The Jew of Malta · Act II · Scene III (2/2) (2/2)

| Barabas | It’s no sin to deceive a Christian; For they themselves hold it a principle, Faith is not to be held with heretics; But all are heretics that are not Jews; This follows well, and therefore, daughter, fear not. Aside. I have entreated her, and she will grant. | | Lodowick | Then, gentle Abigail, plight thy faith to me. | | Abigail | I cannot choose, seeing my father bids.⁠— Nothing but death shall part my love and me. Aside. | | Lodowick | Now have I that for which my soul hath longed. | | Barabas | So have not I, but yet I hope I shall. Aside. | | Abigail | O wretched Abigail, what hast thou done? Aside. | | Lodowick | Why on the sudden is your colour changed? | | Abigail | I know not, but farewell, I must be gone. | | Barabas | Stay her, but let her not speak one word more. | | Lodowick | Mute o’ the sudden! here’s a sudden change. | | Barabas | O, muse not at it, ’tis the Hebrews’ guise, That maidens new betrothed should weep a while: Trouble her not; sweet Lodowick, depart: She is thy wife, and thou shalt be mine heir. | | Lodowick | O, is’t the custom? then I am resolved:45 But rather let the brightsome heavens be dim, And nature’s beauty choke with stifling clouds, Than my fair Abigail should frown on me.⁠— There comes the villain; now I’ll be revenged. | | | Reenter Mathias. | | Barabas | Be quiet, Lodowick; it is enough That I have made thee sure to Abigail. | | Lodowick | Well, let him go. | | | Exit. | | Barabas | Well, but for me, as you went in at doors You had been stabbed, but not a word on’t now; Here must no speeches pass, nor swords be drawn. | | Mathias | Suffer me, Barabas, but to follow him. | | Barabas | No; so shall I, if any hurt be done, Be made an accessary of your deeds; Revenge it on him when you meet him next. | | Mathias | For this I’ll have his heart. | | Barabas | Do so; lo, here I give thee Abigail. | | Mathias | What greater gift can poor Mathias have? Shall Lodowick rob me of so fair a love? My life is not so dear as Abigail. | | Barabas | My heart misgives me, that, to cross your love, He’s with your mother; therefore after him. | | Mathias | What, is he gone unto my mother? | | Barabas | Nay, if you will, stay till she comes herself. | | Mathias | I cannot stay; for, if my mother come, She’ll die with grief. | | | Exit. | | Abigail | I cannot take my leave of him for tears: Father, why have you thus incensed them both? | | Barabas | What’s that to thee? | | Abigail | I’ll make ’em friends again. | | Barabas | You’ll make ’em friends! Are there not Jews enow in Malta, But thou must dote upon a Christian? | | Abigail | I will have Don Mathias; he is my love. | | Barabas | Yes, you shall have him: go put her in. | | Ithamore | Ay, I’ll put her in. Puts in Abigail. | | Barabas | Now tell me, Ithamore, how lik’st thou this? | | Ithamore | Faith, master, I think by this You purchase both their lives: is it not so? | | Barabas | True; and it shall be cunningly performed. | | Ithamore | O master, that I might have a hand in this. | | Barabas | Ay, so thou shalt, ’tis thou must do the deed: Take this, and bear it to Mathias straight, Gives a letter. And tell him that it comes from Lodowick. | | Ithamore | ’Tis poisoned, is it not? | | Barabas | No, no, and yet it might be done that way: It is a challenge feigned from Lodowick. | | Ithamore | Fear not; I will so set his heart afire, That he shall verily think it comes from him. | | Barabas | I cannot choose but like thy readiness: Yet be not rash, but do it cunningly. | | Ithamore | As I behave myself in this, employ me hereafter. | | Barabas | Away, then. | | | Exit Ithamore. | | | So; now will I go in to Lodowick, And, like a cunning spirit, feign some lie. Till I have set ’em both at enmity. | | | Exit. |