Whereupon did William, poor lad! turn deadly pale, but spake not.
Sir Thomas then abated a whit of his severity, and said, staidly,—
“Testimony doth appear plain and positive against thee; nevertheless am I minded and prompted to aid thee myself, in disclosing and unfolding what thou couldst not of thine own wits, in furtherance of thine own defence.
“One witness is persuaded and assured of the evil spirit having been abroad, and the punt appeared unto him diversely from what it appeared unto the other.”
William Shakspeare.
“If the evil spirit produced one appearance, he might have produced all, with deference to the graver judgment of your worship.
“If what seemed punt was devil, what seemed buck might have been devil too; nay, more easily, the horns being forthcoming.
“Thieves and reprobates do resemble him more nearly still; and it would be hard if he could not make free with their bodies, when he has their souls already.”
Sir Thomas.
“But, then, those voices! and thou thyself, Will Shakspeare!”