Bar. Well then, my lord, say, are you satisfied? You have my goods, my money, and my wealth, My ships, my store, and all that I enjoyed; And, having all, you can request no more;140 Unless your unrelenting flinty hearts Suppress all pity in your stony breasts, And now shall move you to bereave my life.
Gov. No, Barabas, to stain our hands with blood Is far from us and our profession.
Bar. Why, I esteem the injury far less To take the lives of miserable men Than be the causes of their misery. You have my wealth, the labour of my life, The comfort of mine age, my children's hope,150 And therefore ne'er distinguish of the wrong.
Gov. Content thee, Barabas, thou hast naught but right.
Bar. Your extreme right does me exceeding wrong: But take it to you, i' the devil's name.
Gov. Come, let us in, and gather of these goods The money for this tribute of the Turk.
1 Knight. 'Tis necessary that be looked unto: For if we break our day, we break the league, And that will prove but simple policy. [Exeunt, all except Barabas and the Jews.
Bar. I, policy! that's their profession,160 And not simplicity, as they suggest. The plagues of Egypt, and the curse of Heaven, Earth's barrenness, and all men's hatred Inflict upon them, thou great Primus Motor! And here upon my knees, striking the earth, I ban their souls to everlasting pains And extreme tortures of the fiery deep, That thus have dealt with me in my distress.
1 Jew. O yet be patient, gentle Barabas.
Bar. O silly brethren, born to see this day;170 Why stand you thus unmoved with my laments? Why weep ye not to think upon my wrongs? Why pine not I, and die in this distress?