The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe (read along books .txt) 📕

vows love to him, and he to her.
As sure as heaven rained manna for the Jews,
So sure shall he and Don Mathias die:
His father was my chiefest enemy. Enter Mathias.

Whither goes Don Mathias? stay awhile.

Mathias

Whither, but to my fair love Abigail?

Barabas

Thou know’st, and heaven can witness this is true,
That I intend my daughter shall be thine.

Mathias

Ay, Barabas, or else thou wrong’st me much.

Barabas

O, Heaven forbid I should have such a thought.
Pardon me though I weep: the governor’s son
Will, whether I will or no, have Abigail:
He sends her letters, bracelets, jewels, rings.

Mathias

Does she receive them?

Barabas

She! No, Mathias, no, but sends them back,
And, when he comes, she locks herself up fast;
Yet through the keyhole will he talk to her,
While she runs to the window looking out
When you should come and hale him from the door

Mathias

O treacherous Lodowick!

Barabas

Even now as I came home, he slipt me in,
And I am sure he is with Abigail.

Mathias

I’ll rouse him thence.

Barabas

Not for all Malta, therefore sheathe your sword;
If you love me, no quarrels in my house;
But steal you in, and seem to see him not;
I’ll give him such a warning ere he goes
As he shall have small hopes of Abigail.
Away, for here they come.

Re-enter Lodowick and Abigail. Mathias

What, hand in hand! I cannot suffer this.

Barabas

Mathias, as thou lov’st me, not a word.

Mathias

Well, let it pass; another time shall serve.

Exit into the house. Lodowick

Barabas, is not that the widow’s son?

Barabas

Ay, and take heed, for he hath sworn your death.

Lodowick

My death! what, is the base-born peasant mad?

Barabas

No, no, but happily he stands in fear
Of that which you, I think, ne’er dream upon,
My daughter here, a paltry silly girl.

Lodowick

Why, loves she Don Mathias?

Barabas

Doth she not with her smiling answer you?

Abigail

He has my heart; I smile against my will. Aside.

Lodowick

Barabas, thou know’st I have loved thy daughter long.

Barabas

And so has she done you, even from a child.

Lodowick

And now I can no longer hold my mind.

Barabas

Nor I the affection that I bear to you.

Lodowick

This is thy diamond, tell me, shall I have it?

Barabas

Win it, and wear it, it is yet unsoiled.
O! but I know your lordship would disdain
To marry with the daughter of a Jew;
And yet I’ll give her many a golden cross44
With Christian posies round about the ring.

Lodowick

’Tis not thy wealth, but her that I esteem.
Yet crave I thy consent.

Barabas

And mine you have, yet let me talk to her.⁠—
This offspring of Cain, this Jebusite,
That never tasted of the Passover,
Nor e’er shall see the land of Canaan,
Nor our Messias that is yet to come;
This gentle maggot, Lodowick, I mean,
Must be deluded: let him have thy hand,
But keep thy heart till Don Mathias comes. Aside.

Abigail

What, shall I be betrothed to Lodowick?

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.

Re-enter 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