Bar. There is no musicke to a Christians knell:
How sweet the Bels ring now the Nuns are dead
That sound at other times like Tinkers pans?
I was afraid the poyson had not wrought;
Or though it wrought, it would have done no good,
For every yeare they swell, and yet they live;
Now all are dead, not one remaines alive.
Ith.
That's brave Mr. but think you it wil not be known
Bar.
How can it if we two be secret.
Ith.
For my part feare you not.
Bar.
I'de cut thy throat if I did.
Ith.
And reason too; but here's a royall Monastry hard
By, good master let me poyson all the Monks.
Bar.
Thou shalt not need, for now the Nuns are dead,
They'll dye with griefe.
Ith.
Doe you not sorrow for your daughters death?
Bar.
No, but I grieve because she liv'd so long an Hebrew Catho diabola.
Borne, and would become a Christian.
Enter the two Fryars.
That would for Lucars sake have sold my soule.
A hundred for a hundred I have tane;
And now for store of wealth may I compare
With all the Jewes in Malta; but what is wealth?
I am a Jew, and therefore am I lost.
Would pennance serve for this my sinne,
I could afford to whip my selfe to death.
Ith.
And so could I; but pennance will not serve.
Bar.
To fast, to pray, and weare a shirt of haire,
And on my knees creepe to Jerusalem,
Cellers of Wine, and Sollers full of Wheat,
Ware-houses stuft with spices and with drugs,
Whole Chests of Gold, in Bulloine, and in Coyne,
Besides I know not how much weight in Pearle
Orient and round, have I within my house;
At Alexandria, Merchandize unsold:
But yesterday two ships went from this Towne,
Their voyage will be worth ten thousand Crownes.
In Florence, Venice, Antwerpe, London, Ciuill,
Frankeford, Lubecke, Mosco, and where not,
Have I debts owing; and in most of these,
Great summes of mony lying in the bancho;
All this I'le give to some religious house
So I may be baptiz'd and live therein.
1.
Oh good Barabas come to our house.
2.
Oh no, good Barabas come to our house.
And Barabas, you know —
Bar.
I know that I have highly sinn'd,
You shall convert me, you shall have all my wealth.
1.
Oh Barabas, their Lawes are strict.
Bar.
I know they are, and I will be with you.
1.
They weare no shirts, and they goe bare-foot too.
Bar.
Then 'tis not for me; and I am resolv'd
You shall confesse me, and have all my goods.
1.
Good Barabas come to me.
Bar.
You see I answer him, and yet he stayes;
Rid him away, and goe you home with me.
2.
I'le be with you to night.
Bar.
Come to my house at one a clocke this night.
1.
You heare your answer, and you may be gone.
2,
Why goe get you away.
1.
I will not goe for thee.
2.
Not, then I'le make thee goe.
1.
How, dost call me rogue? Fight.
Ith.
Part 'em, master, part 'em.
Bar.
This is meere frailty, brethren, be content.
Fryar Barnardine goe you with Ithimore.
Ith.
You know my mind, let me alone with him;
Why does he goe to thy house, let him begone.
Bar.
I'le give him something and so stop his mouth.Exit.
I never heard of any man but he
Malign'd the order of the Jacobines:
But doe you thinke that I beleeue his words?
Why Brother you converted Abigall;
And I am bound in charitie to requite it,
And so I will, oh Jocome, faile not but come.
Fry,
But Barabas who shall be your godfathers,
For presently you shall be shriv'd.
Bar.
Marry the Turke shall be one of my godfathers,
But not a word to any of your Covent.
Fry.
I warrant thee, Barabas.Exit.
Bar.
So now the feare is past, and I am safe:
For he that shriv'd her is within my house,
What if I murder'd him e're Jocoma comes?
Now I have such a plot for both their lives,
As never Jew nor Christian knew the like:
One turn'd my daughter, therefore he shall dye;
The other knowes 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'le none of that.
Now Fryar Bernardine I come to you,
I'le feast you, lodge you, give you faire words,
And after that, I and my trusty Turke ——
No more but so: it must and shall be done.
Ithimore, tell me, is the Fryar asleepe?
Enter Ithimore.
An Infidell, and bring his gold into our treasury.
But soft, is not this Bernardine? it is;
And understanding I should come this way,
Stands here a purpose, meaning me some wrong,
And intercept my going to the Jew; Bernardine;
Wilt thou not speake? thou think'st I see thee not;
Away, I'de wish thee, and let me goe by:
No, wilt thou not? nay then I'le force my way;
And see, a staffe stands ready for the purpose:
As thou lik'st that, stop me another time.
Strike him, he fals. Enter Barabas.
Joco.
Villaines, I am a sacred person, touch me not.
Bar.
The Law shall touch you, we'll but lead you, we.
'Las I could weepe at your calamity.
Take in the staffe too, for that must be showne:
Law wils that each particular be knowne.Exeunt.
Enter Curtezant, and Pilia-borza.
Gave me a letter from one Madam Bellamira,
Saluting me in such sort as if he had meant to make
Cleane my Boots with his lips; the effect was, that
I should come to her house, I wonder what the reason is;
It may be she sees more in me than I can find in
My selfe: for she writes further, that she loves me
Ever since she saw me, and who would not requite such
Love? here's her house, and here she comes, and now
Would I were gone, I am not worthy to looke upon her.
Pilia.
This is the Gentleman you writ to.
Ith.
Gentleman, he flouts me, what gentry can be in a
Poore Turke of ten pence? I'le be gone.
Curt.
Is't not a sweet fac'd youth, Pilia?
Ith.
Agen, sweet youth; did not you, Sir, bring the sweet
Youth a letter?
Pilia.
I did Sir, and from this Gentlewoman, who as my
Selfe, & the rest of the family, stand or fall at your service.
Curt.
Though womans modesty should hale me backe,
I can with-hold no longer; welcome sweet love.
Ith.
Now am I cleane, or rather fouly out of the way.
Curt.
Whither so soone?
Ith.
I'le goe steale some mony from my Master to
Make me hansome:
Pray pardon me, I must goe see a ship discharg'd.
Curt.
Canst thou be so unkind to leave me thus?
Pilia.
And ye did but know how she loves you, Sir.
Ith.
Nay, I care not how much she loves me;
Sweet Allamira, would I had my Masters wealth for thy sake:
Pilia.
And you can have it, Sir, and if you please.
Ith.
If 'twere above ground I could, and would have it;
But hee hides and buries it up as Partridges doe
Their egges, under the earth.
Pil.
And is't not possible to find it out?
Ith.
By no meanes possible.
Curt.
What shall we doe with this base villaine then?
Pil.
Let me alone, doe but you speake him faire:
But you know some secrets of the Jew, which if they were
Reveal'd, would doe him harme.
Ith.
I, and such as—Goe to, no more,
I'le make him send me half he has, & glad he scapes so too.
Pen and Inke:
I'le write vnto him, we'le have mony strait.
Pil,
Send for a hundred Crownes at least.He writes.
Ith.
Ten hundred thousand crownes,— Mr. Barabas.
Pil.
Write not so submissively, but threatning him.
Ith.
Sirra Barabas, send me a hundred crownes.
Pil.
Put in two hundred at least.
Ith.
I charge thee send me 300 by this bearer, and this
Shall be your warrant; if you doe not, no more but so.
Pil.
Tell him you will confesse.
Ith.
Otherwise I'le confesse all, vanish and returne in a Twinckle.
Pil.
Let me alone, I'le use him in his kinde.
Ith.
Hang him Jew.
Curt.
Now, gentle Ithimore, lye in my lap.
Where are my Maids? provide a running Banquet;
Send to the Merchant, bid him bring me silkes,
Shall Ithimore my love goe in such rags?
Ith.
And bid the Jeweller come hither too.
Curt.
I have no husband, sweet, I'le marry thee.
Ith.
Content, but we will leave this paltry land,
And saile from hence to Greece, to lovely Greece,
I'le be thy Jason, thou my golden Fleece;
Where painted Carpets o're the meads are hurl'd,
And Bacchus vineyards ore-spread the world:
Where Woods and Forrests goe in goodly greene,
I'le be Adonis, thou shalt be Loves Queene.
The Meads, the Orchards, and the Primrose lanes,
Instead of Sedge and Reed, beare Sugar Canes:
Thou in those Groves, by Dis above,
Shalt live with me and be my love.
Curt.
Whither will I not goe with gentle Ithimore?
Enter Pilea-borza.
He was not wont to call me Barabas.
Or else I will confesse: I, there it goes:
But if I get him Coupe de Gorge, for that
He sent a shaggy totter'd staring slave,
That when he speakes, drawes out his grisly beard,
And winds it twice or thrice about his eare;
Whose face has bin a grind-stone for mens swords,
His hands are hackt, some fingers cut quite off;
Who when he speakes, grunts like a hog, and looks
Like one that is imploy'd in Catzerie,
And crosbiting such a Rogue
As is the husband to a hundred whores:
And I by him must send three hundred crownes.
Well, my hope is, he will not stay there still;
And when he comes: Oh that he were but here!
Enter Pilia-borza.
'Tis not 500 Crownes that I esteeme,
I am not mov'd at that: this angers me,
That he who knowes I love him as my selfe
Should write in this imperious vaine? why Sir,
You know I have no childe, and unto whom
Should I leave all but unto Ithimore?
Pil.
Here's many words but no crownes; the crownes.
Bar.
Commend me to him, Sir, most humbly,
And unto your good mistris as unknowne.
Pil.
Speake, shall I have 'um, Sir?
Bar.
Sir here they are.
Oh that I should part with so much gold!
Here take 'em, fellow, with as good a will———
———As I wud see thee hang'd; oh, love stops my breath:
Never lov'd man servant as I doe Ithimore.
Pil.
I know it, Sir.
Bar.
Pray when, Sir, shall I see you at my house?
Pil.
Soone enough to your cost, Sir:
Fare you well.Exit.
Bar.
Nay to thine owne cost, villaine, if thou com'st.
Was ever Jew tormented as I am?
To have a shag-rag knave to come
300 Crownes, and then 500 Crownes?
Well, I must seeke a meanes to rid 'em all,
And presently: for in his villany
He will tell all he knowes and I shall dye for't. I have it.
I will in some disguize goe see the slave,
And how the villaine revels with my gold.Exit.
Enter Curtezane. Ithimore. Pilia-borza.
Pil.
Knauely spoke, and like a Knight at Armes.
Ith.
Hey Rivo Castiliano, a man's a man.
Curt.
Now to the Jew.
Ith.
Ha to the Jew, and send me mony you were best.
Pil.
What wudst thou doe if he should send thee none?
Ith.
Doe nothing; but I know what I know,
He's a murderer.
Curt.
I had not thought he had been so brave a man.
Ith.
You knew Mathias and the Governors son, he and
I kild 'em both, and yet never touch'd 'em.
Pil.
Oh bravely done.
Ith.
I carried the broth that poyson'd the Nuns, and he
And I snicle hand too fast, strangled a Fryar.
Curt.
You two alone.
Ith.
We two, and 'twas never knowne, nor never shall
Be for me.
Pil.
This shall with me unto the Governor.
Curt.
And fit it should: but first let's ha more gold.
Come gentle Ithimore, lye in my lap.
Ith.
Love me little, love me long, let musicke rumble,
Whilst I in thy incoomy lap doe tumble.
Enter Barabas with a Lute, disguis'd.
Pardona moy, be no in tune yet; so now, now all be in.
Ith.
Give him a crowne, and fill me out more wine.
Pil.
There's two crownes for thee, play.
Bar.
How liberally the villain gives me mine own gold. aside.
Pil.
Me thinkes he fingers very well.
Bar.
So did you when you stole my gold.aside.
Pil.
How swift he runnes.
Bar.
You run swifter when yon threw my gold out of
My Window. aside.
Curt.
Musician, hast beene in Malta long?
Bar.
Two, three, foure month Madam.
Ith.
Dost not know a Jew, one Barabas?
Bar.
Very mush, Mounsier, you no be his man.
Pil.
His man?
Ith.
I scorne the Peasant, tell him so.
Bar.
He knowes it already.
Ith.
'Tis a strange thing of that Jew, he lives upon
Pickled Grashoppers, and sauc'd Mushrumbs.
Bar.
What a slave's this?
The Governor feeds not as I doe. aside.
Ith.
He never put on cleane shirt since he was circumcis'd
Bar.
Oh raskall! I change my selfe twice a day. aside.
Ith.
The Hat he weares, Judas left under the Elder
When he hang'd himselfe.
Bar.
'Twas sent me for a present from the great Cham. aside.
Pil.
A masty slave he is;
Whether now, Fidler?
Bar.
Pardona moy, Mounsier, we be no well. Exit.
Pil.
Farewell Fidler: One letter more to the Jew.
Curt.
Prethe sweet love, one more, and write it sharp.
Ith.
No, I'le send by word of mouth now;
Bid him deliver thee a thousand Crownes, by the same
Token, that the Nuns lov'd Rice, that Fryar Bernadine
Slept in his owne clothes,
Any of 'em will doe it.
Pil.
Let me alone to urge it now I know the meaning.
Ith.
The meaning has a meaning; come let's in:
To undoe a Jew is charity, and not sinne. Exeunt.