The Equinox (Volume I, Number VI)

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