按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
That we may do His will； and do that only！
A long pause； interrupted by the sound of a drum approaching；
then shouts in the street； and a loud knocking at the door。
MARSHAL。
Within there！ Open the door！
MERRY。
Will no one answer？
MARSHAL。
In the King's name！ Within there！
MERRY。
Open the door！
UPSALL （from the window）。
It is not barred。 Come in。 Nothing prevents you。
The poor man's door is ever on the latch。
He needs no bolt nor bar to shut out thieves；
He fears no enemies； and has no friends
Importunate enough to need a key。
Enter JOHN ENDICOTT； the MARSHAL； MERRY； and a crowd。 Seeing the
Quakers silent and unmoved； they pause； awe…struck。 ENDICOTT
opposite EDITH。
MARSHAL。
In the King's name do I arrest you all！
Away with them to prison。 Master Upsall；
You are again discovered harboring here
These ranters and disturbers of the peace。
You know the law。
UPSALL。
I know it； and am ready
To suffer yet again its penalties。
EDITH （to ENDICOTT）。
Why dost thou persecute me； Saul of Tarsus？
ACT II。
SCENE I。 JOHN ENDICOTT's room。 Early morning。
JOHN ENDICOTT。
〃Why dost thou persecute me； Saul of Tarsus？〃
All night these words were ringing in mine ears！
A sorrowful sweet face； a look that pierced me
With meek reproach； a voice of resignation
That had a life of suffering in its tone；
And that was all！ And yet I could not sleep；
Or； when I slept； I dreamed that awful dream！
I stood beneath the elm…tree on the Common；
On which the Quakers have been hanged； and heard
A voice； not hers； that cried amid the darkness；
〃This is Aceldama； the field of blood！
I will have mercy； and not sacrifice！〃
Opens the window and looks out。
The sun is up already； and my heart
Sickens and sinks within me when I think
How many tragedies will be enacted
Before his setting。 As the earth rolls round；
It seems to me a huge Ixion's wheel；
Upon whose whirling spokes we are bound fast；
And must go with it！ Ah； how bright the sun
Strikes on the sea and on the masts of vessels；
That are uplifted； in the morning air；
Like crosses of some peaceable crusade！
It makes me long to sail for lands unknown；
No matter whither！ Under me； in shadow；
Gloomy and narrow； lies the little town；
Still sleeping； but to wake and toil awhile；
Then sleep again。 How dismal looks the prison；
How grim and sombre in the sunless street；
The prison where she sleeps； or wakes and waits
For what I dare not think of；death； perhaps！
A word that has been said may he unsaid：
It is but air。 But when a deed is done
It cannot be undone； nor can our thoughts
Reach out to all the mischiefs that may follow。
'T is time for morning prayers。 I will go down。
My father； though severe； is kind and just；
And when his heart is tender with devotion；
When from his lips have fallen the words； 〃Forgive us
As we forgive；〃then will I intercede
For these poor people； and perhaps may save them。
＇Exit。
SCENE II。 Dock Square。 On one side； the tavern of the Three
Mariners。 In the background； a quaint building with gables； and；
beyond it； wharves and shipping。 CAPTAIN KEMPTHORN and others
seated at a table before the door。 SAMUEL COLE standing near
them。
KEMPTHORN。
Come； drink about！ Remember Parson Melham；
And bless the man who first invented flip！
They drink。
COLE。
Pray； Master Kempthorn； where were you last night？
KEMPTHORN。
On board the Swallow； Simon Kempthorn； master；
Up for Barbadoes； and the Windward Islands。
COLE。
The town was in a tumult。
KEMPTHORN。
And for what？
COLE。
Your Quakers were arrested。
KEMPTHORN。
How my Quakers？
COLE。
These you brought in your vessel from Barbadoes。
They made an uproar in the Meeting…house
Yesterday； and they're now in prison for it。
I owe you little thanks for bringing them
To the Three Mariners。
KEMPTHORN。
They have not harmed you。
I tell you； Goodman Cole； that Quaker girl
Is precious as a sea…bream's eye。 I tell you
It was a lucky day when first she set
Her little foot upon the Swallow's deck；
Bringing good luck； fair winds； and pleasant weather。
COLE。
I am a law…abiding citizen；
I have a seat in the new Meeting…house；
A cow…right on the Common； and； besides；
Am corporal in the Great Artillery。
I rid me of the vagabonds at once。
KEMPTHORN。
Why should you not have Quakers at your tavern
If you have fiddlers？
COLE。
Never！ never！ never！
If you want fiddling you must go elsewhere；
To the Green Dragon and the Admiral Vernon；
And other such disreputable places。
But the Three Mariners is an orderly house；
Most orderly； quiet； and respectable。
Lord Leigh said he could be as quiet here
As at the Governor's。 And have I not
King Charles's Twelve Good Rules； all framed and glazed；
Hanging in my best parlor？
KEMPTHORN。
Here's a health
To good King Charles。 Will you not drink the King？
Then drink confusion to old Parson Palmer。
COLE。
And who is Parson Palmer？ I don't know him。
KEMPTHORN。
He had his cellar underneath his pulpit；
And so preached o'er his liquor； just as you do。
A drum within。
COLE。
Here comes the Marshal。
MERRY （within）。
Make room for the Marshal。
KEMPTHORN。
How pompous and imposing he appears！
His great buff doublet bellying like a mainsail；
And all his streamers fluttering in the wind。
What holds he in his hand？
COLE。
A proclamation。
Enter the MARSHAL； with a proclamation； and MERRY； with a
halberd。 They are preceded by a drummer； and followed by the
hangman； with an armful of books； and a crowd of people； among
whom are UPSALL and JOHN ENDICOTT。 A pile is made of the books。
MERRY。
Silence； the drum！ Good citizens； attend
To the new laws enacted by the Court。
MARSHAL （reads）。
〃Whereas a cursed sect of Heretics
Has lately risen； commonly called Quakers；
Who take upon themselves to be commissioned
Immediately of God； and furthermore
Infallibly assisted by the Spirit
To write and utter blasphemous opinions；
Despising Government and the order of God
In Church and Commonwealth； and speaking evil
Of Dignities； reproaching and reviling
The Magistrates and Ministers； and seeking
To turn the people from their faith； and thus
Gain proselytes to their pernicious ways；
This Court； considering the premises；
And to prevent like mischief as is wrought
By their means in our land； doth hereby order；
That whatsoever master or commander
Of any ship； bark； pink； or catch shall bring
To any roadstead； harbor； creek； or cove
Within this Jurisdiction any Quakers；
Or other bla