The Jew of Malta · Act II · Scene I

Scene I

	Enter Barabas, with a light.25
Barabas	Thus, like the sad presaging raven, that tolls The sick man’s passport in her hollow beak, And in the shadow of the silent night Doth shake contagion from her sable wings, Vexed and tormented runs poor Barabas With fatal curses towards these Christians. The incertain pleasures of swift-footed time Have ta’en their flight, and left me in despair; And of my former riches rests no more But bare remembrance; like a soldier’s scar, That has no further comfort for his maim.⁠— O thou, that with a fiery pillar led’st The sons of Israel through the dismal shades, Light Abraham’s offspring; and direct the hand Of Abigail this night! or let the day Turn to eternal darkness after this! No sleep can fasten on my watchful eyes, Nor quiet enter my distempered thoughts, Till I have answer of my Abigail.
	Enter Abigail above.
Abigail	Now have I happily espied a time To search the plank my father did appoint; And here, behold, unseen, where I have found The gold, the pearls, and jewels, which he hid.
Barabas	Now I remember those old women’s words, Who in my wealth would tell me winter’s tales, And speak of spirits and ghosts that glide by night About the place where treasure hath been hid: And now methinks that I am one of those: For, whilst I live, here lives my soul’s sole hope, And, when I die, here shall my spirit walk.
Abigail	Now that my father’s fortune were so good As but to be about this happy place; ’Tis not so happy: yet, when we parted last, He said he would attend me in the morn. Then, gentle sleep, where’er his body rests, Give charge to Morpheus that he may dream A golden dream, and of the sudden wake, Come and receive the treasure I have found.
Barabas	Bueno para todos mi ganado no era: As good go on as sit so sadly thus. But stay: what star shines yonder in the east? The loadstar of my life, if Abigail. Who’s there?
Abigail	Who’s that?
Barabas	Peace, Abigail, ’tis I.
Abigail	Then, father, here receive thy happiness.
Barabas	Hast thou’t?
Abigail	Here, Throws down bags. hast thou’t? There’s more, and more, and more.
Barabas	O my girl, My gold, my fortune, my felicity! Strength to my soul, death to mine enemy! Welcome the first beginner of my bliss! O Abigail, Abigail, that I had thee here too! Then my desires were fully satisfied: But I will practice thy enlargement thence: O girl! O gold O beauty! O my bliss! Hugs the bags.
Abigail	Father, it draweth towards midnight now, And ’bout this time the nuns begin to wake; To shun suspicion, therefore, let us part.
Barabas	Farewell, my joy, and by my fingers take A kiss from him that sends it from his soul.
	Exit Abigail above.
	Now, Phoebus, ope the eye-lids of the day, And, for the raven, wake the morning lark, That I may hover with her in the air; Singing o’er these, as she does o’er her young. Hermoso placer de los dineros.
	Exit.