Part 5 (2/2)

ELIZA: O G.o.d!

JIM: Come, la.s.s, I say!

JUDITH: No woman, no! I spoke the truth.

Haven't I shamed myself enough already-- That you must call me liar! (_To ELIZA_) Speak out now, If you're not tongue-tied: tell her all you ken-- How I'm a byword among honest women, And yet, no liar. You'd tongue enough just now To tell me what I was--a cruel tongue Cracking about my ears: and have you none To answer your son's wife, and save the lad From scandal?

ELIZA: I've not known the la.s.s to lie ...

And she's the true heart, Phbe, true as death, Whatever it may seem.

JIM: That's that: and so ...

(_While they have been talking, EZRA has risen from the settle, unnoticed; and has hobbled to where PHBE and JUDITH confront one another. He suddenly touches PHBE's arm._)

EZRA: Cackling like guinea-fowl when a hawk's in air!

I must have snoozed; yet, I caught the gabble. There'll be A clatter all day now, with two women's tongues, Clack-clack against each other, in the house-- Two pendulums in one clock. Lucky I'm deaf.

But, I remember. Give me back the bairn.

Nay: this is not the wench. I want Jim's bride-- The mother of his daughter. Judith, la.s.s, Where are you? Come, I want to nurse my grandchild-- Jim's little la.s.s.

ELIZA (_stepping towards EZRA_): Come, hold your foolish tongue.

You don't know what you're saying. Come, sit down.

(_Leads him back to the settle._)

JIM: If he don't stop his yammer, I'll slit his weasen-- I'll wring his neck for him!

EZRA: What's wrong? What's wrong?

I'm an old man, now; and must do as I'm bid like a bairn-- I, who was master, and did all the bidding.

And you, Jim, I'd have broken your back like a rabbit's, At one time, if you'd talked to me like that.

But now I'm old and sightless; and any t.i.t May chivvy a blind kestrel. Ay, I'm old And weak--so waffly in arms and shanks, that now I couldn't even hold down a hog to be clipped: So, boys can threaten me, and go unskelped: So you can bray; and I must hold my peace: Yet, mark my words, the hemp's ripe for the rope That'll throttle you one day, you gallows-bird.

But, something's happening that a blind man's sense Cannot take hold of; so, I'd best be quiet-- Ay, just sit still all day, and nod and nod, Until I nod myself into my coffin: That's all that's left me.

JUDITH (_to PHBE_): You'd weigh an old man's gossip Against my word? O woman, pay no heed To idle tongues, if you'd keep happiness.

PHBE: While the tongue lies, the eyes speak out the truth.

JUDITH: The eyes? Then you'll not take my word for it, But let a dotard's clatterjaw destroy you?

You ken my worth: yet, if you care for Jim, You'll trust his oath. If he denies the bairn, Then, you'll believe? You'd surely never doubt Your husband's word, and on your wedding-day?

Small wonder you'd be duberous of mine.

But Jim's not my sort; he's an honest lad; And he'll speak truly. If he denies the bairn ...

PHBE: I've not been used to doubting people's word.

My father's daughter couldn't but be trustful Of what men said; for he was truth itself.

If only he'd lived, I mightn't ...

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