And covetousness, oh, 'tis a monstrous sin.

BAR. Aye, but theft is worse:

from me then,

tush! take not

For that is theft; and if you rob me thus,

I must be forc'd to steal and compass more.

1 KNIGHT. Grave governors, list not to his exclaims

Convert his mansion to a nunnery,

His house will harbour many holy nuns.

Enter OFFICERS.

Gov. It shall be so:

Now, officers, have you done?

OFF. Aye, 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. Then we'll take order for the residue.*

BAR. Well then, my lord, say, are you satisfied? You have my goods, my money, and my wealth, My ships, my store, and all that I enjoy'd; And having all, you can request no more; Unless your unrelenting flinty hearts 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,

Than be the causers of their misery,

*This line in the 4to. is erroneously given to the officer.

You have my wealth the labour of my life,
The comfort of mine age, my children's hope,
And therefore ne'er distinguish of the wrong.
Gov. Content thee, Barabas, thou hast nought

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 look'd unto: For if we break our day, we break the league, And that will prove but simple policy. [Ereunt.

BAR. Aye, policy? that's their profession,
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. Oh yet be patient, gentle Barabas.

Bar. O silly brethren, born to see this day! Why stand you thus unmov'd with my laments ? Why weep you 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 multitude, and I but one,
And of me only have they taken all,

1 Jew. Yet, brother Barabas, remember Job,

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-asses: but for every one of those Had they been valued at indifferent rate, I bad 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, 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 toil'd 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. Aye, I pray leave me in my patience.
You that were ne'er possess'd of wealth, are pleas'd

with want;
But give hiin liberty at least to mourn,
That in a field amidst his enemies,
Doth see his soldiers slain, himself disarm'd,
And knows no means of his recovery:

Aye, 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 this ireful mood, Our words will but increase his extasy.

2 Jew. On then; but trust me 'tis a misery To see a man in such affliction: Farewell Barabas!

[Ereunt. Bar. Aye, 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 fram'd of finer mould than common men, That measure nought but by the present time. A reaching thought will search his deepest wits, And cast with cunning for the time to come: For evils are apt to happen every dayBut whither wends my beauteous Abigail?

Enter ABIGAIL, the Jew's daughter.
Oh! what has made my lovely daughter sad?
What? woman, moan not for a little loss :
Thy father hath enough in store for thee.

Abig. Not for myself, but aged Barabas,
Father, for thee lamenteth Abigail :
But I will learn to leave these fruitless tears ;
And urg'd 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 the wrongs done to my father.
BAR. No, Abigail, things past recovery
Are hardly cur'd with exclamations.
Be silent, daughter, sufferance breeds ease,
And time may yield us an occasion

Which on the sudden cannot serve the turn.
Besides, my girl, think me not all so fond
As negligently to forego so much
Without provision for thyself and me.
Ten thousand portagues, 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: For they have seiz'd upon thy house and wares. BAR. But they will give me leave once more, I trow, go into my house.

Το

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 Must enter in; men generally barr'd.

BAR. My gold! my gold! and all my wealth is
gone.

You partial heavens, have I deserv'd this plague?
What will you thus oppose me, luckless stars,
To make me desperate in my poverty?