SCENE I.

_Enter_[104] BARABAS and ITHAMORE. _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 dead They'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 two Friars._

_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 that Was 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, 50 My bosom inmate![107] but I must dissemble.-- [_Aside._ O holy friars, the burthen of my sins Lie 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 compare With all the Jews in Malta; but what is wealth? 60 I 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, 70 Orient 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 house So 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. [_To_ F. JAC. _F. Barn._ They wear no shirts, and they go barefoot too.

_Bar._ Then 'tis not for me; and I am resolved [_To_ F. 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; [_To_ F. 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. [_To_ F. 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 to_ F. BARN. _F. Jac._ Why does he go to thy house; let him begone.

_Bar._ I'll give him something and so stop his mouth. [_Exit_ ITHAMORE with F. BARN. I never heard of any man but he Maligned the order of the Jacobins: But do you think that I believe his words? Why, brother, you converted Abigail; 110 And 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? 120 Now I have such a plot for both their lives As 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 suppose That I will leave my house, my goods, and all To 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, 130 And after that, I and my trusty Turk-- No more but so: it must and shall be done. [_Exit._