Bar. Will you then steal my goods? Is theft the ground of your religion? Gov. No, Jew, we take particularly thine And better one want for the common good Yet, Barabas, we will not banish thee, But here in Malta, where thou gott'st thy wealth, Bar. Christians, what or how can I multiply? Of naught is nothing made. 100 I Knight. From naught at first thou cam'st to little wealth, From little unto more, from more to most: If your first curse fall heavy on thy head, And make thee poor and scorned of all the world, 'Tis not our fault, but thy inherent sin. Bar. What, bring you scripture to confirm your wrongs? Preach me not out of my possessions. Some Jews are wicked, as all Christians are: But say the tribe that I descended of Were all in general cast away for sin, Shall I be tried by their transgression ? Sham'st thou not thus to justify thyself, Be patient and thy riches will increase. Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness: And covetousness, O, 'tis a monstrous sin. Bar. I, but theft is worse: tush! take not from me then, For that is theft! and if you rob me thus, I must be forced to steal and compass more. I Knight. Grave governor,1 listen not to his exclaims. Convert his mansion to a nunnery; His house will harbour many holy nuns. Gov. It shall be so. Enter Officers. Now, officers, have you done? Off. I, my lord, we have seized upon the goods And wares of Barabas, which being valued, Amount to more than all the wealth in Malta, And of the other we have seized half. Gov.2 Then we'll take order for the residue. Bar. Well then, my lord, say, are you satisfied? Suppress all pity in your stony breasts, And now shall move you to bereave my life. Gov. No, Barabas, to stain our hands with blood Is far from us and our profession Bar. Why, I esteem the injury far less To take the lives of miserable men 1 Old ed. "governours." 2 In the 4to. this line is given to the Officer. 130 140 Than be the causes of their misery. You have my wealth, the labour of my life, The comfort of mine age, my children's hope, 150 Gov. Content thee, Barabas, thou hast naught but right. Bar. Your extreme right does me exceeding wrong: But take it to you, i' the devil's name. Gov. Come, let us in, and gather of these goods The money for this tribute of the Turk. 1 Knight. 'Tis necessary that be looked unto: For if we break our day, we break the league, And that will prove but simple policy. [Exeunt, all except BARABAS and the Jews. Bar. I, policy! that's their profession, And not simplicity, as they suggest. The plagues of Egypt, and the curse of Heaven, 1 Jew. Why, Barabas, as hardly can we brook 160 170 Bar. Why did you yield to their extortion? You were a multitude, and I but one: And of me only have they taken all. I Jew. Yet, brother Barabas, remember Job. Had they been valued at indifferent rate, I had at home, and in mine argosy, And other ships that came from Egypt last, 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, And henceforth wish for an eternal night, That clouds of darkness may inclose my flesh, For only I have toiled to inherit here The months of vanity and loss of time, And painful nights, have been appointed me. 2 Jew. Good Barabas, be patient. Bar. I, I; pray leave me in my patience. 180 190 200 You that were 1 ne'er possessed of wealth, are pleased with want; But give him liberty at least to mourn, That in a field amidst his enemies Doth see his soldiers slain, himself disarmed, ་་ 1 Probably we should read—" You, ne'er possessed," etc. And knows no means of his recovery: 1 Jew. Come, let us leave him; in his ireful mood Our words will but increase his ecstasy. 2 Jew. On, then; but trust me 'tis a misery To see a man in such affliction.— Farewell, Barabas ! Bar. I, fare you well. See the simplicity of these base slaves, Who, for the villains have no wit themselves, Enter ABIGAIL, the Jew's daughter. O! what has made my lovely daughter sad? Thy father hath enough in store for thee. 210 [Exeunt. Abig. Nor [not?] for myself, but agèd Barabas : Father, for thee lamenteth Abigail : But I will learn to leave these fruitless tears, And, urged thereto with my afflictions, 220 230 |