The Plough and the Stars Read Free

political baptismal vows to be faithful in seculo seculorum .
    Fluther    ( forgetting his fear in his indignation ) There’s no reason to bring religion into it. I think we ought to haveas great a regard for religion as we can, so as to keep it out of as many things as possible.
    The Covey    ( pausing in the taking off of his dungarees ) Oh, you’re one o’ the boys that climb into religion as high as a short Mass on Sunday mornin’s? I suppose you’ll be singin’ songs o’ Sion an’ songs o’ Tara at th’ meetin’, too.
    Fluther    We’re all Irishmen, anyhow; aren’t we?
    The Covey    ( with hand outstretched, and in a professional tone ) Look here, comrade, there’s no such thing as an Irishman; or an Englishman, or a German or a Turk; we’re all only human bein’s. Scientifically speakin’, it’s all a question of the accidental gatherin’ together of mollycewels an’ atoms.
    Peter comes in with a collar in his hand. He goes over to mirror, left, and proceeds to try to put it on.
    Fluther    Mollycewels an’ atoms! D’ye think I’m goin’ to listen to you thryin’ to juggle Fluther’s mind with complicated cunundhrums of mollycewels an’ atoms?
    The Covey    ( rather loudly ) There’s nothin’ complicated in it. There’s no fear o’ th’ Church tellin’ you that mollycewels is a stickin’ together of millions of atoms o’ sodium, carbon, potassium o’ iodide, etcetera, that, accordin’ to th’ way they’re mixed, make a flower, a fish, a star that you see shinin’ in th’ sky, or a man with a big brain like me, or a man with a little brain like you!
    Fluther    ( more loudly still ) There’s no necessity to be raisin’ your voice; shoutin’s no manifestin’ forth of a growin’ mind.
    Peter    ( struggling with his collar ) God, give me patience with this thing … She makes these collars as stiff with starch as a shinin’ band o’ solid steel! She does itpurposely to thry an’ twart me. If I can’t get it on th’ singlet, how, in th’ Name o’ God, am I goin’ to get it on th’ shirt?
    The Covey    ( loudly ) There’s no use o’ arguin’ with you; it’s education you want, comrade.
    Fluther    The Covey an’ God made th’ world, I suppose, wha’?
    The Covey    When I hear some men talkin’ I’m inclined to disbelieve that th’ world’s eight-hundhred million years old, for it’s not long since th’ fathers o’ some o’ them crawled out o’ th’ sheltherin’ slime o’ the sea.
    Mrs Gogan    ( from room at back ) There, they’re afther formin’ fours, an’ now they’re goin’ to march away.
    Fluther    ( scornfully ) Mollycewels! ( He begins to untie his apron .) What about Adam an’ Eve?
    The Covey    Well, what about them?
    Fluther    ( fiercely ) What about them, you?
    The Covey    Adam an’ Eve! Is that as far as you’ve got? Are you still thinkin’ there was nobody in th’ world before Adam an’ Eve? ( Loudly ) Did you ever hear, man, of th’ skeleton of th’ man o’ Java?
    Peter    ( casting the collar from him ) Blast it, blast it, blast it!
    Fluther    ( viciously folding his apron ) Ah, you’re not goin’ to be let tap your rubbidge o’ thoughts into th’ mind o’ Fluther.
    The Covey    You’re afraid to listen to th’ thruth!
    Fluther    Who’s afraid?
    The Covey    You are!
    Fluther    G’way, you wurum!
    The Covey    Who’s a wurum?
    Fluther    You are, or you wouldn’t talk th’ way you’re talkin’.
    The Covey    Th’ oul’, ignorant savage leppin’ up in you, when science shows you that th’ head of your god is an empty one. Well, I hope you’re enjoyin’ th’ blessin’ o’ havin’ to live be th’ sweat of your brow.
    Fluther    You’ll be kickin’ an’ yellin’ for th’ priest yet, me boyo. I’m not goin’ to stand silent an’ simple listenin’ to a thick like you makin’ a maddenin’ mockery o’ God Almighty. It ’ud be a nice