382 The Early English Drama : [APRIL, 



Had'st thou my business, thou couldst ne'er sit so ; 

 'T would firk thee into air a thousand mile, 

 Beyond thy ointments. I would I were read 

 So much in thy black power,* and mine own griefs ! 

 I'm in great need of help : wilt give me any ? 



Hecate. Thy boldness takes one bravely. We're all sworn 

 To sweat for such a spirit. See, I regard thee ; 

 I rise, and bid thee welcome. What's thy wish ? 



Seb. Oh ! my heart swells with it ! I must breathe first. 



Hec. Is't to confound some enemy on the seas ? 

 It may be done to-night. Stadlin's within ; 

 She raises all your sudden ruinous storms, 

 That shipwreck barks, and tear up growing oaks ; 

 Flies over houses, and takes Anno Domini 

 Out of a rich man's chimney (a sweet place for it !) 

 He would be hang'd ere he would set his own years there : 

 They must be chamber'd in a five-pound picture, 

 A green silk curtain drawn before the eyes on't : 

 His rotten, diseased years ! Or dost thou envy 

 The fat prosperity of any neighbour ? 

 I'll call forth Hoppo, and her incantation 

 Can straight destroy the young of all his cattle ; 

 Blast vineyards, orchards, meadows ; or in one night 

 Transport his dung, hay, corn, by recks, whole stacks, 

 Into thine own ground. 



Seb. This would come most richly, now, 

 To many a country grazier ; but my envy 

 Lies not so low as cattle, corn, or vines : 

 'Twill trouble your best powers to give me ease. 



Hec. Is it to starve up generation ? 

 To strike a barrenness in man or woman ? 



Seb. Ha ! 



Hec. Ha ! did you feel me there ? I knew your grief. 



Seb. Can there be such things done ? 



Hec. Are these the skins 

 Of serpents ? these of snakes ? 



Seb. I see they are. 



Hec. So sure into what house these are conveyed, 

 Knit with these charms and these retentive knots, 

 Neither the man begets, nor woman breeds ; 

 No nor performs the best desires of wedlock : 

 Being then a mutual duty. I could give thee 

 Chirocoriita, adincantida, 

 Archimadon, marmaritin, calicia, 

 Which I could sort to villainous barren ends ; 

 But this leads the same way. More I could instance, 

 As the same needle thrust into their pillows 

 That sows and socks up dead men in their sheets : 

 * # * # * # 



Yet all's there, Sir. 



Seb. You could not do a man that special kindness 

 To part them utterly, now ? Could you do that ? 



Hec. No : time must do it: we cannot disjoin wedlock : 

 'Tis of Heav'n's fast'ning. Well may we raise jars, 

 Jealousies, strifes, and heart-burning disagreements, 

 Like a thick scurf o'er life, as did our master 



Query." as mine own griefs" without the comma ? 



