The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume II Part 4

_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, 160 And not simplicity, as they suggest.

The plagues of Egypt, and the curse of Heaven, Earth's barrenness, and all men's hatred Inflict upon them, thou great _Primus Motor_!

And here upon my knees, striking the earth, I ban their souls to everlasting pains And extreme tortures of the fiery deep, That thus have dealt with me in my distress.

_1 Jew._ O yet be patient, gentle Barabas.

_Bar._ O silly brethren, born to see this day; 170 Why stand you thus unmoved with my laments?

Why weep ye not to think upon my wrongs?

Why pine not I, and die in this distress?

_1 Jew._ Why, Barabas, as hardly can we brook The cruel handling of ourselves in this; Thou seest they have taken half our goods.

_Bar._ Why did you yield to their extortion?

You were a mult.i.tude, and I but one: And of me only have they taken all.

_1 Jew._ Yet, brother Barabas, remember Job. 180

_Bar._ What tell you me of Job? I wot his wealth Was written thus: he had seven thousand sheep, Three thousand camels, and two hundred yoke Of labouring oxen, and five hundred She-a.s.ses: but for every one of those, 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: 190 So that not he, but I may curse the day, Thy fatal birth-day, forlorn Barabas; And henceforth wish for an eternal night, That clouds of darkness may inclose my flesh, And hide these extreme sorrows from mine eyes: 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. 200 You that were[27] 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, And knows no means of his recovery: I, let me sorrow for this sudden chance; 'Tis in the trouble of my spirit I speak; Great injuries are not so soon forgot.

_1 Jew._ Come, let us leave him; in his ireful mood Our words will but increase his ecstasy. 210

_2 Jew._ On, then; but trust me 'tis a misery To see a man in such affliction.-- Farewell, Barabas!

[_Exeunt._

_Bar._ I, fare you well.

See the simplicity of these base slaves, Who, for the villains have no wit themselves, Think me to be a senseless lump of clay That will with every water wash to dirt: No, Barabas is born to better chance, And framed of finer mould than common men, That measure naught but by the present time. 220 A reaching thought will search his deepest wits, And cast with cunning for the time to come: For evils are apt to happen every day-- But whither wends my beauteous Abigail?

_Enter_ ABIGAIL, _the Jew's daughter_.

O! what has made my lovely daughter sad?

What, woman! moan not for a little loss: Thy father hath enough in store for thee.

_Abig._ Nor [not?] for myself, but aged Barabas: Father, for thee lamenteth Abigail: But I will learn to leave these fruitless tears, 230 And, urged thereto with my afflictions, With fierce exclaims run to the senate-house, And in the senate reprehend them all, And rend their hearts with tearing of my hair, Till they reduce[28] the wrongs done to my father.

_Bar._ No, Abigail, things past recovery Are hardly cured with exclamations.

Be silent, daughter, sufferance breeds ease, And time may yield us an occasion Which on the sudden cannot serve the turn. 240 Besides, my girl, think me not all so fond As negligently to forego so much Without provision for thyself and me.

Ten thousand portagues,[29] besides great pearls, Rich costly jewels, and stones infinite, Fearing the worst of this before it fell, I closely hid.

_Abig._ Where, father?

_Bar._ In my house, my girl.

_Abig._ Then shall they ne'er be seen of Barabas: 250 For they have seized upon thy house and wares.

_Bar._ But they will give me leave once more, I trow, To go into my house.

_Abig._ That may they not: For there I left the governor placing nuns, Displacing me; and of thy house they mean To make a nunnery, where none but their own sect[30]

Must enter in; men generally barred.

_Bar._ My gold! my gold! and all my wealth is gone!

You partial heavens, have I deserved this plague?

What, will you thus oppose me, luckless stars, 260 To make me desperate in my poverty?

And knowing me impatient in distress, Think me so mad as I will hang myself, That I may vanish o'er the earth in air, And leave no memory that e'er I was?

No, I will live; nor loathe I this my life: And, since you leave me in the ocean thus To sink or swim, and put me to my shifts, I'll rouse my senses and awake myself.

Daughter! I have it: thou perceiv'st the plight 270 Wherein these Christians have oppressed me: Be ruled by me, for in extremity We ought to make bar of no policy.

_Abig._ Father, whate'er it be to injure them That have so manifestly wronged us, What will not Abigail attempt?

_Bar._ Why, so; Then thus, thou told'st me they have turned my house Into a nunnery, and some nuns are there?

_Abig._ I did.

_Bar._ Then, Abigail, there must my girl Entreat the abbess to be entertained. 280

_Abig._ How, as a nun?

_Bar._ I, daughter, for religion Hides many mischiefs from suspicion.

_Abig._ I, but, father, they will suspect me there.

_Bar._ Let 'em suspect; but be thou so precise As they may think it done of holiness.

Entreat 'em fair, and give them friendly speech, And seem to them as if thy sins were great, Till thou hast gotten to be entertained.

_Abig._ Thus, father, shall I much dissemble.

_Bar._ Tush!

As good dissemble that thou never mean'st, 290 As first mean truth and then dissemble it,-- A counterfeit profession is better Than unseen[31] hypocrisy.

_Abig._ Well, father, say [that] I be entertained, What then shall follow?

_Bar._ This shall follow then; There have I hid, close underneath the plank That runs along the upper chamber floor, The gold and jewels which I kept for thee.

But here they come; be cunning, Abigail.

_Abig._ Then, father, go with me.

_Bar._ No, Abigail, in this 300 It is not necessary I be seen: For I will seem offended with thee for't: Be close, my girl, for this must fetch my gold.

[_They draw back_.

_Enter_ Friar[32] JACOMO, Friar BERNARDINE, Abbess, _and a_ Nun.