The Jew of Malta | Page 8

[Exeunt all except BARABAS and the three JEWS.]
BARABAS. Ay, 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!
FIRST JEW. O, yet be patient, gentle Barabas!
BARABAS. 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?
FIRST JEW. Why, Barabas, as hardly can we brook The cruel handling
of ourselves in this: Thou seest they have taken half our goods.
BARABAS. Why did you yield to their extortion? You were a
multitude, and I but one; And of me only have they taken all.
FIRST JEW. Yet, brother Barabas, remember Job.
BARABAS. 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 valu'd at indifferent rate, I had 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.

SECOND JEW. Good Barabas, be patient.
BARABAS. Ay, I pray, leave me in my patience. You, that Were ne'er
possess'd of wealth, are pleas'd with want; But give him 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: Ay, let
me sorrow for this sudden chance; 'Tis in the trouble of my spirit I
speak: Great injuries are not so soon forgot.
FIRST JEW. Come, let us leave him; in his ireful mood Our words will
but increase his ecstasy.<41>
SECOND JEW. On, then: but, trust me, 'tis a misery To see a man in
such affliction.-- Farewell, Barabas.
BARABAS. Ay, fare you well. [Exeunt three JEWS.]<42> 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 naught 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 day.
Enter ABIGAIL.
But whither wends my beauteous Abigail? O, what has made my lovely
daughter sad? What, woman! moan not for a little loss; Thy father has
enough in store for thee.
ABIGAIL. Nor 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 rent their hearts with tearing of
my hair, Till they reduce<43> the wrongs done to my father.
BARABAS. 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<44> As negligently to forgo
so much Without provision for thyself and me: Ten thousand
portagues,<45> besides great pearls, Rich costly jewels, and stones
infinite, Fearing the worst of this before it fell, I closely hid.
ABIGAIL. Where, father?
BARABAS. In my house, my girl.

ABIGAIL. Then shall they ne'er be seen of Barabas; For they have
seiz'd upon thy house and wares.
BARABAS. But they will give me leave once more, I trow, To go into
my house.
ABIGAIL. 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<46> Must enter in; men generally barr'd.
BARABAS. 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? And,
knowing me impatient in