Act III: Scene III. — A Room in Corey's House. Martha and Two Deacons of the Church

MARTHA.Be seated. I am glad to see you here.I know what you are come for. You are comeTo question me, and learn from my own lipsIf I have any dealings with the Devil;In short, if I'm a Witch.

DEACON (sitting down).Such is our purpose.How could you know beforehand why we came?

MARTHA.'T was only a surmise.

DEACON.We came to ask you,You being with us in church covenant,What part you have, if any, in these matters.

MARTHA.And I make answer, No part whatsoever.I am a farmer's wife, a working woman;You see my spinning-wheel, you see my loom,You know the duties of a farmer's wife,And are not ignorant that my life among youHas been without reproach until this day.Is it not true?

DEACON.So much we're bound to own,And say it frankly, and without reserve.

MARTHA.I've heard the idle tales that are abroad;I've heard it whispered that I am a Witch;I cannot help it. I do not believeIn any Witchcraft. It is a delusion.

DEACON.How can you say that it is a delusion,When all our learned and good men believe it,--Our Ministers and worshipful Magistrates?

MARTHA.Their eyes are blinded and see not the truth.Perhaps one day they will be open to it.

DEACON.You answer boldly. The Afflicted ChildrenSay you appeared to them.

MARTHA.And did they sayWhat clothes I came in?

DEACON.No, they could not tell.They said that you foresaw our visit here,And blinded them, so that they could not seeThe clothes you wore.

MARTHA.The cunning, crafty girls!I say to you, in all sincerity,I never have appeared to anyoneIn my own person. If the Devil takesMy shape to hurt these children, or afflict them,I am not guilty of it. And I sayIt's all a mere delusion of the senses.

DEACON.I greatly fear that you will find too lateIt is not so.

MARTHA (rising).They do accuse me falsely.It is delusion, or it is deceit.There is a story in the ancient ScripturesWhich I much wonder comes not to your minds.Let me repeat it to you.

DEACON.We will hear it.

MARTHA.It came to pass that Naboth had a vineyardHard by the palace of the King called Ahab.And Ahab, King of Israel, spake to Naboth,And said to him, Give unto me thy vineyard,That I may have it for a garden of herbs,And I will give a better vineyard for it,Or, if it seemeth good to thee, its worthIn money. And then Naboth said to Ahab,The Lord forbid it me that I should giveThe inheritance of my fathers unto thee.And Ahab came into his house displeasedAnd heavy at the words which Naboth spake,And laid him down upon his bed, and turnedHis face away; and he would eat no bread.And Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, cameAnd said to him, Why is thy spirit sad?And he said unto her, Because I spakeTo Naboth, to the Jezreelite, and said,Give me thy vineyard; and he answered, saying,I will not give my vineyard unto thee.And Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, said,Dost thou not rule the realm of Israel?Arise, eat bread, and let thy heart be merry;I will give Naboth's vineyard unto thee.So she wrote letters in King Ahab's name,And sealed them with his seal, and sent the lettersUnto the elders that were in his cityDwelling with Naboth, and unto the nobles;And in the letters wrote, Proclaim a fast;And set this Naboth high among the people,And set two men, the sons of Belial,Before him, to bear witness and to say,Thou didst blaspheme against God and the King;And carry him out and stone him, that he die!And the elders and the nobles in the cityDid even as Jezebel, the wife of Ahab,Had sent to them and written in the letters.

And then it came to pass, when Ahab heardNaboth was dead, that Ahab rose to goDown unto Naboth's vineyard, and to takePossession of it. And the word of GodCame to Elijah, saying to him, Arise,Go down to meet the King of IsraelIn Naboth's vineyard, whither he hath goneTo take possession. Thou shalt speak to him,Saying, Thus saith the Lord! What! hast thou killedAnd also taken possession? In the placeWherein the dogs have licked the blood of NabothShall the dogs lick thy blood,--ay, even thine!

And Ahab then, the King of Israel,Said, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?Elijah the Prophet answered, I have found thee!So will it be with those who have stirred upThe Sons of Belial here to bear false witnessAnd swear away the lives of innocent people;Their enemy will find them out at last,The Prophet's voice will thunder, I have found thee!