Заборонений ліс
VII. The First Blast
AndthereIsawwhatmayGodinHismercyforbidthatIshouldseeagain--adanceofdevilstotheDevil’spiping.InmywrathIrushedamongthem,andtorethemaskfromtheDevil’shead,andthentheyoverboremeandIlostmysenses.WhenIwrestledwiththemIwrestledwithfleshandblood--perishingmenandwomenraptinalustofevil."
Hestopped,andIsobel’seyesdidnotmeethis."Keepusa’!"shemoaned.
"Thesemenandwomenwere,Ifirmlybelieve,myownparishioners."
"Itcannabe,"theoldwomancroaked."Yewerenayoursel’,Mr.David,sir....Yewerecleanfeywi’theblacknesso’theWudandthemuneandthewanchancyhour.Yesawferlies[marvels],buttheywerenafleshandbluid,sir...."
"IsawthebodiesofmenandwomeninWoodileewhohavesoldtheirsoulstodamnation.IsobelVeitch,asyourmasterandyourminister,Ichargeyou,asyouwillanswerbeforetheJudgmentSeat,whatknowyouoftheaccursedthinginthisparish?"
"Me!"shecried."Me!Ikennocht.Meandmymanayekeepitclearo’theWud."
"WhichistosaythattherewereothersinWoodileewhodidnot.Answerme,woman,asyouhopeforsalvation.Thesinofwitchcraftisrampanthere,andIwillnotresttillIhaverooteditout.WhoarethoseinWoodileewhokeeptrystwiththeDevil?"
"HowsuldIken?Oh,sir,Iprayyetospeirnaemairquestions.Woodileehasayebeenkennedforaqueerbit,lappitinthemuckleWud,buttheguiltyayecomebyanillend.There’sbeenmairwitcheshowkitouto’WoodileeandbruntthaninonyitherparochineontheWatero’Aller.