Act III
COREY (rising).Well, now I've told you all I saw and heardOf Bridget Bishop; and I must be gone.
Don't go into the village, Giles, to-day.Last night you came back tired and out of humor.
Say, angry; say, right angry. I was neverIn a more devilish temper in my life.All things went wrong with me.
You were much vexed;So don't go to the village.
COREY (going).No, I won't.I won't go near it. We are going to mowThe Ipswich meadows for the aftermath,The crop of sedge and rowens.
Stay a moment,I want to tell you what I dreamed last night.Do you believe in dreams?
Why, yes and no.When they come true, then I believe in themWhen they come false, I don't believe in them.But let me hear. What did you dream about?
I dreamed that you and I were both in prison;That we had fetters on our hands and feet;That we were taken before the Magistrates,And tried for Witchcraft, and condemned to death!I wished to pray; they would not let me pray;You tried to comfort me, and they forbade it.But the most dreadful thing in all my dreamWas that they made you testify against me!And then there came a kind of mist between us;I could not see you; and I woke in terror.I never was more thankful in my lifeThan when I found you sleeping at my side!
COREY (with tenderness).It was our talk last night that made you dream.I'm sorry for it. I'll control myselfAnother time, and keep my temper down!I do not like such dreams.--Remember, Martha,I'm going to mow the Ipswich River meadows;If Gardner comes, you'll tell him where to find me.
So this delusion grows from bad to worseFirst, a forsaken and forlorn old woman,Ragged and wretched, and without a friend;Then something higher. Now it's Bridget Bishop;God only knows whose turn it will be next!The Magistrates are blind, the people mad!If they would only seize the Afflicted Children,And put them in the Workhouse, where they should be,There'd be an end of all this wickedness.
SCENE II. -- A street in Salem Village. Enter MATHER and
Yet one thing troubles me.
And what is that?
May not the Devil take the outward shapeOf innocent persons? Are we not in danger,Perhaps, of punishing some who are not guilty?
As I have said, we do not trust aloneTo spectral evidence.
And then again,If any shall be put to death for Witchcraft,We do but kill the body, not the soul.The Unclean Spirits that possessed them onceLive still, to enter into other bodies.What have we gained? Surely, there's nothing gained.
Doth not the Scripture say, "Thou shalt not sufferA Witch to live"?
The Scripture sayeth it,But speaketh to the Jews; and we are Christians.What say the laws of England?
They make WitchcraftFelony without the benefit of Clergy.Witches are burned in England. You have read--For you read all things, not a book escapes you--The famous Demonology of King James?
A curious volume. I remember alsoThe plot of the Two Hundred, with one Fian,The Registrar of the Devil, at their head,To drown his Majesty on his returnFrom Denmark; how they sailed in sieves or riddlesUnto North Berwick Kirk in Lothian,And, landing there, danced hand in hand, and sang,"Goodwife, go ye before! good wife, go ye!If ye'll not go before, goodwife, let me!"While Geilis Duncan played the Witches' ReelUpon a jews-harp.
Then you know full wellThe English law, and that in England Witches,When lawfully convicted and attainted,Are put to death.
When lawfully convicted;That is the point.
You heard the evidenceProduced before us yesterday at the trialOf Bridget Bishop.
One of the Afflicted,I know, bore witness to the apparitionOf ghosts unto the spectre of this Bishop,Saying, "You murdered us!" of the truth whereofThere was in matter of fact too much Suspicion.
And when she cast her eyes on the Afflicted,They were struck down; and this in such a mannerThere could be no collusion in the business.And when the accused but laid her hand upon them,As they lay in their swoons, they straight revived,Although they stirred not when the others touched them.
What most convinced me of the woman's guiltWas finding hidden in her cellar wallThose poppets made of rags, with headless pinsStuck into them point outwards, and whereofShe could not give a reasonable account.
When you shall read the testimony givenBefore the Court in all the other cases,I am persuaded you will find the proofNo less conclusive than it was in this.Come, then, with me, and I will tax your patienceWith reading of the documents so farAs may convince you that these sorcerersAre lawfully convicted and attainted.Like doubting Thomas, you shall lay your handUpon these wounds, and you will doubt no more.{Exeunt.
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?
'T was only a surmise.
We came to ask you,You being with us in church covenant,What part you have, if any, in these matters.
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?
So much we're bound to own,And say it frankly, and without reserve.
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.
How can you say that it is a delusion,When all our learned and good men believe it,--Our Ministers and worshipful Magistrates?
Their eyes are blinded and see not the truth.Perhaps one day they will be open to it.
You answer boldly. The Afflicted ChildrenSay you appeared to them.
And did they sayWhat clothes I came in?
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.
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.
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.
We will hear it.
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!
SCENE IV. -- Meadows on Ipswich River, COREY and his men mowing;COREY in advance.
Well done, my men. You see, I lead the field!I'm an old man, but I can swing a scytheBetter than most of you, though you be younger.
GLOYD (aside to the others).How strong he is! It's supernatural.No man so old as he is has such strength.The Devil helps him!
COREY (wiping his forehead).Now we'll rest awhile,And take our nooning. What's the matter with you?You are not angry with me,--are you, Gloyd?Come, come, we will not quarrel. Let's be friends.It's an old story, that the Raven said,"Read the Third of Colossians and fifteenth."
You're handier at the scythe, but I can beat youAt wrestling.
Well, perhaps so. I don't know.I never wrestled with you. Why, you're vexed!Come, come, don't bear a grudge.
You are afraid.
What should I be afraid of? All bear witnessThe challenge comes from him. Now, then, my man.
That's a fair fall.
'T was nothing but a foil!
You've hurt him!
COREY (helping GLOYD rise).No; this meadow-land is soft.You're not hurt,--are you, Gloyd?
GLOYD (rising).No, not much hurt.
Well, then, shake hands; and there's an end of it.How do you like that Cornish hug, my lad?And now we'll see what's in our basket here.
GLOYD (aside).The Devil and all his imps are in that man!The clutch of his ten fingers burns like fire!
COREY (reverentially taking off his hat).God bless the food He hath provided for us,And make us thankful for it, for Christ's sake!
Do you see that? Don't tell me it's not WitchcraftTwo of us could not lift that cask as he does!
Words in this poem 37
- angry a.
- Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous. [See Anger.]
- went n.
- Course; way; path; journey; direction.
- dreadful a.
- Full of dread or terror; fearful.
- testify v. i.
- To make a solemn declaration, verbal or written, to establish some fact; to give testimony for the purpose of communicating to others a knowledge of something not known to them. [OF. testifier, L. testificari; testis a witness + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy, and cf. Attest, Contest, Detest, Protest, Testament.]
- thankful a.
- Obtaining or deserving thanks; thankworthy. [AS. Þancfull.]
- forlorn a.
- Deserted abandoned; lost. [OE., p.p. of forlesen to lose utterly, AS. forleósan (p.p. forloren); pref. for- + leósan (in comp.) to lose; cf. D. verliezen to lose, G. verlieren, Sw. förlor]
- workhouse n.
- A house where any manufacture is carried on; a workshop. [AS. weorch.]
- 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,]
- shalt
- 2d per. sing. of Shall.
- curious a.
- Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful; scrupulous; nice; exact. [OF. curios, curius, F. curieux, L. curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See Cure.]
- registrar n.
- One who registers; a recorder; a keeper of records; as, a registrar of births, deaths, and marriages. See Register, n., 3. [LL. registrarius, or F. régistraire. See Register.]
- kirk n.
- A church or the church, in the various senses of the word; esp., the Church of Scotland as distinguished from other reformed churches, or from the Roman Catholic Church. Jamieson. [Scot.; cf. Icel. kirkja, of Greek origin. See Church.]
- goodwife n.
- The mistress of a house. Robynson (More's Utopia).
- spectre n.
- Something preternaturally visible; an apparition; a ghost; a phantom. [F. spectre, fr. L. spectrum an appearance, image, specter, fr. specere to look. See Spy, and cf. Spectrum.]
- whereof adv.
- Of which; of whom; formerly, also, with which; -- used relatively.
- collusion n.
- A secret agreement and cooperation for a fraudulent or deceitful purpose; a playing into each other's hands; deceit; fraud; cunning. [L. collusio: cf. F. collusion. See Collude.]
- headless a.
- Having no head; beheaded; as, a headless body, neck, or carcass. [AS. heáfodleás.]
- outwards adv.
- From the interior part; in a direction from the interior toward the exterior; out; to the outside; beyond; off; away; as, a ship bound outward. [AS. . See Out, and -ward, -wards.]
- convince v. t.
- To overpower; to overcome; to subdue or master. [L. convincere, -victum, to refute, prove; con- + vincere to conquer. See Victor, and cf. Convict.]
- exeunt
- They go out, or retire from the scene; as, exeunt all except Hamlet. See 1st Exit. [L., 3d pers. pl. pres. of exire to go out.]
- frankly adv.
- In a frank manner; freely.
- worshipful a.
- Entitled to worship, reverence, or high respect; claiming respect; worthy of honor; -- often used as a term of respect, sometimes ironically.
- boldly adv.
- In a bold manner. [AS. bealdlice.]
- anyone n.
- One taken at random rather than by selection; anybody.
- afflict v. t.
- To strike or cast down; to overthrow. [L. afflictus, p. p. of affigere to cast down, deject; ad + fligere to strike: cf. OF. aflit, afflict, p. p. Cf. Flagellate.]
- vineyard n.
- An inclosure or yard for grapevines; a plantation of vines producing grapes. [For OE. winyard, AS. wingeard; influenced by E. vine. See Wine, and Yard an inclosure.]
- jezebel n.
- A bold, vicious woman; a termagant. Spectator. [From Jezebel, Heb. Izebel, the wife of Ahab king of Israel.]
- wrote v. i.
- To root with the snout. See 1st Root. [OE. wroten. See 1st Root.]
- belial n.
- An evil spirit; a wicked and unprincipled person; the personification of evil. [Heb. beli ya'al; beli without + ya'al profit.]
- didst
- , the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
- blaspheme v. t.
- To speak of, or address, with impious irreverence; to revile impiously (anything sacred); as, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. [OE. blasfem, L. blasphemare, fr. Gr. : cf. F. blasphémer. See Blame, v.]
- whither adv.
- To what place; -- used interrogatively; as, whither goest thou [OE. whider. AS. hwider; akin to E. where, who; cf. Goth. hvadre whither. See Who, and cf. Hither, Thither.]
- saith
- 3d pers. sing. pres. of Say.
- hast
- , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
- awhile adv.
- For a while; for some time; for a short time. [Adj. a + while time, interval.]
- nooning n.
- A rest at noon; a repast at noon.
- reverentially adv.
- In a reverential manner.
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
Act III 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, in The Complete Poetical Works (1839–1882), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #1365, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/longfellow-poems/act-iii-2.html, id L17977.
Form and metre
Act III is 275 lines in 63 verse paragraphs. It is unrhymed, as far as the pronouncing dictionary can tell. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 86%). 94% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 9.2 syllables. 83 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 26% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.
See other poems in iambic pentameter, other poems in blank verse.
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.
- 7 -AA- no · themA · themA · about
- 20 -A-A-A-BB-- also · fianA · head · returnA · riddles · lothianA · sang · yeB · meB · reel · harp
- 24 -A--A afflicted · apparitionA · bishop · whereof · suspicionA
- 25 ---A-A afflicted · manner · business · themA · revived · themA
- 32 ----A-A whatsoever · woman · loom · wife · youA · day · trueA
- 44 --A---A------B---B------------------- vineyard · ahab · nabothA · vineyard · herbs · it · worthA · ahab · give · thee · displeased · spake · turned · breadB · came · sad · spake · saidB · saying · thee · said · israel · merry · thee · name · letters · city · nobles · fast · people · belial · say · king · die · city · ahab · letters
- 46 --A----A israel · enemy · theeA · up · witness · people · last · theeA
- 50 A--A--- foreheadA · awhile · you · gloydA · friends · said · fifteenth
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. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| COREY (rising). | 4 | /˘/˘ |
| Well, now I've told you all I saw and heard | 10 | ·········· |
| Of Bridget Bishop; and I must be gone. | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| Don't go into the village, Giles, to-day. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Last night you came back tired and out of humor. | 11 | ·····/···/˘ |
| Say, angry; say, right angry. I was never | 11 | ·/˘··/˘··/˘ |
| In a more devilish temper in my life. | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| All things went wrong with me. | 6 | ······ |
| You were much vexed; | 4 | ···· |
| So don't go to the village. | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| COREY (going). | 4 | /˘/˘ |
| No, I won't. | 3 | ··· |
| I won't go near it. We are going to mow | 10 | ·······/·· |
| The Ipswich meadows for the aftermath, | 10 | ···/···/˘· |
| The crop of sedge and rowens. | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Stay a moment, | 4 | ··/˘ |
| I want to tell you what I dreamed last night. | 10 | ·········· |
| Do you believe in dreams? | 6 | ··˘/·· |
| Why, yes and no. | 4 | ···· |
| When they come true, then I believe in them | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| When they come false, I don't believe in them. | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| But let me hear. What did you dream about? | 10 | ·········· |
| I dreamed that you and I were both in prison; | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| That we had fetters on our hands and feet; | 10 | ···/˘·/··· |
| That we were taken before the Magistrates, | 11 | ···/˘···/˘· |
| And tried for Witchcraft, and condemned to death! | 10 | ···/··˘/·· |
| I wished to pray; they would not let me pray; | 10 | ·········· |
| You tried to comfort me, and they forbade it. | 11 | ···/˘···˘/· |
| But the most dreadful thing in all my dream | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Was that they made you testify against me! | 11 | ·····/˘···· |
| And then there came a kind of mist between us; | 11 | ··········· |
| I could not see you; and I woke in terror. | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| I never was more thankful in my life | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| Than when I found you sleeping at my side! | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| COREY (with tenderness). | 6 | /˘·/˘˘ |
| It was our talk last night that made you dream. | 10 | ··/······· |
| I'm sorry for it. I'll control myself | 10 | ·/˘···˘/·/ |
| Another time, and keep my temper down! | 10 | ˘/˘····/˘· |
| I do not like such dreams.--Remember, Martha, | 11 | ······˘/˘/˘ |
| I'm going to mow the Ipswich River meadows; | 11 | ·/·····/˘/· |
| If Gardner comes, you'll tell him where to find me. | 11 | ·/˘········ |
| So this delusion grows from bad to worse | 10 | ··˘/˘····· |
| First, a forsaken and forlorn old woman, | 11 | ··˘/˘·˘/·/˘ |
| Ragged and wretched, and without a friend; | 10 | /˘·/˘····· |
| Then something higher. Now it's Bridget Bishop; | 11 | ·/˘/˘··/˘/˘ |
| God only knows whose turn it will be next! | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| The Magistrates are blind, the people mad! | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| If they would only seize the Afflicted Children, | 12 | ···/˘··˘/˘/˘ |
| And put them in the Workhouse, where they should be, | 11 | ·····/˘···· |
| There'd be an end of all this wickedness. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| SCENE II. -- A street in Salem Village. Enter MATHER and | 14 | ·····/˘/˘/˘/˘· |
| Yet one thing troubles me. | 6 | ···/˘· |
| And what is that? | 4 | ···· |
| May not the Devil take the outward shape | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Of innocent persons? Are we not in danger, | 11 | ·/˘/˘····/˘ |
| Perhaps, of punishing some who are not guilty? | 11 | ˘/·/˘····/˘ |
| As I have said, we do not trust alone | 10 | ········˘/ |
| To spectral evidence. | 6 | ·/˘/˘˘ |
| And then again, | 4 | ··˘/ |
| If any shall be put to death for Witchcraft, | 11 | ·/˘······/· |
| We do but kill the body, not the soul. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| The Unclean Spirits that possessed them once | 10 | ·˘//˘·˘/·· |
| Live still, to enter into other bodies. | 11 | ···/˘··/˘/˘ |
| What have we gained? Surely, there's nothing gained. | 10 | ····/˘·/˘· |
| Doth not the Scripture say, "Thou shalt not suffer | 11 | ···/˘····/˘ |
| A Witch to live"? | 4 | ···· |
| The Scripture sayeth it, | 5 | ·/˘·· |
| But speaketh to the Jews; and we are Christians. | 11 | ·/˘······/˘ |
| What say the laws of England? | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| They make Witchcraft | 4 | ··/· |
| Felony without the benefit of Clergy. | 11 | /˘···/˘˘·/˘ |
| Witches are burned in England. You have read-- | 10 | /˘···/˘··· |
| For you read all things, not a book escapes you-- | 11 | ········˘/· |
| The famous Demonology of King James? | 11 | ·/˘········ |
| A curious volume. I remember also | 11 | ·/˘/˘·˘/˘/˘ |
| The plot of the Two Hundred, with one Fian, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| The Registrar of the Devil, at their head, | 10 | ·/˘···/··· |
| To drown his Majesty on his return | 10 | ···/˘˘··˘/ |
| From Denmark; how they sailed in sieves or riddles | 11 | ·/·······/˘ |
| Unto North Berwick Kirk in Lothian, | 10 | ···/˘··/˘˘ |
| And, landing there, danced hand in hand, and sang, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| "Goodwife, go ye before! good wife, go ye! | 10 | /˘········ |
| If ye'll not go before, goodwife, let me!" | 10 | ······/˘·· |
| While Geilis Duncan played the Witches' Reel | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Upon a jews-harp. | 5 | ····· |
| Then you know full well | 5 | ····· |
| The English law, and that in England Witches, | 11 | ·/˘····/˘/˘ |
| When lawfully convicted and attainted, | 10 | ·/˘˘/˘···· |
| Are put to death. | 4 | ···· |
| When lawfully convicted; | 7 | ·/˘˘˘/˘ |
| That is the point. | 4 | ···· |
| You heard the evidence | 6 | ···/˘˘ |
| Produced before us yesterday at the trial | 12 | ˘/···/˘···/˘ |
| Of Bridget Bishop. | 5 | ·/˘/˘ |
| One of the Afflicted, | 6 | ···˘/˘ |
| I know, bore witness to the apparition | 11 | ···/˘···˘/˘ |
| Of ghosts unto the spectre of this Bishop, | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| Saying, "You murdered us!" of the truth whereof | 11 | /˘·/˘······ |
| There was in matter of fact too much Suspicion. | 12 | ···/˘····˘/˘ |
| And when she cast her eyes on the Afflicted, | 11 | ········˘/˘ |
| They were struck down; and this in such a manner | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| There could be no collusion in the business. | 11 | ····˘/˘··/˘ |
| And when the accused but laid her hand upon them, | 12 | ···˘/······· |
| As they lay in their swoons, they straight revived, | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Although they stirred not when the others touched them. | 11 | ·······/˘·· |
| What most convinced me of the woman's guilt | 10 | ··˘/···/˘· |
| Was finding hidden in her cellar wall | 10 | ·/˘/˘··/˘· |
| Those poppets made of rags, with headless pins | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Stuck into them point outwards, and whereof | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| She could not give a reasonable account. | 10 | ·····/˘˘˘/ |
| When you shall read the testimony given | 11 | ·····/˘·˘/˘ |
| Before the Court in all the other cases, | 11 | ·······/˘/˘ |
| I am persuaded you will find the proof | 10 | ··˘/˘····· |
| No less conclusive than it was in this. | 10 | ··˘/˘····· |
| Come, then, with me, and I will tax your patience | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| With reading of the documents so far | 10 | ·/˘··/˘˘·· |
| As may convince you that these sorcerers | 10 | ··˘/···/˘˘ |
| Are lawfully convicted and attainted. | 10 | ·/˘˘/˘···· |
| Like doubting Thomas, you shall lay your hand | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| Upon these wounds, and you will doubt no more. | 10 | ·········· |
| {Exeunt. | 3 | /˘˘ |
| Be seated. I am glad to see you here. | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| I know what you are come for. You are come | 10 | ·········· |
| To question me, and learn from my own lips | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| If I have any dealings with the Devil; | 11 | ···/˘/˘··/˘ |
| In short, if I'm a Witch. | 6 | ······ |
| DEACON (sitting down). | 5 | /˘/˘· |
| Such is our purpose. | 6 | ··/˘/˘ |
| How could you know beforehand why we came? | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| 'T was only a surmise. | 7 | ··/˘·˘/ |
| We came to ask you, | 5 | ····· |
| You being with us in church covenant, | 10 | ·/˘····/˘˘ |
| What part you have, if any, in these matters. | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| And I make answer, No part whatsoever. | 11 | ···/˘···˘/˘ |
| I am a farmer's wife, a working woman; | 11 | ···/˘··/˘/˘ |
| You see my spinning-wheel, you see my loom, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| You know the duties of a farmer's wife, | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| And are not ignorant that my life among you | 11 | ···/˘······ |
| Has been without reproach until this day. | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| Is it not true? | 4 | ···· |
| So much we're bound to own, | 6 | ······ |
| And say it frankly, and without reserve. | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| I've heard the idle tales that are abroad; | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| I've heard it whispered that I am a Witch; | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| I cannot help it. I do not believe | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| In any Witchcraft. It is a delusion. | 11 | ·/˘/····˘/˘ |
| How can you say that it is a delusion, | 11 | ········˘/˘ |
| When all our learned and good men believe it,-- | 10 | ··/····˘/· |
| Our Ministers and worshipful Magistrates? | 10 | //˘·/˘˘/˘· |
| Their eyes are blinded and see not the truth. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Perhaps one day they will be open to it. | 11 | ˘/·····/˘·· |
| You answer boldly. The Afflicted Children | 11 | ·/˘/˘·˘/˘/˘ |
| Say you appeared to them. | 6 | ··˘/·· |
| And did they say | 4 | ···· |
| What clothes I came in? | 5 | ····· |
| No, they could not tell. | 5 | ····· |
| They said that you foresaw our visit here, | 10 | ·····///˘· |
| And blinded them, so that they could not see | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| The clothes you wore. | 4 | ···· |
| The cunning, crafty girls! | 6 | ·/˘/˘· |
| I say to you, in all sincerity, | 10 | ······˘/˘˘ |
| I never have appeared to anyone | 10 | ·/˘·˘/·/˘· |
| In my own person. If the Devil takes | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| My shape to hurt these children, or afflict them, | 11 | ·····/˘·˘/· |
| I am not guilty of it. And I say | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| It's all a mere delusion of the senses. | 11 | ····˘/˘··/˘ |
| I greatly fear that you will find too late | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| It is not so. | 4 | ···· |
| MARTHA (rising). | 4 | /˘/˘ |
| They do accuse me falsely. | 7 | ··˘/·/˘ |
| It is delusion, or it is deceit. | 10 | ··˘/˘···˘/ |
| There is a story in the ancient Scriptures | 11 | ···/˘··/˘/˘ |
| Which I much wonder comes not to your minds. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Let me repeat it to you. | 7 | ··˘/··· |
| We will hear it. | 4 | ···· |
| It came to pass that Naboth had a vineyard | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Hard by the palace of the King called Ahab. | 11 | ···/˘····/· |
| And Ahab, King of Israel, spake to Naboth, | 11 | ·/···/˘···· |
| And said to him, Give unto me thy vineyard, | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| That I may have it for a garden of herbs, | 11 | ·······/˘·· |
| And I will give a better vineyard for it, | 11 | ·····/˘/˘·· |
| Or, if it seemeth good to thee, its worth | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| In money. And then Naboth said to Ahab, | 11 | ·/˘······/· |
| The Lord forbid it me that I should give | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| The inheritance of my fathers unto thee. | 11 | ·˘/˘··/˘··· |
| And Ahab came into his house displeased | 10 | ·/······˘/ |
| And heavy at the words which Naboth spake, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| And laid him down upon his bed, and turned | 10 | ·········· |
| His face away; and he would eat no bread. | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| And Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, came | 10 | ·/˘˘···/·· |
| And said to him, Why is thy spirit sad? | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And he said unto her, Because I spake | 10 | ·········· |
| To Naboth, to the Jezreelite, and said, | 10 | ·········· |
| Give me thy vineyard; and he answered, saying, | 11 | ···/˘··/˘/˘ |
| I will not give my vineyard unto thee. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| And Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, said, | 10 | ·/˘˘···/·· |
| Dost thou not rule the realm of Israel? | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Arise, eat bread, and let thy heart be merry; | 11 | ˘/·······/˘ |
| I will give Naboth's vineyard unto thee. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| So she wrote letters in King Ahab's name, | 10 | ···/˘··/·· |
| And sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Unto the elders that were in his city | 11 | ···/˘····/˘ |
| Dwelling with Naboth, and unto the nobles; | 11 | /˘·······/˘ |
| And in the letters wrote, Proclaim a fast; | 10 | ···/˘·˘/·· |
| And set this Naboth high among the people, | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| And set two men, the sons of Belial, | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Before him, to bear witness and to say, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Thou didst blaspheme against God and the King; | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| And carry him out and stone him, that he die! | 11 | ·/˘········ |
| And the elders and the nobles in the city | 12 | ··/˘··/˘··/˘ |
| Did even as Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, | 11 | ·/·/˘˘···/· |
| Had sent to them and written in the letters. | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| And then it came to pass, when Ahab heard | 10 | ·······/·· |
| Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose to go | 10 | ·····/···· |
| Down unto Naboth's vineyard, and to take | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Possession of it. And the word of God | 10 | ˘/˘······· |
| Came to Elijah, saying to him, Arise, | 11 | ··˘/˘/˘··˘/ |
| Go down to meet the King of Israel | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| In Naboth's vineyard, whither he hath gone | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| To take possession. Thou shalt speak to him, | 10 | ··˘/˘····· |
| Saying, Thus saith the Lord! What! hast thou killed | 10 | /˘········ |
| And also taken possession? In the place | 11 | ·/˘/˘˘/˘··· |
| Wherein the dogs have licked the blood of Naboth | 11 | ··········· |
| Shall the dogs lick thy blood,--ay, even thine! | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And Ahab then, the King of Israel, | 10 | ·/·····/˘˘ |
| Said, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Elijah the Prophet answered, I have found thee! | 12 | ˘/˘·/˘/˘···· |
| So will it be with those who have stirred up | 10 | ·········· |
| The Sons of Belial here to bear false witness | 12 | ···/˘˘····/˘ |
| And swear away the lives of innocent people; | 11 | ··˘/···/˘/˘ |
| Their enemy will find them out at last, | 10 | ·/˘˘······ |
| The Prophet's voice will thunder, I have found thee! | 11 | ·/˘··/˘···· |
| SCENE IV. -- Meadows on Ipswich River, COREY and his men mowing; | 16 | ··/····/˘/˘···/˘ |
| COREY in advance. | 5 | /˘·˘/ |
| Well done, my men. You see, I lead the field! | 10 | ·········· |
| I'm an old man, but I can swing a scythe | 10 | ·········· |
| Better than most of you, though you be younger. | 11 | /˘·······/˘ |
| GLOYD (aside to the others). | 7 | ·˘/··/˘ |
| How strong he is! It's supernatural. | 10 | ······˘/˘˘ |
| No man so old as he is has such strength. | 10 | ·········· |
| The Devil helps him! | 5 | ·/˘·· |
| COREY (wiping his forehead). | 7 | /˘/˘·/˘ |
| Now we'll rest awhile, | 5 | ···˘/ |
| And take our nooning. What's the matter with you? | 11 | ··//˘··/˘·· |
| You are not angry with me,--are you, Gloyd? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Come, come, we will not quarrel. Let's be friends. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| It's an old story, that the Raven said, | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| "Read the Third of Colossians and fifteenth." | 10 | ········˘/ |
| You're handier at the scythe, but I can beat you | 11 | ·/˘········ |
| At wrestling. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Well, perhaps so. I don't know. | 7 | ·˘/···· |
| I never wrestled with you. Why, you're vexed! | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| Come, come, don't bear a grudge. | 6 | ······ |
| You are afraid. | 4 | ··˘/ |
| What should I be afraid of? All bear witness | 11 | ····˘/···/˘ |
| The challenge comes from him. Now, then, my man. | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| That's a fair fall. | 4 | ···· |
| 'T was nothing but a foil! | 7 | ··/˘··· |
| You've hurt him! | 3 | ··· |
| COREY (helping GLOYD rise). | 6 | /˘/˘·· |
| No; this meadow-land is soft. | 7 | ··/···· |
| You're not hurt,--are you, Gloyd? | 6 | ······ |
| GLOYD (rising). | 3 | ·/˘ |
| No, not much hurt. | 4 | ···· |
| Well, then, shake hands; and there's an end of it. | 10 | ·········· |
| How do you like that Cornish hug, my lad? | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| And now we'll see what's in our basket here. | 10 | ······//˘· |
| GLOYD (aside). | 3 | ·˘/ |
| The Devil and all his imps are in that man! | 10 | ·/········ |
| The clutch of his ten fingers burns like fire! | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| COREY (reverentially taking off his hat). | 12 | /˘·····/˘··· |
| God bless the food He hath provided for us, | 11 | ······˘/˘·· |
| And make us thankful for it, for Christ's sake! | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Do you see that? Don't tell me it's not Witchcraft | 11 | ·········/· |
| Two of us could not lift that cask as he does! | 11 | ··········· |
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.