Page:The Jew of Malta - Marlowe (1633).pdf/31

 And knowing me impatient in distresse Thinke me so mad as I will hang my selfe, That I may vanish ore the earth in ayre, And leave no memory that e're I was. No, I will live; nor loath I this my life: And since you leave me in the Ocean thus To sinke or swim, and put me to my shifts, I'le rouse my senses, and awake my selfe. Daughter, I have it: thou perceiv'st the plight Wherein these Christians have oppressed me: Be rul'd by me, for in extremitie We ought to make barre of no policie.

Abig. Father, what e're it be to injure them That have so manifestly wronged us, What will not Abigall attempt?

Bar. Why so; then thus, thou toldst me they have turn'd my house Into a Nunnery, and some Nuns are there.

Abig. I did.

Bar. Then Abigall, there must my girle Intreat the Abbasse to be entertain'd.

Abig. How, as a Nunne?

Bar. I, Daughter, for Religion Hides many mischiefes from suspition.

Abig. I, but father they will suspect me there.

Bar. Let 'em suspect, but be thou so precise As they may thinke it done of Holinesse. Intreat 'em faire, and give them friendly speech, And seeme to them as if thy sinnes were great, Till thou hast gotten to be entertain'd.

Abig. Thus father shall I much dissemble.

Bar. Tush, as good dissemble that thou never mean'st As first meane truth, and then dissemble it, A counterfet profession is better Then unseene hypocrisie.

Abig. Well father, say I be entertain'd, What then shall follow?

Bar. This shall follow then;