Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rewards and Fairies
stretched out to kill those three rats under my nose, and un- ‘Yes, and twice so much as that to any one who had ears to
der the nose of their natural mistress, the Moon. I had known hear. Briefly, he enlightened me that the plague was spread by
Mars lean half across Heaven to deal our Lady the Moon the creatures of the Moon. The Moon, our Lady of ill-aspect,
some shrewd blow from under his shield, but I had never was the offender. My own poor wits showed me that I, Nick
before seen his strength displayed so effectual.’
Culpeper, had the people in my charge, God’s good provi-
‘I don’t understand a bit. Do you mean Mars killed the rats dence aiding me, and no time to lose neither.
because he hated the Moon?’ said Una.
‘I posted up the hill, and broke into Hitheram’s field
‘That is as plain as the pikestaff with which Blagge’s men amongst ‘em all at prayers.
pushed me forth,’Mr Culpeper answered. ‘I’ll prove it. Why ‘“Eureka, good people!” I cried, and cast down a dead mill-
had the plague not broken out at the blacksmith’s shop in rat which I’d found. “Here’s your true enemy, revealed at last
Munday’s Lane? Because, as I’ve shown you, forges and smith- by the stars.”
ies belong naturally to Mars, and, for his honour’s sake, Mars ‘“Nay, but I’m praying,” says Jack. His face was as white as
‘ud keep ‘em clean from the creatures of the Moon. But was washed silver.
it like, think you, that he’d come down and rat-catch in gen- ‘“There’s a time for everything under the sun,” says I. “If
eral for lazy, ungrateful mankind? That were working a will- you would stay the plague, take and kill your rats.”
ing horse to death. So, then, you can see that the meaning of ‘“Oh, mad, stark mad!” says he, and wrings his hands.
the blazing star above him when he set was simply this: “De- ‘A fellow lay in the ditch beside him, who bellows that he’d
stroy and burn the creatures Of the moon, for they are the as soon die mad hunting rats as be preached to death on a
root of your trouble. And thus, having shown you a taste of cold fallow. They laughed round him at this, but Jack Marget
my power, good people, adieu.”’
falls on his knees, and very presumptuously petitions that he
‘Did Mars really say all that?’ Una whispered.
may be appointed to die to save the rest of his people. This
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