O Ithamore, come near;
Come near, my love; come near, thy master's life,
My trusty servant, nay, my second self; [107]
For I have now no hope but even in thee,
And on that hope my happiness is built.
When saw'st thou Abigail?

ITHAMORE. To-day.

BARABAS. With whom?

ITHAMORE. A friar.

BARABAS. A friar! false villain, he hath done the deed.

ITHAMORE. How, sir!

BARABAS. Why, made mine Abigail a nun.

ITHAMORE. That's no lie; for she sent me for him.

BARABAS. O unhappy day!
False, credulous, inconstant Abigail!
But let 'em go: and, Ithamore, from hence
Ne'er shall she grieve me more with her disgrace;
Ne'er shall she live to inherit aught of mine,
Be bless'd of me, nor come within my gates,
But perish underneath my bitter curse,
Like Cain by Adam for his brother's death.

ITHAMORE. O master--

BARABAS. Ithamore, entreat not for her; I am mov'd,
And she is hateful to my soul and me:
And, 'less [108] thou yield to this that I entreat,
I cannot think but that thou hat'st my life.

ITHAMORE. Who, I, master? why, I'll run to some rock,
And throw myself headlong into the sea;
Why, I'll do any thing for your sweet sake.

BARABAS. O trusty Ithamore! no servant, but my friend!
I here adopt thee for mine only heir:
All that I have is thine when I am dead;
And, whilst I live, use half; spend as myself;
Here, take my keys,--I'll give 'em thee anon;
Go buy thee garments; but thou shalt not want:
Only know this, that thus thou art to do--
But first go fetch me in the pot of rice
That for our supper stands upon the fire.

ITHAMORE. I hold my head, my master's hungry [Aside].--I go, sir.
[Exit.]

BARABAS. Thus every villain ambles after wealth,
Although he ne'er be richer than in hope:--
But, husht!

Re-enter ITHAMORE with the pot.

ITHAMORE. Here 'tis, master.

BARABAS. Well said, [109] Ithamore! What, hast thou brought
The ladle with thee too?

ITHAMORE. Yes, sir; the proverb says, [110] he that eats with the
devil had need of a long spoon; I have brought you a ladle.

BARABAS. Very well, Ithamore; then now be secret;
And, for thy sake, whom I so dearly love,
Now shalt thou see the death of Abigail,
That thou mayst freel