SARA. Ask Pegeen to aid you. Her like does often change.
CHRISTY. I will not then, for there’s torment in the splendour of her like, and she a girl any moon of midnight would take pride to meet, facing southwards on the heaths of Keel. But what did I want crawling forward to scorch my understanding at her flaming brow?
PEGEEN. _to Mahon, vehemently, fearing she will break into tears._—Take him on from this or I’ll set the young lads to destroy him here.
MAHON. _going to him, shaking his stick._—Come on now if you wouldn’t have the company to see you skelped.
PEGEEN. _half laughing, through her tears._—That’s it, now the world will see him pandied, and he an ugly liar was playing off the hero, and the fright of men.
CHRISTY. _to Mahon, very sharply._—Leave me go!
CROWD. That’s it. Now Christy. If them two set fighting, it will lick the world.
MAHON. _making a grab at Christy._—Come here to me.
CHRISTY. _more threateningly._—Leave me go, I’m saying.
MAHON. I will maybe, when your legs is limping, and your back is blue.
CROWD. Keep it up, the two of you. I’ll back the old one. Now the playboy.
CHRISTY. _in low and intense voice._—Shut your yelling, for if you’re after making a mighty man of me this day by the power of a lie, you’re setting me now to think if it’s a poor thing to be lonesome, it’s worse maybe to go mixing with the fools of earth. [_Mahon makes a movement towards him._]
CHRISTY. _almost shouting._—Keep off ... lest I do show a blow unto the lot of you would set the guardian angels winking in the clouds above. [_He swings round with a sudden rapid movement and picks up a loy._]
CROWD. _half frightened, half amused._—He’s going mad! Mind yourselves! Run from the idiot!
CHRISTY. If I am an idiot, I’m after hearing my voice this day saying words would raise the topknot on a poet in a merchant’s town. I’ve won your racing, and your lepping, and....
MAHON. Shut your gullet and come on with me.
CHRISTY. I’m going, but I’ll stretch you first. [_He runs at old Mahon with the loy, chases him out of the door, followed by crowd and Widow Quin. There is a great noise outside, then a yell, and dead silence for a moment. Christy comes in, half dazed, and goes to fire._]
WIDOW QUIN. _coming in, hurriedly, and going to him._—They’re turning again you. Come on, or you’ll be hanged, indeed.