not want a belly when I am in him—but (seeing the witch)-uds me, mother Sawyer!

1 Cl. The old witch of Edmonton!-if our mirth be not cross'd

2. Cl. Bless us, Cuddy, and let her curse her t'other eye out. What dost now?

Cud." Ungirt, unblest," says the proverb; but my girdle shall serve [for] a riding knot; and a fig for all the witches in Christendom! What wouldst thou?

1 Cl. The devil cannot abide to be crossed.

2 Cl. And scorns to come at any man's whistle. 3 Cl. Away

4 Cl. With the witch!

All. Away with the Witch of Edmonton!

[Exeunt in strange postures.

Saw. Still vex'd! still tortured! that curmudgeon Banks

Is ground of all my scandal; I am shunn'd
And hated like a sickness; made a scorn

To all degrees and sexes. I have heard old beldams

Talk of familiars in the shape of mice,

Rats, ferrets, weasels, and I wot not what,

That have appear'd, and suck'd, some say, their

blood;

But by what means they came acquainted with

them,

I am now ignorant. Would some power, good or

bad,

Instruct me which way I might be revenged
Upon this churl, I'd go out of myself,
And give this fury leave to dwell within
This ruin'd cottage, ready to fall with age!
Abjure all goodness, be at hate with prayer,
And study curses, imprecations,

Blasphemous speeches, oaths, detested oaths,
Or any thing that's ill; so I might work
Revenge upon this miser, this black cur,
That barks and bites, and sucks the very blood
Of me, and of my credit. Tis all one,

To be a witch, as to be counted one:
Vengeance, shame, ruin light upon that canker!

Enter a BLACK DOG."

Dog. Ho! have I found thee cursing? now thou

art

Mine own.

6 Enter a Black Dog.] "A great matter," Dr. Hutchinson says, " had been made at the time of the said commission, (1697,) of a black dog, that frequently appeared to Somers, and persuaded him to say he had dissembled; and when they asked him, why he said he counterfeited? he said: A dog, a dog! And as odd things will fall in with such stories, it happened that there was a black dog in the chamber, that belonged to one Clark, a spurrier. Some of the commissioners spying him, thought they saw the devil! one thought his eyes glared like fire! and much speech was afterwards made of it." p. 260. This was under Elizabeth, whose reign, if we may trust the competent authorities, was far more infested with witches, than that of James I. when the Black Dog again made his appearance among the Lancashire witches. The audiences of those days, therefore, were well prepared for his reception, and probably viewed him with a sufficient degree of fearful credulity to create an interest in his feats. But there is "" nothing new under the suu.' The whole machinery of witchcraft was as well known to Lucan

Saw. Thine! what art thou?

Dog. He thou hast so often

Importuned to appear to thee, the devil.
Saw. Bless me! the devil?

Dog. Come, do not fear; I love thee much too well

To hurt or fright thee; if I seem terrible,
It is to such as hate me. I have found
Thy love unfeign'd; have seen and pitied
Thy open wrongs, and come, out of my love,
To give thee just revenge against thy foes.
Saw. May I believe thee?

Dog. To confirm't, command me
Do any mischief unto man or beast,
And I'll effect it, on condition

That, uncompell'd, thou make a deed of gift

Of soul and body to me.

Saw. Out, alas!

My soul and body?

Dog. And that instantly,

And seal it with thy blood; if thou deniest,

I'll tear thy body in a thousand pieces.

Saw. I know not where to seek relief: but

shall I,

After such covenants seal'd, see full revenge

On all that wrong me?

as to us; and the black dogs of Mother Sawyer and Mother Demdike had their origin in the inferna canes of the Greek and Latin poets, and descended, in regular succession, through all the demonology of the dark ages, to the times of the Revolution, when they quietly disappeared with the sorcerers, their employers.

Dog. Ha, ha! silly woman!

The devil is no liar to such as he loves-
Didst ever know or hear the devil a liar

To such as he affects?

Saw. Then I am thine; at least so much of me As I can call mine own

Dog. Equivocations?

Art mine or no? speak, or I'll tear

Saw. All thine.

Dog. Seal't with thy blood.

[She pricks her

arm, which he sucks.—Thunder and lightning.

See! now I dare call thee mine!

For proof, command me; instantly I'll run
To any mischief; goodness can I none.

Saw. And I desire as little. There's an old churl,

One Banks

Dog. That wrong'd thee; he lamed thee, call'd thee witch.

Saw. The same; first upon him I'd be revenged.

Dog. Thou shalt; do but name how?

Saw. Go, touch his life.

Dog. I cannot.

Saw. Hast thou not vow'd? Go, kill the slave! Dog. I will not.

Saw. I'll cancel then my gift.

Dog. Ha, ha!

Saw. Dost laugh!

Why wilt not kill him?

Dog. Fool, because I cannot.

Though we have power, know, it is circum

scribed,

And tied in limits: though he be curst to thee,7
Yet of himself, he is loving to the world,"
And charitable to the poor; now men, that,
As he, love goodness, though in smallest measure,
Live without compass of our reach his cattle
And corn I'll kill and mildew ; but his life
(Until I take him, as I late found thee,

Cursing and swearing) I have no power to touch.
Saw. Work on his corn and cattle then.
Dog. I shall.

The WITCH OF EDMONTON shall see his fall;
If she at least put credit in my power,
And in mine only; make orisons to me,
And none but me.

Saw. Say how, and in what manner.

Dog. I'll tell thee: when thou wishest ill,
Corn, man, or beast wouldst spoil or kill;
Turn thy back against the sun,

And mumble this short orison:
If thou to death or shame pursue 'em,

Sanctibicetur nomen tuum.

Saw. If thou to death or shame pursue 'em,
Sanctibicetur nomen tuum.

Dog. Perfect farewell! Our first-made pro

mises

We'll put in execution against Banks.

7

[Exit.

though he be curst to thee.] So the word should

be written; i. e. cross, splenetic, abusive.