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Say； will you smoke？ There's choice tobacco here。
BUTTER。
No； thank you。 It's against the law to smoke。
KEMPTHORN。
Then； will you drink？ There's good ale at this inn。
BUTTER。
No； thank you。 It's against the law to drink。
KEMPTHORN。
Well； almost everything's against the law
In this good town。 Give a wide berth to one thing；
You're sure to fetch up soon on something else。
BUTTER。
And so you sail to…day for dear Old England。
I am not one of those who think a sup
Of this New England air is better worth
Than a whole draught of our Old England's ale。
KEMPTHORN。
Nor I。 Give me the ale and keep the air。
But； as I said； I do not sail to…day。
BUTTER。
Ah yes； you sail today。
KEMPTHORN。
I'm under bonds
To take some Quakers back to the Barbadoes；
And one of them is banished； and another
Is sentenced to be hanged。
BUTTER。
No； all are pardoned；
All are set free by order of the Court；
But some of them would fain return to England。
You must not take them。 Upon that condition
Your bond is cancelled。
KEMPTHORN。
Ah； the wind has shifted！
I pray you； do you speak officially？
BUTTER。
I always speak officially。 To prove it；
Here is the bond。
Rising and giving a paper。
KEMPTHORN。
And here's my hand upon it；
And look you； when I say I'll do a thing
The thing is done。 Am I now free to go？
BUTTER。
What say？
KEMPTHORN。
I say； confound the tedious man
With his strange speaking…trumpet！ Can I go？
BUTTER。
You're free to go； by order of the Court。
Your servant； sir。
＇Exit。
KEMPTHORN （shouting from the window）。
Swallow； ahoy！ Hallo！
If ever a man was happy to leave Boston；
That man is Simon Kempthorn of the Swallow！
Re…enter BUTTER。
BUTTER。
Pray； did you call？
KEMPTHORN。
Call！ Yes； I hailed the Swallow。
BUTTER。
That's not my name。 My name is Edward Butter。
You need not speak so loud。
KEMPTHORN （shaking hands）。
Good…by！ Good…by！
BUTTER。
Your servant； sir。
KEMPTHORN。
And yours a thousand times！
＇Exeunt。
SCENE III。 GOVERNOR ENDICOTT'S private room。 An open window。
ENDICOTT seated in an arm…chair。 BELLINGHAM standing near。
ENDICOTT。
O lost； O loved！ wilt thou return no more？
O loved and lost； and loved the more when lost！
How many men are dragged into their graves
By their rebellious children！ I now feel
The agony of a father's breaking heart
In David's cry； 〃O Absalom； my son！〃
BELLINGHAM。
Can you not turn your thoughts a little while
To public matters？ There are papers here
That need attention。
ENDICOTT。
Trouble me no more！
My business now is with another world；
Ah； Richard Bellingham！ I greatly fear
That in my righteous zeal I have been led
To doing many things which； left undone；
My mind would now be easier。 Did I dream it；
Or has some person told me； that John Norton
Is dead？
BELLINGHAM。
You have not dreamed it。 He is dead；
And gone to his reward。 It was no dream。
ENDICOTT。
Then it was very sudden； for I saw him
Standing where you now stand； not long ago。
BELLINGHAM。
By his own fireside； in the afternoon；
A faintness and a giddiness came o'er him；
And； leaning on the chimney…piece； he cried；
〃The hand of God is on me！〃 and fell dead。
ENDICOTT。
And did not some one say； or have I dreamed it；
That Humphrey Atherton is dead？
BELLINGHAM。
Alas！
He too is gone； and by a death as sudden。
Returning home one evening； at the place
Where usually the Quakers have been scourged；
His horse took fright； and threw him to the ground；
So that his brains were dashed about the street。
ENDICOTT。
I am not superstitions； Bellingham；
And yet I tremble lest it may have been
A judgment on him。
BELLINGHAM。
So the people think。
They say his horse saw standing in the way
The ghost of William Leddra； and was frightened。
And furthermore； brave Richard Davenport；
The captain of the Castle； in the storm
Has been struck dead by lightning。
ENDICOTT。
Speak no more。
For as I listen to your voice it seems
As if the Seven Thunders uttered their voices；
And the dead bodies lay about the streets
Of the disconsolate city！ Bellingham；
I did not put those wretched men to death。
I did but guard the passage with the sword
Pointed towards them； and they rushed upon it！
Yet now I would that I had taken no part
In all that bloody work。
BELLINGHAM。
The guilt of it
Be on their heads； not ours。
ENDICOTT。
Are all set free？
BELLINGHAM。
All are at large。
ENDICOTT。
And none have been sent back
To England to malign us with the King？
BELLINGHAM。
The ship that brought them sails this very hour；
But carries no one back。
A distant cannon。
ENDICOTT。
What is that gun？
BELLINGHAM。
Her parting signal。 Through the window there；
Look； you can see her sails； above the roofs；
Dropping below the Castle； outward bound。
ENDICOTT。
O white； white； white！ Would that my soul had wings
As spotless as those shining sails to fly with！
Now lay this cushion straight。 I thank you。 Hark！
I thought I heard the hall door open and shut！
I thought I beard the footsteps of my boy！
BELLINGHAM。
It was the wind。 There's no one in the passage。
ENDICOTT。
O Absalom； my son！ I feel the world
Sinking beneath me； sinking； sinking； sinking！
Death knocks！ I go to meet him！ Welcome； Death！
Rises； and sinks back dead； his head failing aside upon his
shoulder。
BELLINGHAM。
O ghastly sight！ Like one who has been hanged！
Endicott！ Endicott！ He makes no answer！
Raises Endicott's head。
He breathes no more！ How bright this signet…ring
Glitters upon his hand； where he has worn it
Through such long years of trouble； as if Death
Had given him this memento of affection；
And whispered in his ear； 〃Remember me！〃
How placid and how quiet is his face；
Now that the struggle and the strife are ended
Only the acrid spirit of the times
Corroded this true steel。 Oh； rest in peace；
Courageous heart！ Forever rest in peace！
GILES COREY OF THE SALEM FARMS
DRAMATIS PERSONAE。
GILES COREY Farmer。
JOHN HATHORNE Magistrate。
COTTON MATHER Minister of the Gospel。
JONATHAN WALCOT A youth。
RICHARD GARDNER Sea…Captain。
JOHN GLOYD Corey's hired man。
MARTHA Wife of Giles Corey。
TITUBA An Indian woman。
MARY WALCOT One of th