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| Character | Mother Sawyer?Devil??? | |
|---|---|---|
| Scene type / Who are | Strangers, Doing business/making a deal | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Year | 1621 | |
| Period | 17th Century | |
| Genre | Tragedy, Drama, Comedy | |
| Description | Mother Sawyer sells her soul to the devil (who appears as a black dog) | |
| Location | ACT II, Scene 1 | |
Summary
This play has several story lines. One concerns a domestic tragedy in which Frank Thorney, a farmer's son, who secretly marries Winnifride, also marries Susan, a wealthy woman, and later kills her. Looming in the background is the devil who appears as a black dog and is also a key character in a second story line. In the second story an old poor and lonely woman, Mother Sawyer, is unjustly mistreated by everybody since she is thought to be a witch. Since she has nothing to lose and since everybody already is convinced she is a witch, she decides to become one by selling her soul to the devil, who is this scene appears as a black dog, Tom.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| [The fields near Edmonton] M. Saw. Still vexed! still tortured! that curmudgeon Banks Is ground of all my scandal; I am shunned And hated like a sickness; made a scorn To all degrees and sexes. I have heard old beldams Talk of familiars in the shape of mice, Rats, ferrets, weasels, and I wot not what, That have appeared, and sucked, some say, their blood; But by what means they came acquainted with them I am now ignorant. Would some power, good or bad, Instruct me which way I might be revenged Upon this churl, I'd go out of myself, And give this fury leave to dwell within This ruined cottage ready to fall with age, Abjure all goodness, be at hate with prayer, And study curses, imprecations, Blasphemous speeches, oaths, detested oaths, Or anything that's ill: so I might work Revenge upon this miser, this black cur, That barks and bites, and sucks the very blood Of me and of my credit. 'Tis all one To be a witch as to be counted one: Vengeance, shame, ruin light upon that canker! [Enter a Black Dog.] Dog. Ho! have I found thee cursing? now thou art Mine own. M. Saw. Thine! what art thou? Dog. He thou hast so often Importuned to appear to thee, the devil. M. Saw. Bless me! the devil? Dog. Come, do not fear; I love thee much too well To hurt or fright thee; if I seem terrible, It is to such as hate me. I have found Thy love unfeigned; have seen and pitied Thy open wrongs; and come, out of my love, To give thee just revenge against thy foes. M. Saw. May I believe thee? Dog. To confirm't, command me Do any mischief unto man or beast, And I'll effect it, on condition That, uncompelled, thou make a deed of gift Of soul and body to me. M. Saw. Out, alas! My soul and body? Dog. And that instantly, And seal it with thy blood: if thou deniest, I'll tear thy body in a thousand pieces. M. Saw. I know not where to seek relief: but shall I, After such covenants sealed, see full revenge On all that wrong me? Dog. Ha, ha! silly woman! The devil is no liar to such as he loves: Didst ever know or hear the devil a liar To such as he affects? M. Saw. Then I am thine; at least so much of me As I can call mine own— Dog. Equivocations? Art mine or no? speak, or I'll tear— M. Saw. All thine. Dog. Seal't with thy blood. [She pricks her arm, which he sucks. Thunder and lightning.] See! now I dare call thee mine! For proof, command me; instantly I'll run To any mischief; goodness can I none. M. Saw. And I desire as little. There's an old churl, One Banks— Dog. That wronged thee, lamed thee, called thee witch. M. Saw. The same; first upon him I'd be revenged. Dog. Thou shalt; do but name how. M. Saw. Go, touch his life. Dog. I cannot. M. Saw. Hast thou not vowed? Go, kill the slave! Dog. I wonnot. M. Saw. I'll cancel, then, my gift. Dog. Ha, ha! M. Saw. Dost laugh! Why wilt not kill him? Dog. Fool, because I cannot. Though we have power, know it is circumscribed And tied in limits: though he be curst to thee, Yet of himself he's loving to the world, And charitable to the poor: now men that, As he, love goodness, though in smallest measure, Live without compass of our reach. His cattle And corn I'll kill and mildew; but his life— Until I take him, as I late found thee, Cursing and swearing—I've no power to touch. M. Saw. Work on his corn and cattle, then. Dog. I shall. The Witch of Edmonton shall see his fall; If she at least put credit in my power, And in mine only; make orisons to me, And none but me. M. Saw. Say how and in what manner. Dog. I'll tell thee: when thou wishest ill, Corn, man, or beast wouldst spoil or kill, Turn thy back against the sun, And mumble this short orison: "If thou to death or shame pursue 'em, Sanctibicetur nomen tuum." M. Saw. "If thou to death or shame pursue 'em, Sanctibicetur nomen tuum." Dog. Perfect: farewell. Our first-made promises We'll put in execution against Banks. [Exit.] M. Saw. Contaminetur nomen tuum. I'm an expert scholar; Speak Latin, or I know not well what language, As well as the best of 'em—but who comes here? |
