Poems. W. B. Yeats

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СКАЧАТЬ MERCHANT

      It's strange that she should think we cast no shadow,

       For there is nothing on the ridge of the world

       That's more substantial than the merchants are

       That buy and sell you.

      MARY

      If you are not demons,

       And seeing what great wealth is spread out there,

       Give food or money to the starving poor.

      FIRST MERCHANT

      If we knew how to find deserving poor

       We'd do our share.

      MARY

      But seek them patiently.

      FIRST MERCHANT

      We know the evils of mere charity.

      MARY

      Those scruples may befit a common time.

       I had thought there was a pushing to and fro,

       At times like this, that overset the scale

       And trampled measure down.

      FIRST MERCHANT

      But if already

       We'd thought of a more prudent way than that?

      SECOND MERCHANT

      If each one brings a bit of merchandise,

       We'll give him such a price he never dreamt of.

      MARY

      Where shall the starving come at merchandise?

      FIRST MERCHANT

      We will ask nothing but what all men have.

      MARY

      Their swine and cattle, fields and implements

       Are sold and gone.

      FIRST MERCHANT

      They have not sold all yet.

       For there's a vaporous thing—that may be nothing,

       But that's the buyer's risk—a second self,

       They call immortal for a story's sake.

      SHEMUS

      They come to buy our souls?

      TEIG

      I'll barter mine.

       Why should we starve for what may be but nothing?

      MARY

      Teig and Shemus——

      SHEMUS

      What can it be but nothing?

       What has God poured out of His bag but famine?

       Satan gives money.

      TEIG

      Yet no thunder stirs.

      FIRST MERCHANT

      There is a heap for each.

      (SHEMUS goes to take money.)

      But no, not yet,

       For there's a work I have to set you to.

      SHEMUS

      So then you're as deceitful as the rest,

       And all that talk of buying what's but a vapour

       Is fancy bread. I might have known as much,

       Because that's how the trick-o'-the-loop man talks.

      FIRST MERCHANT

      That's for the work, each has its separate price;

       But neither price is paid till the work's done.

      TEIG

      The same for me.

      MARY

      Oh, God, why are you still?

      FIRST MERCHANT

      You've but to cry aloud at every cross-road,

       At every house door, that we buy men's souls.

       And give so good a price that all may live

       In mirth and comfort till the famine's done,

       Because we are Christian men.

      SHEMUS

      Come, let's away.

      TEIG

      I shall keep running till I've earned the price.

      SECOND MERCHANT

      (who has risen and gone towards fire)

      Stop; you must have proof behind the words.

       So here's your entertainment on the road.

      (He throws a bag of money on the ground.)

      Live as you please; our Master's generous.

      (TEIG and SHEMUS have stopped. TEIG takes the money. They go out.)

      MARY

      Destroyers of souls, God will destroy you quickly.

       You shall at last dry like dry leaves and hang

       Nailed like dead vermin to the doors of God.

      SECOND MERCHANT

      Curse to your fill, for saints will have their dreams.

      FIRST MERCHANT

      Though we're but vermin that our Master sent

       To overrun the world, he at the end

       Shall pull apart the pale ribs of the moon

       And quench the stars in the ancestral night.

      MARY

      God is all powerful.

      SECOND СКАЧАТЬ