THE EQUINOX
leave, my lord,
Ι venture to
opine.
Her lip
is
bitten
through.
BISHOP. What wickedness!
Truly, my lords, Satan hath
great power in these latter days, spoken of by St Paul in his
Epistle to the Romans.
Force the mouth open.
[A tua/turæ obeys.
PHYSICIAN. Pardon, my lord, if she utters no sound.
She
hath swallowed her tongue, a notorious devilry of Arabian
enchanters.
By your leave, my lord, the tongue should be
pulled forward.
Her soul would be lost (begging your Lord-
ship’s pardon) should she choke now.
BISHOP. Rightly said.
Andonyourheadbeit!
Redouble
the thumbscrews.
[A
tartar/er jul/s her
langue fai/ward with þifzærs.
LAYLAH groans,
TORTURER. I certainly heard somewhat.
BISHOP. Articulate?
TORTURER. I dare hardly say, my lord.
BISHOP. The needles.
TORTURER. They are white-hot.
How many, my lord?
BISHOP. Three behind each eyeball should suffice.
TORTURER. It is done.
There is a sound like “ wa."
PHYSICIAN
[in
trium;/L].
“Aiwa,”
my
lord
Bishop,
”aiwa” without a doubt.
It is ”yes" in their heathen
tongue.
BISHOP. I heard
it.
We all heard it.
Glory to God!
Release the prisoner.
[LAYLAH is released,
Site 2'5 unconscious and/ails [imp.]
Sir Clerk, write down that the prisoner made full con-
fession and repented of her crimes, desiring to be reconciled
102