know that it concerneth us. BARABAS. Then, good my lord, to keep your quiet still, Your lordship shall do well to let them have it. FERNEZE. Soft, Barabas! there's more 'longs to't than so. To what this ten years' tribute will amount, That we have cast, but cannot compass it By reason of the wars, that robb'd our store; And therefore are we to request your aid. BARABAS. Alas, my lord, we are no soldiers! And what's our aid against so great a prince? FIRST KNIGHT. Tut, Jew, we know thou art no soldier:      Thou art a merchant and a money'd man, And 'tis thy money, 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 

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