sure you know I have only Maire Great to be a busy man.
S 9
 C
Doahy Ignari, stulti, rustic: pot-boys and peasant
Maire moves att’a3’. Iv! anus follows. —
whelps semi-literates and illegitimates.
past but 1 thought it
—
Manus I could hear music on my way Bridget He’s been on the hatter since this morning; he sent
was too late to call. the wee ones home at eleven o’clock.
great voice last night?
Maire (to Sarah) Wasn’t your father in Doalcy Three questions. Question A Am I drunk?
—
Sara!; nods and snzzks. Question B Am I sober? (into Maire’s face) Responde
—
—
o’clock by the time you got respoizde!
It must have been near three
home? Bridget Question C, Master When were you last sober?
—
Sara!; l;olds up four fingers. Maire What’s the weapon. Doaln’?
Was it four? No wonder we’re in pieces. Bridget I warned him. He’)) be arrested one of these days.
tomorrow.
Manus I can give you a hand at the hay Doalty Up in the bog with Bridget and her aul fella, and
isn’t it? ‘The the Red Coats were just across at the loot of Cnoc na
Maire That’s the name of a hornpipe,
—
Mona, dragging them an) chains and peeping through that
Scholar in the Hayfield’ or is it a reel?
—
big machine they lug about everywhere with them you
Manus If the day’s good.
—
know the name of it, Manus?
below in the
Maire Suit yourself. The English soldiers Maire Theodolite.
coming up to give us a
tents, them sapper fellows, they’re nor they me; Bridget How do you know?
hand. I don’t know a word they’re saying,
hut sure that doesn’t matter, does it? Maire They leave it in our byre at night sometimes if it’s
about?! raining.
4—--’
Manus What the hell are you so crabbed
are in tl;eir Jimmy Theodolite what’s the etymology of that word,
Doalty and Bridget enter noisily. Both Man us?
—
twenties. He is an
Doalty is brandishing a surveyor’s pole. Manus No idea.
slightly thick
V..’
open.minded. open_!;earted generous and Bridget Get on with the story.
young man. to laugh.
Bridget is a plump, fresh young girl, ready Jimmy Theo theos something to do with a god. Maybe
—
‘5 i,istinctiUe cif,I?ling. thea a goddess!
—
--.4 vain, and wit!; a count nwOiflall What shape’s the yoke?
,;zaster.
—
-.4 Doalty enters doing !;is imitation of the
Doahy ‘Shape!’ Will you shut up, you aul eejit you!
Doalty Vesperal salutations to you all. Anyway, every time they’d stick one of these poles into the
Ri and he’s as ground and move across the hog, I’d creep up and shift it
Bridget He’s coming down past Carraig na twenty or thirry paces to the side.
full as a pig!
To II
-‘:1
-.
4—— —
jSt:
 specific tasks. Doalty goes to the bucket of wafer at the
Bridget God! door and washes his baud5 Bridget sets up a hand
k and stare at it and look at nnrror and combs her hair.
Doalty Then they’d come bac
it again and scratch their
their calculations and stare at what they ended up Bridget Nellie Ruadh’s baby Was tO be christened this
w
heads. And Cripes, d’you kno morning. Did any of yous h1ar what she called it? Did
doing? You, Sarah?
Bridget Wait till you hear! Sarah grunts: No.
machine apart! (And
Doalty They took the bloody ish an imitation of two Did you, Maire?
nnuurethasely lie speaks in gibber
—
.)
sappers in rapid conversatIon Make No,
Yen’ agitated and confused
! Bridget Our Seamus says she was threatening she was
Bridget That’s the image of them
yourself, Doalr3c going to call it after its lather.
Maire You must he proud of
Doaltv Who’s the father?
Doalty What d’you mean?
piece of work. Bridget That’s the point, you donkey I-on!
Maire That was a very clever
Doalty Ah.
Manus It was a gesture.
Bridget So there’s a hot of uneasy bucks about Baile Beag
Maire What sort of a gesture? this dac
Manus Just to indicate a presence.
...
Doalt3r She told me fast Sunday she was going to call it
Maire Flab! Jimmy.
be arrested. Bridget You’re a liar, Doafty.
Bridget I’m telling you you’ll
—
or pleased he reacts Doatry Would I cell you a lie? Hi, Jimmy, Nellie Ruadh’s
When Doalty is embarrassed
—
—
t around the waist.
physically. He ‘row grabs Bridge aid (ella’s looking for you.
t for an implement,
Doalty What d’you make of tha jimmy for me?
a great aol shaft for your
Bridget? Wouldn’t that make Maire Come on, DoaJc
churn?
brute! I’ve a headline to Doalty Someone told him
Bridget Let go of me, you dirn
do before Big Hughie comes. Maire Doaltyi
it for him. Let’s get started. Doalry He heard you know the first book of the Satires of
Manus I don’t think we’ll wa
in to move to their seats an&Torace off by heart
Slowly, relzsctanth’ the3’ beg
12. ‘3
 Doalty \Vould you listen to that fella! Too lazy bejasus to
Jimmy That’s true, wash himself and he’s lecturing me on agriculture! Would
For him.
Doalty ... and he wants you to recite it you go and take a running race at yourself, jimmy Jack
certainly. Cassie! (Grabs Sarah.) Come away out of this with me,
Jimmy I’ll do that for him certainlY, Sarah, and we’ll plant some corn together.
Doalty He’s busting to hear Manus All right all right. Let’s settle down and get some
—
Jj,;zi;n’ frtnzbk’s in his pockets. — work done. I know Sean Beag isn’t coming he’s at the
—
this’ll interest you salmon. What about the Donnelly twins? (to Dual/TI Are
jimmy I came across this last night
—
the Donnelly twins not coming any more?
in Book Two of Virgil’s Georgics.
all right. Doalty shrugs and turns away.
Doalty Be God, that’s my territory
Hold this For me. Did you ask them?
Bridget You clown you! (to Sarah)
would you? çher ,mrror) Doalty Haven’t seen them. Not about these days.
fere et presso puiguis
Jimmy Listen to this, Manus. ‘Nigra Doalty begins whistling through his teeth.
.4
s:il; vouzere terra
...
Stiddetily the atmosphere is silent and alert.
Doalty Steady on now easy,—
boys, easy don’t rush me, Mantis Aren’t they at home?
—
boys (He ;IJjI;IL’S great conce,ztr1tio)
—
Doalty No.
Jimmy Manus? Manus Where are they then?
beneath the pressure
Maims ‘Land that is black and rich Doalrv How would I know?
of the plough...’
Bridget Our Seamus says two of the soldiers’ horses were
Doalty Give inc a chance! found last night at the foot of the cliffs at Machaire Buide
crumbly soil is in the and
Jimmy ‘And with cu i putre with (She stops suddenly and begins writing with chalk
—
—
...
are.
main best for corn.’ There you on her slate.) D’you hear the whistles of this aul slate? Sure
nobody could write on an aul slippery thing like that.
Doalty There you are.
you see more wagons Manus What headline did my father set you?
jimmy ‘From no other land will
bullocks.’ Virgil! There! Bridget ‘It’s easier to stamp out learning than to recall it.’
wending homeward behind slow
Doalty ‘Slow hullocks! rimmy Book Three, the Agricola of Tacitus.
soil
telling you? Black fieldB
Jimmy Isn’t that what I’m always ret God hut you’re a dose.
have in that upper
for corn. That’s what you should ‘1anus Can you do it?
of yours corn, not spuds.
—
15
14
II: se i’
 Mantis I know that and I
Bridget There. is it bad? Will he ate me?
closer to your He breaks off because he sees Sarah, obviously listening,
Manus It’s very good. ICeep your elbow in at his shoulder. She moves away again.
side. Doalty?
perfect, skipper. I was thinking that maybe 1 could
Doalty Pm at the seVen-times table. I’m
Maire ft’s £56 a year you’re throwing away.
Mantis mOVeS to Sara!;.
Manus I can’t apply for it.
Manus Do you understand those sums?
Maire You promised inc you would.
Sara!, nods: Yes. Mainis leans down to her ear.
Manus Mv father has applied for it.
My name is Sarah.
her the Maire He has not!
Maims goes to Maire. While he is talking to
others swap hooks, talk quietly. etc. Mantis Day before yesterday.
Can I help you? What are you at? Maire For God’s sake, sure you know he’d never —
money came Mantis
Maire Map of America. (Pause.) The passage I couldn’t I can’t go in against him.
—
last Friday. Maire looks at hi,;, [or a second. The,::
Manus You never told me that. Maire Suit yourself. (to Bridget) I saw your Seamus
Maire Because I haven’t seen you since, have!? heading off to the Port fair early this morning.
yourself.
Manus You don’t want to go. You said that Bridget And wait till you hear this I forgot to tell you
—
no man in this. He said that as soon as he crossed over the gap at
Maire There’s ten below me to be raised and Cnoc na Mona just beyond where the soldiers are
the house. What do you suggest?
—
making the maps the sweet smell was everywhere.
—
Manus Do you want to go? Doalty You never told me that.
nation al
Maire Did you apply for that job in the new Bridget It ‘vent out of my head.
school?
Doalty He saw the crops in Port?
Manus No.
Bridget Some.
Maire You said you would.
Manus HOW did the tops look?
Mantis I said I might.
going to Bridget Fine I think.
Maire When it opens, this is finished: nobody’s
—
pay to go to a hedge.schoOl. Doaky In flower?
i6 17
— ‘• 1 •..
 (
Bridget Did you know that you start at the age of six and
He didn’t say.
Bridget I don’t know. I think so. you have to stick at it until you’re twelve at least no
—
that’s all? matter how smart you are or how much you know.
Manus just the sweet smell
—
it snakes in, don’t they? Doalrv Who told you that yarn?
Bridget They say that’s the way
morning the stalks are all
First the smell; and then one Bridget And every child from every house has to go all
black and limp. day, every day, summer or winter. That’s the law.
rotting stalks makes the
Doalty Are you stupid? It’s the what the smell is Doatty I’ll tell you something nobody’s going to go near
sweet smell for God’s sake. That’s
—
—
them they’re not going to take on law or no law.
—
—
rotting stalks. Bridget And everything’s free in them. You pay for
Every year at this time
Maire Sweet smell! Sweet smell! of the sweet smell. nothing except the hooks you use; that’s what our Seamus
somebody comes back with stories in Baile Beag? Well, sa vs.
fail
Sweet God, did the potatoes ever
There was never blight here. Doalty ‘Our Seamus’. Sure your Seamus wouldn’t pay
did they ever ever? Never!
—
sniffing about for it, aren’t
Never. Never. But we’re always anyway. She’s making this all up.
we? looking for disaster.
The rents are going to go up Bridget Isn’t that right, Manus?
be lost the herring have
—
again the harvest’s going to
—
going to he evictions. Honest
—
Manus I think so.
gone away for ever there’s
—
aren’t happy unless you’re
to God, some of you people until you’re dead! Bridget And from the very flrst day you go. you’ll not
miserable and you’ll not be content hear one word of Irish spoken. You’ll be taught to speak
And sure St. Colmcille English and every subject will be taught through English
Doalty Bloody right, Maire. here. He said: and everyone’ll end up as cute as the Buncrana people.
prophesied there’d never be blight
Beag Sarah suddenly grunts and ,niines that the
The spuds will bloom in Baile a zcarmng
Till rabbits grow an extra lug.
master is conung. The atmosphere changes. Sudden
business. Heads dart’,,.
we’re all right.
And sure that’ll never he. So
seven fours are rwenty-eight; Doaltv He’s here, boys. Cripes, he’ll make yella meal out
Seven threes are nventyOne
Jimmy do you fancy my of me for those bloody tables.
seven fives are forty-nine Hi,
—
school?
chances as boss of the new national Bridget Have you any extra chalk, Manus?
Jimmy What’s that? what’s
that?
—
%4aire And the atlas for me.
Greece, spn.
DoaltY Agh, g’way back home to Doalty goes to Maire who is sitting on a stool at the
Maire You ought to apply, Doalty. back.
maybe I will. Hah! )oalty Swap seats.
Doalty D’you think so? Cripes, you
19
i8
I
• •
- ,.r ‘,.. —________________
 has, as always, a large quantity of drink taken, bitt he is
Maire Why?
no means drunk. He is in his early sixties.
Prodigy.
Doalty There’s an empty one beside the Infant Hugh Adsun:, Doaln’, adsum. Perhaps nor in sobrietate
Mairc I’m fine here. perfecta but adequately sobrius to overhear your quip.
back here. Vesperal salutations to you all.
Doalty Please, Maire. I want to ouk in the
Various responses.
Make rises.
tabLe-book? Jimmy Ave. Hugh.
God love you. (aloud) Anyone got a bloody
Cripes, I’m wrecked. Hugh James.
Sarah gives hi;,m nime. He removes his bat and coat im,cI hands them and his
stick to Maims, as if to a footman.
God, I’m dying about you.
into Apologies for my late arrLval: we were ceIewating the
I,: his haste to get to the hack seat Doalty humps
baptism of Nellie Ruadh’s baby.
Bridget who is kneeling on the floor and writing
bench-seat.
laboriously on a slate resting on top of a Bridget Onirocentiy) What name did she put on it,
Master?
Bridget Watch where you’re going, Doalty!
Hugh Was it Eamon? Yes, it was Eamon.
Doalty gooses Bridget. She squeals.
Homer
Now the quiet hitmim o[,vork:Jb;mniy reading Bridget Eamon Donal from br! Gripes!
headline; Maire
in a low voice; Bridget copying her ,noutbingHugh And alter the caennmonia nonunatiosus Maire?
studying the atlas; Doaltv, his eyes shut tight, —
his tables; Sarah doing stinis. Maire The ritual of naming.
After a few seconds:
Hugh Indeed we then had a few libations to mark the
put a tail oi occasion.
Bridget Is this ‘g’ right, Manus? How do you
—
Altogether very pleasant. The derivation of the
it? word ‘baptise’? where are my Greek scholars? Doaln’?
—
Doaky Will you shut up! I can’t concentrate! Doalty Would it be ah oh— — —
opens his
A few more seconds of work. Then Doalty ugli Too slow. James?
eyes and (ooks around.
Sure hJ1my ‘Baptizehi’ to dip or immerse.
False alarm, boys. The bugger’s not coming at all.
—
Iugh Indeed our friend Pliny Minor speaks of the
bugger’s hardly fit to waLk. —
baptisterium’ the cold bath.
with
And immediately Hugh enters. A large man,
—
stick. He )oalty Master.
residual dignity. shabbily dressed, carrying a
20 II
 Hugh Gratias tihi ago. (He sits at his table.)
Hugh Doalty? Before we commence our studth I have three items of
then about baptising a
Doalty I suppose you could talk information to impart to you (to Maims) a bowl of tea,
—
you?
sheep at sheep-dipping, could strong tea, black
—
Laughter. Co,nniefltS. Manus leaves.
is there the day you were Item A: on my perambulations today Bridget? Too slow.
Hugh Indeed the precedent
—
— —
nines?
appropriately named Doalty seven
—
Maire?
Doalty Whats that, Master? Maire Peranthulare to walk about.
—
Hugh Seven times nine? Hugh Indeed—I encountered Captain Lancey of the Royal
seven times nine Engineers who is engaged in the ordnance survey of this
Doalty Seven nines seven nines
—
—
it’s on the tip of my tongue, area. He tells me that in the past few days two of his
—
k seven times nine are Cripes,
—
morning funny that s thehorses have strayed and some of his equipment seems to
Master I knew it for sure this
—
—
be mislaid. I expressed my regret and suggested he address
only one that foxes me — you himself on these matters. He then explained that he
Bridget (prompt) Sixty-three. . does not speak Irish. Latin? I asked. None. Greek? Not a
sure seen nines are fifty-syllable. He speaks on his own admission only English;
Doalty What’s wrong with me:
— —
nd to his credit he seemed suitably verecund James?
—
three, Master.
would agree with Doalty lames Vereczindus humble.
Hugh Sophocles from Colonus
—
‘To know nothing is thCugh Indeed he voiced some surprise that we did not
Dan Doalty from Tulach Alainn: —
sweetest life.’ Where’s Sean Beag? peak his language. I explained that a few of us did, on
)ccasion outside the parish of course and then usually
Manus He’s at the salmon.
— —
br the purposes of commerce, a use to which his tongue
Hugh And Nora Dan? :eemed particularly suited (shouts) and a slice of soda
—
back any more. wead and I went on to propose tlat our own culture and
Maire She says she’s not coming
—
he classical tongues made a happier conjugation Doalty?
write her name Nora
—
Hugh Ah. Nora Dan can now
—
the Donnelly twins? )oalty Conjugo —I join together.
Dan’s education is complete. And
Doahy isso pleased with himself that he prods and
Brief pause. Then: winks at Bridget.
turf. (She goes to Hugh.
Bridget They’re probably at the lugh Indeed English, I suggested, couldn’t really
you for last quarter’s
There’s the 0ne-andeight I owe
—
for this quarter s xpress us. And again to his credit he acquiesced to my
arithmetic and there’s my one-and-six )gic. Acquiesced Maire?
—
writing.
23
I
22
 Hugh is nira ware of the know. And what he said was this: •The old language is a
Maire trails away impatient!)’. barrier to modern progress.’ He said that last month. And
gesture. be’s right. I don’t want Greek. 1 don’t want Latin. I want
Too slow. Bridget? English.
Bridget Acquiesco. Mantis reappears on the platfonn above.
Hugh procede. I want to be able to speak English because I’m going to
acqlIieL’i acqitietit’l. America as soon as the harvest’s all saved.
Bridget Acquie5co acquieScere
Maire remains standing. Hugh puts his baird into his
Hugh indeed and kern B...
—
pocket and produces a flask of n’hiskv. He renror’es the
Maire Master. caf), pours a drink into it, tosses it hack, replaces the
cap, pit/s the flask back into his pocket. Then:
Hugh Yes?
hut deter,niiredlY. Pause. Hugh We have been diverted diverto diver/crc
Maire gets to her feet uneasily
— — —
7 Where were we?
Well, girt? Doalty Three iteTfls of information, Master. You’re at Item
to speak English. That’s B.
Maire We should all be learning
what I say. That’s what Dan
what my mother says. That’s He sa id the sooner eHugh Indeed Item B Item B yes On my way to the
O’connell said last month in Ennis.
— — — —
better. christening this morning I chanced to meet Mr George
all learn to speak English the Alexander, Justice of the Peace. We discussed the new
5uddenly several speak together. national school. Mr Alexander invited me to take charge
What? What? of it when it opens. I thanked him and explained that I
Jimmy What’s she saying? could do that only if I were free to run it as I have run this
he’s travelling around
Doalty It’s Irish he uses when hedge-school for the past thirti.five years filling what
—
—1 scrounging votes. 3ur friend Euripides calls the ‘aplestos pithos’ James?
—
women. Sure no
Bridget And sleeping with married limmy ‘The cask that cannot be filled’.
woman’s sale from that (ella. lugh Indeed and Mr Alexander retorted courteously
—
this? Who’s this? md emphatically that he hopes that is how it will be run.
Jimmy Who_who_who? Who’s
she talking about?
Hugh Silentinin! (Pause.) Who is Maire non’ sits.
O’Connell.
Maire I’m talking about Daniel ndeed. I have had a strenuous day and I am weary of you
Kerry politician? ii. (He rises.) Manus will take care of you.
V
Hugh Does she mean that little
Liberator, Master, as you we Hugh goes towards the steps.
J Maire I’m talking about the
14 as
-4
‘S’t S’
:‘W -,
 r
1
Hugh I I’m I’m pa no attention to
the younger so,;, a handsonie,
— — — —
Owe;; enters. One,; is dressed
attractive young
inn,; in his fluent/es. He is Jiven Come on come on come on (He gives Hugh
— — —
manner is easy and charming: , l;a,zdkercl;ief. Do iou know what you and I are going
sniartly a cit) mail. His
—
with co,zsideratiouz and do tonight? We are going to go up to Anna na
eventhing he does is invested
framed iii the doorway, a uBreag’s
e,itlntsiasl. He now stands
shoulder.
travelling hag across his oa1 Not there, Owen.
is this where Hugh Mor
Owen Could anybody tell me )wcn Why not?
l?
O’Donnell holds his hedge.schoO )oalty Her poteen’s worse than ever.
Hugh! Look boys it’s Owen
Doalty It’s Owen Owen
—
—
ndgct They say she puts Frogs in it!
Hugh!
the room he touches and hJ)Wen All the better. (to Hugh.) And you and I are going
Owen enters. As he crosses
) get footless drunk. That’s arranged.
•t I t.- a word for each person.
How are you, boy? Jacobe. O;ve;; sees Mapigis coming do;;’;; the steps u’ith tea and
Oi’en Doalty! (playful punch) soda bread. The)’ meet at the bottom;;.
quid agis? Are you well?
nd Manus!
Jimmy Fine. Fine.
kiss. Aaaaaah! lanus You’re welcome, Owen.
Owen And Bridget! Give us a
Owen. Iwen I know I am. And it’s great to be here. (He turns
Bridget You’re welcome,
youngm;;d, arms outstretched.) I can’t believe it. I come back
Maire Chatach! God! A
Owen It’s not—? Yes, it is ter six years and everything’s just as it was! Nothing’s
ivo man! iangcd! Nor a thing! (Sniffs.) Even that smell that’s the
—
.me smell this place always had. What is it anyway? Is it
Maire How are you, Owen?
He puts his two hands .e straw?
Owe,; is now in front of Hugh.
oalty Jimmy Jack’s feet.
on his father’s shoulders.
man himself? General laughter. It opens little pockets of conversatiom;
Owen And how’s the old round the room.
Hugh Fair fair.
—
wen And Doaln’ Dan Doalty hasn’t changed either!
you never looked better!
Owen Fair? For God’s sake Hugh warmly and )ait Bloody right, Owen.
-
Come here to me. (He embraces Father. Great to be back.
geliiLiliely.) Great to see you, wen Jimmy, are you well?
Hugh’s eyes are moist
— partly joy, partly the drink. my Dodging about.
2.7
;i I
1Ft*L___
 Owen Any word of the big day? Owen begins to phi; this gauze his father’s gauze
— —
partLy to involve his classroom audience, partly to short’
This is greeted with ohs’ and ‘ahs’. he has not forgotten it, and indeed partLy because he
Time enough, Jimmy. Homer’s easier to live with, isn’t he? enjoys it.
Maire We heard stories that you own ten big shops in limmy A maker of maps.
Dublin is it true?
— )wen Indeed and the younger man that I travelled with
—
Owen Only nine. om Dublin, his name is Lieutenant Yolland and he is
Ltflched to the toponymic department Father?
Bridget And you’ve twelve horses and six servants..
— —
•esponde responde!
—
Owen Yes that’s true. God Almighty, would you l5tCfl4ugh He gives names to places.
—
them taking a hand at me!
—
)wen Indeed although he is in fact an orthographer
— —
Manus When did you arrive? )oal too slow Manus?
—
—
Owen We left Dublin yesterday morning, spent last nigh5 The correct spelling of those names.
in Omagh and got here half an hour ago.
— indeed!
Manus You’re hungry then.
- — -,
Owe,, laughs aiztl claps his hands. Sonic of the others
- -: Hugh Indeed get him food get him a drink.
—
—
job: in.
Owen Not now, thanks; later. Listen am I intcrrupting0jf1i Beautiful! Honest to God, it’s such a delight to
—
you all? c back here with you a)) again ‘civilised’ people.
—
Hugh By no means. We’re finished for the day. wyhow— may I bring them in?
Owen Wonderful. I’ll tell you why. Two friends of minelugh Your friends are our friends.
are waiting outside the door. They’d like to meet you be straight back.
I’d like you to meet them. May I bring them in?
• -: -
There is general talk as Owen goes towards the door.
Hugh Cerrainl. You’ll all eat and have... He stops beside Sarah.
Owen Nor just yet, Father. You’ve seen the sappers hat’s a new face. Who are you?
-•I• S-i L

working in this area for the past fortnight, haven’t you?

Well, the older man is Captain Lancey... A very brief hesitation. Their:
Hugh I’ve met Captain Lancey. irah My name is Sarah.
Owen Great. He’s the cartographer in charge of this wen Sarah who?
3 whole area. Cartographer —James? trah Sarah John Sally.
—Th
iS 2.9
---- ;1nz..
 Maire Not now.
Owen Of course! From Bun na hAbhann! I’m Owen
—
A, -
• :‘
Owen Hugh Mor. From Bade Beag. Good to see You. Hugh Good girl, Bridget. That’s the style.
Duthig this Orveit—Saral; exchange: Manus You might least have told me.
at
Hugh Come on now. Let’s tidy this place tip. (He rubs the Hugh Are these vow- books, James?
to!) of his table with his sleeve.) Move, Doaln’ lift those
—
Jimmy Thank you.
books off the floor.
Manus Fine! Fine! Go ahead! Go ahead!
Doalty Right, Master; certainly, Master; I’m doing my
best, Master. Maire You talk to me about getting married with neither
—
a roof over your head nor a sod of ground under your
Owen stops at the door.
foot. I suggest you go for the new school; hut no ‘Mv
Owen One small thing, Father.
—
father’s in for that.’ Well now he’s got it and now this is
Hugh Silentiunz! finished and now you’ve nothing.
Manus I can always
Owen I’m on their pay-roll.
Maire What? Teach classics to the cows? Agh
C Sarah, very elated at her success, is beside Mantis. —
Maire moves au’av front Matins.
Sarah I said it, Manus!
Owen enters lvi!?, Lance;’, and Yolland. Captain
Matins ignores Sara?;. He is itiuch more interested in
- -
Lancej’ is middle.aged; a sniall, crisp officer, expert in
Owem: his field as canographer hut uneasy with people —
Manus You havcn’t enlisted, have you?! especial/v civilians, especially these foreign civilians. His
skill is with deeds, not words.
Sarah moves away. Lieutena,zt Yolland is in his late twenties/earl;’
thirties. He is tall and thin and gangling, blond hair, a
Owen Me a soldier? I’m employed as a part-time, shy, awkward I’wmnier A soldier by accident.
underpaid, civilian interpreter. My job is to translate the
quaint, archaic tongue you people persist in speaking into Owen Here we are. Captain Lancey my father.
—
IC..
the King’s good English. (He goes out.)
Lancev Good evening.
Hugh Move — move move! Put some order on things!
—
Hugh becomes expansive, almost courtly, with his
Come on, Sarah hide that bucket. Whose are these
—
visitors.
slates? Somebody take these dishes away. Festinate!
-i Festinate! (He pouts another drink.) Hugh You and I have already met, sir.
Mantis goes to Maire who is busy tidying. Lancey ‘Yes.
Manus You didn’t tell me you were definitely leaving.
30 3’
—
1
• r-•-. -
%_ :-ana
•‘*,
 Hugh James.
Owen And Lieutenant Yolland both Royal Engineers
—
—
i-ny father. Lancey (toJmmn’) I do not speak Gaelic, sir. (He looks at
Owen.)
Hugh You’re very welcome, gentlemen.
Owen Carry on.
Yolland How do you do.
Lancey A map is a representation on paper a picture
Hugh Ga,tden vos hic adesse. you understand picture? a paper picture showing,
— —
Owen And I’ll make no other introductions except that
— —
representing this country yes? showing your country in
these are some of the people of Baile Beag and what?
— —
— —
miniature a scaled drawing on paper of of of
—
c well you’re among the best people in Ireland now.
— — —
Suddenl Doalty sniggers. Then Bridget. Then Sarah.
He pauses to allow Lance)’ to speak. Lance) does not. Owen leaps in quickly.
‘I Would you like to say a few words, Captain? Owen It might he better if you assume they understand
1’ Hugh What about a drop, sir?
Lancey A what?

you
Lancey Yes? I —
Owen And I’ll translate as you go along.
e I Hugh Perhaps a modest refreshment? A little sampling of
our aqua vitae? Lancey 1 see. Yes. Very well. Perhaps you’re right. \Vell.
What we are doing is this.
Lancey No, no.
He looks at Owen. Owen nods reassuringly.
Hugh Later perhaps when
.
. .
His Majesty’s government has ordered the rst ever
Lancey I’ll say what I have to say, if I may, and as briefly comprehensive survey of this entire country a general
as possible. Do they speak any English, Roland? —
triangulation which will embrace detailed hydrographic
Owen Don’t worry. I’ll translate. and topographic information and which will be executed
to a scale of six inches to the English mile.
Lancey I see. (He clears his throat. He speaks as if he teen
addressing children a shade too tort dl)’ and enuncuit rug
—
Hugh (pouring a drink) Excellent excellent.
excessively.) You may have seen me seen me working
—
—
—
Lancey looks at Owen.
in this section section? working. \Ve are here here
—
—
— —
in this place you understand? to make a map a map
—
—
—
Own A new map is being made of the whole country.
a map and —
Lance)’ looks to Owen: Is that all? Owen smiles
Jimmy Nonne Latine loquititr? reassuringly and indicates to proceed.
rnLi Hugh holds up a rest raining hand.
32.

Lancey This enormous task has been embarked on so that

33
-- -—-
 with up-to-date Yolland 1—1—I’ve nothing to say really
the military authorities will be equipped
— —
-
of this part of
and accurate information on every corner
9- —f—
Owen The captain is the man who actually makes the new
.4 the Empire. map. George’s task is to see that the place-names on this
because they are map are . . . correct. (to Yolland.) Just a few words they’d
Owen The job is being done by soldiers
—
like to hear you. (to class) Don’t you want to hear George,
skilled in this work. too?
land valuation
Lancey And also so that the entire basis of
equitable taxation. Maire Has he anything to say?
can be reassessed for purposes of more
of the estate- Yolland (to Maire) Sorry sorry?
Owen This new map will take the place
—
know exactly r Owen She says she’s dying to hear
agent’s map so that from now on you will you.
what is yours in law. Yolland (to Maire) Very kind of you thank you ... (to
brief extracts
—
Lancey In conclusion I wish to quote two class) I can only say that I feel I feel very foolish to to
governing charter:
—
— —
from the white paper which is our originated in
to be working here and not to speak your language. But I
(Reads.) ‘All former surveys of Ireland present
intend to rectify that with Roland’s help indeed I do.
—
forfeiture and violent transfer of property; the afforded to Owen He wants me ro teach
—
r can be him Irish!
survey has for its object the relief which
the proprietors and occupiers of land Irom
taxation.’
unequal
I Hugh You are doubly welcome, sir.
Yolland I think your countryside is is is is very
will cooperate
— — —
Owen The captain hopes that the public mean that beautiful. I’ve fallen in love with it already. I hope we’re
: with the sappers and that the new map will
taxes are reduced.
k not too too crude an intrusion on your lives. And I know
—
that I’m going to be happy, very happy, here.
And Extract Owen He is already a committed
Hugh A worthy enterprise opus ho,zestunz!
—
Hibernophile —
B? Jimmy He loves
survey is being
—
Lancey ‘Ireland is privileged. No such he Owen All right, Jimmy we know he loves Baile Beag;
%at..-
undertaken in England. So this survey cannot but
• —
‘ —
government to and he loves you all.
received as proof of the disposition of this too.
advance the interests of Ireland.’ My sentiments, Hugh Please ... May I ...?
- government’s interest Hugh is now drunk. He holds on to
Owen This survey demonstrates the the edge of the
for listening so
in Ireland and the captain thanks you table.
anentively to him. 1Owen Go ahead, Father. (hands up for quiet) Please —
—
Hugh Our pleasure, Captain. Iplease.
-
I Lancey Lieutenant Yolland?
34 35
r3
 -
D
y to offer Manus But they...
Hugh And we, gentlemen, we in turn are happ
every assistance
a4 you our friendship, our hospirahry and Owen Easy, man, easy. Owen Roland what the hell.
a that you may require. Gentlemen welc
ome!
— —
—
It’s only a name. It’s the same me, isn’t it? Well, isn’t it?
over. General
A few desultory claps. The fornzalities are Mantis Indeed is it. It’s the same Owen.
conversation. The soldiers piwet the locals. Owen And the same Manus. And in a way we
• Matins and Owen ;iwet dozv;z stage. complement each other. (He punches Matins lightly,
“tr%;; r
right.
Owen Lancey’s a bloody ramrod but George’s all playtll, and turns to join the others. As he goes:) All
4
How are you anyway? right who has met vhom? isn’t this a job for the go-
—
n? between?
1 Manus What sort of a translation was that, Owe
Matins watches Owen move cots fiden fly across the
Owen Did I make a mess of it? flow; taking Maire by the hand and introducing her to
g!
Manus You weren’t saying what Lancey was sayin Yolland.
ry’ who Hugh is tning to negotiate the steps.
Owen ‘Uncertainty in meaning is incipient poet
—
—:
Jimmy is lost in a text.
said that? Doalty and Bridget are reliving their giggling.
Lancey
4 —(4 Matins There was nothing uncertain about what Sarah is staring at Mantis.
what’s
‘wet;1 said: it’s a bloody military operation, Owen! And
Yolland’s function? What’s ‘incorrect’ about the
names we have here?
place-
Owen Nothing at all. They’re just going to be
standardised.
•1 t:S:: Manus You mean changed into English?
Owen Where there’s ambiguity, they’ll be Anglicis
Manus And they call you Roland! They both call
Roland!
Owen Shhhhh. Isn’t it ridiculous? They seem to
from the very beginning or else they can’t pronounc
—
I was afraid some of you bastards would laug
h.

ed.
you
I
get it wron
e Owe
Mantis Aren’t you going to tell them?
Owen Yes — yes — soon — soon.
37
 Owe;: completes an entry in the Name.Book and
returns to the map on the floor.
1
L,<‘1
Act Two
*csø
,
Owen Now. Where have we got to? Yes the point where
—
that stream enters the sea that tiny little beach there.
—
et•’-” -. SCENE ONE George!
_—t_
,t
.4_/_
The sappers have already mapped most of the area. Yolland Yes. I’m listening. What do you call it? Say the
Yolland’s official task, which Owe,: is now doing, is to Irish name again?
- take each of the Gaelic ;ia;nes even’ hill, stream, rock,
—
Owen Bun na hAbhann.
even every patch of ground iv!,id, possessed its au’;:
distinctive Iris?, na;;ie and Anglicise it, either by
—
Yolland Again.
changing it into its approximate English sound or by Owen Bun na hAbhann.
translating it into English words. For example, a Gaelic
na,ze like Qzoc Ban could becwne Knockban or — direct/v Yolland Bun na hAbhann.
4
translated Fair Hill. These new standardised names ivere
—
Owen That’s terrible, George.
entered into the Name—Book, and when the new imiaps
lit I appeared they contained all these new Anglicised names.
Owe:: ‘s official function as translator is to pronounce
Yofland I know. I’m sorry. Say it again.
Owen Bun na hAhhann.
each ;:zn:e in Iris?, timid the;: provide the English
tra,:slation. Yolland Bun na hAhhann.
The hot weather continues. It is late afternoon some Owen That’s better. Bun is the Irish word for bottom. And
days later. Abha means river. So it’s literally the mouth of the river.
Stage right: an improvised clothes—line strung between
-
the shafts of the cart and a nail in the traIl; on it are sonic Yolland Let’s leave it alone. There’s no English equivalent
shirts and socks. for a sound like that.
A large niap one of the izeic’ blank maps is spread
—
—
Owen What is it called in the church registry?
out on the floor. Queen is o,z his hands and knees,
consulting it. He is total!)’ engrossed in his task which he Only now does Yolland open his eyes.
pursues :vith great energy and efficiency. Yolland Let’s see... Banowen
Yolland’s hesitancy has vanished he is at home here
—
uioic’. He is sitting on the floor, his long legs stretched out Owen That’s wrong. (Consults text.) The list of freeholders
&rn.1 before him, his back resting against a creel, his eyes closed. calls it Owenmore that’s completely wrong: Owenmore’s
—
His mind is elsewhere. One of the reference books a — the big river at the west end of the parish. (a;zother text)
-F
church registn’ lies open on his lap.
—
And in the grand jury lists it’s called God! Binhone!
— —
—
Around them are various reference books, the Nanie wherever they got that. I suppose we could Anglicise it to
F2r
Book, a bottle of poteen, sonic clips etc. Bunowen. but somehow that’s neither 6th nor flesh.
38 39
•1
*I
2
—-_._-c -.
 Yolland closes his eyes again. Lancey and Lancey screams at me. But I wasn’t
Yolland I give up. intimidated.
- -
Owen (at map) Back to first principles. What are we Mantis emerges from,: upstairs and descends.
trying to do? ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ I said, ‘But certain tasks demand their
own
Yolland Good question. tempo. You cannot rename a whole country overnight.’
—
Your Irish air has made me hoid. (to Mantis) Do
Owen We are trying to denominate and at the same time you want
us to leave?
describe that tiny area of soggy, rocky, sandy ground
where that little stream enters the sea, an area known Mantis Time enough. Class won’t begin for another
half-
-t - locally as Bun na hAbhann ... Burnfoot! What about hour.
Burnfoor? Yolland Sorry — sorry?
Yolland (indifferently) Good, Roland. Burnfoot’s good. Owen Can’t you speak English?
Owen George, my name isn’t... Mantis gathers the things off the clothes-line. Owe::
Yolland B-u-r-n-f-o-o-t? returns to the map.
Owen I suppose so. What do you think? We now come across that beach
Yolland Yes. Yolland Tra that’s the Irish for beach. (to Mantis) I’m
—
picking up the odd word, Manus.
Owen Are you happy with that?
Mantis So.
‘Yolland Yes.
Owen ...on past Burnfoot; and there’s nothing around
Owen Burnfoot iris then. (He makes the entry into the here that has any name that I know of until we come
Name-Book.) Bun na hAbhann B-u-r-n —
down here to the south end, just about here and there
...
Yolland You’re becoming very skilled at this. should be a ridge of rocks there... Have the sappers
I
ii.-
marked it? They have. Look, George.
- - -
Owen We’re not moving fast enough.
Yolland Where are we?
Yolland (opens eyes again) Lancey Lectured me again last
night. Owen There.
Owen When does he finish here? Yolland I’m lost.
t
Yolland The sappers are pulling out at the end of the Owen Here. And the name of that ridge is Druim Dubh.
week. The trouble is, the maps they’ve completed can’t be Put English on that, Lieutenant.
printed without these names. So London screams at Yolland Say it again.
40
4’
C-
Owen Druim Dubh. Mantis (leaving) I’m sure. But there are always the
Rolands, aren’t there? (He goes upstairs and exits.)
Yolland Dubh means black.
Yolland What was that he said? — something about
Owen Yes. Lancey, was it?
Yolland And Druim means what? a fort?
Owen He said we should hide that bottle before Father
...
Owen We met it yesterday in Druim Luachra. gets his hands on it.
Yolland A ridge! The Black Ridge! (to Mantis) You see, Yolland Ah.
Ma nu Owen He’s always trying to protect him.
Owen We’ll have you fluent at the Irish before the - Yolland Was he lame from birth?
summer’s over.
Owen An accident when he was a baby: Father fell across
Yolland Oh I wish I were. (To Matins as he crosses to go his cradle. That’s why Manus feels so responsible for him.
back upstairs.) We got a crate of oranges from Dublin
today. I’ll send some up to you. Yolland Why doesn’t he marry?
Manus Thanks. (to Owen) Better hide that bottle. Father’s Owen Can’t afford to, I suppose.
just up and he’d be better without it. Yolland Hasn’t he a salary?
Owen Can’t you speak English before your man? I Owen What salary? All he gets is the odd shilling Father
Mantis Why? throws him and that’s seldom enough. I got out in time,
—
didn’t I?
Owen Out of courtesy-.
Yolland is pouring a drink.
Manus Doesn’t he want to learn Irish? (to Yolland) Don’t
you want to learn Irish? Easy with that stuff— it’ll hit you suddenly.
Yolland Sorry sorry? I—I
— — Yolland I like it.
Manus I understand the Lanceys perfectly but people like Owen Let’s get back to the job. Druim Dubh — what’s it
you puzzle me. called in the jury lists? (Consults texts.)
Owen Manüs, for God’s sake! Yolland Some people here resent us.
Manus (still to Yolland) How’s the work going? Owen Dramduff— wrong as usual.
Yolland The work? the work? Oh, it’s it’s staggering
—
— Yolland I was passing a little girl yesterday and she spat at
along I think (to Owen) isn’t it? But we’d be lost
— — — - me.
without Roland. Owen And it’s Drimdoo here. What’s it called in the registry?
42.
43
._j._
ryjpfl[
“I i.
Yolland Do you know the Donnelly twins?
Owen Who?
Yolland The Donnelly twins.
Owen Yes. Best fishermen about here. What about them?
Yolland Lancey’s looking for them.
Owen What for?
Yolland He wants them for questioning.
Owen Probably stolen somebody’s nets. Dramduffy!
Nobody ever called it Dramduffy. Take your pick of those
three.
Yolland My head’s addled. Let’s take a rest. Do you want
a drink?
Owen Thanks. Now, every Dubh we’ve come across
we’ve changed to Duff. So if we’re to be consistent, I
suppose Druim Dubh has to become Dromduff.
Yolland is now looking out the window.
You can see the end of the ridge from where you’re
standing. But D-r-u-m or D-r-o-m? (Name-Book) Do you
remember which did we agree on for Druim Luachra?
— Owen Come on, George.
Yolland That house immediately above where we’re
camped
—
Owen Mm?
Yolland The house where Maire lives.
Owen Maire? Oh, Maire Chatach.
Yolland What does that mean?
Owen Curly-haired; the whole family are called the
Catachs. What about it?
44
Yolland I hear music coming from that house almost every
night.
Owen Why don’t you drop in?
Yolland Could I?
Owen Why not? We used D-r-o-m then. So we’ve got to
call it D-r-o.m-d-u-f-f_ all right?
Yolland Go back up to where the new school is being
built and just say the names again for me, would you?
Owen That’s a good idea. Poolkerry, Bally Beg —
Yolland No, no; as they still are — in your own language.
Owen Poll na gCaorach,
Yolland repeats the Izanies silently after him.
Baile Beag, Ceann Balor, Lis Maol, Machaire Buidhe, Baile
na gCall, Carraig na Ri, Mullach Dearg —
Yolland Do you think I could live here?
Owen What are you talking about?
Yolland Settle down here live here.
—
Yolland I mean it.
Owen Live on what? Potatoes? Buttermilk?
Yolland It’s really heavenly.
Owen For God’s sake! The first hot summer in fifty years
and you think it’s Eden. Don’t be such a bloody romantic.
You wouldn’t survive a mild winter here.
Yolland Do you think not? Maybe you’re right.
Doalty enters in a rush.
45
 Doalty Hi, boys, is Manus about?
Owen He’s upstairs. Give him a shout.
Doalty Manus!
The cattle’s going mad in that heat Gripes, running wild
—
all over the place. (to Yolland) How are you doing,
skipper?
Mantis appears.
Yolland Thank you for — I — I’m very gratelul to you for
Doalty Wasting your time. I don’t know a word you’re
saying. Hi, Manus, there’s two bucks down the road there
asking for you.
Manus (descending) Who are they?
Doalty Never clapped eyes on them. They want to talk to
you.
Manus What about?
Doalty They wouldn’t say. Come on. The bloody beasts’ll
end up in Loch an Iubhair if they’re not capped. Good
luck, boys!
Doalty rushes off. Mantis follows hini.
Owen Good luck! What were you thanking Doalty for?
Yolland I was washing outside my tent this morning and he
was passing with a scythe across his shoulder and he caine up
tome and pointed to the long grass and then cut a pathway
round my tent and from the tens down to the road so that —
my feet won’t get wet with the dew. Wasn’t that kind of him?
And! have no words to thank him ..I suppose you’re right:
.
I suppose I couldn’t live here... Just before Doalty came up
to me this morning, I was thinking that at that moment I
might have been in Bombay instead of Ballybeg. You see, my
father was at his wits’ end with me and finally begot me a job
46
5..--
with the East India Company some kind of clerkship. This
—
was ten, eleven months ago. So I set off for London.
Unfortunately I I I missed the boat. Literally. And since!
— —
couldn’t lace Father and hadn’t enough money to hang about
until the next sailing, I joined the Army. And they stuck me
into the Engineers and posted me to Dublin. And Dublin sent
me here. And while! was washing this morning and looking
across the Tra Bhan, I was thinking how very, very lucky!
am to be here and not in Bombay.
—
Owen Do you believe in fate?
Yolland Lancey’s so like my father. I was watching him
last night. He met every group of sappers as they reported
in. He checked the field kitchens. He examined the horses.
He inspected every single report even examining the
—
texture of the paper and commenting on the neatness of
the handwriting. The perfect colonial servant: nor only
must the job be done it must be done with excellence.
—
Father has that drive, too; that dedication; that
indefatigable energy. He builds roads hopping from one
end of the Empire to the other. Can’t sit still for five
minutes. He says himself the longest time he ever sat still
was the night before Waterloo when they were waiting for
Wellington to make up his mind to attack.
Owen What age is he?
Yolland Born in 1789 the very day the Bastille fell. I’ve
—
often thought maybe that gave his whole life its character.
Do you think it could? He inherited a new world the day
he was born the Year One. Ancient time was at an end.
—
The world had cast off its old skin. There were no longer
any frontiers to man’s potential. Possibilities were endless
and exciting. He still believes that. The Apocalypse is just
about to happen m afraid I’m a great disappointment
to him. I’ve neither his energy, nor his coherence, nor his
belief. Do I believe in fate? The day I arrived in Ballybeg
—
47
 no, Bade Beag the moment you brought me in here, I
—
I dabble in verse, Lieutenant, after the style of Ovid. (to
had a curious sensation. ft’s difficult to describe. It was a Owen) A drop of that to Fortify me.
momentary sense of discovery; no not quite a sense of
—
discovery a sense of recognition, of confirmation of
—

Yolland You’ll have to translate it for me.

something I half knew instinctively; as if I had stepped
Owen Back into ancient time?
Yolland No, no. It wasn’t an awareness of direction being
changed but of experience being of a totally different
order. I had moved into a consciousness that wasn’t
striving nor agitated, but at its ease and with its own
conviction and assurance. And when I heard Jimmy Jack
and your father swapping stories about Apollo and
Cuchulainn and Paris and Ferdia as if they lived down
—
the road it was then that I thought I knew perhaps I
— — —
could live here (now embarrassed) Where’s the pot-een?
. . .
Owen Poteen?
Yolland Poteen poteen poteen. Even if I did speak Irish
— —
Pd always be an outsider here, wouldn’t I? I may learn the
password but the language of the tribe will always elude
me, won’t it? The private core will always be hermetic,
...
won’t it?
Owen You can learn to decode us.
Hugh emerges front upstairs and descends. He is dressed
for the road. Today he is physically and mentally jaunty
and alert almost self-consciously jaunty and alert.
—
Indeed, as the scene progresses, one has the sense that
he is deliberately parodying himself.
The moment Hugh gets to the bottom of the steps
Yolland leaps respectfully to his feet.
Hugh (as he descends)
Q uantumvis cursun: longuni fessumque moratur
Sol, sacro tandem cannine vesper adest.
a n
4
-
48
\n. :‘I__.
Hugh Let’s see —
No matter how long the sun may linger on his long and
weary journey
At length evening comes with its sacred song.
Yolland Very nice, sir.
Hugh English succeeds in making it sound ... plebeian.
Owen Where are you off to, Father?
Hugh An expeditio with three purposes. Purpose A: to
acquire a testimonial from our parish priest (to Yolland)
—
a worthy man but barely literate; and since he’ll ask me to
write it myself, how in all modesty can I do myself justice?
(to Qweiz) Where did this (drink) come from?
Owen Anna na mBreag’s.
Hugh (to Yolland) In that case address yourself to it with
circumspection. (And he instantly tosses the drink back in
one gulp and grbnaces. (Aaaaaaagh!) Holds out his glass
for a refilL) Anna na mBreag means Anna of the Lies. And
Purpose B: to talk to the builders of the new school about
the kind of living accommodation I will require there. I
have lived too long like a journeyman tailor.
Yolland Some years ago we lived fairly close to a poet —
well, about three miles away.
Hugh His name?
Yolland Wordsworth — William Wordsworth.
Hugh Did he speak of me to you?
Yolland Actually I never talked to him. I just saw him out
walking in the distance.
—
49
 r
Hugh Wordsworth? no. I’m afraid we’re not familiar
...
with your literature, Lieutenant. We feel close Hugh At Lis na Muc, over near...
r to the
warm Mediterranean. We tend to overlook your islan Owen No, he doesn’t. Lis na Muc , the
d. Fort of the Pigs,
Yolland I’m learning to speak Irish, sir. has become Swinefort. (Now turni ng the pages of the
Name-Rook a page per name.) And
—
to get to Swinefort
Hugh Good. you pass through Greencastle and Fair Head and
Yolland Roland’s teaching me. Strandhill and Gort and \Vhitepla ins. And the new school
isn’t at Poll na gCaorach it’s at Shee
—
psrock. Will you be
Hugh Splendid. able to find your way?
Yolland I mean I feel so cut off from the people here Hugh pours himself another drink. Then
—
. :
And I was trying to explain a few minutes ago how
remarkable a community this is. To meet Hugh Yes, it is a rich language, Lieutenan
peop le like t, full of the
yourself and jimmy Jack who actually conv mythologies of fanta sy and hope and self-
and Latin. And your place names what was
erse in Gree k syntax opulent with tomorrows. ft is our deception a —
respo
—
came across this morning? Termon, from Terminus
the one we cabins and a diet of potatoes; our only meth nse to mud
, the to od of replying
—
god of boundaries. It it it’s realLy astonishing. ... inevitabilities. (to Owe,,) Can you give
— —
of half-a-crown? I’ll repay you out of me the loan
the subscriptions I’m
Hugh We like to think we endure around truths collecting for the publication of my new
immemorialLy posited. book. (to
Yolland) ft is entit led: ‘The Pent aglo t Prec eptor or
Yolland And your Gaelic literawre you’re a poet Elementary Institute of the English, Gree
k,
yourself
—
and Irish Languages; Particularly Calculate Hebrew, Latin
d for the
—
Instruction of Such Ladies and Gentleme
n as may Wish to
Hugh Only in Latin, I’m airaid. Learn without the Help of a Master’.
Yolland I understand it’s enormously rich and orna Yolland (laughs) That’s a wonderful
te. title!
Hugh Indeed, Lieutenant. A rich lang uage . A rich Hugh Between ourselves the best part
literature. You’ll find, sir, that certain cultures expend
—
of the enterprise.
on Nor do I, in fact, speak Hebrew. And that
their vocabularies and syntax acqu last phrase
isitiv e ener gies and ‘without the Help of a Master’ that was —
ostentations entirely lacking in their material lives.
—
written before
I the new national school was thrus t upon me do you
suppose you could call us a spiritual people. think I ought to drop it now? After —
all you
of the cow just because it has produced a don’t dispose
Owen (not unkindly; ,i,ore out o[embarrassme
;zt before magnificent calf,
Yolland) Will you stop that nonsense, Father. do you?
Yolland You certainly do not.
Hugh Nonsense? What nonsense?
Owen Do you know where the priest lives? Hugh The phrase goes. And I’m inter rupting work of
moment. (He goes to the door and
-- stops there.) To return
50
ST
- - -
A.
1-
Srr. j.
-4-
 r
A
briefly to that other matter, Lieutenant. I understand your
sense of exclusion, of being cut off from a lile here; and I
trust you will find access to us with my son’s help. But
remember that words are signals, counters. They are not
immortal. And it can happen to use an image you’ll
—
understand it can happen that a civilisation can be
—
imprisoned in a linguistic contour which no longer
matches the landscape of... fact.
Gentlemen. (He leaves.)
Owen ‘An expeditio with three purposes’: the children
laugh at him: he always promises three points and he
nevet gets beyond A and B.
Yolland Something is being eroded.
Owen Back to the romance again. All right! Fine! Fine!
Look where we’ve got to. (He drops his hands and
on
knees and stabs a finger at the map.) We’ve come to this
crossroads. Come here and look at it, man! Look at it!
And we call that crossroads Tohair Vree. And why do we
call it Tobair Vree? I’ll tell you why. Tobair means a well.
But what does Vree mean? ft’s a corruption of Brian —
(Gaelic pronunciation) Brian an erosion of Tobair
—
Bhriain. Because a hundred-and-fifw years ago there used
to be a well there, not at the crossroads, mind you that
would be too simple but in a field close to the
—

—
Yolland He’s an astute man. crossroads. And an old man called Brian, whose face was
disfigured by an enormous growth, got it into his head
Owen He’s bloody pompous. that the water in that well was blessed; and every day for
Yolland But so astute, seven months he went there and bathed his face in it. But
the growth didn’t go away; and one morning Brian was
Owen And he drinks too much. Is it astute not to be able found drowned in that well. And ever since that
to adjust for survival? Enduring around truths crossroads is known as Tobair Vree even though that
immemorially posited hah!
—
—
well has long since dried up. I know the story because my
Yolland He knows what’s happening. grandfather told it to me. But ask Doalty or Maire or— —
Bridget even my father even Manus why it’s called
Owen What is happening? —
—
—
Tobair Vree; and do you think they’ll know? I know they
Yolland I’m not sure. But I’m concerned about my part in don’t know. So the question I ut to you, Lieutenant, is
F it. It’s an eviction of sorts.
Owen We’re making a six-inch map of the country. Is
there something sinister in that?

this: what do we do with a name like that? Do we scrap

Tobair Vree altogether and call it what? The Cross?
—
Crossroads? Or do we keep piety with a man long dead,
long forgotten, his name ‘eroded’ beyond recognition,
—
Yolland Not in whose trivial little story nobody in the parish remembers?
Owen And we’re taking place-names that are riddled with Yolland Except you.
confusion and
Owen I’ve left here.
Yolland Who’s confused? Are the people conlused?
Yolland You remember it.
Owen .. and we’re standardising those names as
accurately and as sensitively as we can. Owen I’m asking you: what do we write in the Name-Book?
52
53
:ZWWH
-fl’s,
 Yolland Tobair Vree. Yolland It was never Roland?
Owen Even though the well is a hundred yards from the Owen Never.
actual crossroads and there’s no well anyway and what
— —
the hell does Vree mean? Yolland 0 my God!
Yolland Tobair Vree. Pause. They stare at one another. Thezi the absurdity of
the situation strikes the,,; suddenly. They explode with
Owen That’s what you want? laughter. Ou’en pours drinks. As the3’ roll about their
Yolland Yes. lines overlap.
Owen You’re certain? Yolland Why didn’t you tell me?
Yolland Yes. Owen Do I look like a Roland?
Owen Fine. Fine. That’s what you’ll get. Yolland Spell Owen again.
Yolland That’s what you want, too, Roland. Owen I was getting fond of Roland.
Pause. Yolland 0 my God!
Owen (explodes) George! For God’s sake! My name is izot Owen O-w-e-n.
Roland! Yolland \Vhat’ll we write —
Yolland What? Owen in the NarneBook?
—
Owen (softly) My name is Owen. Yolland R-o-w-e-n!
Pause. Owen Or what about UI
Yolland Not Roland? Yolland OF- what?
Owen Owen. Owen Oland!
Yolland You mean to say—? And again they explode.
Owen Owen. Mantis enters. He is very elated.
Yolland But I’ve been —

Manus What’s the celebration?

Owen O-w-e-n. Owen A christening!
Yolland Where did Roland come from? Yolland A baptism!
Owen I don’t know. Owen A hundred christenings!
Y 1kWt
sl 54 55
t•
%Sfl J
;‘rflI%’
 He’s been offered a job.
Yolland A thousand baptisms! Welcome to Eden!
Owen Eden’s right! We name a thing and bang! it leaps
—
Yolland Where?
into existence! Owen Well — tell us!
Yolland Each name a perfect equation with its roots. Manus I’ve just had a meeting with two men from mis
Owen A perfect congruence with its reality. (to Mantis) Meadhon. They want me to go there and start a hedge-
Take a drink. school. They’re giving me a free house, free turf, and free
milk; a rood of standing corn; twelve drills of potatoes;
Yolland Poteen beautiful.
—
and (He stops.)
—
Owen Lying Anna’s poteen. Owen And what?
Yolland Anna na mBreag’s poteen. Manus A salary of4z a year!
Owen Excellent, George. Owen Manus, that’s wonderful!
Yolland I’ll decode you yet. Manus You’re talking to a man of substance.
Owen (offers drink) Manus? Owen I’m delighted.
Manus Not if that’s what it does to you. Yolland \Vhere’s mis Meadhon?
Owen You’re right. Steady steady sober up
—
— — sober up.
Owen An island south of here. And they came looking for
Yolland Sober as a judge, Owen. you?
Mantis moves beside Owen. Manus Well, I mean to say..
Manus I’ve got good news! Where’s Father? Owen punches Mantis.
Owen He’s gone out. What’s the good news? Owen Aaaaagh! This calls for a real celebration.
Manus I’ve been offered a job. Yolland Congratulations.
Owen Where? (now aware of Yolland) Come on, man —
Manus Thank you.
speak in English.
Owen Where are you, Anna?
Manus For the benefit of the colonist?
Yolland When do you start?
Owen He’s a decent man.
Manus Next Monday.
Manus Aren’t they all at some level?
Owen We’ll stay with you when we’re there. (to Yo!land)
Owen Please. How long will it be before we reach mis Meadhon?
Mantis shrugs.
56 57
 —
Yolland How far south is it? Owen A house, fuel, milk, potatoes, corn, pupils, what
not!
Manus About fifty miles.
Manus I start on Monday.
Yolland Could we make it by December?
Owen We’ll have Christmas together. (Sings.) ‘Christmas Owen You’ll take a drink. Isn’t it great?
Day on mis Meadhon Manus I want to talk to you for...
Yolland (toast) I hope you’re very content there, Manus. Maire There’s your milk. I need the can back.
Manus Thank you. Matins takes the can and runs up the steps.
Yolland holds out his hand. Mantis takes it. They shake Manus (as he goes) How vi1l you like living on an island?
warmly.
Owen You know George, don’t you?
Owen (toast) Manus.
Maire \Ve wave to each other across the fields.
Manus (toast) To mis Meadhon. (He drinks quickly and
turns to leave.) Yolland Sorry-sorry?
Owen She says you wave to each other across the fields.
Owen Hold on — hold on — refills coming up.
Yolland Yes, we do; oh yes, indeed we do.
Manus I’ve got to go.
Maire What’s he saying?
Owen Come on, man; this is an occasion. Where are you
rushing to? Owen He says you wave to each other across the fields.
Manus I’ve got to tell Maire. Maire That’s right. So we do.
Maire enters with her can o[milk. Yolland What’s she saying?
Maire You’ve got to tell Maire what? Owen Nothing — nothing — nothing. (to Maire) What’s
Owen He’s got a job! the news?
Maire Manus? Maire nioves away, touching the text books with her
toe.
Owen He’s been invited to start a hedge-school in mis
Maire Not a thing. You’re busy, the two of you.
Meadhon.
Owen We think we are.
Maire Where?
Manus mis Meadhon Maire I hear the Fiddler O’Shea’s about. There’s some talk
the island! They’re giving me £4z
of a dance tomorrow night.
—
a year and
• -
• ..
59
• :c:.&-.. 1
 ———I
Owen Where will it be? Owen (to Yolland) Will you go?
Maire Maybe over the road. Maybe at Tobair Vree. Yolland (to Maire) Yes, yes, if! may.
Yolland Tobair Vree! Maire (to Owen) What does he say?
Maire Yes. Yolland (to Oweit) What is she saying?
Yolland Tobair Vree! Tobair Vree! Owen 0 for God’s sake! (To Mantis who is descending
with the empty can.) You take on this job, Manus.
Maire Does he know what I’m saying?
Mantis I’ll walk you up to the house. Is your mother at
Owen Not a word. home? I want to talk to her.
Maire Tell him then. Maire What’s the rush? (to Owen) Didn’t you offer me a
Owen Tell him what? drink?
Maire About the dance. Owen Will you risk Anna na mBreag?
Owen Maire says there may be a dance tomorrow night. Maire Why not.
Yolland (to Owen) Yes? May I come? Yolland is sudde,dv intoxicated. He leaps up on a stool,
(to Maire) Would anybody object if I came? raises his glass and shouts.
Maire (to Owen) What’s he saying? Yolland Anna na mBreag! Baile Beag! mis Meadhon!
Bombay! Tobair Vree! Eden! And poteen correct, Owen?
—
Owen (to Yolland) Who would object?
Owen Perfect.
Maire (to Owen) Did you tell him?
Yolland And bloody marvellous stuff it is, coo. I love it!
Yolland (to Maire) Sorry-son’? Bloody, bloody, bloody marvellous!
Owen (to Moire) I-Ic says may he come? Sbnitltaneouslv with his final bloodv ,,,arvellous’ bring
Maire (to Yolland) That’s up to you. up Lien’ loud the iiztroducto;y music of the reel. Theti
immediately go to black. Retain the music throughout
Yolland (to Owen) What does she say? the vet,’ brief intervaL
Owen (to Yolland) She says —
Yolland (to Maire) What-what? SCENE TVO
Maire (to Owen) Well?
The following night.
Yolland (to Owen) Sorry-sorry? This scene may be played in the schoolroom, but it
Hi would he preferable to lose by lighting as nzzich of the
— —
6o
I
.,
 schoolroom as possible, and to play the scene dow;z front Yolland Don’t call me that. I never think of myself as
in a vaguely outside’ area. Lieutenant.
The ;;:ztsic rises to a crescendo. Then in the distance we Maire What-what?
hear Main’ and Yolland approach laughing and running.
—
They rig;: on, hand—in.hand. They have just left the dance. Yolland Sorry—sorry? (He points to hunself again.) George.
Fade the music to distant background. Then after a time Main’ nods: Yes-yes. The,, points to herself.
it is lost and replaced by guitar music.
Maire and Yolland are ijoic’ down front, still holding Make Maire.
hands and excited by their sudden and impetuous escape Yolland Yes, I know you’re Maire. Of course I know
from the dance. you’re Maire. I mean I’ve been watching you night and
Maire 0 my God, that leap across the ditch nearly killed day for the past
me. Maire (eagerly What-what?
Yolland I could scarcely keep up with you. Yolland (points) Maire. (Points.) George. (Points both.)
Maire Wait till I get my breath back. Maire and George.
Yolland We must have looked as if we were being chased. Maire nods: Yes-yes-yes.
They now realise they are alone and holding hands the —
I—I—I—
beginnings of embarrassment. The hands disengage. Maire Say anything at all. I love the sound of your speech.
They begin to drift apart. Pause.
Yolland (eagerly) Sorry-sorry?
Maire Manus’ll wonder where I’ve got to.
In acute frustration he looks around, hoping for sonic
Yolland I wonder did anyone notice us leave. inspiration that will provide hi,;, with conununicative
Pause. Slightly further apart. ;;zeans. Now he has a thought: he tries raising his voice
and articulating in a staccato style and with equal and
Maire The grass must be wet. My feet are soaking. absurd emphasis on each ivord.
Yolland Your feet must be wet. The grass is snaking. Every-morning-I-see-you-feedingbrovnhensandgjjg
Another pause. Another few paces apart. They are now meal-to-black-calf— (the futility of it) —0 my God.
a long distance from one another. Maire singles. She moves towards bin,. She will ti) to
(Indicating himself.) George. co;nn:unicate in Latin.
Maire nods: Yes yes. The,::
—

l,1aire Tn c’s centurio hi — in — in exercitu Brita,,n,co —

Make Lieutenant George. Yolland Yes-yes? Go on go on — — say anything at all — I
love the sound of your speech.
:fl.1
4

63
 ri
Maire et es in castris quae quae
— — — quae stint in agro — Yolland Say it again — say it again —
(the futility of it) 0 my God.
Maire Shhh. (She holds her hand up for silence she is
—
—
Yolland smiles. He moves towards her. Now for her trying to retnember her one line of English. Now she
English words. rententhers it and she delivers the line as if English were
George water. her language easily, fluidly, conversationally. George, in
—
Norfolk we besport ourselves around the maypoll.
—
Yolland ‘Water’? Water! Oh yes water water very
— — —
Yolland Good God, do you? That’s where my mother
good water good good.
—
comes from Norfolk. Norwich actually. Not exactly
— —
—
Maire Fire. Norwich town hut a small village called Little Walsingham
Yolland Fire indeed close beside it. But in our own village of Winfarthing we
wonderful fire, fire, fire
have a maypole too and every year on the first ol May
— — — —
splendid splendid!
—

—
Maire Ab
He stops abruptly, only note’ realising. He stares at her.
... ah
She in turn uzisuirderstands his excitement.
Yolland Yes? Go on.
Maire (to herself) Mother of God, my Aunt Mary
Maire Earth. wouldn’t have taught me something dirty, would she?
Yolland ‘Earth’? Pause.
Maire Earth. Earth. Yolland extends his hand to Maire. She turns away
front hint and moves slowly across the stage.
Yolland still does not understand.
Yolland Maire.
Maire stoops down and picks tip a handful of clay.
Holding it out She still moves away.
Earth. Maire Chatach.
Yolland Earth! Of course earth! Earth. Earth. Good
— She still moves away.
Lord, Maire, your English is perfect!
Bun na hAbhann? (He says the name softly, almost
Matte (eagerly’) What-what? privately, yen’ tentatively, as if he were searching for a
Yolland Perfect English. English perfect.
sound she might respond to. He tries again.) Druim Dubh?
Maire George
Maire stops. She is listening. Yolland is encouraged.
—
Yolland That’s beautiful Poll na gCaorach. Us Maol.
— oh that’s really beautiful.
Maire George
Maire turns towards him.
—
Lis na iGall.
64
I .
Maire Lis na nGradh. Yolland I would tell you
They are irow facing earl; other and begin moving — Maire Don’t stop—I know what you’re saying.
almost bnperceptihlv towards one another.
—
Yolland I would tell you how I want to he here to live —
Carraig an Phoill. here always with you always, always.
— — —
Yolland Carraig na RI. Loch na nEan. Maire ‘Always’? What is that word ‘always’? —
Maire Loch an Iubhair. Machaire Buidhe. Yolland Yes-yes; always.
Yolland Machaire Mor. Cnoc na Mona. Maire You’re trembling.
Maire Cnoc na ncabhar. Yolland Yes, I’m trembling because of you.
Yolland Mullach. Maire I’m trembling, too. (She holds his face in her hand.)
Maire Port. Yoliand I’ve made up my mind
Yolland Tor. Maire Shhhh.
Maire Lag. Yolland I’m not going to leave here
She holds out her hands to Yolland. He takes the;;,. Maire Shhh — listen to me. I want you, too, soldier.
Each ;zou’ speaks almost to himself/herself
Yolland Don’t stop I know what you’re saying.
Yolland I wish to God you could understand me.
—
Maire I want to live with you anywhere anywhere at
Maire Soft hands; a gentleman’s hands.
— —
all always always.
— —
Yofland Because if you could understand mel could tell Yolland ‘Always’? What is that word
you how I spend my days either thinking of you or gazing — ‘always’?
up at your house in the hope that you’ll appear even for a Maire Take me away with you, George.
second. Pause.
Maire Every evening you walk by yourself along the Tra Suddenly they kiss.
Bhan and every morning you wash yourself in front of Sarah enters. She sees the,,,. She stands shocked,
your tent. staring at the,;,. Her mouth works. Then almost to
herself.
Yolland I would tell you how beautiful you are, curly-
headed Maire. I would so like to tell you how beautiful Sarah Manus ... Manus!
you are.
Sarah rims off
Maire Your arms are long and thin and the skin on your Music to crescendo.
shoulders is very white.
66 67
 I I
Act Three
The following evening. It is raining.
Sara?, and Owen alone in the schoolroom. Sara?,, more
waiflike than ever, is sitting very still on a stool, a;: open
book across her knee. Sbe is pretending to read bitt her
eyes keep going ii p to the room upstairs. Owen is working
on the floor as before, surrounded by his reference books,
map, Name-Book etc. But he has neither concentration
nor interest; and like Sarah he glances up at the upstairs
room;:.
After a few seconds Maims emerges and descends,
carrying a large paper bag which already contains his
clothes. His movements are determined and ii rgent. He
moves around the classroom, picking up books, examining
each title carefully, and choosing about six of then: which
he puts into his bag. As he selects these books:
Owen You know that old limekiln beyond Con Connie
Tim’s pub, the place we call The Murren? do you know
— Manus You’ll be here for a while? For a week or two
why it’s called The Murren?
Maims does not answer.
I’ve only just discovered: it’s a corruption of Saint
Muranus. ft seems Saint Muranus had a monastery
somewhere about there at the beginning of the seventh
century. And over the years the name became shortened to
the Murren. Very unattractive name, isn’t it? I think we
should go back to the original Saint Muranus. What do
— as soon as I can. Tell them I still want the job but that it
you think? The original’s Saint Muranus. Don’t you think
we should go back to that?
No response. Owen begins writing the name into the
:i 68
.
.. •,.‘ ..
..
..
‘P1! . a
Name-Book. Mantis is now rooting about among the
forgotten implements for a piece of rope. He finds a
piece. He begins to tie the mouth of the flimsy,
overloaded bag and it bursts, the contents spilling out
—
on the floor.
Manus Bloody, bloody, bloody hell!
His voice breaks in exasperation: he is about to cry.
Owen leaps to his feet.
Owen Hold on. I’ve a hag upstairs.
He runs upstairs. Sarah waits until Owen is off Then.
Sarah Manus... Manus, I
Mantis hears Sarah but makes no acknowledgement. He
gathers up his belongings.
Owen reappears with the bag he had on his arrival.
Owen Take this one I’m finished with it anyway. And it’s
—
supposed to keep out the rain.
Mantis transfers his feit’ belongings. Owen drifts back to
his task. The packing is now con:plete.
anyhow?
Owen Yes.
Manus You’re not leaving with the army?
Owen I haven’t made up my mind. Why?
Manus Those mis Meadhon men will be back to see why I
haven’t turned up. Tell them tell them I’ll write to them
—
might be three or four months before I’m free to go.
Owen You’re being damned stupid, Manus.
69
,.‘
 Manus Will you do that for me? Manus (to Sarah) Will you give that message to the mis
Meadhon men?
Owen Clear out now and Lancey’ll think you’re involved
so meh ow. Sarah I will.
Manus Will you do that for me? Manus picks lip all old sack and throws it across his
shoulders.
Owen Wait a couple of days even. You know George —
he’s a bloody romantic maybe he’s gone out to one of the
— Owen Have you any idea where you’re going?
islands and he’ll suddenly reappear tomorrow morning. Manus Mayo, maybe. I remember Mother saying she had
Or maybe the search party’ll find him this evening lying cousins somewhere away out in the Erris Peninsula. (He
drunk somewhere in the sandhills. You’ve seen him • picks up his bag.) Tell father I took only the Virgil and the
drinking that poteen doesn’t know how to handle it.
—
Caesar and the Aeschylus because they’re mine anyway I
Had he drink on him last night at the dance?
—
• bought them with the money I got for that pet lamb I
Manus I had a stone in my hand when I went out looking reared do you remember that pet lamb? And tell him
—
for him I was going to fell him. The lame scholar turned
— that Nora Dan never returned the dictionary and that she
violent. still owes him nvo-and-six for last quarter’s reading he—
• always forgets those things.
Owen Did anybody see you?
Owen Yes.
Manus (again close to tears) But when I saw him standing
there at the side of the road smiling and her Lice buried
— — Manus And his good shirt’s ironed and hanging up in the
in his shoulder I couldn’t even go close to them. I just
— press and his clean socks are in the butter-box under the
shouted something stupid something like, ‘You’re a
— bed.
bastard, Yolland.’ If I’d even said it in English ... ‘cos he Owen All right.
kept saying ‘Sorry-sorry?’ The wrong gesture in the wrong
language. Manus And tell him I’ll write.
Owen And you didn’t see him again? Owen If Maire asks where you’ve gone ...?
Manus ‘Sorry?’ Manus He’ll need only half the amount of milk now,
won’t he? Even less than half— he usually takes his tea
Owen Before you leave tell Lancey that just to clear
—
black. (Pause.) And when he comes in at night you’ll
yourself.
—
hear him; he makes a lot of noise — I usually come down
Manus What have I to say to Lancey? You’ll give that • and give him a hand up. Those stairs are dangerous
message to the islandmen? without a banister. Maybe before you leave you’d get Big
• Ned Frank to put up some sort of a handrail. (Pause.) And
Owen I’m warning you: run away now and you’re bound if you can bake, he’s very fond of soda bread.
to be
70 7’
-s?1
it,
4-
-
P. -
 Owen
I can give you money. I’m wealthy. Do you know Owen Is there class this evening?
what they pay me? Two shillings a day for this this—
Sarah nods: yes.
—
this—
I suppose Father knows. Where is he anyhow?
A/Janus rejects the offer by holding out his hand.
-
Sarah points.
Goodbye, Manus.
Where?
Manus and Owen shake hands.
Then Mantis picks up his bag briskly and goes Sarah mimes rocking a baby.
towards the door. He stops a few paces beyond Sarah, I don t understand where?
tunis, comes back to her. He addresses her as he did in
—
Act One bitt now without wannth or concern for her. Sarah repeats the mime and wipes away tears. Owen is
still puzzled.
Manus What is your name? (Pause.) Come on. What is
your name? It doesn’t matter. He’ll probably turn up.
Sarah My name is Sarah. Bridget and Doalty enter, sacks over their heads against
the rain. They are self.consciously noisier, more
Manus Just Sarah? Sarah what? (Pause.) Well?
ebullient, more garrulous than ever brmmmrg over
—
Sarah Sarah Johnny Sally. with excitement and gossip and brio.
Manus And where do you live? Come on. Doahy You’re missing the crack, boys! Cripes, you’re
missing the crack! Fifty more soldiers arrived an hour ago!
Sarah I live in Bun na hAbhann. (She is now nying
quietly.) Bridget And they’re spread out in a big line from Sean
Neal’s over to Lag and they’re moving straight across the
Manus Very good, Sarah Johnny Sally. There s nothing to
fields towards Cnoc na nGabhar!
stop you now nothing in the wide world. (Pause. He
—
looks down at her.) It’s all right it’s all right you did no
— — Doaky Prodding every inch of the ground in front of them
harm you did no harm at all. (He stoops over her and
— with their bayonets and scattering animals and hens in all
kisses the top of her head as if in absolution. Their
— directions!
briskly to the door and off)
Bridget And tumbling everything before them — fences,
Owen Good luck, Manus! ditches, haystacks, turf-stacks!
Sarah (quietly) I’m sorry m sorry m so sorry, Doalty They came to Barney Petey’s field of corn —
Manus . .. straight through it be God as if it was heather!
:ri Owen tries to work bitt cannot concentrate. He begins Bridget Not a blade of it left standing!
folding up the map. As he does:
I Doalty And Barney Petey just out of his bed and running
7Z 73
.:
c
Owen He’s left gone away.
after them in his drawers; ‘You hoors you! Get out of my
—
corn, you boors you!’ Doaltv Where to?
Bridget First time he ever ran in his life. Owen He doesn’t know. Mayo, maybe.
Doalty Too lazy, the wee get, to cut it when the weather Doalty What’s on in Mayo?
was good.
Owen (to Bridget) Did you see George and Maire
Sarah begins putting out the seats. Chatach leave the dance last night?
Bridget Tell them about Big Hughie. Bridget We did. Didn’t we, Doaltv?
Doalt Cripes, if you’d seen your aul fella, Owen. Owen Did you see Manus following them out?
Bridget They were all inside in Anna na mBreag’s pub —
Bridget I didn’t see him going out but I saw him coming in
all the crowd from the wake —
by himself later.
Doalty And they hear the commotion and they all come Owen Did George and Maire come back to the dance?
out to the street
—
Bridget No.
Bridget Your father in front; the Infant Prodigy footless
behind him! Owen Did you see them again?
Doalty And your aul Iclia, he sees the army stretched • Bridget He left her home. We passed them going up the
across the countryside — back road didn’t we, Doaln-?
—
Bridget 0 my God! • Owen And Manus stayed till the end of the dance?
Doalty And Cripes he starts roaring at them! Doalty \Ve know nothing. What are you asking us for?
Bridget ‘Visigoths! Hums! Vandals!’ Owen Because Lancey’ll question me when he hears
Manus’s gone. (back to Bridget) That’s the way George
Doalty ‘Ignari! Stuti! Rzcstici!’
went home? By the back road? That’s where you saw him?
Bridget And wee jimmy Jack jumping up and down and
shouting, ‘Thermopylae! Thermopylae!’ Bridget Leave me alone, Owen. I know nothing about
Yolland. If you want to know about Yolland, ask the
Doalty You never saw crack like it in your life, boys. Donnelly twins.
Come away on out with me, Sarah, and you’ll see it all.
• Silence. Doalty moves over to the window.
Bridget Big Hughie’s fit to take no class. Is Mantis about?
(to Santh) He’s a powerful fiddler, O’Shea, isn’t he? He
Owen Mantis is gone. told our Seamus he’ll come back for a night at Hallowe’en.
Bridget Gone where?
75
74
-A
4
1’i
-
i4er.t...
—‘ ‘i.!
 Owen goes to Doalty who looks resolutely out the
tvmdozv.
Owen \Vhar’s this about the Donnellys? (Pause.) Were
they about last night?
Doalty Didn’t see them ii they were. (Begins whistling
through his teeth.)
V Owen George is a friend of mine.
Doalty So.
Sit Owen I ‘ant to know what’s happened to him.
Doaln’ Couldn’t tell you.
Owen What have the Donnelly twins to do with it?
(Pause.) Doalty!
Doalty I know nothing, Owen nothing at all I swear to
— —
God. All I know is this: on my way to the dance I saw
their boat beached at Port. It wasn’t there on my way
home, after I left Bridget. And that’s all I know’. As God’s
my judge. The half-dozen times I met him 1 didn’t know a
2
word he said to me; but he seemed a right enough sort
r
(with sudden excessive interest in the scene outside)
Gripes, they’re crawling all over the place! Gripes, there’s
—
millions of them! Gripes, they’re levelling the whole land!
Owen moves away.
Maire enters. She is bareheaded and wet from the
,ahi; her hair in disarray. She attempts to appear sionnal
but she is in acute distress, on the verge of being
distraught. She is car’ing the ,,iilk-can.
Maire Honest to God, I must be going off my head. I’m
half-way here and I think to myself, ‘Isn’t this can very
light?’ and I look into it and isn’t it empty’.
Owen It doesn’t matter.
76
L
Maire How will you manage for tonight?
Owen We have enough.
Maire Are you sure?
Owen Plenty, thanks.
Maire It’ll take me no time at all to go back up for some.
Owen Honestly, Maire.
Maire Sure it’s better you have it than that black call
that’s that... (She looks around.) Have you heard
...
anything?
Owen Nothing.
Maire What does Lancey say?
Owen I haven’t seen him since this morning.
Maire What does he think?
Owen \Ve really didn’t talk. He was here for only a few
seconds.
Maire He left me home, Owen. And the last thing he said
to me he tried to speak in Irish he said, ‘I’ll see you
— —
yesterday’ lie meant to say ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ And I
—
laughed that much he pretended to get cross and he said
‘Maypoll! Maypoll!’ because I said that word wrong. And
off he went, laughing laughing, Owen! Do you think he’s
—
all right? What do you think?
Owen I’m sure he’ll turn up, Maire.
Maire He comes from a tiny wee place called
Winfarthing. (She suddenly drops on her hands and knees
on the floor where Owen had his nap a Thu imnietes ago
—
— and with her finger traces out an outline i;zap.) Come
here till you see. Look. There’s Winfarthing. And there’s
two other wee villages right beside it; one of them’s called
77
 Barton Bendish it’s there; and the other’s called
— Owen Half an hour.
Saxingham Nechergate it’s about there. And there’s Little
—
Walsingham that’s his mother’s towniand. Aren’t they
—

Doalty Stupid bloody fool.

odd names? Sure they make no sense to meat all. And Owen I told him that.
\Vinfarthing’s near a big town called Norwich. And
Norwich is in a county called Norfolk. And Norfolk is in Doalty Do they know he’s gone?
the east of England. He drew a map for me on the wet Owen \X’ho?
strand and wrote the names on it. I have it all in my head
now: Winfarthing Barton Bendish Saxingham
— —

Doaltv The army.

Nethergate Little Walsingham Norwich Norfolk.
— — — Owen Not yet.
Strange sounds, aren’t they? But nice sounds; like Jimmy
Jack reciting his Homer. (She gets to her feet and looks Doalty They’ll he after him like bloody beagles. Bloody,
around; she is ainrost serene izow.) (To Sarah) You were bloody fool, limping along the coast. They’ll overtake him
looking lovely last night, Sarah. Is that the dress you got before night for Christ’s sake.
from Boston? Green suits you. Doalty returns to the rvindow. Lancey enters — now the
(to Owen) Something very bad’s happened to him, Owen. connnanding officer.
I know. He wouldn’t go away without telling me. Where is
he, Owen? You’re his friend where is he? (Again she
—

Owen Any news? Any word?

looks around the room; their sits on a stool.) I didn’t get a
chance to do my geography last night. The master’ll be
angry with me. (She rises again.) I think I’ll go home now.
The wee ones have to be washed and put to bed and that
black calf has to be fed My hands are that rough;
...
they’re still blistered from the hay. I’m ashamed of them. I
hope to God there’s no hay to be saved in Brooklyn. (She
stops at the door.) Did you hear? Nellie Ruadh’s baby died
in the middle of the night. I must go up to the wake. It
didn’t last long, did it?
Maire leaves. Silence. Their:
Owen I don’t think there’ll be any class. Maybe you
should
Owen begins picking up his texts. Doalty goes to hbn.
Doalty Is he long gone? — Manus.
78
Lance)’ moves into the centre of the room, looking
around as he does.
Lancey I understood there was a class. Where are the
others?
Owen There was to be a class but my father...
Lancey This will suffice. I will address them and it will be
their responsibility to pass on what I have to say to every
family in this section.
Lance)’ indicates to Owen to translate. Owen hesitates,
trying to assess the change in Lancey’s manner and
attitude.
I’m in a hurry, O’Donnell.
Owen The captain has an announcement to make.
Lancey Lieutenant Yolland is missing. We are searching
79
C Owen Druim Duhh.
for him. If we don’t find him, or if we receive no
information as to where he is to be found, I will pursue the Lancey \Vhiteplains.
following course of action. (He indicates to Owen to
translate.) Owen Machaire Ban.
Owen They are searching for George. If they don’t find Lancey Kings Head.
him Owen Cnoc na Ri.
Lancey Commencing twenty-four hours from now we will
Lancey If by then the lieutenant hasn’t been found, we
shoot all livestock in Ballybeg.
will proceed until a complete clearance is made of this
Owen stares at Lance;’. entire section.
At once. Owen If Yolland hasn’t been got by then, they will ravish
Owen Beginning this time tomorrow they’ll kill every the whole parish.
animal in Baile Beag unless they’re told where George is.
—
Lancey I trust they know exactly what they’ve got to do.
Lancey Ii that doesn’t bear results, commencing forty- (Pointing to Bridget.) I know you. I know where you live.
eight hours from now we will embark on a series of (Pointing to Sarah.) Who are you? Name!
evictiOns and levelling of every abode in the following Sarah’s iiioittb 0/Jells and shuts, opens and shuts. Her
selected areas —
face becomes contorted.
Owen You’re not—! What’s your name?
Lancey Do your job. Translate. Again Sarah tries frantically.
Owen If they still haven’t found him in two days’ time Owen Go on, Sarah. You can tell him.
they’ll begin evicting and levelling every house starting But Sarah cannot. And she knows she cannot. She closes
with these townlands.
a
a
Lance’ reads front his list.
Lancey Swinefort.
Owen Lis na Muc.

her niouth. Her head goes down.

Owen Her name is Sarah Johnny Sally.
Lancey Where does she live?
Owen Bun na hAhhann.
Lancey Burnfoot. Lancey Where?
Owen bun na hAbhann. Owen Burnfoot.
Lancey Dromduff. Lancey I want to talk to your brother — is he here?
“4’, So SI
.. I E4iL_ aifl2ri
 Owen Not at the moment. j The sweet smell! Smell it! It’s the sweet smell! Jesus, it’s the
potato blight!
Lancey Where is he?
Doaky It’s the army tents burning, Bridget.
Owen He’s at a wake.
Bridget Is it? Are you sure? Is that what it is? God, I
Lancey What wake? thought we were destroyed altogether. Come on! Come on!
Doalty, who has bee;: looking out the window all She runs oft: Owe;: goes to Sarah who is preparing to
through Lancey’s announcements, now speaks calmly,
—
leave.
almost casually.
Owen How are you? Are you all right?
Doalty Tell him his whole camp’s on fire.
Sarah nods: Yes.
Lancey What’s your name? (to Owe;:) Who’s that lout?
Don’t worry. It will come back to you again.
Owen Doalty Dan Doalty.
Sarah shakes her head.
Lancey Where does he live?
It will. You’re upset now. He frightened you. That’s all’s
Owen Tulach Alainn. wrong.
Lancey What do we call it? Again Sarah shakes her head, slowly, emphatically, and
Owen Fair Hill. He says your whole camp is on fire. smiles at Owe,:. The;: she leaves.
Owe;: busies himself gathering his belongings. Doalty
Lance)’ rushes to the window and looks out. The;: he leaves the window and goes to hi;;:.
wheels on Doalty.
Doalty He’ll do it, too.
Lancey I’ll remember you, Mr Doalty. (to Owen) You
carry a big responsibility in all this. (He goes off.) Owen Unless Yolland’s found.
Bridget Mother of God, does he mean it, Owen? Doalty Hah!
Owen Yes, he does. Owen Then he’ll certainly do it.
Bridget We’ll have to hide the beasts somewhere our
— Doalw When my grandfather was a boy they did the same
Seamus’ll know where. Maybe at the back of Lis na thing. (simply, altogether without irony) And after all the
nGradh or in the caves at the far end of the Tra Bhan.
— trouble you went to, mapping the place and thinking up
Come on, Doalty! Come on! Don’t be standing about new names for it.
there! Owen busies himself.
Doalty does not move. Bridget runs to the door and Pause.
stops suddenly. She sniffs the air. Panic. (ahnost drean:ily.) I’ve damned little to defend but he’ll
•!%‘
8z 83
4tbi ‘I
 I
nor put me out without a fight. And there’ll be others who Jimmy Infelix — unhappy.
think the same as me. Hugh Unhappy indeed. ‘Master Bartley Timlin has been
Owen That’s a matter for you. appointed to the new national school.’
‘Timlin? Who is Timlin?’
Doalty If we’d all stick together. If we knew how to ‘A schoolmaster from Cork. And he will he a major
defend ourselves. asset to the community: he is also a very skilled bacon-
Owen Against a trained army. curer’!
Doalty The Donnelly twins know how. Jimmy Hugh —
Owen If they could be found. Hugh Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! The Cork bacon-curer! Barbarus
hic ego sum;: quia ito,: intelligor ulli James?
Doalty If they could be found. (He goes to the door.) Give
—
me a shout after you’ve finished with Lancey. I might Jimmy Ovid. -
know something then. (He leaves.) Hugh Procede.
Owen picks up the Name-Book. He looks at it Jimmy ‘I am a barbarian in this place because I am not
momentarily, the;: puts it on top of the pile he is understood by anyone.’
carrying. It falls to the floor. He stoops to pick it up
—
hesitates leaves it. He goes upstairs.
—
Hugh Indeed (Shouts.) Manus! Tea!
—
As Owe;: ascends, Hugh and Jimmy Jack enter. Both I will compose a satire on Master Bartley Timlin,
wet and drunk. Jmuny is very unsteady. He is trotting schoolmaster and bacon-curer. But it will be too easy,
behind Hugh, trying to break in on Hugh’s declamation. won’t it? (Shouts.) Strong tea! Black!
Hugh is equally drunk bitt more experienced in The only way Jinnny can get Hugh’s attention is by
drunkenness: there is a portion of his nnnd which standing in front of hint and holding his arms.
retains its clarity.
Jimmy Will you listen to me, Hugh!
Hugh There I was, appropriately disposirioned to proffer
my condolences to the bereaved mother... Hugh James. (Shouts,) And a slice of soda bread.
Jimmy Hugh —
Jimmy I’m going to get married.
Hugh . and about to enter the donius higubris
. - — Maire Hugh Well!
Chatach? Jimmy At Christmas.
Jimmy The wake house. Hugh Splendid.
Hugh Indeed when I experience a plucking at my elbow:
—
Jimmy To Athene.
Mister George Alexander, justice of the Peace. ‘?vly tidings
are infelicitious,’ said he Bridget? Too slow. Doalty?
—
Hugh Who?
84
inIt, t-
 - r —
Jimmy Pallas Athene. Jimmy And I always liked her, Hugh. Correct?
Hugh Glaukopis Athene? Hugh Correct, James.
Jimmy Flashing-eyed, Hugh, flashing-eyed! (He attempts Jimmy Someone to talk to.
the gesture he has made before: standing to attention, the Hugh Indeed.
monwntan’ spasm, tim salute, the face raised in pained
ecstasy but the body does not respond efficiently this
—
Jimmy That’s all, Hugh. The whole story. You know it all
tinit’. The gesture is grotesque.) now, Hugh. You know it all.
Hugh The lady has assented? As Jmnm’ sal’s those last lines lie is cn’ing, shaking his
head, tn’ing to keeji his balance, and holding a finger up
Jimmy She asked me —1 assented. to his lips iii absurd gestures of secrecy and intimacy.
Hugh Ah. When was this? Now he staggers azc’ay, tries to sit on a stool, misses it,
slides to the floor, his feet in front of hi;;:. his back
Jimmy Last night. against the broke;: cart. Alniost at once he is asleep.
Hugh What does her mother say? Hugh zeatches all of this. The;; he produces his flask
and is about to pour a dri;;k :c’hen he sees the Name—
Jimmy Metis from Hellespont? Decent people — good Book on the floor. He picks it up and leafs through it,
stock. pronouncing the strange na;nes as he does. Just as he
Hugh And her father? begins, Owe;; emerges and desce;;ds with two bowls of
tea.
Jimmy I’m meeting Zeus tomorrow. Hugh, will you be my
best man? Hugh Ballybeg. Burnfoot. Kings Head. Whiteplains. Fair
Hill. Dunboy. Green Bank.
Hugh Honoured, James; profoundly honoured.
Owen snatches the hook from Hugh.
Jimmy You know what i’m looking for, Hugh, don’t you?
I mean to say you know I I I joke like the rest of
— — — —
Owen I’ll take that. (in apology) It’s only a catalogue of
them you know? (Again he attempts the pathetic
— —
names.
routine but abandons it instantly.) You know yourself, Hugh I know what it is.
Hugh don’t you? you know all that. But what I’m
— —
really looking for, Hugh what I really want
—
—
Owen A mistake my mistake nothing to do with us. I
— —
companionship, Hugh at my time of life,
—
hope that’s (tea) strong enough. (He throws the book on
companionship, company, someone to talk to. Away up in the table and crosses oz’er to lun;;n’.) Jimmy. Wake up,
Beann na Gaoithe you’ve no idea how lonely it is.
—

Jimmy. Wake up, man.

Companionship correct, Hugh? Correct?
—
Jimmy What — what—what?
Hugh Correct. Owen Here. Drink this. Then go on away home. There
86 87
::r
F
-

2,
attN
L

may be trouble. Do you hear me, Jimmy? There may be
-
trouble.
Hugh (indicating Name-Book) We must learn those new
names.
Owen (searching around) Did you see a sack lying about?
Hugh We must learn where we live. We must learn to
make them our own. We must make them our new home.
Owe;s finds a sack and throws it across his shoulders.
Owen I know where! live.
Hugh James thinks he knows, too.! look at James and
three thoughts occur to me: A that it is not the literal
— By God, sir, we were magni&ent. We marched as far as
past, the ‘facts’ of history, that shape us, but images of the
past embodied in language. James has ceased to make that
discrimination.
Owen Don’t lecture me, Father.
Hugh B we must never cease renewing those images;
— three miles back I ever made. (Toasts Jinn;iy.) My friend,
because once we do, we fossilise. Is there no soda bread?
Owen And C, Father one single, unalterable ‘fact’: if
— Maire enters
Yolland is not found, we are all going to be evicted.
Lancey has issued the order.
Hugh Ah. Edictmn iniperatoris.
Owen You should change out of those wet clothes. I’ve
got to go. I’ve got to see Doalty Dan Doalty.
Hugh What about?
Owen I’ll be back soon.
As Owen exits:
Hugh Take care, Owen. To remember everything is a
form of madness. (He looks around the room, carefully,
88
II
I
as if he were about to leave it for ever. Then he looks at
Jimmy, asleep again.) The road to Sligo. A spring
morning. 1798. Going into battle. Do you remember,
James? Two young gallants with pikes across their
shoulders and the Aeneid in their pockets. Everything
seemed to find definition that spring a congruence, a
—
miraculous matching of hope and past and present and
possibility. Striding across the fresh, green land. The
rhythms of perception heightened. The whole enterprise of
consciousness accelerated. We were gods that morning,
James; and I had recently married my goddess, Caitlin
Dubh Nic Reactainn, may she rest in peace. And to leave
her and my infant son in his cradle that was heroic, too.
—
—
where was it? Glenties! All of twenty-three miles in one
—
day. And it was there, in Phelan’s pub, that we got
homesick for Athens, just like Ulysses. The desiderium
nostrorum the need for our own. Our pietas, James, was
—
for older, quieter things. And that was the longest twenty-
confusion is not an ignoble condition.
Maire I’m back again. I set out for somewhere but!
couldn’t remember where. So I came back here.
Hugh Yes, I will teach you English, Maire Chatach.
Maire Will you, Master? I must learn it. I need to learn it.
Hugh Indeed you may well he my only pupil. (He goes
towards the steps and begins to ascend.)
Maire ‘When can we start?
Hugh Not today. Tomorrow, perhaps. After the funeral.
We’ll begin tomorrow. (Ascending.) But don’t expect too
- much. I will provide you with the available words and the
89
 -
available grammar. But will that help you to interpret backways, I’ll begin again. Urhs a;znqua fuit there was
—
between privacies? I have no idea. But it’s all we have. 1 an ancient city which, ‘tis said, Juno loved above all the
have no idea at all. (He is izoto at the top.) lands.
Maire Master, what does the English word ‘always’ Begin to bring dow;: the lights.
mean? And it was the goddess’s aim and cherished hope that here
Hugh Sent per per onuna saecula. The Greeks called it
—
should be the capital of all nations should the fates
—
‘Ge?. k’s not a word I’d start with. ft’s a silly word, girl. perchance allow that. Yet in truth she discovered that a
(He sits.) race was springing from Trojan blood to overthrow some
day these Tyrian towers a people kings of broad realms
—
Jinmzy is awake. He gets to his feet. and proud in war who would come forth for Lybia’s
Maire sees the Nauw-Book, picks it up, and sits with downfall
it on her knee.
B Lick
Maire When he comes back, this is where he’ll come to.
He told me this is where he was happiest.
Jiunny sits beside Maire.
Jimmy Do you know the Greek word endogantein? It
means to marry within the tribe. And the word exogantein
means to marry outside the tribe. And you don’t cross
those borders casualty both sides get very angry. Now,
—
the problem is this: Is Athene sufficiently mortal or am I
sufficiently godlike for the marriage to be acceptable to her
people and to my people? You think about that.
Hugh Urbs antiqua fuit there was an ancient city
—
which, ‘tis said, Juno loved above all the lands. And it
was the goddess’s aim and cherished hope that here
should be the capital of all nations should the fates
—
perchance allow that. Yet in truth she discovered that a
race was springing from Trojan blood to overthrow some
day these Tyrian towers a people late regent belloque
—
superbunz kings of broad realms and proud in war who
—
would come forth for Lybia’s downfall such was such
— —
was the course such was the course ordained ordained
—
—
by fate . .What the hell’s wrong with me? Sure I know it
.
90 9’
-
:---
:4#t’1r :z ¶
 Land that is black and rich beneath the pressure
APPENDIX of the plough
cui purre: crumbly soil
—
A 1
page zi adsum: I am present
Greek and Latin Used in the Text sobrietate perfecta: with complete sobriety
sobrius: sober
page a Toy ö’ ,prJflcr’ i$mr.ira 0th ;‘tavKWThic ‘A0ivq
aye: hail
(Homer, Odyssey, XIII, 420) page 22 caerimonia nominationis: ceremony of naming
Lit: ‘But the grey-eyed goddess Arhene then flanrijeiv: to dip or immerse
replied to him’ baptisterium: a cold bath, swimming-pool
(iij.a ucq;’oç IfCW( Cl’ ‘II tfnJ (UI i)O/IOI page 23 Gratias tibi ago: I thank you
(Homer, Odyssey, XIII, 423—4) studia: studies
Lit: but he sits at ease in the halls of the Sons
‘..
perambulare: to walk through
of Athens verecundus: shame-faced, modest
page 4 12: upa /111’ 4rn/Ievq pa/JO qn;nepaaaat ‘A0rq page 24 conjugo: I join together
(Homer, Odyssey, XIII, 42.9) acquiesco, acquiescere: to rest, to find comfort in
Lit: ‘As she spoke Athene touched him with her procede: proceed
wand’ page a Silentium!: Silence!
Kl’vwUC1 Ôé VI Sane (Homer, Odyssn’, XIII, 433) diverto, divertere: to turn away
Lit: ‘She dimmed his eyes’ page z6 ä2rqaro; irWin:: unflhlahle cask
page 5 rMluwwmiç A0qvq Jacobe, quid agis?: James, how are you?
Lit: flashing-eyed Athene page 31 Festinate!: Hurry!
page 6 AOvâp 0 EK Aipévo; irpoaâ/Jij page 32 Gaudeo vos hic adesse: Welcome
(Homer, Odyssey, XIV, i) page 33 Nonne Latine loquitur?: Does he not speak
Lit: ‘But he vent forth from the harbour...’ Latin?
page 5 ol flib row patiavu (Homer, Odyssey, XIV, 3—4) page 35 opus honesturn: an honourable task
Lit: he cared very much for his substance
‘. . .
page o Quantumvis cursum longum fessumque moratur
page 8 Esne fatigata?: Are you tired? Sol, sacro tandem carmine vesper adest
Sum latigatissima: I am very tired No marter how long the sun delays on his long
Bene! Optime!: Good! Excellent! weary course
page i Ignari, stulti, rustici!: Ignoramuses, fools, At length evening comes with its sacred song
peasants expeditio: an expedition
Responde responde!: Answer answer!
—
— page 6 Tu es centurio in exercitu Britannico: You are a
page 12 (Tho; a god centurion in the British Army
0th a goddess Ft es in castris quae sunt in agro: And you are in
page 14Nigra fere et presso pinguis sub vomere terra the camp in the field
92 93
 I
page 87 domus lugubris: house of mourning
infelix: unlucky, unhappy
Barbarus hic ego sum quia non intelligor ulli:
I am a barbarian here because I am not
understood by anyone
page 91 edictum imperatoris: the decree of the
commander
page 91 desiderium nostrorurn: longing/need for our
things/people
pietas: piety
Semper per omnia saecula: Always for all
— —
time
page 93 (ZR? always
ñiôo;ajziiv to marry within the tribe
cço;npciv to marry outside the tribe
Urbs antiqua fuit: There was an ancient city
late regem belloque superburn; kings of broad
realms and proud in war
94
 r

‘Translations is a modern classic. It engages the intellect

as well as the heart, and achieves a profound political and
philosophical resonance through the detailed examination
of individual lives, of particular people in a particular
place and time.’ Daily Te1cgrapI

‘This is Brian Friel’s finest play, his most deeply thought

and felt, the most deeply involved with Ireland hut also
the most universaL: haunting and hard, lyrical and
erudite, bitter and forgiving, both praise and lament.’
Sunday Times

The action takes place in late August ‘833 at a hedge-

school in the townland of Baile Beag, an Irish-speaking
community in County Donegal. In a nearby field camps
a recently arrived detachment of the Royal Engineers,
making the first Ordnance Survey. For the purposes of
cartography, the local Gaelic place names have to be
recorded and rendered into English. In examining the
effects of this operation on the lives of a small group,
Brian Friel skilfully reveals the far-reaching personal
and cultural effects of an action which is at first sight
purely administrative

A-I,EvEL SF.T TEXT

itr 4.

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