y, Barabas, we seek.

BARABAS. How, my lord! my money!

FERNEZE. Thine and the rest;
For, to be short, amongst you't must be had.

FIRST JEW. Alas, my lord, the most of us are poor!

FERNEZE. Then let the rich increase your portions.

BARABAS. Are strangers with your tribute to be tax'd?

SECOND KNIGHT. Have strangers leave with us to get their wealth?
Then let them with us contribute.

BARABAS. How! equally?

FERNEZE. No, Jew, like infidels;
For through our sufferance of your hateful lives,
Who stand accursed in the sight of heaven,
These taxes and afflictions are befall'n,
And therefore thus we are determined.--
Read there the articles of our decrees.

OFFICER. [37] [reads] FIRST, THE TRIBUTE-MONEY OF THE TURKS
SHALL ALL BE LEVIED AMONGST THE JEWS, AND EACH OF THEM TO PAY
ONE HALF OF HIS ESTATE.

BARABAS. How! half his estate!--I hope you mean not mine.
[Aside.]

FERNEZE. Read on.

OFFICER. [reads] SECONDLY, HE THAT DENIES [38] TO PAY, SHALL
STRAIGHT-BECOME A CHRISTIAN.

BARABAS. How! a Christian!--Hum,--what's here to do?
[Aside.]

OFFICER. [reads] LASTLY, HE THAT DENIES THIS, SHALL ABSOLUTELY
LOSE ALL HE HAS.

THREE JEWS. O my lord, we will give half!

BARABAS. O earth-mettled villains, and no Hebrews born!
And will you basely thus submit yourselves
To leave your goods to their arbitrement?

FERNEZE. Why, Barabas, wilt thou be christened?

BARABAS. No, governor, I will be no convertite. [39]

FERNEZE. Then pay thy half.

BARABAS. Why, know you what you did by this device?
Half of my substance is a city's wealth.
Governor, it was not got so easily;
Nor will I part so slightly therewithal.

FERNEZE. Sir, half is the penalty of our decree;
Either pay that, or we will seize on all.

BARABAS. Corpo di Dio! stay: you shall have half;
Let me be us'd but as my brethren are.

FERNEZE. No, Jew, thou hast denied the articles,
And now it cannot be recall'd.
[Exeunt OFFICERS, on a sign from FERNEZE]

BARABAS. Will you, then, steal my goods?
Is theft the ground of your religion?

FERNEZE. No, Jew; we take particularly thine,
To save the ruin of a multitude:
And better one want for a common good,
Than many perish for a private