OLD FARMER.  My soul to the devil, Seagan, do the thing decently.  Give out one of those fleeces you have in the cart with you.

MISER.  I never saw the like of you for fools since I was born.  Is it mad you are?

ALL.  From the man of cows, a half-ounce of snuff!

MISER.  Oh, maisead, if there must be a present put down, take the fleece, and my share of misfortune on you! (Three or four of the boys run out.)

OLD FARMER.  Aurah, Seagan, what is your opinion of Raftery now?  He has you destroyed worse than the bush! (The boys come back, a fleece with them.)

BOY.  Here is the fleece, and it’s very heavy it is. (They put it down, and there falls a little bag out of it that bursts and scatters the money here and there on the floor.)

MISER.  Ub-ub-bu!  That is my share of money scattered on me that I got for my calves. (He stoops down to gather it together.  All the people burst out laughing again.)

OLD FARMER. Maisead, Seagan, where did you get the money?  You told us you didn’t sell your share of calves.

BLIND MAN.

    He that got good gold
    For calves he never sold
    Must put good money down
    With a laugh, without a frown;
    Or I’ll destroy that man
    With a bone-breaking rann. 
    I’ll rhyme him by the book
    To a blue-watery look.

MISER.  Oh, Raftery, don’t do that.  I tasted enough of your ranns just now, and I don’t want another taste of them.  There’s threepence for you. (He puts three pennies in the plate.)

BLIND MAN.

    I’ll put a new name upon
    This strong farmer, of Thrippeny John. 
    He’ll be called, without a doubt,
    Thrippeny John from this time out. 
    Put your sovereign on my plate,
    Or that and worse will be your fate.

MISER.  O, in the name of God, Raftery, stop your mouth and let me go!  Here is the sovereign for you; and indeed it’s not with my blessing I give it.

(BLIND MAN plays on the fiddle.  They all stand up and dance but SEAGAN NA STUCIARE, who shakes his fist in BLIND MAN’S face, and goes out.

When they have danced for a minute or two, BLIND MAN stops fiddling and stands up.)

BLIND MAN.  I was near forgetting:  I am the only person here gave nothing to the woman of the house. (Hands the plate of money to MARY.) Take that and my seven hundred blessings along with it, and that you may be as well as I wish you to the end of life and time.  Count the money now, and see what the neighbours did for you.

MARY.  That is too much indeed.

MARTIN.  You have too much done for us already.

BLIND MAN.  Count it, count it; while I go over and try can I hear what sort of blessings Seagan na Stucaire is leaving after him.

(Neighbours all crowd round counting the money. BLIND MAN goes to the door, looks back with a sigh, and goes quietly out.)