The Unicorn from the Stars

By Lady Gregory and W. B. Yeats.

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Persons in the Play

The Unicorn from the Stars

Act I

Interior of a coachbuilder’s workshop. Parts of a gilded coach, among them an ornament representing a lion and unicorn. Thomas working at a wheel. Father John coming from door of inner room.

I put under the power of my prayer

All that will give me help.
Rafael keep him Wednesday,
Sachiel feed him Thursday,
Hamiel provide him Friday,
Cassiel increase him Saturday.

Sure giving to us is giving to the Lord and laying up a store in the treasury of heaven.

Act II

The same workshop. Martin seen arranging mugs and bread, etc., on a table. Father John comes in, knocking at open door as he comes; his mind intensely absorbed.

Singing.

Come, all ye airy bachelors,
A warning take by me,
A sergeant caught me fowling,
And fired his gun so free.

His comrades came to his relief,
And I was soon trepanned,
And bound up like a woodcock
Had fallen into their hands.

The judge said transportation,
The ship was on the strand;
They have yoked me to the traces
For to plough Van Diemen’s Land!

Singing.

Oh, Johnny Gibbons, my five hundred healths to you.
It is long you are away from us over the sea!

All seize Thomas and sing.

When the Lion will lose his strength,
And the braket-thistle begin to pine,
The harp shall sound sweet, sweet at length,
Between the eight and the nine!

Act III

Before dawn. A wild rocky place, Nanny and Biddy Lally squatting by a fire. Rich stuffs, etc., strewn about. Paudeen watching by Martin, who is lying as if dead, a sack over him.

It makes a person be thinking of the four last ends, death and judgment, heaven and hell. Indeed and indeed my heart lies with him. It is well I knew what man he was under his by-name and his disguise.

Sings.

Oh, Johnny Gibbons, it’s you were the prop to us.
You to have left us, we are put astray!

That’s the way, that the way.