s: Which I will maintain with the sword of the tongue


s: Here stand I; the end shall be as God pleases.


s: I think I have proved, by profound researches,


s: The error of all those doctrines so vicious


s: That are making such terrible work in the churches,


s: By Michael the Stammerer sent from the East,


s: And done into Latin by that Scottish beast,


s: Johannes Duns Scotus, who dares to maintain,


s: In the face of the truth, the error infernal,


s: That the universe is and must be eternal;


s: At first laying down, as a fact fundamental,


s: That nothing with God can be accidental;


s: Then asserting that God before the creation


s: Could not have existed, because it is plain


s: That, had He existed, He would have created;


s: Which is begging the question that should be debated,


s: And moveth me less to anger than laughter.


s: Of the Spirit of God, who, in breathing, hereafter


s: So that nothing but God alone will remain.


s: For he opens the whole discussion by stating,


s: That question I think I have laid on the shelf!


s: He goes out.  Two Doctors come in disputing, and followed by


s: That a word which is only conceived in the brain


s: You make but a paltry show of resistance;


s: Your words are but idle and empty chatter;


s: May the Lord have mercy on your position,


s: You wretched, wrangling culler of herbs!


s: May he send your soul to eternal perdition,


s: For your Treatise on the Irregular verbs!


s: They rush out fighting.  Two Scholars come in.


s: So much, at least, I am bound to acknowledge:


s: The air seems healthy, the buildings stately,


s: Yes, the air is sweet; the Calabrian hills


s: With its coolness cloister, and court, and square.


s: There are crowds of guests and travellers here;


s: Pilgrims, and mendicant friars, and traders


s: And bands of wounded and sick Crusaders,


s: The first three years of the college course


s: Of all that is noble, and wise, and true.


s: That seems rather strange, I must confess,


s: For without it how could you hope to show


s: And when at length we have finished these


s: And ancient forms of the good old School;


s: And once in the night, if they live in town,


s: His head is crowned with a laurel crown;


s: A kiss on his cheek, a ring on his hand,


s: Goes forth from the school like a lord of the land.


s: And now, as we have the whole morning before us,


s: And listen awhile to a learned prelection


s: Of brains that seethe, and hearts that burn,


s: The air of the place is called salubrious;


s: And the building's have an aspect lugubrious,


s: That inspires a feeling of awe and terror


s: And befits such an ancient homestead of error,


s: Where the old falsehoods moulder and smoulder,


s: And sown like tares in the field of truth,


s: Let us see what the learned wag maintains


s: "Whether angels in moving from place to place


s: Whether God himself is the author of evil,


s: Or whether that is the work of the Devil.


s: When, where, and wherefore Lucifer fell,


s: I think I can answer that question well!


s: Consents in such mills as this to grind,


s: That old Peter Lombard thrashed with his brain,


s: But my guests approach! there is in the air


s: A fragrance, like that of the Beautiful Garden


s: And of love, and faith that never fails,


s: The youngest, fairest soul of the twain,


s: Will escape from my hands for ever and ever.


s: Breathing among them, with every breath,


s: Enter PRINCE HENRY and ELSIE, with attendants.


s: The maiden that I spake of in my letters.


s: Without compulsion, of her own free will,


s: Against all prayers, entreaties, protestations,


s: To argue, but to die.  Your business is not


s: To question, but to kill me.  I am ready,


s: Would I had not come here!  Would I were dead,


s: And thou wert in thy cottage in the forest,


s: And hadst not known me!  Why have I done this?


s: Not if these cold, flat stones on which we tread


s: Were coulters heated white, and yonder gateway


s: Flamed like a furnace with a sevenfold heat.


s: To put thus far thy courage to the proof.


s: It is enough.  I, too, have strength to die,


s: Your promises.  Let me fulfil my errand.


s: You do not look on life and death as I do.


s: There are two angels, that attend unseen


s: Each one of us, and in great books record


s: Our good and evil deeds.  He who writes down


s: The good ones, after every action closes


s: The other keeps his dreadful day-book open


s: Till sunset, that we may repent; which doing,


s: And leaves a line of white across the page.


s: Sealed up in heaven, as a good deed accomplished.


s: The rest is yours.  Why wait you?  I am ready.


s: Weep not, my friends! rather rejoice with me.


s: I shall not feel the pain, but shall be gone,


s: And you will have another friend in heaven.


s: Then start not at the creaking of the door


s: Through which I pass.  I see what lies beyond it.


s: Unto my father's house, and all within it.


s: This morning in the church I prayed for them,


s: When my whole soul was white, I prayed for them.


s: God will take care of them, they need me not.


s: And in your life let my remembrance linger,


s: As something not to trouble and disturb it,


s: But to complete it, adding life to life.


s: And if at times beside the evening fire,


s: That haunts your house, but as a guest that loves you.


s: Without whose presence there were something wanting.


s: Friar Angelo!  I charge you on your life,


s: Believe not what she says, for she is mad,


s: And comes here not to die, but to be healed.


s: ELSIE goes in with LUCIFER, who thrusts PRINCE HENRY back and


s: Gone! and the light of all my life gone with her!


s: That purchase length of days at such a cost!


s: Not by her death alone, but by the death


s: Of all that's good and true and noble in me


s: All manhood, excellence, and self-respect,


s: All love, and faith, and hope, and heart are dead!


s: Why did you let this horrible deed be done?


s: Why did you not lay hold on her, and keep her


s: From self destruction?  Angelo! murderer!


s: Struggles at the door, but cannot open it.


s: URSULA spinning.  A summer afternoon.  A table spread.


s: I have marked it well,--it must be true,--


s: In the land of strangers, should be lonely!


s: Were it not for the children, I should pray


s: That Death would take me within the year!


s: But I know that his thoughts are far away,


s: I know that his heart is not in his work!


s: God help us!  I hope we have done right;


s: As strong and well as if God, the Giver,


s: Don't cross the bridge till you come to it,


s: And it is not well that you of the court


s: Of a joyless mother whose child is dead,


s: Your daughter lives, and the Prince is well!


s: You will learn erelong how it all befell.


s: By the touch of St. Matthew's sacred bones;


s: Though I think the long ride in the open air,


s: In the miracle must come in for a share.


s: Receive my prayer of praise and thanksgiving!


s: Let the hands that bore our Saviour bear it


s: If you thought so 't was no fault of mine;


s: They are sailing homeward down the Rhine,


s: That flowed and floated like the stream,


s: And the Prince looked so grand and proud,


s: The prayers, that, without sound or word,


s: There goes the good woman out of her head;


s: One would say his grief did not much oppress him.


s: Here's to the health of the Prince, God bless him!


s: And what a scene there, through the door!


s: The forest behind and the garden before,


s: With a wife and children that caress him.


s: Let me try still further to cheer and adorn it


s: With a merry, echoing blast of my cornet!


s: PRINCE HENRY and ELSIE standing on the terrace at evening.


s: The sound of tells heard from a distance.


s: Ride down the hill, with plumes and cloaks,


s: What bells are those, that ring so slow,


s: They cast the ring, drawn from her hand:


s: And, undisturbed by this world's breath,


s: THE ANGEL OF GOOD DEEDS, with closed book.


s: Are like the yielding, but irresistible air!


s: THE ANGEL OF EVIL DEEDS, with open book.


s: Along the whitening surface of the paper;


s: Baffled and thwarted by the wind's resistance.


s: O'er burning ploughshares, and have trod


s: With flash of river, and gloom of trees,


s: With castles crowning the dizzy heights,


s: Of the mouths of Hell, that followed me fast,


s: That hunted me like a beast to his lair.


s: From crags of the distant mountain chain,--


s: With his nets and traps and well-trained dogs,


s: That sorely infest and afflict the earth!


s: The fowler hath caught you in his snare,


s: JOHN NORTON            Minister of the Gospel.


s: SAMUEL COLE            Landlord of the Three Mariners.


s: The Scene is in Boston in the year 1665.


s: To-night we strive to read, as we may best,


s: And bring to light, upon the blotted page,


s: That, pale and half effaced, lies hidden away


s: Rise, then, O buried city that hast been;


s: Rise up, rebuilded in the painted scene,


s: And let our curious eyes behold once more


s: The pointed gable and the pent-house door,


s: The Meeting-house with leaden-latticed panes,


s: The narrow thoroughfares, the crooked lanes!


s: Rise, too, ye shapes and shadows of the Past,


s: Rise from your long-forgotten graves at last;


s: The words ye uttered in those days of fear


s: The scenes of triumph, and the scenes of pain


s: And leave the footprints of your bleeding feet


s: Once more upon the pavement of the street!


s: Nor let the Historian blame the Poet here,


s: If he perchance misdate the day or year,


s: For as the double stars, though sundered far,


s: So facts of history, at a distance seen,


s: "Why touch upon such themes?" perhaps some friend


s: May ask, incredulous; "and to what good end?


s: I answer: "For the lessons that they teach:


s: Hope, Faith, and Charity remain,--these three;


s: Let us remember, if these words be true,


s: Give what we ask; and pity, while we blame,


s: Lest we condemn, and yet ourselves partake,


s: And persecute the dead for conscience' sake.


s: Therefore it is the author seeks and strives


s: To represent the dead as in their lives,


s: Their thoughts in their own language, strong and bold;


s: To hear hint first, and, if you will, then strike.


s: SCENE I. -- Sunday afternoon.  The interior of the Meeting-house.


s: On the pulpit, an hour-glass; below, a box for contributions.


s: JOHN NORTON in the pulpit.  GOVERNOR ENDICOTT in a canopied seat,


s: NORTON (rising and turning the hourglass on the pulpit).


s: I heard a great voice from the temple saying


s: Upon the earth.  And the First Angel went


s: And poured his vial on the earth; and straight


s: There fell a noisome and a grievous sore


s: On them which had the birth-mark of the Beast,


s: And them which worshipped and adored his image.


s: On us hath fallen this grievous pestilence.


s: The stars fall; and beneath us the earth quakes!


s: The sound of drums at midnight from afar,


s: The sound of horsemen riding to and fro,


s: Were opened, and the dead came forth to warn us,--


s: All these are omens of some dire disaster


s: Moreover, in the language of the Prophet,


s: Death is again come up into our windows,


s: To cut off little children from without,


s: And young men from the streets.  And in the midst


s: Of all these supernatural threats and warnings


s: A vision of Sin more awful and appalling


s: Than any phantasm, ghost, or apparition,


s: As arguing and portending some enlargement


s: EDITH, barefooted, and clad in sackcloth, with her hair hanging


s: loose upon her shoulders, walks slowly up the aisle, followed by


s: WHARTON and other Quakers.  The congregation starts up in


s: The shepherds of Israel who do feed themselves,


s: And leave their flocks to eat what they have trodden


s: St. Paul commands all women to keep silence


s: And, among those on whom the fiery tongues


s: Of Pentecost descended, some were women!


s: Alone have power to open the doors of speech


s: And silence in the Assembly.  I command you!


s: The law of God is greater than your laws!


s: Ye build your church with blood, your town with crime;


s: The heads thereof give judgment for reward;


s: The priests thereof teach only for their hire;


s: Your laws condemn the innocent to death;


s: Which, as your Calvin says, surpasseth reason.


s: Yet our great Master did not teach for hire,


s: Went forth to do his work.  Behold this box


s: Beneath thy pulpit.  Is it for the poor?


s: Thou canst not answer.  It is for the Priest


s: Away with all these Heretics and Quakers!


s: Quakers, forsooth!  Because a quaking fell


s: Must ye needs shake and quake?  Because Isaiah


s: Went stripped and barefoot, must ye wail and howl?


s: Must ye go stripped and naked? must ye make


s: A wailing like the dragons, and a mourning


s: That Satan is God's ape!  Away with them!


s: Tumult.  The Quakers are driven out with violence, EDITH


s: following slowly.  The congregation retires in confusion.


s: Disposed and predetermined to its action


s: He descends from the pulpit, and joins GOVERNOR ENDICOTT, who


s: Famine, and fire, and shipwreck, and disease,


s: The blast of corn, the death of our young men,


s: Our sufferings in all precious, pleasant things,


s: Signs of God's controversy with New England.


s: These servants and ambassadors of Satan,


s: Of God's vindictive and deserved displeasure.


s: We must receive them as the Roman Bishop


s: The scourge of God, sent to chastise his people.


s: The Red Cross from the colors of the king


s: And heresies turbulent must be suppressed


s: That if thy son, thy daughter, or thy wife,


s: Ay, or the friend which is as thine own soul,


s: Let us serve other gods, then shalt thine eye


s: Not pity him, but thou shalt surely kill him,


s: And thine own hand shall be the first upon him


s: But they come back again to meet their doom,


s: Bringing the linen for their winding-sheets.


s: We must not go too far.  In truth, I shrink


s: From shedding of more blood.  The people murmur


s: Truth is relentless; justice never wavers;


s: The greatest firmness is the greatest mercy;


s: Is by these Heretics despised and outraged.


s: To-night they sleep in prison.  If they die,


s: They cannot say that we have caused their death.


s: We do but guard the passage, with the sword


s: Pointed towards them; if they dash upon it,


s: Their blood will be on their own heads, not ours.


s: He was not born to wrestle with these fiends.


s: The lantern of St. Botolph's ceased to burn


s: When from the portals of that church he came


s: Ride on a snow-white horse into this town.


s: SCENE II. -- A street. On one side, NICHOLAS UPSALL's house; on


s: the other, WALTER MERRY's, with a flock of pigeons on the roof.


s: UPSALL seated in the porch of his house.


s: O day of rest!  How beautiful, how fair,


s: Day of the Lord! and truce to earthly cares!


s: Day of the Lord, as all our days should be!


s: Shut out the blessed sunshine and the light,


s: WALTER MERRY (entering and looking round him).


s: All silent as a graveyard!  No one stirring;


s: No footfall in the street, no sound of voices!


s: By righteous punishment and perseverance,


s: At last I have brought this contumacious town


s: To strict observance of the Sabbath day.


s: Those wanton gospellers, the pigeons yonder,


s: I cannot put them down.  As if to taunt me,


s: Billing and cooing.  Whir! take that, ye Quakers.


s: Throws a stone at the pigeons.  Sees UPSALL.


s: You have to-day withdrawn yourself from meeting.


s: Yea, I have chosen rather to worship God


s: Worship the Devil!  You this day have broken


s: Three of our strictest laws.  First, by abstaining


s: From public worship.  Secondly, by walking


s: I have been sitting still here, seeing the pigeons


s: Feed in the street and fly about the roofs.


s: You have been in the street with other intent


s: Than going to and from the Meeting-house.


s: And, thirdly, you are harboring Quakers here.


s: Angels in broad-brimmed hats and russet cloaks,


s: The color of the Devil's nutting-bag.  They came


s: More in the shape of devils than of angels.


s: The women screamed and fainted; and the boys


s: 'T is prosecution, as the Governor says,


s: We do not hang enough.  But, mark my words,


s: We'll scour them; yea, I warrant ye, we'll scour them!


s: And now go in and entertain your angels,


s: And don't be seen here in the street again


s: Till after sundown!  There they are again!


s: Exit UPSALL.  MERRY throws another stone at the pigeons, and then


s: SCENE III. -- A room in UPSALL'S house.  Night.  EDITH, WHARTON,


s: and other Quakers seated at a table.  UPSALL seated near them,


s: William and Marmaduke, our martyred brothers,


s: Sleep in untimely graves, if aught untimely


s: Can find place in the providence of God,


s: Where nothing comes too early or too late.


s: I saw their noble death.  They to the scaffold


s: Walked hand in hand.  Two hundred armed men


s: And many horsemen guarded them, for fear


s: Of rescue by the crowd, whose hearts were stirred.


s: Their voices by the roll of drums were drowned.


s: When they were dead they still looked fresh and fair,


s: The terror of death was not upon their faces.


s: Our sister Mary, likewise, the meek woman,


s: Has passed through martyrdom to her reward;


s: Exclaiming, as they led her to her death,


s: "These many days I've been in Paradise."


s: And, when she died, Priest Wilson threw the hangman


s: His handkerchief, to cover the pale face


s: Yet not forsaken; as unknown, yet known;


s: And Leddra, too, is dead.  But from his prison,


s: The day before his death, he sent these words


s: Unto the little flock of Christ: "What ever


s: May come upon the followers of the Light,--


s: Distress, affliction, famine, nakedness,


s: I am persuaded that God's armor of Light,


s: As it is loved and lived in, will preserve you.


s: Yea, death itself; through which you will find entrance


s: Where you shall feed forever as the herds


s: That roam at large in the low valleys of Achor.


s: Each creek and branch thereof, and then retires,


s: Leaving behind a sweet and wholesome savor;


s: Whom He hath made partakers of His nature;


s: And, when it but withdraws itself a little,


s: Leaves a sweet savor after it, that many


s: Can say they are made clean by every word


s: That He hath spoken to them in their silence."


s: EDITH (rising and breaking into a kind of chant).


s: Near the partition-wall of Life and Death,


s: Let us, then, labor for an inward stillness,--


s: An inward stillness and an inward healing;


s: That perfect silence where the lips and heart


s: Our own imperfect thoughts and vain opinions,


s: In singleness of heart, that we may know


s: His will, and in the silence of our spirits,


s: That we may do His will, and do that only!


s: A long pause, interrupted by the sound of a drum approaching;


s: then shouts in the street, and a loud knocking at the door.


s: It is not barred.  Come in.  Nothing prevents you.


s: The poor man's door is ever on the latch.


s: He needs no bolt nor bar to shut out thieves;


s: Enter JOHN ENDICOTT, the MARSHAL, MERRY, and a crowd.  Seeing the


s: Away with them to prison.  Master Upsall,


s: These ranters and disturbers of the peace.


s: Why dost thou persecute me, Saul of Tarsus?


s: SCENE I. -- JOHN ENDICOTT's room.  Early morning.


s: "Why dost thou persecute me, Saul of Tarsus?"


s: All night these words were ringing in mine ears!


s: A sorrowful sweet face; a look that pierced me


s: With meek reproach; a voice of resignation


s: That had a life of suffering in its tone;


s: And that was all!  And yet I could not sleep,


s: Or, when I slept, I dreamed that awful dream!


s: I stood beneath the elm-tree on the Common,


s: On which the Quakers have been hanged, and heard


s: A voice, not hers, that cried amid the darkness,


s: Sickens and sinks within me when I think


s: Before his setting.  As the earth rolls round,


s: Upon whose whirling spokes we are bound fast,


s: And must go with it!  Ah, how bright the sun


s: Strikes on the sea and on the masts of vessels,


s: It makes me long to sail for lands unknown,


s: No matter whither!  Under me, in shadow,


s: Gloomy and narrow, lies the little town,


s: Still sleeping, but to wake and toil awhile,


s: Then sleep again.  How dismal looks the prison,


s: How grim and sombre in the sunless street,--


s: The prison where she sleeps, or wakes and waits


s: For what I dare not think of,--death, perhaps!


s: A word that has been said may be unsaid:


s: It cannot be undone, nor can our thoughts


s: Reach out to all the mischiefs that may follow.


s: 'T is time for morning prayers.  I will go down.


s: My father, though severe, is kind and just;


s: And when his heart is tender with devotion,--


s: When from his lips have fallen the words, "Forgive us


s: For these poor people, and perhaps may save them.


s: SCENE II. -- Dock Square.  On one side, the tavern of the Three


s: Mariners.  In the background, a quaint building with gables; and,


s: seated at a table before the door.  SAMUEL COLE standing near


s: Come, drink about!  Remember Parson Melham,


s: And bless the man who first invented flip!


s: Pray, Master Kempthorn, where were you last night?


s: On board the Swallow, Simon Kempthorn, master,


s: These you brought in your vessel from Barbadoes.


s: They made an uproar in the Meeting-house


s: Yesterday, and they're now in prison for it.


s: I owe you little thanks for bringing them


s: I tell you, Goodman Cole, that Quaker girl


s: Is precious as a sea-bream's eye.  I tell you


s: Her little foot upon the Swallow's deck,


s: Bringing good luck, fair winds, and pleasant weather.


s: A cow-right on the Common; and, besides,


s: Why should you not have Quakers at your tavern


s: If you want fiddling you must go elsewhere,


s: But the Three Mariners is an orderly house,


s: Lord Leigh said he could be as quiet here


s: King Charles's Twelve Good Rules, all framed and glazed,


s: To good King Charles.  Will you not drink the King?


s: Then drink confusion to old Parson Palmer.


s: And who is Parson Palmer?  I don't know him.


s: He had his cellar underneath his pulpit,


s: And so preached o'er his liquor, just as you do.


s: His great buff doublet bellying like a mainsail,


s: And all his streamers fluttering in the wind.


s: Enter the MARSHAL, with a proclamation; and MERRY, with a


s: halberd.  They are preceded by a drummer, and followed by the


s: hangman, with an armful of books, and a crowd of people, among


s: whom are UPSALL and JOHN ENDICOTT.  A pile is made of the books.


s: Silence, the drum!  Good citizens, attend


s: Has lately risen, commonly called Quakers,


s: Who take upon themselves to be commissioned


s: To write and utter blasphemous opinions,


s: Despising Government and the order of God


s: In Church and Commonwealth, and speaking evil


s: The Magistrates and Ministers, and seeking


s: To turn the people from their faith, and thus


s: Gain proselytes to their pernicious ways;--


s: And to prevent like mischief as is wrought


s: By their means in our land, doth hereby order,


s: Of any ship, bark, pink, or catch shall bring


s: To any roadstead, harbor, creek, or cove


s: Or other blasphemous Heretics, shall pay


s: One hundred pounds, and for default thereof


s: Till the said sum be satisfied and paid."


s: Now, Simon Kempthorn, what say you to that?


s: I pray you, Cole, lend me a hundred pounds!


s: Shall henceforth entertain, or shall conceal


s: Knowing them so to be, every such person


s: Shall forfeit to the country forty shillings


s: For each hour's entertainment or concealment,


s: And shall be sent to prison, as aforesaid,


s: Now, Goodman Cole, I think your turn has come!


s: The hour, your fine will be some forty pounds!


s: Knowing them so to be!  That is the law.


s: To come henceforth into this Jurisdiction,


s: Shall have one ear cut off; and shall be kept


s: At labor in the Workhouse, till such time


s: Shall have his other ear cut off, and then


s: Be branded in the palm of his right hand.


s: Severely in three towns; and every Quaker,


s: Or he or she, that shall for a third time


s: Herein again offend, shall have their tongues


s: Bored through with a hot iron, and shall be


s: Sentenced to Banishment on pain of Death."


s: Loud murmurs.  The voice of CHRISTISON in the crowd.


s: O patience of the Lord!  How long, how long,


s: Ere thou avenge the blood of Thine Elect?


s: Silence, there, silence!  Do not break the peace!


s: To equals and superiors, and withdrawing


s: From Church Assemblies, and thereby approving


s: Of godly men shall be forthwith commit ted


s: Unto close prison for one month; and then


s: Sentenced to Banishment on pain of Death.


s: Now, hangman, do your duty.  Burn those books.


s: Loud murmurs in the crowd.  The pile of books is lighted.


s: Forerunners are they of some judgment on us;


s: Unto this town and people, I beseech you,


s: O Magistrates, take heed, lest ye be found


s: For speaking words such as some younger man,


s: I, or another, should have said before you.


s: Such laws as these are cruel and oppressive;


s: A blot on this fair town, and a disgrace


s: I never thought that any good would come


s: Of this young popinjay, with his long hair


s: And his great boots, fit only for the Russians


s: Or barbarous Indians, as his father says!


s: Men call it the Lost Town!  The blood of Abel


s: Cries from the ground, and at the final judgment


s: The Lord will say, "Cain, Cain! Where is thy brother?"


s: And to consume the truth of God, I tell you


s: That every flame is a loud tongue of fire


s: There's a brave fellow!  There's a man of pluck!


s: Though a whole town's against him.  Rain, rain, rain,


s: Bones of St. Botolph, and put out this fire!


s: The drum beats. Exeunt all but MERRY, KEMPTHORN, and COLE.


s: And now that matter's ended, Goodman Cole,


s: Fetch me a mug of ale, your strongest ale.


s: Not a drop more, I say.  You've had enough.


s: I like it; and I'll drink your merry health


s: Hung round about your neck for drunkenness.


s: You're a free-drinker,--yes, and a free-thinker!


s: My name is Walter Merry, and not Andrew.


s: Andrew or Walter, you're a merry fellow;


s: The other day one Shorthose had his tongue


s: Put into a cleft stick for profane swearing.


s: Well, where's my flip?  As sure as my name's Kempthorn--


s: Listen to me.  "Hereby you are required,


s: In the King's name, to apprehend the body


s: Safely to bring before me, there to answer


s: Death's head and cross-bones.  That's a pirate's flag!


s: There's mischief brewing!  Sure, there's mischief brewing.


s: I feel like Master Josselyn when he found


s: The hornet's nest, and thought it some strange fruit,


s: Until the seeds came out, and then he dropped it.


s: Scene III. -- A room in the Governor's house, Enter GOVERNOR


s: With my own eyes, heard him with my own ears.


s: With Nicholas Upsall, when the laws were read


s: To-day against the Quakers, and I heard him


s: Ungrateful son!  O God! thou layest upon me


s: Are thus deceived and fall away from grace!


s: You've done your duty, though you've done it roughly,


s: And every word you've uttered since you came


s: And brought up in the reverence of the Lord!


s: The child of all my hopes and my affections!


s: For my old age!  It is God's chastisement


s: With the delusions and deceits of Satan.


s: At once, forever, must they be crushed out,


s: Thank God for that.  He has delivered you


s: From a great care.  Enough; my private griefs


s: Too long have kept me from the public service.


s: Exit MERRY, ENDICOTT seats himself at the table and arranges his


s: I come to intercede for these poor people


s: Who are in prison, and await their trial.


s: It is of them I wished to speak with you.


s: I have been angry with you, but 't is passed.


s: For when I hear your footsteps come or go,


s: See in your features your dead mother's face,


s: And in your voice detect some tone of hers,


s: The days that are no more, and come no more,


s: And prattled of your playthings, and the games


s: You played among the pear trees in the orchard!


s: Than the vindictive wrath which men call justice!


s: 'T is like the falling of the snow, whose crystals


s: The traveller plays with, thoughtless of his danger,


s: That it is dark; and blindly staggering onward,


s: Lost and bewildered, he sits down to rest;


s: There falls a pleasant drowsiness upon him,


s: And what he thinks is sleep, alas! is death.


s: And yet who is there that has never doubted?


s: And doubting and believing, has not said,


s: "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief"?


s: In the same way we trifle with our doubts,


s: Whose shining shapes are like the stars descending;


s: Blinded by that which seemed to give us light,


s: We sink to sleep, and find that it is death,


s: Perhaps all men are Heretics.  Who dares


s: To say that he alone has found the truth?


s: As those who go before us.  Had you done so,


s: The doom of Heretics, and the fate of those


s: Who aid and comfort them?  Have you forgotten


s: You trampled on the laws?  What right have you,


s: Thus stirring up sedition in the streets,


s: Were not before them.  'T is these laws themselves


s: Stir up sedition, not my judgment of them.


s: Take heed, lest I be called, as Brutus was,


s: When you are tired of feeding upon husks,


s: Oh happy, happy they who have no children!


s: He's gone!  I hear the hall door shut behind him.


s: It sends a dismal echo through my heart,


s: And I should look upon his face no more!


s: Oh, this will drag me down into my grave,--


s: Till the heavens be no more, he shall not wake,


s: Nor be roused from his sleep; for Thou dost change


s: SCENE I. -- The Court of Assistants, ENDICOTT, BELLINGHAM,


s: ATHERTON, and other magistrates.  KEMPTHORN, MERRY, and


s: constables.  Afterwards WHARTON, EDITH, and CHRISTISON.


s: Some persons of that sort and sect of people


s: Known by the name of Quakers, and maintaining


s: Their heresies and errors; bringing with them


s: And spreading sundry books here, which contain


s: Their doctrines most corrupt and blasphemous,


s: And contrary to the truth professed among us.


s: Among the passengers on board the Swallow


s: Were certain persons saying Thee and Thou.


s: They seemed a harmless people, mostways silent,


s: Particularly when they said their prayers.


s: You'd better have brought the fever or the plague


s: Among us in your ship!  Therefore, this Court,


s: For preservation of the Peace and Truth,


s: Hereby commands you speedily to transport,


s: The aforesaid persons hence unto Barbadoes,


s: From whence they came; you paying all the charges


s: No ship e'er prospered that has carried Quakers


s: Against their will!  I knew a vessel once--


s: In bonds amounting to one hundred pounds.


s: I cannot do it.  The law, sir, of Barbadoes


s: Forbids the landing Quakers on the island.


s: Then you will be committed.  Who comes next?


s: There is another charge against the Captain.


s: He cursed and swore from Dock Square to the Court-house,


s: Then let him stand in the pillory for one hour.


s: Let him be fined ten shillings for contempt.


s: You've disobeyed and broken that commandment


s: Which sayeth "Honor thy father and thy mother."


s: John Endicott, thou art become too proud;


s: And honoreth thee by bowing of the body,


s: And sayeth "Worshipful sir!"  'T is time for thee


s: To give such follies over, for thou mayest


s: Now, sirrah, leave your canting.  Take the oath.


s: And uproar yesterday in the Meeting-house,


s: For peacefully I stood, like other people.


s: I spake no words; moved against none my hand;


s: But by the hair they haled me out, and dashed


s: On pain of death, depart this Jurisdiction


s: Within ten days.  Such is your sentence.  Go.


s: John Endicott, it had been well for thee


s: If this day's doings thou hadst left undone


s: But, banish me as far as thou hast power,


s: We have no time to listen to your babble.


s: Who's next?                [Exit WHARTON.


s: Your father hath given us trouble many times.


s: At naught the authority of our Church and State,


s: 'Tis not the business of the Lord you're doing;


s: It is the Devil's.  Will you take the oath?


s: To swear on; and it saith, "Swear not at all,


s: Neither by heaven, because it is God's Throne,


s: Nor by the earth, because it is his footstool!"


s: The everlasting oath of God.  I dare not.


s: Is the Lords Day.  It runs through all our lives,


s: An horrible disturbance, and affrighting


s: The people in the Meeting-house on Sunday.


s: That I was present in your Steeple-house


s: On the First Day; but I made no disturbance.


s: His word was in my heart, a burning fire


s: On the First Day, when, seated in my chamber,


s: I heard the bells toll, calling you together,


s: The sound struck at my life, as once at his,


s: The holy man, our Founder, when he heard


s: The far-off bells toll in the Vale of Beavor.


s: The folk together, that the Priest might set


s: His wares to sale.  And the Lord said within me,


s: "Thou must go cry aloud against that Idol,


s: And all the worshippers thereof."  I went


s: Barefooted, clad in sackcloth, and I stood


s: And listened at the threshold; and I heard


s: The praying and the singing and the preaching,


s: Which were but outward forms, and without power.


s: Was filled with admonitions and reproofs.


s: Denounced the covetous hirelings and diviners,


s: I entered in, and spake the words the Lord


s: Commanded me to speak.  I could no less.


s: For out of your own mouth are you condemned!


s: The sentence of the Court is, that you be


s: Scourged in three towns, with forty stripes save one,


s: Than had you blown a feather into the the air,


s: Take heed it hurt thee not!  God's will he done!


s: WENLOCK CHRISTISON (unseen in the crowd).


s: Woe to the city of blood!  The stone shall cry


s: Out of the wall; the beam from out the timber


s: Shall answer it!  Woe unto him that buildeth


s: A town with blood, and stablisheth a city


s: Banished on pain of death, why come you here?


s: I come to warn you that you shed no more


s: The blood of innocent men!  It cries aloud


s: Maintaining the excellence of ancient years


s: And the honor of his gray head, I stand before you;


s: Lest, through desire to live a little longer,


s: As ye shall know hereafter, when all men


s: Give an account of deeds done in the body!


s: God's righteous judgments ye cannot escape.


s: Those who have gone before you said the same,


s: And yet no judgment of the Lord hath fallen


s: And ye have run your race.  Then will his wrath


s: For thy part, Humphrey Atherton, it hangs


s: And in the hour when least thou thinkest of it!


s: Appeal unto the laws of mine own nation!


s: There's no appeal to England from this Court!


s: What! do you think our statutes are but paper?


s: Are but dead leaves that rustle in the wind?


s: What say ye, Judges of the Court,--what say ye?


s: Shall this man suffer death?  Speak your opinions.


s: And that erelong; and I must then appear


s: Before the awful judgment-seat of Christ,


s: To give account of deeds done in the body.


s: That I have given my vote against this man.


s: If, Thomas Danforth, thou hast nothing more


s: Than blood of innocent people, then thy glory


s: Will be turned into shame!  The Lord hath said it!


s: Who have been banished upon pain of death


s: Are now in their own houses here among us.


s: Ye that will not consent, make record of it.


s: To give my judgment.  Wenlock Christison,


s: You must be taken back from hence to prison,


s: Thence to the place of public execution,


s: There to be hanged till you be dead--dead,--dead.


s: If ye have power to take my life from me,--


s: Which I do question,--God hath power to raise


s: And send them here among you.  There shall be


s: Listen, ye Magistrates, for the Lord hath said it!


s: That day the Day of your own Visitation,


s: The Day of Wrath shall pass above your heads,


s: Cheer up, dear heart! they have not power to harm us.


s: SCENE II. -- A street.  Enter JOHN ENDICOTT and UPSALL.


s: Scourged in three towns! and yet the busy people


s: Go up and down the streets on their affairs


s: Of business or of pleasure, as if nothing


s: Had happened to disturb them or their thoughts!


s: When bloody tragedies like this are acted,


s: The pulses of a nation should stand still


s: The town should be in mourning, and the people


s: Speak only in low whispers to each other.


s: A cold outside there burns a secret fire


s: That will find vent and will not be put out,


s: Till every remnant of these barbarous laws


s: Shall be to ashes burned, and blown away.


s: Scourged in three towns!  It is incredible


s: Such things can be!  I feel the blood within me


s: Fast mounting in rebellion, since in vain


s: Have I implored compassion of my father!


s: None ever loved him more than I have loved him.


s: In all things save the treatment of the Quakers.


s: Even as a father.  He has driven me forth


s: Into the street; has shut his door upon me,


s: With words of bitterness.  I am as homeless


s: You shall be welcome for your father's sake,


s: And the old friendship that has been between us.


s: He will relent erelong.  A father's anger


s: Is like a sword without a handle, piercing


s: Both ways alike, and wounding him that wields it


s: SCENE III. -- The prison.  Night.  EDITH reading the Bible by a


s: "Blessed are ye when men shall persecute you,


s: And shall revile you, and shall say against you


s: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great


s: Is your reward in heaven.  For so the prophets,


s: Which were before you, have been persecuted."


s: Into this dark guest-chamber in the night?


s: All who have injured me.  What hast thou done?


s: I have betrayed thee, thinking that in this


s: I did God service.  Now, in deep contrition,


s: I am safe here within these gloomy walls.


s: From scourging in the streets, and in three towns!


s: Remembering who was scourged for me, I shrink not


s: Nor shudder at the forty stripes save one.


s: Ambassador is speaking through those lips


s: And looking through those eyes!  I cannot answer!


s: If all these prison doors stood opened wide


s: I would not cross the threshold,--not one step.


s: There are invisible bars I cannot break;


s: There are invisible doors that shut me in,


s: And keep me ever steadfast to my purpose.


s: Thou hast the patience and the faith of Saints!


s: Thy Priest hath been with me this day to save me,


s: Not only from the death that comes to all,


s: My heart revolts against him and his creed!


s: Each bears away a portion of the garment,


s: Blindly believing that he has the whole!


s: When Death, the Healer, shall have touched our eyes


s: With moist clay of the grave, then shall we see


s: The truth as we have never yet beheld it.


s: Hurt of the second death.  Has he forgotten


s: The many mansions in our father's house?


s: The hands that now bear stamped upon their palms


s: Shall be uplifted against such accusers,


s: And then the imprinted letter and its meaning


s: Remember, thou condemnest thine own father!


s: And wanders through the streets.  Oh, come with me!


s: I felt a tenderness in my soul towards thee.


s: My mind has since been inward to the Lord,


s: Waiting his word.  It has not yet been spoken.


s: I cannot wait.  Trust me.  Oh, come with me!


s: In the next room, my father, an old man,


s: Sitteth imprisoned and condemned to death,


s: Willing to prove his faith by martyrdom;


s: And thinkest thou his daughter would do less?


s: Oh, life is sweet, and death is terrible!


s: I have too long walked hand in hand with death


s: Alas! good-night.  I will not say good-by!


s: Put this temptation underneath thy feet.


s: The white stone with the new name written on it,


s: That no man knows save him that doth receive it,


s: And I will give thee a new name, and call thee


s: SCENE I. -- King Street, in front of the town-house.  KEMPTHORN


s: in the pillory.  MERRY and a crowd of lookers-on.


s: The joiner said who made the Shrewsbury stocks.


s: He said, Confound the stocks, because they put him


s: Into his own.  He was the first man in them.


s: He charged the town too much; and so the town,


s: To make things square, set him in his own stocks,


s: And fined him five pounds sterling,--just enough


s: But, Master Merry, is it not eight bells?


s: Of being perched aloft here in this cro' nest


s: Like the first mate of a whaler, or a Middy


s: Mast-headed, looking out for land!  Sail ho!


s: With the lee clews eased off and running free


s: Before the wind.  A solid man of Boston.


s: And the first salmon, and the first green peas.


s: He's gone without a word.  Here comes another,


s: A different kind of craft on a taut bow-line,--


s: Looking as rubicund and round and splendid


s: As the great bottle in his own shop window!


s: And here's my host of the Three Mariners,


s: He's not a man to pass me without speaking.


s: Don't yaw so; keep your luff, old hypocrite!


s: You, with your seat in the new Meeting-house,


s: Your cow-right on the Common!  But who's this?


s: And yet this is my old friend, Captain Goldsmith,


s: Ask that starbowline with the boat-hook there,


s: They put sea-captains in the stocks for swearing,


s: And Quakers for not swearing.  So look out.


s: I pray you set him free; he meant no harm;


s: Well, as your time is out, you may come down,


s: Like Elder Oliver's horse upon the Common.


s: Now, hearties, bear a hand!  Let go and haul.


s: KEMPTHORN is set free, and comes forward, shaking GOLDSMITH'S


s: Give me your hand, Ralph.  Ah, how good it feels!


s: Now let us make a straight wake for the tavern


s: Of the Three Mariners, Samuel Cole commander;


s: Where we can take our ease, and see the shipping,


s: His letters and despatches.  Come with me.


s: Then wait for me at the Three Nuns and Comb.


s: I thank you.  That's too near to the town pump.


s: And wait outside there, sailing off and on;


s: Shall I go with you and point out the way?


s: Oh no, I thank you.  I am not a stranger


s: Ralph, I am under bonds for a hundred pound.


s: I brought here from Barbadoes in the Swallow.


s: For one of them is banished, and another


s: Is sentenced to be hanged!  What shall I do?


s: Just slip your hawser on some cloudy night;


s: Sheer off, and pay it with the topsail, Simon!


s: SCENE II. -- Street in front of the prison.  In the background a


s: gateway and several flights of steps leading up terraces to the


s: Governor's house.  A pump on one side of the street.  JOHN


s: ENDICOTT, MERRY, UPSALL, and others.  A drum beats.


s: A woman scourged and dragged about our streets!


s: Their share of shame.  She will be whipped in each!


s: Three towns, and Forty Stripes save one; that makes


s: See where she comes, amid a gaping crowd!


s: There's blood upon her clothes, her hands, her feet!


s: Enter MARSHAL and a drummer.  EDITH, stripped to the waist,


s: followed by the hangman with a scourge, and a noisy crowd.


s: Here let me rest one moment.  I am tired.


s: Alas! that I should live to see this day!


s: And come here to New England to see this?


s: I am athirst.  Will no one give me water?


s: JOHN ENDICOTT (making his way through the crowd with water).


s: This water tastes.  I thank thee.  Is it thou?


s: Never will I desert thee, nor deny thee.


s: O blood-red seal of man's vindictive wrath!


s: I have betrayed in thee my Lord and Master.


s: WENLOCK CHRISTISON appears above, at the window of the prison,


s: stretching out his hands through the bars.


s: Be of good courage, O my child! my child!


s: Blessed art thou when men shall persecute thee!


s: Fear not their faces, saith the Lord, fear not,


s: Who is it crying from the prison yonder.


s: Him who was scourged, and mocked, and crucified!


s: Be steadfast, oh, be steadfast to the end!


s: I cannot reach thee with these arms, O father!


s: But closely in my soul do I embrace thee


s: And hold thee.  In thy dungeon and thy death


s: I will be with thee, and will comfort thee.


s: Come, put an end to this.  Let the drum beat.


s: The drum beats.  Exeunt all but JOHN ENDICOTT, UPSALL, and MERRY.


s: Dear child, farewell!  Never shall I behold


s: Thy face again with these bleared eyes of flesh;


s: And never wast thou fairer, lovelier, dearer


s: Than now, when scourged and bleeding, and insulted


s: For the truth's sake.  O pitiless, pitiless town!


s: The wrath of God hangs over thee; and the day


s: Is near at hand when thou shalt be abandoned


s: To desolation and the breeding of nettles.


s: The bittern and the cormorant shall lodge


s: Upon thine upper lintels, and their voice


s: Sing in thy windows.  Yea, thus saith the Lord!


s: Awake! awake! ye sleepers, ere too late,


s: And wipe these bloody statutes from your books!


s: Of every honest man must speak or break!


s: Enter GOVERNOR ENDICOTT with his halberdiers.


s: What is this stir and tumult in the street?


s: And her old father howling from the prison.


s: O thou that slayest the Maccabees!  The Lord


s: Shall smite thee with incurable disease,


s: The presence and the waft of death go forth


s: Against thee, and already thou dost look


s: There is some special providence takes care


s: That none shall be too happy in this world!


s: SCENE III. -- The Governor's private room.  Papers upon the


s: There is a ship from England has come in,


s: Bringing despatches and much news from home,


s: There passed a mighty tempest o'er the city,


s: Portentous with great thunderings and lightnings.


s: There was an earthquake, that foreboded evil.


s: Ten of the Regicides have been put to death!


s: The bodies of Cromwell, Ireton, and Bradshaw


s: Have been dragged from their graves, and publicly


s: Its arm is long enough to reach us here,


s: As you will see.  For, more insulting still


s: Than flaunting in our faces dead men's shrouds,


s: Here is the King's Mandamus, taking from us,


s: From this day forth, all power to punish Quakers.


s: That takes from us all power; we are but puppets,


s: "Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well;"


s: Then with a ruthless hand he strips from me


s: All that which makes me what I am; as if


s: From some old general in the field, grown gray


s: Just at the hour of victory, he should strip


s: His badge of office and his well-gained honors,


s: And thrust him back into the ranks again.


s: Opens the Mandamus and hands it to BELLINGHAM; and, while he is


s: reading, ENDICOTT walks up and down the room.


s: Here, read it for yourself; you see his words


s: Are pleasant words--considerate--not reproachful--


s: Nothing could be more gentle--or more royal;


s: But then the meaning underneath the words,


s: Mark that.  He says all people known as Quakers


s: Forthwith to England, to be dealt with there


s: Unto the English law and their demerits.


s: It means we shall no longer rule the Province;


s: The peace and welfare of the Commonwealth.


s: Can make appeal to England, and so thwart


s: Our power is gone forever.  We are nothing


s: But ciphers, valueless save when we follow


s: Such seems to be the meaning of this paper,


s: But being the King's Mandamus, signed and sealed,


s: I tell you, Richard Bellingham,--I tell you,


s: That this is the beginning of a struggle


s: I shall not live to fight the battle for you,


s: This order takes from me my self-respect


s: And the respect of others.  'T is my doom,


s: Yes, my death-warrant, but must be obeyed!


s: So far as this, that all be set at large;


s: But see that none of them be sent to England


s: To bear false witness, and to spread reports


s: There's a dull pain keeps knocking at my heart,


s: Dolefully saying, "Set thy house in order,


s: For thou shalt surely die, and shalt not live!


s: SCENE IV. -- The street.  A crowd, reading a placard on the door


s: of the Meeting-house.  NICHOLAS UPSALL among them.  Enter John


s: An old man like ourselves, and weak in body,


s: Has been so cruelly tortured in his prison,


s: The people are excited, and they threaten


s: And heels tied close together, and so left


s: From five in the morning until nine at night.


s: In prison without food, and cruelly beaten,


s: So that his limbs were cold, his senses stopped.


s: This William Brand of yours has tried to beat


s: And, if he has been beaten in like manner,


s: How could an old man work, when he was starving?


s: To appease the people and prevent a tumult,


s: Have put up these placards throughout the town,


s: Declaring that the jailer shall be dealt with


s: Down with this weak and cowardly concession,


s: This flag of truce with Satan and with Sin!


s: Under my feet!  It is his cunning craft,


s: To cry and plead for boundless toleration.


s: There is no room in Christ's triumphant army


s: Than that ye have received, God's malediction


s: Now, go thy ways, John Norton, go thy ways,


s: Thou Orthodox Evangelist, as men call thee!


s: But even now there cometh out of England,


s: Like an o'ertaking and accusing conscience,


s: An outraged man, to call thee to account


s: SCENE V. -- The Wilderness.  Enter EDITH.


s: The wilderness doth blossom like the rose,


s: An inward awfulness.  I recall the words


s: Of the Apostle Paul: "In journeyings often,


s: In weariness, in painfulness, in watchings,


s: In hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness;"


s: My watchings, and my hunger and my thirst.


s: The Lord hath said that He will seek his flock


s: In cloudy and dark days, and they shall dwell


s: Safe in the woods!  Whichever way I turn,


s: I come back with my face towards the town.


s: O cruel town!  I know what waits me there,


s: I hear the inward calling of the Spirit,


s: And must obey the voice.  O woods that wear


s: Your golden crown of martyrdom, blood-stained,


s: From you I learn a lesson of submission,


s: It is in vain!  I call, she answers not;


s: Blood! blood!  The leaves above me and around me


s: Are red with blood!  The pathways of the forest,


s: And even the little river in the meadows


s: Are stained with it!  Where'er I look, I see it!


s: Away, thou horrible vision!  Leave me! leave me!


s: Alas! you winding stream, that gropes its way


s: Through mist and shadow, doubling on itself,


s: At length will find, by the unerring law


s: Of nature, what it seeks.  O soul of man,


s: Groping through mist and shadow, and recoiling


s: Back on thyself, are, too, thy devious ways


s: Subject to law? and when thou seemest to wander


s: The farthest from thy goal, art thou still drawing


s: Thou findest, like the river, what thou seekest?


s: SCENE I. -- Daybreak.  Street in front of UPSALL's house. A light


s: To me ye 're peopled with a sad procession,


s: O houses full of peacefulness and sleep,


s: Than wake to look upon such scenes again!


s: There is a light in Master Upsall's window.


s: The good man is already risen, for sleep


s: Am I so changed you do not know my voice?


s: I know you.  Have you heard what things have happened?


s: I am afraid some dreadful news awaits me!


s: With waiting and with watching and pursuing!


s: Thank God, you have come back!  I've much to tell you.


s: Fined, and released again.  You know that Edith,


s: After her scourging in three towns, was banished


s: That is not sown; and there I followed her,


s: Oh, do not speak that word, for it means death!


s: No, it means life.  She sleeps in yonder chamber.


s: Listen to me.  When news of Leddra's death


s: Reached England, Edward Burroughs, having boldly


s: Told him there was a vein of innocent blood


s: Opened in his dominions here, which threatened


s: "But I will stop that vein!" and he forthwith


s: That they proceed no further in this business.


s: So all are pardoned, and all set at large.


s: Thank God!  This is a victory for truth!


s: Our thoughts are free.  They cannot be shut up


s: In prison wall, nor put to death on scaffolds!


s: Come in; the morning air blows sharp and cold


s: That chases the old darkness from our sky,


s: And tills the land with liberty and light.


s: SCENE II. -- The parlor of the Three Mariners.  Enter KEMPTHORN.


s: Cleared for Barbadoes, and a fair wind blowing


s: From nor'-nor'-west; and I, an idle lubber,


s: Laid neck and heels by that confounded bond!


s: I said to Ralph, says I, "What's to be done?"


s: Says he: "Just slip your hawser in the night;


s: Sheer off, and pay it with the topsail, Simon."


s: But that won't do; because, you see, the owners


s: Here are King Charles's Twelve Good Rules, that Cole


s: Thinks as important as the Rule of Three.


s: "Make no comparisons; make no long meals."


s: Those are good rules and golden for a landlord


s: To hang in his best parlor, framed and glazed!


s: "Maintain no ill opinions; urge no healths."


s: I drink to the King's, whatever he may say


s: Now of Ralph Goldsmith I've a good opinion,


s: And both of these opinions I'll maintain


s: As long as there's a shot left in the locker.


s: Enter EDWARD BUTTER, with an ear-trumpet.


s: You've the advantage of me.  I don't know you.


s: Nothing's the matter with it that I know of.


s: I have seen better, and I have seen worse.


s: The wind's nor'west.  That's fair for them that sail.


s: You need not speak so loud; I understand you.


s: Say, will you smoke?  There's choice tobacco here.


s: No, thank you. It's against the law to smoke.


s: Then, will you drink?  There's good ale at this inn.


s: No, thank you.  It's against the law to drink.


s: Well, almost everything's against the law


s: In this good town.  Give a wide berth to one thing,


s: You're sure to fetch up soon on something else.


s: And so you sail to-day for dear Old England.


s: Than a whole draught of our Old England's ale.


s: Nor I.  Give me the ale and keep the air.


s: To take some Quakers back to the Barbadoes;


s: And one of them is banished, and another


s: But some of them would fain return to England.


s: You must not take them.  Upon that condition


s: I always speak officially.  To prove it,


s: And look you, when I say I'll do a thing


s: The thing is done.  Am I now free to go?


s: With his strange speaking-trumpet!  Can I go?


s: You're free to go, by order of the Court.


s: If ever a man was happy to leave Boston,


s: That's not my name.  My name is Edward Butter.


s: SCENE III. -- GOVERNOR ENDICOTT'S private room.  An open window.


s: ENDICOTT seated in an arm-chair.  BELLINGHAM standing near.


s: O lost, O loved! wilt thou return no more?


s: O loved and lost, and loved the more when lost!


s: How many men are dragged into their graves


s: By their rebellious children!  I now feel


s: Can you not turn your thoughts a little while


s: To public matters?  There are papers here


s: That in my righteous zeal I have been led


s: To doing many things which, left undone,


s: My mind would now be easier.  Did I dream it,


s: Or has some person told me, that John Norton


s: And gone to his reward.  It was no dream.


s: Standing where you now stand, not long ago.


s: A faintness and a giddiness came o'er him;


s: And, leaning on the chimney-piece, he cried,


s: "The hand of God is on me!" and fell dead.


s: And did not some one say, or have I dreamed it,


s: He too is gone, and by a death as sudden.


s: Returning home one evening, at the place


s: Where usually the Quakers have been scourged,


s: His horse took fright, and threw him to the ground,


s: So that his brains were dashed about the street.


s: They say his horse saw standing in the way


s: The ghost of William Leddra, and was frightened.


s: And furthermore, brave Richard Davenport,


s: As if the Seven Thunders uttered their voices,


s: And the dead bodies lay about the streets


s: I did not put those wretched men to death.


s: I did but guard the passage with the sword


s: Pointed towards them, and they rushed upon it!


s: Yet now I would that I had taken no part


s: The ship that brought them sails this very hour,


s: Her parting signal.  Through the window there,


s: Look, you can see her sails, above the roofs,


s: Dropping below the Castle, outward bound.


s: O white, white, white!  Would that my soul had wings


s: As spotless as those shining sails to fly with!


s: Now lay this cushion straight.  I thank you.  Hark!


s: I thought I heard the hall door open and shut!


s: I thought I beard the footsteps of my boy!


s: It was the wind.  There's no one in the passage.


s: Sinking beneath me, sinking, sinking, sinking!


s: Death knocks!  I go to meet him!  Welcome, Death!


s: Rises, and sinks back dead; his head failing aside upon his


s: O ghastly sight!  Like one who has been hanged!


s: Endicott!  Endicott!  He makes no answer!


s: He breathes no more!  How bright this signet-ring


s: Glitters upon his hand, where he has worn it


s: Through such long years of trouble, as if Death


s: Had given him this memento of affection,


s: And whispered in his ear, "Remember me!"


s: Now that the struggle and the strife are ended


s: Corroded this true steel.  Oh, rest in peace,


s: Courageous heart!  Forever rest in peace!


s: COTTON MATHER           Minister of the Gospel.


s: JOHN GLOYD              Corey's hired man.


s: MARTHA                  Wife of Giles Corey.


s: TITUBA                  An Indian woman.


s: MARY WALCOT             One of the Afflicted.


s: Delusions of the days that once have been,


s: Witchcraft and wonders of the world unseen,


s: That crushed the weak and awed the stoutest hearts,--


s: These are our theme to-night; and vaguely here,


s: Through the dim mists that crowd the atmosphere,


s: We draw the outlines of weird figures cast


s: In shadow on the background of the Past,


s: Who would believe that in the quiet town


s: Of Salem, and, amid the woods that crown


s: The neighboring hillsides, and the sunny farms


s: That fold it safe in their paternal arms,--


s: Who would believe that in those peaceful streets,


s: Where the great elms shut out the summer heats,


s: Where quiet reigns, and breathes through brain and breast


s: Who would believe such deeds could find a place


s: As these whose tragic history we retrace?


s: 'T was but a village then; the goodman ploughed


s: The goodwife at her doorstep sat and spun,


s: And gossiped with her neighbors in the sun;


s: Were then the Minister and the Magistrate,


s: Who ruled their little realm with iron rod,


s: Less in the love than in the fear of God;


s: Of Darkness, working in this world of ours,


s: In spells of Witchcraft, incantations dread,


s: Upon this simple folk "with fire and flame,"


s: Saith the old chronicle, "the Devil came;


s: Scattering his firebrands and his poisonous darts,


s: To set on fire of Hell all tongues and hearts!


s: And 't is no wonder; for, with all his host,


s: There most he rages where he hateth most,


s: All these stupendous and portentous things!"


s: Something of this our scene to-night will show;


s: Be not too swift in casting the first stone,


s: Nor think New England bears the guilt alone,


s: This sudden burst of wickedness and crime


s: When in all lands, that lie within the sound


s: Of Sabbath bells, a Witch was burned or drowned.


s: SCENE I. -- The woods near Salem Village.  Enter TITUBA, with a


s: Here's monk's-hood, that breeds fever in the blood;


s: And deadly nightshade, that makes men see ghosts;


s: And henbane, that will shake them with convulsions;


s: That rack the nerves, and puff the skin with dropsy;


s: And bitter-sweet, and briony, and eye-bright,


s: That cause eruptions, nosebleed, rheumatisms;


s: I know them, and the places where they hide


s: In field and meadow; and I know their secrets,


s: And gather them because they give me power


s: Over all men and women.  Armed with these,


s: Am stronger than the captain with his sword,


s: Am richer than the merchant with his money,


s: Am wiser than the scholar with his books,


s: Mightier than Ministers and Magistrates,


s: With all the fear and reverence that attend them!


s: For I can fill their bones with aches and pains,


s: Can make them cough with asthma, shake with palsy,


s: Can make their daughters see and talk with ghosts,


s: A touch from me and they are weak with pain,


s: A look from me, and they consume and die.


s: The death of cattle and the blight of corn,


s: The shipwreck, the tornado, and the fire,--


s: These are my doings, and they know it not.


s: Who, while they call me slave, are slaves to me!


s: Exit TITUBA.  Enter MATHER, booted and spurred, with a


s: Methinks that I have come by paths unknown


s: Into the land and atmosphere of Witches;


s: That tells the story of a man who, praying


s: For one that was possessed by Evil Spirits,


s: I, journeying to circumvent the Witches,


s: But Satan will be there to meddle with it


s: By hindering or by furthering.  He hath led me


s: Into this thicket, struck me in the face


s: With branches of the trees, and so entangled


s: The fetlocks of my horse with vines and brambles,


s: That I must needs dismount, and search on foot


s: For the lost pathway leading to the village.


s: What shape is this?  What monstrous apparition,


s: Exceeding fierce, that none may pass that way?


s: Tell me, good woman, if you are a woman--


s: For you must know the pathways through this wood,


s: The village is near by.  I'm going there


s: With these few herbs.  I'll lead you.  Follow me.


s: First say, who are you?  I am loath to follow


s: Of being misled, and left in some morass.


s: I know you then.  You have renounced the Devil,


s: The Lord be praised!  Go on, I'll follow you.


s: Wait only till I fetch my horse, that stands


s: Tethered among the trees, not far from here.


s: The Lord forbid!  What would the people think,


s: If they should see the Reverend Cotton Mather


s: Ride into Salem with a Witch behind him?


s: I can ride through the air upon a stick,


s: Above the tree-tops and above the houses,


s: SCENE II. -- A room at JUSTICE HATHORNE'S.  A clock in the


s: You are welcome, reverend sir, thrice welcome here


s: Pray you be seated.  You must be fatigued


s: With your long ride through unfrequented woods.


s: You know the purport of my visit here,--


s: To be advised by you, and counsel with you,


s: And with the Reverend Clergy of the village,


s: Touching these witchcrafts that so much afflict you;


s: And see with mine own eyes the wonders told


s: Of spectres and the shadows of the dead,


s: That come back from their graves to speak with men.


s: Some men there are, I have known such, who think


s: That the two worlds--the seen and the unseen,


s: The world of matter and the world of spirit--


s: But these two worlds are not divided thus,


s: They form one globe, in which the parted seas


s: While the great continents remain distinct.


s: That come and go, and we perceive them not,


s: Save by their influence, or when at times


s: A most mysterious Providence permits them


s: You, who are always welcome here among us,


s: Are doubly welcome now.  We need your wisdom,


s: Your learning in these things to be our guide.


s: The Devil hath come down in wrath upon us,


s: And ravages the land with all his hosts.


s: The Unclean Spirit said, "My name is Legion!"


s: But when our fervent, well-directed prayers,


s: Which are the great artillery of Heaven,


s: Are brought into the field, I see them scattered


s: And driven like autumn leaves before the wind.


s: With weapons from the armory of the flesh.


s: These spectral shapes that haunt our habitations,--


s: With which the aged and the dying saints


s: Have their death prefaced and their age imbittered,--


s: Are but prophetic trumpets that proclaim


s: The evening wolves will be much more abroad,


s: When we are near the evening of the world.


s: When you shall see, as I have hourly seen,


s: The sorceries and the witchcrafts that torment us,


s: See children tortured by invisible spirits,


s: And wasted and consumed by powers unseen,


s: You will confess the half has not been told you.


s: It must be so.  The death-pangs of the Devil


s: And Nebuchadnezzar's furnace will be heated


s: Seven times more hot before its putting out.


s: For counsel and for guidance in this matter.


s: That as a sparrow falls not to the ground


s: Can come down from the air without his leave.


s: Sifted the matter thoroughly through and through,


s: These Evil Spirits from the unseen regions


s: To visit us with surprising informations,


s: We must inquire what cause there is for this,


s: By spectres as conclusive proof of guilt


s: We do not rest our case.  The ways are many


s: In which the guilty do betray themselves.


s: Be careful.  Carry the knife with such exactness,


s: That on one side no innocent blood be shed


s: No shelter given to any work of darkness.


s: What do we gain by parleying with the Devil?


s: Ah, reverend sir! believe me, in such cases


s: In things where not to do is still to do


s: A deed more fatal than the deed we shrink from.


s: In the directing of this thorny business,


s: And guide us, lest New England should become


s: That time is on the wing, and we must quicken


s: As Israel did in journeying Canaan-ward!


s: Then let us make all haste; and I will show you


s: In what disguises and what fearful shapes


s: The Unclean Spirits haunt this neighborhood,


s: Ah, poor New England!  He who hurricanoed


s: One last assault, more deadly and more snarled


s: Than any thou hast hitherto encountered!


s: SCENE III. -- A room in WALCOT'S House.  MARY WALCOT seated in an


s: Which is not sleep; for, though I close mine eyes,


s: Come floating up before me,--floating, fading,


s: Yes, something more.  An island, with the sea


s: Breaking all round it, like a blooming hedge.


s: Where Tituba was born.  What see you now?


s: He was an Obi man, and taught me magic,--


s: Wasted and worn away.  Ah, she is dying!


s: The people they dislike!  That is the way


s: From those who make me pine and waste away!


s: But you will see them.  They will come to you.


s: No, do not let them come!  I cannot bear it!


s: Wasted and worn by devilish incantations!


s: Nay, she is sometimes tortured by convulsions.


s: Poor child!  How thin she is!  How wan and wasted!


s: Observe her.  She is troubled in her sleep.


s: With your own eyes, and touch with your own hands,


s: The hands of Briareus and the eyes of Argus


s: The realm of ghosts and phantoms,--the vast realm


s: Through whose wide-open gates there blows a wind


s: From the dark valley of the shadow of Death,


s: Take her away from me.  I see her there!


s: What frightens you?  She neither hears nor sees me.


s: She wears a crimson bodice.  In her hand


s: Between her fingers.  Ah, she tortures me!


s: I see her face now.  It is Goodwife Bishop!


s: Why does she torture me?  I never harmed her!


s: And now she strikes me with an iron rod!


s: Visibly there, and yet we cannot see it?


s: Unto our grosser senses, but she sees it.


s: Look! look! there is another clad in gray!


s: She holds a spindle in her hand, and threatens


s: To stab me with it!  It is Goodwife Corey!


s: Keep her away!  Now she is coming at me!


s: These spectres are to us as if they were not.


s: They are our friends.  Dear Mary, are you better?


s: Taking a spindle from her lap, and holding it up.


s: You wrenched it from the hand of Goodwife Corey


s: It is most marvellous, most inexplicable!


s: TITUBA. (picking up a bit of gray cloth from the floor).


s: And here, too, is a bit of her gray dress,


s: Could doubt such manifest and damning proofs!


s: Only by prayer and fasting can you drive


s: These Unclean Spirits from you.  An old man


s: Gives you his blessing.  God be with you, Mary!


s: SCENE I. -- GILES COREY's farm.  Morning.  Enter COREY, with a


s: The Lord hath prospered me.  The rising sun


s: As if he loved them.  On a morn like this


s: I can forgive mine enemies, and thank God


s: My orchard groans with russets and pearmains;


s: My ripening corn shines golden in the sun;


s: My barns are crammed with hay, my cattle thrive


s: The birds sing blithely on the trees around me!


s: And blither than the birds my heart within me.


s: But Satan still goes up and down the earth;


s: And to protect this house from his assaults,


s: And keep the powers of darkness from my door,


s: This horseshoe will I nail upon the threshold.


s: There, ye night-hags and witches that torment


s: The neighborhood, ye shall not enter here!--


s: What is the matter in the field?--John Gloyd!


s: The cattle are all running to the woods!--


s: What ails the cattle?  Are they all bewitched?


s: Call all the men.  Be quick.  Go after them!


s: They are broken loose and making for the woods.


s: Why will you harbor such delusions, Giles?


s: Bewitched?  Well, then it was John Gloyd bewitched them;


s: And turn them loose!  They're only frolicsome.


s: Talking with Goodwife Proctor, and I saw him.


s: With Proctor's wife?  And what says Goodwife Proctor?


s: Sad things indeed; the saddest you can hear


s: Of Bridget Bishop.  She's cried out upon!


s: Poor soul!  I've known her forty year or more.


s: She's had three husbands.  I remember well


s: My games of shovel-board at Bishop's tavern


s: With her red paragon bodice and her ribbons!


s: They'll little help her now,--her caps and ribbons,


s: And her red paragon bodice and her plumes,


s: With which she flaunted in the Meeting-house!


s: When next she goes there, it will be for trial.


s: Then get you ready.  We'll go and see it.


s: Come; you shall ride behind me on the pillion.


s: Not I.  You know I do not like such things.


s: There's a strange fascination in it all.


s: That draws me on and on.  I know not why.


s: Or of their power to help us or to harm us?


s: Surely what's in the Bible must be true.


s: Did not the Witch of Endor bring the ghost


s: Of Samuel from his grave?  The Bible says so.


s: And he who dwelt among the tombs a legion!


s: God's power is infinite.  I do not doubt it.


s: But we will not dispute about it, Giles.


s: And leave me here; I'll go about my work.


s: The last word always.  That is woman's nature.


s: He must make up his mind to many things.


s: It's putting new cloth into an old garment,


s: When the strain comes, it is the old gives way.


s: Oh, Martha!  I forgot to tell you something.


s: I've had a letter from a friend of mine,


s: He writes that he is coming down to see us.


s: That's a good woman.  Now I will be gone.


s: I've not seen Gardner for this twenty year;


s: But there is something of the sea about him,--


s: Something so open, generous, large; and strong,


s: It makes me love him better than a brother.


s: Oh these old friends and cronies of my husband,


s: These captains from Nantucket and the Cape,


s: That come and turn my house into a tavern


s: With their carousing!  Still, there's something frank


s: In these seafaring men that makes me like them.


s: Why, here's a horseshoe nailed upon the doorstep!


s: Giles has done this to keep away the Witches.


s: I hope this Richard Gardner will bring him


s: A gale of good sound common-sense to blow


s: The fog of these delusions from his brain!


s: On a gray mare, that somebody was riding


s: Some one who should have stayed at home.


s: Don't vex me, Martha.  Tell me where it is.


s: Bareback; and when the people stare and say,


s: "Giles Corey, where's your saddle?" I will answer,


s: "A Witch has stolen it."  How shall you like that!


s: Why then--why then--why then--he must spell Baker!


s: Enter MARTHA with the saddle, which she throws down.


s: MARTHA.                             I won't!


s: Then let it lie there.  I'll ride to the village,


s: Now come with me, and saddle the gray mare


s: With your own hands; and you shall see me ride


s: Giles Corey of the Salem Farms, your husband!


s: SCENE II. -- The Green in front of the Meeting-house in Salem


s: village.  People coming and going.  Enter GILES COREY.


s: A melancholy end!  Who would have thought


s: That Bridget Bishop e'er would come to this?


s: Accused, convicted, and condemned to death


s: For Witchcraft!  And so good a woman too!


s: I too may harbor Witches, and some Devil


s: He does not hear.  Good morrow, neighbor Corey!


s: So keep out of his way.  Avoid a quarrel.


s: Why does he seek to fix a quarrel on me?


s: If he says that, John Proctor is a liar!


s: The night his house was burned I was in bed,


s: And I can prove it!  Why, we are old friends!


s: For taking part against you in the quarrel


s: You had with your John Gloyd about his wages.


s: He says you murdered Goodell; that you trampled


s: By heaven! this is too much!  I'll seek him out,


s: And make him eat his words, or strangle him.


s: I'll not be slandered at a time like this,


s: I followed them through the woods, across the meadows;


s: Then they all leaped into the Ipswich River,


s: And swam across, but could not climb the bank,


s: For you took down the bars, and let them loose.


s: That I deny.  They broke the fences down.


s: Why did I leave my ploughing and my reaping


s: To plough and reap this Sodom and Gomorrah?


s: Oh, I could drown myself for sheer vexation!


s: He's going for his cattle.  He won't find them.


s: By this time they have drifted out to sea.


s: They will not break his fences any more,


s: Though they may break his heart.  And what care I?


s: SCENE III. -- COREY's kitchen.  A table with supper.  MARTHA


s: He's come at last.  I hear him in the passage.


s: Something has gone amiss with him today;


s: The door made as he shut it.  He is angry.


s: Enter COREY with his riding-whip.  As he speaks he takes off his


s: hat and gloves and throws them down violently.


s: Is Proctor,--is John Proctor, and no other!


s: What do you think I heard there in the village?


s: I'm sure I cannot guess.  What did you hear?


s: He says I burned his house.  I was in bed


s: And fast asleep that night; and I can prove it.


s: If he says that, I think the Father of Lies


s: And that I did it to wreak vengeance on him


s: For taking sides against me in the quarrel


s: I had with that John Gloyd about his wages.


s: And God knows that I never bore him malice


s: For that, as I have told him twenty times


s: It is John Gloyd has stirred him up to this.


s: I do not like that Gloyd.  I think him crafty,


s: Not to be trusted, sullen and untruthful.


s: Come, have your supper.  You are tired and hungry.


s: Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.


s: They have trumped up against me the old story


s: Of causing Goodell's death by trampling on him.


s: Oh, that is false.  I know it to be false.


s: He has been dead these fourteen years or more.


s: Why can't they let him rest?  Why must they drag him


s: I did not kill him.  In his bed he died,


s: As most men die, because his hour had come.


s: I have wronged no man.  Why should Proctor say


s: Such things bout me?  I will not forgive him


s: Then, I've more trouble.  All my cattle gone.


s: Did I not tell you they were overlooked?


s: They ran down through the woods, into the meadows,


s: And tried to swim the river, and were drowned.


s: All my dear oxen dead.  I loved them, Martha,


s: Next to yourself.  I liked to look at them,


s: And watch the breath come out of their wide nostrils,


s: And see their patient eyes.  Somehow I thought


s: It gave me strength only to look at them.


s: And how they strained their necks against the yoke


s: If I but spoke, or touched them with the goad!


s: They were my friends; and when Gloyd came and told me


s: They were all drowned, I could have drowned myself


s: With anything you would not have repeated.


s: As I came through the woods this afternoon,


s: Impatient at my loss, and much perplexed


s: With all that I had heard there in the village,


s: The yellow leaves lit up the trees about me


s: To change them into gold.  Then suddenly


s: A tree shook down some crimson leaves upon me,


s: Like drops of blood, and in the path before me


s: I know the meaning of that word.  Why frightened?


s: I am not one of those who think the Lord


s: Is waiting till He catches them some day


s: In the back yard alone!  What should I fear?


s: She started from the bushes by the path,


s: And had a basket full of herbs and roots


s: For some witch-broth or other,--the old hag.


s: She said: "Giles Corey, will you sign the Book?"


s: "Avaunt!" I cried: "Get thee behind me, Satan!"


s: At which she laughed and left me.  But a voice


s: "Self-murder is no crime.  The life of man


s: Giles, Giles! why will you harbor these dark thoughts?


s: I am too tired to talk.  I'll go to bed.


s: First tell me something about Bridget Bishop.


s: How did she look?  You saw her?  You were there?


s: I'll tell you that to-morrow, not to-night.


s: "As we forgive those that have sinned against us,"


s: I will not make believe!  I say to-night


s: There's something thwarts me when I wish to pray,


s: And thrusts into my mind, instead of prayers,


s: Hate and revenge, and things that are not prayers.


s: Something of my old self,--my old, bad life,--


s: Just what I think, and nothing more nor less,


s: And, when I pray, my heart is in my prayer.


s: I cannot say one thing and mean another.


s: If I can't pray, I will not make believe!


s: SCENE I. -- GILES COREY'S kitchen.  Morning.  COREY and MARTHA


s: Well, now I've told you all I saw and heard


s: Don't go into the village, Giles, to-day.


s: Last night you came back tired and out of humor.


s: Say, angry; say, right angry.  I was never


s: I won't go near it.  We are going to mow


s: I want to tell you what I dreamed last night.


s: When they come true, then I believe in them


s: When they come false, I don't believe in them.


s: But let me hear.  What did you dream about?


s: I dreamed that you and I were both in prison;


s: That we had fetters on our hands and feet;


s: That we were taken before the Magistrates,


s: And tried for Witchcraft, and condemned to death!


s: I wished to pray; they would not let me pray;


s: You tried to comfort me, and they forbade it.


s: But the most dreadful thing in all my dream


s: Was that they made you testify against me!


s: And then there came a kind of mist between us;


s: I could not see you; and I woke in terror.


s: Than when I found you sleeping at my side!


s: It was our talk last night that made you dream.


s: I do not like such dreams.--Remember, Martha,


s: I'm going to mow the Ipswich River meadows;


s: If Gardner comes, you'll tell him where to find me.


s: So this delusion grows from bad to worse


s: First, a forsaken and forlorn old woman,


s: Ragged and wretched, and without a friend;


s: Then something higher.  Now it's Bridget Bishop;


s: God only knows whose turn it will be next!


s: The Magistrates are blind, the people mad!


s: If they would only seize the Afflicted Children,


s: And put them in the Workhouse, where they should be,


s: There'd be an end of all this wickedness.


s: SCENE II. -- A street in Salem Village.  Enter MATHER and


s: May not the Devil take the outward shape


s: Of innocent persons?  Are we not in danger,


s: Perhaps, of punishing some who are not guilty?


s: If any shall be put to death for Witchcraft,


s: The Unclean Spirits that possessed them once


s: What have we gained?  Surely, there's nothing gained.


s: Doth not the Scripture say, "Thou shalt not suffer


s: Witches are burned in England.  You have read--


s: For you read all things, not a book escapes you--


s: The plot of the Two Hundred, with one Fian,


s: The Registrar of the Devil, at their head,


s: From Denmark; how they sailed in sieves or riddles


s: And, landing there, danced hand in hand, and sang,


s: "Goodwife, go ye before! good wife, go ye!


s: If ye'll not go before, goodwife, let me!"


s: While Geilis Duncan played the Witches' Reel


s: The English law, and that in England Witches,


s: Produced before us yesterday at the trial


s: Of ghosts unto the spectre of this Bishop,


s: Saying, "You murdered us!" of the truth whereof


s: There was in matter of fact too much Suspicion.


s: And when she cast her eyes on the Afflicted,


s: They were struck down; and this in such a manner


s: There could be no collusion in the business.


s: And when the accused but laid her hand upon them,


s: As they lay in their swoons, they straight revived,


s: Although they stirred not when the others touched them.


s: What most convinced me of the woman's guilt


s: Those poppets made of rags, with headless pins


s: Stuck into them point outwards, and whereof


s: She could not give a reasonable account.


s: Before the Court in all the other cases,


s: Come, then, with me, and I will tax your patience


s: As may convince you that these sorcerers


s: Like doubting Thomas, you shall lay your hand


s: Upon these wounds, and you will doubt no more.


s: SCENE III. -- A room in COREY's house.  MARTHA and two Deacons of


s: I know what you are come for.  You are come


s: To question me, and learn from my own lips


s: How could you know beforehand why we came?


s: What part you have, if any, in these matters.


s: You see my spinning-wheel, you see my loom,


s: And are not ignorant that my life among you


s: Has been without reproach until this day.


s: And say it frankly, and without reserve.


s: I've heard the idle tales that are abroad;


s: I've heard it whispered that I am a Witch;


s: When all our learned and good men believe it,--


s: Our Ministers and worshipful Magistrates?


s: Their eyes are blinded and see not the truth.


s: Perhaps one day they will be open to it.


s: You answer boldly.  The Afflicted Children


s: They said that you foresaw our visit here,


s: And blinded them, so that they could not see


s: My shape to hurt these children, or afflict them,


s: I greatly fear that you will find too late


s: There is a story in the ancient Scriptures


s: Which I much wonder comes not to your minds.


s: It came to pass that Naboth had a vineyard


s: Hard by the palace of the King called Ahab.


s: And Ahab, King of Israel, spake to Naboth,


s: And said to him, Give unto me thy vineyard,


s: That I may have it for a garden of herbs,


s: And I will give a better vineyard for it,


s: Or, if it seemeth good to thee, its worth


s: In money.  And then Naboth said to Ahab,


s: The Lord forbid it me that I should give


s: The inheritance of my fathers unto thee.


s: And heavy at the words which Naboth spake,


s: And laid him down upon his bed, and turned


s: His face away; and he would eat no bread.


s: Give me thy vineyard; and he answered, saying,


s: Arise, eat bread, and let thy heart be merry;


s: I will give Naboth's vineyard unto thee.


s: So she wrote letters in King Ahab's name,


s: And sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters


s: Dwelling with Naboth, and unto the nobles;


s: And in the letters wrote, Proclaim a fast;


s: And set this Naboth high among the people,


s: Thou didst blaspheme against God and the King;


s: And carry him out and stone him, that he die!


s: And the elders and the nobles in the city


s: Had sent to them and written in the letters.


s: And then it came to pass, when Ahab heard


s: Down unto Naboth's vineyard, and to take


s: In Naboth's vineyard, whither he hath gone


s: To take possession.  Thou shalt speak to him,


s: Saying, Thus saith the Lord!  What! hast thou killed


s: And also taken possession?  In the place


s: Wherein the dogs have licked the blood of Naboth


s: Shall the dogs lick thy blood,--ay, even thine!


s: Both of the Deacons start from their seats.


s: Elijah the Prophet answered, I have found thee!


s: So will it be with those who have stirred up


s: The Sons of Belial here to bear false witness


s: And swear away the lives of innocent people;


s: The Prophet's voice will thunder, I have found thee!


s: SCENE IV. -- Meadows on Ipswich River, COREY and his men mowing;


s: Well done, my men.  You see, I lead the field!


s: I'm an old man, but I can swing a scythe


s: Better than most of you, though you be younger.


s: No man so old as he is has such strength.


s: And take our nooning.  What's the matter with you?


s: You are not angry with me,--are you, Gloyd?


s: Come, come, we will not quarrel.  Let's be friends.


s: "Read the Third of Colossians and fifteenth."


s: You're handier at the scythe, but I can beat you


s: I never wrestled with you.  Why, you're vexed!


s: What should I be afraid of?  All bear witness


s: The challenge comes from him.  Now, then, my man.


s: Well, then, shake hands; and there's an end of it.


s: How do you like that Cornish hug, my lad?


s: And now we'll see what's in our basket here.


s: The Devil and all his imps are in that man!


s: The clutch of his ten fingers burns like fire!


s: COREY (reverentially taking off his hat).


s: God bless the food He hath provided for us,


s: And make us thankful for it, for Christ's sake!


s: He lifts up a keg of cider, and drinks from it.


s: Do you see that?  Don't tell me it's not Witchcraft


s: Two of us could not lift that cask as he does!


s: COREY puts down the keg, and opens a basket.  A voice is heard


s: Enter a boy, running, and out of breath.


s: The dream! the dream!  O God, be merciful!


s: Under the trees there.  Run, old man, run, run!


s: You've got some one to wrestle with you now


s: Who'll trip your heels up, with your Cornish hug.


s: Ah, there he goes!  His horse is snorting fire!


s: John Gloyd, don't talk so!  It's a shame to talk so!


s: He's a good master, though you quarrel with him.


s: If hard work and low wages make good masters,


s: Come, let us have our dinner and be merry,


s: And talk about the old man and the Witches.


s: I know some stories that will make you laugh.


s: Now there are Goody Cloyse and Goody Good,


s: Who have not got a decent tooth between them,


s: And yet these children--the Afflicted Children--


s: Say that they bite them, and show marks of teeth


s: That's Witchcraft.  Why, if they had teeth like yours,


s: 'T would be no wonder if the girls were bitten!


s: And then those ghosts that come out of their graves


s: And cry, "You murdered us! you murdered us!"


s: And all those Apparitions that stick pins


s: Into the flesh of the Afflicted Children!


s: Oh those Afflicted Children!  They know well


s: Where the pins come from.  I can tell you that.


s: And there's old Corey, he has got a horseshoe


s: Nailed on his doorstep to keep off the Witches,


s: And all the same his wife has gone to prison.


s: Oh, she's no Witch.  I'll swear that Goodwife Corey


s: She's a good woman, if there ever was one.


s: Well, we shall see.  As for that Bridget Bishop,


s: She has been tried before; some years ago


s: And holding in its hand an egg; and while


s: He went to fetch his pitchfork, she had vanished.


s: And now be quiet, will you?  I am tired,


s: And want to sleep here on the grass a little.


s: There may be Witches riding through the air


s: Over our heads on broomsticks at this moment,


s: Bound for some Satan's Sabbath in the woods


s: And hold you under water, head and ears,


s: Till you were drowned; and that would stop your talking,


s: If nothing else will.  Let me sleep, I say.


s: SCENE I. -- The Green in front of the village Meeting-house.  An


s: excited crowd gathering.  Enter JOHN GLOYD.


s: It will go hard with her with all her praying.


s: The hypocrite!  She's always on her knees;


s: But she prays to the Devil when she prays.


s: A Justice of the Court, and a Quarter-master


s: In the Three County Troop.  He'll sift the matter.


s: That's Corwin with him; and the man in black


s: Enter HATHORNE and other Magistrates on horseback, followed by


s: the Sheriff, constables, and attendants on foot.  The Magistrates


s: Our way among them.  Put your shoulder to it.


s: There were not half so many at the trial


s: I'll find a place for you.  They'll want me there.


s: And he can't do without me just at present.


s: SCENE II. -- Interior of the Meeting-house.  MATHER and the


s: Magistrates seated in front of the pulpit.  Before them a raised


s: platform.  MARTHA in chains.  COREY near her.  MARY WALCOT in a


s: chair.  A crowd of spectators, among them GLOYD.  Confusion and


s: The King and Queen, here present, do accuse you


s: Of having on the tenth of June last past,


s: And divers other times before and after,


s: Wickedly used and practised certain arts


s: The aforesaid Mary Walcot was tormented,


s: Tortured, afflicted, pined, consumed, and wasted,


s: Against the peace of our Sovereign Lord and Lady


s: The King and Queen, as well as of the Statute


s: Made and provided in that case.  What say you?


s: We have not sent for you, nor are we here,


s: I am not guilty of the charge against me.


s: Avoid, she-devil!  You may torment me now!


s: Apart from her.  I did not touch her hands.


s: I am no Witch, and have no faith in Witches.


s: Then answer me: When certain persons came


s: The children said I hurt them, and I thought


s: These people came to question me about it.


s: How did you know the children had been told


s: I did not tell her.  It was some one else.


s: Did you not say your husband told you so?


s: How dare you tell a lie in this assembly?


s: Who told you of the clothes?  Confess the truth.


s: You bite your lips, but do not answer me!


s: She threatened me; stabbed at me with her spindle;


s: And, when my brother thrust her with his sword,


s: Here are they both, the spindle and the cloth.


s: And there are persons here who know the truth


s: Of what has now been said.  What answer make you?


s: I make no answer.  Give me leave to pray.


s: There is a dark shape whispering in her ear.


s: You see this woman cannot stand before you.


s: If you would look for mercy, you must look


s: In God's way, by confession of your guilt.


s: Why does your spectre haunt and hurt this person?


s: In Samuel's shape, a saint and glorified,


s: May come in whatsoever shape he chooses.


s: O Martha, Martha! let me hold your hand.


s: Perched on her finger; and it pecks at me.


s: 'T is the Familiar Spirit that attends her.


s: Now it has flown away.  It sits up there


s: Upon the rafters.  It is gone; is vanished.


s: Giles, wipe these tears of anger from mine eyes.


s: Wipe the sweat from my forehead.  I am faint.


s: Oh, she is crushing me with all her weight!


s: Did you not scourge her with an iron rod?


s: Has taken my shape to do these evil deeds,


s: Did you not say the Magistrates were blind?


s: If you call me a sorceress, you are blind!


s: If you accuse the innocent, you are blind!


s: On one occasion hide your husband's saddle


s: To hinder him from coming to the sessions?


s: To waste his time pursuing such illusions.


s: What was the bird that this young woman saw


s: Have you not dealt with a Familiar Spirit?


s: You showed to this young woman, and besought her


s: You who have known me for so many years?


s: Will you condemn me in this house of God,


s: Where I so long have worshipped with you all?


s: Where I have eaten the bread and drunk the wine


s: So many times at our Lord's Table with you?


s: Bear witness, you that hear me; you all know


s: That I have led a blameless life among you,


s: Was breathed against me till this accusation.


s: And shall this count for nothing?  Will you take


s: My life away from me, because this girl,


s: Who is distraught, and not in her right mind,


s: What! is it not enough?  Would you hear more?


s: You were impeded strangely in your prayers?


s: That something hindered you? and that you left


s: This woman here, your wife, kneeling alone


s: I think I said some words to that effect.


s: Is it not true, that fourteen head of cattle,


s: To you belonging, broke from their enclosure


s: And leaped into the river, and were drowned?


s: I see; they're drawing round me closer, closer,


s: A net I cannot break, cannot escape from! (Aside).


s: Then I will tell you.  It is some one near you;


s: You see her now; this woman, your own wife.


s: I call the heavens to witness, it is false!


s: And I bear witness in the sight of heaven,


s: And in God's house here, that I never knew her


s: As otherwise than patient, brave, and true,


s: A virtuous and industrious and good wife!


s: Tut, tut, man; do not rant so in your speech;


s: Here, Sheriff, take this woman back to prison.


s: O Giles, this day you've sworn away my life!


s: Go, go and join the Witches at the door.


s: Do you not hear the drum?  Do you not see them?


s: Go quick.  They're waiting for you.  You are late.


s: Giles Corey, go not hence.  You are yourself


s: By many witnesses.  Say, are you guilty?


s: Mine and my wife's.  Therefore I will not answer.


s: During the rest of the scene he remains silent.


s: Do you refuse to plead?--'T were better for you


s: To make confession, or to plead Not Guilty.--


s: Do you not hear me?--Answer, are you guilty?


s: Do you not know a heavier doom awaits you,


s: If you refuse to plead, than if found guilty?


s: Have you not seen the supernatural power


s: Of this old man?  Have you not seen him do


s: Us younger men; and I have wrestled with him.


s: He threw me like a feather.  I have seen him


s: Which two strong men could hardly lift together,


s: And, holding it above his head, drink from it.


s: That is enough; we need not question further.


s: What answer do you make to this, Giles Corey?


s: Look! Look!  It is the ghost of Robert Goodell,


s: Whom fifteen years ago this man did murder


s: He comes here to bear witness to the crime!


s: The crowd shrinks back from COREY in horror.


s: Ghosts of the dead and voices of the living


s: Bear witness to your guilt, and you must die!


s: It might have been an easier death.  Your doom


s: Will be on your own head, and not on ours.


s: Twice more will you be questioned of these things;


s: Twice more have room to plead or to confess.


s: And if, when questioned, you refuse to answer,


s: Then by the Statute you will be condemned


s: To the peine forte et dure!  To have your body


s: Pressed by great weights until you shall be dead!


s: And may the Lord have mercy on your soul!


s: SCENE I. -- COREy's farm as in Act II., Scene I.  Enter RICHARD


s: The four tall poplar-trees before the door;


s: The house, the barn, the orchard, and the well,


s: With its moss-covered bucket and its trough;


s: The garden, with its hedge of currant-bushes;


s: The woods, the harvest-fields; and, far beyond,


s: The pleasant landscape stretching to the sea.


s: No bleat of flocks, no bellowing of herds,


s: No sound of flails, that should be beating now;


s: Nor man nor beast astir.  What can this mean?


s: What ho!  Giles Corey!  Hillo-ho!  Giles Corey!--


s: That yonder wings his flight across the fields,


s: What woman's this, that, like an apparition,


s: Haunts this deserted homestead in broad day?


s: Cinquefoil, and saxifrage, and pennyroyal.


s: This is not cinquefoil, it is deadly nightshade!


s: Do you come here to poison these good people?


s: I get these for the Doctor in the Village.


s: Beware of Tituba.  I pinch the children;


s: Make little poppets and stick pins in them,


s: And then the children cry out they are pricked.


s: The Black Dog came to me and said, "Serve me!"


s: I was afraid.  He made me hurt the children.


s: Poor soul!  She's crazed, with all these Devil's doings.


s: Where is Giles Corey?  Do you know Giles Corey!


s: He's safe enough.  He's down there in the prison.


s: Corey in prison?  What is he accused of?


s: Giles Corey and Martha Corey are in prison


s: Down there in Salem Village.  Both are witches.


s: She came to me and whispered, "Kill the children!"


s: When the waves thundered round me, and the wind


s: Bellowed, and beat the canvas, and my ship


s: Clove through the solid darkness, like a wedge,


s: I've thought of him upon his pleasant farm,


s: Living in quiet with his thrifty housewife,


s: And envied him, and wished his fate were mine!


s: And lost, perhaps, beyond all aid of man!


s: SCENE II.. -- The prison.  GILES COREY at a table on which are


s: Now I have done with earth and all its cares;


s: I give my worldly goods to my dear children;


s: And my immortal soul to Him who made it.


s: O God! who in thy wisdom dost afflict me


s: With an affliction greater than most men


s: For any pains of death to fall from Thee!


s: Hark, hark! it is her voice!  She is not dead!


s: COREY hides his face in his hands.  Enter the JAILER, followed by


s: Here's a seafaring man, one Richard Gardner,


s: A friend of yours, who asks to speak with you.


s: I'm glad to see you, ay, right glad to see you.


s: And I am most sorely grieved to see you thus.


s: Of all the friends I had in happier days,


s: You are the first, ay, and the only one,


s: That comes to seek me out in my disgrace!


s: And you but come in time to say farewell,


s: They've dug my grave already in the field.


s: I thank you.  There is something in your presence,


s: I know not what it is, that gives me strength.


s: Familiar with the cries of drowning men,


s: With fire, and wreck, and foundering ships at sea!


s: Ah, I have never known a wreck like yours!


s: Why would you die who have so much to live for?--


s: My daughters have gone from me.  They are married;


s: They have their homes, their thoughts, apart from me;


s: I will not say their hearts,--that were too cruel.


s: That's what they said who came here yesterday


s: To lay a heavy weight upon my conscience


s: And have the weight of all the seas upon you.


s: Say something; say enough to fend off death


s: Blows itself out.  Let me come in between you


s: And your severer self, with my plain sense;


s: In courts where ghosts appear as witnesses,


s: And swear men's lives away.  If I confess,


s: Which is not life, but only death in life.


s: I will not bear false witness against any,


s: Not even against myself, whom I count least.