Enter Eleanor aloft.
Elea. Well said, my masters, and welcome all. 16
To this gear the sooner the better.
Boling. Patience, good lady; wizards know their times:
Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
The time of night when Troy was set on fire; 20
The time when screech-owls cry, and ban-dogs howl,
And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves,
That time best fits the work we have in hand.
Madam, sit you, and fear not: whom we raise 24
We will make fast within a hallow'd verge.
Here do the ceremonies belonging, and make the circle; Bolingbroke or Southwell reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth.
Spir. Adsum.
Witch. Asmath!
By the eternal God, whose name and power 28
Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask;
For till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.
Spir. Ask what thou wilt. That I had said and done!
Boling. First, of the king: what shall of him become? 32
Spir. The Duke yet lives that Henry shall depose;
But him outlive, and die a violent death.
[As the Spirit speaks, Southwell writes the answers.]
Boling. What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?
Spir. By water shall he die and take his end. 36
16 Well said: well done
17 gear: business
19 silent: silent part
21 ban-dogs: chained watch-dogs
22 break up: tear open
25 hallow'd verge: magic circle
S. d. belonging: appropriate
29 that: what
31 That: would that
done: had it over
