Where There is Nothing Part 10

_Paul Ruttledge._ Is it not the doctrine of your Christian Church, of your Catholic Church, that he who fights in an unjust war, knowing it to be unjust, loses his own soul?

_Colonel Lawley._ I should like to know what would happen to the country if there weren't soldiers to protect it.

_Paul Ruttledge._ We are not discussing the country, we are discussing the Christian life. Has this gentleman lived the Christian life?

_All the Tinkers._ He has not!

_Paddy c.o.c.kfight._ His sergeant tried to enlist me, giving me a s.h.i.+lling, and I drunk.

_Tommy the Song._ [_Singing._]

She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree, But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.

_Charlie Ward._ Stop your mouth, Tommy. This is not your show. [_To_ PAUL RUTTLEDGE.] Are you going to put a fine on the Colonel? If so I'd like his cloak.

_Paul Ruttledge._ Now we'll try Mr. Dowler, the rich man. [_Holds up his fingers in a ring._] Mr. Dowler, could you go through this?

_Mr. Algie._ Don't answer him, Dowler; he's going beyond all bounds.

_Paul Ruttledge._ I was a rich man and I could not, and yet I am something smaller than a camel, and this is something larger than a needle's eye.

_Mr. Joyce._ Don't answer this profanity.

_Charlie Ward._ But what about the cloak?

_Paul Ruttledge._ Oh! go and take it.

[CHARLIE WARD _goes and takes cloak off the_ COLONEL.

_Colonel Lawley._ You drunken rascal, I'll see you in the dock for this.

_Mr. Joyce._ You're encouraging robbery now.

_Paul Ruttledge._ Remember the commandment, "Give to him that asketh thee"; and the hard commandment goes even farther, "Him that taketh thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also." [_Holding out his rags._]

Have I not shown you what Mr. Green would call a s.h.i.+ning example.

Charlie, ask them all for their coats.

_Charlie Ward._ I will, and their boots, too.

_All the Tinkers._ [_Uproariously._] Give me your coat; I'll have your boots, etc.

_Mr. Green._ Wait till the police come. I'll turn the tables on you; you may all expect hard labour for this.

_Paul Ruttledge._ [_To the_ Tinkers.] Stand back, the trial is not over.

Mr. Green, these friends of yours have been convicted of breaking the doctrine they boast of. They do not love their enemies; they do not give to every man that asks of them. Some of them, Mr. Dowler, for instance, lay up treasures upon earth; they ask their goods again of those who have taken them away. But you, Mr. Green, are the worst of all. They break the Law of Christ for their own pleasure, but you take pay for breaking it. When their goods are taken away you condemn the taker; when they are smitten on one cheek you punish the smiter. You encourage them in their breaking of the Law of Christ.

_Tommy the Song._ He does, indeed. He gave me two months for snaring rabbits.

_Paddy c.o.c.kfight._ He tried to put a fine on me for a c.o.c.k I had, and he took five s.h.i.+llings off Molly for hitting a man.

_Paul Ruttledge._ Your evidence is not wanted. His own words are enough.

[_Stretching out his arms._] Have any of these gentlemen been living the Christian life?

_All._ They have not.

_Johneen._ [_Coming in._] Ye'd best clear off now. I see the train coming in to the station.

_Paddy c.o.c.kfight._ The police will find plenty to do in the village before they come to us; that's one good job.

_Paul Ruttledge._ One moment. I have done trying the world I have left.

You have accused me of upsetting order by my free drinks, and I have showed you that there is a more dreadful fermentation in the Sermon on the Mount than in my beer-barrels. Christ thought it in the irresponsibility of His omnipotence. [_Getting from his bin._] Charlie, give me that cloak. [_He flings it back._

_Charlie Ward._ Aren't you going to punish them anyway?

_Paul Ruttledge._ No, no, from this out I would punish n.o.body but myself.

[_Some of the_ Tinkers _have gone out_.

_Charlie Ward._ We'd best be off while we can. Come along, Paul, Sibby's gone.

[_As they go out_ TOMMY THE SONG _is singing_,

Down by the sally garden my love and I did stand, And on my leaning shoulder she laid her milk-white hand; She bade me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree, But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.

[_All go out except_ PAUL RUTTLEDGE.

_Paul Ruttledge._ Well, good-bye, Thomas; I don't suppose I'll see you again. Use all I have; spend it on your children; I'll never want it.

[_To the others._] Will you come and join us? We will find rags for you all. Perhaps you will give up that dream that is fading from you, and come among the blind, homeless people; put off the threadbare clothes of the Apostles and run naked for awhile. [_Is going out._

_Thomas Ruttledge._ You have nothing against me, have you, Paul?

_Paul Ruttledge._ Oh, yes, I have; a little that I have said against all these, and a worse thing than all, though it is not in the book.

_Thomas Ruttledge._ What is it?

_Paul Ruttledge._ [_Looking back from the threshold._] You have begotten fools.

CURTAIN.

ACT IV.

Scene 1.--_Great door in the middle of the stage under a stone cross, with flights of steps leading to door. Enter_ CHARLIE WARD, PADDY c.o.c.kFIGHT, TOMMY THE SONG, _and_ SABINA SILVER. _They are supporting_ PAUL RUTTLEDGE, _who is bent and limping._