Giles Corey, Yeoman Part 4

_Paul._ 'Tis a short time, but long enough to need sweetening with a kiss when folk are absent from one another.

_Olive_ (_kisses him_). Oh, be careful, Paul!

_Paul._ Fear not for me, sweetheart, but do thou too be careful, for sometimes danger sneaks at home, when we flee it abroad. Keep away from this witchcraft folly. Good-by, sweetheart. [_They part._ Olive _sets a candle in the window after_ Paul's _exit. Nine-o'clock bell still rings as curtain falls._

Scene II.--_Twelve o'clock at night. Living-room at_ Giles Corey's _house, lighted only by the moon and low fire-light. Enter_ Nancy Fox _with a candle,_ Phoebe _following with a large rag doll._ Nancy _sets the candle on the dresser._

_Nancy._ Be ye sure that Goody Corey is asleep, and Goodman Corey?

_Phoebe_ (_dances across to the door, which she opens slightly, and listens_). They be both a-snoring. Hasten and begin, I pray you, Nancy.

_Nancy._ And Olive?

_Phoebe._ She is asleep, and she is in the south chamber, and could not hear were she awake. Here is my doll. Now show me how to be a witch. Quick, Nancy!

_Nancy._ Whom do you desire to afflict?

_Phoebe_ (_considers_). Let me see. I will afflict Uncle Corey, because he brought me naught from Boston to-day; Olive, because she gave that cape to Ann instead of me; and Aunt Corey, because she set me such a long stint, because she would not let me eat an apple to-night, and because she sent me to bed. I want to stick one pin into Uncle Corey, one into Olive, and three into Aunt Corey.

_Nancy._ Take the doll, p.r.i.c.k it as you will, and say who the p.r.i.c.ks be for. [Phoebe _sticks a pin into the doll._

_Phoebe._ This pin be for Uncle Corey, and this pin be for Olive, and this pin for Aunt Corey, and this pin for Aunt Corey, and this pin for Aunt Corey. Pins! pins!! pins!!! (_Dances._) In truth, Nancy, 'tis rare sport being a witch; but I stuck not in the pins very far, lest they be too sorely hurt.

_Nancy._ Is there any other whom you desire to afflict?

_Phoebe._ I fear I know not any other who has angered me, and I could weep for 't. Stay! I'll afflict Ann, because she hath the cape; and I'll afflict Paul Bayley, because I'm drove forth from the fore room Sabbath nights when he comes a-courting; and I'll afflict Minister Parris, because he put me too hard a question from the catechism; that makes three more. Oh, 'tis rare sport! (_Seizes the doll and sticks in three pins._) This pin be for Ann, this pin be for Paul, and this pin be for Minister Parris. Deary me, I can think of no more! What next, Nancy?

_Nancy._ I'll do some witchcraft now. I desire to afflict your aunt Corey, because she doth drive me hither and thither like a child, and sets no value on my understanding; Olive, because she made a jest of me; and Goody Bishop, because she hath a fine silk hood.

_Phoebe._ Here is the doll, Nancy.

_Nancy._ Nay, I have another way, which you be too young to understand. [Nancy _takes the candle, goes to the fireplace, and courtesies three times, looking up the chimney._

_Nancy._ Hey, black cat! hey, my pretty black cat! Go ye and sit on Goody Corey's breast, and claw her if she stirs. Do as I bid ye, my pretty black cat, and I'll sign the book.

_Phoebe._ Oh, Nancy, I hear the black cat yawl!

_Nancy_ (_after courtesying three times_). Hey, black dog! hey, my pretty black dog! Go ye and howl in Mistress Olive's ear, so she be frighted in her dreams, and so get a little bitter with the sweet.

Do as I bid ye, my pretty black dog, and I'll sign the book.

_Phoebe._ Oh, Nancy, I hear the black dog howl!

_Nancy_ (_after courtesying three times_). Hey, yellow bird! hey, my pretty yellow bird! Go ye and peck at Goody Bishop's fine silk hood and tear it to bits. Do as I bid ye, my pretty yellow bird, and I'll sign the book.

_Phoebe._ Oh, Nancy, I hear the yellow bird twitter up chimbly!

_Nancy._ 'Tis rare witchcraft.

_Phoebe._ Is that all, Nancy?

_Nancy._ All of this sort. I've given them all they can do to-night.

_Phoebe._ Then sing the witch song, Nancy.

_Nancy._ I'll sing the witch song, and you can dance on the table.

_Phoebe._ But 'tis sinful to dance, Nancy!

_Nancy._ 'Tis not sinful for a witch.

_Phoebe._ True; I forgot I was a witch. [_Gets upon the table and dances, dangling her doll, while_ Nancy _sings._

WITCH SONG.

(Same air as Spinning Song.)

"I'll tell you a story, a story of one; 'Twas of a dark witch, and the wizard her son.

A dark witch was she, and a dark wizard he, With yellow birds singing so gay and so free.

To my down, down, down, derry down.

"The clock was a-striking, a-striking of one.

The witches came out, and the dancing begun.

They courtesied so fine, and they drank the red wine-- The wizards were three and the witches were nine.

To my down, down, down, derry down.

"Halloo, the gay dancers! Halloo, I was one; The goody that prayed and the maiden that spun!

The yellow birds chirped in the boughs overhead, And fast through the bushes the black dog sped.

To my down, down, down, derry down."

[_A noise is heard._ Phoebe _jumps down from the table._

_Phoebe._ Oh, Nancy, something's coming! Run, run quick, or it 'll catch us! [_Both run out. Curtain falls._

Act II.

_Best room in the house of_ Widow Eunice Hutchins, Ann's _mother._ John Hathorne _and_ Minister Parris _enter, shown in by_ Widow Hutchins.

_Hutchins._ I pray you, sirs, to take some cheers the while I go for a moment's s.p.a.ce to my poor afflicted child. I heard her cry out but now. [_Exit._

[Hathorne _and_ Parris _seat themselves, but_ Hathorne _quickly springs up, and begins walking._

_Hathorne._ I cannot be seated in this crisis. I would as lief be seated in an onset of the savages. I must up and lay about me. We have heretofore been too lax in this dreadful business; the powers of darkness be almost over our palisades. I tell thee there must be more action!

_Parris_ (_pounding with his cane_). Yea, Master Hathorne, I am with thee. Verily, this last be enough to make the elect themselves quake with fear. This Martha Corey is a woman of the covenant.