Dance, kiss, and coll, use every thing: Thou know'st it, Stadlin? Stad. Usually that's done. Hec. Away, in. Go feed the vessel for the second hour. Hec. They're down his throat, 54 His mouth cramm'd full; his ears and nostrils stuft. You may see that, he looks so black i' th' mouth. Stad. Then there's all, Hecate. Hec. Is the heart of wax Stuck full of magic needles? Stad. 'Tis done, Hecate. Hec. And is the farmer's picture, and his wife's, Laid down to the fire yet? Stad. They are a roasting both too. Hec. Good; Then their marrows are a melting subtilly, And three months' sickness sucks up life in 'em. They denied me often flour, barm, and milk, Goose grease and tar, when I ne'er hurt their churnings, Fell lame last Sunday, after even-song too. And mark how their sheep prosper; or what soup Each milch-kine gives to th3 pail: I'll send these snakes Shall milk 'em all before hand: the dew'd-skirted dairy wenches Shall stroke dry dugs for this, and go home cursing: Under cows' bellies, with the parish youths. Sebastian consults the Witch for a Charm to be revenged on his successful Rival. Hec. Urchins, elves, hags, satires, pans, fawns, silence. Kit with the candlestick; tritons, centaurs, dwarfs, imps, The spoon, the mare, the man i'th' oak, the hellwain, the fire-drake, the puckle. A. ab. hur. hus. Seb. Heaven knows with what unwillingness and hate I enter this damn'd place: but such extremes Of wrongs in love fight 'gainst religion's knowledge, As numberless as creatures that must die, I could not shun the way. I know what 'tis Of woman's making and her faithless vows. Tis now but supper-time: But night will come, Hec. Thy boldness takes me bravely; we are all sworn To sweat for such a spirit: see; I regard thee, I rise, and bid thee welcome. What's thy wish now? Seb. Oh my heart swells with't. I must take breath first. Hec. Is't to confound some enemy on the seas? It may be done to-night. Stadlin's within ; She She raises all your sudden ruinous storms Out of a rich man's chimney (a sweet place for❜t, He would be hang'd ere he would set his own years there; on't, His rotten diseas'd years)! Or dost thou envy I'll call forth Hoppo, and her incantation Can straight destroy the young of all his cattle : Seb. This would come most richly now Hec. Is it to starve up generation? To strike a barrenness in man or woman? Seb. Hah! Hec. Hah! Did you feel me there? I knew your grief. Hec. Are these the skins Of serpents? these of snakes? Seb. I see they are. Hec. So sure into what house these are convey'd Archimadon, Marmaritin, Calicia, Which I could sort to villainous barren ends s; But this leads the same way: More I could instance : That sow and sock up dead men in their sheets: After sun set: Good, excellent: yet all's there, Sir. Seb. Seb. You could not do a man that special kindness To part them utterly, now? Could you do that? Hec. No: time must do't: we cannot disjoin wedlock; 'Tis of heaven's fastening: well may we raise jars, Jealousies, strifes, and heart-burning disagreements, Like a thick scurf o'er life, as did our master Upon that patient55 miracle; but the work itself Our power cannot disjoin. Seb. I depart happy In what I have then, being constrain❜d to this: And grant, you greater powers that dispose men, [Exit. Hec. I know he loves me not, nor there's no hope on't; Tis for the love of mischief I do this: And that we are sworn to the first oath we take. Hecate, Stadlin, Hoppo, with the other Witches, preparing for their midnight journey through the Air. Hecate's Son. Fire-stone, Hec. The moon's a gallant; see how brisk she rides. Hec. Ay, is't not, wenches, To take a journey of five thousand mile? Hop. Ours will be more to-night. Heard you the owl yet? Stad. Briefly in the copse, As we came through now. Hec. 'Tis high time for us then. Stad. There was a bat hung at my lips three times As we came through the woods, and drank her fill. Old Puckle saw her, Hec. You are fortunate still: The very screech-owl lights upon your shoulder, Stad. All. 55 Job. Hec. Hec. Prepare to flight then : ll overtake you swiftly. Stad. Hie thee, Hecate : We shall be up betimes. Hec. I'll reach you quickly. [The other Witches mount. Fire. They are all going a birding to-night. They talk of fowls in the air, that fly by day: I am sure, they'll be a company of foul sluts there to-night. If we have not mortality offer'd56, I'll be hanged; for they are able to putrify it, to infect a whole region. She spies me now. Hec. What, Fire-stone, our sweet son ? Fire. A little sweeter than some of you; or a dunghill were too good for me. Hec. How much hast here? Fire. Nineteen, and all brave plump ones; besides six lizards, and three serpentine eggs. Hec. Dear, and sweet boy: what herbs hast thou ? Hec. Marmaritin and Mandragora thou would'st say, am sure With kneeling down to cut 'em. Hec. And Selago, Hedge hysop too: how near he goes my cuttings! Were they all cropt by moon-light? Fire. Every blade of 'em, or I am a moon-calf, mother. Look well to the house to-night: I am for aloft. Fire. Aloft, quoth you? I would you would break your neck once, that I might have all quickly. Hark, hark, mother; they are above the Steeple already, flying over your head with a noise of musicians. 56 Probably the true reading is after 't. Hec. |