Bridget Monologue from The Land of Heart's Desire

From The Land of Heart's Desire by W. B. (William Butler) Yeats

female · defiant · 1:21 min

Because I bid her clean the pots for supper She took that old book down out of the thatch; She has been doubled over it ever since. We should be deafened by her groans and moans Had she to work as some do, Father Hart; Get up at dawn like me and mend and scour; Or ride abroad in the boisterous night like you, The pyx and blessed bread under your arm. (SHAWN: Mother, you are too cross.) You've married her, And fear to vex her and so take her part. MAURTEEN (to FATHER HART) It is but right that youth should side with youth She quarrels with my wife a bit at times, And is too deep just now in the old book But do not blame her greatly; she will grow As quiet as a puff-ball in a tree When but the moons of marriage dawn and die For half a score of times. (FATHER HART: Their hearts are wild, As be the hearts of birds, till children come.) She would not mind the kettle, milk the cow, Or even lay the knives and spread the cloth.

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