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I wished to pray； they would not let me pray；
You tried to comfort me； and they forbade it。
But the most dreadful thing in all my dream
Was that they made you testify against me！
And then there came a kind of mist between us；
I could not see you； and I woke in terror。
I never was more thankful in my life
Than when I found you sleeping at my side！
COREY （with tenderness）。
It was our talk last night that made you dream。
I'm sorry for it。 I'll control myself
Another time； and keep my temper down！
I do not like such dreams。Remember； Martha；
I'm going to mow the Ipswich River meadows；
If Gardner comes； you'll tell him where to find me。
＇Exit。
MARTHA。
So this delusion grows from bad to worse
First； a forsaken and forlorn old woman；
Ragged and wretched； and without a friend；
Then something higher。 Now it's Bridget Bishop；
God only knows whose turn it will be next！
The Magistrates are blind； the people mad！
If they would only seize the Afflicted Children；
And put them in the Workhouse； where they should be；
There'd be an end of all this wickedness。
＇Exit。
SCENE II。 A street in Salem Village。 Enter MATHER and
HATHORNE。
MATHER。
Yet one thing troubles me。
HATHORNE。
And what is that？
MATHER。
May not the Devil take the outward shape
Of innocent persons？ Are we not in danger；
Perhaps； of punishing some who are not guilty？
HATHORNE。
As I have said； we do not trust alone
To spectral evidence。
MATHER。
And then again；
If any shall be put to death for Witchcraft；
We do but kill the body； not the soul。
The Unclean Spirits that possessed them once
Live still； to enter into other bodies。
What have we gained？ Surely； there's nothing gained。
HATHORNE。
Doth not the Scripture say； 〃Thou shalt not suffer
A Witch to live〃？
MATHER。
The Scripture sayeth it；
But speaketh to the Jews； and we are Christians。
What say the laws of England？
HATHORNE。
They make Witchcraft
Felony without the benefit of Clergy。
Witches are burned in England。 You have read
For you read all things； not a book escapes you
The famous Demonology of King James？
MATHER。
A curious volume。 I remember also
The plot of the Two Hundred； with one Fian；
The Registrar of the Devil； at their head；
To drown his Majesty on his return
From Denmark； how they sailed in sieves or riddles
Unto North Berwick Kirk in Lothian；
And； landing there； danced hand in hand； and sang；
〃Goodwife； go ye before！ good wife； go ye！
If ye'll not go before； goodwife； let me！〃
While Geilis Duncan played the Witches' Reel
Upon a jews…harp。
HATHORNE。
Then you know full well
The English law； and that in England Witches；
When lawfully convicted and attainted；
Are put to death。
MATHER。
When lawfully convicted；
That is the point。
HATHORNE。
You heard the evidence
Produced before us yesterday at the trial
Of Bridget Bishop。
MATHER。
One of the Afflicted；
I know； bore witness to the apparition
Of ghosts unto the spectre of this Bishop；
Saying； 〃You murdered us！〃 of the truth whereof
There was in matter of fact too much Suspicion。
HATHORNE。
And when she cast her eyes on the Afflicted；
They were struck down； and this in such a manner
There could be no collusion in the business。
And when the accused but laid her hand upon them；
As they lay in their swoons； they straight revived；
Although they stirred not when the others touched them。
MATHER。
What most convinced me of the woman's guilt
Was finding hidden in her cellar wall
Those poppets made of rags； with headless pins
Stuck into them point outwards； and whereof
She could not give a reasonable account。
HATHORNE。
When you shall read the testimony given
Before the Court in all the other cases；
I am persuaded you will find the proof
No less conclusive than it was in this。
Come； then； with me； and I will tax your patience
With reading of the documents so far
As may convince you that these sorcerers
Are lawfully convicted and attainted。
Like doubting Thomas； you shall lay your hand
Upon these wounds； and you will doubt no more。
｛Exeunt。
SCENE III。 A room in COREY's house。 MARTHA and two Deacons of
the church。
MARTHA。
Be seated。 I am glad to see you here。
I know what you are come for。 You are come
To question me； and learn from my own lips
If I have any dealings with the Devil；
In short； if I'm a Witch。
DEACON （sitting down）。
Such is our purpose。
How could you know beforehand why we came？
MARTHA。
'T was only a surmise。
DEACON。
We came to ask you；
You being with us in church covenant；
What part you have； if any； in these matters。
MARTHA。
And I make answer； No part whatsoever。
I am a farmer's wife； a working woman；
You see my spinning…wheel； you see my loom；
You know the duties of a farmer's wife；
And are not ignorant that my life among you
Has been without reproach until this day。
Is it not true？
DEACON。
So much we're bound to own；
And say it frankly； and without reserve。
MARTHA。
I've heard the idle tales that are abroad；
I've heard it whispered that I am a Witch；
I cannot help it。 I do not believe
In any Witchcraft。 It is a delusion。
DEACON。
How can you say that it is a delusion；
When all our learned and good men believe it；
Our Ministers and worshipful Magistrates？
MARTHA。
Their eyes are blinded and see not the truth。
Perhaps one day they will be open to it。
DEACON。
You answer boldly。 The Afflicted Children
Say you appeared to them。
MARTHA。
And did they say
What clothes I came in？
DEACON。
No； they could not tell。
They said that you foresaw our visit here；
And blinded them； so that they could not see
The clothes you wore。
MARTHA。
The cunning； crafty girls！
I say to you； in all sincerity；
I never have appeared to anyone
In my own person。 If the Devil takes
My shape to hurt these children； or afflict them；
I am not guilty of it。 And I say
It's all a mere delusion of the senses。
DEACON。
I greatly fear that you will find too late
It is not so。
MARTHA （rising）。
They do accuse me falsely。
It is delusion； or it is deceit。
There is a story in the ancient Scriptures
Which I much wonder comes not to your minds。
Let me repeat it to you。
DEACON。
We will hear it。
MARTHA。
It came to pass that Naboth had a vineyard
Hard by the palace of the King called Ahab。
And Ahab； King of Israel； spake to Naboth；
And said to him；