Fire and brimstone, lightning and hail! I befoul my tail out of pure ire; But to a remedy I am none the nigher. Yonder is her uncle; I am to cook this but will ye tell me how? I had broken her neck long ere now, But that the prayers of this holy priest To make hard my way have not ceased. An I might I would carry him straight to Lucifer. THE BURGHER Look, sir, I do see her somewhat stir. THE UNCLE Stir! That were the boot of all my bale. ’Tis true, she doth stir sikerly. EMMA Alas, what doth to me ail? Where have I been, and be now in what place? O Lord, stand I in Thy grace That to Thy mercy I may come? Yea, but Thy care had kept me from The fiend, O Lord omnipotent, In lasting torment I were shent, Thrust soul and body beyond the reach And scope of the Lord’s realm. THE UNCLE Since ye have speech, Mary, my niece, then speak to me, Who so many sighs for thee Have sighed and many a moan have made, Nor ever my questionings have staid; And now I find you in this press, as it doth seem In sorry plight. EMMA Ah, is it ye, mine eme? Ah, would God I were in that case Even now as then I was When I last saw you ere my long journey was begun. Ah, when my course of life I overrun I fear me I am damned for aye. THE UNCLE Niece, ye err, I trow, For none is lost who will not yield him so. How should ye be damned? That were pity indeed. How came ye hither? I would fain know with speed; And ye were so high in air but now. I prithee tell me thereof, if ye would allow. Never saw I any so high, by my troth. EMMA Mine eme, I be alas full loath To reckon up the tale of my aventures. I gave me over wholly to the devil’s lures, And after I have gone about with him for wellnigh seven year. I may not lightly set it all clear, but thus briefly ye shall hear Whither our way of life hath us took. One could well thereof write a book. There is none evil with mine which may compare; And at the end of all this strange fare I am come hither in land my friends to behold. And even now as this way we strolled We saw them in the market-place here Playing the play of Maskeroon, to the which I gave ear. At every word which I there heard I caught such a contrition that it stirred Him to wrath that stood by me and he flew, Even as ye saw, high with me into air. THE UNCLE Alas and harru! How, niece, was it the fiend that was with you here? EMMA Yea, eme, and ’tis now well nigh seven year Since I yielded me to do his will and went A wandering with him. THE UNCLE