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He Then Crosses to the Other Bench.) Sarah Good (Rising in Her Rags

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He Then Crosses to the Other Bench.) Sarah Good (Rising in Her Rags Act Four (A cell in Salem jail, that fall. At the back is a high barred window; near it, a great, heavy door. Along the walls are two benches. The place is in darkness but for the moonlight seeping through the bars. It appears empty. Presently footsteps are heard coming down a corridor beyond the wall, keys rattle, and the door swings open. Marshal Herrick enters with a lantern. He is nearly drunk, and heavy-footed. He goes to a bench and nudges a bundle of rags lying on it.) Herrick. Sarah, wake up! Sarah Good! (He then crosses 20 Sarah Good. A pair of bluebirds wingin’ southerly, to the other bench.) the two of us! Oh, it be a grand transformation, Sarah Good (rising in her rags). Oh, Majesty! Comin’, Marshal! (She raises the flask to drink again.) comin’! Tituba, he’s here, His Majesty’s come! Herrick (taking the flask from her lips). You’d best give Herrick. Go to the north cell; this place is wanted now. me that or you’ll never rise off the ground. Come (He hangs his lantern on the wall. Tituba sits up.) along now. Tituba. That don’t look to me like His Majesty; look Tituba. I’ll speak to him for you, if you desires to to me like the marshal. come along, Marshal. Herrick (taking out a flask). Get along with you now, Herrick. I’d not refuse it, Tituba; it’s the proper 10 clear this place. (He drinks, and Sarah Good comes morning to fly into Hell. and peers up into his face.) 30 Tituba. Oh, it be no Hell in Barbados. Devil, him Sarah Good. Oh, is it you, Marshal! I thought sure be pleasure-man in Barbados, him be singin’ and you be the devil comin’ for us. Could I have a sip dancin’ in Barbados. It’s you folks—you riles him of cider for me goin’-away? up ’round here; it be too cold ’round here for that Old Boy. He freeze his soul in Massachusetts, but in Herrick (handing her the flask). And where are you Barbados he just as sweet and—(A bellowing cow is off to, Sarah? heard, and Tituba leaps up and calls to the window.) TITUBA (as Sarah drinks). We goin’ to Barbados, soon Aye, sir! That’s him, Sarah! the Devil gits here with the feathers and the wings. Sarah Good. I’m here, Majesty! (They hurriedly pick Herrick. Oh? A happy voyage to you. up their rags as Hopkins, a guard, enters.) 200 unit 1: early american writing 4HEMEs ACROSs TIME John PrOCTor going To the gALLOWS the crucible: act four 201 40 Hopkins. The Deputy Governor’s arrived. Herrick. No, sir; it is a bitter night, and I have no Herrick (grabbing Tituba). Come along, come along. fire here. TITUBA (resisting him). No, he comin’ for me. I goin’ DanfORTH (containing his anger). Fetch Mr. Parris. home! Herrick. Aye, sir. Herrick (pulling her to the door). That’s not Satan, 80 DanfORth. There is a prodigious stench in this place. just a poor old cow with a hatful of milk. Come Herrick. I have only now cleared the people out along now, out with you! for you. TITUBA (calling to the window). Take me home, Devil! DanfORth. Beware hard drink, Marshal. Take me home! Herrick. Aye, sir. (He waits an instant for further Sarah Good (following the shouting Tituba out). Tell orders. But Danforth, in dissatisfaction, turns his 50 him I’m goin’, Tituba! Now you tell him Sarah back on him, and Herrick goes out. There is a pause. Good is goin’ too! Danforth stands in thought.) (In the corridor outside Tituba calls on—“Take me HaTHORNE. Let you question Hale, Excellency; I home, Devil; Devil take me home!” and Hopkins’ should not be surprised he have been preaching voice orders her to move on. Herrick returns and 90 in Andover2 lately. begins to push old rags and straw into a corner. Hear- DanfORth. We’ll come to that; speak nothing of ing footsteps, he turns, and enter Danforth and Andover. Parris prays with him. That’s strange. (He Judge Hathorne. They are in greatcoats and wear blows on his hands, moves toward the window, and hats against the bitter cold. They are followed in looks out.) by Cheever, who carries a dispatch case1 and a flat HaTHORNE. Excellency, I wonder if it be wise to 60 wooden box containing his writing materials.) let Mr. Parris so continuously with the prisoners. Herrick. Good morning, Excellency. ( Danforth turns to him, interested.) I think, some- DanfORth. Where is Mr. Parris? times, the man has a mad look these days. Herrick. I’ll fetch him. (He starts for the door.) DanfORth. Mad? DanfORth. Marshal. ( Herrick stops.) When did Rev- 100 HaTHORNE. I met him yesterday coming out of his erend Hale arrive? house, and I bid him good morning—and he wept Herrick. It were toward midnight, I think. and went his way. I think it is not well the village DanfORTH (suspiciously). What is he about here? sees him so unsteady. Herrick. He goes among them that will hang, sir. DanfORth. Perhaps he have some sorrow. And he prays with them. He sits with Goody Nurse CheeVER (stamping his feet against the cold ). I think 70 now. And Mr. Parris with him. it be the cows, sir. DanfORth. Indeed. That man have no authority to DanfORth. Cows? enter here, Marshal. Why have you let him in? CheeVER. There be so many cows wanderin’ the high- Herrick. Why, Mr. Parris command me, sir. I cannot roads, now their masters are in the jails, and much deny him. 110 disagreement who they will belong to now. I know DanfORth. Are you drunk, Marshal? Mr. Parris be arguin’ with farmers all yesterday— 1. DISPAtch case:acaseforcarryingdocuments. 2. AndoVER:aTOwninMassachusettsnorTHWESTofSalem. 202 unit 1: early american writing 4HEMEs ACROSs TIME there is great contention, sir, about the cows. Con- Parris. This be the third night. You see, sir, she told tention make him weep, sir; it were always a man 150 me she would stay a night with Mercy Lewis. And that weep for contention. (He turns, as do Hathorne next day, when she does not return, I send to Mr. and Danforth, hearing someone coming up the Lewis to inquire. Mercy told him she would sleep corridor. Danforth raises his head as Parris enters. He in my house for a night. is gaunt, frightened, and sweating in his greatcoat.) DanfORth. They are both gone?! PARRIS (to Danforth, instantly). Oh, good morning, PARRIS (in fear of him). They are, sir. sir, thank you for coming, I beg your pardon wakin’ DanfORTH (alarmed ). I will send a party for them. 120 you so early. Good morning, Judge Hathorne. Where may they be? DanfORth. Reverend Hale have no right to enter this— Parris. Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. Parris. Excellency, a moment. (He hurries back and ( Danforth stands agape.) My daughter tells me how shuts the door.) 160 she heard them speaking of ships last week, and HaTHORNE. Do you leave him alone with the prisoners? tonight I discover my—my strongbox is broke into. DanfORth. What’s his business here? (He presses his fingers against his eyes to keep back tears.) PARRIS (prayerfully holding up his hands). Excellency, HaTHORNE (astonished ). She have robbed you? hear me. It is a providence. Reverend Hale has Parris. Thirty-one pound is gone. I am penniless. returned to bring Rebecca Nurse to God. (He covers his face and sobs.) DanfORTH (surprised ). He bids her confess? DanfORth. Mr. Parris, you are a brainless man! (He 130 PARRIS (sitting). Hear me. Rebecca have not given me walks in thought, deeply worried.) a word this three month since she came. Now she Parris. Excellency, it profit nothing you should sits with him, and her sister and Martha Corey and blame me. I cannot think they would run off two or three others, and he pleads with them, con- 170 except they fear to keep in Salem any more. (He is fess their crimes and save their lives. pleading.) Mark it, sir, Abigail had close knowledge DanfORth. Why—this is indeed a providence. And of the town, and since the news of Andover has they soften, they soften? broken here— Parris. Not yet, not yet. But I thought to summon DanfORth. Andover is remedied.3 The court returns you, sir, that we might think on whether it be not there on Friday, and will resume examinations. wise, to—(He dares not say it.) I had thought to put Parris. I am sure of it, sir. But the rumor here speaks 140 a question, sir, and I hope you will not— rebellion in Andover, and it— DanfORth. Mr. Parris, be plain, what troubles you? DanfORth. There is no rebellion in Andover! Parris. There is news, sir, that the court—the court Parris. I tell you what is said here, sir. Andover have must reckon with. My niece, sir, my niece—I believe 180 thrown out the court, they say, and will have no part she has vanished. of witchcraft. There be a faction here, feeding on DanfORth. Vanished! that news, and I tell you true, sir, I fear there will be riot here. Parris. I had thought to advise you of it earlier in the week, but— HaTHORNE. Riot! Why at every execution I have seen naught but high satisfaction in the town. DanfORth. Why? How long is she gone? 3. Remedied:nolongeraproblem. the crucible: act four 203 Parris.
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