Off with your girdle, make a handsome noose; [ITHAMORE _makes a noose in his girdle. They put it round the_ Friar"s _neck._ Friar, awake!
_F. Barn._ What, do you mean to strangle me?
_Itha._ Yes, "cause you use to confess.
_Bar._ Blame not us but the proverb, confess and be hanged; pull hard.
_F. Barn._ What, will you have[114] my life? 20
_Bar._ Pull hard, I say; you would have had my goods.
_Itha._ I, and our lives too, therefore pull amain.
[_They strangle him._ "Tis neatly done, sir, here"s no print at all.
_Bar._ Then it is as it should be; take him up.
_Itha._ Nay, master, be ruled by me a little[_Stands up the body_]; so, let him lean upon his staff; excellent! he stands as if he were begging of bacon.
_Bar._ Who would not think but that this friar lived?
What time o" night is"t now, sweet Ithamore?
_Itha._ Towards one. 30
_Bar._ Then will not Jacomo be long from hence.
[_Exeunt._
SCENE III.
_Enter_[115] Friar JACOMO.
_F. Jac._ This is the hour wherein I shall proceed; O happy hour,[116] wherein I shall convert An infidel, and bring his gold into our treasury!
But soft, is not this Barnardine? it is; And, understanding I should come this way, Stands here a purpose, meaning me some wrong, And intercept my going to the Jew.
Barnardine!
Wilt thou not speak? thou think"st I see thee not; Away, I"d wish thee, and let me go by: 10 No, wilt thou not? nay, then, I"ll force my way; And see, a staff stands ready for the purpose: As thou lik"st that, stop me another time.
[_Strikes him and he falls._
_Enter_ BARABAS _and_ ITHAMORE.
_Bar._ Why, how now, Jacomo, what hast thou done?
_F. Jac._ Why, stricken him that would have struck at me.
_Bar._ Who is it?
Barnardine? now out, alas! he"s slain.
_Itha._ I, master, he"s slain; look how his brains drop out on"s nose.
_F. Jac._ Good sirs, I have done"t, but n.o.body knows it but you two--I may escape. 21
_Bar._ So might my man and I hang with you for company.
_Itha._ No, let us bear him to the magistrates.
_F. Jac._ Good Barabas, let me go.
_Bar._ No, pardon me; the law must have its course.
I must be forced to give in evidence, That being importuned by this Barnardine To be a Christian, I shut him out, And there he sat: now I, to keep my word, 30 And give my goods and substance to your house, Was up thus early; with intent to go Unto your friary, because you stayed.
_Itha._ Fie upon "em, master; will you turn Christian when holy friars turn devils and murder one another?
_Bar._ No, for this example I"ll remain a Jew: Heaven bless me; what! a friar a murderer?
When shall you see a Jew commit the like?
_Itha._ Why, a Turk could ha" done no more.
_Bar._ To-morrow is the sessions; you shall to it. 40 Come, Ithamore, let"s help to take him hence.
_F. Jac._ Villains, I am a sacred person; touch me not.
_Bar._ The law shall touch you, we"ll but lead you, we: "Las I could weep at your calamity.
Take in the staff too, for that must be shown: Law wills that each particular be known.
[_Exeunt._
SCENE IV.
_Enter_[117] BELLAMIRA _and_ PILIA-BORSA.
_Bell._ Pilia-Borsa, did"st thou meet with Ithamore?
_Pilia._ I did.
_Bell._ And didst thou deliver my letter?
_Pilia._ I did.
_Bell._ And what think"st thou? will he come?
_Pilia._ I think so, but yet I cannot tell; for at the reading of the letter he look"d like a man of another world.
_Bell._ Why so?
_Pilia._ That such a base slave as he should be saluted by such a tall man as I am, from such a beautiful dame as you. 12
_Bell._ And what said he?
_Pilia._ Not a wise word, only gave me a nod, as who should say, "Is it even so;" and so I left him, being driven to a non-plus at the critical aspect of my terrible countenance.