Giles Corey, Yeoman: A PlayFreeman, Mary Eleanor Wilkins
History
Giles Corey, Yeoman: A Play
Freeman, Mary Eleanor Wilkins
American drama -- 19th century
_Giles._ Then I tell ye, man, take her speedily--take her within
three weeks.
_Paul._ I would take her with all my heart, goodman, would she be
willing.
_Giles._ She must needs be willing. Why, devil take it! be ye not
smart enough to make her willing? It will all go for naught if she
be not willing. Tell her her father bids her. She hath ever minded
her father.
_Paul._ I will tell her so, goodman.
_Giles._ Tell her 'tis the last command her father gives her. If
she say no, hear it yes. Do not ye give it up if ye have to drag her
to 't. Why, she must not be left alone in the world. It be a hard
world. Old Giles hath gone far in it, and found it ever a hard
world. Verily it be not cleared any more than the woods of
Massachusetts. It be hard enough for a man; a young maid must needs
have somebody to hold aside the boughs for her. Wed her, if she will
or no. I have somewhat to show ye, Master Bayley. (_Draws a document
from his waistcoat._) See ye this?
[Paul _takes the document and examines it._
_Giles._ See ye what 'tis?
_Paul._ It is a deed whereby you convey all your property to me, so
I be Olive's husband. Wherefore?
_Giles._ It be drawn up in good form. It be duly witnessed. You see
that it be all in good form, Paul.
_Paul._ I see. But wherefore?
_Giles._ It will stand in law; there will be no getting loose from
it. It be a good and trusty document. But--so be it that this
afternoon I stand trial for witchcraft, and plead guilty or not
guilty, this same good and trusty document will be worth less than
the parchment 'tis writ on. 'Tis so with the law. There will be an
attainder on't. My sons-in-law that testified to the undoing of
Martha and me will have their share, and thou and Olive perchance
have naught in this bedlam. I bear no ill will toward my sons-in-law
and my daughters, who have been put up by them to deal falsely with
Martha and me, but I would not that they have my goods. I bear no
ill will; it becometh not a man so near death to bear ill will. But
they shall not have my goods; I say they shall not. There shall be
no attainder on this document. I will stand mute at my trial.
_Paul._ Goodman Corey, know you the penalty?
_Giles._ I trow I know it better than the catechism. 'Tis to be
pressed beneath stone weights until I be dead.
_Paul._ I say you shall not do this thing. What think you I care
for your goods? I'll have naught to do with them, nor will Olive.
This is madness!
_Giles._ 'Tis not all for the goods. I would Olive had them, and
not those foul traitors; but 'tis not all. Were there no goods and
no attainder, I would still do this thing. Paul, they say that
Martha spake fair words when they had her there on Gallows Hill.
_Paul._ She spake like a martyr at the door of heaven.
_Giles._ Did they let her speak long?
_Paul._ They cut her short, Minister Parris saying, "Let not this
firebrand of hell burn longer."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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