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FIRST CROWD.

If it be true! It is not: nought is true

That can throw speck or spot upon her virtue.

FIRST CROWD WOMAN (to First Crowd).

Be not so angry, man; my husband means

Against her maiden virtue no reproach,
Ev'n if her faith was papishly inclined.

FIRST CROWD.

She was no Papish; I'll take oath upon it.

The cloven foot of Satan in my shoe
Is at this point of time as surely buckled,
As that she was aught but a pure believer,—
A good and godly lady.

FIRST CROWD WOMAN.

That gentleman, so brave and soldierly,

Who lately has return'd from foreign wars,
Is a rank Romanist, and has been oft
Received by her. But, Lord preserve us all!
We, by God's grace, may sit by Satan's side,—
Ay, on the self-same settle, yet, the while,
Be ne'er one whit the worse.

THIRD CROWD.

And I should guess——

SECOND CROWD.

Hist, hist! the funeral's coming:

I hear the heavy wheels, and o'er the top
Of all those cluster'd heads I see the feathers,—