MOTHER. Who made them enemies? Gov. I know not, and that grieves me most of all. MOTHER. My son lov'd thine. Gov. And so did Lodowick him. MOTHER. Lend me that weapon that did kill my son, And it shall murder me. Gov. Nay, madam, stay, that weapon was my son's. And on that rather should Ferneze die. MOTHER. Hold, let's inquire the causers of their deaths, That we may 'venge their blood upon their heads. Upon which altar I will offer up And with my prayers pierce impartial heavens, Which forc'd their hands divide united hearts: Come, Katherine, our losses equal are, Then of true grief let us take equal share. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Enter ITHA MORE. ITHA. Why, was there ever seen such villainy, so neatly Plotted, and so well perform'd? both held in hand, and Flatly both beguil'd. Enter ABIGAIL. ABIG. Why, how now, Ithamore, why laugh'st thou so? ITHA. Oh, mistress, ha! ha! ha! ABIG. Why, what ail'st thou? ITHA. Oh, my master. ABIG. Ha! ITHA. Oh, mistress! I have the bravest, gravest, secret, subtle Bottle-nos'd knave to my master, that ever gentleman had ABIG. Say, knave, why rail'st upon my father thus? ITHA. Oh, my master has the bravest policy. ABIG. Wherein ? ITHA. Why, know you not? ABIG. Why, no. ITHA. Know you not of Mathias, and Don Lodowick's disaster? ABIG. No, what was it? ITHA. Why, the devil invented a challenge, my master writ it, and I carried it, first to Lodowick, and imprimis to Mathias. And then they met, and, as the story says, In doleful wise they ended both their days. ABIG. And was my father furtherer of their deaths? ITHA. Am I Ithamore? ABIG. Yes. ITHA. So sure did your father write, and I carry the challenge. ABIG. Well, Ithamore, let me request thee this, Go to the new-made nunnery, and inquire For any of the friars of St. Jaques, And say, I pray them come and speak with me. ITHA. I pray, mistress, will you answer me but one question? ABIG. Well, sirrah, what is't? ITHA. A very feeling one; have not the nuns fine sport With the friars now and then? ABIG. Go to, sirrah, sauce, is this your question? get ye gone. ITHA. I will, forsooth, mistress. ABIG. Hard-hearted father, unkind Barabas, Was this the pursuit of thy policy? To make me show them favour severally, That by my favour they should both be slain? [Exit. But here comes cursed Ithamore, with the friar. * Enter ITHAMORE and FRIAR. FRI. Virgo, salve. ITHA. When duck you? ABIG. Welcome, grave friar; Ithamore begone. [Exit Ithamore. Know, holy sir, I am bold to solicit thee. FRI. Wherein? ABIG. To get me be admitted for a nun. FRI. Why, Abigail, it is not yet long since That I did labour thy admission, And then thou didst not like that holy life. ABIG. Then were my thoughts so frail and un confirm'd, And I was chain'd to follies of the world: Far from the Son that gives eternal life. ABIG. The abbess of the house, Whose zealous admonition I embrace: Oh, therefore, Jacomo, let me be one, FRI. Abigail, I will, but see thou change no more, For that will be most heavy to thy soul. ABIG. That was my father's fault. FRI. Thy father's! how? ABIG. Nay, you shall pardon me: oh, Barabas, Though thou deservest hardly at my hands, Yet never shall these lips bewray thy life. FRI. Come, shall we go? ABIG. My duty waits on you. SCENE IV. Enter BARABAS, reading a letter. [Exeunt. BAR. What, Abigail become a nun again? False and unkind; what, hast thou lost thy father? And all unknown, and unconstrain'd of me, Art thou again got to the nunnery? Now here she writes, and wills me to repent. In Don Mathias' and Lodovico's deaths : But who comes here? Oh, Ithamore, come near; For I have now no hope but even in thee: ITHA. To day. BAR. With whom? ITHA. A friar. BAR. A friar ! false villain, he hath done the deed. ITHA. How, sir? BAR. Why, made mine Abigail a nun. |