SCENE I.
Reading edition
Enter [40] Barabas with a light. Bar. Thus, [41] like the sad presaging raven, that tolls The sick man's passport in her hollow beak, And in the shadow of the silent night Doth shake contagion from her sable wings; Vexed and tormented runs poor Barabas With fatal curses towards these Christians The uncertain pleasures of swift-footed time Have ta'en their flight, and left me in despair; And of my former riches rests no more But bare remembrance, like a soldier's scar,10 That has no further comfort for his maim. O thou, that with a fiery pillar led'st The sons of Israel through the dismal shades, Light Abraham's offspring; and direct the hand Of Abigail this night; or let the day Turn to eternal darkness after this: No sleep can fasten on my watchful eyes, Nor quiet enter my distempered thoughts, Till I have answer of my Abigail. Enter Abigail above. Abig. Now have I happily espied a time20 To search the plank my father did appoint; And here behold, unseen, where I have found The gold, the pearls, and jewels, which he hid. Bar. Now I remember those old women's words, Who in my wealth would tell me winter's tales, [42] And speak of spirits and ghosts that glide by night About the place where treasure hath been hid: [43] And now methinks that I am one of those: For whilst I live, here lives my soul's sole hope, And, when I die, here shall my spirit walk.30 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, He said he would attend me in the morn. Then, gentle sleep, where'er his body rests, Give charge to Morpheus that he may dream A golden dream, and of the sudden wake, [44] Come and receive the treasure I have found. Bar. Bueno para todos mi ganado no era: [45] As good go on as sit so sadly thus.40 But stay, what star shines yonder in the east? [46] The loadstar of my life, if Abigail. Who's there? Abig. Who's that? Bar. Peace, Abigail, 'tis I. Abig. Then, father, here receive thy happiness. [Throws down bags. 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! Welcome the first beginner of my bliss! O Abigail, Abigail, that I had thee here too!50 Then my desires were fully satisfied: But I will practise thy enlargement thence: O girl! O gold! O beauty! O my bliss! [Hugs his bags. Abig. Father, it draweth towards midnight now, And 'bout this time the nuns begin to wake; To shun suspicion, therefore, let us part. Bar. Farewell, my joy, and by my fingers take A kiss from him that sends it from his soul. [Exit Abigail above. Now Phœbus ope the eyelids [47] of the day, And for the raven wake the morning lark,60 That I may hover with her in the air; Singing o'er these, as she does o'er her young. Hermoso [48] Piarer de les Denirch. [Exit.