[The other Witches mount.

Fire. They are all going a birding to-night. They talk of fowls in the air, that fly by day: I am sure, they'll be a company of foul sluts there to-night. If we have not mortality offer'd56, I'll be hanged; for they are able to putrify it, to infect a whole region. She spies me now.

Hec. What, Fire-stone, our sweet son?

Fire. A little sweeter than some of you; or a dunghill were too good for me.

Hec. How much hast here ?

Fire. Nineteen, and all brave plump ones; besides six lizards, and three serpentine eggs.

Hec. Dear, and sweet boy: what herbs hast thou?
Fire. I have some Marmartin and Mandragon.

Hec. Marmaritin and Mandragora thou would'st say,
Fire. Here's Pannax too: I thank thee, my pan akes I

am sure

With kneeling down to cut 'em.

Hec. And Selago,

Hedge hysop too: how near he goes my cuttings!
Were they all cropt by moon-light?

Fire. Every blade of 'em, or I am a moon-calf, mother.
Hec. Hie thee home with 'em.

Look well to the house to-night: I am for aloft.

Fire. Aloft, quoth you? I would you would break your neck once, that I might have all quickly. Hark, hark, mother; they are above the Steeple already, flying over your head with a noise of musicians.

56 Probably the true reading is after 'l.

Hec

Hec. They are indeed. Help me, help me; I'm too late else.

Song in the Air.

Come away, come away;

Hecate, Hecate, come away.

Hec. I come, I come, I come, I come, With all the speed I may,

With all the speed I may.

Where's Stadlin?

[Above.] Here.

Hec. Where's Puckle?

[Above].

Here:

And Hoppo too, and Hellwain too:
We lack but you; we lack but you;

Come away, make up the count.

Hec. I will but 'noint, and then I mount.

[Above.]

(A Spirit like a Cat descends.)

There's one come down to fetch his dues;

A kiss, a coll, a sip of blood:

And why thou stay'st so long, I muse, I muse,

Since the air's so sweet and good.

Hec. Oh art thou come?

What news, what news?

Spirit. All goes still to our delight:

Either come, or else

Refuse, refuse.

Hec. Now I am furnish'd for the flight.

Fire. Hark, hark, the Cat sings a brave treble in her

own language.

Hec. [Going up.] Now I go, now I fly,

Malkin my sweet Spirit and I.

Oh what a dainty pleasure 'tis

To ride in the air

When the moon shines fair,

And sing, and dance, and toy, and kiss:
Over woods, high rocks, and mountains,
Over seas (our mistress' fountains)

Over steep towers and turrets,

We fly by night 'mongst troops of Spirits.
No ring of bells to our ears sounds,
No howls of wolves, no yelps of hounds;
No, not the noise of water's-breach,
Or cannon's throat, our height can reach.
[Above]. No ring of bells, &c.

Fire. Well, mother, I thank your kindness: you must

be

Gamboling in the air, and leave me to walk here like a fool and a mortal. * * * *

*

*

* *

A Duchess consults the Witch about inflicting a sudden

Death.

Duchess. Hecate.

Fire-stone.

Hec. What death is 't you desire for Almachildes?
Duch. A sudden and a subtle.
Hec. Then I've fitted

you.

Here lie the gifts of both; sudden and subtle :
His picture made in wax, and gently molten
By a blue fire, kindled with dead men's eyes,
Will waste him by degrees.

Duch. In what time prithee?
Hec. Perhaps in a moon's

Duch. What, a month?

progress.

Out upon pictures, if they be so tedious:

Give me things with some life.

Hec. Then seek no farther.

Duch. This must be done with speed, dispatch'd this night, If it be possible.

Hec. I have it for you:

Here's that will do't: stay but perfection's time,

And that's not five hours hence.

Duch. Canst thou do this?

Hec. Worse and worse. Doubts and incredulities,
They make me mad. Let scrupulous creatures know:
Cum volui, ripis ipsis mirantibus, amnes
In fontes rediere suos; concussaque sisto,
Stantia concutio cantu freta; nubila pello,
Nubilaque induco: ventos abigoque, vocoque.
Vipereas rumpo verbis et carmine fauces;
Et sylvas moveo, jubeoque tremiscere montes,
Et mugiere solum, manesque exire sepulchris.
Te quoque, Luna, traho.

Can you doubt me then, daughter;

That can make mountains tremble, miles of woods walk:

Whole earth's foundation bellow, and the spirits

Of the entomb'd to burst out from their marbles;
Nay, draw yon Moon to my involv'd designs?

Fire. I know as well as can be when my mother's mad,

and our

Great cat angry; for one spits French then, and the other spits Latin.

Duch. I did not doubt you, mother.

Hec. No! what, did you?

My power's so firm, it is not to be question'd.

Duch. Forgive what's past; and now I know th' offensiveness

That vexes art, I'll shun the occasion ever.

Hec. Leave all to me and my five sisters, daughter.

It shall be convey'd in at howlet-time.

Take you no care. My spirits know their moments:
Raven or screech-owl never fly by the door

But they call in (I thank 'em) and they lose not by't.
I'give 'em barley soak'd in infant's blood:

They shall have semina cum sanguine,

Their gorge cramm'd full, if they come once to our house: We are no niggard. —

Fire. They fare but too well when they come hither: they ate up as much the other night as would

have made me a good conscionable pudding.

Hec.

Hec. Give me some lizard's brain, quickly, Fire-stone. Where's grannam Stadlin, and all the rest of the sisters? Fire. All at hand, forsooth.

(The other Witches appear.)

Hec. Give me Marmaritin; some Bear-breech: when? Fire. Here's Bear-breech and lizard's-brain, forsooth. Hec. Into the vessel;

And fetch three ounces of the red-hair'd girl

I kill'd last midnight.

Fire. Whereabout, sweet mother?

Hec. Hip; hip, or flank. Where's the Acopus ?
Fire. You shall have Acopus, forsooth.

Hec. Stir, stir, about; whilst I begin the charm.
A Charm Song about a Vessel.

Hec. Black spirits and white, red spirits and grey;
Mingle, mingle, mingle, you that mingle may.
Titty, Tiffin, keep it stiff in ;

Fire-drake, Puckey, make it lucky;

Liard, Robin, you must bob in.

Round, around, around, about, about;

All Ill come running in, all Good keep out.
First Witch. Here's the blood of a bat.
Hec. Put in that, oh, put in that.
Sec. Witch. Here's libbard's-bane.

Hec. Put in again.

First Witch. The juice of toad; the oil of adder.

Sec. Witch. Those will make the younker madder.

Hec. Put in, there's all, and rid the stench.

Fire. Nay, here's three ounces of the red-hair'd wench. All. Round, around, around, &c.

Hec. So, so, enough: into the vessel with it.'

There; 't hath the true perfection: I am so light 57
At any mischief, there's no villainy

But is a tune methinks.

Fire. A tune! 'tis to the tune of damnation then, I

And that

warrant you,

song hath a villainous burthen.

$7 Light-hearted.

Hec.