About to punish Beelzebub. Take care, KARL. What! about To punish the arch fiend old Beelzebub ? A thing most rare-but can't I lend a hand On this occasion ? BENEDICT. Father, stand aside! I hate this parley! stand aside, I say! KARL. Good Benedict, be not o'ercome by rage, BENEDICT. A thumping killcrop! 'Tis the devil's changeling, (uncovers the basket.) Yes, 'tween you and I, (whispering) Our neighbour Balderic's, changed for his son Will! A child! you dreaming grey-beard! KARL. Why, Benedict! this is most wonderful (looks at the basket.) A finer child ne'er breathed! Thou art mistaken, Benedict! thine eyes See things confused! But let me hear thee say What are the signs by which thou know'st the diff'rence "Twixt crop and child. BENEDICT. The diff'rence! mercy on us! That I should talk to such a heretic D'ye know the difference 'twixt the moon and stars? Then these are things so near, That I might pardon one who hesitates, Doubting between them. But the crop and child! KARL. Benedict! The oldest 'ere he die, something might learn; BENEDICT. Father, listen then The killcrop, mark me, for a true man's child KARL. Good Benedict! If killcrops look like children, by what power But then, their maws; All children cry when pinch'd. The veriest company of threshing clown Would think they had no appetite, compared With this and the rest of 'em-gormandizing beast! See how he yawns for food! EE KARL. But Benedict! When hunger stings you, don't you ope your mouth? What other evidence? BENEDICT. Why, devil-like, When any evil happens, by his grin "Twill always tell ye, and when tidings good KARL. Good Benedict, all children laugh and cry BENEDICT. ! Doubts have you? well-a-day! In t'other world you'll sink ten fathoms deeper I promise you for this foul heresy. But nothing will move you, you wont be moved. To ask advice, how to dispose of him Of th' holy pastor. When by the moon on high, And over the rails jump'd headlong, laughing loud KARL. Are you sure he laugh'd? Might it not be a cry? BENEDICT. Why! that it might, I wont be certain, but that he jump'd over Believe, as doubt it. KARL. Benedict now say! Didst thou not throw him over? BENEDICT. Throw him over! Why, man, I could as A struggling whale. easily have held It needed iron arms To hold the monster. Doubt whate'er you will, The cries, the yells, the shouts; it seem'd to me To stay the pestilence. KARL. But Benedict, Be not outrageous! I am old d'ye see. Trust me, thou art mistaken, 'tis no killcrop, BENEDICT. Stand off! the devil lent him, and again I will return him honestly, and rid Earth of one bane. KARL. Thou dost not mean to kill! Poor infant, spare him! I have young and old, To take one more, if thou wilt give him me. BENEDICT. Away! I say, away! Even if an angel came to beg him of me, I should suspect imposture, for I know KARL. Repeat it not! oh spare the infant! spare Thou must not do the deed! BENEDICT. Not punish Satan! I have learnt too well (exit.) THE HURON'S ADDRESS TO THE DEAD. BROTHER, thou wert strong in youth! Unhappy man was he For whom thou hadst sharpened the tomahawk's edge; On whom thine angry eye was fix'd in fight; Received the calumet, Blest heaven, and slept in peace. When the evil spirits seized thee, Thou sittest amongst us on thy mat, That traversed the forest track, |