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In the Shadow of the Glen
by J。 M。 Synge
IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLEN
A PLAY IN ONE ACT
First performed at the Molesworth Hall；
Dublin； October 8th； 1903。
PERSONS
DAN BURKE （farmer and herd） 。 George Roberts
NORA BURKE （his wife） 。 。 。 Maire Nic Shiubhlaigh
MICHEAL DARA （a young herd） 。 P。 J。 Kelly
A TRAMP 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 W。 G。 Fay
IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLEN
A PLAY IN ONE ACT
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 a body 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 of glasses 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。 Nora Burke is moving about the room； settling a few
things； and lighting candles on the table； looking now and
then at the bed with an uneasy look。 Some one knocks softly at
the door。 She takes up a stocking with money from the table and
puts it 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 out in 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
I thought maybe if you'd a sup of new milk and a quiet decent
corner where a man could sleep ｛he looks in past her
and sees the dead man。｝ The Lord have mercy 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
there I am now with a hundred sheep beyond on the hills； and no
turn drawn for the winter。
TRAMP
｛Looking closely at the dead man。｝
It's a queer look is on him for a man that's dead。
NORA
｛Half…humorously。｝
He was always queer； stranger； and I suppose them that'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 he is
not tidied； or laid out itself？
NORA
｛Coming to the bed。｝
I was afeard； stranger； for he put a black curse on me 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 away
she lives in the big glen over the hill。
TRAMP
｛Looking at her and nodding slowly。｝
It's a queer story he wouldn'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
on the hills he was thinking thoughts in the dark mist。 ｛She
pulls back a bit of the sheet。｝ Lay your hand on him now； and
tell me if it's cold he is surely。
TRAMP
Is it getting the curse on me you'ld be； woman of the house？ I
wouldn't lay my hand on him for the Lough Nahanagan and it filled
with gold。
NORA
｛Looking uneasily at the body。｝
Maybe cold would be no sign of death with the like of him； for he
was always cold； every day since I knew him； and every night；
stranger； ｛she covers up his face and comes away from the
bed｝； but I'm thinking it's dead he is surely； for he's
complaining a while back of a pain in his heart； and this
morning； the time he was going off to Brittas for three days or
four； he was taken with a sharp turn。 Then he went into his bed
and he was saying it was destroyed he was； the time the shadow
was going up through the glen； and when the sun set on the bog
beyond he made a great lep； and let a great cry out of him； and
stiffened himself out the like of a dead sheep。
TRAMP
｛Crosses himself。｝
God rest his soul。
NORA
｛Pouring him out a glass of whisky。｝
Maybe that would do you better than the milk of the sweetest cow
in County Wicklow。
TRAMP
The Almighty God reward you； and may it be to your good health。
｛He drinks。｝
NORA
｛Giving him a pipe and tobacco。｝
I've no pipes saving his own； stranger； but they're sweet pipes
to smoke。
TRAMP
Thank you kindly； lady of the house。
NORA
Sit down now； stranger； and be taking your rest。
TRAMP
｛Filling a pipe and looking about the room。｝
I've walked a great way through the world； lady of the house； and
seen great wonders； but I never seen a wake till this day with
fine spirits； and good tobacco； and the best of pipes； and no one
to taste them but a woman only。
NORA
Didn't you hear me say it was only after dying on me he was when
the sun went down； and how would I go out into the glen and tell
the neighbours； and I a lone woman with no house near me？
TRAMP
｛Drinking。｝
There's no offence； lady of the house？
NORA
No offence in life； stranger。 How would the like of you； passing
in the dark night； know the lonesome way I was with no house near
me at all？
TRAMP
｛Sitting down。｝
I knew rightly。 ｛He lights his pipe so that there is a sharp
light beneath his haggard face。｝ And I was thinking； and I
coming in through the door； that it's many a lone woman
would be afeard of the like of me in the dark night； in a place
wouldn't be so lonesome as this place； where there aren't two
living souls would see the little light you have shining from
the glass。
NORA
｛Slowly。｝
I'm thinking many would be afeard； but I never knew what way I'd
be afeard of beggar or bishop or any man of you at all。 ｛She
looks towards the window and lowers her voice。｝ It's other things
than the like of you； stranger； would make a person afeard。
TRAMP
｛Looking round with a half…shudder。｝
It is surely； God help us all！
NORA
｛Looking at him for a moment with curiosity。｝
You're saying that； stranger； as if you were easy afeard。
TRAMP
｛Speaking mournfully。｝
Is it myself； lady of the house； that does be walking round in
the long nights； and crossing the hills when the fog is on them；
the time a little stick would seem as big as your arm； and a
rabbit as big as a bay horse； and a stack of turf as big as a
towering church in the city of Dublin？ If myself was easily
afeard； I'm telling you； it's long ago I'ld have been locked
into the Richmond Asylum； or maybe have run up into the back
hills with nothing on me but an old shirt； and been eaten with
crows the like of Patch Darcy the Lord have mercy on him in
the year that's gone。
NORA
｛With interest。｝
You knew Darcy？
TRAMP
Wasn't I the last one heard his living voice in the whole world？
NORA
There were great stories of what was heard at that time； but
would any one believe the things they do be saying in the glen？
TRAMP
It was no lie； lady of the house。 。 。 。 I was passing below on a
dark night the like of this night； and the sheep were lying under
the ditch and every one of them coughing； and choking； like an
old man； with the great rain and the fog。 Then I heard a thing
talking queer talk； you wouldn't believe at all； and you out
of your dreams； and 〃Merciful God；〃 says I； 〃if I begin
hearing the like of that voice out of the thick mist； I'm
destroyed surely。〃 Then I run； and I run； and I run； till I was
below in Rathvanna。 I got drunk that night； I got drunk in the
morning； and drunk the day after； I was coming from the races
beyond and the third day they found Darcy。 。 。 。 Then I knew
it was himself I was after hearing； and I wasn't afeard any more。
NORA
｛Speaking sorrowfully and slowly。｝
God spare Darcy； he'ld always look in here and he passing up or
passing down； and it's very lonesome I was after him a long while
｛she looks over at the bed and lowers her voice； speaking very
clearly；｝ and then I got happy again if it's ever happy we
are； stranger； for I got used to being lonesome。
｛A short pause； then she stands up。｝
NORA
Was there any one on the last bit of the road； stranger； and you
coming from Aughrim？
TRAMP
There was a young man with a drift of mountain ewes； and he
running after them this way and that。
NORA
｛With a half…smile。｝
Far down； stranger？
TRAMP
A p