Act III.
The Meeting-house in Salem Village. Enter People of Salem Village and take seats. The Afflicted Girls, among whom are Ann Hutchins and Mercy Lewis, occupy the front seats. Nancy Fox and Phoebe. Enter the magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin with Minister Parris, escorted by the Marshal, Aids, and four Constables. They place themselves at a long table in front of the pulpit.
Hathorne (rising). We are now prepared to enter upon the examination. We invoke the blessing of God upon our proceedings, and call upon the Marshal to produce the bodies of the accused.
[Exeunt Marshal and Constables. Afflicted Girls twist about and groan. Great excitement among the people.
Enter Marshal and Constables leading Martha and Olive Corey in chains. Giles follows. The prisoners are placed facing the assembly, with the Constables holding their hands. Giles stands near. The Afflicted Girls make a great clamor.
Ann. Oh, they are tormenting! They will be the death of me! I will not! I will not!
Giles. Hush your noise, will ye, Ann Hutchins!
Parris. Peace, Goodman Corey!
Hathorne. Martha Corey, you are now in the hands of authority. Tell me now why you hurt these persons.
Martha. I do not. I pray your worships give me leave to go to prayer.
Hathorne. We have not sent for you to go to prayer, but to confess that you are a witch.
Martha. I am no witch. I am a gospel woman. There is no such thing as a witch. Shall I confess that I am what doth not exist? It were not only a lie, but a fool’s lie.
Mercy. There is a black man whispering in her ears.
Hathorne. What saith the black man to you, goodwife?
Martha. I pray your worships to ask the maid. Perchance, since she sees him, she can also hear what he saith better than I.
Hathorne. Why do you not tell how the devil comes in your shape and hurts these maids?
Martha. How can I tell how? I was never acquaint with the ways of the devil. I leave it to those wise maids who are so well acquaint to tell how. Perchance he hath whispered it in their ears.
Afflicted Girls. Oh, there is a yellow bird! There is a yellow bird perched on her head!
Hathorne. What say you to that, Goodwife Corey?
Martha. What can I say to such folly?
Hathorne. Constables, let go the hands of Martha Corey.
[The Constables let go her hands, and immediately there is a great outcry from the Afflicted Girls.
Afflicted Girls. She pinches us! Hold her hands! Hold her hands again! Oh! oh!