Act III: Scene I. — The Court of Assistants, Endicott, Bellingham,, Atherton, and Other Magistrates. Kempthorn, Merry, And, Constables. Afterwards Wharton, Edith, and Christison
ENDICOTT.Call Captain Simon Kempthorn.
MERRY.Simon Kempthorn,Come to the bar!
ENDICOTT.You are accused of bringingInto this Jurisdiction, from Barbadoes,Some persons of that sort and sect of peopleKnown by the name of Quakers, and maintainingMost dangerous and heretical opinions,Purposely coming here to propagateTheir heresies and errors; bringing with themAnd spreading sundry books here, which containTheir doctrines most corrupt and blasphemous,And contrary to the truth professed among us.What say you to this charge?
I do acknowledge,Among the passengers on board the SwallowWere certain persons saying Thee and Thou.They seemed a harmless people, mostways silent,Particularly when they said their prayers.
ENDICOTT.Harmless and silent as the pestilence!You'd better have brought the fever or the plagueAmong us in your ship! Therefore, this Court,For preservation of the Peace and Truth,Hereby commands you speedily to transport,Or cause to be transported speedily,The aforesaid persons hence unto Barbadoes,From whence they came; you paying all the chargesOf their imprisonment.
KEMPTHORN.Worshipful sir,No ship e'er prospered that has carried QuakersAgainst their will! I knew a vessel once--
ENDICOTT.And for the more effectual performanceHereof you are to give securityIn bonds amounting to one hundred pounds.On your refusal, you will be committedTo prison till you do it.
KEMPTHORN.But you seeI cannot do it. The law, sir, of BarbadoesForbids the landing Quakers on the island.
ENDICOTT.Then you will be committed. Who comes next?
MERRY.There is another charge against the Captain.
ENDICOTT.What is it?
MERRY.Profane swearing, please your Worship.He cursed and swore from Dock Square to the Court-house,
ENDICOTT.Then let him stand in the pillory for one hour.
MERRY.The Quakers.
ENDICOTT.Call them.
MERRY.Edward Wharton,Come to the bar!
WHARTON.Yea, even to the bench.
ENDICOTT.Take off your hat.
WHARTON.My hat offendeth not.If it offendeth any, let him take it;For I shall not resist.
ENDICOTT.Take off his hat.Let him be fined ten shillings for contempt.
WHARTON.What evil have I done?
ENDICOTT.Your hair's too long;And in not putting off your hat to usYou've disobeyed and broken that commandmentWhich sayeth "Honor thy father and thy mother."
WHARTON.John Endicott, thou art become too proud;And loved him who putteth off the hat,And honoreth thee by bowing of the body,And sayeth "Worshipful sir!" 'T is time for theeTo give such follies over, for thou mayestBe drawing very near unto thy grave.
ENDICOTT.Now, sirrah, leave your canting. Take the oath.
WHARTON.Nay, sirrah me no sirrahs!
ENDICOTT.Will you swear?
WHARTON.Nay, I will not.
ENDICOTT.You made a great disturbanceAnd uproar yesterday in the Meeting-house,Having your hat on.
WHARTON.I made no disturbance;For peacefully I stood, like other people.I spake no words; moved against none my hand;But by the hair they haled me out, and dashedTheir hooks into my face.
ENDICOTT.You, Edward Wharton,On pain of death, depart this JurisdictionWithin ten days. Such is your sentence. Go.
WHARTON.John Endicott, it had been well for theeIf this day's doings thou hadst left undoneBut, banish me as far as thou hast power,Beyond the guard and presence of my GodThou canst not banish me.
ENDICOTT.Depart the Court;We have no time to listen to your babble.Who's next? [Exit WHARTON.
MERRY.This woman, for the same offence.
ENDICOTT.What is your name?
EDITH.'T is to the world unknown,But written in the Book of Life.
ENDICOTT.Take heedIt be not written in the Book of Death!What is it?
EDITH.Edith Christison.
ENDICOTT (with eagerness).The daughterOf Wenlock Christison?
EDITH.I am his daughter.
ENDICOTT.Your father hath given us trouble many times.A bold man and a violent, who setsAt naught the authority of our Church and State,And is in banishment on pain of death.Where are you living?
EDITH.In the Lord.
ENDICOTT.Make answerWithout evasion. Where?
EDITH.My outward beingIs in Barbadoes.
ENDICOTT.Then why come you here?
EDITH.I come upon an errand of the Lord.
ENDICOTT.'Tis not the business of the Lord you're doing;It is the Devil's. Will you take the oath?Give her the Book.
EDITH.You offer me this BookTo swear on; and it saith, "Swear not at all,Neither by heaven, because it is God's Throne,Nor by the earth, because it is his footstool!"I dare not swear.
ENDICOTT.You dare not? Yet you QuakersDeny this book of Holy Writ, the Bible,To be the Word of God.
EDITH (reverentially).Christ is the Word,The everlasting oath of God. I dare not.
ENDICOTT.You own yourself a Quaker,--do you not?
EDITH.I own that in derision and reproachI am so called.
ENDICOTT.Then you deny the ScriptureTo be the rule of life.
EDITH.Yea, I believeThe Inner Light, and not the Written Word,To be the rule of life.
ENDICOTT.And you denyThat the Lord's Day is holy.
EDITH.Every dayIs the Lords Day. It runs through all our lives,As through the pages of the Holy Bible,"Thus saith the Lord."
ENDICOTT.You are accused of makingAn horrible disturbance, and affrightingThe people in the Meeting-house on Sunday.What answer make you?
EDITH.I do not denyThat I was present in your Steeple-houseOn the First Day; but I made no disturbance.
ENDICOTT.Why came you there?
EDITH.Because the Lord commanded.His word was in my heart, a burning fireShut up within me and consuming me,And I was very weary with forbearing;I could not stay.
ENDICOTT.'T was not the Lord that sent you;As an incarnate devil did you come!
EDITH.On the First Day, when, seated in my chamber,I heard the bells toll, calling you together,The sound struck at my life, as once at his,The holy man, our Founder, when he heardThe far-off bells toll in the Vale of Beavor.It sounded like a market bell to callThe folk together, that the Priest might setHis wares to sale. And the Lord said within me,"Thou must go cry aloud against that Idol,And all the worshippers thereof." I wentBarefooted, clad in sackcloth, and I stoodAnd listened at the threshold; and I heardThe praying and the singing and the preaching,Which were but outward forms, and without power.Then rose a cry within me, and my heartWas filled with admonitions and reproofs.Remembering how the Prophets and ApostlesDenounced the covetous hirelings and diviners,I entered in, and spake the words the LordCommanded me to speak. I could no less.
ENDICOTT.Are you a Prophetess?
EDITH.Is it not written,"Upon my handmaidens will I pour outMy spirit, and they shall prophesy"?
ENDICOTT.Enough;For out of your own mouth are you condemned!Need we hear further?
THE JUDGES.We are satisfied.
ENDICOTT.It is sufficient. Edith Christison,The sentence of the Court is, that you beScourged in three towns, with forty stripes save one,Then banished upon pain of death!
EDITH.Your sentenceIs truly no more terrible to meThan had you blown a feather into the the air,And, as it fell upon me, you had said,Take heed it hurt thee not! God's will he done!
WENLOCK CHRISTISON (unseen in the crowd).Woe to the city of blood! The stone shall cryOut of the wall; the beam from out the timberShall answer it! Woe unto him that buildethA town with blood, and stablisheth a cityBy his iniquity!
ENDICOTT.Who is it makesSuch outcry here?
CHRISTISON (coming forward).I, Wenlock Christison!
ENDICOTT.Banished on pain of death, why come you here?
CHRISTISON.I come to warn you that you shed no moreThe blood of innocent men! It cries aloudFor vengeance to the Lord!
ENDICOTT.Your life is forfeitUnto the law; and you shall surely die,And shall not live.
CHRISTISON.Like unto Eleazer,Maintaining the excellence of ancient yearsAnd the honor of his gray head, I stand before you;Like him disdaining all hypocrisy,Lest, through desire to live a little longer,I get a stain to my old age and name!
ENDICOTT.Being in banishment, on pain of death,You come now in among us in rebellion.
CHRISTISON.I come not in among you in rebellion,But in obedience to the Lord of heaven.Not in contempt to any Magistrate,But only in the love I bear your souls,As ye shall know hereafter, when all menGive an account of deeds done in the body!God's righteous judgments ye cannot escape.
Those who have gone before you said the same,And yet no judgment of the Lord hath fallenUpon us.
CHRISTISON.He but waiteth till the measureOf your iniquities shall be filled up,And ye have run your race. Then will his wrathDescend upon you to the uttermost!For thy part, Humphrey Atherton, it hangsOver thy head already. It shall comeSuddenly, as a thief doth in the night,And in the hour when least thou thinkest of it!
ENDICOTT.We have a law, and by that law you die.
CHRISTISON.I, a free man of England and freeborn,Appeal unto the laws of mine own nation!
ENDICOTT.There's no appeal to England from this Court!What! do you think our statutes are but paper?Are but dead leaves that rustle in the wind?Or litter to be trampled under foot?What say ye, Judges of the Court,--what say ye?Shall this man suffer death? Speak your opinions.
I am a mortal man, and die I must,And that erelong; and I must then appearBefore the awful judgment-seat of Christ,To give account of deeds done in the body.My greatest glory on that day will be,That I have given my vote against this man.
CHRISTISON.If, Thomas Danforth, thou hast nothing moreTo glory in upon that dreadful dayThan blood of innocent people, then thy gloryWill be turned into shame! The Lord hath said it!
I cannot give consent, while other menWho have been banished upon pain of deathAre now in their own houses here among us.
ENDICOTT.Ye that will not consent, make record of it.I thank my God that I am not afraidTo give my judgment. Wenlock Christison,You must be taken back from hence to prison,Thence to the place of public execution,There to be hanged till you be dead--dead,--dead.
CHRISTISON.If ye have power to take my life from me,--Which I do question,--God hath power to raiseThe principle of life in other men,And send them here among you. There shall beNo peace unto the wicked, saith my God.Listen, ye Magistrates, for the Lord hath said it!The day ye put his servitors to death,That day the Day of your own Visitation,The Day of Wrath shall pass above your heads,And ye shall be accursed forevermore!
Words in this poem 39
- barbadoes n.
- A West Indian island, giving its name to a disease, to a cherry, etc. Barbados cherry (Bot.), a genus of trees of the West Indies (Malpighia) with an agreeably acid fruit resembling a cherry.
- purposely adv.
- With purpose or design; intentionally; with predetermination; designedly.
- sundry a.
- Several; divers; more than one or two; various. [OE. sundry, sondry, AS. syndrig, fr. sundor asunder. See Sunder, v. t.]
- blasphemous a.
- Speaking or writing blasphemy; uttering or exhibiting anything impiously irreverent; profane; as, a blasphemous person; containing blasphemy; as, a blasphemous book; a blasphemous caricature. [L. blasphemus, Gr. .]
- hereby adv.
- By means of this.
- worshipful a.
- Entitled to worship, reverence, or high respect; claiming respect; worthy of honor; -- often used as a term of respect, sometimes ironically.
- hereof adv.
- Of this; concerning this; from this; hence.
- cursed a.
- Deserving a curse; execrable; hateful; detestable; abominable.
- shall v. i.
- To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
- commandment n.
- An order or injunction given by authority; a command; a charge; a precept; a mandate. [OF. commandement, F. commandement.]
- canting a.
- Speaking in a whining tone of voice; using technical or religious terms affectedly; affectedly pious; as, a canting rogue; a canting tone. - Cant"ing*ly, adv.
- depart v. i.
- To part; to divide; to separate. [OE. departen to divide, part, depart, F. départir to divide, distribute, se départir to separate one's self, depart; pref. dé- (L. de) + partir to part, depart,]
- undone a.
- Not done or performed; neglected. [Pref. un- not + done.]
- hast
- , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
- offence n.
- The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury. [F., fr. L. offensa. See Offend.]
- saith
- 3d pers. sing. pres. of Say.
- footstool n.
- A low stool to support the feet of one when sitting.
- reverentially adv.
- In a reverential manner.
- quaker n.
- One who quakes.
- incarnate a.
- Not in the flesh; spiritual. [Pref. in- not + carnate.]
- vale n.
- A tract of low ground, or of land between hills; a valley. [OE. val, F. val, L. vallis; perhaps akin to Gr. Avalanche, Vail to lower, Valley.]
- folk n.
- In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe. [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS. & OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd, and perh. to E. follow.]
- aloud adv.
- With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly. [Pref. a- + loud.]
- idol n.
- An image or representation of anything. [OE. idole, F. idole, L. idolum, fr. Gr. Wit, and cf. Eidolon.]
- went n.
- Course; way; path; journey; direction.
- barefooted a.
- Having the feet bare.
- clad v.
- To clothe. Holland.
- sackcloth n.
- Linen or cotton cloth such a sacks are made of; coarse cloth; anciently, a cloth or garment worn in mourning, distress, mortification, or penitence.
- covetous a.
- Very desirous; eager to obtain; -- used in a good sense. [OF. coveitos, F. convoiteux. See Covet, v. t.]
- prophetess n.
- A female prophet. [Cf. F. prophétesse, L. prophetissa.]
- unseen a.
- Not seen or discovered.
- hereafter adv.
- In time to come; in some future time or state. [AS. hræfter.]
- uttermost a.
- Extreme; utmost; being; in the farthest, greatest, or highest degree; as, the uttermost extent or end. [From Utter, a.; cf. Utmost, and Outermost.]
- freeborn a.
- Born free; not born in vasssalage; inheriting freedom.
- rustle v. i.
- To make a quick succession of small sounds, like the rubbing or moving of silk cloth or dry leaves. [AS. hristlan to rustle; or cf. Sw. rusta to stir, make a riot, or E. rush, v.]
- erelong adv.
- Before the ere long.
- dreadful a.
- Full of dread or terror; fearful.
- thank n.
- A expression of gratitude; an acknowledgment expressive of a sense of favor or kindness received; obligation, claim, or desert, or gratitude; -- now generally used in the plural. [AS. Þanc, Þonc, thanks, favor, thought; akin to OS. thank favor, pleasure, thanks, D. & G. dank thanks, Icel. Þ\'94kk, Dan. tak, Sw. tack, Goth. Þagks thanks; -]
- visitation n.
- The act of visiting, or the state of being visited; access for inspection or examination. [L. visitatio: cf. F. visitation.]
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
Act III: Scene I. — The Court of Assistants, Endicott, Bellingham,, Atherton, and Other Magistrates. Kempthorn, Merry, And, Constables. Afterwards Wharton, Edith, and Christison is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Project Gutenberg ebook #1365; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Act III: Scene I. — The Court of Assistants, Endicott, Bellingham,, Atherton, and Other Magistrates. Kempthorn, Merry, And, Constables. Afterwards Wharton, Edith, and Christison, in Christus: A Mystery (1872), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #1365, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/longfellow-christus/act-iii-scene-i-the-court-of-assistants-endicott-bellingham-.html, id L19223.
Form and metre
Act III: Scene I. — The Court of Assistants, Endicott, Bellingham,, Atherton, and Other Magistrates. Kempthorn, Merry, And, Constables. Afterwards Wharton, Edith, and Christison is 353 lines in 86 stanzas.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.
- 3 ---------AA- endicott · bringing · barbadoes · people · maintaining · opinions · propagate · them · contain · blasphemousA · usA · charge
- 5 ---A-A---- endicott · pestilence · plague · courtA · truth · transportA · speedily · barbadoes · charges · imprisonment
- 21 AA whartonA · doneA
- 31 ABA--B whartonA · theeB · undoneA · power · god · meB
- 50 AA endicottA · notA
- 56 -AA-- endicott · makingA · affrightingA · sunday · you
- 61 ----A-B--B--A-------- edith · chamber · together · his · heardA · beavor · callB · set · me · idolB · went · stood · heardA · preaching · power · heart · reproofs · apostles · diviners · lord · less
- 66 -A-A- endicott · christisonA · be · oneA · death
- 73 AA-- endicottA · forfeitA · die · live
- 76 -AA--A-- christison · rebellionA · heavenA · magistrate · souls · menA · body · escape
- 86 AB-AB------ christisonA · meB · raise · menA · beB · god · it · death · visitation · heads · forevermore
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Call Captain Simon Kempthorn. | 7 | ·/˘/˘·· |
| MERRY. | 2 | /˘ |
| Simon Kempthorn, | 4 | /˘·· |
| Come to the bar! | 4 | ···· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| You are accused of bringing | 7 | ··˘/·/˘ |
| Into this Jurisdiction, from Barbadoes, | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| Some persons of that sort and sect of people | 11 | ·/˘······/˘ |
| Known by the name of Quakers, and maintaining | 11 | ·····/˘·˘/˘ |
| Most dangerous and heretical opinions, | 11 | ·/˘·˘/˘˘˘/˘ |
| Purposely coming here to propagate | 10 | /˘˘/˘··/˘· |
| Their heresies and errors; bringing with them | 10 | ·/˘·/˘/˘·· |
| And spreading sundry books here, which contain | 10 | ·/˘/˘···˘/ |
| Their doctrines most corrupt and blasphemous, | 10 | ·/˘·˘/·/˘˘ |
| And contrary to the truth professed among us. | 11 | ·/˘···˘/··· |
| What say you to this charge? | 6 | ······ |
| I do acknowledge, | 5 | ··˘/˘ |
| Among the passengers on board the Swallow | 11 | ···/˘˘···/˘ |
| Were certain persons saying Thee and Thou. | 10 | ·/˘/˘/˘··· |
| They seemed a harmless people, mostways silent, | 11 | ···/˘/˘··/˘ |
| Particularly when they said their prayers. | 10 | ˘/˘˘˘····· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Harmless and silent as the pestilence! | 10 | /˘·/˘··/˘˘ |
| You'd better have brought the fever or the plague | 11 | ·/˘···/˘··· |
| Among us in your ship! Therefore, this Court, | 10 | ·········· |
| For preservation of the Peace and Truth, | 10 | ··˘/˘····· |
| Hereby commands you speedily to transport, | 10 | ˘/˘/·/˘·˘/ |
| Or cause to be transported speedily, | 10 | ····˘/˘/˘˘ |
| The aforesaid persons hence unto Barbadoes, | 11 | ·˘/·/˘····· |
| From whence they came; you paying all the charges | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| Of their imprisonment. | 6 | ··˘/˘˘ |
| KEMPTHORN. | 2 | ·· |
| Worshipful sir, | 4 | /˘˘· |
| No ship e'er prospered that has carried Quakers | 11 | ···/˘··/˘/˘ |
| Against their will! I knew a vessel once-- | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| And for the more effectual performance | 11 | ····˘/˘˘˘/˘ |
| Hereof you are to give security | 10 | ˘/····˘/˘˘ |
| In bonds amounting to one hundred pounds. | 10 | ··˘/˘··/˘· |
| On your refusal, you will be committed | 11 | ··˘/˘···˘/˘ |
| To prison till you do it. | 7 | ·/˘···· |
| KEMPTHORN. | 2 | ·· |
| But you see | 3 | ··· |
| I cannot do it. The law, sir, of Barbadoes | 11 | ·/˘········ |
| Forbids the landing Quakers on the island. | 11 | ˘/·/˘/˘··/˘ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Then you will be committed. Who comes next? | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| MERRY. | 2 | /˘ |
| There is another charge against the Captain. | 11 | ··˘/˘····/˘ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| What is it? | 3 | ··· |
| MERRY. | 2 | /˘ |
| Profane swearing, please your Worship. | 8 | ˘//˘··/˘ |
| He cursed and swore from Dock Square to the Court-house, | 11 | ··········· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Then let him stand in the pillory for one hour. | 11 | ······/˘··/ |
| MERRY. | 2 | /˘ |
| The Quakers. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Call them. | 2 | ·· |
| MERRY. | 2 | /˘ |
| Edward Wharton, | 4 | /˘/˘ |
| Come to the bar! | 4 | ···· |
| WHARTON. | 2 | /˘ |
| Yea, even to the bench. | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Take off your hat. | 4 | ···· |
| WHARTON. | 2 | /˘ |
| My hat offendeth not. | 6 | ··˘/˘· |
| If it offendeth any, let him take it; | 11 | ··˘/˘/˘···· |
| For I shall not resist. | 6 | ····˘/ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Take off his hat. | 4 | ···· |
| Let him be fined ten shillings for contempt. | 10 | ·····/˘·˘/ |
| WHARTON. | 2 | /˘ |
| What evil have I done? | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Your hair's too long; | 4 | ···· |
| And in not putting off your hat to us | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| You've disobeyed and broken that commandment | 11 | ··˘/·/˘·˘/˘ |
| Which sayeth "Honor thy father and thy mother." | 11 | ··/˘·/˘··/˘ |
| WHARTON. | 2 | /˘ |
| John Endicott, thou art become too proud; | 10 | ·/˘···˘/·· |
| And loved him who putteth off the hat, | 10 | ··˘··/˘··· |
| And honoreth thee by bowing of the body, | 11 | ·/˘··/˘··/˘ |
| And sayeth "Worshipful sir!" 'T is time for thee | 10 | ··/˘······ |
| To give such follies over, for thou mayest | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Be drawing very near unto thy grave. | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Now, sirrah, leave your canting. Take the oath. | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| WHARTON. | 2 | /˘ |
| Nay, sirrah me no sirrahs! | 7 | ·/˘···· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Will you swear? | 3 | ··· |
| WHARTON. | 2 | /˘ |
| Nay, I will not. | 4 | ···· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| You made a great disturbance | 7 | ····˘/˘ |
| And uproar yesterday in the Meeting-house, | 11 | ·/·/˘···/˘· |
| Having your hat on. | 5 | /˘··· |
| WHARTON. | 2 | /˘ |
| I made no disturbance; | 6 | ···˘/˘ |
| For peacefully I stood, like other people. | 11 | ·/˘˘···/˘/˘ |
| I spake no words; moved against none my hand; | 10 | ·········· |
| But by the hair they haled me out, and dashed | 10 | ·········· |
| Their hooks into my face. | 6 | ······ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| You, Edward Wharton, | 5 | ·/˘/˘ |
| On pain of death, depart this Jurisdiction | 11 | ····˘/··˘/˘ |
| Within ten days. Such is your sentence. Go. | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| WHARTON. | 2 | /˘ |
| John Endicott, it had been well for thee | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| If this day's doings thou hadst left undone | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| But, banish me as far as thou hast power, | 11 | ·/˘······/˘ |
| Beyond the guard and presence of my God | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Thou canst not banish me. | 6 | ···/˘· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Depart the Court; | 4 | ˘/·· |
| We have no time to listen to your babble. | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| Who's next? [Exit WHARTON. | 6 | ··/˘/˘ |
| MERRY. | 2 | /˘ |
| This woman, for the same offence. | 8 | ·/˘···˘/ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| What is your name? | 4 | ···· |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| 'T is to the world unknown, | 7 | ·····˘/ |
| But written in the Book of Life. | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Take heed | 2 | ·· |
| It be not written in the Book of Death! | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| What is it? | 3 | ··· |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| Edith Christison. | 5 | /˘/˘˘ |
| ENDICOTT (with eagerness). | 7 | /˘··/˘˘ |
| The daughter | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Of Wenlock Christison? | 6 | ···/˘˘ |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| I am his daughter. | 5 | ···/˘ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Your father hath given us trouble many times. | 10 | ·/˘·/·/˘/· |
| A bold man and a violent, who sets | 10 | ·····/˘˘·· |
| At naught the authority of our Church and State, | 11 | ···˘/˘·/··· |
| And is in banishment on pain of death. | 10 | ···/˘˘···· |
| Where are you living? | 5 | ···/˘ |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| In the Lord. | 3 | ··· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Make answer | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Without evasion. Where? | 6 | ··˘/˘· |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| My outward being | 5 | ·/˘/˘ |
| Is in Barbadoes. | 4 | ···· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Then why come you here? | 5 | ····· |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| I come upon an errand of the Lord. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| 'Tis not the business of the Lord you're doing; | 11 | ···/˘····/˘ |
| It is the Devil's. Will you take the oath? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Give her the Book. | 4 | ···· |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| You offer me this Book | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| To swear on; and it saith, "Swear not at all, | 10 | ·········· |
| Neither by heaven, because it is God's Throne, | 10 | /˘·/······ |
| Nor by the earth, because it is his footstool!" | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| I dare not swear. | 4 | ···· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| You dare not? Yet you Quakers | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Deny this book of Holy Writ, the Bible, | 11 | ˘/···/˘··/˘ |
| To be the Word of God. | 6 | ······ |
| EDITH (reverentially). | 7 | /˘····· |
| Christ is the Word, | 4 | ···· |
| The everlasting oath of God. I dare not. | 11 | ··˘/˘······ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| You own yourself a Quaker,--do you not? | 10 | ··˘/·/˘··· |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| I own that in derision and reproach | 10 | ····˘/˘·˘/ |
| I am so called. | 4 | ···· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Then you deny the Scripture | 7 | ··˘/·/˘ |
| To be the rule of life. | 6 | ······ |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| Yea, I believe | 4 | ··˘/ |
| The Inner Light, and not the Written Word, | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| To be the rule of life. | 6 | ······ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| And you deny | 4 | ··˘/ |
| That the Lord's Day is holy. | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| Every day | 4 | /˘˘· |
| Is the Lords Day. It runs through all our lives, | 10 | ········/· |
| As through the pages of the Holy Bible, | 11 | ···/˘··/˘/˘ |
| "Thus saith the Lord." | 4 | ···· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| You are accused of making | 7 | ··˘/·/˘ |
| An horrible disturbance, and affrighting | 10 | ·/˘˘/˘···· |
| The people in the Meeting-house on Sunday. | 11 | ·/˘··/˘··/· |
| What answer make you? | 5 | ·/˘·· |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| I do not deny | 5 | ···˘/ |
| That I was present in your Steeple-house | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| On the First Day; but I made no disturbance. | 11 | ········˘/˘ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Why came you there? | 4 | ···· |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| Because the Lord commanded. | 7 | ····˘/˘ |
| His word was in my heart, a burning fire | 11 | ·······/˘/˘ |
| Shut up within me and consuming me, | 10 | ······˘/˘· |
| And I was very weary with forbearing; | 11 | ···/˘/˘·˘/˘ |
| I could not stay. | 4 | ···· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| 'T was not the Lord that sent you; | 8 | ········ |
| As an incarnate devil did you come! | 10 | ··˘/˘/˘··· |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| On the First Day, when, seated in my chamber, | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| I heard the bells toll, calling you together, | 11 | ·····/˘·˘/˘ |
| The sound struck at my life, as once at his, | 10 | ·········· |
| The holy man, our Founder, when he heard | 10 | ·/˘·//˘··· |
| The far-off bells toll in the Vale of Beavor. | 11 | ··········· |
| It sounded like a market bell to call | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| The folk together, that the Priest might set | 10 | ··˘/˘····· |
| His wares to sale. And the Lord said within me, | 11 | ··········· |
| "Thou must go cry aloud against that Idol, | 11 | ····˘/···/˘ |
| And all the worshippers thereof." I went | 10 | ···/˘˘···· |
| Barefooted, clad in sackcloth, and I stood | 10 | /·˘··/˘··· |
| And listened at the threshold; and I heard | 10 | ·/˘··/···· |
| The praying and the singing and the preaching, | 11 | ·/˘··/˘··/˘ |
| Which were but outward forms, and without power. | 11 | ···/˘····/˘ |
| Then rose a cry within me, and my heart | 10 | ·········· |
| Was filled with admonitions and reproofs. | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| Remembering how the Prophets and Apostles | 11 | ˘/˘··/˘·˘/˘ |
| Denounced the covetous hirelings and diviners, | 13 | ˘/·/˘˘······· |
| I entered in, and spake the words the Lord | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Commanded me to speak. I could no less. | 10 | ˘/˘······· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Are you a Prophetess? | 6 | ···/˘˘ |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| Is it not written, | 5 | ···/˘ |
| "Upon my handmaidens will I pour out | 10 | ·········· |
| My spirit, and they shall prophesy"? | 9 | ·/˘···/˘˘ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Enough; | 2 | ˘/ |
| For out of your own mouth are you condemned! | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Need we hear further? | 5 | ···/˘ |
| THE JUDGES. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| We are satisfied. | 5 | ··/˘· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| It is sufficient. Edith Christison, | 10 | ··˘/˘/˘/˘˘ |
| The sentence of the Court is, that you be | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Scourged in three towns, with forty stripes save one, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Then banished upon pain of death! | 9 | ·/˘˘····· |
| EDITH. | 2 | /˘ |
| Your sentence | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Is truly no more terrible to me | 10 | ·/˘··/˘˘·· |
| Than had you blown a feather into the the air, | 12 | ·····/˘····· |
| And, as it fell upon me, you had said, | 10 | ·········· |
| Take heed it hurt thee not! God's will he done! | 10 | ·········· |
| WENLOCK CHRISTISON (unseen in the crowd). | 10 | ··/˘˘˘/··· |
| Woe to the city of blood! The stone shall cry | 11 | ···/˘······ |
| Out of the wall; the beam from out the timber | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Shall answer it! Woe unto him that buildeth | 11 | ·/˘······/˘ |
| A town with blood, and stablisheth a city | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| By his iniquity! | 6 | ··˘/˘˘ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Who is it makes | 4 | ···· |
| Such outcry here? | 4 | ·/·· |
| CHRISTISON (coming forward). | 7 | /˘˘/˘/˘ |
| I, Wenlock Christison! | 6 | ···/˘˘ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Banished on pain of death, why come you here? | 10 | /˘········ |
| CHRISTISON. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| I come to warn you that you shed no more | 10 | ·········· |
| The blood of innocent men! It cries aloud | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| For vengeance to the Lord! | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Your life is forfeit | 5 | ···/˘ |
| Unto the law; and you shall surely die, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And shall not live. | 4 | ···· |
| CHRISTISON. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| Like unto Eleazer, | 6 | ···/˘˘ |
| Maintaining the excellence of ancient years | 10 | ˘/˘·/˘·/˘· |
| And the honor of his gray head, I stand before you; | 13 | ··/˘········· |
| Like him disdaining all hypocrisy, | 10 | ··˘/˘·˘/˘˘ |
| Lest, through desire to live a little longer, | 11 | ··˘/···/˘/˘ |
| I get a stain to my old age and name! | 10 | ·········· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Being in banishment, on pain of death, | 10 | /˘·/˘˘···· |
| You come now in among us in rebellion. | 11 | ········˘/˘ |
| CHRISTISON. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| I come not in among you in rebellion, | 11 | ········˘/˘ |
| But in obedience to the Lord of heaven. | 10 | ··˘/˘····/ |
| Not in contempt to any Magistrate, | 10 | ··˘/·/˘/˘· |
| But only in the love I bear your souls, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| As ye shall know hereafter, when all men | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| Give an account of deeds done in the body! | 11 | ··˘/·····/˘ |
| God's righteous judgments ye cannot escape. | 10 | ·/˘/˘·˘/˘/ |
| Those who have gone before you said the same, | 10 | ·········· |
| And yet no judgment of the Lord hath fallen | 11 | ···/˘····/˘ |
| Upon us. | 3 | ··· |
| CHRISTISON. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| He but waiteth till the measure | 8 | ··/˘··/˘ |
| Of your iniquities shall be filled up, | 10 | ··˘/˘˘···· |
| And ye have run your race. Then will his wrath | 10 | ·········· |
| Descend upon you to the uttermost! | 10 | ˘/·····/˘˘ |
| For thy part, Humphrey Atherton, it hangs | 10 | ···/˘/˘˘·· |
| Over thy head already. It shall come | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| Suddenly, as a thief doth in the night, | 10 | /˘˘······· |
| And in the hour when least thou thinkest of it! | 11 | ···/···/˘·· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| We have a law, and by that law you die. | 10 | ·········· |
| CHRISTISON. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| I, a free man of England and freeborn, | 10 | ·····/˘·/˘ |
| Appeal unto the laws of mine own nation! | 11 | ˘/·······/˘ |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| There's no appeal to England from this Court! | 10 | ··˘/·/˘··· |
| What! do you think our statutes are but paper? | 11 | ····//˘··/˘ |
| Are but dead leaves that rustle in the wind? | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Or litter to be trampled under foot? | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| What say ye, Judges of the Court,--what say ye? | 11 | ···/˘······ |
| Shall this man suffer death? Speak your opinions. | 11 | ···/˘···˘/˘ |
| I am a mortal man, and die I must, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| And that erelong; and I must then appear | 11 | ·········˘/ |
| Before the awful judgment-seat of Christ, | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| To give account of deeds done in the body. | 11 | ··˘/·····/˘ |
| My greatest glory on that day will be, | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| That I have given my vote against this man. | 10 | ···/······ |
| CHRISTISON. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| If, Thomas Danforth, thou hast nothing more | 10 | ·/˘/˘··/˘· |
| To glory in upon that dreadful day | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| Than blood of innocent people, then thy glory | 11 | ···/˘/˘··/˘ |
| Will be turned into shame! The Lord hath said it! | 11 | ··········· |
| I cannot give consent, while other men | 10 | ·/˘·˘/·/˘· |
| Who have been banished upon pain of death | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Are now in their own houses here among us. | 11 | ·····/˘···· |
| ENDICOTT. | 3 | /˘· |
| Ye that will not consent, make record of it. | 11 | ····˘/·/˘·· |
| I thank my God that I am not afraid | 10 | ········˘/ |
| To give my judgment. Wenlock Christison, | 10 | ···/˘··/˘˘ |
| You must be taken back from hence to prison, | 11 | ···/˘····/˘ |
| Thence to the place of public execution, | 11 | ·····/˘·˘/˘ |
| There to be hanged till you be dead--dead,--dead. | 10 | ·········· |
| CHRISTISON. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| If ye have power to take my life from me,-- | 10 | ···/······ |
| Which I do question,--God hath power to raise | 10 | ···/˘··/·· |
| The principle of life in other men, | 10 | ·/˘˘···/˘· |
| And send them here among you. There shall be | 10 | ·········· |
| No peace unto the wicked, saith my God. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Listen, ye Magistrates, for the Lord hath said it! | 12 | /˘·/˘······· |
| The day ye put his servitors to death, | 10 | ·········· |
| That day the Day of your own Visitation, | 11 | ········˘/˘ |
| The Day of Wrath shall pass above your heads, | 10 | ·········· |
| And ye shall be accursed forevermore! | 10 | ·········· |
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.