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Shaw, George Bernard, 1856-1950

"The Shewing-up of Blanco Posnet"


Lynch him straight off, the varmint. Yes, yes. Tell the boys.
Lynch him.
BLANCO [mocking] "Angels ever bright and fair--"
BABSY. You call me an angel, and I'll smack your dirty face for
you.
BLANCO. "Take, oh take me to your care."
EMMA. There wont be any angels where youre going to.
OTHERS. Aha! Devils, more likely. And too good company for a
horse-thief.
ALL. Horse-thief! Horse-thief! Horse-thief!
BLANCO. Do women make the law here, or men? Drive these heifers
out.
THE WOMEN. Oh! [They rush at him, vituperating, screaming
passionately, tearing at him. Lottie puts her fingers in her ears
and runs out. Hannah follows, shaking her head. Blanco is thrown
down]. Oh, did you hear what he called us? You foul-mouthed
brute! You liar! How dare you put such a name to a decent woman?
Let me get at him. You coward! Oh, he struck me: did you see
that? Lynch him! Pete, will you stand by and hear me called names
by a skunk like that? Burn him: burn him! Thats what I'd do with
him. Aye, burn him!
THE MEN [pulling the women away from Blanco, and getting them out
partly by violence and partly by coaxing] Here! come out of this.
Let him alone. Clear the courthouse. Come on now. Out with you.
Now, Sally: out you go. Let go my hair, or I'll twist your arm
out. Ah, would you? Now, then: get along. You know you must go.
Whats the use of scratching like that? Now, ladies, ladies,
ladies. How would you like it if you were going to be hanged?
[At last the women are pushed out, leaving Elder Daniels, the
Sheriff's brother Strapper Kemp, and a few others with Blanco.


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