Page:Representative American plays.pdf/154

Rh Rav. Mark yon, how she prevaricates? Judge. What evidence

Have you against this woman*? Ray. Ye all remember

The terror and despair that fill'd each

bosom When the red comet, signal of Heaven's

wrath, Shook its portentous fires above our

heads. Ye all have seen, and most of ye have

felt The afflictions which this groaning land

is vex'd with — Our smiling fields withered by blight and

blast. The fruitful earth parch'd into eddying

dust, — On our fair coast the strewings of wreck'd

commerce ; In town and city, fire and pestilence, And famine, walking their destroying

rounds — Our peaceful villages, the scene of slaugh- ter. Echoing the savage yell, and frenzied

shriek Of maid and matron, or the piercing wail Of widows and of orphans — Judge. We deplore

The evils you recite; but what avails Their repetition here; and how do they Affect the cause in question? Rav. Shall we forget

That worldly pride and irreligious light- ness, Are the provoking sins, which our grave

synod Have urg'd us to root out ? Turn then to

her, Swelling with earth-born vanitj^, to her Who scorns religion, and its meek pro- fessors ; And, to this hour — until compell'd, ne'er

stood Within these holy walls. Judge. Yet this is nothing,

Touching the charge against her — ^you

must be Less vague and general. Produce your

proofs. Rav. There are two witnesses at hand; her

servants — Who have confess'd she had prepared to

. fly

This very night — a proof most clear and

potent Of conscious guilt. But why refer to

this !

Each one that hears me is a witness of it,

It is the village horror. Call, at random,

One from the crowd, and mark if he will dare

To doubt the thing I speak of. Judge. 'T must not be.

Nor can we listen further. IsA. I beseech you

Let him proceed; let him endeavour still,

To excite the passions of his auditors;

It will but shew how weak he deems his proof

Who lays such stress on prejudice. I fear not.

But I can answer all his accusations. —

If I intended flight — need I remind you

Of what your fathers — what yourselves have done?

It was not conscious guilt bade them or you

Escape from that, was felt was persecu- tion —

If I have thought the manner of my wor- ship

A matter between Heaven and my con- science.

How can ye blame me, who in caves and rocks

Shunning the church, offer'd your secret prayers ?

Or does my state offend? Habit and taste

May make some difference, and humble things

Seem great to those more humble; yet I have used

My little wealth in benefits. Your saints

Climb'd to high places — Cromwell to the highest —

As the sun seeks the eminence from w^hich

He can diffuse his beams most bounte- ously. Rav. The subtle jDower she serves does not withhold

The aid of sophistiy. Isa. I pray my judges

To shield me from the malice of this man,

And bring me to the trial. I will meet it,

As it concerns myself with firm indiffer- ence ;

But as it touches him w%om I exist in,

With hope that my acquittal shall dis- solve

The fetters of my son. Rav. (Aside.) That must not be.

Judge. Bring forth your proofs, and let the cause proceed.