Bar. I must needs say that I have been a great usurer.
F. Barn. Thou hast committed——
Bar. Fornication—but that Was in another country: and besides, The wench is dead.
F. Barn. I, but, Barabas, Remember Mathias and Don Lodowick.
Bar. Why, what of them?
F. Barn. I will not say that by a forged challenge they met.
Bar. She has confest, and we are both undone,50 My bosom inmate! [107] but I must dissemble.— [Aside. O holy friars, the burthen of my sins Lie heavy on my soul; then pray you tell me. Is't not too late now to turn Christian? I have been zealous in the Jewish faith, Hard-hearted to the poor, a covetous wretch, That would for lucre's sake have sold my soul. A hundred for a hundred I have ta'en; And now for store of wealth may I compare With all the Jews in Malta; but what is wealth?60 I am a Jew, and therefore am I lost. Would penance serve for this my sin, I could afford to whip myself to death—
Itha. And so could I; but penance will not serve.
Bar. To fast, to pray, and wear a shirt of hair, And on my knees creep to Jerusalem. Cellars of wine, and sollers [108] full of wheat, Warehouses stuft with spices and with drugs, Whole chests of gold, in bullion, and in coin, Besides I know not how much weight in pearl,70 Orient and round, have I within my house; At Alexandria, merchandise unsold: [109] But yesterday two ships went from this town, Their voyage will be worth ten thousand crowns. In Florence, Venice, Antwerp, London, Seville, Frankfort, Lubeck, Moscow, and where not, Have I debts owing; and in most of these, Great sums of money lying in the banco; All this I'll give to some religious house So I may be baptized, and live therein.80
F. Jac. O good Barabas, come to our house.