The Online Library of Liberty

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• Publisher's Notice
• To My Worthy Friend , Master Thomas Hammon, of Gray's Inn , &c.
• Persons Represented.
• The Jew of Malta.
• Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Edward the Second.
• Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• The Massacre At Paris.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Scene VII.
• Scene VIII.
• Scene IX.
• Scene X.
• Scene XI.
• Scene XII.
• Scene XIII.
• Scene XIV.
• Scene XV.
• Scene XVI.
• Scene XVII.
• Scene XVIII.
• Scene XIX.
• Scene XX.
• Scene XXI.
• Scene XXII.
• Scene XXIII.
• Scene XXIV.
• The Tragedy of Dido, Queen of Carthage.
• Act I.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act II.
• Scene I.
• Act III.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene Iii
• Scene IV.
• Scene V
• Act V.
• Scene I.

SCENE VI.

Enter1 Friar Jacomoand Friar Barnardine.

F.Jac.

• O brother, brother, all the nuns are sick,
• And physic will not help them: they must die.

F. Barn.

• The abbess sent for me to be confessed:
• O, what a sad confession will there be!

F. Jac.

• And so did fair Maria send for me:
• I'll to her lodging: hereabouts she lies.
• [Exit.

F. Barn.

• What, all dead, save only Abigail?

Abig.

• And I shall die too, for I feel death coming.
• Where is the friar that conversed with me?

F. Barn.

• O, he is gone to see the other nuns.

  10

Abig.

• I sent for him, but seeing you are come,
• Be you my ghostly father: and first know,
• That in this house I lived religiously,
• Chaste, and devout, much sorrowing for my sins;
• But ere I came—

F. Barn.

• What then?

Abig.

• I did offend high Heaven so grievously,
• As I am almost desperate for my sins:
• And one offence torments me more than all.
• You knew Mathias and Don Lodowick?

  20

F. Barn.

• Yes, what of them?

Abig.

• My father did contract me to 'em both:
• First to Don Lodowick; him I never loved;
• Mathias was the man that I held dear,
• And for his sake did I become a nun.

F. Barn.

• So, say how was their end?

Abig.

• Both jealous of my love, envied each other,
• And by my father's practice, which is there
• [Gives a paper.
• Set down at large, the gallants were both slain.

F. Barn.

• O monstrous villainy!

  30

Abig.

• To work my peace, this I confess to thee;
• Reveal it not, for then my father dies.

F. Barn.

• Know that confession must not be revealed,
• The canon law forbids it, and the priest
• That makes it known, being degraded first,

Abig.

• So I have heard; pray, therefore keep it close.
• Death seizeth on my heart: ah gentle friar,
• Convert my father that he may be saved,
• And witness that I die a Christian.
• [Dies.

  40

F. Barn.

• Ay, and a virgin too; that grieves me most:
• But I must to the Jew and exclaim on him,
• And make him stand in fear of me.
• Enter Friar Jacomo.

F. Jac.

• O brother, all the nuns are dead, let's bury them.

F. Barn.

• First help to bury this, then go with me And help me to exclaim against the Jew.

F. Jac.

• Why, what has he done?

F. Barn.

• A thing that makes me tremble to unfold.

F. Jac.

• What, has he crucified a child?

F. Barn.

• No, but a worse thing: 'twas told me in shrift,

  50

• Thou know'st 'tis death an if it be revealed.
• Come, let's away.
• [Exeunt.

ACT THE FOURTH.

[1]Scene: a room in the convent.—The stage direction in the 4to. is “Enter two Friars and Abigail.”