BAR. Thou know'st, and heaven can witness this is true, That I intend my daughter shall be thine. MATH. Aye, Barabas, or else thou wrong'st me much. BAR. Oh, heaven forbid I should have such a Pardon me though I weep; the governor's son BAR. She? No, Mathias, no, but sends them And when he comes, she locks herself up fast : BAR. Even now as I came home, he slipt me in, And I am sure he is with Abigail. MATH. I'll rouze him thence. BAR. Not for all Malta, therefore sheath your sword; If you love me, no quarrels in my house; Away, for here they come. Enter LODOWICK, ABIGAIL. MATH. What hand in hand, I cannot suffer this. BAR. Mathias, as thou lov'st me, not a word. MATH. Well, let it pass, another time shall serve. [Exit. LOD. Barabas, is not that the widow's son? death. LOD. My death? what is the base born peasant mad? BAR. No, no, but hapily he stands in fear Of that which you, I think, ne'er dream upon, My daughter here, a paltry silly girl. LOD. Why, loves she Don Mathias? will. BAR. Doth she not with her smiling answer you? BAR. And so has she done you, even from a child. BAR. 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, [Aside. But keep thy heart till Don Mathias comes. ABIG. What, shall I be betroth'd to Lodowick ? For they themselves hold it a principle, This follows well, and therefore, daughter, fear not. [To Lodowick. LOD. Then, gentle Abigail, plight thy faith to me. ABIG. I cannot chuse, seeing my father bids: Nothing but death shall part my love and me. LOD. Now have I that for which my soul hath long'd. BAR. So have not I, but yet I hope I shall. [Aside. ABIG. Oh wretched Abigail, what hast thou done? LOD. Why on the sudden is your colour chang'd? ABIG. I know not, but farewell, I must be gone. BAR. Stay her, but let her not speak one word more. LOD. Mute o' the sudden; here's a sudden change. BAR. Oh, muse not at it, 'tis the Hebrew's guise, That maidens new betroth'd should weep awhile: Trouble her not, sweet Lodowick depart: BAR. Be quiet Lodowick, it is enough That I have made thee sure to Abigail. LOD. Well, let him go. [Exit. BAR. Well, but for me, as you went in at doors Revenge it on him when you meet him next. BAR. Do so; lo here I give thee Abigail. My life is not so dear as Abigail? BAR. My heart misgives me, that to cross your love, He's with your mother, therefore after him. MATH. What, is he gone unto my mother? BAR. Nay, if you will, stay till she comes herself. [Exit. She'll die with grief. ABIG. I cannot take my leave of him for tears: Father, why have you thus incens'd them both? BAR. What's that to thee? ABIG. I'll make 'em friends again. ABIG. I will have Don Mathias, he is my love. BAR. Now tell me, Ithamore, how lik'st thou this? ITHA. Faith, master, I think by this You purchase both their lives; is it not so? BAR. True; and it shall be cunningly perform'd. ITHA. Oh, master, that I might have a hand in this. BAR. Aye, so thou shalt, 'tis thou must do the deed : Take this, and bear it to Mathias straight, And tell him that it comes from Lodowick. BAR. No, no, and yet it might be done that way : It is a challenge feign'd from Lodowick. ITHA. Fear not, I'll so set his heart a fire, that he Shall verily think it comes from him. BAR. I cannot choose but like thy readiness: Yet be not rash, but do it cunningly. |