The Rising of the Moon, Lady Gregory

• SERGEANT [reading it]. Dark hair--dark eyes, smooth face, height five feet five--there's not much to take hold of in that--It's a pity I had no chance of seeing him before he broke out of the gaol. They say he's a wonder, that it's he makes all the plans for the whole organization. There isn't another man in Ireland would have broken gaol the way he did. He must have some friends among the gaolers.
• POLICEMAN X. And if we get him itself, nothing but abuse on our heads for it from the people, and maybe from our own relations.
• MAN. Oh, very well. It's a hard thing to be poor. All the world's against the poor!
• SERGEANT. Don't be a fool. I didn't tell you to go that way; I told you to go back to the town.
• MAN. And I know well the man you're waiting for--I know him well--I'll be going. [He shuffles on.]
• MAN. I saw him in my own place, in the County Clare. I tell you you wouldn't like to be looking at him. You'd be afraid to be in the one place with him. There isn't a weapon he doesn't know the use of, and as to strength, his muscles are as hard as that board. [Slaps barrel.]
• MAN. Give me a match, sergeant [he gives it and MAN lights pipe]; take a draw yourself? It'll quiet you. Wait now till I give you a light, but you needn't turn round. Don't take your eyes off the quay for the life of you.
• MAN. And maybe the man you are watching for to-night used to be sitting on the wall, when he was young, and singing those same songs... It's a queer world...
• SERGEANT. That's a queer thought now, and a true thought. Wait now till I think it out...If it wasn't for the sense I have, and for my wife and family, and for me joining the force the time I did, it might be myself now would be after breaking gaol and hiding in the dark, and it might be him that's hiding in the dark and got out of gaol would be sitting up here where I am on this barrel...
• SERGEANT. I thought it might be a boat. I had a notion there might be friends of his coming about the quays with a boat.
• MAN. Maybe, sergeant, it comes into your head sometimes, in spite of your belt and your tunic, that it might have been as well for you to have followed Granuaile.
• MAN. You needn't ask who I am; that placard will tell you. [Points to placard.]
• MAN. You won't betray me ... the friend of Granuiale. [Slips behind barrel.]
• POLICEMAN B. Did anyone come this way?
  SERGEANT [after a pause]. No one.
• SERGEANT. What are you waiting for?
  MAN. For my hat, of course, and my wig. You wouldn't wish me to get my death of cold?
• MAN [going towards step]. Well, good-night, comrade, and thank you. You did me a good turn to-night, and I'm obliged to you. Maybe I'll be able to do as much for you when the small rise up and the big fall down ... when we all change places at the rising [waves his hand and disappears] of the Moon.
• SERGEANT [turning has back to audience and reading placard]. A hundred pounds reward! A hundred pounds! [turns toward audience.] I wonder, now, am I as great a fool as I think I am?