1 FRI. Oh good Barabas come to our house.

2 FRI. 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 FRI. Oh Barabas, their laws are strict.

BAR. I know they are, and I will be with you.

2 FRI. They wear no shirts, and they go bare-foot

too.

BAR. Then 'tis not for me; and I am resolv'd You shall confess me, and have all my goods. 1 FRI. Good Barabas come to me.

BAR. You see I answer him, and yet he stays; Rid him away, and go you home with me.

2. FRI. I'll be with you to night.

BAR. Come to my house at one o'clock this night.

1 FRI. You hear your answer, and you may be

gone.

2 FRI. Why, go get you away.

1 FRI. I will not go for thee.

2 FRI. Not, then I'll make thee go. 1 FRI. How, dost call me rogue? ITHA. Part 'em, master, part 'em.

[They fight.

BAR. This is mere frailty, brethren, be content.

Friar Barnardine, go you with Ithamore.

ITHA. You know my mind, let me alone with him; Why does he go to thy house, let him begone. BAR. I'll give him something and so stop his [Exit Ithamore, with the friar.

mouth.

I never heard of any man but he
Malign'd the order of the Jacobins :
But do
you think that I believe his words?
Why, brother, you converted Abigail;
And I am bound in charity to requite it,
And so I will. Oh Jacomo, fail not but come.
FRI. But, Barabas, who shall be your godfathers,
For presently you shall be shriv'd.

BAR. Marry the Turk shall be one of my god

fathers,

But not a word to any of your convent.

FRI. I warrant thee, Barabas.

[Erit.

BAR. So, now the fear is past, and I am safe:

For he that shriv'd her is within my house,
What if I murder'd him e'er Jacomo 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 die;
The other knows 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'll none of that.
Now Friar Barnardine I come to you,
I'll feast you, lodge you, give you fair words,
And after that, I and my trusty Turk-

No more but so: it must and shall be done. [Exit.

SCENE II.

Enter BARABAS and ITHA MORE.

BAR. Ithamore, tell me, is the friar asleep? ITHA. Yes; and I know not what the reason is. Do what I can he will not strip himself,

Nor go to bed, but sleeps in his own clothes;
I fear me he mistrusts what we intend.

BAR. No, 'tis an order which the friars use :
Yet if he knew our meanings, could he 'scape?
ITHA. No, none can hear him, cry he ne'er so
loud.

BAR. Why true, therefore did I place him there: The other chambers open towards the street.

ITHA. You loiter, master, wherefore stay me thus ? Oh how I long to see him shake his heels.

BAR. Come on, sirrah,

Off with your girdle, make a handsome noose;
Friar awake.

FRI. What do you mean to strangle me?

ITHA. Yes, 'cause you use to confess.

BAR. Blame not us but the proverb, confess and

be hang'd pull hard.

FRI. What, will you have my life?

BAR. Pull hard, I say, you would have had my goods.

ITHA. Aye, and our lives too, therefore pull amain.

'Tis neatly done, sir, here's no print at all.

BAR. Then it is as it should be, take him up.

ITHA. Nay, master be rul'd by me a little; so, let him lean upon his staff; excellent, he stands as if he were begging of bacon,

BAR. Who would not think but that this friar liv'd? What time o' night is't now, sweet Ithamore? ITHA. Towards one.

BAR. Then will not Jacomo be long from hence.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Enter JACOMO.

JACO. This is the hour wherein I shall proceed;

O happy hour, wherein I shall convert

An infidel, and bring his gold into our treasury.
But soft, is not this Barnardine? it is;
And understanding I should come this way,
Stands here a purpose, meaning me some wrong,
And intercept my going to the Jew; Barnardine!
Wilt thou not speak? thou think'st I see thee not;
Away! I'd wish thee, and let me go by:

No, wilt thou not? nay then I'll force my way;
And see, a staff stands ready for the purpose:

As thou lik'st that, stop me another time.

[Strikes him, and he falls.

Enter BARABAS and ITHAMORE.

BAR. Why, how now Jacomo, what hast thou done?

JACO. Why stricken him that would have struck

at me.

BAR. Who is it?

Barnardine? now out, alas, he's slain.

ITHA. Aye, master, he's slain; look how his

brains drop out on's nose.

JACO. Good sirs I have done't, but nobody knows it but you two-I may escape.

BAR. So might my man and I hang with you for company.

ITHA. No, let us bear him to the magistrates.
JACO. Good Barabas, let me go.

BAR. No, pardon me, the law must have its

course.

I must be forc'd to give in evidence,

That being importun'd by this Barnardine
To be a Christian, I shut him out,

And there he sat: now I to keep my word,

And give my goods and substance to your house,

Was

up thus early; with intent to go

Unto your friary, because you stay'd.

ITHA. Fie upon 'em, master, will you turn Christian, when

Holy friars turn devils and murder one another.
BAR. No, for this example I'll remain a Jew:
Heaven bless me; what! a friar a murderer ?
When shall you see a Jew commit it the like?

ITHA. Why a Turk could have done no more. BAR. To morrow is the sessions; you shall to it. Come Ithamore, let's help to take him hence.

JACO. Villains, I am a sacred person, touch me

not.

BAR. The law shall touch you, we'll but lead you,

we: