John Bull's Other Island by George Bernard Shaw
page 39 of 165 (23%)
page 39 of 165 (23%)
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THE MAN. Aye, you're a thrue Irish grasshopper. THE GRASSHOPPER [loudly]. X.X.X. THE MAN. Three cheers for ould Ireland, is it? That helps you to face out the misery and the poverty and the torment, doesn't it? THE GRASSHOPPER [plaintively]. X.X. THE MAN. Ah, it's no use, me poor little friend. If you could jump as far as a kangaroo you couldn't jump away from your own heart an its punishment. You can only look at Heaven from here: you can't reach it. There! [pointing with his stick to the sunset] that's the gate o glory, isn't it? THE GRASSHOPPER [assenting]. X.X. THE MAN. Sure it's the wise grasshopper yar to know that! But tell me this, Misther Unworldly Wiseman: why does the sight of Heaven wring your heart an mine as the sight of holy wather wrings the heart o the divil? What wickedness have you done to bring that curse on you? Here! where are you jumpin to? Where's your manners to go skyrocketin like that out o the box in the middle o your confession [he threatens it with his stick]? THE GRASSHOPPER [penitently]. X. THE MAN [lowering the stick]. I accept your apology; but don't do it again. And now tell me one thing before I let you go home to |
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