Page:Plays in Prose and Verse (1922).djvu/96

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80
THE KING'S THRESHOLD

Weighty as these considerations are,
That they have been as weighty in our minds
As our desire that one we take much pride in,
A man that’s been an honour to our town,
Should live and prosper; therefore we beseech you
To give way in a matter of no moment,
A matter of mere sentiment—a trifle—
That we may always keep our pride in you.

[He finishes this speech with a pompous air, motions to brian to bring the food to seanchan, and sits on seat.

brian. Master, Master, eat this! It’s not king’s food,
That’s cooked for everybody and nobody.
Here’s barley-bread out of your father’s oven,
And dulse from Duras. Here is the dulse, your honour;
It’s wholesome, and has the good taste of the sea.

[Takes dulse in one hand and bread in other and presses them into seanchan's hands. seanchan shows by his movement his different feeling to brian

first cripple. He has taken it, and there'll be nothing left!

second cripple. Nothing at all, he wanted his own sort.
What’s honey to a cat, corn to a dog,
Or a green apple to a ghost in a churchyard?