Stay a moment, I want to tell you what I dreamed last night.
Do you believe in dreams?
COREY.
Why, yes and no.
When they come true, then I believe in them When they come false, I don't believe in them.
But let me hear.What did you dream about?
MARTHA.
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 dream Was 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 life Than 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 myself Another 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.
[Exit.
MARTHA.
So this delusion grows from bad to worse First, 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.
[Exit.
SCENE II.-- A street in Salem Village.Enter MATHER and HATHORNE.
MATHER.
Yet one thing troubles me.
HATHORNE.
And what is that?
MATHER.
May not the Devil take the outward shape Of innocent persons? Are we not in danger, Perhaps, of punishing some who are not guilty?
HATHORNE.
As I have said, we do not trust alone To spectral evidence.
MATHER.
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 once Live still, to enter into other bodies.
What have we gained? Surely, there's nothing gained.
HATHORNE.
Doth not the Scripture say, "Thou shalt not suffer A Witch to live"?
MATHER.
The Scripture sayeth it, But speaketh to the Jews; and we are Christians.
What say the laws of England?
HATHORNE.
They make Witchcraft Felony 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?
MATHER.
A curious volume.I remember also The plot of the Two Hundred, with one Fian, The Registrar of the Devil, at their head, To drown his Majesty on his return From Denmark; how they sailed in sieves or riddles Unto 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' Reel Upon a jews-harp.
HATHORNE.
Then you know full well The English law, and that in England Witches, When lawfully convicted and attainted, Are put to death.
MATHER.
When lawfully convicted;
That is the point.
HATHORNE.
You heard the evidence Produced before us yesterday at the trial Of Bridget Bishop.
MATHER.
One of the Afflicted, I know, bore witness to the apparition Of ghosts unto the spectre of this Bishop, Saying, "You murdered us!" of the truth whereof There was in matter of fact too much Suspicion.
HATHORNE.
And when she cast her eyes on the Afflicted, They were struck down; and this in such a manner There 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.
MATHER.
What most convinced me of the woman's guilt Was finding hidden in her cellar wall Those poppets made of rags, with headless pins Stuck into them point outwards, and whereof She could not give a reasonable account.
HATHORNE.
When you shall read the testimony given Before the Court in all the other cases, I am persuaded you will find the proof No less conclusive than it was in this.
Come, then, with me, and I will tax your patience With reading of the documents so far As may convince you that these sorcerers Are lawfully convicted and attainted.
Like doubting Thomas, you shall lay your hand Upon these wounds, and you will doubt no more.
{Exeunt.
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 come To question me, and learn from my own lips If 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 you Has 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 believe In 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 Children Say you appeared to them.
MARTHA.
And did they say What 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 see The clothes you wore.
MARTHA.
The cunning, crafty girls!