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    Contents:
  • TO MY WORTHY FRIEND, MR. THOMAS HAMMON, OF GRAYES INNE, &c.
  • The Prologue spoken at Court.
  • The Prologue to the Stage, at the Cocke-pit.
  • Act 1
  • Act 2
  • Act 3
  • Act 4
  • Act 5

    • Christopher Marlowe, The Jew of Malta

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    Act Three, Scene Four

    Enter Barabas reading a letter.
    Barabas
    What, Abigall become a Nunne againe?
    False, and unkinde; what,1 hast thou lost thy father?
    And all unknowne, and unconstrain'd of me,
    Art thou againe got to the Nunnery?
    5
    Now here she writes, and wils me to repent.
    Repentance? Spurca: what pretendeth2 this?
    I feare she knowes ('tis so) of my device
    In Don Mathias and Lodovicoes3 deaths:
    If so, 'tis time that it be seene into:
    10
    For she that varies from me in beleefe
    Gives great presumption that she loves me not;
    Or loving, doth dislike of something done.4
    [Enter Ithimore.]
    Ithimore
    But who comes here? Oh Ithimore come neere;
    Come neere,5 my love, come neere,6 thy masters life,
    15
    My trusty servant, nay, my second selfe7;
    For I have now no hope but even in thee;
    And on that hope my happinesse is built:
    When saw'st thou Abigall?
    Ithimore
    To day.
    Barabas
    20
    With whom?
    Ithimore
    A Fryar.
    Barabas
    A Fryar? false villaine, he hath done the deed.
    Ithimore
    How, Sir?
    Barabas
    Why,8 made mine Abigall a Nunne.
    Ithimore
    25
    That's no Iye, for she sent me for him.
    Barabas
    Oh unhappy day,
    False, credulous, inconstant Abigall!
    But let 'em goe: And Ithimore, from hence
    Ne're shall she grieve me more with her disgrace;
    30
    Ne're shall she live to inherit ought of mine,
    Be blest of me, nor come within my gates,
    But perish underneath my bitter curse
    Like Cain by Adam, for his brother's death.
    Ithimore
    Oh master.
    Barabas
    35
    Ithimore, intreat not for her, I am mov'd,
    And she is hatefull to my soule and me:
    And less9 thou yeeld to this that I intreat,
    I cannot thinke but that thou hat'st my life.

    Ithimore

    Who I, master? Why I'le run to some rocke10 and throw
    40

    my selfe headlong into the sea; why I'le doe any thing for your
    sweet sake.

    Barabas
    Oh trusty lthimore; no servant, but my friend;
    I here adopt thee for mine onely heire,
    All that I have is thine when I am dead,
    45
    And whilst I live use halfe11; spend as my selfe;
    Here take my keyes, I'le give 'em thee anon.
    Goe buy thee garments: but thou shalt not want:
    Onely know this, that thus thou art to doe:
    But first goe fetch me in the pot of Rice
    50
    That for our supper stands upon the fire.
    Ithimore
    I hold my head my master's hungry: I goe Sir.
    Exit.
    Barabas
    Thus every villaine ambles after wealth
    Although he ne're be richer then in hope:
    But hush't.
    Enter Ithimorewith the pot.
    Ithimore
    55
    Here 'tis, Master.
    Barabas
    Well said, Ithimore;
    What, hast thou brought the Ladle with thee too?

    Ithimore

    Yes, Sir, the proverb saies, he that eats with the devil
    had need of a long spoone. I have brought you a Ladle.

    Barabas
    60
    Very well, Ithimore, then now be secret;
    And for thy sake, whom I so dearely love,
    Now shalt thou see the death of Abigall,
    That thou mayst freely live to be my heire.

    Ithimore

    Why, master, wil you poison her with a messe of rice
    65

    porredge?12 that wil preserve life, make her round and plump, and
    batten more then you are aware.

    Barabas
    I but Ithimore seest thou this?
    It is a precious powder that I bought
    Of an Italian13 in Ancona once,
    70
    Whose operation is to binde, infect,
    And poyson deeply: yet not appeare
    In forty houres after it is tane.
    Ithimore
    How master?
    Barabas
    Thus Ithimore:
    75
    This Even they use in Malta here ('tis call'd
    Saint Jaques14 Even) and then I say they use
    To send their Almes unto the Nunneries:
    Among15 the rest beare this, and set it there;
    There's a darke entry where they take it in,
    80
    Where they must neither see the messenger,
    Nor make enquiry who hath16 sent it them.
    Ithimore
    How so?
    Barabas
    Belike there is some Ceremony in't.
    There Ithimore must thou goe place this pot17:
    85
    Stay, let me spice it first.

    Ithimore

    Pray doe, and let me help you, master.18 Pray let me
    taste first.

    Barabas
    Prethe doe: what saist thou now?

    Ithimore

    Troth master,19 I'm loth such a pot of pottage should be
    90

    spoyld.

    Barabas
    Peace, Ithimore, tis better so then spar'd.
    Assure thy selfe thou shalt have broth by the eye.
    My purse, my Coffer, and my selfe is shine.
    Ithimore
    Well, master, I goe.
    Barabas
    95
    Stay, first let me stirre it Ithimore.
    As fatall be it to her as the draught
    Of which great Alexander drunke, and dyed:
    And with her let it worke like Borgias wine,
    Whereof his sire, the Pope, was poysoned20.
    100
    In few, the blood of Hydra, Lerna's21 bane;
    The jouyce of Hebon22, and Cocitus breath,
    And all the poysons of the Stygian poole
    Breake from the fiery kingdome; and in this
    Vomit your venome, and invenome her
    105
    That like a fiend hath left her father thus.

    Ithimore

    What a blessing has he given't23? was ever pot of
    rice porredge so sauc't? what shall I doe with it?

    Barabas
    Oh my sweet Ithimore go set it downe
    And come againe so24 soone as thou hast done,
    110
    For I have other businesse for thee.

    Ithimore

    Here's a drench to poyson a whole stable of Flanders
    mares: I'le carry's to the Nuns with a powder.

    Barabas
    And the horse pestilence to boot; away.
    Ithimore
    I am gone.
    115
    Pay me my wages for my worke is done.
    Exit.
    Barabas
    Ile pay thee with a vengeance lthamore.
    Exit.

    1 (comma): om. Q
    2 pretendeth: portendeth Dd2 S Ox Dd3
    3 Lodovicoes: Lodowick's Dd2 S Ox Dd3 C
    4 (period): om. Q
    5 (comma): om. Q
    6 (comma): om. Q
    7 selfe: life Q Dd2-D1
    8 (comma): om. Q
    9 less: less Dd3: least Q Dd2 S Ox Dd3 R
    10 rocke: huge rock C
    11 halfe: helfe Q
    12 ?: om. Q
    13 Italian: Italian Q
    14 Jaques: Jagues Q
    15 Among: Amongst M
    16 hath: had Ox
    17 pot: plot Q
    18 (period): Mr. Q
    19 (comma): Mr. Q
    20 poysoned: poyson'd Q
    21 Lerna's: Lerna's Q
    22 Hebon: Hebon Q
    23 given't: give'nt Q
    24 so: as M Ri



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