and thither like a child,
and sets no value on my understanding; Olive, because she made a
jest of me; and Goody Bishop, because she hath a fine silk hood.

_Phoebe._ Here is the doll, Nancy.

_Nancy._ Nay, I have another way, which you be too young to
understand. [Nancy _takes the candle, goes to the fireplace, and
courtesies three times, looking up the chimney._

_Nancy._ Hey, black cat! hey, my pretty black cat! Go ye and sit on
Goody Corey's breast, and claw her if she stirs. Do as I bid ye, my
pretty black cat, and I'll sign the book.

_Phoebe._ Oh, Nancy, I hear the black cat yawl!

_Nancy_ (_after courtesying three times_). Hey, black dog! hey, my
pretty black dog! Go ye and howl in Mistress Olive's ear, so she be
frighted in her dreams, and so get a little bitter with the sweet.
Do as I bid ye, my pretty black dog, and I'll sign the book.

_Phoebe._ Oh, Nancy, I hear the black dog howl!

_Nancy_ (_after courtesying three times_). Hey, yellow bird! hey, my
pretty yellow bird! Go ye and peck at Goody Bishop's fine silk hood
and tear it to bits. Do as I bid ye, my pretty yellow bird, and I'll
sign the book.

_Phoebe._ Oh, Nancy, I hear the yellow bird twitter up chimbly!

_Nancy._ 'Tis rare witchcraft.

_Phoebe._ Is that all, Nancy?

_Nancy._ All of this sort. I've given them all they can do
to-night.

_Phoebe._ Then sing the witch song, Nancy.

_Nancy._ I'll sing the witch song, and you can dance on the table.

_Phoebe._ But 'tis sinful to dance, Nancy!

_Nancy._ 'Tis not sinful for a witch.

_Phoebe._ True; I forgot I was a witch. [_Gets upon the table and
dances, dangling her doll, while_ Nancy _sings._

WITCH SONG.

(Same air as Spinning Song.)

"I'll tell you a story, a story of one;
'Twas of a dark witch, and the wizard her son.
A dark witch was she, and a dark wizard he,
With yellow birds singing so gay and so free.
To my down, down, down, derry down.

"The clock was a-striking, a-striking of one.
The witches came out, and the dancing begun.
They courtesied so fine, and they drank the red wine--
The wizards were three and the witches were nine.
To my down, down, down, derry down.

"Halloo, the gay dancers! Halloo, I was one;
The goody that prayed and the maiden that spun!
The yellow birds chirped in the boughs overhead,
And fast through the bushes the black dog sped.
To my down, down, down, derry down."
[_A noise is heard._ Phoebe