Dramas - Vol III (Paperback) - Paperback

DRAMAS, BY JOANNA BAILLIE, IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. - WITCHCRAFT A TRAGEDY IN PROSE. IN FIVE ACTS. PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. MEN. ROBERT KENNEDY OF DUNGARREN commonly called DUNGARREN. MURREY. RUTHERFORD, Minister of the Parish. FATHERINGHAM, Friend ofMurrey. THE SHERIFF OF RENFREWSHIRE. THE BAILLIE OR MAGISTRATE OF PAISLEY. BLACK BAWLDY, the Herdboy ofDungarren. ANDERSON, the principal Domestic ofDungarren. WILKIN, an Idiot. Crowd, Jailor, Landlord, fyc. WOMEN. LADY DUNGARREN commonly so called. Mother of Robert Kennedy. VIOLET, Daughter ofMurrey. ANNABELLA, the rich Relation of Lady Dun- garren. GRIZELD BANE, 1 MARY MACMURREN, reputed Witches. ELSPY Low, j PHEMY, Maid to Annabella. Nurse, Maidservants, Crowd, c. Scene in Renfrewshire, in Scotland. WITCHCRAFT. ACT I. SCENE I. A Parlour in the House or Tower ofDungarren. Enter LADY DUNGARREN and ANNABELLA, by different sides. ANNABELLA. You must be surprised, my dear cousin, at my unexpected return. LADY DUNGARREN. I will frankly confess that I am. How did you find your friends in Glenrowan ANNABELLA. With their house full of disagreeable visiters and discomfort another day of it would have cast me into a fever so I will trespass on your hospitality a week longer, knowing how kindly disposed you have always been to the child of your early friend. 4 WITCHCRAFT A TRAGEDY. LADY DUNGARREN. It would be strange, indeed, if the daughter of Duncan Gordon were not welcome here. ANNABELLA. How has poor Jessie been since I left you LADY DUNGARREN shaking her head. I have but a sorrowful account to give of her. ANNABELLA. Had she any rest last night Does she look as wildly as she did Were any strange noises heard in the chamber during the night LADYDUNGARREN. Ay noises that made me start and tremble, and feel a horrid consciousness that some being or other was in the room near me, though to the natural eye invisible. ANNABELLA. What kind of sounds were they Why did you think they were so near you LADY DUNGARREN. I was sitting by the table, with my head resting on my hand, when the door leading from the back staircase, which I am certain I had bolted in the evening, burst open. And what followed ANNABELLA. WITCHCRAFT A TRAGEDY. 5 LADY DUNGARREN. I verily thought to see some elrich form or other make its appearance, and I sat for some moments rivetted to my chair, without power to move hand or foot, or almost to breathe. ANNABELLA. Yet you saw nothing Nothing. LADY DUNGARREN. ANNABELLA. And heard only the bursting of the door LADY DUNGARREN. Only that for a time but afterwards, when I listened intently, I heard strange whisperings near me, and soft steps, as of unshod feet, passing between me and the bed. Footsteps ANNABELLA. LADY DUNGARREN. Ay and the curtains of the bed began to shake as if touched by a hand, or the motion of some passing body. Then I knew that they were dealing with my poor child, and I had no power to break the spell of their witchcraft, for I had no voice to speak. ANNABELLA. You had no power to speak B 3