The Jew of Malta | Page 9

distress, Think me so mad as I will hang
myself, That I may vanish o'er the earth in air, And leave no memory
that e'er I was? No, I will live; nor loathe I this my life: And, since you
leave me in the ocean thus To sink or swim, and put me to my shifts,
I'll rouse my senses, and awake myself.-- Daughter, I have it: thou
perceiv'st the plight Wherein these Christians have oppressed me: Be
rul'd by me, for in extremity We ought to make bar of no policy.
ABIGAIL. Father, whate'er it be, to injure them That have so
manifestly wronged us, What will not Abigail attempt?
BARABAS. Why, so. Then thus: thou told'st me they have turn'd my
house Into a nunnery, and some nuns are there?
ABIGAIL. I did.
BARABAS. Then, Abigail, there must my girl Entreat the abbess to be
entertain'd.
ABIGAIL. How! as a nun?
BARABAS. Ay, daughter; for religion Hides many mischiefs from
suspicion.
ABIGAIL. Ay, but, father, they will suspect me there.
BARABAS. Let 'em suspect; but be thou so precise As they may think
it done of holiness: Entreat 'em fair, and give them friendly speech,
And seem to them as if thy sins were great, Till thou hast gotten to be
entertain'd.
ABIGAIL. Thus, father, shall I much dissemble.
BARABAS. Tush! As good dissemble that thou never mean'st, As first
mean truth and then dissemble it: A counterfeit profession is better
Than unseen hypocrisy.
ABIGAIL. Well, father, say I be entertain'd, What then shall follow?

BARABAS. This shall follow then. There have I hid, close underneath
the plank That runs along the upper-chamber floor, The gold and jewels
which I kept for thee:-- But here they come: be cunning, Abigail.
ABIGAIL. Then, father, go with me.
BARABAS. No, Abigail, in this It is not necessary I be seen; For I will
seem offended with thee for't: Be close, my girl, for this must fetch my
gold. [They retire.]
Enter FRIAR JACOMO,<47> FRIAR BARNARDINE, ABBESS, and
a NUN.
FRIAR JACOMO. Sisters, We now are almost at the new-made
nunnery.
ABBESS.<48> The better; for we love not to be seen: 'Tis thirty
winters long since some of us Did stray so far amongst the multitude.
FRIAR JACOMO. But, madam, this house And waters of this
new-made nunnery Will much delight you.
ABBESS. It may be so.--But who comes here?
[ABIGAIL comes forward.]
ABIGAIL. Grave abbess, and you happy virgins' guide, Pity the state of
a distressed maid!
ABBESS. What art thou, daughter?
ABIGAIL. The hopeless daughter of a hapless Jew, The Jew of Malta,
wretched Barabas, Sometimes<49> the owner of a goodly house,
Which they have now turn'd to a nunnery.
ABBESS. Well, daughter, say, what is thy suit with us?
ABIGAIL. Fearing the afflictions which my father feels Proceed from
sin or want of faith in us, I'd pass away my life in penitence, And be a
novice in your nunnery, To make atonement for my labouring soul.
FRIAR JACOMO. No doubt, brother, but this proceedeth of the spirit.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Ay, and of a moving spirit too, brother: but
come, Let us entreat she may be entertain'd.
ABBESS. Well, daughter, we admit you for a nun.
ABIGAIL. First let me as a novice learn to frame My solitary life to
your strait laws, And let me lodge where I was wont to lie: I do not
doubt, by your divine precepts And mine own industry, but to profit
much.
BARABAS. As much, I hope, as all I hid is worth. [Aside.]
ABBESS. Come, daughter, follow us.

BARABAS. [coming forward] Why, how now, Abigail! What mak'st
thou 'mongst these hateful Christians?
FRIAR JACOMO. Hinder her not, thou man of little faith, For she has
mortified herself.
BARABAS. How! mortified!
FRIAR JACOMO. And is admitted to the sisterhood.
BARABAS. Child of perdition, and thy father's shame! What wilt thou
do among these hateful fiends? I charge thee on my blessing that thou
leave These devils and their damned heresy!
ABIGAIL. Father, forgive me--<50>
BARABAS. Nay, back, Abigail, And think upon the jewels and the
gold; The board is marked thus that covers it.-- [Aside to ABIGAIL in
a whisper.] Away, accursed, from thy father's sight!
FRIAR JACOMO. Barabas, although thou art in misbelief, And wilt
not see thine own afflictions, Yet let thy daughter be no longer blind.
BARABAS. Blind friar, I reck not thy persuasions,-- The board is
marked thus<51> that covers it-- [Aside to ABIGAIL in a whisper.] For
I had rather die than see her thus.-- Wilt thou forsake me too in my
distress, Seduced daughter?--Go, forget not.--<52> [Aside to her in a
whisper.] Becomes it Jews to be so credulous?-- To-morrow early I'll
be at the door.-- [Aside to her in a whisper.] No, come not at me;