In late 1600's Salem, a mass hysteria over witches ravaged the town. In the strict Puritan society of Salem, anything not Puritan was regarded badly, as in they were viewed as witchery. One proponent of the Puritan lifestyle was Cotton Mather, a major writer at the time who published works that highlighted the witchery in Salem, including the poem "Witches Brewing". In this poem, Mather criticizes those who want entertainment.
Any form of entertainment in Puritan society was considered witchery at the time. Said Mather, "Ye monsters bubbling deep, your Maker's praises spout". Mather is addressing this to people considered witches, and stating that they are "monsters bubbling deep", implying they are from Hell. Since they are from Hell, the "Maker" is Satan, whose praises in Christianity are rebuked. Mather continues, now referring to the "monsters" as "codlings". They "peep, and wag [their] tails about". Much like an animal, they wag their tails, signifying they are happy. Entertainment is un-Puritan, Mather implies.
What is said in the poem are actually rhetorical devices that show a deeper meaning. The whole poem is an allusion to witch brewing, and the spells that are supposedly said during brewing. Basically it is a poem, but poetry during Puritan America was discouraged due to it being "entertainment". However, it seems that some were still able to write poetry. The "monsters" and "codlings" are metaphorical witches. They "wag [their] tails about". In doing this, Mather is dehumanizing people who don't believe in the strict Puritan way, or people who have fun, revealing much about the oppression of the period. This whole statement is a jab at people not in line with Puritan ideals.
Those not in line do things considered as entertainment, or simply don't believe in Puritans. It was the sad truth of the 1600's. Puritans have fallen out of favor since then, and these ideals aren't really considered today. However, the dehumanization of people still happens in many places.
