Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rewards and Fairies
‘And how did poor stuttering Jack endure it?’ said Puck. ‘A very simple soul, a high courage tempered with sound
‘He sweated out his melancholy through his skin, and and stubborn conceit, is stronger than all the stars in their
catched a loose cough, which I cured with electuaries, accord- courses. So I confess truly that you saved the village, Nick.’
ing to art. It is noteworthy, were I speaking among my equals, ‘I stubborn? I stiff-necked? I ascribed all my poor success,
that the venom of the plague translated, or turned itself into, under God’s good providence, to Divine Astrology. Not to
and evaporated, or went away as, a very heavy hoarseness and me the glory! You talk as that dear weeping ass Jack Marget
thickness of the head, throat, and chest. (Observe from my preached before I went back to my work in Red Lion House,
books which planets govern these portions of man’s body, Spitalfields.’
and your darkness, good people, shall be illuminated—ahem!) ‘Oh! Stammering Jack preached, did he? They say he loses
None the less, the plague, qua plague, ceased and took off his stammer in the pulpit.’
(for we only lost three more, and two of ‘em had it already on ‘And his wits with it. He delivered a most idolatrous dis-
‘em) from the morning of the day that Mars enlightened me course when the plague was stayed. He took for his text: “The
by the Lower Mill.’ He coughed—almost trumpeted—tri- wise man that delivered the city.” I could have given him a
umphantly.
better, such as: “There is a time for—”’
‘It is proved,’ he jerked out. ‘I say I have proved my conten- ‘But what made you go to church to hear him?’ Puck intertion,
which is, that by Divine Astrology and humble search rupted. ‘Wail Attersole was your lawfully appointed preacher,
into the veritable causes of things—at the proper time—the and a dull dog he was!’
sons of wisdom may combat even the plague.’
Mr Culpeper wriggled uneasily.
H’m!’ Puck replied. ‘For my own part I hold that a simple ‘The vulgar,’ said he, ‘the old crones and—ahem!—the chil-
soul—’
dren, Alison and the others, they dragged me to the House of
‘Mine? Simple, forsooth?’ said Mr Culpeper.
Rimmon by the hand. I was in two minds to inform on Jack
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