FOURTH MAN
The small farmer.  That’s the man that goes under.

FIFTH MAN
(knocking at the table) Murtagh Cosgar!  Murtagh Cosgar!

CORNELIUS
I tell you, men, that Murtagh Cosgar is in agreement with myself. 
Twenty years, I say, first term, no more.  Let my father speak.

MARTIN DOURAS
There’s a great deal to be said on both sides, men.

FIRST MAN
Here’s Murtagh now.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Twenty years first term, that’s what I agreed to.

SECOND MAN
And if they don’t rise to that, Murtagh?

MURTAGH COSGAR Let them wait.  We can wait.  I won’t be going with you, men.  I had a few words with the agent about the turbary this morning, and maybe you’re better without me.

FIRST MAN
All right, Murtagh.  We can wait.

FOURTH MAN
We know our own power now.

FIFTH MAN
Come on, men.

MURTAGH COSGAR
If they don’t rise to it, bide a while.  We can make a new offer.

SECOND MAN
We want to be settled by the Fall.

THIRD MAN
The Councillor is right.  We must be settled by the Fall.

SIXTH MAN
A man who’s a farmer only has little sense for a business like this.

SECOND MAN
We’ll make the offer, Murtagh Cosgar, and bide a while.  But we must
be settled this side of the Fall.  We’ll offer twenty years first term.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Do, and God speed you.

CORNELIUS (to the men going out)
I told you Murtagh Cosgar and myself are on the one offer.  And
Murtagh is right again when he says that you can bide your time.  But
make sure of the mineral rights, men; make sure of the mineral rights.

  The men go out; Cornelius follows them.

MURTAGH COSGAR (with irony) Musha, but that’s a well-discoursed lad.  It must be great to hear the two of you at it.

MARTIN DOURAS
God be good to Cornelius.  There’s little of the world’s harm in the
boy.

MURTAGH COSGAR
He and my Sally would make a great match of it.  She’s a bright one,
too.

MARTIN DOURAS
Murtagh Cosgar, have you no feeling for your own flesh and blood?

MURTAGH COSGAR
Too much feeling, maybe. (He stands at the door in silence.  With
sudden enthusiasm) Ah, but that’s the sight to fill one’s heart. 
Lands ploughed and spread.  And all our own; all our own.

MARTIN DOURAS
All our own, ay.  But we made a hard fight for them.

MURTAGH COSGAR
Ay.

MARTIN DOURAS
Them that come after us will never see them as we’re seeing them now.

MURTAGH COSGAR (turning round) Them that come after us.  Isn’t that a great thought, Martin Douras? and isn’t it a great thing that we’re able to pass this land on to them, and it redeemed for ever?  Ay, and their manhood spared the shame that our manhood knew.  Standing in the rain with our hats off to let a landlord—­ay, or a landlord’s dog-boy—­pass the way!