Act IV
Scene I
Enter Barabas and Ithamore. Bells within.61 | |
Barabas |
There is no music to62 a Christian’s knell:
|
Ithamore |
That’s brave, master, but think you it will not be known? |
Barabas |
How can it, if we two be secret? |
Ithamore |
For my part fear you not. |
Barabas |
I’d cut thy throat if I did. |
Ithamore |
And reason too.
|
Barabas |
Thou shalt not need, for, now the nuns are dead
|
Ithamore |
Do you not sorrow for your daughter’s death? |
Barabas |
No, but I grieve because she lived so long,
|
Enter Friar Jacomo and Friar Barnadine. | |
Ithamore |
Look, look, master; here come two religious caterpillars. |
Barabas |
I smelt ’em ere they came. |
Ithamore |
God-a-mercy, nose! come, let’s begone. |
Friar Barnadine |
Stay, wicked Jew, repent, I say, and stay. |
Friar Jacomo |
Thou hast offended, therefore must be damned. |
Barabas |
I fear they know we sent the poisoned broth. |
Ithamore |
And so do I, master; therefore speak ’em fair. |
Friar Barnadine |
Barabas, thou hast— |
Friar Jacomo |
Ay, that thou hast— |
Barabas |
True, I have money, what though I have? |
Friar Barnadine |
Thou art a— |
Friar Jacomo |
Ay, that thou art, a— |
Barabas |
What needs all this? I know I am a Jew. |
Friar Barnadine |
Thy daughter— |
Friar Jacomo |
Ay, thy daughter— |
Barabas |
O speak not of her! then I die with grief. |
Friar Barnadine |
Remember that— |
Friar Jacomo |
Ay, remember that— |
Barabas |
I must needs say that I have been a great usurer. |
Friar Barnadine |
Thou hast committed— |
Barabas |
Fornication—but that was in another country;
|
Friar Barnadine |
Ay, but, Barabas,
|
Barabas |
Why, what of them? |
Friar Barnadine |
I will not say that by a forged challenge they met. |
Barabas |
She has confessed, and we are both undone,
|
Ithamore |
And so could I; but penance will not serve. |
Barabas |
To fast, to pray, and wear a shirt of hair,
|
Friar Jacomo |
O good Barabas, come to our house. |
Friar Barnadine |
O no, good Barabas, come to our house;
|
Barabas |
I know that I have highly sinned:
|
Friar Jacomo |
O Barabas, their laws are strict. |
Barabas |
I know they are, and I will be with you. |
Friar Barnadine |
They wear no shirts, and they go barefoot too. |
Barabas |
Then ’tis not for me; and I am resolved
|
Friar Jacomo |
Good Barabas, come to me. |
Barabas |
You see I answer him, and yet he stays;
|
Friar Jacomo |
I’ll be with you to-night. |
Barabas |
Come to my house at one o’clock this night. |
Friar Jacomo |
You hear your answer, and you may be gone. |
Friar Barnadine |
Why, go, get you away. |
Friar Jacomo |
I will not go for thee. |
Friar Barnadine |
Not! then I’ll make thee go. |
Friar Jacomo |
How! dost call me rogue? |
They fight. | |
Ithamore |
Part ’em, master, part ’em. |
Barabas |
This is mere frailty: brethren, be content.
|
Friar Jacomo |
Why does he go to thy house? let him be gone. |
Barabas |
I’ll give him something, and so stop his mouth. |
Exit Ithamore with Friar Barnardine. | |
I never heard of any man but he
|
|
Friar Jacomo |
But, Barabas, who shall be your godfathers?
|
Barabas |
Marry, the Turk64 shall be one of my godfathers,
|
Friar Jacomo |
I warrant thee, Barabas. |
Exit. | |
Barabas |
So, now the fear is past, and I am safe,
|
Exit. |
Scene II
Enter Barabas and Ithamore.66 | |
Barabas |
Ithamore, tell me, is the friar asleep? |
Ithamore |
Yes; and I know not what the reason is
|
Barabas |
No; ’tis an order which the friars use:
|
Ithamore |
No, none can hear him, cry he ne’er so loud. |
Barabas |
Why, true, therefore did I place him there:
|
Ithamore |
You loiter, master; wherefore stay we thus?
|
Barabas |
Come on, sirrah.
|
Friar Barnadine |
What, do you mean to strangle me? |
Ithamore |
Yes, ’cause you use to confess. |
Barabas |
Blame not us, but the proverb, Confess and be hanged; pull hard. |
Friar Barnadine |
What, will you have67 my life? |
Barabas |
Pull hard, I say; you would have had my goods. |
Ithamore |
Ay, and our lives too, therefore pull amain. They strangle him.
|
Barabas |
Then is it as it should be; take him up. |
Ithamore |
Nay, master, be ruled by me a little. Stands the body upright against the wall, and puts a staff in its hand. So, let him lean upon his staff; excellent! he stands as if he were begging of bacon.68 |
Barabas |
Who would not think but that this friar lived?
|
Ithamore |
Towards one. |
Barabas |
Then will not Jacomo be long from hence. |
Exeunt. |
Scene III
Enter Friar Jacomo.69 | |
Friar Jacomo |
This is the hour wherein I shall proceed;70
|
Enter Barabas and Ithamore. | |
Barabas |
Why, how now, Jacomo, what hast thou done? |
Friar Jacomo |
Why, stricken him that would have struck at me. |
Barabas |
Who is it? Barnardine! now out, alas, he’s slain! |
Ithamore |
Ay, master, he’s slain; look how his brains drop out on’s nose. |
Friar Jacomo |
Good sirs, I have done’t, but nobody knows it but you two—I may escape. |
Barabas |
So might my man and I hang with you for company. |
Ithamore |
No, let us bear him to the magistrates. |
Friar Jacomo |
Good Barabas, let me go. |
Barabas |
No, pardon me; the law must have his course
|
Ithamore |
Fie upon ’em! master; will you turn Christian, when holy friars turn devils and murder one another? |
Barabas |
No, for this example I’ll remain a Jew:
|
Ithamore |
Why, a Turk could ha’ done no more. |
Barabas |
To-morrow is the sessions; you shall to it.
|
Friar Jacomo |
Villains, I am a sacred person; touch me not. |
Barabas |
The law shall touch you, we’ll but lead you, we:
|
Exeunt. |
Scene IV
Enter Bellamira and Pilia-Borza.71 | |
Bellamira |
Pilia-Borza, did’st thou meet with Ithamore? |
Pilia-Borza |
I did. |
Bellamira |
And didst thou deliver my letter? |
Pilia-Borza |
I did. |
Bellamira |
And what think’st thou? will he come? |
Pilia-Borza |
I think so, but yet I cannot tell; for, at the reading of the letter he looked like a man of another world. |
Bellamira |
Why so? |
Pilia-Borza |
That such a base slave as he should be saluted by such a tall72 man as I am, from such a beautiful dame as you. |
Bellamira |
And what said he? |
Pilia-Borza |
Not a wise word, only gave me a nod, as who should say, “Is it even so?” and so I left him, being driven to a non-plus at the critical aspect of my terrible countenance. |
Bellamira |
And where didst meet him? |
Pilia-Borza |
Upon mine own freehold, within forty feet of the gallows, conning his neck-verse,73 I take it, looking of74 a friar’s execution; whom I saluted with an old hempen proverb, Hodie tibi, cras mihi, and so I left him to the mercy of the hangman: but, the exercise75 being done, see where he comes. |
Enter Ithamore. | |
Ithamore |
I never knew a man take his death so patiently as this friar; he was ready to leap off ere the halter was about his neck; and when the hangman had put on his hempen tippet, he made such haste to his prayers, as if he had had another cure to serve. Well, go whither he will, I’ll be none of his followers in haste: and, now I think on’t, going to the execution, a fellow met me with a muschatoes76 like a raven’s wing, and a dagger with a hilt like a warming-pan, and he gave me a letter from one Madam Bellamira, saluting me in such sort as if he had meant to make clean my boots with his lips; the effect was, that I should come to her house. I wonder what the reason is; it may be she sees more in me than I can find in myself: for she writes further, that she loves me ever since she saw me, and who would not requite such love? Here’s her house, and here she comes, and now would I were gone; I am not worthy to look upon her. |
Pilia-Borza |
This is the gentleman you writ to. |
Ithamore |
Gentleman! he flouts me: what gentry can be in a poor Turk of tenpence?77 I’ll be gone.Aside. |
Bellamira |
Is’t not a sweet-faced youth, Pilia? |
Ithamore |
Again, “sweet youth!” Aside.—Did not you, sir, bring the sweet youth a letter? |
Pilia-Borza |
I did, sir, and from this gentlewoman, who, as myself, and the rest of the family, stand or fall at your service. |
Bellamira |
Though woman’s modesty should hale me back, I can withhold no longer: welcome, sweet love. |
Ithamore |
Now am I clean, or rather foully out of the way. Aside. |
Bellamira |
Whither so soon? |
Ithamore |
I’ll go steal some money from my master to make me handsome Aside.—Pray, pardon me; I must go see a ship discharged. |
Bellamira |
Canst thou be so unkind to leave me thus? |
Pilia-Borza |
An ye did but know how she loves you, sir! |
Ithamore |
Nay, I care not how much she loves me—Sweet Bellamira, would I had my master’s wealth for thy sake! |
Pilia-Borza |
And you can have it, sir, an if you please. |
Ithamore |
If ’twere above ground, I could and would have it; but he hides and buries it up, as partridges do their eggs, under the earth. |
Pilia-Borza |
And is’t not possible to find it out? |
Ithamore |
By no means possible. |
Bellamira |
What shall we do with this base villain then? Aside to Pilia-Borza. |
Pilia-Borza |
Let me alone; do but you speak him fair.—Aside to her.
|
Ithamore |
Ay, and such as—Go to, no more! I’ll make him send me half he has, and glad he ’scapes so too: I’ll write unto him; we’ll have money straight. |
Pilia-Borza |
Send for a hundred crowns at least. |
Ithamore |
Ten hundred thousand crowns.—Writing. “Master Barabas.” |
Pilia-Borza |
Write not so submissively, but threatening him. |
Ithamore |
Writing. “Sirrah Barabas, send me a hundred crowns.” |
Pilia-Borza |
Put in two hundred at least. |
Ithamore |
Writing. “I charge thee send me three hundred by this bearer, and this shall be your warrant: if you do not—no more, but so.” |
Pilia-Borza |
Tell him you will confess. |
Ithamore |
Writing. “Otherwise I’ll confess all.”—Vanish, and return in a twinkle. |
Pilia-Borza |
Let me alone; I’ll use him in his kind. |
Exit Pilia-Borza with the letter. | |
Ithamore |
Hang him, Jew! |
Bellamira |
Now, gentle Ithamore, lie in my lap.—
|
Ithamore |
And bid the jeweller come hither too. |
Bellamira |
I have no husband, sweet; I’ll marry thee. |
Ithamore |
Content: but we will leave this paltry land,
|
Bellamira |
Whither will I not go with gentle Ithamore? |
Re-enter Pilia-Borza. | |
Ithamore |
How now! hast thou the gold? |
Pilia-Borza |
Yes. |
Ithamore |
But came it freely? did the cow give down her milk freely? |
Pilia-Borza |
At reading of the letter, he stared and stamped and turned aside. I took him by the beard, and looked upon him thus; told him he were best to send it; then he hugged and embraced me. |
Ithamore |
Rather for fear than love. |
Pilia-Borza |
Then, like a Jew, he laughed and jeered, and told me he loved me for your sake, and said what a faithful servant you had been. |
Ithamore |
The more villain he to keep me thus; here’s goodly ’parel, is there not? |
Pilia-Borza |
To conclude, he gave me ten crowns. Gives the money to Ithamore. |
Ithamore |
But ten? I’ll not leave him worth a grey groat. Give me a ream79 of paper: we’ll have a kingdom of gold for’t. |
Pilia-Borza |
Write for five hundred crowns. |
Ithamore |
Writing. “Sirrah Jew, as you love your life, send me five hundred crowns, and give the bearer a hundred.—” Tell him I must have’t. |
Pilia-Borza |
I warrant, your worship shall have’t. |
Ithamore |
And, if he ask why I demand so much, tell him I scorn to write a line under a hundred crowns. |
Pilia-Borza |
You’d make a rich poet, sir. I am gone. |
Exit. | |
Ithamore |
Take thou the money; spend it for my sake. |
Bellamira |
’Tis not thy money, but thyself I weigh;
|
Ithamore |
That kiss again! she runs division80 of my lips.
|
Bellamira |
Come, my dear love, let’s in and sleep together. |
Ithamore |
O, that ten thousand nights were put in one, that we might sleep seven years together afore we wake! |
Bellamira |
Come, amorous wag, first banquet, and then sleep. |
Exeunt. |
Scene V
Enter Barabas, reading a letter.81 | |
Barabas |
“Barabas, send me three hundred crowns.—”
|
Enter Pilia-Borza. | |
Pilia-Borza |
Jew, I must have more gold. |
Barabas |
Why, want’st thou any of thy tale?85 |
Pilia-Borza |
No; but three hundred will not serve his turn. |
Barabas |
Not serve his turn, sir! |
Pilia-Borza |
No, sir; and therefore, I must have five hundred more. |
Barabas |
I’ll rather— |
Pilia-Borza |
O good words, sir, and send it you were best! see, there’s his letter. Gives letter. |
Barabas |
Might he not as well come as send? pray bid him come and fetch it; what he writes for you, ye shall have straight. |
Pilia-Borza |
Ay, and the rest too, or else— |
Barabas |
I must make this villain away. Aside. Please you dine with me, sir;—and you shall be most heartily poisoned. Aside. |
Pilia-Borza |
No, God-a-mercy. Shall I have these crowns? |
Barabas |
I cannot do it; I have lost my keys. |
Pilia-Borza |
O, if that be all, I can pick ope your locks. |
Barabas |
Or climb up to my counting-house window: you know my meaning. |
Pilia-Borza |
I know enough, and therefore talk not to me of your counting-house. The gold! or know, Jew, it is in my power to hang thee. |
Barabas |
I am betrayed.—Aside.
|
Pilia-Borza |
Here’s many words, but no crowns: the crowns! |
Barabas |
Commend me to him, sir, most humbly,
|
Pilia-Borza |
Speak, shall I have ’em, sir? |
Barabas |
Sir, here they are. Gives money.
|
Pilia-Borza |
I know it, sir. |
Barabas |
Pray, when, sir, shall I see you at my house? |
Pilia-Borza |
Soon enough to your cost, sir. Fare you well. |
Exit. | |
Barabas |
Nay, to thine own cost, villain, if thou com’st!
|
Exit. |
Scene VI
Enter Bellamira, Ithamore, and Pilia-Borza.86 | |
Bellamira |
I’ll pledge thee, love, and therefore drink it off. |
Ithamore |
Say’st thou me so? have at it; and do you hear? Whispers. |
Bellamira |
Go to, it shall be so. |
Ithamore |
Of87 that condition I will drink it up.
|
Bellamira |
Nay, I’ll have all or none. |
Ithamore |
There, if thou lov’st me, do not leave a drop. |
Bellamira |
Love thee! fill me three glasses. |
Ithamore |
Three and fifty dozen, I’ll pledge thee. |
Pilia-Borza |
Knavely spoke, and like a knight-at-arms. |
Ithamore |
Hey, Rivo Castiliano!88 a man’s a man. |
Bellamira |
Now to the Jew. |
Ithamore |
Ha! to the Jew; and send me money he were best. |
Pilia-Borza |
What would’st thou do, if he should send thee none? |
Ithamore |
Do nothing; but I know what I know; he’s a murderer. |
Bellamira |
I had not thought he had been so brave a man. |
Ithamore |
You knew Mathias and the governor’s son; he and I killed ’em both, and yet never touched ’em. |
Pilia-Borza |
O, bravely done. |
Ithamore |
I carried the broth that poisoned the nuns; and he and I, snickle hand too fast,89 strangled a friar. |
Bellamira |
You two alone? |
Ithamore |
We two; and ’twas never known, nor never shall be for me. |
Pilia-Borza |
This shall with me unto the governor. Aside to Bellamira. |
Bellamira |
And fit it should: but first let’s ha’ more gold. Aside to Pilia-Borza.
|
Ithamore |
Love me little, love me long: let music rumble,
|
Enter Barabas, disguised as a French musician, with a lute, and a nosegay in his hat. | |
Bellamira |
A French musician! come, let’s hear your skill. |
Barabas |
Must tuna my lute for sound, twang, twang, first. |
Ithamore |
Wilt drink, Frenchman? here’s to thee with a—Pox on this drunken hiccup! |
Barabas |
Gramercy, monsieur. |
Bellamira |
Prithee, Pilia-Borza, bid the fiddler give me the posy in his hat there. |
Pilia-Borza |
Sirrah, you must give my mistress your posy. |
Barabas |
A votre commandement, madame. Giving nosegay. |
Bellamira |
How sweet, my Ithamore, the flowers smell! |
Ithamore |
Like thy breath, sweetheart; no violet like ’em. |
Pilia-Borza |
Foh! methinks they stink like a hollyhock. |
Barabas |
So, now I am revenged upon ’em all:
|
Ithamore |
Play, fiddler, or I’ll cut your cat’s guts into chitterlings. |
Barabas |
Pardonnez moi, be no in tune yet: so, now, now all be in. |
Ithamore |
Give him a crown, and fill me out more wine. |
Pilia-Borza |
There’s two crowns for thee; play. Giving money. |
Barabas |
How liberally the villain gives me mine own gold! Aside, Barabas then plays. |
Pilia-Borza |
Methinks he fingers very well. |
Barabas |
So did you when you stole my gold. Aside. |
Pilia-Borza |
How swift he runs! |
Barabas |
You run swifter when you threw my gold out of my window. Aside. |
Bellamira |
Musician, hast been in Malta long? |
Barabas |
Two, three, four month, madam. |
Ithamore |
Dost not know a Jew, one Barabas? |
Barabas |
Very mush: monsieur, you no be his man? |
Pilia-Borza |
His man? |
Ithamore |
I scorn the peasant; tell him so. |
Barabas |
He knows it already. Aside. |
Ithamore |
’Tis a strange thing of that Jew, he lives upon pickled grasshoppers and sauced mushrooms. |
Barabas |
What a slave’s this? the governor feeds not as I do. Aside. |
Ithamore |
He never put on clean shirt since he was circumcised. |
Barabas |
O rascal! I change myself twice a day. Aside. |
Ithamore |
The hat he wears, Judas left under the elder91 when he hanged himself. |
Barabas |
’Twas sent me for a present from the Great Cham. Aside. |
Pilia-Borza |
A musty slave he is.—Whither now, fiddler? |
Barabas |
Pardonnez moi, monsieur, me be no well. |
Pilia-Borza |
Farewell, fiddler! |
Exit Barabas. | |
One letter more to the Jew. |
|
Bellamira |
Prithee, sweet love, one more, and write it sharp. |
Ithamore |
No, I’ll send by word of mouth now—Bid him deliver thee a thousand crowns, by the same token, that the nuns loved rice, that Friar Barnardine slept in his own clothes; any of ’em will do it. |
Pilia-Borza |
Let me alone to urge it, now I know the meaning. |
Ithamore |
The meaning has a meaning. Come let’s in
|
Exeunt. |