The Equinox (Volume I, Number VI)

THE SCORPION LAYLAH. Lord Bishop, I have heard that phrase thrice in three score years. The first time a man used it to destroy a child : the second time a child used it to murder her brother; this time you use it to torture and burn an honourable adversary. BISHOP. Child of the devil, you blaspheme, Be silent! On the first count, guilty. [Several JUDGES, hut uot R1NALDo,echo “ Guilty.” Through- out this same RINALDO sits absolutely sileut amt motionless, except that how and theu he makes a gesture of weg;/iners and z'mþatz'eme. THE CLERK. Secondly, that you have in these twenty years past gathered a band of lawless ruffians, and constantly assailed the defenders of the sepulchre, with malice and deadly hatred. PROSECUTOR. We say that no woman could do thus, unless aided by Satan. LAYLAH. Dido, Queen of Carthage, was renowned as a warrior, and Semiramis, Queen of Nineveh. BISHOP, Both pagans. On the second count, guilty. [JUDGES eeho “ Guilty.” CLERK. Thirdly, that you did discard the modesty of womanhood and put on armour enchanted. PROSECUTOR. We say that, forasmuch as many good knights have ridden against it with sword and lance and not availed to pierce it, this was by magic and forbidden art. LAYLAH [contemptuous/y]. It was good armour. BISHOP. The prisoner mocks us. On the third count, guilty. [JUDGES echo “ Guilty.” CLERK. Fourthly,that you did at midnight upon Martinmas, 99