2 Off. Every one's price is written on his back, And so much must they yield or not be sold. 1 Off. Here comes the Jew; had not his goods been seized, He'd given us present money for them all. Enter BARABAS. Bar. In spite of these swine-eating Christians,- Such 1as (poor villains!) were ne'er thought upon They hoped my daughter would ha' been a nun; And there in spite of Malta will I dwell: We Jews can fawn like spaniels when we please: I learned in Florence how to kiss my hand, Hoping to see them starve upon a stall, 10 20 1 The modern editors give "Poor villains, such as," &c. ; but the read ing of the 4to. is quite intelligible. 2 Cf. Shylock's "Still have I borne it with a patient shrug." Or else be gathered for in our Synagogue, That, when the offering-basin comes to me, Here comes Don Lodowick, the Governor's son, Enter LODOWICK. Lod. I hear the wealthy Jew walked this way: I'll seek him out, and so insinuate, That I may have a sight of Abigail; For Don Mathias tells me she is fair. To have more of the serpent than the dove; Lod. Yond' walks the Jew; now for fair Abigail. 30 40 [Aside. Lod. Barabas, thou know'st I am the Governor's son. Bar. I would you were his father too, sir; That's all the harm I wish you.-The slave looks Like a hog's-check new singed. Lod. Whither walk'st thou, Barabas ? Bar. No farther: 'tis a custom held with us, That when we speak with Gentiles like to you, We turn into the air to purge ourselves : For unto us the promise doth belong. [Aside. Lod. Well, Barabas, canst help me to a diamond? 50 Yet I have one left that will serve your turn :— I'll sacrifice her on a pile of wood. I ha' the poison of the city [?] for him, And the white leprosy. [Aside. Lod. What sparkle does it give without a foil? : But when he touches it, he will be foiled : Lord Lodowick, it sparkles bright and fair. [Aside. 60 Lod. Is it square or pointed, pray let me know. Bar. So do I too. Lod. How shows it by night? Bar. Outshines Cynthia's rays: You'll like it better far o' nights than days. Lod. And what's the price? [Aside. Bar. Your life an' if you have it. [Aside.] O my lord, We will not jar about the price; come to my house Your father has deserved it at my hands, And as it were in catechising sort, To make me mindful of my mortal sins, And made my house a place for nuns most chaste. 70 Lod. No doubt your soul shall reap the fruit of it. 80 Bar. I, but, my lord, the harvest is far off: And yet I know the prayers of those nuns And holy friars, having money for their pains, Are wondrous; and indeed do no man good: [Aside. Lod. Good Barabas, glance not at our holy nuns. For though they do a while increase and multiply, As for the diamond, sir, I told you of, 90 [Aside. Come home and there's no price shall make us part, It shall go hard but I will see your death. [Aside. But now I must be gone to buy a slave. Lod. And, Barabas, I'll bear thee company. What's the price of this slave? Two hundred crowns! 1 Off. Sir, that's his price. 100 Bar. What, can he steal that you demand so much? Belike he has some new trick for a purse; And if he has, he is worth three hundred plates,2 1 Dyce quotes from Barnabe Barnes' Divils Charter, 1607, “For I must have a saying to those bottels." 2 Pieces of silver. Cf. Ant, and Cleo. :— "Realms and islands were As plates dropt from his pocket." So that, being bought, the town-seal might be got And few or none 'scape but by being purged. Lod. Rat'st thou this Moor but at two hundred plates? I Off. No more, my lord. Bar. Why should this Turk be dearer than that Moor? 1 Off. Because he is young and has more qualities. Bar. What, hast the philosopher's stone? and thou hast, break my head with it, I'll forgive thee. Slave. No, sir; I can cut and shave. Bar. Let me see, sirrah, are you not an old shaver ? 2 Slave. Alas, sir! I am a very youth. Bar. A youth? I'll buy you, and marry you to Lady Vanity, if you do well. Slave. I will serve you, sir. 120 Bar. Some wicked trick or other. It may be, under colour of shaving, thou'lt cut my throat for my goods. Tell me, hast thou thy health well? Slave. I, passing well. Bar. So much the worse; I must have one that's sickly, and be but for sparing victuals: 'tis not a stone of beef a day will maintain you in these chops; let me see one that's somewhat leaner. " 4 An allegorical character in the old moralities. Cf. 1 Henry IV. ii. 4: That reverend vice, that grey iniquity, that vanity in years." In the Devil is an Ass, "Lady Vanity" is coupled with "Iniquity." |