He sits on a stone by the strand-edge, and the boys gather round him.

MATTHIAS.

What story shall I tell?

FEICHIN.

`The Adventures of the Grey Horse!'

CUIMIN.

`The Hen-Harrier and the Wren!'

PADRAIC.

`The Two-Headed Giant!'

COILIN.

`The Adventures of the Piper in the Snail's Castle!'

EOGHAN.

Aye, by my soul, `The Adventures of the Piper in the Snail's Castle!'

THE BOYS.

(with one voice)

`The Adventures of the Piper in the Snail's Castle!'

MATTHIAS.

I'll do that. `There was a Snail in it long ago, and it's long since it was. If we'd been there that time, we wouldn't be here now; and if we were, itself, we'd have a new story or an old story, and that's better than to be without e'er a story at all. The Castle this Snail lived in was the finest that man's eye ever saw. It was greater entirely, and it was a thousand times richer than Meave's Castle in Rath Cruachan, or than the Castle of the High- King of Ireland itself in Tara of the Kings. This Snail made love to a Spider---'

COILIN.

No, Matthias, wasn't it to a Granny's Needle he made love?

MATTHIAS.

My soul, but you re right. What's coming on me?

PADRAIC.

Go on, Matthias.

MATTHIAS.

`This Nettle-Worm was very comely entirely---'

FEICHIN.

What's the Nettle-Worm, Matthias?

MATTHIAS.

Why, the Nettle-Worm he made love to.

CUIMIN.

But I thought it was to a Granny's Needle he made love.

MATTHIAS.

Was it? The story's going from me. `This Piper was in love with the daughter of the King of Connacht---'

EOGHAN.

But you didn't mention the Piper yet, Matthias!

MATTHIAS.

Didn't I! `The Piper . . .' yes, by my soul, the Piper--- I'm losing my memory. Look here, neighbours, we won't meddle with the story to-day. Let's have a song.

COILIN.

`Hi diddle dum!'

MATTHIAS.

Are ye satisfied?

THE BOYS.

We are.

MATTHIAS.

I'll do that. [(He sings the following rhyme)]:

Hi diddle dum, the cat and his mother,
That went to Galway riding a drake.

THE BOYS.

And hi diddle dum!

MATTHIAS.

Hi diddle dum, the rain came pelting,
And drenched to the skin the cat and his mother.

THE BOYS.

And hi diddle dum!

MATTHIAS.

Hi diddle dum, 'twas like in the deluge
The cat and his mother would both be drownded.

THE BOYS.

And hi diddle dum!

MATTHIAS.

Hi diddle dum, my jewel the drake was,
That carried his burden---

COILIN.

Swimming---

MATTHIAS.

Good man, Coilin.

That carried his burden swimming to Galway.

THE BOYS.

And hi diddle dum!

Old Matthias shakes his head wearily; he speaks in a sad voice.

MATTHIAS.

My songs are going from me, neighbours. I'm like an old fiddle that's lost all its strings.

CUIMIN.

Haven't you the Báidín always, Matthias?

MATTHIAS.

I have, my soul; I have it as long as I'm living. I won't lose the

Báidíntill I'm stretched in the clay. Shall we have it?

THE BOYS.

Aye.

MATTHIAS.

Are ye ready to go rowing?

THE BOYS.

We are!

They order themselves as they would be rowing. Old Matthias sings these verses.

MATTHIAS.

I will hang a sail, and I will go west.

THE BOYS.

Oró, mo churaichín, O!

MATTHIAS.

And till St. John's Day I will not rest.

THE BOYS.

Oró, mo churaichín, O!
Oró, mo churaichín, O!
'S óró, mo bháidín!

MATTHIAS.

Isn't it fine, my little boat, sailing on the bay.

THE BOYS.

Oró, mo churaichín, O!

MATTHIAS.

The oars pulling---

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 526