_Bar._ As[68] for myself, I walk abroad o' nights And kill sick people groaning under walls: Sometimes I go about and poison wells; And now and then, to cherish Christian thieves, 180 I am content to lose some of my crowns, That I may, walking in my gallery, See 'em go pinioned along by my door. Being young, I studied physic, and began To practise first upon the Italian; There I enriched the priests with burials, And always kept the sextons' arms in ure[69] With digging graves and ringing dead men's knells: And after that was I an engineer, And in the wars 'twixt France and Germany, 190 Under pretence of helping Charles the Fifth, Slew friend and enemy with my stratagems. Then after that was I an usurer, And with extorting, cozening, forfeiting, And tricks belonging unto brokery, I filled the jails with bankrupts in a year, And with young orphans planted hospitals, And every moon made some or other mad, And now and then one hang himself for grief, Pinning upon his breast a long great scroll 200 How I with interest tormented him. But mark how I am blest for plaguing them; I have as much coin as will buy the town. But tell me now, how hast thou spent thy time? _Itha._ 'Faith, master, In setting Christian villages on fire, Chaining of eunuchs, binding galley-slaves. One time I was an hostler in an inn, And in the night time secretly would I steal To travellers' chambers, and there cut their throats: 210 Once at Jerusalem, where the pilgrims kneeled, I strewed powder on the marble stones, And therewithal their knees would rankle so That I have laughed a-good[70] to see the cripples Go limping home to Christendom on stilts. _Bar._ Why this is something: make account of me As of thy fellow; we are villains both: Both circumcisèd, we hate Christians both: Be true and secret, thou shalt want no gold. But stand aside, here comes Don Lodowick. 220 _Enter_ LODOWICK. _Lod._ O Barabas, well met; Where is the diamond you told me of? _Bar._ I have it for you, sir; please you walk in with me: What ho, Abigail![71] open the door, I say. _Enter_ ABIGAIL. _Abig._ In good time, father; here are letters come From Ormus, and the post stays here within. _Bar._ Give me the letters.--Daughter, do you hear, Entertain Lodowick the Governor's son With all the courtesy you can afford; Provided that you keep your maidenhead. 230 Use him as if he were a Philistine. Dissemble, swear, protest, vow love[72] to him, He is not of the seed of Abraham. I am a little busy, sir, pray pardon me. Abigail, bid him welcome for my sake. [_Aside._