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' Must enter in; men generally barred. Bar. My gold! my gold! and all my wealth is gone! What, will you thus oppose me, luckless stars, Daughter! I have it: thou perceiv'st the plight 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? Bar. Why, so; Then thus, thou told'st me they have turned my house Into a nunnery, and some nuns are there? Abig. I did. Bar. Then, Abigail, there must my girl 1 Sex. 260 270 280 Entreat the abbess to be entertained. Abig. How, as a nun? Bar. Ay, daughter, for religion Hides many mischiefs from suspicion. Abig. Ay, but, father, they will suspect me there. As they may think it done of holiness. Abig. Thus, father, shall I much dissemble. As good dissemble that thou never mean'st, Than unseen hypocrisy.1 Abig. Well, father, say that I be entertained, What then shall follow? Bar. This shall follow then; There have I hid, close underneath the plank Bar. No, Abigail, in this It is not necessary I be seen: For I will seem offended with thee for't: 200 300 Be close, my girl, for this must fetch my gold. [They retire. Enter Friar JACOMO, Friar BARNARDINE, Abbess, and a Nun. F. Jac. Sisters, we now are almost at the new-made nunnery. This passage is corrupt. Abb. The better; for we love not to be seen: 'Tis thirty winters long since some of us Did stray so far amongst the multitude. F. Jac. But, madam, this house And waters of this new-made nunnery Will much delight you. Abb. It may be so; but who comes here? 310 [ABIGAIL comes forward. Abig. Grave abbess, and you, happy virgins' guide, Pity the state of a distressèd maid. Abb. What art thou, daughter? Abig. The hopeless daughter of a hapless Jew, Which they have now turned to a nunnery. Abb. Well, daughter, say, what is thy suit with us? And be a novice in your nunnery, To make atonement for my labouring soul. 320 F. Jac. No doubt, brother, but this proceedeth of the spirit. F. Barn. Ay, and of a moving spirit too, brother; but come, Let us entreat she may be entertained. Abb. Well, daughter, we admit you for a nun. My solitary life to your strait laws, And let me lodge where I was wont to lie, 1 Bullen suggests cloisters. 330 And mine own industry, but to profit much. Bar. (aside). As much, I hope, as all I hid is worth. Bar. (coming forward). Why, how now, Abigail, Bar. How! mortified? F. Jac. And is admitted to the sisterhood. Bar. Nay, back, Abigail. 1 (And think upon the jewels and the gold; 340 [She goes to him. [Aside to ABIGAIL in a whisper. The board is marked thus that covers it.) F. Jac. Barabas, although thou art in mischief, Yet let thy daughter be no longer blind. Bar. Blind friar, I reck not thy persuasions, (The board is markèd thus2 that covers it.) 350 [Aside to ABIGAIL in a whisper. For I had rather die than see her thus. Seduced daughter? (Aside in a whisper) (Go, forget not,) (To-morrow early I'll be at the door.) [Aside in a whisper. 1 Dyce suggests forgive me. 2 The original edition has † inserted here, to indicate the sign Barabas was to make. No, come not at me; if thou wilt be damned, Out, out, thou wretch ! 360 [Aside in a whisper. [Exeunt, on one side BARABAS, on the other side Friars, Abbess, Nun, and ABIGAIL; as they are going out, Enter MATHIAS. Math. Who's this? fair Abigail, the rich Jew's daughter, Become a nun! her father's sudden fall Has humbled her and brought her down to this: Than to be tirèd out with orisons. Enter LODOWICK. Lod. Why, how now, Don Mathias! in a dump? The strangest sight, in my opinion, That ever I beheld. Lod. What was't, I prithee? Math. A fair young maid, scarce fourteen years of age, The sweetest flower in Cytherea's field, Cropt from the pleasures of the fruitful earth, And strangely metamorphosed nun. Lod. But say, what was she? Math. Why, the rich Jew's daughter. Lod. What, Barabas, whose goods were lately seized? Is she so fair? Math. And matchless beautiful; As, had you seen her, 'twould have moved your heart, 370 |