The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume II Part 14

_F. Barn._ O monstrous villainy! 30

_Abig._ To work my peace, this I confess to thee; Reveal it not, for then my father dies.

_F. Barn._ Know that confession must not be revealed, The canon law forbids it, and the priest That makes it known, being degraded first, Shall be condemned, and then sent to the fire.

_Abig._ So I have heard; pray, therefore keep it close.

Death seizeth on my heart, ah gentle friar!

Convert my father that he may be saved, And witness that I die a Christian. [_Dies._ 40

_F. Barn._ I, and a virgin too; that grieves me most: But I must to the Jew and exclaim on him, And make him stand in fear of me.

_Enter_ Friar JACOMO.

_F. Jac._ O brother, all the nuns are dead, let's bury them.

_F. Barn._ First help to bury this, then go with me And help me to exclaim against the Jew.

_F. Jac._ Why, what has he done?

_F. Barn._ A thing that makes me tremble to unfold.

_F. Jac._ What, has he crucified a child?

_F. Barn._ No, but a worse thing: 'twas told me in shrift, 50 Thou know'st 'tis death an if it be revealed.

Come, let's away.

[_Exeunt._

ACT THE FOURTH.

SCENE I.

_Enter_[104] BARABAS and ITHAMORE. _Bells within._

_Bar._ There is no music to[105] a Christian's knell: How sweet the bells ring now the nuns are dead, That sound at other times like tinkers' pans?

I was afraid the poison had not wrought; Or, though it wrought, it would have done no good, For every year they swell, and yet they live; Now all are dead, not one remains alive.

_Itha._ That's brave, master, but think you it will not be known?

_Bar._ How can it, if we two be secret?

_Itha._ For my part fear you not. 10

_Bar._ I'd cut thy throat if I did.

_Itha._ And reason too.

But here's a royal monastery hard by; Good master, let me poison all the monks.

_Bar._ Thou shalt not need, for now the nuns are dead They'll die with grief.

_Itha._ Do you not sorrow for your daughter's death?

_Bar._ No, but I grieve because she lived so long.

An Hebrew born, and would become a Christian!

_Cazzo,[106] diabolo._ 20

_Enter the two Friars._

_Itha._ Look, look, master, here come two religious caterpillars.

_Bar._ I smelt 'em ere they came.

_Itha._ G.o.d-a-mercy, nose; come, let's begone.

_F. Barn._ Stay, wicked Jew, repent, I say, and stay.

_F. Jac._ Thou hast offended, therefore must be d.a.m.ned.

_Bar._ I fear they know we sent the poisoned broth.

_Itha._ And so do I, master, therefore speak 'em fair.

_F. Barn._ Barabas, thou hast----

_F. Jac._ I, that thou hast---- 30

_Bar._ True, I have money, what though I have?

_F. Barn._ Thou art a----

_F. Jac._ I, that thou art a----

_Bar._ What needs all this? I know I am a Jew.

_F. Barn._ Thy daughter----

_F. Jac._ I, thy daughter----

_Bar._ O speak not of her, then I die with grief.

_F. Barn._ Remember that----

_F. Jac._ I, remember that---- 40

_Bar._ I must needs say that I have been a great usurer.