Enter[77]Bellamira,a courtesan.Bell.Since this town was besieged, my gain grows cold:The time has been that, but for one bare night,A hundred ducats have been freely given:But now against my will I must be chaste;And yet I know my beauty doth not fail.From Venice merchants, and from PaduaWere wont to come rare-witted gentlemen,Scholars I mean, learnèd and liberal;And now, save Pilia-Borza, comes there none,And he is very seldom from my house;10And here he comes.EnterPilia-Borza.Pilia.Hold thee, wench, there's something for thee to spend.Bell.'Tis silver. I disdain it.Pilia.I, but the Jew has gold,And I will have it, or it shall go hard.Court.Tell me, how cam'st thou by this?
Enter[77]Bellamira,a courtesan.
Bell.Since this town was besieged, my gain grows cold:The time has been that, but for one bare night,A hundred ducats have been freely given:But now against my will I must be chaste;And yet I know my beauty doth not fail.From Venice merchants, and from PaduaWere wont to come rare-witted gentlemen,Scholars I mean, learnèd and liberal;And now, save Pilia-Borza, comes there none,And he is very seldom from my house;10And here he comes.
EnterPilia-Borza.
Pilia.Hold thee, wench, there's something for thee to spend.
Bell.'Tis silver. I disdain it.
Pilia.I, but the Jew has gold,And I will have it, or it shall go hard.
Court.Tell me, how cam'st thou by this?
Pilia.'Faith, walking the back lanes, through the gardens, I chanced to cast mine eye up to the Jew's counting-house, where I saw some bags of money, and in the night I clambered up with my hooks, and, as I was taking my choice, I heard a rumbling in the house; so I took only this, and run my way: but here's the Jew's man.
24Bell.Hide the bag.EnterIthamore.
24Bell.Hide the bag.
EnterIthamore.
Pilia.Look not towards him, let's away: zoon's, what a looking thou keep'st; thou'lt betray 's anon.[ExeuntCourtesanandPilia-Borza.
Itha. O the sweetest face that ever I beheld! I know she is a courtesan by her attire: now would I give a hundred of the Jew's crowns that I had such a concubine.Well,31I have delivered the challenge in such sort,As meet they will, and fighting die; brave sport.
[Exit.
[Exit.
EnterMathias.[78]Math.This is the place, now Abigail shall seeWhether Mathias holds her dear or no.EnterLodowick.[79]What, dares the villain write in such base terms?[Reading a letter.Lod.I did it; and revenge it if thou dar'st. [They fight.EnterBarabas,above.[80]Bar.O! bravely fought; and yet they thrust not home.Now, Lodowick! now, Mathias! So—— [Both fall.So now they have showed themselves to be tall[81]fellows.[Cries within.] Part 'em, part 'em.Bar.I, part 'em now they are dead. Farewell, farewell. [Exit.EnterGovernorandMathias'sMother.Gov.What sight is this?—my Lodowick[82]slain!10These arms of mine shall be thy sepulchre.[83]Mother.Who is this? my son Mathias slain!Gov.O Lodowick! had'st thou perished by the Turk,Wretched Ferneze might have 'venged thy death.Mother.Thy son slew mine, and I'll revenge his death.Gov.Look, Katherine, look!—thy son gave mine these wounds.Mother.O leave to grieve me, I am grieved enough.Gov.O! that my sighs could turn to lively breath;And these my tears to blood, that he might live.Mother.Who made them enemies?20Gov.I know not, and that grieves me most of all.Mother.My son loved thine.Gov.And so did Lodowick him.Mother.Lend me that weapon that did kill my son,And it shall murder me.Gov.Nay, madam, stay; that weapon was my son's,And on that rather should Ferneze die.Mother.Hold, let's inquire the causers of their deaths,That we may 'venge their blood upon their heads.Gov.Then take them up, and let them be interred30Within one sacred monument of stone;Upon which altar[84]I will offer upMy daily sacrifice of sighs and tears,And with my prayers pierce impartial[85]heavens,Till they [reveal] the causers of our smarts,Which forced their hands divide united hearts:Come, Katherine, our losses equal are,Then of true grief let us take equal share.[Exeunt with the bodies.
EnterMathias.[78]
Math.This is the place, now Abigail shall seeWhether Mathias holds her dear or no.
EnterLodowick.[79]
What, dares the villain write in such base terms?[Reading a letter.
Lod.I did it; and revenge it if thou dar'st. [They fight.
EnterBarabas,above.[80]
Bar.O! bravely fought; and yet they thrust not home.Now, Lodowick! now, Mathias! So—— [Both fall.So now they have showed themselves to be tall[81]fellows.[Cries within.] Part 'em, part 'em.Bar.I, part 'em now they are dead. Farewell, farewell. [Exit.
EnterGovernorandMathias'sMother.
Gov.What sight is this?—my Lodowick[82]slain!10These arms of mine shall be thy sepulchre.[83]
Mother.Who is this? my son Mathias slain!
Gov.O Lodowick! had'st thou perished by the Turk,Wretched Ferneze might have 'venged thy death.
Mother.Thy son slew mine, and I'll revenge his death.
Gov.Look, Katherine, look!—thy son gave mine these wounds.
Mother.O leave to grieve me, I am grieved enough.
Gov.O! that my sighs could turn to lively breath;And these my tears to blood, that he might live.
Mother.Who made them enemies?20
Gov.I know not, and that grieves me most of all.
Mother.My son loved thine.
Gov.And so did Lodowick him.
Mother.Lend me that weapon that did kill my son,And it shall murder me.
Gov.Nay, madam, stay; that weapon was my son's,And on that rather should Ferneze die.
Mother.Hold, let's inquire the causers of their deaths,That we may 'venge their blood upon their heads.
Gov.Then take them up, and let them be interred30Within one sacred monument of stone;Upon which altar[84]I will offer upMy daily sacrifice of sighs and tears,And with my prayers pierce impartial[85]heavens,Till they [reveal] the causers of our smarts,Which forced their hands divide united hearts:Come, Katherine, our losses equal are,Then of true grief let us take equal share.[Exeunt with the bodies.
EnterIthamore.[86]Itha.Why, was there ever seen such villainy,So neatly plotted, and so well performed?Both held in hand,[87]and flatly both beguiled?EnterAbigail.Abig.Why, how now, Ithamore, why laugh'st thou so?Itha.O mistress, ha! ha! ha!Abig.Why, what ail'st thou?Itha.O my master!Abig.Ha!10
EnterIthamore.[86]
Itha.Why, was there ever seen such villainy,So neatly plotted, and so well performed?Both held in hand,[87]and flatly both beguiled?
EnterAbigail.
Abig.Why, how now, Ithamore, why laugh'st thou so?
Itha.O mistress, ha! ha! ha!
Abig.Why, what ail'st thou?
Itha.O my master!
Abig.Ha!10
Itha.O mistress! I have the bravest, gravest, secret, subtle, bottle-nosed knave to my master, that ever gentleman had.
Abig.Say, knave, why rail'st upon my father thus?Itha.O, my master has the bravest policy.Abig.Wherein?Itha.Why, know you not?Abig.Why, no.Itha.Know you not of Mathia[s'] and Don Lodowick['s] disaster?Abig.No, what was it?20
Abig.Say, knave, why rail'st upon my father thus?
Itha.O, my master has the bravest policy.
Abig.Wherein?
Itha.Why, know you not?
Abig.Why, no.
Itha.Know you not of Mathia[s'] and Don Lodowick['s] disaster?
Abig.No, what was it?20
Itha.Why, the devil invented a challenge, my master writ it, and I carried it, first to Lodowick, andimprimisto Mathia[s].And then they met, [and,] as the story says,In doleful wise they ended both their days.
Abig.And was my father furtherer of their deaths?Itha.Am I Ithamore?Abig.Yes.Itha.So sure did your father write, and I carry the challenge.Abig.Well, Ithamore, let me request thee this,30Go to the new-made nunnery, and inquireFor any of the Friars of St. Jaques,[88]And say, I pray them come and speak with me.Itha.I pray, mistress, will you answer me but one question?Abig.Well, sirrah, what is't?Itha.A very feeling one; have not the nuns fine sport with the friars now and then?Abig.Go to, sirrah sauce, is this your question? get ye gone.40Itha.I will, forsooth, mistress. [Exit.Abig.Hard-hearted father, unkind Barabas,Was this the pursuit of thy policy!To make me show them favour severally,That by my favour they should both be slain?Admit thou lov'dst not Lodowick for his sire,[89]Yet Don Mathias ne'er offended thee:But thou wert set upon extreme revenge,Because the Prior[90]dispossessed thee once,And could'st not 'venge it, but upon his son;50Nor on his son, but by Mathias' means;Nor on Mathias, but by murdering me.But I perceive there is no love on earth,Pity in Jews, or piety in Turks.But here comes cursed Ithamore, with the friar.EnterIthamoreandFriar Jacomo.F. Jac.Virgo, salve.Itha.When! duck you![91]Abig.Welcome, grave friar; Ithamore begone. [ExitIthamore.Know, holy sir, I am bold to solicit thee.F. Jac.Wherein?60Abig.To get me be admitted for a nun.F. Jac.Why, Abigail, it is not yet long sinceThat I did labour thy admission,And then thou did'st not like that holy life.Abig.Then were my thoughts so frail and unconfirmed,And I was chained to follies of the world:But now experience, purchasèd with grief,Has made me see the difference of things.My sinful soul, alas, hath paced too longThe fatal labyrinth of misbelief,70Far from the sun that gives eternal life.F. Jac.Who taught thee this?Abig.The abbess of the house,Whose zealous admonition I embrace:O, therefore, Jacomo, let me be one,Although unworthy, of that sisterhood.F. Jac.Abigail, I will, but see thou change no more,For that will be most heavy to thy soul.Abig.That was my father's fault.F. Jac.Thy father's! how?80Abig.Nay, you shall pardon me.—O Barabas,Though thou deservest hardly at my hands,Yet never shall these lips bewray thy life. [Aside.F. Jac.Come, shall we go?Abig.My duty waits on you.[Exeunt.
Abig.And was my father furtherer of their deaths?
Itha.Am I Ithamore?
Abig.Yes.
Itha.So sure did your father write, and I carry the challenge.
Abig.Well, Ithamore, let me request thee this,30Go to the new-made nunnery, and inquireFor any of the Friars of St. Jaques,[88]And say, I pray them come and speak with me.
Itha.I pray, mistress, will you answer me but one question?
Abig.Well, sirrah, what is't?
Itha.A very feeling one; have not the nuns fine sport with the friars now and then?
Abig.Go to, sirrah sauce, is this your question? get ye gone.40
Itha.I will, forsooth, mistress. [Exit.
Abig.Hard-hearted father, unkind Barabas,Was this the pursuit of thy policy!To make me show them favour severally,That by my favour they should both be slain?Admit thou lov'dst not Lodowick for his sire,[89]Yet Don Mathias ne'er offended thee:But thou wert set upon extreme revenge,Because the Prior[90]dispossessed thee once,And could'st not 'venge it, but upon his son;50Nor on his son, but by Mathias' means;Nor on Mathias, but by murdering me.But I perceive there is no love on earth,Pity in Jews, or piety in Turks.But here comes cursed Ithamore, with the friar.
EnterIthamoreandFriar Jacomo.
F. Jac.Virgo, salve.
Itha.When! duck you![91]
Abig.Welcome, grave friar; Ithamore begone. [ExitIthamore.Know, holy sir, I am bold to solicit thee.
F. Jac.Wherein?60
Abig.To get me be admitted for a nun.
F. Jac.Why, Abigail, it is not yet long sinceThat I did labour thy admission,And then thou did'st not like that holy life.
Abig.Then were my thoughts so frail and unconfirmed,And I was chained to follies of the world:But now experience, purchasèd with grief,Has made me see the difference of things.My sinful soul, alas, hath paced too longThe fatal labyrinth of misbelief,70Far from the sun that gives eternal life.
F. Jac.Who taught thee this?
Abig.The abbess of the house,Whose zealous admonition I embrace:O, therefore, Jacomo, let me be one,Although unworthy, of that sisterhood.
F. Jac.Abigail, I will, but see thou change no more,For that will be most heavy to thy soul.
Abig.That was my father's fault.
F. Jac.Thy father's! how?80
Abig.Nay, you shall pardon me.—O Barabas,Though thou deservest hardly at my hands,Yet never shall these lips bewray thy life. [Aside.
F. Jac.Come, shall we go?
Abig.My duty waits on you.[Exeunt.
Enter[92]Barabas,reading a letter.Bar.What, Abigail become a nun again!False and unkind; what, hast thou lost thy father?And all unknown, and unconstrained of me,Art thou again got to the nunnery?Now here she writes, and wills me to repent.Repentance!Spurca!what pretendeth[93]this?I fear she knows—'tis so—of my deviceIn Don Mathias' and Lodovico's deaths:If so, 'tis time that it be seen into:For she that varies from me in belief10Gives great presumption that she loves me not;Or loving, doth dislike of something done.But who comes here?EnterIthamore.O Ithamore, come near;Come near, my love; come near, thy master's life,My trusty servant, nay, my second self:[94]For I have now no hope but even in thee:And on that hope my happiness is built;When saw'st thou Abigail?Itha.To-day.Bar.With whom?20Itha.A friar.Bar.A friar! false villain, he hath done the deed.Itha.How, sir?Bar.Why, made mine Abigail a nun.Itha.That's no lie, for she sent me for him.Bar.O unhappy day!False, credulous, inconstant Abigail!But let 'em go: and, Ithamore, from henceNe'er shall she grieve me more with her disgrace;Ne'er shall she live to inherit aught of mine,30Be blest of me, nor come within my gates,But perish underneath my bitter curse,Like Cain by Adam, for his brother's death.Itha.O master!Bar.Ithamore, entreat not for her, I am moved,And she is hateful to my soul and me:And 'less[95]thou yield to this that I entreat,I cannot think but that thou hat'st my life.Itha.Who, I, master? Why, I'll run to some rock,And throw myself headlong into the sea;40Why, I'll do anything for your sweet sake.Bar.O trusty Ithamore, no servant, but my friend:I here adopt thee for mine only heir,All that I have is thine when I am dead,And whilst I live use half; spend as myself;Here take my keys, I'll give 'em thee anon:Go buy thee garments: but thou shall not want:Only know this, that thus thou art to do:But first go fetch me in the pot of riceThat for our supper stands upon the fire.50Itha.I hold my head my master's hungry. I go, sir. [Exit.Bar.Thus every villain ambles after wealth,Although he ne'er be richer than in hope:But, husht!EnterIthamorewith the pot.Itha.Here 'tis, master.Bar.Well said, Ithamore; what, hast thou broughtThe ladle with thee too?
Enter[92]Barabas,reading a letter.
Bar.What, Abigail become a nun again!False and unkind; what, hast thou lost thy father?And all unknown, and unconstrained of me,Art thou again got to the nunnery?Now here she writes, and wills me to repent.Repentance!Spurca!what pretendeth[93]this?I fear she knows—'tis so—of my deviceIn Don Mathias' and Lodovico's deaths:If so, 'tis time that it be seen into:For she that varies from me in belief10Gives great presumption that she loves me not;Or loving, doth dislike of something done.But who comes here?
EnterIthamore.
O Ithamore, come near;Come near, my love; come near, thy master's life,My trusty servant, nay, my second self:[94]For I have now no hope but even in thee:And on that hope my happiness is built;When saw'st thou Abigail?
Itha.To-day.
Bar.With whom?20
Itha.A friar.
Bar.A friar! false villain, he hath done the deed.
Itha.How, sir?
Bar.Why, made mine Abigail a nun.
Itha.That's no lie, for she sent me for him.
Bar.O unhappy day!False, credulous, inconstant Abigail!But let 'em go: and, Ithamore, from henceNe'er shall she grieve me more with her disgrace;Ne'er shall she live to inherit aught of mine,30Be blest of me, nor come within my gates,But perish underneath my bitter curse,Like Cain by Adam, for his brother's death.
Itha.O master!
Bar.Ithamore, entreat not for her, I am moved,And she is hateful to my soul and me:And 'less[95]thou yield to this that I entreat,I cannot think but that thou hat'st my life.
Itha.Who, I, master? Why, I'll run to some rock,And throw myself headlong into the sea;40Why, I'll do anything for your sweet sake.
Bar.O trusty Ithamore, no servant, but my friend:I here adopt thee for mine only heir,All that I have is thine when I am dead,And whilst I live use half; spend as myself;Here take my keys, I'll give 'em thee anon:Go buy thee garments: but thou shall not want:Only know this, that thus thou art to do:But first go fetch me in the pot of riceThat for our supper stands upon the fire.50
Itha.I hold my head my master's hungry. I go, sir. [Exit.
Bar.Thus every villain ambles after wealth,Although he ne'er be richer than in hope:But, husht!
EnterIthamorewith the pot.
Itha.Here 'tis, master.
Bar.Well said, Ithamore; what, hast thou broughtThe ladle with thee too?
Itha.Yes, sir, the proverb says he that eats with the devil had need of a long spoon.[96]I have brought you a ladle.
Bar.Very well, Ithamore, then now be secret;61And for thy sake, whom I so dearly love,Now shalt thou see the death of Abigail,That thou may'st freely live to be my heir.
Bar.Very well, Ithamore, then now be secret;61And for thy sake, whom I so dearly love,Now shalt thou see the death of Abigail,That thou may'st freely live to be my heir.
Itha.Why, master, will you poison her with a mess of rice porridge? that will preserve life, make her round and plump, and batten more than you are aware.
Bar.I, but, Ithamore, seest thou this?It is a precious powder that I boughtOf an Italian, in Ancona, once,70Whose operation is to bind, infect,And poison deeply, yet not appearIn forty hours after it is ta'en.Itha.How, master?Bar.Thus, Ithamore.This even they use in Malta here,—'tis calledSaint Jacques' Even,—and then I say they useTo send their alms unto the nunneries:Among the rest bear this, and set it there;There's a dark entry where they take it in,80Where they must neither see the messenger,Nor make inquiry who hath sent it them.Itha.How so?Bar.Belike there is some ceremony in't.There, Ithamore, must thou go place this pot![97]Stay, let me spice it first.Itha.Pray do, and let me help you, master.Pray let me taste first.Bar.Prythee do: what say'st thou now?Itha.Troth, master, I'm loth such a pot of pottage should be spoiled.90Bar.Peace, Ithamore, 'tis better so than spared.Assure thyself thou shalt have broth by the eye.[98]My purse, my coffer, and myself is thine.Itha.Well, master, I go.Bar.Stay, first let me stir it, Ithamore.As fatal be it to her as the draughtOf which great Alexander drunk and died:And with her let it work like Borgia's wine,Whereof his sire, the Pope, was poisoned.In few,[99]the blood of Hydra, Lerna's bane:100The juice of hebon,[100]and Cocytus' breath,And all the poisons of the Stygian poolBreak from the fiery kingdom; and in thisVomit your venom and invenom herThat like a fiend hath left her father thus.
Bar.I, but, Ithamore, seest thou this?It is a precious powder that I boughtOf an Italian, in Ancona, once,70Whose operation is to bind, infect,And poison deeply, yet not appearIn forty hours after it is ta'en.
Itha.How, master?
Bar.Thus, Ithamore.This even they use in Malta here,—'tis calledSaint Jacques' Even,—and then I say they useTo send their alms unto the nunneries:Among the rest bear this, and set it there;There's a dark entry where they take it in,80Where they must neither see the messenger,Nor make inquiry who hath sent it them.
Itha.How so?
Bar.Belike there is some ceremony in't.There, Ithamore, must thou go place this pot![97]Stay, let me spice it first.
Itha.Pray do, and let me help you, master.Pray let me taste first.
Bar.Prythee do: what say'st thou now?
Itha.Troth, master, I'm loth such a pot of pottage should be spoiled.90
Bar.Peace, Ithamore, 'tis better so than spared.Assure thyself thou shalt have broth by the eye.[98]My purse, my coffer, and myself is thine.
Itha.Well, master, I go.
Bar.Stay, first let me stir it, Ithamore.As fatal be it to her as the draughtOf which great Alexander drunk and died:And with her let it work like Borgia's wine,Whereof his sire, the Pope, was poisoned.In few,[99]the blood of Hydra, Lerna's bane:100The juice of hebon,[100]and Cocytus' breath,And all the poisons of the Stygian poolBreak from the fiery kingdom; and in thisVomit your venom and invenom herThat like a fiend hath left her father thus.
Itha.What a blessing has he given 't! was ever pot of rice porridge so sauced! What shall I do with it?
Bar.O, my sweet Ithamore, go set it down,And come again so soon as thou hast done,For I have other business for thee.110
Bar.O, my sweet Ithamore, go set it down,And come again so soon as thou hast done,For I have other business for thee.110
Itha.Here's a drench to poison a whole stable of Flanders mares: I'll carry 't to the nuns with a powder.
Bar.And the horse pestilence to boot; away.Itha.I am gone.Pay me my wages, for my work is done. [Exit.Bar.I'll pay thee with a vengeance, Ithamore.[Exit.
Bar.And the horse pestilence to boot; away.
Itha.I am gone.Pay me my wages, for my work is done. [Exit.
Bar.I'll pay thee with a vengeance, Ithamore.[Exit.
Enter[101]Governor,Del Bosco, Knights, Basso.Gov.Welcome, great Basso;[102]how fares Calymath,What wind thus drives you into Malta Road?Bas.The wind that bloweth all the world besides,Desire of gold.Gov.Desire of gold, great sir?That's to be gotten in the Western Ind:In Malta are no golden minerals.Bas.To you of Malta thus saith Calymath:The time you took for respite is at hand,For the performance of your promise passed,And for the tribute-money I am sent.10Gov.Basso, in brief, 'shalt have no tribute here,Nor shall the heathens live upon our spoil:First will we raze the city walls ourselves,Lay waste the island, hew the temples down,And, shipping off our goods to Sicily,Open an entrance for the wasteful sea,Whose billows beating the resistless banks,Shall overflow it with their refluence.Bas.Well, Governor, since thou hast broke the leagueBy flat denial of the promised tribute,20Talk not of razing down your city walls,You shall not need trouble yourselves so far,For Selim Calymath shall come himself,And with brass bullets batter down your towers,And turn proud Malta to a wildernessFor these intolerable wrongs of yours;And so farewell.Gov.Farewell:And now, ye men of Malta, look about,And let's provide to welcome Calymath:30Close your portcullis, charge your basilisks,And as you profitably take up arms,So now courageously encounter them;For by this answer, broken is the league,And naught is to be looked for now but wars,And naught to us more welcome is than wars.[Exeunt.
Enter[101]Governor,Del Bosco, Knights, Basso.
Gov.Welcome, great Basso;[102]how fares Calymath,What wind thus drives you into Malta Road?
Bas.The wind that bloweth all the world besides,Desire of gold.
Gov.Desire of gold, great sir?That's to be gotten in the Western Ind:In Malta are no golden minerals.
Bas.To you of Malta thus saith Calymath:The time you took for respite is at hand,For the performance of your promise passed,And for the tribute-money I am sent.10
Gov.Basso, in brief, 'shalt have no tribute here,Nor shall the heathens live upon our spoil:First will we raze the city walls ourselves,Lay waste the island, hew the temples down,And, shipping off our goods to Sicily,Open an entrance for the wasteful sea,Whose billows beating the resistless banks,Shall overflow it with their refluence.
Bas.Well, Governor, since thou hast broke the leagueBy flat denial of the promised tribute,20Talk not of razing down your city walls,You shall not need trouble yourselves so far,For Selim Calymath shall come himself,And with brass bullets batter down your towers,And turn proud Malta to a wildernessFor these intolerable wrongs of yours;And so farewell.
Gov.Farewell:And now, ye men of Malta, look about,And let's provide to welcome Calymath:30Close your portcullis, charge your basilisks,And as you profitably take up arms,So now courageously encounter them;For by this answer, broken is the league,And naught is to be looked for now but wars,And naught to us more welcome is than wars.[Exeunt.
Enter[103]FriarJacomoandFriarBarnardine.F. Jac.O brother, brother, all the nuns are sick,And physic will not help them: they must die.F. Barn.The abbess sent for me to be confessed:O, what a sad confession will there be!F. Jac.And so did fair Maria send for me:I'll to her lodging: hereabouts she lies. [Exit.EnterAbigail.F. Barn.What, all dead, save only Abigail?Abig.And I shall die too, for I feel death coming.Where is the friar that conversed with me.F. Barn.O, he is gone to see the other nuns.10Abig.I sent for him, but seeing you are come,Be you my ghostly father: and first know,That in this house I lived religiously,Chaste, and devout, much sorrowing for my sins,But ere I came——F. Barn.What then?Abig.I did offend high Heaven so grievously,As I am almost desperate for my sins:And one offence torments me more than all.You knew Mathias and Don Lodowick?20F. Barn.Yes, what of them?Abig.My father did contract me to 'em both:First to Don Lodowick; him I never loved;Mathias was the man that I held dear,And for his sake did I become a nun.F. Barn.So, say how was their end?Abig.Both jealous of my love, envied each other,And by my father's practice, which is there [Gives a paper.Set down at large, the gallants were both slain.F. Barn.O monstrous villainy!30Abig.To work my peace, this I confess to thee;Reveal it not, for then my father dies.F. Barn.Know that confession must not be revealed,The canon law forbids it, and the priestThat makes it known, being degraded first,Shall be condemned, and then sent to the fire.Abig.So I have heard; pray, therefore keep it close.Death seizeth on my heart, ah gentle friar!Convert my father that he may be saved,And witness that I die a Christian. [Dies.40F. Barn.I, and a virgin too; that grieves me most:But I must to the Jew and exclaim on him,And make him stand in fear of me.EnterFriarJacomo.F. Jac.O brother, all the nuns are dead, let's bury them.F. Barn.First help to bury this, then go with meAnd help me to exclaim against the Jew.F. Jac.Why, what has he done?F. Barn.A thing that makes me tremble to unfold.F. Jac.What, has he crucified a child?F. Barn.No, but a worse thing: 'twas told me in shrift,50Thou know'st 'tis death an if it be revealed.Come, let's away.[Exeunt.
Enter[103]FriarJacomoandFriarBarnardine.
F. Jac.O brother, brother, all the nuns are sick,And physic will not help them: they must die.
F. Barn.The abbess sent for me to be confessed:O, what a sad confession will there be!
F. Jac.And so did fair Maria send for me:I'll to her lodging: hereabouts she lies. [Exit.
EnterAbigail.
F. Barn.What, all dead, save only Abigail?
Abig.And I shall die too, for I feel death coming.Where is the friar that conversed with me.
F. Barn.O, he is gone to see the other nuns.10
Abig.I sent for him, but seeing you are come,Be you my ghostly father: and first know,That in this house I lived religiously,Chaste, and devout, much sorrowing for my sins,But ere I came——
F. Barn.What then?
Abig.I did offend high Heaven so grievously,As I am almost desperate for my sins:And one offence torments me more than all.You knew Mathias and Don Lodowick?20
F. Barn.Yes, what of them?
Abig.My father did contract me to 'em both:First to Don Lodowick; him I never loved;Mathias was the man that I held dear,And for his sake did I become a nun.
F. Barn.So, say how was their end?
Abig.Both jealous of my love, envied each other,And by my father's practice, which is there [Gives a paper.Set down at large, the gallants were both slain.
F. Barn.O monstrous villainy!30
Abig.To work my peace, this I confess to thee;Reveal it not, for then my father dies.
F. Barn.Know that confession must not be revealed,The canon law forbids it, and the priestThat makes it known, being degraded first,Shall be condemned, and then sent to the fire.
Abig.So I have heard; pray, therefore keep it close.Death seizeth on my heart, ah gentle friar!Convert my father that he may be saved,And witness that I die a Christian. [Dies.40
F. Barn.I, and a virgin too; that grieves me most:But I must to the Jew and exclaim on him,And make him stand in fear of me.
EnterFriarJacomo.
F. Jac.O brother, all the nuns are dead, let's bury them.
F. Barn.First help to bury this, then go with meAnd help me to exclaim against the Jew.
F. Jac.Why, what has he done?
F. Barn.A thing that makes me tremble to unfold.
F. Jac.What, has he crucified a child?
F. Barn.No, but a worse thing: 'twas told me in shrift,50Thou know'st 'tis death an if it be revealed.Come, let's away.[Exeunt.
Enter[104]BarabasandIthamore.Bells within.Bar.There is no music to[105]a Christian's knell:How sweet the bells ring now the nuns are dead,That sound at other times like tinkers' pans?I was afraid the poison had not wrought;Or, though it wrought, it would have done no good,For every year they swell, and yet they live;Now all are dead, not one remains alive.Itha.That's brave, master, but think you it will not be known?Bar.How can it, if we two be secret?Itha.For my part fear you not.10Bar.I'd cut thy throat if I did.Itha.And reason too.But here's a royal monastery hard by;Good master, let me poison all the monks.Bar.Thou shalt not need, for now the nuns are deadThey'll die with grief.Itha.Do you not sorrow for your daughter's death?Bar.No, but I grieve because she lived so long.An Hebrew born, and would become a Christian!Cazzo,[106]diabolo.20Enter the twoFriars.Itha.Look, look, master, here come two religious caterpillars.Bar.I smelt 'em ere they came.Itha.God-a-mercy, nose; come, let's begone.F. Barn.Stay, wicked Jew, repent, I say, and stay.F. Jac.Thou hast offended, therefore must be damned.Bar.I fear they know we sent the poisoned broth.Itha.And so do I, master, therefore speak 'em fair.F. Barn.Barabas, thou hast——F. Jac.I, that thou hast——30Bar.True, I have money, what though I have?F. Barn.Thou art a——F. Jac.I, that thou art a——Bar.What needs all this? I know I am a Jew.F. Barn.Thy daughter——F. Jac.I, thy daughter——Bar.O speak not of her, then I die with grief.F. Barn.Remember that——F. Jac.I, remember that——40Bar.I must needs say that I have been a great usurer.F. Barn.Thou hast committed——Bar.Fornication—but thatWas in another country: and besides,The wench is dead.F. Barn.I, but, Barabas,Remember Mathias and Don Lodowick.Bar.Why, what of them?F. Barn.I will not say that by a forged challenge they met.Bar.She has confest, and we are both undone,50My bosom inmate![107]but I must dissemble.— [Aside.O holy friars, the burthen of my sinsLie heavy on my soul; then pray you tell me.Is't not too late now to turn Christian?I have been zealous in the Jewish faith,Hard-hearted to the poor, a covetous wretch,That would for lucre's sake have sold my soul.A hundred for a hundred I have ta'en;And now for store of wealth may I compareWith all the Jews in Malta; but what is wealth?60I am a Jew, and therefore am I lost.Would penance serve for this my sin,I could afford to whip myself to death—Itha.And so could I; but penance will not serve.Bar.To fast, to pray, and wear a shirt of hair,And on my knees creep to Jerusalem.Cellars of wine, and sollers[108]full of wheat,Warehouses stuft with spices and with drugs,Whole chests of gold, in bullion, and in coin,Besides I know not how much weight in pearl,70Orient and round, have I within my house;At Alexandria, merchandise unsold:[109]But yesterday two ships went from this town,Their voyage will be worth ten thousand crowns.In Florence, Venice, Antwerp, London, Seville,Frankfort, Lubeck, Moscow, and where not,Have I debts owing; and in most of these,Great sums of money lying in the banco;All this I'll give to some religious houseSo I may be baptized, and live therein.80F. Jac.O good Barabas, come to our house.F. Barn.O no, good Barabas, come to our house;And, Barabas, you know——Bar.I know that I have highly sinned.You shall convert me, you shall have all my wealth.F. Jac.O Barabas, their laws are strict.Bar.I know they are, and I will be with you. [ToF. Jac.F. Barn.They wear no shirts, and they go barefoot too.Bar.Then 'tis not for me; and I am resolved [ToF. Barn.You shall confess me, and have all my goods.90F. Jac.Good Barabas, come to me.Bar.You see I answer him, and yet he stays; [ToF. Barn.Rid him away, and go you home with me.F. Jac.I'll be with you to-night.Bar.Come to my house at one o'clock this night. [ToF. Jac.F. Jac.You hear your answer, and you may be gone.F. Barn.Why, go get you away.F. Jac.I will not go for thee.F. Barn.Not! then I'll make thee go.F. Jac.How, dost call me rogue? [They fight.100Itha.Part 'em, master, part 'em.Bar.This is mere frailty, brethren, be content.Friar Barnardine, go you with Ithamore:You[110]know my mind, let me alone with him. [Aside toF. Barn.F. Jac.Why does he go to thy house; let him begone.Bar.I'll give him something and so stop his mouth.[ExitIthamorewithF. Barn.I never heard of any man but heMaligned the order of the Jacobins:But do you think that I believe his words?Why, brother, you converted Abigail;110And I am bound in charity to requite it,And so I will. O Jacomo, fail not, but come.F. Jac.But, Barabas, who shall be your godfathers,For presently you shall be shrived.Bar.Marry, the Turk[111]shall be one of my godfathers,But not a word to any of your covent.[112]F. Jac.I warrant thee, Barabas. [Exit.Bar.So, now the fear is past, and I am safe:For he that shrived her is within my house,What if I murdered him ere Jacomo comes?120Now I have such a plot for both their livesAs never Jew nor Christian knew the like;One turned my daughter, therefore he shall die;The other knows enough to have my life,Therefore 'tis not requisite he should live.But are not both these wise men to supposeThat I will leave my house, my goods, and allTo fast and be well whipt? I'll none of that.Now Friar Barnardine I come to you,I'll feast you, lodge you, give you fair words,130And after that, I and my trusty Turk—No more but so: it must and shall be done.[Exit.
Enter[104]BarabasandIthamore.Bells within.
Bar.There is no music to[105]a Christian's knell:How sweet the bells ring now the nuns are dead,That sound at other times like tinkers' pans?I was afraid the poison had not wrought;Or, though it wrought, it would have done no good,For every year they swell, and yet they live;Now all are dead, not one remains alive.
Itha.That's brave, master, but think you it will not be known?
Bar.How can it, if we two be secret?
Itha.For my part fear you not.10
Bar.I'd cut thy throat if I did.
Itha.And reason too.But here's a royal monastery hard by;Good master, let me poison all the monks.
Bar.Thou shalt not need, for now the nuns are deadThey'll die with grief.
Itha.Do you not sorrow for your daughter's death?
Bar.No, but I grieve because she lived so long.An Hebrew born, and would become a Christian!Cazzo,[106]diabolo.20
Enter the twoFriars.
Itha.Look, look, master, here come two religious caterpillars.
Bar.I smelt 'em ere they came.
Itha.God-a-mercy, nose; come, let's begone.
F. Barn.Stay, wicked Jew, repent, I say, and stay.
F. Jac.Thou hast offended, therefore must be damned.
Bar.I fear they know we sent the poisoned broth.
Itha.And so do I, master, therefore speak 'em fair.
F. Barn.Barabas, thou hast——
F. Jac.I, that thou hast——30
Bar.True, I have money, what though I have?
F. Barn.Thou art a——
F. Jac.I, that thou art a——
Bar.What needs all this? I know I am a Jew.
F. Barn.Thy daughter——
F. Jac.I, thy daughter——
Bar.O speak not of her, then I die with grief.
F. Barn.Remember that——
F. Jac.I, remember that——40
Bar.I must needs say that I have been a great usurer.
F. Barn.Thou hast committed——
Bar.Fornication—but thatWas in another country: and besides,The wench is dead.
F. Barn.I, but, Barabas,Remember Mathias and Don Lodowick.
Bar.Why, what of them?
F. Barn.I will not say that by a forged challenge they met.
Bar.She has confest, and we are both undone,50My bosom inmate![107]but I must dissemble.— [Aside.O holy friars, the burthen of my sinsLie heavy on my soul; then pray you tell me.Is't not too late now to turn Christian?I have been zealous in the Jewish faith,Hard-hearted to the poor, a covetous wretch,That would for lucre's sake have sold my soul.A hundred for a hundred I have ta'en;And now for store of wealth may I compareWith all the Jews in Malta; but what is wealth?60I am a Jew, and therefore am I lost.Would penance serve for this my sin,I could afford to whip myself to death—
Itha.And so could I; but penance will not serve.
Bar.To fast, to pray, and wear a shirt of hair,And on my knees creep to Jerusalem.Cellars of wine, and sollers[108]full of wheat,Warehouses stuft with spices and with drugs,Whole chests of gold, in bullion, and in coin,Besides I know not how much weight in pearl,70Orient and round, have I within my house;At Alexandria, merchandise unsold:[109]But yesterday two ships went from this town,Their voyage will be worth ten thousand crowns.In Florence, Venice, Antwerp, London, Seville,Frankfort, Lubeck, Moscow, and where not,Have I debts owing; and in most of these,Great sums of money lying in the banco;All this I'll give to some religious houseSo I may be baptized, and live therein.80
F. Jac.O good Barabas, come to our house.
F. Barn.O no, good Barabas, come to our house;And, Barabas, you know——
Bar.I know that I have highly sinned.You shall convert me, you shall have all my wealth.
F. Jac.O Barabas, their laws are strict.
Bar.I know they are, and I will be with you. [ToF. Jac.
F. Barn.They wear no shirts, and they go barefoot too.
Bar.Then 'tis not for me; and I am resolved [ToF. Barn.You shall confess me, and have all my goods.90
F. Jac.Good Barabas, come to me.
Bar.You see I answer him, and yet he stays; [ToF. Barn.Rid him away, and go you home with me.
F. Jac.I'll be with you to-night.
Bar.Come to my house at one o'clock this night. [ToF. Jac.
F. Jac.You hear your answer, and you may be gone.
F. Barn.Why, go get you away.
F. Jac.I will not go for thee.
F. Barn.Not! then I'll make thee go.
F. Jac.How, dost call me rogue? [They fight.100
Itha.Part 'em, master, part 'em.
Bar.This is mere frailty, brethren, be content.Friar Barnardine, go you with Ithamore:You[110]know my mind, let me alone with him. [Aside toF. Barn.
F. Jac.Why does he go to thy house; let him begone.
Bar.I'll give him something and so stop his mouth.[ExitIthamorewithF. Barn.I never heard of any man but heMaligned the order of the Jacobins:But do you think that I believe his words?Why, brother, you converted Abigail;110And I am bound in charity to requite it,And so I will. O Jacomo, fail not, but come.
F. Jac.But, Barabas, who shall be your godfathers,For presently you shall be shrived.
Bar.Marry, the Turk[111]shall be one of my godfathers,But not a word to any of your covent.[112]
F. Jac.I warrant thee, Barabas. [Exit.
Bar.So, now the fear is past, and I am safe:For he that shrived her is within my house,What if I murdered him ere Jacomo comes?120Now I have such a plot for both their livesAs never Jew nor Christian knew the like;One turned my daughter, therefore he shall die;The other knows enough to have my life,Therefore 'tis not requisite he should live.But are not both these wise men to supposeThat I will leave my house, my goods, and allTo fast and be well whipt? I'll none of that.Now Friar Barnardine I come to you,I'll feast you, lodge you, give you fair words,130And after that, I and my trusty Turk—No more but so: it must and shall be done.[Exit.