No sleep can fasten on my watchful eyes, Enter ABIGAIL above. Abig. Now have I happily espied a time Bar. Now I remember those old women's words, Abig. Now that my father's fortune were so good As but to be about this happy place; 'Tis not so happy: yet when we parted last, Bar. Bueno para todos mi ganado no era: But stay, what star shines yonder in the east?3 Who's there? 1 Bullen suggests that this is a misprint for youth. 3 Cf. Romeo and Juliet, ii, 2: 20 30 40 2 Cf. Hamlet, i. 1. "But soft! what light through yonder window breaks! Abig. Who's that? Bar. Peace, Abigail, 'tis I. Abig. Then, father, here receive thy happiness. Bar. Hast thou't? Abig. Here, (throws down the bags) hast thou't? There's more, and more, and more. Bar. O my girl, My gold, my fortune, my felicity! Strength to my soul, death to mine enemy! 50 [Hugs the bags. [Exit ABIGAIL above. 60 Now Phoebus ope the eyelids of the day,2 That I may hover with her in the air; Singing o'er these, as she does o'er her young, [Exit. 1 Cf. Shylock's "My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!" Merchant of Venice, ii, 8. 2 Cf. Job xli, 18: "His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning;" and Milton, Lycidas: "Under the opening eyelids of the morn." 8 Spanish; "beautiful pleasure of money." Enter FERNEZE, MARTIN DEL Bosco, and Knights. Fern. Now, captain, tell us whither thou art bound? Whence is thy ship that anchors in our road? And why thou cam'st ashore without our leave? Bosc. Governor of Malta, hither am I bound; Vice-admiral unto the Catholic King. 1st Knight. 'Tis true, my lord, therefore entreat1 him well. Bosc. Our fraught is Grecians, Turks, and Afric Moors. For late upon the coast of Corsica, Because we vailed not to the Turkish fleet, Their creeping galleys had us in the chase: But suddenly the wind began to rise, And then we luffed and tacked, and fought at ease: Fern. Martin del Bosco, I have heard of thee ; Welcome to Malta, and to all of us ; But to admit a sale of these thy Turks We may not, nay, we dare not give consent By reason of a tributary league. 1st Knight. Del Bosco, as thou lov'st and honour'st us, Persuade our governor against the Turk ; This truce we have is but in hope of gold, 1 Treat. 2 Lowered not our flags. ΙΟ 20 And with that sum he craves might we wage war. Bosc. Will Knights of Malta be in league with Turks, And buy it basely too for sums of gold? My lord, remember that, to Europe's shame, The Christian Isle of Rhodes,1 from whence you came, Fern. Captain, we know it, but our force is small. Bosc. My lord and king hath title to this isle, 30 40 [Exeunt Off. Fern. On this condition shall thy Turks be sold: Bosc. So shall you imitate those you succeed: 3 Fern. So will we fight it out; come, let's away : 50 [Exeunt. 1 Rhodes was wrested from the Knights of St. John by Solyman II, in 1522. 2 Established. 3 Cf. King John, i, 2. SCENE III. The Market-place. Enter Officers with ITHAMORE and other Slaves. 1st Off. This is the market-place, here let 'em stand: Fear not their sale, for they'll be quickly bought. 2d Off. Every one's price is written on his back, And so much must they yield or not be sold. 1st Off. Here comes the Jew; had not his goods been seized, He'd given us present money for them all. Enter BARABAS. Bar. In spite of these swine-eating Christians, Such as (poor villains!) were ne'er thought upon They hoped my daughter would ha' been a nun ; As great and fair as is the governor's; And there in spite of Malta will I dwell, I am not of the tribe of Levi, I, We Jews can fawn like spaniels when we please: I learned in Florence how to kiss my hand, Heave up my shoulders when they call me dog,1 1 Cf. this passage with Shylock's speeches with Antonio; Merchant of Venice, i, 3. |