It runs through all our lives, As through the pages of the Holy Bible, "Thus saith the Lord." ENDICOTT.
You are accused of making An horrible disturbance, and affrighting The people in the Meeting-house on Sunday.
What answer make you?
EDITH.
I do not deny That I was present in your Steeple-house On the First Day; but I made no disturbance.
ENDICOTT.
Why came you there?
EDITH.
Because the Lord commanded.
His word was in my heart, a burning fire Shut up within me and consuming me, And I was very weary with forbearing; I could not stay.
ENDICOTT.
'T was not the Lord that sent you; As an incarnate devil did you come! EDITH.
On the First Day, when, seated in my chamber, I heard the bells toll, calling you together, The sound struck at my life, as once at his, The holy man, our Founder, when he heard The far-off bells toll in the Vale of Beavor.
It sounded like a market bell to call The folk together, that the Priest might set His wares to sale.

And the Lord said within me, "Thou must go cry aloud against that Idol, And all the worshippers thereof." I went Barefooted, clad in sackcloth, and I stood And listened at the threshold; and I heard The praying and the singing and the preaching, Which were but outward forms, and without power.
Then rose a cry within me, and my heart Was filled with admonitions and reproofs.
Remembering how the Prophets and Apostles Denounced the covetous hirelings and diviners, I entered in, and spake the words the Lord Commanded me to speak.

I could no less.
ENDICOTT.
Are you a Prophetess?
EDITH.
Is it not written, "Upon my handmaidens will I pour out My spirit, and they shall prophesy"?
ENDICOTT.
Enough; For out of your own mouth are you condemned! Need we hear further?
THE JUDGES.
We are satisfied.
ENDICOTT.
It is sufficient.

Edith Christison, The sentence of the Court is, that you be Scourged in three towns, with forty stripes save one, Then banished upon pain of death! EDITH.
Your sentence Is truly no more terrible to me Than had you blown a feather into the the air, And, as it fell upon me, you had said, Take heed it hurt thee not! God's will he done! WENLOCK CHRISTISON (unseen in the crowd).
Woe to the city of blood! The stone shall cry Out of the wall; the beam from out the timber Shall answer it! Woe unto him that buildeth A town with blood, and stablisheth a city By his iniquity! ENDICOTT.
Who is it makes Such outcry here?
CHRISTISON (coming forward).
I, Wenlock Christison! ENDICOTT.
Banished on pain of death, why come you here?
CHRISTISON.
I come to warn you that you shed no more The blood of innocent men! It cries aloud For vengeance to the Lord! ENDICOTT.
Your life is forfeit Unto the law; and you shall surely die, And shall not live.
CHRISTISON.
Like unto Eleazer, Maintaining the excellence of ancient years And the honor of his gray head, I stand before you; Like him disdaining all hypocrisy, Lest, through desire to live a little longer, I get a stain to my old age and name! ENDICOTT.
Being in banishment, on pain of death, You come now in among us in rebellion.
CHRISTISON.
I come not in among you in rebellion, But in obedience to the Lord of heaven.
Not in contempt to any Magistrate, But only in the love I bear your souls, As ye shall know hereafter, when all men Give an account of deeds done in the body! God's righteous judgments ye cannot escape.
ONE OF THE JUDGES.
Those who have gone before you said the same, And yet no judgment of the Lord hath fallen Upon us.
CHRISTISON.
He but waiteth till the measure Of your iniquities shall be filled up, And ye have run your race.

Then will his wrath Descend upon you to the uttermost! For thy part, Humphrey Atherton, it hangs Over thy head already.