READ STUDY GUIDE: Prologue; (I.i) | (I.ii) |
|
Act I
 Scene, Malta. |
| THE JEW OF MALTA. |
| Enter MACHIAVEL. |
| MACHIAVEL. Albeit the world think Machiavel is dead, |
| Yet was his soul but flown beyond the Alps; |
| And, now the Guise is dead, is come from France, |
| To view this land, and frolic with his friends. |
| To some perhaps my name is odious; |
| But such as love me, guard me from their tongues, |
| And let them know that I am Machiavel, |
| And weigh not men, and therefore not men's words. |
| Admir'd I am of those that hate me most: |
| Though some speak openly against my books, |
| Yet will they read me, and thereby attain |
| To Peter's chair; and, when they cast me off, |
| Are poison'd by my climbing followers. |
| I count religion but a childish toy, |
| And hold there is no sin but ignorance. |
| Birds of the air will tell of murders past! |
| I am asham'd to hear such fooleries. |
| Many will talk of title to a crown: |
| What right had Caesar to the empery? |
| Might first made kings, and laws were then most sure |
| When, like the Draco's, they were writ in blood. |
| Hence comes it that a strong-built citadel |
| Commands much more than letters can import: |
| Which maxim had Phalaris observ'd, |
| H'ad never bellow'd, in a brazen bull, |
| Of great ones' envy: o' the poor petty wights |
| Let me be envied and not pitied. |
| But whither am I bound? I come not, I, |
| To read a lecture here in Britain, |
| But to present the tragedy of a Jew, |
| Who smiles to see how full his bags are cramm'd; |
| Which money was not got without my means. |
| I crave but this,—grace him as he deserves, |
| And let him not be entertain'd the worse |
| Because he favours me. |
| [Exit.] |
| BARABAS discovered in his counting-house, with heaps |
| of gold before him. |
| BARABAS. So that of thus much that return was made; |
| And of the third part of the Persian ships |
| There was the venture summ'd and satisfied. |
| As for those Samnites, and the men of Uz, |
| That bought my Spanish oils and wines of Greece, |
| Here have I purs'd their paltry silverlings. |
| Fie, what a trouble 'tis to count this trash! |
| Well fare the Arabians, who so richly pay |
| The things they traffic for with wedge of gold, |
| Whereof a man may easily in a day |
| Tell that which may maintain him all his life. |
| The needy groom, that never finger'd groat, |
| Would make a miracle of thus much coin; |
| But he whose steel-barr'd coffers are cramm'd full, |
| And all his life-time hath been tired, |
| Wearying his fingers' ends with telling it, |
| Would in his age be loath to labour so, |
| And for a pound to sweat himself to death. |
| Give me the merchants of the Indian mines, |
| That trade in metal of the purest mould; |
| The wealthy Moor, that in the eastern rocks |
| Without control can pick his riches up, |
| And in his house heap pearl like pebble-stones, |
| Receive them free, and sell them by the weight; |
| Bags of fiery opals, sapphires, amethysts, |
| Jacinths, hard topaz, grass-green emeralds, |
| Beauteous rubies, sparkling diamonds, |
| And seld-seen costly stones of so great price, |
| As one of them, indifferently rated, |
| And of a carat of this quantity, |
| May serve, in peril of calamity, |
| To ransom great kings from captivity. |
| This is the ware wherein consists my wealth; |
| And thus methinks should men of judgment frame |
| Their means of traffic from the vulgar trade, |
| And, as their wealth increaseth, so inclose |
| Infinite riches in a little room. |
| But now how stands the wind? |
| Into what corner peers my halcyon's bill? |
| Ha! to the east? yes. See how stand the vanes— |
| East and by south: why, then, I hope my ships |
| I sent for Egypt and the bordering isles |
| Are gotten up by Nilus' winding banks; |
| Mine argosy from Alexandria, |
| Loaden with spice and silks, now under sail, |
| Are smoothly gliding down by Candy-shore |
| To Malta, through our Mediterranean sea.— |
| But who comes here? |
| Enter a MERCHANT. |
| How now! |
| MERCHANT. Barabas, thy ships are safe, |
| Riding in Malta-road; and all the merchants |
| With other merchandise are safe arriv'd, |
| And have sent me to know whether yourself |
| Will come and custom them. |
| BARABAS. The ships are safe thou say'st, and richly fraught? |
| MERCHANT. They are. |
| BARABAS. Why, then, go bid them come ashore, |
| And bring with them their bills of entry: |
| I hope our credit in the custom-house |
| Will serve as well as I were present there. |
| Go send 'em threescore camels, thirty mules, |
| And twenty waggons, to bring up the ware. |
| But art thou master in a ship of mine, |
| And is thy credit not enough for that? |
| MERCHANT. The very custom barely comes to more |
| Than many merchants of the town are worth, |
| And therefore far exceeds my credit, sir. |
| BARABAS. Go tell 'em the Jew of Malta sent thee, man: |
| Tush, who amongst 'em knows not Barabas? |
| MERCHANT. I go. |
| BARABAS. So, then, there's somewhat come.— |
| Sirrah, which of my ships art thou master of? |
| MERCHANT. Of the Speranza, sir. |
| BARABAS. And saw'st thou not |
| Mine argosy at Alexandria? |
| Thou couldst not come from Egypt, or by Caire, |
| But at the entry there into the sea, |
| Where Nilus pays his tribute to the main, |
| Thou needs must sail by Alexandria. |
| MERCHANT. I neither saw them, nor inquir'd of them: |
| But this we heard some of our seamen say, |
| They wonder'd how you durst with so much wealth |
| Trust such a crazed vessel, and so far. |
| BARABAS. Tush, they are wise! I know her and her strength. |
| But go, go thou thy ways, discharge thy ship, |
| And bid my factor bring his loading in. |
| [Exit MERCHANT.] |
| And yet I wonder at this argosy. |
| Enter a Second MERCHANT. |
| SECOND MERCHANT. Thine argosy from Alexandria, |
| Know, Barabas, doth ride in Malta-road, |
| Laden with riches, and exceeding store |
| Of Persian silks, of gold, and orient pearl. |
| BARABAS. How chance you came not with those other ships |
| That sail'd by Egypt? |
| SECOND MERCHANT. Sir, we saw 'em not. |
| BARABAS. Belike they coasted round by Candy-shore |
| About their oils or other businesses. |
| But 'twas ill done of you to come so far |
| Without the aid or conduct of their ships. |
| SECOND MERCHANT. Sir, we were wafted by a Spanish fleet, |
| That never left us till within a league, |
| That had the galleys of the Turk in chase. |
| BARABAS. O, they were going up to Sicily. |
| Well, go, |
| And bid the merchants and my men despatch, |
| And come ashore, and see the fraught discharg'd. |
| SECOND MERCHANT. I go. |
| [Exit.] |
| BARABAS. Thus trolls our fortune in by land and sea, |
| And thus are we on every side enrich'd: |
| These are the blessings promis'd to the Jews, |
| And herein was old Abraham's happiness: |
| What more may heaven do for earthly man |
| Than thus to pour out plenty in their laps, |
| Ripping the bowels of the earth for them, |
| Making the sea[s] their servants, and the winds |
| To drive their substance with successful blasts? |
| Who hateth me but for my happiness? |
| Or who is honour'd now but for his wealth? |
| Rather had I, a Jew, be hated thus, |
| Than pitied in a Christian poverty; |
| For I can see no fruits in all their faith, |
| But malice, falsehood, and excessive pride, |
| Which methinks fits not their profession. |
| Haply some hapless man hath conscience, |
| And for his conscience lives in beggary. |
| They say we are a scatter'd nation: |
| I cannot tell; but we have scambled up |
| More wealth by far than those that brag of faith: |
| There's Kirriah Jairim, the great Jew of Greece, |
| Obed in Bairseth, Nones in Portugal, |
| Myself in Malta, some in Italy, |
| Many in France, and wealthy every one; |
| Ay, wealthier far than any Christian. |
| I must confess we come not to be kings: |
| That's not our fault: alas, our number's few! |
| And crowns come either by succession, |
| Or urg'd by force; and nothing violent, |
| Oft have I heard tell, can be permanent. |
| Give us a peaceful rule; make Christians kings, |
| That thirst so much for principality. |
| I have no charge, nor many children, |
| But one sole daughter, whom I hold as dear |
| As Agamemnon did his Iphigen; |
| And all I have is hers.—But who comes here? |
| Enter three JEWS. |
| FIRST JEW. Tush, tell not me; 'twas done of policy. |
| SECOND JEW. Come, therefore, let us go to Barabas; |
| For he can counsel best in these affairs: |
| And here he comes. |
| BARABAS. Why, how now, countrymen! |
| Why flock you thus to me in multitudes? |
| What accident's betided to the Jews? |
| FIRST JEW. A fleet of warlike galleys, Barabas, |
| Are come from Turkey, and lie in our road: |
| And they this day sit in the council-house |
| To entertain them and their embassy. |
| BARABAS. Why, let 'em come, so they come not to war; |
| Or let 'em war, so we be conquerors.— |
| Nay, let 'em combat, conquer, and kill all, |
| So they spare me, my daughter, and my wealth. |
| [Aside.] |
| FIRST JEW. Were it for confirmation of a league, |
| They would not come in warlike manner thus. |
| SECOND JEW. I fear their coming will afflict us all. |
| BARABAS. Fond men, what dream you of their multitudes? |
| What need they treat of peace that are in league? |
| The Turks and those of Malta are in league: |
| Tut, tut, there is some other matter in't. |
| FIRST JEW. Why, Barabas, they come for peace or war. |
| BARABAS. Haply for neither, but to pass along, |
| Towards Venice, by the Adriatic sea, |
| With whom they have attempted many times, |
| But never could effect their stratagem. |
| THIRD JEW. And very wisely said; it may be so. |
| SECOND JEW. But there's a meeting in the senate-house, |
| And all the Jews in Malta must be there. |
| BARABAS. Hum,—all the Jews in Malta must be there! |
| Ay, like enough: why, then, let every man |
| Provide him, and be there for fashion-sake. |
| If any thing shall there concern our state, |
| Assure yourselves I'll look—unto myself. |
| [Aside.] |
| FIRST JEW. I know you will.—Well, brethren, let us go. |
| SECOND JEW. Let's take our leaves.—Farewell, good Barabas. |
| BARABAS. Farewell, Zaareth; farewell, Temainte. |
| [Exeunt JEWS.] |
| And, Barabas, now search this secret out; |
| Summon thy senses, call thy wits together: |
| These silly men mistake the matter clean. |
| Long to the Turk did Malta contribute; |
| Which tribute all in policy, I fear, |
| The Turk has let increase to such a sum |
| As all the wealth of Malta cannot pay; |
| And now by that advantage thinks, belike, |
| To seize upon the town; ay, that he seeks. |
| Howe'er the world go, I'll make sure for one, |
| And seek in time to intercept the worst, |
| Warily guarding that which I ha' got: |
| Ego mihimet sum semper proximus: |
| Why, let 'em enter, let 'em take the town. |
| [Exit.] |
| Enter FERNEZE governor of Malta, KNIGHTS, and OFFICERS; |
| met by CALYMATH, and BASSOES of the TURK. |
| FERNEZE. Now, bassoes, what demand you at our hands? |
| FIRST BASSO. Know, knights of Malta, that we came from Rhodes, |
| >From Cyprus, Candy, and those other isles |
| That lie betwixt the Mediterranean seas. |
| FERNEZE. What's Cyprus, Candy, and those other isles |
| To us or Malta? what at our hands demand ye? |
| CALYMATH. The ten years' tribute that remains unpaid. |
| FERNEZE. Alas, my lord, the sum is over-great! |
| I hope your highness will consider us. |
| CALYMATH. I wish, grave governor, 'twere in my power |
| To favour you; but 'tis my father's cause, |
| Wherein I may not, nay, I dare not dally. |
| FERNEZE. Then give us leave, great Selim Calymath. |
| CALYMATH. Stand all aside, and let the knights determine; |
| And send to keep our galleys under sail, |
| For happily we shall not tarry here.— |
| Now, governor, how are you resolv'd? |
| FERNEZE. Thus; since your hard conditions are such |
| That you will needs have ten years' tribute past, |
| We may have time to make collection |
| Amongst the inhabitants of Malta for't. |
| FIRST BASSO. That's more than is in our commission. |
| CALYMATH. What, Callapine! a little courtesy: |
| Let's know their time; perhaps it is not long; |
| And 'tis more kingly to obtain by peace |
| Than to enforce conditions by constraint.— |
| What respite ask you, governor? |
| FERNEZE. But a month. |
| CALYMATH. We grant a month; but see you keep your promise. |
| Now launch our galleys back again to sea, |
| Where we'll attend the respite you have ta'en, |
| And for the money send our messenger. |
| Farewell, great governor, and brave knights of Malta. |
| FERNEZE. And all good fortune wait on Calymath! |
| [Exeunt CALYMATH and BASSOES.] |
| Go one and call those Jews of Malta hither: |
| Were they not summon'd to appear to-day? |
| FIRST OFFICER. They were, my lord; and here they come. |
| Enter BARABAS and three JEWS. |
| FIRST KNIGHT. Have you determin'd what to say to them? |
| FERNEZE. Yes; give me leave:—and, Hebrews, now come near. |
| >From the Emperor of Turkey is arriv'd |
| Great Selim Calymath, his highness' son, |
| To levy of us ten years' tribute past: |
| Now, then, here know that it concerneth us. |
| BARABAS. Then, good my lord, to keep your quiet still, |
| Your lordship shall do well to let them have it. |
| FERNEZE. Soft, Barabas! there's more 'longs to't than so. |
| To what this ten years' tribute will amount, |
| That we have cast, but cannot compass it |
| By reason of the wars, that robb'd our store; |
| And therefore are we to request your aid. |
| BARABAS. Alas, my lord, we are no soldiers! |
| And what's our aid against so great a prince? |
| FIRST KNIGHT. Tut, Jew, we know thou art no soldier: |
| Thou art a merchant and a money'd man, |
| And 'tis thy money, Barabas, we seek. |
| BARABAS. How, my lord! my money! |
| FERNEZE. Thine and the rest; |
| For, to be short, amongst you't must be had. |
| FIRST JEW. Alas, my lord, the most of us are poor! |
| FERNEZE. Then let the rich increase your portions. |
| BARABAS. Are strangers with your tribute to be tax'd? |
| SECOND KNIGHT. Have strangers leave with us to get their wealth? |
| Then let them with us contribute. |
| BARABAS. How! equally? |
| FERNEZE. No, Jew, like infidels; |
| For through our sufferance of your hateful lives, |
| Who stand accursed in the sight of heaven, |
| These taxes and afflictions are befall'n, |
| And therefore thus we are determined.— |
| Read there the articles of our decrees. |
| OFFICER. [reads] FIRST, THE TRIBUTE-MONEY OF THE TURKS |
| SHALL ALL BE LEVIED AMONGST THE JEWS, AND EACH OF THEM TO PAY |
| ONE HALF OF HIS ESTATE. |
| BARABAS. How! half his estate!—I hope you mean not mine. |
| [Aside.] |
| FERNEZE. Read on. |
| OFFICER. [reads] SECONDLY, HE THAT DENIES TO PAY, SHALL |
| STRAIGHT-BECOME A CHRISTIAN. |
| BARABAS. How! a Christian!—Hum,—what's here to do? |
| [Aside.] |
| OFFICER. [reads] LASTLY, HE THAT DENIES THIS, SHALL ABSOLUTELY |
| LOSE ALL HE HAS. |
| THREE JEWS. O my lord, we will give half! |
| BARABAS. O earth-mettled villains, and no Hebrews born! |
| And will you basely thus submit yourselves |
| To leave your goods to their arbitrement? |
| FERNEZE. Why, Barabas, wilt thou be christened? |
| BARABAS. No, governor, I will be no convertite. |
| FERNEZE. Then pay thy half. |
| BARABAS. Why, know you what you did by this device? |
| Half of my substance is a city's wealth. |
| Governor, it was not got so easily; |
| Nor will I part so slightly therewithal. |
| FERNEZE. Sir, half is the penalty of our decree; |
| Either pay that, or we will seize on all. |
| BARABAS. Corpo di Dio! stay: you shall have half; |
| Let me be us'd but as my brethren are. |
| FERNEZE. No, Jew, thou hast denied the articles, |
| And now it cannot be recall'd. |
| [Exeunt OFFICERS, on a sign from FERNEZE] |
| BARABAS. Will you, then, steal my goods? |
| Is theft the ground of your religion? |
| FERNEZE. No, Jew; we take particularly thine, |
| To save the ruin of a multitude: |
| And better one want for a common good, |
| Than many perish for a private man: |
| Yet, Barabas, we will not banish thee, |
| But here in Malta, where thou gott'st thy wealth, |
| Live still; and, if thou canst, get more. |
| BARABAS. Christians, what or how can I multiply? |
| Of naught is nothing made. |
| FIRST KNIGHT. From naught at first thou cam'st to little wealth, |
| >From little unto more, from more to most: |
| If your first curse fall heavy on thy head, |
| And make thee poor and scorn'd of all the world, |
| 'Tis not our fault, but thy inherent sin. |
| BARABAS. What, bring you Scripture to confirm your wrongs? |
| Preach me not out of my possessions. |
| Some Jews are wicked, as all Christians are: |
| But say the tribe that I descended of |
| Were all in general cast away for sin, |
| Shall I be tried by their transgression? |
| The man that dealeth righteously shall live; |
| And which of you can charge me otherwise? |
| FERNEZE. Out, wretched Barabas! |
| Sham'st thou not thus to justify thyself, |
| As if we knew not thy profession? |
| If thou rely upon thy righteousness, |
| Be patient, and thy riches will increase. |
| Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness; |
| And covetousness, O, 'tis a monstrous sin! |
| BARABAS. Ay, but theft is worse: tush! take not from me, then, |
| For that is theft; and, if you rob me thus, |
| I must be forc'd to steal, and compass more. |
| FIRST KNIGHT. Grave governor, list not to his exclaims: |
| Convert his mansion to a nunnery; |
| His house will harbour many holy nuns. |
| FERNEZE. It shall be so. |
| Re-enter OFFICERS. |
| Now, officers, have you done? |
| FIRST OFFICER. Ay, my lord, we have seiz'd upon the goods |
| And wares of Barabas, which, being valu'd, |
| Amount to more than all the wealth in Malta: |
| And of the other we have seized half. |
| FERNEZE. Then we'll take order for the residue. |
| BARABAS. Well, then, my lord, say, are you satisfied? |
| You have my goods, my money, and my wealth, |
| My ships, my store, and all that I enjoy'd; |
| And, having all, you can request no more, |
| Unless your unrelenting flinty hearts |
| Suppress all pity in your stony breasts, |
| And now shall move you to bereave my life. |
| FERNEZE. No, Barabas; to stain our hands with blood |
| Is far from us and our profession. |
| BARABAS. Why, I esteem the injury far less, |
| To take the lives of miserable men |
| Than be the causers of their misery. |
| You have my wealth, the labour of my life, |
| The comfort of mine age, my children's hope; |
| And therefore ne'er distinguish of the wrong. |
| FERNEZE. Content thee, Barabas; thou hast naught but right. |
| BARABAS. Your extreme right does me exceeding wrong: |
| But take it to you, i'the devil's name! |
| FERNEZE. Come, let us in, and gather of these goods |
| The money for this tribute of the Turk. |
| FIRST KNIGHT. 'Tis necessary that be look'd unto; |
| For, if we break our day, we break the league, |
| And that will prove but simple policy. |
| [Exeunt all except BARABAS and the three JEWS.] |
| BARABAS. Ay, policy! that's their profession, |
| And not simplicity, as they suggest.— |
| The plagues of Egypt, and the curse of heaven, |
| Earth's barrenness, and all men's hatred, |
| Inflict upon them, thou great Primus Motor! |
| And here upon my knees, striking the earth, |
| I ban their souls to everlasting pains, |
| And extreme tortures of the fiery deep, |
| That thus have dealt with me in my distress! |
| FIRST JEW. O, yet be patient, gentle Barabas! |
| BARABAS. O silly brethren, born to see this day, |
| Why stand you thus unmov'd with my laments? |
| Why weep you not to think upon my wrongs? |
| Why pine not I, and die in this distress? |
| FIRST JEW. Why, Barabas, as hardly can we brook |
| The cruel handling of ourselves in this: |
| Thou seest they have taken half our goods. |
| BARABAS. Why did you yield to their extortion? |
| You were a multitude, and I but one; |
| And of me only have they taken all. |
| FIRST JEW. Yet, brother Barabas, remember Job. |
| BARABAS. What tell you me of Job? I wot his wealth |
| Was written thus; he had seven thousand sheep, |
| Three thousand camels, and two hundred yoke |
| Of labouring oxen, and five hundred |
| She-asses: but for every one of those, |
| Had they been valu'd at indifferent rate, |
| I had at home, and in mine argosy, |
| And other ships that came from Egypt last, |
| As much as would have bought his beasts and him, |
| And yet have kept enough to live upon; |
| So that not he, but I, may curse the day, |
| Thy fatal birth-day, forlorn Barabas; |
| And henceforth wish for an eternal night, |
| That clouds of darkness may inclose my flesh, |
| And hide these extreme sorrows from mine eyes; |
| For only I have toil'd to inherit here |
| The months of vanity, and loss of time, |
| And painful nights, have been appointed me. |
| SECOND JEW. Good Barabas, be patient. |
| BARABAS. Ay, I pray, leave me in my patience. You, that |
| Were ne'er possess'd of wealth, are pleas'd with want; |
| But give him liberty at least to mourn, |
| That in a field, amidst his enemies, |
| Doth see his soldiers slain, himself disarm'd, |
| And knows no means of his recovery: |
| Ay, let me sorrow for this sudden chance; |
| 'Tis in the trouble of my spirit I speak: |
| Great injuries are not so soon forgot. |
| FIRST JEW. Come, let us leave him; in his ireful mood |
| Our words will but increase his ecstasy. |
| SECOND JEW. On, then: but, trust me, 'tis a misery |
| To see a man in such affliction.— |
| Farewell, Barabas. |
| BARABAS. Ay, fare you well. |
| [Exeunt three JEWS.] |
| See the simplicity of these base slaves, |
| Who, for the villains have no wit themselves, |
| Think me to be a senseless lump of clay, |
| That will with every water wash to dirt! |
| No, Barabas is born to better chance, |
| And fram'd of finer mould than common men, |
| That measure naught but by the present time. |
| A reaching thought will search his deepest wits, |
| And cast with cunning for the time to come; |
| For evils are apt to happen every day. |
| Enter ABIGAIL. |
| But whither wends my beauteous Abigail? |
| O, what has made my lovely daughter sad? |
| What, woman! moan not for a little loss; |
| Thy father has enough in store for thee. |
| ABIGAIL. Nor for myself, but aged Barabas, |
| Father, for thee lamenteth Abigail: |
| But I will learn to leave these fruitless tears; |
| And, urg'd thereto with my afflictions, |
| With fierce exclaims run to the senate-house, |
| And in the senate reprehend them all, |
| And rent their hearts with tearing of my hair, |
| Till they reduce the wrongs done to my father. |
| BARABAS. No, Abigail; things past recovery |
| Are hardly cur'd with exclamations: |
| Be silent, daughter; sufferance breeds ease, |
| And time may yield us an occasion, |
| Which on the sudden cannot serve the turn. |
| Besides, my girl, think me not all so fond |
| As negligently to forgo so much |
| Without provision for thyself and me: |
| Ten thousand portagues, besides great pearls, |
| Rich costly jewels, and stones infinite, |
| Fearing the worst of this before it fell, |
| I closely hid. |
| ABIGAIL. Where, father? |
| BARABAS. In my house, my girl. |
| ABIGAIL. Then shall they ne'er be seen of Barabas; |
| For they have seiz'd upon thy house and wares. |
| BARABAS. But they will give me leave once more, I trow, |
| To go into my house. |
| ABIGAIL. That may they not; |
| For there I left the governor placing nuns, |
| Displacing me; and of thy house they mean |
| To make a nunnery, where none but their own sect |
| Must enter in; men generally barr'd. |
| BARABAS. My gold, my gold, and all my wealth is gone!— |
| You partial heavens, have I deserv'd this plague? |
| What, will you thus oppose me, luckless stars, |
| To make me desperate in my poverty? |
| And, knowing me impatient in distress, |
| Think me so mad as I will hang myself, |
| That I may vanish o'er the earth in air, |
| And leave no memory that e'er I was? |
| No, I will live; nor loathe I this my life: |
| And, since you leave me in the ocean thus |
| To sink or swim, and put me to my shifts, |
| I'll rouse my senses, and awake myself.— |
| Daughter, I have it: thou perceiv'st the plight |
| Wherein these Christians have oppressed me: |
| Be rul'd by me, for in extremity |
| We ought to make bar of no policy. |
| ABIGAIL. Father, whate'er it be, to injure them |
| That have so manifestly wronged us, |
| What will not Abigail attempt? |
| BARABAS. Why, so. |
| Then thus: thou told'st me they have turn'd my house |
| Into a nunnery, and some nuns are there? |
| ABIGAIL. I did. |
| BARABAS. Then, Abigail, there must my girl |
| Entreat the abbess to be entertain'd. |
| ABIGAIL. How! as a nun? |
| BARABAS. Ay, daughter; for religion |
| Hides many mischiefs from suspicion. |
| ABIGAIL. Ay, but, father, they will suspect me there. |
| BARABAS. Let 'em suspect; but be thou so precise |
| As they may think it done of holiness: |
| Entreat 'em fair, and give them friendly speech, |
| And seem to them as if thy sins were great, |
| Till thou hast gotten to be entertain'd. |
| ABIGAIL. Thus, father, shall I much dissemble. |
| BARABAS. Tush! |
| As good dissemble that thou never mean'st, |
| As first mean truth and then dissemble it: |
| A counterfeit profession is better |
| Than unseen hypocrisy. |
| ABIGAIL. Well, father, say I be entertain'd, |
| What then shall follow? |
| BARABAS. This shall follow then. |
| There have I hid, close underneath the plank |
| That runs along the upper-chamber floor, |
| The gold and jewels which I kept for thee:— |
| But here they come: be cunning, Abigail. |
| ABIGAIL. Then, father, go with me. |
| BARABAS. No, Abigail, in this |
| It is not necessary I be seen; |
| For I will seem offended with thee for't: |
| Be close, my girl, for this must fetch my gold. |
| [They retire.] |
| Enter FRIAR JACOMO, FRIAR BARNARDINE, ABBESS, and a NUN. |
| FRIAR JACOMO. Sisters, |
| We now are almost at the new-made nunnery. |
| ABBESS. The better; for we love not to be seen: |
| 'Tis thirty winters long since some of us |
| Did stray so far amongst the multitude. |
| FRIAR JACOMO. But, madam, this house |
| And waters of this new-made nunnery |
| Will much delight you. |
| ABBESS. It may be so.—But who comes here? |
| [ABIGAIL comes forward.] |
| ABIGAIL. Grave abbess, and you happy virgins' guide, |
| Pity the state of a distressed maid! |
| ABBESS. What art thou, daughter? |
| ABIGAIL. The hopeless daughter of a hapless Jew, |
| The Jew of Malta, wretched Barabas, |
| Sometimes the owner of a goodly house, |
| Which they have now turn'd to a nunnery. |
| ABBESS. Well, daughter, say, what is thy suit with us? |
| ABIGAIL. Fearing the afflictions which my father feels |
| Proceed from sin or want of faith in us, |
| I'd pass away my life in penitence, |
| And be a novice in your nunnery, |
| To make atonement for my labouring soul. |
| FRIAR JACOMO. No doubt, brother, but this proceedeth of |
| the spirit. |
| FRIAR BARNARDINE. |
| Ay, and of a moving spirit too, brother: but come, |
| Let us entreat she may be entertain'd. |
| ABBESS. Well, daughter, we admit you for a nun. |
| ABIGAIL. First let me as a novice learn to frame |
| My solitary life to your strait laws, |
| And let me lodge where I was wont to lie: |
| I do not doubt, by your divine precepts |
| And mine own industry, but to profit much. |
| BARABAS. As much, I hope, as all I hid is worth. |
| [Aside.] |
| ABBESS. Come, daughter, follow us. |
| BARABAS. [coming forward] Why, how now, Abigail! |
| What mak'st thou 'mongst these hateful Christians? |
| FRIAR JACOMO. Hinder her not, thou man of little faith, |
| For she has mortified herself. |
| BARABAS. How! mortified! |
| FRIAR JACOMO. And is admitted to the sisterhood. |
| BARABAS. Child of perdition, and thy father's shame! |
| What wilt thou do among these hateful fiends? |
| I charge thee on my blessing that thou leave |
| These devils and their damned heresy! |
| ABIGAIL. Father, forgive me— |
| BARABAS. Nay, back, Abigail, |
| And think upon the jewels and the gold; |
| The board is marked thus that covers it.— |
| [Aside to ABIGAIL in a whisper.] |
| Away, accursed, from thy father's sight! |
| FRIAR JACOMO. Barabas, although thou art in misbelief, |
| And wilt not see thine own afflictions, |
| Yet let thy daughter be no longer blind. |
| BARABAS. Blind friar, I reck not thy persuasions,— |
| The board is marked thus that covers it— |
| [Aside to ABIGAIL in a whisper.] |
| For I had rather die than see her thus.— |
| Wilt thou forsake me too in my distress, |
| Seduced daughter?—Go, forget not.— |
| [Aside to her in a whisper.] |
| Becomes it Jews to be so credulous?— |
| To-morrow early I'll be at the door.— |
| [Aside to her in a whisper.] |
| No, come not at me; if thou wilt be damn'd, |
| Forget me, see me not; and so, be gone!— |
| Farewell; remember to-morrow morning.— |
| [Aside to her in a whisper.] |
| Out, out, thou wretch! |
| [Exit, on one side, BARABAS. Exeunt, on the other side, |
| FRIARS, ABBESS, NUN, and ABIGAIL: and, as they are going |
| out,] |
| Enter MATHIAS. |
| MATHIAS. Who's this? fair Abigail, the rich Jew's daughter, |
| Become a nun! her father's sudden fall |
| Has humbled her, and brought her down to this: |
| Tut, she were fitter for a tale of love, |
| Than to be tired out with orisons; |
| And better would she far become a bed, |
| Embraced in a friendly lover's arms, |
| Than rise at midnight to a solemn mass. |
| Enter LODOWICK. |
| LODOWICK. Why, how now, Don Mathias! in a dump? |
| MATHIAS. Believe me, noble Lodowick, I have seen |
| The strangest sight, in my opinion, |
| That ever I beheld. |
| LODOWICK. What was't, I prithee? |
| MATHIAS. A fair young maid, scarce fourteen years of age, |
| The sweetest flower in Cytherea's field, |
| Cropt from the pleasures of the fruitful earth, |
| And strangely metamorphos'd [to a] nun. |
| LODOWICK. But say, what was she? |
| MATHIAS. Why, the rich Jew's daughter. |
| LODOWICK. What, Barabas, whose goods were lately seiz'd? |
| Is she so fair? |
| MATHIAS. And matchless beautiful, |
| As, had you seen her, 'twould have mov'd your heart, |
| Though countermin'd with walls of brass, to love, |
| Or, at the least, to pity. |
| LODOWICK. An if she be so fair as you report, |
| 'Twere time well spent to go and visit her: |
| How say you? shall we? |
| MATHIAS. I must and will, sir; there's no remedy. |
| LODOWICK. And so will I too, or it shall go hard. |
| Farewell, Mathias. |
| MATHIAS. Farewell, Lodowick. |
| [Exeunt severally.] |
|
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