With digging graves and ringing dead men's knells:
And, after that, was I an engineer,

And in the wars 'twixt France and Germany,
Under pretence of helping Charles the Filth,
Slew friend and enemy with my stratagems:
Then, after that, was I an usurer,

And with extorting, cozening, forfeiting,
And tricks belonging unto brokery,

I fill'd the gaols with bankrupts in a year,
And with young orphans planted hospitals;
And every moon made some or other inad,
And now and then one hang himself for grief,
Pinning upon his breast a long great scroll
How I with interest tormented him.

But mark how I am blest for plaguing them--
I have as much coin as will buy the town.
But tell me now, how hast thou spent thy time!
Itha. Faith, master,

In setting Christian villages on fire,
Chaining of eunuchs, binding galley-slaves.
One time I was an hostler in an inn,

And in the night-time secretly would I steal

To travellers' chambers, and there cut their throats: Once at Jerusalem, where the pilgrims kneel'd,

I strewed powder on the marble stones,

And therewithal their knees would rankle so,
That I have laughed a-good to see the cripples
Go limping home to Christendom on stilts.

Bara. Why, this is something: make account of me

As of thy fellow; we are villains both;
Both circumcised; we hate Christians both;

Be true and secret; thou shall want no gold.

THE MURDER OF THE FRIAR.

ACT IV., SCENE 2.

Enter BARABAS and ITHAMORE.

Bara. Ithamore, tell me, is the friar asleep?
Itha. Yes; and I know not what the reason is,
Do what I can, he will not strip himself,
Nor go to bed, but sleeps in his own clothes:
I fear me he mistrusts what we intend.

Bara. No; 'tis an order which the friars use :
Yet if he knew our meanings, could he scape?
Itha. No, none can hear him, cry he ne'er so loud.
Bara. Why, true; therefore did I place him there:
The other chambers open towards the street.

Itha. You loiter, master; wherefore stay we thus ? O, how I long to see him shake his heels!

Bara. Come on, sirrah :

Off with your girdle; make a handsome noose.[ITHAMORE takes off his girdle, and ties a noose on it. Friar, awake!

[They put the noose round the Friar's neck. Friar Barn. What, do you mean to strangle me? Itha. Yes, 'cause you use to confess.

Bara. Blame not us, but the proverb-Confess and be hanged.-Pull hard.

Friar Barn. What, will you have my life?

Bara. Pull hard, I say.-You would have had my goods.

Itha. Ay, and our lives too-therefore pull amain. [They strangle the Friar.

'Tis neatly done, sir; here's no print at all.

Bara. Then is it as it should be. Take him up.

Itha. Nay, master, be ruled by me a little. [Takes the body, sets it upright against the wall, and puts a staff in its hand.] So, let him lean upon his staff; excellent! he stands as if he were begging of bacon.

Bara. Who would not think but that this friar liv'd?

What time o' night is't now, sweet Ithamore?

Itha: Towards one.

Bara. Then will not Jacomo be long from hence.

Enter FRIAR JACOMO.

[Exeunt.

Friar Jac. This is the hour wherein I shall proceed;

O happy hour, wherein I shall convert

An infidel, and bring his gold into our treasury!

But soft! is not this Barnardine? it is;

And, understanding I should come this way,

Stands here o' purpose, meaning me some wrong,
And intercept my going to the Jew.-

Barnardine!

-

Wilt thou not speak? thou think'st I see thee not;
Away, I'd wish thee, and let me go by:

No, wilt thou not? nay, then, I'll force my way;
And, see, a staff stands ready for the purpose.
As thou lik'st that, stop me another time!

[Takes the staff, and strikes down the body.

Enter BARABAS and ITHAMORE.

Bara, Why, how now Jacomo! what hast thou done?

Friar Jac. Why, stricken him that would have struck at me.

Bara. Who is it! Barnardine! now, out, alas, he is slain !

Itha. Ay, master, he's slain; look how his brains drop out on's nose.

Friar Jac. Good sirs, I have done't: but nobody knows it but you two; I may escape.

Bara. So might my man and I hang with you for company.

Itha. No; let us bear him to the magistrates.
Friar Jac. Good Barabas, let me go.

Bara. No, pardon me; the law must have his

course:

I must be forc'd to give in evidence,

That, being importun'd by this Barnardine

To be a Christian, I shut him out,

And there he sate: now I, to keep my word,

And give my goods and substance to your house,
Was up thus early, with intent to go

Unto your friary, because you stay'd.

Itha. Fie upon 'em! master, will you turn Christian, when holy friars turn devils and murder one another? Bara. No; for this example I'll remain a Jew: Heaven bless me! what, a friar a murderer! When shall you see a Jew cominit the like?

Itha. Why, a Turk could ha' done no more. Bara. To-morrow is the sessions; you shall to it. Come, Ithamore, let's help to take him hence.

Friar Jac. Villains, I am a sacred person; touch me not.

Bara. The law shall touch you; we'll but lead you,

we:

'Las, I could weep at your calamity!

Take in the staff too, for that must be shown:
Law wills that each particular be known.

[Exeunt.

THE JEW, IN DISGUISE, POISONS HIS TRUANT

SLAVE.

ACT IV., SCENE 5.

Bell. A French musician !-Come, let's hear your skill.

Bara. Must tuna my lute for sound, twang, twang, first.

Itha. Wilt drink, Frenchman? here's to thee with a -Pox on this drunken hiccup !

Bara. Gramercy, monsieur.

Bell. Prithee, Pilia-Borza, bid the fiddler give me the posy in his hat there.

Pilia. Sirrah, you must give my mistress your posy. Bara. A votre commandement, madame.

[Giving nosegay. Bell. How sweet, my Ithamore, the flowers smell! Itha. Like thy breath, sweetheart; no violet like 'em. Pilia. Foh! methinks they stink like a hollyhock. Bara. So, now I am reveng'd upon 'em all : The scent thereof was death; I poison'd it.

[Aside. Itha. Play, fiddler, or I'll cut your cat's guts into chitterlings.

Bara. Pardonnez moi, be no in tune yet: so, now, now all be in.

Itha. Give him a crown, and fill me out more wine. Pilia. There's two crowns for thee: play.

[Giving money.

Bara. How liberally the villain gives me mine own gold! [Aside, and then plays.

Pilia. Methinks he fingers very well.
Bara. So did you when you stole my gold.

[Aside