Judge Hathorne, The Crucible

Beginning of Act III

Now, Martha Corey, there is abundant evidence in our hands to show that you have given yourself to the reading of fortunes, Do you deny it?

MARTHA Corey’s Voice: I am innocent to a witch. I know not what a witch is.

How do you know, then, that you are not a witch?

Martha Corey’s Voice: If I were, I would know it.

Why do you hurt these children?

Giles’ Voice: You’re hearing lies, lies!

Arrest him, excellency!

Giles: They’ll be hangin’ my wife!

How do you dare come roarin’ into this court! Are you gone daft, Corey?

Danforth: Indeed! I am amazed to find you in such uproar; I have only good report of your character, Mr. Nurse.

I think they must both be arrested in contempt, sir.

Francis: We have proof of it, sir. They are all deceiving you.

This is contempt, sir, contempt!

Proctor: Aye, God tells us that. To Danforth: But who tells us Rebecca Nurse murdered seven babies by sending out her spirit on them? It is the children only, and this one will swear she lied to you.

Aye, she’s the one.

Parris: All innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in Salem! These people are gloomy for it. To Danforth directly: And I think you will want to know, from each and every one of them, what discontents them with you!

I think they ought to be examined, sir.

Danforth: Oh? He looks down at it. Now Hathorne comes behind him and reads with him.

What lawyer drew this, Corey?

Giles, pointing at his deposition: The proof is there! I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it! The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said she’d given him a fair gift of land.

And the name of this man?

Giles, taken aback: What name?

The man that give you this information.

Giles, hesitates, then: Why, I - I cannot give you his name.

And why not?

Giles, hesitates, then bursts out: You know well why not! He’ll lay in jail if I give his name!

This is contempt of the court, Mr. Danforth!

Parris: The Devil lives on such confidences! To Danforth: Without confidences there could be no conspiracy, Your Honor!

I think it must be broken, sir.

Proctor: She has not been a girl these fifteen years, Your Honor.

But a poppet will keep fifteen years, will it not?

Danforth: Quiet, man.

Surely it have no bearing on the question, sir. He charges contemplation of murder.

Parris, unwillingly: Aye, sir.

Excellency, will you permit me?

Danforth: Pray, proceed.

You say you never saw no spirits, Mary, were never threatened or afflicted by any manifest of the Devil or the Devil’s agents.

Mary Warren: No, sir.

And yet, when people ac-cused of witchery confronted you in court, you would faint, saying their spirits came out of their bodies and choked you -

Proctor: She only pretended to faint, Your Excellency. They’re all marvelous pretenders.

Then can she pretend to faint now?

Mary Warren: But I did not, Your Honor.

How could you think you saw them unless you saw them?

Proctor: They’re pretending!

She is cold, Your Honor, touch her!

Herrick: Aye, sir.

Let you question Hale, Excellency; I should not be surprised he have been preaching in Andover lately.

Danforth: We’ll come to that; speak nothing of Andover. Parris prays with him. That’s strange.

Excellency, I wonder if it be wise to let Mr. Parris so continuously with the prisoners. I think, sometimes, the man has a mad look these days.

Danforth: Mad?

I met him yesterday coming out of his house, and I bid him good morning - and he wept and went his way. I think it is not well the village sees him so unsteady.

Parris: Excellency, a moment.

Do you leave him alone with the prisoners?

Parris: Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my - my strongbox is broke into

She have robbed you?

Parris: I tell you what is said here, sir. Andover have thrown out the court, they say, and will have no part of witchcraft. There be a faction here, feeding on that news, and I tell you true, sir, I fear there will be riot here.

Riot! Why at every execution I have seen naught but high satisfaction in the town.

Parris: Judge Hathorne - it were another sort that hanged till now. Rebecca Nurse is no Bridget that lived three year with Bishop before she married him. John Proctor is not Isaac Ward that drank his family to ruin. To Danforth: I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight jet in the town. Let Rebecca stand upon the gibbet and send up some righteous prayer, and I fear she’ll wake a vengeance on you.

Excellency, she is condemned a witch. The court have -

Hale: Goody Proctor, I have gone this 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.

It is no lie, you cannot speak of lies.

Elizabeth: John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me! Suspicion kissed you when I did; I never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold house I kept! I

What say you, Proctor? The sun is soon up.

Proctor: I want my life.

You’ll confess yourself?

Proctor: I will have my life.

God be praised! It is a providence! He will confess! Proctor will confess!