The Land of Heart's Desire

Produced by Marjorie Fulton
1912
First Edition ………………………. 1894 Second Edition (in Poems by W. B. Yeats) 1895 Third Edition ,, ,, 1899 Fourth Edition ,, ,, 1901 Fifth Edition ,, ,, 1904 Sixth Edition ,, ,, 1908 Seventh Edition (revised) ……………. 1912
(All rights reserved.)
To FLORENCE FARR
O Rose, thou art sick. WILLIAM BLAKE
The Scene is laid in the Barony of Kilmacowen, in the County of Sligo, and at a remote time.
MAURTEEN BRUIN, SHAWN BRUIN, and BRIDGET BRUIN sit in the alcove at the table or about the fire. They are dressed in the costume of some remote time, and near them sits an old priest, FATHER HART. He may be dressed as a friar. There is food and drink upon the table. MARY BRUIN stands by the door reading a book. If she looks up she can see through the door into the wood.
BRIDGET. Because I bid her clean the pots for supper She took that old book down out of the thatch; She has been doubled over it ever since. We should be deafened by her groans and moans Had she to work as some do, Father Hart; Get up at dawn like me and mend and scour; Or ride abroad in the boisterous night like you, The pyx and blessed bread under your arm.
SHAWN. Mother, you are too cross.
BRIDGET. You've married her, And fear to vex her and so take her part.
MAURTEEN (to FATHER HART) It is but right that youth should side with youth She quarrels with my wife a bit at times, And is too deep just now in the old book But do not blame her greatly; she will grow As quiet as a puff-ball in a tree When but the moons of marriage dawn and die For half a score of times.