Quotes

Other

[singing]<br>Black Phillip, Black Phillip, a crown grows out his head.<br>Black Phillip, Black Phillip, to nanny queen is wed.<br>Jump to the fence post. Running in the stall.<br>Black Phillip, Black Phillip, king of all.

Dialogue

William: [before the court] What went we out into this wilderness to find? Leaving our country, kindred, our fathers' houses? We have travailed a vast ocean. For what? For what? Governor: We must ask thee to be silent! William: Was it not for the pure and faithful dispensation of the Gospels, and the Kingdom of God? Old Slater: No more! We are your judges, and not you ours! William: I cannot be judged by false Christians, for I have done nothing, save preach Christ's true Gospel. Governor: Must you continue to dishonor the laws of the commonwealth and the church with your prideful conceit? William: If my conscience sees it fit. Governor: Then shall you be banished out of this plantation's liberties! William: I would be glad of it. Governor: Then take your leave, and trouble us no further. William: How sadly hath The Lord testified against you. [turning to leave] Katherine... Caleb: Thomasin! Come.

Dialogue

William: Art thou then born a sinner? Caleb: Aye. I was conceived in sin, and born in iniquity. William: And, what is thy birth sin? Caleb: Adam's sin imputed to me, and a corrupt nature dwelling within me. William: Well-remembered, Caleb. Very well. And canst thou tell me what thy corrupt nature is? Caleb: My corrupt nature is empty of grace, bent unto sin, only unto sin, and that continually.

Dialogue

Caleb: Was Samuel born a sinner? How might then... William: We pray he hath entered God's Kingdom. Caleb: What wickedness hath he done? William: Place faith in God, Caleb. We'll speak no more on thy brother. Caleb: Why? He hath disappeared not one week past, yet you and Mother utter not his name. William: He is gone, Caleb. Caleb: Tell me. William: Tell thee what? Caleb: Is he in hell? William: Caleb! Caleb: Mother will not stop her prayer...And if he died? If I died this day? William: What is this? Caleb: I hold evil in my heart. My sins are not pardoned. William: Thou art youngly yet. Caleb: And if God will not hear my prayers? William: Caleb... Caleb: Tell me! William: Look you, I love thee marvelous well, but 'tis God alone, not man, what knows who is a son of Abraham and who is not. Who is good and who is evil. Fain would I tell thee Sam sleeps in Jesus, that thou wilt, that I will, but I cannot tell thee that. None can.

Dialogue

Thomasin: Why is it when thou dost a wrong, I be a-washing Fathers clothes like a slave, and thou art playing idle? Mercy: Because Mother hates you! Thomasin: Spoilt child. Mercy: I'll tell Mother you have left the farm alone. Black Phillip saith I can do what I like. Thomasin: Devil take your Black Phillip. Mercy: It's your fault I cannot leave the yard. I could go to the brook before you let The Witch take Sam. Thomasin: Quiet thee. Caleb: It was a wolf stole Sam. Mercy: A witch. I've seen her in her riding cloak about the Wood! Caleb: Father showed me the tracks. Mercy: It was a witch! Thomasin: It was a witch, Mercy. You speak aright. Caleb: Thomasin! Thomasin: It was I! Mercy: Liar. Thomasin: [walking gradually toward her sister] Twas I what stole him. I be the Witch of the Wood. Mercy: Liar! Liar! Thomasin: I am. Caleb: List' not to her, Mercy. Thomasin: I am that very witch. When I sleep my spirit slips away from my body and dances naked with The Devil. That's how I signed his b

Dialogue

William: You must sleep tonight, Kate. Katherine: Thou dost remember I love thee? William: I do. List me, Kate. I fear thou lookst too much upon this affliction. We must bend our thoughts towards God, not ourselves. He hath never taken a child from us. Never a one, Kate. Who might earn such grace? We have been ungrateful of God's love. Katherine: He hath cursed this family. William: No. He hath taken us into a very low condition to humble us and to show us more of his grace. Was not Christ led into the wilderness to be ill met by the devil? Katherine: We should ne'er left the plantation. William: Kate... Katherine: We should never have left. William: That damned church! There is naught hither.

Dialogue

William: I took thy fathers cup. I sold it. Forgive me Kate. Forgive me Thomasin. Katherine: What is this? William: Katherine, I must make a confession... I, yestermorn, took Caleb to the Wood. 'Twas for food, and the pelts for money. Good money. Katherine: I knew you were false! I knew it! William: I meant it as a surprise, 'twas why I kept secret. I will trap that wolf, Kate. Katherine: You stood by whilst our son lied to me! William: 'Twas for thy sake. I love thee Kate. Katherine: You took him to the Wood! William: I will find him. Katherine: You have broken God's covenant. You are a liar. And you have lost another child. William: I will go now! Katherine: You cannot escape the Wood! William: I will find him! Katherine: And kill thyself too? Will Jonas be the man of the house? Will you damn all your family to death? William: Katherine! Katherine: Let go of me!

Dialogue

William: What dost thou want, Katherine? Tell me and I will give it thee! Katherine: I want to be home. William: Thou shall be home by candle-time tomorrow. Katherine: In England. Will... I also have a confession to make. I never meant to be a shrew to thee. I have become as Job's wife, I know it, but since Sam, since... My heart has turned to stone. I had dreamed once, 'twas when I was of Thomasin's years, that I was with Christ upon earth. I was so very near him, and in many tears for the assurance of the pardon of my sins, and I was so ravished with his love towards me, I thought it far exceeding the affection of the kindest husband. And since Samuel disappeared, I have such a sad weakness of faith, I cannot shake it. I cannot see Christ's help as near. I pray and I pray but I cannot. I fear I cannot ever feel that same measure of love again. William: Thou shalt have of it in heaven. I'll be in field. If you can spare a while, do. We'll leave at dawn. I promise thee that.

Dialogue

Mercy: Don't let her near me! She'll place a curse on me! Thomasin: They conspire against me! Mercy: Thomasin is a witch! William: Nay. I'll not hear it. I'll have proof of it, or heaven help thee. On thy knees! Look me in the eye, daughter. Dost thou love the word of God? Thomasin: Yes. William: Love you The Bible? Love you Prayer? Thomasin: Yes! Yes! William: We are children of sin all, yet I tell thee, I have raised up no witch in this house. Let us pray, then we need fear nothing. We shall never lie open to the wicked one. Pray for thy brother. Mercy: You must believe us. Thomasin: Evil wretches! William: Thomasin! Thomasin! Pray! Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name... Jonas, pray! Jonas: I... I cannot remember my prayer. William: What? Mercy: Nor I. I cannot. William: What nonsense is this? Speak, children: Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name... Pray. Pray, you beasts. Katherine: Get on thy knees and pray! William: Damnation! Thomasin! Stop! I c

Dialogue

William: You must tell me, Thomasin. Tomorrow, I cannot keep secret of this. A council will be called and thy life is...Thy life... Thomasin: You will not believe me? William: I saw the Serpent in my son. You stopped their prayer... Thomasin: They lie. William: I saw it. Caleb disappeared with thee! Thomasin: I love Caleb! William: And who then found him, pale as death, naked as sin and witched? Thomasin, listen to me. The bargain thou hast made is of no effect. Thomasin: I made no bargain. William: Thy soul belongeth to Christ. Thomasin: I made no bargain. William: The Devil hath no interest in thee! Thomasin: I am no witch, father! William: What did I but see in my house? Thomasin: Will you not hear me? William: I prithee, confess...Why have you turned against me? Christ can unwitch us if you will but speak the truth to me. As I love thee, speak truth! Thomasin: You ask me to speak truth? William: I beg thee! Thomasin: You and Mother are planned to rid the farm of me. Aye. I heard yo

Dialogue

Thomasin: Black Phillip, I conjure thee to speak to me. Speak as thou dost speak to Jonas and Mercy. Dost thou understand my English tongue? Answer me. Black Phillip: What... [Thomasin stops] dost thou want? Thomasin: What canst thou give? Black Phillip: Wouldst thou like the taste of butter? A pretty dress? Wouldst thou like to live deliciously? Thomasin: Yes. Black Phillip: Wouldst thou like to see the world? Thomasin: What will you from me? Black Phillip: Dost thou see a book before thee? [Thomasin looks at the book as Black Phillip circles her in human form] Remove thy shift. Thomasin: I cannot write my name. Black Phillip: I will guide thy hand.