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Putnam: I’ll have my men on you, Corey! I’ll clap a writ on you!
Pray you, someone take these!
Parris: Mister Hale! Oh, it’s good to see you again! My, they’re heavy!
They must be, they are weighted with authority.
Parris: Well, you do come prepared!
We shall need hard study if it comes to tracking down the Old Boy. You cannot be Rebecca Nurse?
Rebecca: I am, sir. Do you know me?
It’s strange how I knew you, but I suppose you look as such a good soul should. We have all heard of your great charities in Beverly.
Parris: Do you know this gentleman?- Mister Thomas Putnam. And his goodwife Ann.
Putnam! I had not expected such distinguished company.
Putnam: It does not seem to help us today, Mister Hale. We look to you to come to our house and save our child.
You child ails too?!
Putnam: She cannot eat.
Cannot eat! Do you men also have afflicted children?
Parris: Will you look at my daughter, sir? She has tried to leap out of the window; we discovered her this morning on the highroad, waving her arms as though she’d fly.
Tries to fly?
Putnam: She cannot bear to hear the Lord’s name, mister hale; that’s sure sign of witchcraft afloat.
No-no… Now let me instruct you. We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone and we must only look for his proper signs and judge nothing beforehand, and I must tell you all, that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no trace of hell in this.
Parris: it is agreed sir- it is agreed- we will abide by your judgement.
Good then. Now, sir, what were you first warning of this strangeness?
Parris: Why, sir… I discovered her… and my niece Abigail and ten or twelve of the others girls, dancing in the forest last night.
You permit dancing.
Parris: Shh!
Seven dead in childbirth?
Ann: What’s there sir?
Here is all the invisible world, caught, defined and calculated. In these books, the Devil strands stripped of all his brute disguises. Here are all your familiar spirits- your incubi and succubi- your witches that go by land, by air, and by sea- your wizards of the night and day. Have no fear now, we shall find him out if he has come among us, and I mean to crush his utterly if he has shown his face!
Rebecca: Will it hurt the child?
I cannot tell. If she is truly in the Devil’s grip, we may have to rip and tear to get her free.
(Parris sits me besides Betty)
Corey: Mister Hale… I have always wanted to ask a learned man– What signifies the readin of strange books?
Corey: Mister Hale… I have always wanted to ask a learned man– What signifies the readin of strange books?
What books?
Corey: I cannot tell; she hides them.
Who does this?
Corey: Martha, my wife. I have waked at night many times and found her in a corner, readin’ of a book. Now what do you make of that?
Why, that’s not necessarily–
Corey: It discomforts me! Last night- mark this- I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she close hr book and walks out of the house, and suddenly- mark this- I could pray again!
Ah- the stoppage of prayer- that is strange. I’d like to speak further on that with you.
Corey: I’m not sayin she’s touched the Devil, now, but I’d admire to know what books she reads and why she hides them- she’ll not answer me, y’see.
Aye, we’ll discuss it. Now mark me, if the Devil is in her, you will witness some frightful wonders in this room, so please, to keep your wits about you. Mister Putnam, stand close incase she flies. Now, Betty dear, will you sit up? I am John Hale, minister of Beverly. I’ve come to help you, dear. Do you remember my two little girls in beverely?
Parris: How can it be the Devil? Why would he choose my house to strike?
What victory would the Devil have to win a soul already had? It is the best the Devil wants, and who is better than the minister?
Corey: That’s deep, Mister Parris, deep.
Does someone afflict you child? It need not be a woman mind you, nor a man. Perhaps some bird invisible to others comes to you, or a pig, or any beast at all? Is there some figure bids you fly?… (Waves hand over face in like a mysterious, mystical way) In nomine Domini Sabaoth, sui filiique ite ad Infernos. Abigail, what sort of dancing were you doing with her in the forest?
Parris: I think I ought to say that I– I saw a kettle in the grass where they were dancing. A
Abigail: That were only soup!
Abigail: That were only soup!
Soup? What sort of soup were in this KETTLE, Abigail?
Abigail: Why it were beans– and lintels, I think, and–
Mister Parris, did you not notice, did you– any living thing in the kettle? A mouse, perhaps, a spider, a frog…
Parris: A frog abby!
Abby: We never put it in?
Abby: We never put it in?
Abigail, it may be your cousin is dying– Did you call the Devil last night?
Abby: I never called him! Tituba called him
Parris: She called the Devil!
Parris: She called the Devil!
I should like to speak with tituba.
Parris: (takes ann to door, and returns) Goody Ann, will you bring her up?
How did she call him?
Abby: I know not– she spoke Barbados?
Did you feel any strangeness when she called him? A sudden cold wind, perhaps? A trembling below the ground?
Abby: I didn’t see no Devil!… Betty, wake up, Betty! Bety!
You cannot evade me Abigail. Did your cousin drink any of the brew in that kettle?
Abigail: She never drank it!
Did you drink it?
Abigail: No, sir!
Did Tituba ask you to drink it?
Abigail: She tried but I refused.
WHY are you concealing? Have you sold yourself to Lucifer?
Tituba: No–no chicken blood, I giver she chicken blood!
Woman, have you enlisted these children for the Devil?
Tituba: No-no sir, I don’t truck with the Devil!
Why can she not wake? Are you silencing this child?
Tituba: I love me Betty!
You have sent your spirit out upon this child, have you not? Are you gathering souls for the Devil?
Abigail: Sometimes I wake and find myself standing in the open doorway and not a stitch on my body! I always hear her laughing in my sleep. I hear her singing her Barbados songs and tempting me with–
Tituba: Mister Reverend, I never—
(INTERRUPT HER)
Tituba: Mister Reverend, I never—
(INTERRUPT HER)
Tituba, I want you to wake this child.
Tituba: I have no power on this child.
You most certainly do, and you will loose it from her now! When did you compact with the Devil?
Tituba: No-no, don’t hang Tituba. I tell him I don’t desire to work for him, sir.
Who, the Devil? Now, Tituba, I know that when we bind ourselves to Hell it is very hard to break with it entirely. Now, we are going to help you tear yourself free- you would be a good christian woman, would you not, Tituba?
Tituba: Ay, sir, a good Christian woman.
And you love these little children?
Tituba: Oh, yes, sir, I don’t desire to hurt little children?
And you love God, Tituba?
Tituba: I love God with all my bein’.
Now in God’s holy name…
Tituba: Bless him… Bless him…
And to his glory…
Tituba: Eternal glory… Bless him…. Bless God…
Open yourself Tituba–open yourself and let God’s holy light shine on you.
Tituba: Oh bless the lord.
When the devil comes to you does he ever come with.. with another person? Perhaps a person in the village? Someone you know.
Parris: You mean out of Salem? Salem Witches?
Tituba: I believe so, yes, sir.
Tituba: I believe so, yes, sir.
Tituba. You must have no fear to tell us who they are, do you understand? We will protect you. The Devil can never overcome a minister. You know that, do you not?
Tituba: Aye, sir, oh, I do.
You have confessed yourself to witchcraft, and that speaks a with to come to heaven’s side. And we will bless you, Tituba…
Tituba: Oh, God bless you, Mister Hale…!
You are God’s instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil’s agents among us. You are selected Tituba, you are chosen to help us cleanse our village. So speak utterly, Tituba, turn your back on him and face God, face God, Tituba, and God will protect you.
Tituba: Oh god protect Tituba!
Who came to you with the Devil? Two? Three? Four-How many?!
Ann Putnam: I knew it! Goody Osburn were midwife to me three times. I begged, Thomas, did I not? I bgged him not to call Osburn because I feared her, my babies always shrivelled in her hands.
(Speaking to tituba on floor, left to her)
Take courage, you must give us all their names. How can you bear to see these children suffering? Look at them, Tituba– Look at their god given innocence, their souls are so tender, we must protect them Tituba; The devil is out and preying on theem like a beast upon the flesh of the pure lamb… God will bless you for your help…
Take courage, you must give us all their names. How can you bear to see these children suffering? Look at them, Tituba– Look at their god given innocence, their souls are so tender, we must protect them Tituba; The devil is out and preying on theem like a beast upon the flesh of the pure lamb… God will bless you for your help…
Betty: I saw George Jacobs with the Devil! I saw Goody Howe with the Devil!
Parris: She speas, she speaks!
Parris: She speas, she speaks!
Glory to god!– It is broken, they are free!
Putnam: The marshall, I’ll call the marshall!
Let the marshall bring irons. (END OF ACT 1 SCENE 1)
(Page 35 bottom)
Elizabeth: You’ll tear it free- when you come to know that I will be your only wife, or no wife at all!- she has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it well!
Elizabeth: You’ll tear it free- when you come to know that I will be your only wife, or no wife at all!- she has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it well!
Good evening.
Proctor: Why Mister hale! Good evening to you, sir. Come in, come in.
I hope I do not startle you.
Elizabeth: No-no, it’s only that we heard no horse…
You are Goodwife Proctor?
Proctor: Aye, Elizabeth.
I hope you’re not off to bed yet.
Proctor: No-no… let you come in, Mister Hale. We are not used to visitors after dark, but you’re welcome here. Will you sit down, sir?
I will. Let you sit Goodwife Proctor..
Proctor:Will you drink cider, Mister Hale?
No, it rebels my stomach- I have some further travelling yet tonight. Sit you down sir, I will not keep you long, but I have some business with you.
Proctor: Business of the court?
(hesitantly) No…no, I come of my own, without the court’s authority. Hear me, I know not if you are aware, but your wife’s name is… mentioned in the court.
Proctor: We know it , sir. Our Mary Warren told us. We are entirely amazed.
I am a stranger here, as you know. And in my ignorance, I find it hard to draw a clear opinion of them that come accusing before the court. And so this afternoon, and now tonight, I go from house to house…. I come now from Rebecca Nurse house and…
Eliz: Rebecca’s charged?!
God forbid such a one be charged. She is however… mentioned somewhat.
Eliz: You will never believe, I hope, that Rebecca trafficked with the Devil?
Woman, it is possible.
Proctor: Surely you cannot think so.
This is a strange time, Mister. No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village. There is too much evidence now to deny it. You will agree, sir?
Proctor: I… have no no knowledge in that line. But it’s hard to think so pious a woman be secretly a Devil’s bitch after seventy year of such good prayer.
Aye. But the Devil is a wily one, you cannot deny it. However, she is far from accused, and I know she will not be. I thought, sir, to put some questions as to the Christian character of this house, if you’ll permit me.
Proctor: Why, we… have no fear of questions, sir.
Good then. In the book of record that Mister Parris keeps, I not that you rarely in the church on Sabbath Day?
Proctor: No, sir, you are mistaken…
Only (looking at book for answer) twenty six time in seventeen month sir. I must call that rare. Will you tell me why you are so absent.
Proctor: Mister Hale, I never knew I must account to that man for I come to church or stay at home… My wife were sick this winter…
So I am told. But you, Mister, why could you not come alone?
Proctor: I surely did come when I could, and when I could not I prayed in this house.
Mister Proctor, you house is not a church; your theology must tell you that.
Proctor: It does, sir, it does; and it tells me that a minister may pray to God without he have golden candlesticks upon the altar.
What golden candlesticks…?
Proctor: Since we built the church there were pewter candlesticks upon the altar; Francis Nurse mad them, y’know, and a sweeter hand never touched the metal. But Parris came, and for twenty week he preach nothing but golden candlesticks until he had them. I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night, and i tell you true, when I look to heaven and see my money glaring at his elbows it-it hurt my prayer, sir, it hurt my prayer. I think, sometimes, the man dreams cathedrals, not clapboard meeting houses.
And yet, Mister, a Christian on Sabbath Day must be in church.. Tell me- you have three children.
Proctor: Aye, boys.
How come it that only two are baptized.
Proctor: I like it not that Mister Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man, I’ll not conceal it.
I must say it, Mister Proctor, that is not for you to decide. The man’s ordained, therefore the light of God IS in him.
Proctor: What’s your suspicion, Mister Hale?
No-no, I have no…
Proctor: I nailed the roof upon the church, I hung the door…
Oh did you! Well that’s a good sign then.
Proctor: It may be I have been too quick to bring the man to book, but you cannot think we ever desired the destruction of religion. I think that’s in your mind, is it not?
I… have… there’s a softness in your record sir, a softness.
Eliz: I think, maybe , we have been too hard with Mister Parris. I think so. But sure we never loved the Devil here.
Do you know your commandments, Elizabeth?
Eliz: I surely do. There be no mark of blame upon my life, Mister Hale, I am a covenanted Christian woman.
And you, Mister?
Proctor: I… am, sure I do, sir.
Let you repeat them if you will.
Proctor:… The Commandments?
Aye.
Proctor: Though shall not kill.
Aye.
Proctor: Thou shall not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods, nor make unto thee any graven image….(skip a bit) Though shalt honor they father and mother. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
You have said that twice, sir.
Proctor: You see, sir, between the two of us we do know them all. I think it be a small fault.
Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small.
Proctor: There be no love for Satan in this house.
I pray it, I pray it dearly. Well, then, I’ll bid good night.
Eliz: Mister Hale. I do think you are suspecting me somewhat? Are you not?
Goody Proctor, I do not judge you. My duty is to add what I may to the Godly wisdom of the court. I pray you both health and good fortune. Good night, sir.
Eliz: I think you must tell him, John.
What’s that?
Proctor: I … I have no witness and cannot prove it, except my word be taken. But I know the children’s sickness had naught to do with witchcraft.
Naught to do…?
Proctor: They were discovered by Mr. Parris sporting in the woods. They were startled, and took sick.
Who told you this?
Proctor: Abigail Williams.
Abigail!
Proctor: Aye
Abigail Williams had naught to do with witchcraft?
Proctor: She told me the day you came, sir.
Why…why did you keep this?
Proctor: I never knew until tonight that the world is gone daft with this nonsense.
Nonsense! Mister, I have myself examined Tituba, Sarah Good, and numerous others that have confessed to dealing with the Devil. They have conFESSED it.
Proctor:And why not, if they must hang for denyin’ it? There are them that will swear to anything before they’ll hang; have you never thought of that?
I have. I… I have indeed. And you… would you testify this in court?
Proctor: I…. had not reckoned wtih going into court… But if I must I will.
Ah, you falter there? I think you…
Proctor: I falter nothing, but I… I may wonder if my story will be credited in such a court. I do wonder on it, when a minister as steady minded as you will suspicion such a woman that never lied, she cannot lie, and the world knows she cannot. I may falter somewhat, Mister, I am no fool.
Proctor, let you open with me now, for I have heard a thing that roubles me. IT’s said you hold no belief that there may even be witches in the world. Is that true, sir?
Proctor: I know not what I have said; I may have said it. I have wondered if there be witches in the world.
Then you do not believe…?
Proctor: I have no knowledge of it; the Bible speaks of witches, and I will not deny them.
And you, woman?
Eliz: I… I cannot believe it.
You cannot!
Eliz: I cannot think the Devil may own a woman’s soul, Mister Hale, when she keeps an upright way, as I have. I am a good woman, I know it; and if you believe I may do only good work in the world, and yet be secretly bound to Satan, then I must tell you, sir, I do not believe it.
But, woman, you do believe there are witches in…?
Eliz: If you think that I am one, then I say there be none.
You surely do not fly against the Gospel, the Gospel…
Proctor:She do not mean to doubt the Gospel, sir, you cannot think it. This be a Christian house, sir, a Christian house.
(sigh) God keep you both; let the third child be quickly baptized and go you without fail each Sunday into Sabbath prayer and keep a quiet, solemn way among you. I think you… (enter corey)
Nurse: Reverend Hale. Can you not speak to the Deputy Governor?- I’m sure he mistakes these people…
Pray calm yourself, Mister Nurse…
Nurse: My wife is the very brick and mortar of the church Mister Hale– and Martha Corey, there cannot be a woman closer yet to God than Martha.
How is Rebecca charged, Mr. Nurse?
Nurse: For murder, she’s charged! For the marvelous and super natural murder of Goody Putnam’s babies. What am I to do, Mr.Hale?
Believe me, sir, if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the whole green world from burning. Let you rest upon the justice of the court; the court will send her home, I know it…
Proctor: how may such a woman murder children?
Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven.
Corey: I never said my wife were a witch, Mister Hale, I only said she were reading books!
Mister Corey, exactly what complaint were made on your wife?
Proctor: What say you? A warrant for my wife? You said she were not charged!
I know nothing of it. When were she charged?
Proctor: You’ll leave her out of sight and out of mind, Mister. Fetch Mary, Elizabeth.
What signifies a poppet, Mister Cheever?
Cheever: Why this go hard with her, Proctor, this… I had my doubts, Proctor, I had my doubts, but here’s calamity…
Why? What meaning has it?
Proctor: Now, sir- Do you have it?
Mary Warren… a needle have been found inside this poppet.
Proctor:What say you now?
Child… perhaps you are certain this be your natural memory?- may it be, perhaps, that someone conjures you even now to say this?
Elizabeth: What signifies a needle?
Mary…. You charge a cold and hard murder on Abigail.
Mary: Murder! I charge no…
Abigail were stabbed tonight, a needle were found stuck into her belly…
Elizabeth: And she charges me?!
Aye.
Proctor: Damn the Deputy Governor! Out of my house!
Now, Proctor, Proctor…
Proctor: Get y’gone with them! You are a broken minister.
Proctor, if she is innocent the court…
Proctor: you will see her taken?
Proctor, the court is just…
Willard: In God’s name, John, I cannot help myself. I msut chain them all. Now let you keep inside this house till I am gone! Man are you blind?
Mister Proctor…
Proctor: Out of my sight!
Charity, Proctor, Charity–what I have heard in her favor I will not fear to testify in court. God help me, I cannot judge her guilty nor innocent… I know not. Only this consider–the world goes mad, and it profit nothing you should lay the cause to vengeance of a little girl.
Proctor: You are a coward! Though you be ordained in God’s own tears, you are a coward now!
Proctor, I cannot think God be provoked so grandly by such a petty cause. The jails are packed, our greatest judges sit in Salem now–and hangin’s promised. Man, we must look to cause proportionate. Were there murder done perhaps, and never brought to light?? Abomination? Some secret blasphemy that stinks to heaven? Think on cause , man, and let you help me to discover it. For there’s your way, believe it, there is your only way, when such confusion strikes upon the world.
(to nurse)
Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village, and what my have drawn from heaven such a thundering wrath upon you all. I shall pray God open up our eyes. (END ACT 1 SCENE 2 FOR ME)
(to nurse)
Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village, and what my have drawn from heaven such a thundering wrath upon you all. I shall pray God open up our eyes. (END ACT 1 SCENE 2 FOR ME)
Act 2 Scene 2
Willard: You cannot go in there, Giles– it’s a court!
Willard: You cannot go in there, Giles– it’s a court!
Act 2 Scene 2 page 52
Pray be calm a moment.
Pray be calm a moment.
Corey: You, Mr. Hale, go in there and demand I speak.
A moment, sir, a moment.
Corey: It is my third wife, sir, and I never had no wife that be so taken with books, d”understand, sir, and I thought to find the cause of it, d’y’see, but it were no witch I blamed her fore. I have broke charity with the woman, I have broke charity with her.
Excellency, he claims hard evidence for his wife’s defense. I think that in all justice you must…
Nurse: Francis Nurse, your excellency.
His wife’s Rebecca that were condemned this morning.
Parris: Beware this man, Your Excellency, this man is mischief.
I think you must hear the girl sir, she…
Parris: This is a clear attack upon the court!
Is every defense an attack upon the court? Can no one…?
Danforth:…… Now, sir, the government and central church demand of you the name of him who reported Mister Thomas Putnam a common murderer.
Excellency…
Danforth: Mister Hale.
We cannot blink it more. There is a prodigious fear of this court in the country.
Danforth: Then there is a prodigious guilt in the country. Are you afraid to be questioned here?
… I may only fear the Lord, sir, but there is fear in the country, nevertheless…
Danforth: Reproach me not with the fear in the country; there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!
But it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it.
Proctor: Ay, sir. She swears now that she never saw Satan; nor any spirit, vague or clear, that Satan may have sent to hurt her. And she declares her friends are lying now.
Excellency, a moment. I think this goes to the heart of the matter sir.
Danforth: It surely does.
I cannot say he is an honest man, I know him little. But in all justice, sir, a claim so weighty cannot be argued by a farmer.In God’s holy name, sir, stop here; send him home and let him come again with a lawyer…
Danforth: Now look you, Mister Hale…
Excellency, I have signed seventy two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be proof so immaculate, no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it.
Danforth: Mister Hale, you surely do not doubt my justice?
I have this morning signed away the soul of Rebecca Nurse, Your honor. I’ll not conceal it- I tell you true, sir, my hand shakes yet as with a wound! I pray you, sir, this argument let lawyers present to you.
Danforth: ……Therefore we must rely upon her victimes- and they do testify, the children certainly do testify. As for the witches, none will deny that we are most eager for their confessions. Therefore, what is left for a lawyer to bring out? I think I have made my point. Have I not?
But this child claims the girls are not truthful, and if they are not…
Danforth: That is precisely what I am about to consider, sir. What more may you ask of me? Unless you doubt my probity?
(defeated) I surely do not, sir. Let you consider it, then.
Danforth: You discovered them dancing in the woods? Abigail?
Excellency, when I first arrived from Beverly, Mister Parris told me that.
Abigail: If I must answer that, sir, I will leave and I will not come back again.
She does not deny it, Mr. Danforth. She does not deny it!
Proctor: She only thought to save my name!
Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell, I beg you, stop now; before another is condemned!I may shut my conscience to it no more… private vengeance is working through this testimony! From the beginning this man has struck me true. I believe him now! By my oath to heaven, I believe him, and I pray you call back his wife before we…
Danforth: She spoke nothing of lechery, and this man lies!
I believe him! I cannot turn my face from it no more. This girl has always struck me false! She…
Danforth: Why does she see this vision?
You cannot believe them.
Mary: He wake me every night, his eyes were like coals and his fingers claw my neck, and I sign, I sign…
Excellency, the child’s gone wild/
Danforth: What are you! You are combined with anti-Christ, are you not? I have seen your power, Mister, you will not deny it!
This is not witchcraft! These girls are frauds! You condemn an honest man!
Danforth: Marshall, take him and Corey with him to the jail!
I denounce these proceedings! I quit this court!
Danforth: Accept my congratulations, Reverend Hale; we are gladdened to see you returned to your good work.
You must pardon them. They will not budge.
Danforth: You misunderstand me, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged from the same crime. It is not just.
Parris: Rebecca will not confess?
Parris: Rebecca will not confess?
The sun will rise in a few minutes, Excellency. I must have more time.
Danforth: …..While I speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. If retaliation is your fear, know this– I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statutes. Now draw yourselves up like men and help me, as you are bound by heaven to do. Have you spoken with them all, Mister Hale?
All but Proctor. He is in the dungeon.
Danforth: Fetch Goody Proctor to me. THen let you bring him up.
Willarde: Ay, sir.
Willarde: Ay, sir.
Excellency, if you postpone a week, and publish to the town that you are striving for their confessions, that speak mercy on your part, not faltering.
Danforth: Mister Hale, as God have not empowered me like Joshua to stop this sun from rising, so I cannot withhold from them the perfection of their punishment.
If you think God wills you to raise rebellion, Mister Danforth, you are mistaken.
Danforth: You have heard of rebellion spoken in Salem?
Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots cry will end his life– and you wonder yet if rebellion’s spoke? Better you should marvel how they do not burn your province!
Danforth: Mister Hale, have you preached in Andover this month?
Thank God they have no need of me in Andover.
Danforth: You baffle me sir. Why have you returned here?
Why, it is all simple.; I come to do the Devil’s work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!
Danforth: Pray, be at your ease, we come not for your life. We… Mister Hale, will you speak with the woman?
Goody Proctor, your husband is marked to hang this morning.
Elizabeth: I have heard it.
You know, do you not, that I have no connection with the court? I come of my own, Goody Proctor. I would save your husband’s life, for if he is taken I count myself his murderer. Do you understand me?
Eliz: What do you want from me?
Goody Proctor… I have gone three month like our Lord into the wilderness. I have sought a Christian way, for damnation’s doubled on a minister who counsels men to lie.
Harthorne: It is no lie, you cannot speak of lies.
It is a lie!– they are innocent!
Danforth: No more. No more. I’ll hear no more of that.
Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved; bearing gifts of high religion, the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up. Beware, Goody Proctor- cleave to no faith when faith brings blood. It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle however glorious may justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman–prvail upon your husband to confess. Let him give his lie. Quail not before God’s judgment in this, for it may well be ********s a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride. Will you plead with him? I cannot think he will listen to another.
Elizabeth: I think that be the Devil’s argument.
Woman, before the laws of God we are as swine. We cannot read his will.
Elizabeth: I promise nothing. Let me speak with him. (proctor enters. others leave)
Pray, leave them, Excellency.
Danforth: ….(talking to proctor) Your soul alone is the issue here, Mister, and you will prove it’s whiteness or you cannot live in a Christian country. Will you tell me now what persons conspsired with you in teh Devil’s company? To your knowledge was Rebecca Nurse ever…?
Proctor: I speak my own sins, I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it.
Proctor: I speak my own sins, I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it.
Excellency, it is enough he confess himself. Let him sign it, let him sign it…
Danforth: What way you go Mister? (tears up paper)
Parris: Proctor! Proctor
Parris: Proctor! Proctor
Man, you will hang!– You cannot!
Parris: Go to him, Goody Proctor! There is yet time! Proctor! Proctor!
Woman, plead with him! It is pride, it is vanity. Be his helper!–what profit him to bleed? Shall the dust praise him? Shall the worms declare his truth? Go to him, take his shame away.
Elizabeth: He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it away from him.
CURTAIN FALLS.
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