( 65 ) but in carrying her home, they met no man at all, and she saw no dangers stood in her way, for which reason, she thought it folly in my Grandmother, to be so fearful of her walking alone; and after that, within a week or a fortnight, I think it was, my Grandmother heard the news that she was found murdered at the very spot that she dreamt the Serpent met her; and was judged like the former, to be ravished first and murdered after. THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. As these women did appear, Perfect so, I now do tell thee, Satan's arts in all are here. The Jews at first like cats did burst, I say the same, they slew her name, And let them hear the news: Like cats appear, they did come there, They howling then like cats appear'd— That I was come their priest and king, It at the stake, they then did break, And now my Gospel you read through, That sure did come, in love to man, But when he told his bloody plan, In agony she then did lay When by his lust oppress'd, And then his cursed love did see Just like the Jews, that did refuse So like that man, you Jews do stand, Like them you howl, like them you scowl, Upon your heads you said it should fall- And like the man you'll now appear, In conscience for to mourn; For well I know his grief was so, For like the first his grief did burst, Then now see clear the likeness here, That afterwards he did appear To wound her faithful breast: For to betray, her murder lay And then his conscience him betray'd, But of his end they did not hear- To them that strike the blow, ( 67 ) Or do assume for to begin To strike the blow once more; He thought the woman should be slain, And money too, he then thought so, The helpless offspring to bring up, To make her so, he well did know, For here the Murder must appear, Because that he doth silent lie, Her dream came round that way. They do not break, like cats, to speak, So silence see in them to be, Like adders they are found, That are deaf to every mysteryThen tremble at the sound. See how you are plac'd, ye fallen race, Like serpents to become, That do the Woman now disgrace, But have no foot to stand. I tell you plain, ye sons of men, 68 The Woman here for to condemn, By Cats, judge as you will. The woman then with child; That just like her they certain be Then they'll see clear he doth appear To dig the pit for all; And to go further, such will fear, That they their end shall fall; Because they'll see, as deep as thee, That surely were ordain'd by ME I've laid a way you did not see A way unknown to man I'm come, The TRUTH they all will see, 3 ( 69 ) But if I find them trembling here, It was a thing that I thought of a lady at Exeter, whom a very empty prodigal man went a courting -to, thinking to gain her fortune, as he was in danger of breaking every day; but the lady was told of his circumstances; and one day when he came to dine with her, the lady asked him what he chused to drink? He said wine. The lady had agreed with her servant before, and ordered the gentleman a bottle of wine. The footman brought a bottle corked close, as if it were full of wine, but no wine was in it, and put the bottle on the side table. She desired the pretended gentleman to draw the cork, and help himself to a glass of wine. The gentleman drew the cork, and said, "Oh, madam, this bottle is full of emptiness." "Yes, sir," she replied gravely," and so are you;" and then laughed at his folly, to make any attempt to come to her. I said Miss Townley might say the same by the Clergy, that they were full of emptiness, by the impudent and ignorant letters they have sent her, which a plough boy would have been ashamed to have sent. This made Joanna see mankind as full of emptiness as the bottle was that the lady produced to the gentleman, that when the cork was drawn there was nothing there; and they have drawn their pens the same, and might well be ashamed to own their names; for how could they answer to see their letters with their broken wisdom, like the gentleman that went to the lady with a broken fortune? And when he missed his aim there, he soon discovered he was as empty as she shewed him, for he broke soon after; and just so will all their empty wisdom break into folly:-" For they will soon find they have a Gon to deal with, and not a simple woman, that they would defile and murder-as the two wo |