And yet I know the prayers of those nuns And holy friars, having money for their pains, LOD. Good Barabas glance not at our holy nuns. BAR. No, but I do it through a burning zeal. Hoping ere long to set the house a-fire; For though they do a while increase and multiply, I'll have a saying to that nunnery. As for the diamond, sir, I told you of, [Aside. Come home and there's no price shall make us part, It shall go hard but I will see your death, [Aside. LOD. And, Barabas, I'll bear thee company. the price Of this slave, two hundred crowns? Do the Turks weigh so much? OFF. Sir, that's his price. 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. LOD. Ratest thou this Moor but at two hundred plates? 1 OFF. No more, my lord. BAR. Why should this Turk be dearer than that Moor? 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? 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. BAR. Some wicked trick or other. It may be under colour Of shaving, thou'lt cut my throat for my goods. SLAVE. Aye, 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. 1 OFF. Here's a leaner, how like you him? BAR. Where wast thou born? ITHA. In Thrace; brought up in Arabia. BAR. So much the better, thou art for my turn, An hundred crowns, I'll have him; there's the coin. 1 OFF. Then mark him, sir, and take him hence. BAR. Aye, mark him, you were best, for this is he That by my help shall do much villany. My lord farewell: Come, sirrah, you are mine. I pray, sir, be no stranger at my house, MATH. What makes the Jew and Lodowick so private? I fear me 'tis about fair Abigail. BAR. Yonder comes Don Mathias, let us stay; He loves my daughter, and she holds him dear: But I have sworn to frustrate both their hopes, And be reveng'd upon the governor. MOTH. This Moor is comeliest, is he not? speak son. MATH. No, this is the better, mother, view this well. BAR. Seem not to know me here before your mother Lest she mistrust the match that is in hand : When you have brought her home, come to my house; Think of me as thy father; son, farewell. MATH. But wherefore talk'd Don Lodowick with you? BAR. Tush! man, we talk'd of diamonds, not of Abigail. MOTH. Tell me, Mathias, is not that the Jew? BAR. As for the comment on the Maccabees I have it, sir, and 'tis at your command. MATH. Yes, Madam, and my talk with him was About the borrowing of a book or two. MOTH. Converse not with him, he is cast off from heaven. Thou hast thy crowns, fellow, come let's away. MATH. Sirrah, Jew, remember the book. [Exeunt. OFF. Come, I have made a reasonable market, let's away: BAR. Now let me know thy name, and therewithal Thy birth, condition, and profession. ITHA. Faith, sir, my birth is but mean, my name's Ithamore, My profession what you please. BAR. Hast thou no trade? then listen to my words, And I will teach thee that shall stick by thee: Compassion, love, vain hope, and heartless fear, But to thyself smile when the Christians moan. ITHA. O brave master, I worship your nose for this.* BAR. As for myself, I walk abroad a nights There I enrich'd the priests with burials, And in the wars 'twixt France and Germany, But mark how I am blest for plaguing them, The Jew, it appears from Rowley's Search for Money, 1609, was represented on the stage with a large nose. VOL. I. 15 |