您下载的文章由稻壳汇（www.dochui.com）收集整理，版权归原作者所有《StoriesofRedHanrahan》作者：叶芝Hanrahan,thatwasneverlonginoneplace,wasbackagainamongthevillagesthatareatthefootofSlieveEchtge,IlletonandScalpandBallylee,stoppingsometimesinonehouseandsometimesinanother,andfindingawelcomeineveryplaceforthesakeoftheoldtimesandofhispoetryandhislearning.Therewassomesilverandsomecoppermoneyinthelittleleatherbagunderhiscoat,butitwasseldomheneededtotakeanythingfromit,foritwaslittleheused,andtherewasnotoneofthepeoplethatwouldhavetakenpaymentfromhim.Hishandhadgrownheavyontheblackthornheleanedon,andhischeekswerehollowandworn,butsofarasfoodwent,potatoesandmilkandabitofoatencake,hehadwhathewantedofit;anditisnotontheedgeofsowildandboggyaplaceasEchtgeamugofspiritswouldbewanting,withthetasteoftheturfsmokeonit.HewouldwanderaboutthebigwoodatKinadife,orhewouldsitthroughmanyhoursofthedayamongtherushesaboutLakeBelshragh,listeningtothestreamsfromthehills,orwatchingtheshadowsinthebrownbogpools;sittingsoquietasnottostartlethedeerthatcamedownfromtheheathertothegrassandthetilledfieldsatthefallofnight....STORIESOFREDHANRAHAN:REDHANRAHANTHETWISTINGOFTHEROPEHANRAHANANDCATHLEENTHEDAUGHTEROFHOOLIHANREDHANRAHANSCURSEHANRAHANSVISIONTHEDEATHOFHANRAHANIowethankstoLadyGregory,whohelpedmetorewriteTheStoriesofRedHanrahaninthebeautifulcountryspeechofKiltartan,andnearertothetraditionofthepeopleamongwhomhe,orsomelikenessofhim,driftedandisremembered.Hanrahan,thehedgeschoolmaster,atall,strong,red?hairedyoungman,cameintothebarnwheresomeofthemenofthevillageweresittingonSamhainEve.Ithadbeenadwelling?house,andwhenthemanthatownedithadbuiltabetterone,hehadputthetworoomstogether,andkeptitforaplacetostoreonethingoranother.Therewasafireontheoldhearth,andthereweredipcandlesstuckinbottles,andtherewasablackquartbottleuponsomeboardsthathadbeenputacrosstwobarrelstomakeatable.Mostofthemenweresittingbesidethefire,andoneofthemwassingingalongwanderingsong,aboutaMunstermanandaConnaughtmanthatwerequarrellingabouttheirtwoprovinces.Hanrahanwenttothemanofthehouseandsaid,Igotyourmessage;butwhenhehadsaidthat,hestopped,foranoldmountainymanthathadashirtandtrousersofunbleachedflannel,andthatwassittingbyhimselfnearthedoor,waslookingathim,andmovinganoldpackofcardsaboutinhishandsandmuttering.Dontmindhim,saidthemanofthehouse;heisonlysomestrangercameinawhileago,andwebadehimwelcome,itbeingSamhainnight,butIthinkheisnotinhisrightwits.Listentohimnowandyouwillhearwhatheissaying.Theylistenedthen,andtheycouldheartheoldmanmutteringtohimselfasheturnedthecards,SpadesandDiamonds,CourageandPower;ClubsandHearts,KnowledgeandPleasure.Thatisthekindoftalkhehasbeengoingonwithforthelasthour,saidthemanofthehouse,andHanrahanturnedhiseyesfromtheoldmanasifhedidnotliketobelookingathim.Igotyourmessage,Hanrahansaidthen;"heisinthebarnwithhisthreefirstcousinsfromKilchriest,"themessengersaid,"andtherearesomeoftheneighbourswiththem."Itismycousinoverthereiswantingtoseeyou,saidthemanofthehouse,andhecalledoverayoungfrieze?coatedman,whowaslisteningtothesong,andsaid,ThisisRedHanrahanyouhavethemessagefor.Itisakindmessage,indeed,saidtheyoungman,foritcomesfromyoursweetheart,MaryLavelle.Howwouldyougetamessagefromher,andwhatdoyouknowofher?Idontknowher,indeed,butIwasinLoughreayesterday,andaneighbourofhersthathadsomedealingswithmewassayingthatshebadehimsendyouword,ifhemetanyonefromthissideinthemarket,thathermotherhasdiedfromher,andifyouhaveamindyettojoinwithherself,sheiswillingtokeepherwordtoyou.Iwillgotoherindeed,saidHanrahan.Andshebadeyoumakenodelay,forifshehasnotamaninthehousebeforethemonthisout,itislikelythelittlebitoflandwillbegiventoanother.WhenHanrahanheardthat,heroseupfromthebenchhehadsatdownon.Iwillmakenodelayindeed,hesaid,thereisafullmoon,andifIgetasfarasGilchreistto?night,Iwillreachtoherbeforethesettingofthesunto?morrow.Whentheothersheardthat,theybegantolaughathimforbeinginsuchhastetogotohissweetheart,andoneaskedhimifhewouldleavehisschoolintheoldlime?kiln,wherehewasgivingthechildrensuchgoodlearning.Buthesaidthechildrenwouldbegladenoughinthemorningtofindtheplaceempty,andnoonetokeepthemattheirtask;andasforhisschoolhecouldsetitupagaininanyplace,havingashehadhislittleinkpothangingfromhisneckbyachain,andhisbigVirgilandhisprimerintheskirtofhiscoat.Someofthemaskedhimtodrinkaglassbeforehewent,andayoungmancaughtholdofhiscoat,andsaidhemustnotleavethemwithoutsingingthesonghehadmadeinpraiseofVenusandofMaryLavelle.Hedrankaglassofwhiskey,buthesaidhewouldnotstopbutwouldsetoutonhisjourney.Therestimeenough,RedHanrahan,saidthemanofthehouse.Itwillbetimeenoughforyoutogiveupsportwhenyouareafteryourmarriage,anditmightbealongtimebeforewewillseeyouagain.Iwillnotstop,saidHanrahan;mymindwouldbeontheroadsallthetime,bringingmetothewomanthatsentforme,andshelonesomeandwatchingtillIcome.Someoftheotherscameabouthim,pressinghimthathadbeensuchapleasantcomrade,sofullofsongsandeverykindoftrickandfun,nottoleavethemtillthenightwouldbeover,butherefusedthemall,andshookthemoff,andwenttothedoor.Butasheputhisfootoverthethreshold,thestrangeoldm