The body swung upon the tree
In every flitting wind,
Reviled and mocked by passengers
And folk of evil mind.
A woman old and innocent,
To die a death of shame,
With kindred, neighbors, friends thereby,
And none to utter blame.
Oh, God, that such a thing should be
On earth which Thou hast made!
A voice from heaven answered me,
"Father forgive," He said.
Rose Terry Cooke.
At the August session, six persons were tried and, of course, condemned, among them Elizabeth and John Proctor. The former had been arrested April 11, and when her husband came to her defence, he was also arrested. They were tried together August 5, and both were convicted and sentenced to be hanged. Proctor was executed August 19. His wife escaped by pleading pregnancy. Some months later she gave birth to a child, and her execution was again ordered early in 1693, but Governor Phips granted a reprieve, and she ultimately escaped.
A SALEM WITCH
[August 19, 1692]
The wind blows east,—the wind blows west,—
It blows upon the gallows tree:
Oh, little babe beneath my breast,
He died for thee!—he died for me!
The judges came,—the children came
(Some mother's heart o'er each had yearned),
They set their black lies on my name:—
"A God-accursèd witch who learned
"Each night (they said) the Devil's art,
Through Salem wood by devils drawn."—
I, whose heart beat against his heart
From dark till dawn!—from dark till dawn!