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.
