Convert his mansion to a nunnery;
His house will harbour many holy nuns.
FERN. It shall be so.

Re-enter OFFICERS.

Now, officers, have you done?

the

FIRST OFF. Ay, my lord, we have seiz'd upon

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.

FERN. Then we'll take* order for the residue.
BARA. 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.

FERN. No, Barabas; to stain our hands with blood

Is far from us and our profession.

BARA. 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.

*Then we'll take, &c.] In the old ed. this line forms a portion of the preceding speech.

FERN. Content thee, Barabas; thou hast nought

but right.

BARA. Your extreme right does me exceeding

wrong:

But take it to you, i' the devil's name!

FERN. 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 BARA. and the three Jews. BARA. 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. Oh, yet be patient, gentle Barabas!
BARA. Oh, 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.

BARA. 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.
BARA. 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,

fair,

impartial

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.

SEC. JEW. Good Barabas, be patient.

BARA. 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*.

SEC. JEW. On, then: but, trust me, 'tis a misery To see a man in such affliction.

Farewell, Barabas.

BARA. Ay, fare you well. [Exeunt three Jews f. 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 nought 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?
Oh, what has made my lovely daughter sad?
What, woman! moan not for a little loss;
Thy father has enough in store for thee.

ABIG. Not for myself, but agèd Barabas,
Father, for thee lamenteth Abigail :

*

ecstasy] Equivalent here to-violent emotion. "The word was anciently used to signify some degree of alienation of mind." COLLIER (apud Dodsley's O. P.).

+ Exeunt three Jews] On their departure, the scene is supposed to be changed to a street near the house of Barabas: see note, p. 236.

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.
BARA. 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 forego 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.

ABIG. Where, father?

BARA. In my house, my girl.

ABIG. Then shall they ne'er be seen of Barabas; For they have seiz'd upon thy house and wares. BARA. But they will give me leave once more, I

To

trow,

go into my house.

ABIG. That may they not;

For there I left the governor placing nuns,
Displacing me; and of thy house they mean

* fond] "i.e. foolish.” REED (apud Dodsley's O. P.). + portugues] Portuguese gold coins, so called.