That makes the wonder greater.
That's Witchcraft.Why, if they had teeth like yours, 'T would be no wonder if the girls were bitten!
GLOYD.
And then those ghosts that come out of their graves And cry, "You murdered us! you murdered us!"ONE OF THE MEN.
And all those Apparitions that stick pins Into the flesh of the Afflicted Children!
GLOYD.
Oh those Afflicted Children! They know well Where the pins come from.I can tell you that.
And there's old Corey, he has got a horseshoe Nailed on his doorstep to keep off the Witches, And all the same his wife has gone to prison.
ONE OF THE MEN.
Oh, she's no Witch.I'll swear that Goodwife Corey Never did harm to any living creature.
She's a good woman, if there ever was one.
GLOYD.
Well, we shall see.As for that Bridget Bishop, She has been tried before; some years ago A negro testified he saw her shape Sitting upon the rafters in a barn, And holding in its hand an egg; and while He went to fetch his pitchfork, she had vanished.
And now be quiet, will you? I am tired, And want to sleep here on the grass a little.
They stretch themselves on the grass.
ONE OF THE MEN.
There may be Witches riding through the air Over our heads on broomsticks at this moment, Bound for some Satan's Sabbath in the woods To be baptized.
GLOYD.
I wish they'd take you with them, And hold you under water, head and ears, Till you were drowned; and that would stop your talking, If nothing else will.Let me sleep, I say.
ACT IV
SCENE I.-- The Green in front of the village Meeting-house.An excited crowd gathering.Enter JOHN GLOYD.
A FARMER.
Who will be tried to-day?
A SECOND.
I do not know.
Here is John Gloyd.Ask him; he knows.
FARMER.
John Gloyd, Whose turn is it to-day?
GLOYD.
It's Goodwife Corey's.
FARMER.
Giles Corey's wife?
GLOYD.
The same.She is not mine.
It will go hard with her with all her praying.
The hypocrite! She's always on her knees;But she prays to the Devil when she prays.
Let us go in.
A trumpet blows.
FARMER.
Here come the Magistrates.
SECOND FARMER.
Who's the tall man in front?
GLOYD.
Oh, that is Hathorne, A Justice of the Court, and a Quarter-master In the Three County Troop.He'll sift the matter.
That's Corwin with him; and the man in black Is Cotton Mather, Minister of Boston.
Enter HATHORNE and other Magistrates on horseback, followed by the Sheriff, constables, and attendants on foot.The Magistrates dismount, and enter the Meeting-house, with the rest.
FARMER.
The Meeting-house is full.I never saw So great a crowd before.
GLOYD.
No matter.Come.
We shall find room enough by elbowing Our way among them.Put your shoulder to it.
FARMER.
There were not half so many at the trial Of Goodwife Bishop.
GLOYD.
Keep close after me.
I'll find a place for you.They'll want me there.
I am a friend of Corey's, as you know, And he can't do without me just at present.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.-- Interior of the Meeting-house.MATHER and the Magistrates seated in front of the pulpit.Before them a raised platform.MARTHA in chains.COREY near her.MARY WALCOT in a chair.A crowd of spectators, among them GLOYD.Confusion and murmurs during the scene.
HATHORNE.
Call Martha Corey.
MARTHA.
I am here.
HATHORNE.
Come forward.
She ascends the platform.
The Jurors of our Sovereign Lord and Lady The King and Queen, here present, do accuse you Of having on the tenth of June last past, And divers other times before and after, Wickedly used and practised certain arts Called Witchcrafts, Sorceries, and Incantations, Against one Mary Walcot, single woman, Of Salem Village; by which wicked arts The aforesaid Mary Walcot was tormented, Tortured, afflicted, pined, consumed, and wasted, Against the peace of our Sovereign Lord and Lady The King and Queen, as well as of the Statute Made and provided in that case.What say you?
MARTHA.
Before I answer, give me leave to pray.
HATHORNE.
We have not sent for you, nor are we here, To hear you pray, but to examine you In whatsoever is alleged against you.
Why do you hurt this person?
MARTHA.
I do not.
I am not guilty of the charge against me.
MARY.
Avoid, she-devil! You may torment me now!
Avoid, avoid, Witch!
MARTHA.
I am innocent.
I never had to do with any Witchcraft Since I was born.I am a gospel woman.
MARY.
You are a gospel Witch!
MARTHA (clasping her hands).
Ah me! ah me!
Oh, give me leave to pray!
MARY (stretching out her hands).
She hurts me now.
See, she has pinched my hands!
HATHORNE.
Who made these marks Upon her hands?
MARTHA.
I do not know.I stand Apart from her.I did not touch her hands.
HATHORNE.
Who hurt her then?
MARTHA.
I know not.
HATHORNE.
Do you think She is bewitched?
MARTHA.
Indeed I do not think so.
I am no Witch, and have no faith in Witches.
HATHORNE.
Then answer me: When certain persons came To see you yesterday, how did you know Beforehand why they came?
MARTHA.
I had had speech;
The children said I hurt them, and I thought These people came to question me about it.
HATHORNE.
How did you know the children had been told To note the clothes you wore?
MARTHA.
My husband told me What others said about it.
HATHORNE.
Goodman Corey, Say, did you tell her?
COREY.
I must speak the truth;
I did not tell her.It was some one else.
HATHORNE.
Did you not say your husband told you so?
How dare you tell a lie in this assembly?
Who told you of the clothes? Confess the truth.
MARTHA bites her lips, and is silent.
You bite your lips, but do not answer me!
MARY.
Ah, she is biting me! Avoid, avoid!
HATHORNE.
You said your husband told you.
MARTHA.
Yes, he told me The children said I troubled them.
HATHORNE.
Then tell me, Why do you trouble them?
MARTHA.
I have denied it.
MARY.
She threatened me; stabbed at me with her spindle;And, when my brother thrust her with his sword, He tore her gown, and cut a piece away.
Here are they both, the spindle and the cloth.
Shows them.
HATHORNE.
And there are persons here who know the truth Of what has now been said.What answer make you?
MARTHA.
I make no answer.Give me leave to pray.
HATHORNE.
Whom would you pray to?
MARTHA.
To my God and Father.
HATHORNE.
Who is your God and Father?
MARTHA.
The Almighty!
HATHORNE.