SCENE IV. The same. The Duke of Gloster's garden. Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE. "Hume. Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell "you, expects performance of your promises. "Bol. Master Hume, we are therefore provided. "Will her ladyship behold and hear our exor"cisms ? 1 64 "Hume. Ay; what else? Fear you not her courage. Bol. I have heard her reported to be a woman " of an invincible spirit: but it shall be convenient, "master Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Exit Hume.] Mother 'Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on the earth." John Southwell, read you; and let us "to our work. Enter DUCHESS, above. Duch. Well said, my masters; and welcome all. To this geer; 2 the sooner the better. "Bol. Patience, good lady; wizards know their times: 1 By exorcise Shakspeare invariably means to raise spirits, and not to lay them. 2 Matter or business. Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night, The time when screech-owls cry, and ban-dogs 1 howl, And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves, That time best fits the work we have in hand. • Madam, sit you, and fear not; whom we raise, • We will make fast within a hallow'd verge. [here they perform the ceremonies appertaining, and make the circle: Bolingbroke, or Southwell, reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly ; then the Spirit riseth. By the eternal God, whose name and power "Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask ; "For, till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence. 66 Spi. Ask what thou wilt.-That I had said and done! come?' Bol. First, of the king. What shall of him be[reading out of a paper. Spi. The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose; But him outlive, and die a violent death. [as the Spirit speaks, Southwell writes the answer. Bol. What fate awaits the duke of Suffolk ? Spi. By water shall he die, and take his end. I Watch dogs. Bol. What shall befal the duke of Somerset ? ' Spi. Let him shun castles: Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains, 'Than where castles mounted stand. Have done, for more I hardly can endure. Bol. Descend to darkness and the burning lake: False fiend, avoid! [thunder and lightning. Spirit descends. Enter YORK and BUCKINGHAM, hastily, with their Guards, and others. York. Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash. Beldam, I think, we watch'd you at an inch. What, madam, are you there? the king and commonweal 'Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains. My lord protector will, I doubt it not, See you well guerdon'd1 for these good deserts. Duch. Not half so bad as thine to England's king, Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause. Buck. True, madam, none at all. What call [showing her the papers. you this? 'Away with them; let them be clapp'd up close, And kept asunder.-You, madam, shall with us :— 'Stafford, take her to thee. [Exit Duchess from above. Rewarded. |