Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - The Irish Drama - William Butler Yeats - Where There Is Nothing
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
Where There Is Nothing 253
Paul Ruttledge longs for the freedom of the road,
to sleep under the open sky, to count the stars,
to be free. He throws off all artificial restraint
and is received with open arms by the tinkers.
To identify himself more closely with their life, he
marries a tinker s daughter not according to
the rites of State or Church, but in true tinker
fashion in freedom bound only by the prom
ise to be faithful and
"
not hurt each other."
In honor of the occasion, Paul tenders to his
comrades and the people of the neighborhood a
grand feast, full of the spirit of life s joy, an out
pouring of gladness that lasts a whole week.
Paul s brother, his friends, and the authorities
are incensed over the carousal. They demand
that he terminate the
"
drunken orgy."
Mr. Joyce. This is a disgraceful business, Paul; the
whole countryside is demoralized. There is not a man
who has come to sensible years who is not drunk.
Mr. Dowler. This is a flagrant violation of all pro
priety. Society is shaken to its roots. My own serv
ants have been led astray by the free drinks that are being
given in the village. My butler, who has been with me
for seven years, has not been seen for the last two days.
Mr. Algie. I endorse his sentiments completely.
There has not been a stroke of work done for the last
week. The hay is lying in ridges where it has been cut,
there is not a man to be found to water the cattle. It is
impossible to get as much as a horse shod in the vil
lage.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
