O! what has made my lovely daughter sad? What, woman! moan not for a little loss: Thy father hath enough in store for thee.
Abig. Nor [not?] for myself, but agèd Barabas: Father, for thee lamenteth Abigail: But I will learn to leave these fruitless tears,230 And, urged thereto with my afflictions, With fierce exclaims run to the senate-house, And in the senate reprehend them all, And rend their hearts with tearing of my hair, Till they reduce [28] the wrongs done to my father.
Bar. No, Abigail, things past recovery Are hardly cured with exclamations. Be silent, daughter, sufferance breeds ease, And time may yield us an occasion Which on the sudden cannot serve the turn.240 Besides, my girl, think me not all so fond As negligently to forego so much Without provision for thyself and me. Ten thousand portagues, [29] besides great pearls, Rich costly jewels, and stones infinite, Fearing the worst of this before it fell, I closely hid.
Abig. Where, father?
Bar. In my house, my girl.
Abig. Then shall they ne'er be seen of Barabas:250 For they have seized upon thy house and wares.
Bar. But they will give me leave once more, I trow, To go into my house.
Abig. That may they not: For there I left the governor placing nuns, Displacing me; and of thy house they mean To make a nunnery, where none but their own sect[30] Must enter in; men generally barred.
Bar. My gold! my gold! and all my wealth is gone! You partial heavens, have I deserved this plague? What, will you thus oppose me, luckless stars,260 To make me desperate in my poverty? And knowing me impatient in distress, Think me so mad as I will hang myself, That I may vanish o'er the earth in air, And leave no memory that e'er I was? No, I will live; nor loathe I this my life: And, since you leave me in the ocean thus To sink or swim, and put me to my shifts, I'll rouse my senses and awake myself. Daughter! I have it: thou perceiv'st the plight270 Wherein these Christians have oppressèd me: Be ruled by me, for in extremity We ought to make bar of no policy.
Abig. Father, whate'er it be to injure them That have so manifestly wrongèd us, What will not Abigail attempt?