for I feel death coming. Where is the friar that convers'd with me? 121 FRIAR BARNARDINE. O, he is gone to see the other nuns. ABIGAIL. I sent for him; but, seeing you are come, Be you my ghostly father:  and first know, That in this house I liv'd religiously, Chaste, and devout, much sorrowing for my sins; But, ere I came—       FRIAR BARNARDINE. What then? ABIGAIL. I did offend high heaven so grievously As I am almost desperate for my sins; And one offense torments me more than all. You knew Mathias and Don Lodowick? FRIAR BARNARDINE. Yes; what of them? ABIGAIL. My father did contract me to 'em both; First to Don Lodowick:  him I never lov'd; Mathias was the man that I held dear, And for his sake did I become a nun. FRIAR BARNARDINE. So:  say how was their end? ABIGAIL. Both, jealous of my love, envied 122 each other; And by my father's practice, 123 which is there           [Gives writing.]      Set down at large, the gallants were both slain. FRIAR BARNARDINE. O, monstrous villany! ABIGAIL. To work my peace, this I confess to thee:      Reveal it not; for then my father dies. FRIAR BARNARDINE. Know that confession must not be reveal'd; The canon-law forbids it, and the priest That makes it known, being degraded first, Shall be condemn'd, and then sent to the fire. ABIGAIL. So I have heard; pray, therefore, keep it close. Death seizeth on my heart:  ah, gentle friar, Convert my father that he may be sav'd, And witness that I die a Christian!           [Dies.]       FRIAR BARNARDINE. Ay, and a virgin too; that grieves me most. But I must to the Jew, and exclaim on him, And make him stand in fear of me. Re-enter FRIAR JACOMO. FRIAR JACOMO. O brother, all the nuns are dead! let's bury them. FRIAR BARNARDINE. First help to bury this; then go with me, And help me to exclaim against the Jew. FRIAR JACOMO. Why, what has he done? FRIAR BARNARDINE. A thing that makes me tremble to unfold. FRIAR JACOMO. What, has he crucified a child? 124 FRIAR BARNARDINE. No, but a worse thing: 'twas told me in shrift; Thou know'st 'tis death, an if it be reveal'd. Come, let's away.           [Exeunt.] 

  

       ACT IV.     

           Enter BARABAS 125 and ITHAMORE. Bells within. BARABAS. There is no music to 126 a Christian's knell:      How sweet the bells ring, now the nuns are dead, That sound at other times like tinkers' pans! I was afraid the poison had not wrought, Or, 

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