Instruct me which way I might be revenged Blasphemous speeches, oaths, detested oaths, Vengeance, shame, ruin light upon that canker! Dog. Ho! have I found thee cursing? now thou art Mine own. Saw. Thine! what art thou? Dog. He thou hast so often Importuned to appear to thee, the Devil. Dog. Come, do not fear: I love thee much too well 1 Enter a Black Dog.] "A great matter," Dr. Hutchinson says, "had been made at the time of the said commission (1697) of a black dog, that frequently appeared to Somers, and persuaded him to say he had dissembled; and when they asked him why he said he counterfeited? he said, A dog, a dog!-and as odd things will fall in with such stories, it happened that there was a black dog in the chamber, that belonged to one Clark, a spurrier. Some of the commissioners spying him, thought they saw the Devil! one thought his eyes glared like fire! and much speech was afterward made of it," p. 260. This was under Elizabeth, whose reign, if we may trust the competent authorities, was far more infested with witches than that of James I., when the Black Dog again made his appearance among the Lancashire witches. The audiences of those days, therefore, were well prepared for his reception, and probably viewed him with a sufficient degree of fearful credulity to create an interest in his feats. But there is "nothing new under the sun." The whole machinery of witchcraft was as well known to Lucan as to us; and the black dogs of Mother Sawyer and Mother Demdike had their origin in the inferna canes of the Greek and Latin poets, and descended, in regular succession, through all the demonology of the dark ages, to the times of the Revolution, when they quietly disappeared with the sorcerers, their employers.-GIFFORD. To hurt or fright thee; if I seem terrible Dog. To confirm 't, command me That, uncompell'd, thou make a deed of gift Saw. Qut, alas' My soul and body? Dog. And that instantly, And seal it with thy blood; if thou deniest, I'll tear thy body in a thousand pieces. Saw. I know not where to seek relief: but shall I, After such covenants seal'd, see full revenge On all that wrong me? Dog. Ha, ha! silly woman! The Devil is no liar to such as he loves Didst ever know or hear the Devil a liar To such as he affects? Saw. Then I am thine; at least so much of me As I can call mine own Dog. Equivocations? Art mine or no? speak or I'll tear Saw. All thine. Dog. Seal 't with thy blood. [She pricks her arm which he sucks.-Thunder and lightning. See! now I dare call thee mine! For proof, command me; instantly I'll run To any mischief; goodness can I none. Saw. And I desire as little. There 's an old churl, One Banks Dog. That wrong'd thee: he lamed thee, call'd thee witch. Saw. The same; first upon him I'd be revenged, VOL. II.-15 Dog. Thou shalt; do but name how? Saw. Go, touch his life. Dog. I cannot. Saw. Hast thou not vow'd? Go, kill the slave! Saw. I'll cancel then my gift. Dog. Ha, ha! Saw. Dost laugh! Why wilt not kill him? Dog. Fool, because I cannot. Though we have power, know, it is circumscribed, Cursing and swearing) I have no power to touch. The WITCH OF EDMONTON shall see his fall; 1 Saw. Say how, and in what manner. And mumble this short orison: though he be curst to thee,] i. e. cross, splenetic, abusive.-GIFFORD. "His elder sister is so curst and shrewd, that" &c.-Tam. Shr. i. 1. "They (i. e. bears) are never curst (i. e. savage) but when they are hungry."-Wint. Tale, iii. 3. 2 A few of our readers may require to be told that these Latin words (with a slight change which is introduced on purpose) form the second member of the Lord's Prayer. Instead of the Latin word corresponding to "hallowed," the witch is made to use one which implies the very reverse: Saw. If thou to death or shame pursue 'em, Dog. Perfect: farewell! Our first-made promises We'll put in execution against Banks. [Exit. Saw. Contaminetur nomen tuum. I'm an expert scholar;1 Speak Latin, or I know not well what language, As well as the best of 'em-but who comes here? Re-enter CUDDY BANKS. The son of my worst foe. To death pursue 'em, And sanctabacetur nomen tuum. Cud. What's that she mumbles?. the Devil's paternoster? would it were else!-Mother Sawyer, good morrow. Saw. Ill-morrow to thee, and all the world that flout A poor old woman. To death pursue 'em, Et sanctabacetur nomen tuum. Cud. Nay, good gammer Sawyer, whate'er it pleases my father to call you, I know you areSaw. A witch. Cud. A witch? would you were else, i'faith! Cud. I would he did! Saw. And so in time may you. Cud. I would I might else! But, witch or no witch, you are a motherly woman; and though my father be a kind of God-bless-us, as they say, I have an earnest suit to you; and if you'll be so kind to ka me one good turn, I'll be so courteous to kob you another.2 1 Contaminetur, &c. I'm an expert scholar.] Pretty well for a beginner. This jargon is put into the mouths of the speakers for the laudable purpose of avoiding all profanation of the sacred text.GIFFORD. 2 If you'll be so kind to ka me one good turn, I'll be so courteous to kob you another 1 "Ka me, ka thee" (i. e. claw me and I'll claw you) Saw. What's that? to spurn, beat me, and call me witch, As your kind father doth? Čud. My father! I am ashamed to own him. If he has hurt the head of thy credit, there's money to buy thee a plaster;-[gives her money.]—and a small courtesy I would require at thy hands. Saw. You seem a good young man, and—I must dissemble, The better to accomplish my revenge. [Aside. But for this silver, what wouldst have me do? Bewitch thee? Cud. No, by no means; I am bewitch'd already: I would have thee so good as to unwitch me, or witch another with me for company. Saw. I understand thee not; be plain, my son. Cud. As a pike-staff, mother. You know Kate Carter? Saw. The wealthy yeoman's daughter? what of her? Cud. That same party has bewitch'd me. Saw. Bewitch'd thee? Cud. Bewitch'd me, hisce auribus. I saw a little devil fly out of her eye like a butt-bolt,' which sticks at this hour up to the feathers in my heart. Now, my request is, to send one of thy what-d'-ye-call'ems, either to pluck that out, or stick another as fast in hers: do, and here's my hand, I am thine for three lives. Saw. We shall have sport.-[Aside.]-Thou art in love with her? Cud. Up to the very hilts, mother. Saw. And thou wouldst have me make her love thee too? was the old proverb, before it fell into the hands of Cuddy, whe is so desperately witty that he can let no plain expression alone.GIFFORD. 1 -like a butt-bolt.] The strong unbarbed arrow used by the citizens in "shooting at the butt."-GIFFORD. |