Instruct me which way I might be revenged
Upon this churl, I'd go out of myself,
And give this fury leave to dwell within
This ruin'd cottage, ready to fall with age!
Abjure all goodness, be at hate with prayer,
And study curses, imprecations,
Blasphemous speeches, oaths, detested oaths,
Or any thing that 's ill; so I might work
Revenge upon this miser, this black cur
That barks and bites, and sucks the very

blood
Of me, and of my credit. 'Tis all one,
To be a witch, as to be counted one:
Vengeance, shame, ruin light upon that canker!

Enter a Black Dog.
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.

Saw. Bless me! the Devil ?
Dog. Come, do not fear: I love thee much too well

| 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 bad 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 inferne canes of the Greek and Latin poets, and descended, in regular succession, through all the demonology of the dark ages, lo the times of the Revolution, when they quietly disappeared with the sorcerers, their employers.--GIFFORD.

To hurt or fright thee; if I seem terrible
It is to such as hate me. I have found
Thy love unfeign'd; have seen and pitied
Thy open wrongs, and come, out of my love,
To give thee just revenge against thy foes.

Saw. May I believe thee?

Dog. To confirm ’t, command me;
Do any mischief unto man beast,
And I'll effect it, on condition
That, uncompelld, thou make a deed of gift
Of soul and body to me.

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 BanksDog. 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!
Dog. I will not.
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,
And tied in limits; though he be curst to thee,
Yet of himself, he is loving to the world,
And charitable to the poor; now men, that,
As he, love goodness, though in smallest measure,
Live without compass of our reach : his cattle
And corn I 'll kill and mildew; but his life
(Until I take him, as I late found thee,
Cursing and swearing) I have no power to touch.

Saw. Work on his corn and cattle then.
Dog. I shall.
The Witch OF EDMONTON shall see his fall;
If she at least put credit in my power,
And in mine only; make orisons to me,
And none but me.

Saw. Say how, and in what manner.
Dog. I'll tell thee: when thou wishest ill,

Corn, man, or beast wouldst spoil or kill;
Turn thy back against the sun,
And mumble this short orison:
If thou to death or shame pursue em,
Šanctibicetur2 nomen tuum.

though he be curst to thee,] i. e. cross, splenetic, abusive.-GIFFORD. “Ilis elder sister is so curst and shrewd, that" &c.—Tam. Shr. i. 1. “They (i. e. bears) are never curst (i. e. savage) but wher, 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, Sanctibicetur nomen tuum. Dog. Perfect: farewell! Our first-made prom

ises We 'll put in execution against Banks. [Exit. Saw. Contaminetur nomen tuum. I'm an expert

scholar;' 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, goodmorrow.

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 are

Saw. A witch.
Cud. A witch? would you were else, i'faith!
Saw. Your father knows I am, by this.
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.-GUY FORD.

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 theo" (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. Suw. 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.

-like a butt-bolt.] The strong unbarbed arrow used by the citizens in “shooting at the butt."-GIFFORD.

1