Shemus Monologue from The Countess Cathleen

From The Countess Cathleen by W. B. (William Butler) Yeats

male · anguished · 47 sec

I'm in no mood to listen to your clatter. Although I tramped the woods for half a day, I've taken nothing, for the very rats, Badgers, and hedgehogs seem to have died of drought, And there was scarce a wind in the parched leaves. (TEIG: Then you have brought no dinner.) After that I sat among the beggars at the cross-roads, And held a hollow hand among the others. (MARY: What, did you beg?) I had no chance to beg, For when the beggars saw me they cried out They would not have another share their alms, And hunted me away with sticks and stones.

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