MICALE

Madam, I must disclose more than the secrecy Of our ruled Discipline will well permit, If I reveal each Act particular, And form that that dread Sacrifice includes. But what I may without the prejudice Of our strict and inviolable Canons, Your Grace shall know, Just at the depth of night, (Which time is Ceremonious) I went down To a clear Fountain, where I bathed and cleansed me From head to foot? Then took a female Lamb Black as the night, and digging first a hold That might receive the sacrificed blood, I opened all the Veins that traversed The neck, until I left the carcase dry: Then with a hallowed Knife I separate The head, and splatted it. That done, I heaped A pile of consecrated fire, whereon Now burns the body of the Holocaust. Then took I Infants fat, and lukewarm blood Drawn from it's throat, mingled with Viper Wine, And distilled Hemlock, with the Mandrakes root, Nightshade, Moonwort, and dreadful Aconite, Which to the flame I poured with Milk and Honey, A holy banquet to great Hecate Whom we invoke; and leave the sacred fire. Soon as our backs are turned, we hear a noise In hideous shapes, that would affright and shake The constantest force of Nature's best Male courage: Yet must we not look back whence they proceed, For then all's frustrate; but as the fire consumes The offerings imposed, the groanings cease, And then appear the Spirits which we implore, And which will never appear unless first pleased With some oblation. Each hath his private Charm, peculiar for the shape which pleases most, and is least fearful. Be gone and leave us then—Now Madam fit, And in this glass behold what Magic feature There riseth from the earth to do you service. This is a common spirit of much practice; it goes in the form of a young Gentlewoman worn out of service, and keeps her residence in the Suburbs, till she has ingrossed all the diseases of the City, which she delivers by whole sale to her customers: From sixteen to four and twenty; she is for none but Beaver Hats, Gold Lace, and Taffety Linings: Before thirty she falls to Roaring Boys, Sharks, Servingmen and Artificers: from thence to Porters and Skavingers; till freed by all degrees, she becomes a Nurse of the Trade by five and forty; then many times a six penny Witch, and so back again to and everlasting Devil. This is a Spirit Madam that takes many times the habit of and old Gentlewoman, gets into Ladies familiarities, & teaches the tempers of Complexion; the composition of meats that strengthen and provoke luxury: the use of quelque chooses and Dildoes: has Aretine at her fingers ends. 'Twas she that first invented double Locks, and a suit of Keys to every Office: She exalted the horn of the Buttery, & made the Silver Bole neglect the company of the black Jack: and preferred a Bill against eating Breakfasts and fit ting up late, to the prejudice of Tallow-Chandlers. In fine, she sets Families together by the ears, and flattering her self into great men's expenses, becomes the bane of Hospitality. Oh this is a Devil of many shapes, and indeed Madam sell dome at leisure, that we can have any use of him. He fawns him into services of place, and persuades men, otherwise morally civil, from the chaste Sheets of their beautiful and virtuous marriages: becomes and Intelligencer, and panders them to Milkmaids, Kit chin-wenches, and Oyster-wives. He refuses no deed that hea ven abhors, and Hell trembles at, so his Lord sin with him. He is a very chained slave to his Master's vices, and leaves him in nothing but Actions of honour and virtue. And other time he is a concea led Druggist or Apothecary, puts on the name of a great Traviller, poisons at and hour, and is in great request. Stay then thou Spirit of night, and by the power The chief commander of your shades hath lent, I do adjure thee tell where lives Althea? He tells me Madam, in the Mountains far from hence. By poison! gi'mee something then that kills Passed Cure, and speedily—it is sufficient. I have a nimble Spirit at command That by and ointment which we do apply To parts of our marked bodies, is at hand, Who posts us through the regions of the air, When oft we meet at solemn festivals, Or do admit a novice to the oath Of our abstruse and powerful discipline: Leave it to us, and ere to morrows Sun Touch but three Points of West beyond Mid-noone, My self will see Althea dead. It's a curious age Madam, and we are full Of business now, so many come to know Who shall survive, their Husbands or themselves; And then how long; whom they shall marry next: What place and opportunity must meet To raise their titles; with a million more Of women's questions—But the day begins To look upon us. Fear it not Madam, I will not sleep nor eat, Till by Althea's death I jointly free Your Son and House from Cupid's Tyranny. exeunt. Now Micale thou hast the sighed of them, And art already espied; cast out the bait. What, no salute! methinks the furious heat Should make them soon inquisitive to know What I came laden with into these Mountains, Which yield no other juice but Crystal Springs: I have a Liquour here to quench their thirst, Physic to purge them from their loving humours, And that aspiring mind that does invest Althea's Hope's within a Duchess style. It's the Countries privilege fair Shepherdess to shun both: will't please you fit and eat? Command and try, these Hill-Inhabitants dissemble not. You are too blame if you left her then, soleness feeds me lancholy: please you we go and fit with her? Nay you mistake me then, methinks Shepherds should not know these Court compliments, more then that does the Countries honesty. Why then you cannot live. Yet strengthen Nature, and outlive sorrow. And to let sorrow keep you fasting were to starve with Tantalus. Come Nymph, you must be jovial, these love griefs avail you nothing: men perhaps laugh at them. Pledge her fair Nymph. By Pan but such a wife would right well fit a Worship full Heir. These be the dreams of love: here take a draught, and waken imagination, fancy is strong with you. Great Brimo, shall our labour be frustrate! I'll frame a lie shall make her hang her self For grief, since poison fails— yet taste a little, The City yields no better Cordial to banish fears. I was, and saw a heavy spectacle, The Dukes sole Heir, who taking the disguise Of a condemned Lady, that stood tainted Of Treason, was thrown down from off the Rock, And, by the privilege of Law that gives Our Virgins leave to plead and die concealed, Until his Funeral, was still unknown. Since when, the Duke to satisfy the wrath His ignorance had bred by such a lose Unto the State, has burned the guiltless mother Of that young Lady, persecutes her Kin, Razed their ancient House, and vows the death Of her, who yet is fled, and none knows where. Are you poisoned with a lie?—What ails you Lass? What fainting? Then fare you well: I am sorry to have been the Messenger of that afflicts you—and kills not presently, aside. Although I hope this lie proves to thy heart, Poison more rank then ere was used by Art. Your Grace hath been exceeding patient To undergo these pains, and come to us. Madam, It shall be speedily performed Please you a while retire into this room And wait the ceremonious hour, while we Prepare us for the sacrifice, and provide Those powerful ingredients which we use In the confection of our charms,