The Jew of Malta · Act III · Scene III

Scene III
Enter Ithamore.49
Ithamore Why, was there ever seen such villany, So neatly plotted, and so well performed? Both held in hand, and flatly both beguiled?
Enter Abigail.
Abigail Why, how now, Ithamore, why laugh’st thou so?
Ithamore O mistress, ha! ha! ha!
Abigail Why, what ail’st thou?
Ithamore O, my master!
Abigail Ha!
Ithamore O mistress! I have the bravest, gravest, secret, subtle, bottle-nosed knave to my master, that ever gentleman had!
Abigail Say, knave, why rail’st upon my father thus?
Ithamore O, my master has the bravest policy.
Abigail Wherein?
Ithamore Why, know you not?
Abigail Why, no.
Ithamore Know you not of Mathias’ and Don Lodowick’s disaster?
Abigail No, what was it?
Ithamore Why, the devil inverted a challenge, my master writ it, and I carried it, first to Lodowick, and imprimis to Mathias. And then they met, and, as the story says, In doleful wise they ended both their days.
Abigail And was my father furtherer of their deaths?
Ithamore Am I Ithamore?
Abigail Yes.
Ithamore So sure did your father write, and I carry the challenge.
Abigail Well, Ithamore, let me request thee this, Go to the new-made nunnery, and inquire For any of the friars of Saint Jaques, And say, I pray them come and speak with me.
Ithamore I pray, mistress, will you answer me to one question?
Abigail Well, sirrah, what is’t?
Ithamore A very feeling one; have not the nuns fine sport with the friars now and then?
Abigail Go to, sirrah sauce! is this your question? get ye gone.
Ithamore I will, forsooth, mistress.
Exit.
Abigail Hard-hearted father, unkind Barabas! Was this the pursuit of thy policy! To make me show them favour severally, That by my favour they should both be slain? Admit thou lov’dst not Lodowick for his sire, Yet Don Mathias ne’er offended thee: But thou wert set upon extreme revenge, Because the governor50 dispossessed thee once, And couldst not ’venge it but upon his son Nor on his son, but by Mathias’ means; Nor on Mathias but by murdering me. But I perceive there is no love on earth, Pity in Jews, nor piety in Turks. But here comes cursed Ithamore, with the friar.
Enter Ithamore and Friar Jacomo.
Friar Jacomo Virgo, salve.
Ithamore When! duck you!
Abigail Welcome, grave friar; Ithamore, be gone.
Exit Ithamore.
Know, holy sir, I am bold to solicit thee.
Friar Jacomo Wherein?
Abigail To get me be admitted for a nun.
Friar Jacomo Why, Abigail, it is not yet long since That I did labour thy admission, And then thou did’st not like that holy life.
Abigail Then were my thoughts so frail and unconfirmed As I was chained to follies of the world: But now experience, purchased with grief, Has made me see the difference of things. My sinful soul, alas, hath paced too long The fatal labyrinth of misbelief, Far from the sun that gives eternal life!
Friar Jacomo Who taught thee this?
Abigail The abbess of the house, Whose zealous admonition I embrace: O, therefore, Jacomo, let me be one, Although unworthy, of that sisterhood.
Friar Jacomo Abigail, I will, but see thou change no more, For that will be most heavy to thy soul.
Abigail That was my father’s fault.
Friar Jacomo Thy father’s! how?
Abigail Nay, you shall pardon me.⁠—O Barabas, Though thou deservest hardly at my hands, Yet never shall these lips bewray thy life! Aside.
Friar Jacomo Come, shall we go?
Abigail My duty waits on you.
Exeunt.