IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLEN

A PLAY IN ONE ACT

By J. M. Synge

First performed at the Molesworth Hall, Dublin, October 8th, 1903.

PERSONS

SCENE.—The last cottage at the head of a long glen in County Wicklow.

(Cottage kitchen; turf fire on the right; a bed near it against the wall with abody lying on it covered with a sheet. A door is at the other end of the room,with a low table near it, and stools, or wooden chairs. There are a couple ofglasses on the table, and a bottle of whisky, as if for a wake, with two cups,a teapot, and a home-made cake. There is another small door near the bed. NoraBurke is moving about the room, settling a few things, and lighting candles onthe table, looking now and then at the bed with an uneasy look. Some one knockssoftly at the door. She takes up a stocking with money from the table and putsit in her pocket. Then she opens the door.)

TRAMP.
(Outside.) Good evening to you, lady of the house.

NORA.
Good evening, kindly stranger, it’s a wild night, God help you, to be outin the rain falling.

TRAMP.
It is, surely, and I walking to Brittas from the Aughrim fair.

NORA.
Is it walking on your feet, stranger?

TRAMP.
On my two feet, lady of the house, and when I saw the light below Ithought maybe if you’d a sup of new milk and a quiet decent corner wherea man could sleep (he looks in past her and sees the dead man.) The Lord havemercy on us all!

NORA.
It doesn’t matter anyway, stranger, come in out of the rain.

TRAMP.
(Coming in slowly and going towards the bed.) Is it departed he is?

NORA.
It is, stranger. He’s after dying on me, God forgive him, and thereI am now with a hundred sheep beyond on the hills, and no turf drawn for thewinter.

TRAMP.
(Looking closely at the dead man.) It’s a queer look is on him fora man that’s dead.

NORA.
(Half-humorously.) He was always queer, stranger, and I suppose themthat’s queer and they living men will be queer bodies after.

TRAMP.
Isn’t it a great wonder you’re letting him lie there, and heis not tidied, or laid out itself?

NORA.
(Coming to the bed.) I was afeard, stranger, for he put a black curse onme this morning if I’ld touch his body the time he’ld die sudden,or let any one touch it except his sister only, and it’s ten miles awayshe lives in the big glen over the hill.

TRAMP.
(Looking at her and nodding slowly.) It’s a queer story hewouldn’t let his own wife touch him, and he dying quiet in his bed.

NORA.
He was an old man, and an odd man, stranger, and it’s always up onthe hills he was thinking thoughts in the dark mist. (She pulls back a bit ofthe sheet.) Lay your hand on him now, and tell me if it’s cold he issurely.

TRAMP.
Is it getting the curse on me you’ld be, woman of the house? Iwouldn’t lay my hand on him for the Lough Nahanagan and it filled withgold.

NORA.
(Looking uneasily at the body.) Maybe cold would be no sign of death withthe like of him, for he was always cold, every day since I knew him,—andevery night, stranger,—(s