I have as much coin as will buy the town.
But tell me now, how hast thou spent thy time?
Itha. 'Faith, master, in setting Christian villages

on fire,
Chaining of eunuchs, binding galley-slaves.
One time I was an ostler in an inn,
And in the night time secretly would I steal
To travellers' chambers, and there cut their throats :
Once at Jerusalem, where the pilgrims kneeld,
I strewed powder on the marble stones,
And therewithal their knees would rankle so
That I have laugh'd agood to see the cripples
Go limping home to Christendom on stilts.

Bar. Why this is something: make account of me As of thy fellow ; we are villains both : Both circumcised, we hate Christians both: Be true and secret, thou shalt want no gold. But stand aside, here comes Don Lodowick.

Enter LODOWICK. LOD. Oh Barabas well met; where is the diamond You told me of? BAR. I have it for you, sir; please you walk in

with me : What, ho, Abigail; open the door I say.

. Enter ABIGAIL. Abig. In good time, father, here are letters come From Ormus, and the post stays here within.

BAR. Give me the letters, daughter, do you hear? Entertain Lodowick the governor's son With all the courtesy you can afford;

Provided, that you keep your maiden-head.
Use him as if he were a Philistine.
Dissemble, swear, protest, vow to love him,
He is not of the seed of Abraham.

[Aside.
I am a little busy, sir, pray pardon me.
Abigail, bid him welcome for my sake.
Abig. For your sake and his own he's welcome

hither. BAR. Daughter, a word more; kiss him, speak him fair,

[Aside And like a cunning Jew so cast about, That ye be both made sure e'er you come out. ABIG, Oh, father! Don Mathias is

my

love.
BAR. I know it: yet I say make love to him;
Do, it is requisite it should be so.
Nay, on my life, it is my factor's hand,
But go you in, I'll think

Bar. Thou know'st, and heaven can witness this

is true,

That I intend my daughter shall be thine,
Ma'ru. Aye, Barabas, or else thou wrong'st me

much.
BAR. Oh, heaven forbid I should have such a

thought.
Pardon me though I weep; the governor's son
Will, whether I will or no, have Abigail :
He sends her letters, bracelets, jewels, rings.

Mati. Does she receive them?
BAR. She ? No, Mathias, no, but sends them

back,
And when he comes, she locks herself up

fast; Yet through the key-hole will he talk to her, While she runs to the window looking out, When

you

should come and hale him from the door. Math. O treacherous Lodowick!

Bar. Even now as I came home, he slipt me in, And I am sure he is with Abigail.

Math. I'll rouze him thence.
Bar, Not for all Malta, therefore sheath your

sword;
If you love me, no quarrels in my house ;
But steal you in, and seem to see him not;
I'll give him such a warning e'er he goes
As he shall have small hopes of Abigail.
Away, for bere they come.

Enter LODOWICK, ABIGAIL.
Math. What hand in hand, I cannot suffer this.

Bar. Mathias, as thou lov'st me, not a word. Math. Well, let it pass, another time shall serve.

[Exit. Lod. Barabas, is not that the widow's son? Bar. Aye, and take heed, for he hath sworn your

death. Lod. My death? what is the base born peasant

mad ?
Bar. No, no, but hapily he stands in fear
Of that which you, I think, ne'er dream upon,
My daughter here, a paltry silly girl.

Lod. Why, loves she Don Mathias ?
BAR. Doth she not with her smiling answer you ?
ABIG. He has my heart, I smile against my will.
Lod. Barabas, thou know'st I have lov'd thy

daughter long
Bar. And so has she done you, even from a child.
LOD. And now I can no longer hold my mind.
Bar. Nor I the affection that I bear to you.
Lod. This is thy diamond, tell me, shall I have it?

BAR. Win it, and wear it, it is yet unsoil'd.
Oh! but I know your lordship would disdain
To marry with the daughter of a Jew:
And yet I'll give her many a golden cross
With christian posies round about the ring.

Lod. 'Tis not thy wealth, but her that I esteem, Yet crave I thy consent.

Bar. And mine you have, yet let me talk to her ; This offspring of Cain, this Jebusite, That never tasted of the Passover,

Nor e'er shall see the land of Canaan,
Nor our Messias that is yet to come, [Aside.
This gentle maggot, Lodowick, I mean,
Must be deluded: let him have thy hand,
But keep thy heart till Don Mathias comes.

Abig. What, shall I be betroth'd to Lodowick?

Bar. It's no sin to deceive a Christian ; For they themselves hold it a principle, Faith is not to be held with hereticks; But all are hereticks that are not Jews; This follows well, and therefore, daughter, fear not. I have intreated her, and she will grant.

[To Lodouick. Lod. Then, gentle Abigail, plight thy faith to me.

Abig. I cannot chuse, seeing my father bids : Nothing but death shall part my love and me. Lod. Now have I that for which my soul hath

long'd. BAR. So have not I, but yet I hope I shall.

[Aside. ABIG. Oh wretched Abigail, what hast thou

done ? Lod. Why on the sudden is your colour chang'd ? Abig. I know not, but farewell, I must be gone. BAR. Stay her, but let her not speak one word

more.

Lod. Mute o' the sudden; here's a sudden

change. Bar. Oh, muse not at it, 'tis the Hebrew's guise, That maidens new betroth'd should

weep

awhile :