Witchcraft A tragedy, in five acts |
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| 2. | SCENE II. |
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 | Witchcraft |  |
SCENE II.
—Village—Near the house of Goodwife Prawl.Jarvis.
The cloud which I have watched for many hours,
And days, and months, darkens this Salem more and more:
And its chief bolt will fall on the selected head!
The trial-hour of Ambla Bodish hastens on,
She must be doomed, no arm can save her—
The mother's death will with it bring the son's—
And should he live past that dread incident,
Am I then foiled, and still o'ermatched by him?
Not I: Susanna must bear witness 'gainst old Ambla,
Thenceforth must she and Gideon ever stand apart—
Wide as two mountains frowning on each other,—
The now-convenient gloom clear up, and this
Deluded girl come back to me and mine.
Enter Goodwife Prawl, L. H.
Jarvis.
This busy Goodwife must prevail with her, to testify. Good morrow, Goodwife Prawl,—why you are quite haggard in your look.
Good. Prawl.
Am I, Master Dane? I well may be, for I am troubled sorely.
Jarvis.
What now has happened—nothing fearful?
Good. Prawl.
Just as you told, sir—she begins to overturn the village—last night a great wind blew, and dashed about the roofs here, frightfully.
Jarvis.
From what quarter came this tempest?
Good Prawl.
From one only—from the house of Ambla Bodish—and we thought we heard her voice above it all.
Jarvis.
These are terrible doings, Goodwife!
Good Prawl.
They are—and trouble my poor wits amazingly.
Jarvis.
This Ambla Bodish must be stricken down— or we shall be all undone!
Good. Prawl.
It 's coming fast to that, Master Jarvis.
Jarvis.
Susanna Peache, poor haunted creature as she is, must testify against her. Her case more damns this wicked worker than all others, can she be brought to speak the truth forth plainly.
Good. Prawl.
She often comes to talk her griefs with me.
There is a road to lead her from them.
Good. Prawl.
If that were so!
Jarvis.
It shall be so—for take this Ambla from the world, and Gideon's thoughts will flow back from that which has them now in full, towards Susanna: he will love and seek her then, as now he cruelly avoids her.
Good. Prawl.
Kind Master Dane—you are a wonderful good Christian—I will do your bidding—she shall be saved —we shall all see some comfort yet, though we are now sorely shaken.
Jarvis.
[Aside.]
Meanwhile, I'll visit Gideon, and learn,
What spirit he bears amid these troubles—
Be urgent, Goodwife, for all our lives depend on you.
[Exit Jarvis.
Good. Prawl.
I'll not spare words—nor tears neither, if they be needed.
[Looks off.]
Upon his very word—Susanna comes—
Poor girl! she hangs her head, her careless locks
Flow in the wind—palely and sad she walks—
As making for the graveyard, every step.
Enter Susanna, R. H.
Good. Prawl.
Cheer up, my child.
Susanna.
Mother, how can I bear a cheerful look,
When all the hope, the happiness, the joy
Of all my life, is blighting day by day—
The spell I thought—I will not say I hoped—
Had passed, its power comes back upon me
With new strength.
You cannot be cheerful—and perhaps you
Should not; how doth this trouble vex you now?
Susanna.
Sometimes it almost drives me mad—
The love I bear,—and have from girlish years
Borne toward Gideon—steals upon me, that I
Think the bliss I'm lapped in is too sweet for life.
This morning, near the break of day, (when Ambla
First begins to move in power,) I had a dream,
Wherein young Gideon walked, clad brightly,
And from his eyes shed down such tearful light,
And with his dewy fingers scattered flowers,
So clear and beautiful, I thought an angel
Had possessed my brain, and from his azure tower
Descended, there to live, and in its chambers
Keep alive a music nearer Heaven,
Than aught that warbling earth in bird or brook,
Or cunning winds can make.
Good. Prawl.
Oh, dreadfully you 're still possessed—and on
To dreadful ends by the invisible hand
Are borne—but yet you may be saved.
Susanna.
[Eagerly.]
How, Goodwife, how?
Good. Prawl.
Bear witness, as your many lamentable
Crosses and afflictions do allow you—'gainst—
Susanna.
Whom?
Good. Prawl.
The one chief troubler of our village:
Ambla Bodish, to be sure:
Susanna.
Gideon's mother? Oh, take this cup away
From me, I cannot drink it.
It is the only way—when she
Is dead, your Gideon's love will flow to you.
Susanna.
You think it would?
Good. Prawl.
Sure as the stream stopped 'gainst a rock runs in
Toward the green bank upon the other side.
Susanna.
'T is hard for me to witness 'gainst his mother!
But she it is that has afflicted me,
And made me mad, and lone and desolate,
'Mid others. I am not mistress of myself—
And it is she who robs me of his love!
I will bear witness.
Good. Prawl.
Right, right, my child—and good
Shall come of it! Come walk with me down this way
To the Deacon's.
[Exeunt.
| Witchcraft | |