the complete poetical works-第176节
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I both feel and see
The presence and the waft of death go forth
Against thee； and already thou dost look
Like one that's dead！
MERRY （pointing）。
And there is your own son；
Worshipful sir； abetting the sedition。
ENDICOTT。
Arrest him。 Do not spare him。
MERRY （aside）。
His own child！
There is some special providence takes care
That none shall be too happy in this world！
His own first…born。
ENDICOTT。
O Absalom； my son！
＇Exeunt； the Governor with his halberdiers ascending the steps of
his house。
SCENE III。 The Governor's private room。 Papers upon the
table。
ENDICOTT and BELLINGHAM
ENDICOTT。
There is a ship from England has come in；
Bringing despatches and much news from home；
His majesty was at the Abbey crowned；
And when the coronation was complete
There passed a mighty tempest o'er the city；
Portentous with great thunderings and lightnings。
BELLINGHAM。
After his father's； if I well remember；
There was an earthquake； that foreboded evil。
ENDICOTT。
Ten of the Regicides have been put to death！
The bodies of Cromwell； Ireton； and Bradshaw
Have been dragged from their graves； and publicly
Hanged in their shrouds at Tyburn。
BELLINGHAM。
Horrible！
ENDICOTT。
Thus the old tyranny revives again。
Its arm is long enough to reach us here；
As you will see。 For； more insulting still
Than flaunting in our faces dead men's shrouds；
Here is the King's Mandamus； taking from us；
From this day forth； all power to punish Quakers。
BELLINGHAM。
That takes from us all power； we are but puppets；
And can no longer execute our laws。
ENDICOTT。
His Majesty begins with pleasant words；
〃Trusty and well…beloved； we greet you well；〃
Then with a ruthless hand he strips from me
All that which makes me what I am； as if
From some old general in the field； grown gray
In service； scarred with many wounds；
Just at the hour of victory； he should strip
His badge of office and his well…gained honors；
And thrust him back into the ranks again。
Opens the Mandamus and hands it to BELLINGHAM； and； while he is
reading； ENDICOTT walks up and down the room。
Here； read it for yourself； you see his words
Are pleasant wordsconsideratenot reproachful
Nothing could be more gentleor more royal；
But then the meaning underneath the words；
Mark that。 He says all people known as Quakers
Among us； now condemned to suffer death
Or any corporal punishment whatever；
Who are imprisoned； or may be obnoxious
To the like condemnation； shall be sent
Forthwith to England； to be dealt with there
In such wise as shall be agreeable
Unto the English law and their demerits。
Is it not so？
BELLINGHAM （returning the paper）。
Ay； so the paper says。
ENDICOTT。
It means we shall no longer rule the Province；
It means farewell to law and liberty；
Authority； respect for Magistrates；
The peace and welfare of the Commonwealth。
If all the knaves upon this continent
Can make appeal to England； and so thwart
The ends of truth and justice by delay；
Our power is gone forever。 We are nothing
But ciphers； valueless save when we follow
Some unit； and our unit is the King！
'T is he that gives us value。
BELLINGHAM。
I confess
Such seems to be the meaning of this paper；
But being the King's Mandamus； signed and sealed；
We must obey； or we are in rebellion。
ENDICOTT。
I tell you； Richard Bellingham；I tell you；
That this is the beginning of a struggle
Of which no mortal can foresee the end。
I shall not live to fight the battle for you；
I am a man disgraced in every way；
This order takes from me my self…respect
And the respect of others。 'T is my doom；
Yes； my death…warrant； but must be obeyed！
Take it； and see that it is executed
So far as this； that all be set at large；
But see that none of them be sent to England
To bear false witness； and to spread reports
That might be prejudicial to ourselves。
＇Exit BELLINGHAM。
There's a dull pain keeps knocking at my heart；
Dolefully saying； 〃Set thy house in order；
For thou shalt surely die； and shalt not live！
For me the shadow on the dial…plate
Goeth not back； but on into the dark！
＇Exit。
SCENE IV。 The street。 A crowd； reading a placard on the door
of the Meeting…house。 NICHOLAS UPSALL among them。 Enter John
Norton。
NORTON。
What is this gathering here？
UPSALL。
One William Brand；
An old man like ourselves； and weak in body；
Has been so cruelly tortured in his prison；
The people are excited； and they threaten
To tear the prison down。
NORTON。
What has been done？
UPSALL。
He has been put in irons； with his neck
And heels tied close together； and so left
From five in the morning until nine at night。
NORTON。
What more was done？
UPSALL。
He has been kept five days
In prison without food； and cruelly beaten；
So that his limbs were cold； his senses stopped。
NORTON。
What more？
UPSALL。
And is this not enough？
NORTON。
Now hear me。
This William Brand of yours has tried to beat
Our Gospel Ordinances black and blue；
And； if he has been beaten in like manner；
It is but justice； and I will appear
In his behalf that did so。 I suppose
That he refused to work。
UPSALL。
He was too weak。
How could an old man work； when he was starving？
NORTON。
And what is this placard？
UPSALL。
The Magistrates；
To appease the people and prevent a tumult；
Have put up these placards throughout the town；
Declaring that the jailer shall be dealt with
Impartially and sternly by the Court。
NORTON （tearing down the placard）。
Down with this weak and cowardly concession；
This flag of truce with Satan and with Sin！
I fling it in his face！ I trample it
Under my feet！ It is his cunning craft；
The masterpiece of his diplomacy；
To cry and plead for boundless toleration。
But toleration is the first…born child
Of all abominations and deceits。
There is no room in Christ's triumphant army
For tolerationists。 And if an Angel
Preach any other gospel unto you
Than that ye have received； God's malediction
Descend upon him！ Let him be accursed！
＇Exit。
UPSALL。
Now； go thy ways； John Norton； go thy ways；
Thou Orthodox Evangelist； as men call thee！
But even now there cometh out of England；
Like an o'ertaking and accusing conscience；
An outraged man； to call thee to account
For the unrighteous murder of his son！
＇Exit。
SCENE V。 The Wilderness。 Enter EDITH。
EDITH。
How beautiful are these autumnal woods！
The wilderness doth blossom like the rose；
And change into a garden of the Lord！
How silent everywhere！ Alone and lost
Here in the forest； there comes over me
An inward awfulness。 I recall the words
Of the Apostle Paul： 〃In journeyings often；
Often in perils in the wilderness；
In weariness； in painfulness； in watchings；
In hunger and thirst； in cold and nakedness；〃
And I forget my weariness and pain；
My watchings； and my hunger and my thirst。
The Lord hath said that He will seek his flock
In cloudy and dark days； and they shall dwell
Securely in the wilderness； and sleep
Safe in the woods！ Whichever way I turn；
I come back with my face towards the town。
Dimly I see it； and the sea beyond it。
O cruel town！ I know what waits me there；
And yet I must go back； for ever louder
I hear the inward calling of the Spirit；
And must obey the voice。 O woods that wear
Your golden crown of martyrdom； blood…stained；
From you I learn a lesson of submission；
And am obedient even unto death；
If God so wills it。 ＇Exit。
JOHN ENDICOTT （within）。
Edith！ Edith！ Edith！
He enters。
It is in vain！ I call； she answers not；
I follow； but I find no trace of her！
Blood！ blood！ The leaves above me and around me
Are red with blood！ The pathways of the forest；
The clouds that canopy the setting sun
And even the little river in the meadows
Are stained with it！ Where'er I look； I see it！
Away； thou horrible vision！ Leave me！ leave me！
Alas！ you winding stream； that gropes its way
Through mist and shadow； doubling on itself；
At length will find； by the unerring law
Of nature； what it seeks。 O soul of man；
Groping through mist and shadow； and recoiling
Back on thyself； are； too； thy devious ways
Subject to law？ and when thou seemest to wander
The farthest from thy goal； art thou still drawing
Nearer and nearer to it； till at
