The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A SECOND.
I do not know.
Here is John Gloyd. Ask him; he knows.

FARMER.
John Gloyd,
Whose turn is it to-day?

GLOYD.
It's Goodwife Corey's.

FARMER. Giles Corey's wife?

GLOYD.
The same. She is not mine.
It will go hard with her with all her praying.
The hypocrite! She's always on her knees;
But she prays to the Devil when she prays.
Let us go in.

A trumpet blows.

FARMER.
Here come the Magistrates.

SECOND FARMER. Who's the tall man in front?

GLOYD.
Oh, that is Hathorne,
A Justice of the Court, and a Quarter-master
In the Three County Troop. He'll sift the matter.
That's Corwin with him; and the man in black
Is Cotton Mather, Minister of Boston.

Enter HATHORNE and other Magistrates on horseback, followed by the Sheriff, constables, and attendants on foot. The Magistrates dismount, and enter the Meeting-house, with the rest.