I say to you, in all sincerity, I never have appeared to anyone In my own person.If the Devil takes My shape to hurt these children, or afflict them, I am not guilty of it.And I say It's all a mere delusion of the senses.
DEACON.
I greatly fear that you will find too late It is not so.
MARTHA (rising).
They do accuse me falsely.
It is delusion, or it is deceit.
There is a story in the ancient Scriptures Which 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 vineyard Hard 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 worth In money.And then Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me that I should give The inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
And Ahab came into his house displeased And heavy at the words which Naboth spake, And laid him down upon his bed, and turned His face away; and he would eat no bread.
And Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, came And said to him, Why is thy spirit sad?
And he said unto her, Because I spake To 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 letters Unto the elders that were in his city Dwelling 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 city Did even as Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, Had sent to them and written in the letters.
And then it came to pass, when Ahab heard Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose to go Down unto Naboth's vineyard, and to take Possession of it.And the word of God Came to Elijah, saying to him, Arise, Go down to meet the King of Israel In Naboth's vineyard, whither he hath gone To take possession.Thou shalt speak to him, Saying, Thus saith the Lord! What! hast thou killed And also taken possession? In the place Wherein the dogs have licked the blood of Naboth Shall the dogs lick thy blood,--ay, even thine!
Both of the Deacons start from their seats.
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 up The Sons of Belial here to bear false witness And 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!
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.-- Meadows on Ipswich River, COREY and his men mowing;COREY in advance.
COREY.
Well done, my men.You see, I lead the field!
I'm an old man, but I can swing a scythe Better than most of yon, though you be younger.
Hangs his scythe upon a tree.
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."GLOYD.
You're handier at the scythe, but I can beat you At wrestling.
COREY.
Well, perhaps so.I don't know.
I never wrestled with you.Why, you're vexed!
Come, come, don't bear a grudge.
GLOYD.
You are afraid.
COREY.
What should I bc afraid of? All bear witness The challenge comes from him.Now, then, my man.
They wrestle, and GLOYD is thrown.
ONE OF THE MEN.
That's a fair fall.
ANOTHER.
'T was nothing but a foil!
OTHERS.
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.
COREY.
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!
He lifts up a keg of cider, and drinks from it.
GLOYD.
Do you see that? Don't tell me it's not Witchcraft Two of us could not lift that cask as he does!
COREY puts down the keg, and opens a basket.A voice is heard calling.
VOICE.
Ho! Corey, Corey!
COREY.
What is that? I surely Heard some one calling me by name!
VOICE.
Giles Corey!
Enter a boy, running, and out of breath.
BOY.
Is Master Corey here?
COREY.
Yes, here I am.
BOY.
O Master Corey!
COREY.
Well?
BOY.
Your wife--your wife--
COREY.
What's happened to my wife?
BOY.
She's sent to prison!
COREY.
The dream! the dream! O God, be merciful!
BOY.
She sent me here to tell you.
COREY (putting on his jacket).
Where's my horse?
Don't stand there staring, fellows.
Where's my horse?
[Exit COREY.
GLOYD.
Under the trees there.Run, old man, run, run!
You've got some one to wrestle with you now Who'll trip your heels up, with your Cornish hug.
If there's a Devil, he has got you now.
Ah, there he goes! His horse is snorting fire!
ONE OF THE MEN.
John Gloyd, don't talk so! It's a shame to talk so!
He's a good master, though you quarrel with him.
GLOYD.
If hard work and low wages make good masters, Then he is one.But I think otherwise.
Come, let us have our dinner and be merry, And talk about the old man and the Witches.
I know some stories that will make you laugh.
They sit down on the grass, and eat.
Now there are Goody Cloyse and Goody Good, Who have not got a decent tooth between them, And yet these children--the Afflicted Children--Say that they bite them, and show marks of teeth Upon their arms!
ONE OF THE MEN.
