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_ ACT III - SCENE II
[Enter MATHIAS.]
MATHIAS.
This is the place: [92] now Abigail shall see
Whether Mathias holds her dear or no.
[Enter LODOWICK.]
What, dares the villain write in such base terms?
[Looking at a letter.]
[Footnote 92: Enter MATHIAS.
MATHIAS. This is the place, &c.: The scene is some pert of the
town, as Barabas appears "ABOVE,"--in the balcony of a house.
(He stood, of course, on what was termed the upper-stage.)
Old ed. thus;
"Enter MATHIAS.
Math. This is the place, now Abigail shall see
Whether Mathias holds her deare or no.
Enter Lodow. reading.
Math. What, dares the villain write in such base terms?
Lod. I did it, and reuenge it if thou dar'st."]
LODOWICK.
I did it; and revenge it, if thou dar'st!
[They fight.]
[Enter BARABAS above.]
BARABAS.
O, bravely fought! and yet they thrust not home.
Now, Lodovico! [93] now, Mathias!--So;
[Both fall.]
So, now they have shew'd themselves to be tall [94] fellows.
[Cries within]
Part 'em, part 'em!
[Footnote 93: Lodovico: Old ed. "Lodowicke."--See note *, p. 158. (i.e. note 85.)]
[Footnote 94: tall: i.e. bold, brave.]
BARABAS.
Ay, part 'em now they are dead. Farewell, farewell!
[Exit above.]
[Enter FERNEZE, KATHARINE, and ATTENDANTS.]
FERNEZE.
What sight is this! [95] my Lodovico [96] slain!
These arms of mine shall be thy sepulchre. [97]
[Footnote 95: What sight is this!: i.e. What A sight is this! Our early writers often omit the article in such exclamations: compare Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR, act i. sc. 3, where Casca says,
"Cassius, WHAT NIGHT IS THIS!"
(after which words the modern editors improperly retain the interrogation-point of the first folio).]
[Footnote 96: Lodovico: Old ed. "Lodowicke."]
[Footnote 97: These arms of mine shall be thy sepulchre: So in Shakespeare's THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI., act ii. sc. 5, the Father says to the dead Son whom he has killed in battle,
"THESE ARMS OF MINE shall be thy winding-sheet;
My heart, sweet boy, SHALL BE THY SEPULCHRE,"--
lines, let me add, not to be found in THE TRUE TRAGEDIE OF
RICHARD DUKE OF YORKE, on which Shakespeare formed that play.]
KATHARINE.
Who is this? my son Mathias slain!
FERNEZE.
O Lodowick, hadst thou perish'd by the Turk,
Wretched Ferneze might have veng'd thy death!
KATHARINE.
Thy son slew mine, and I'll revenge his death.
FERNEZE.
Look, Katharine, look! thy son gave mine these wounds.
KATHARINE.
O, leave to grieve me! I am griev'd enough.
FERNEZE.
O, that my sighs could turn to lively breath,
And these my tears to blood, that he might live!
KATHARINE.
Who made them enemies?
FERNEZE.
I know not; and that grieves me most of all.
KATHARINE.
My son lov'd thine.
FERNEZE.
And so did Lodowick him.
KATHARINE.
Lend me that weapon that did kill my son,
And it shall murder me.
FERNEZE.
Nay, madam, stay; that weapon was my son's,
And on that rather should Ferneze die.
KATHARINE.
Hold; let's inquire the causers of their deaths,
That we may venge their blood upon their heads.
FERNEZE.
Then take them up, and let them be interr'd
Within one sacred monument of stone;
Upon which altar I will offer up
My daily sacrifice of sighs and tears,
And with my prayers pierce impartial heavens,
Till they [reveal] the causers of our smarts,
Which forc'd their hands divide united hearts.
Come, Katharine; [98] our losses equal are;
Then of true grief let us take equal share.
[Exeunt with the bodies.]
[Footnote 98: Katharine: Old ed. "Katherina."] _
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