Traveller.
It were in vain,
To reason with a crowd so obstinate
And mischievous in their intentions—stand aside
And I will strive to lead them to adopt
A better ordeal. My good friends restrain
This violence; there is no need to drag
Yon wretched creature to the river's brink—
You have a surer test within your reach.
You all have Bibles? In a Christian land
'Twere sin to doubt it. Place within the scales
The sacred volume of the Scriptures, and
However small, however light it be,
Nay should one leaf alone remain, 'twill sink
Like lead to earth while the convicted witch
Shall fly above the beam: but should the book
Be lightest in the scale, then be assured
That you have wronged this woman—who shall say
That she is guilty if this holy book
By Heaven inspired and most infallible,
Proclaim her innocent?
