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diff --git a/901-8.txt b/901-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..db729dc --- /dev/null +++ b/901-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5059 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Jew of Malta, by Christopher Marlowe + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Jew of Malta + +Author: Christopher Marlowe + +Posting Date: July 26, 2008 [EBook #901] +Release Date: May 1997 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JEW OF MALTA *** + + + + +Produced by Gary R. Young + + + + + +THE JEW OF MALTA. + + + +By Christopher Marlowe + +Edited By The Rev. Alexander Dyce. + + + +The Famous Tragedy of The Rich Iew of Malta. As it was playd before the +King and Qveene, in His Majesties Theatre at White-Hall, by her +Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit. Written by Christopher Marlo. +London; Printed by I. B. for Nicholas Vavasour, and are to be sold at +his Shop in the Inner-Temple, neere the Church. 1633. 4to. + + + +TO MY WORTHY FRIEND, MASTER THOMAS HAMMON, of GRAY'S INN, ETC. + +This play, composed by so worthy an author as Master Marlowe, and the +part of the Jew presented by so unimitable an actor as Master Alleyn, +being in this later age commended to the stage; as I ushered it unto the +court, and presented it to the Cock-pit, with these Prologues and +Epilogues here inserted, so now being newly brought to the press, I was +loath it should be published without the ornament of an Epistle; making +choice of you unto whom to devote it; than whom (of all those gentlemen +and acquaintance within the compass of my long knowledge) there is none +more able to tax ignorance, or attribute right to merit. Sir, you have +been pleased to grace some of mine own works [1] with your courteous +patronage: I hope this will not be the worse accepted, because +commended by me; over whom none can claim more power or privilege than +yourself. I had no better a new-year's gift to present you with; +receive it therefore as a continuance of that inviolable obligement, by +which he rests still engaged, who, as he ever hath, shall always remain, + + Tuissimus, + Tho. Heywood. [2] + + + + + +THE PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT COURT. + + Gracious and great, that we so boldly dare + ('Mongst other plays that now in fashion are) + To present this, writ many years agone, + And in that age thought second unto none, + We humbly crave your pardon. We pursue + The story of a rich and famous Jew + Who liv'd in Malta: you shall find him still, + In all his projects, a sound Machiavill; + And that's his character. He that hath past + So many censures [3] is now come at last + To have your princely ears: grace you him; then + You crown the action, and renown the pen. + + + + +EPILOGUE SPOKEN AT COURT. + + It is our fear, dread sovereign, we have bin [4] + Too tedious; neither can't be less than sin + To wrong your princely patience: if we have, + Thus low dejected, we your pardon crave; + And, if aught here offend your ear or sight, + We only act and speak what others write. + + + + +THE PROLOGUE TO THE STAGE, AT THE COCK-PIT. + + We know not how our play may pass this stage, + But by the best of poets [5] in that age + THE MALTA-JEW had being and was made; + And he then by the best of actors [6] play'd: + In HERO AND LEANDER [7] one did gain + A lasting memory; in Tamburlaine, + This Jew, with others many, th' other wan + The attribute of peerless, being a man + Whom we may rank with (doing no one wrong) + Proteus for shapes, and Roscius for a tongue,-- + So could he speak, so vary; nor is't hate + To merit in him [8] who doth personate + Our Jew this day; nor is it his ambition + To exceed or equal, being of condition + More modest: this is all that he intends, + (And that too at the urgence of some friends,) + To prove his best, and, if none here gainsay it, + The part he hath studied, and intends to play it. + + + + +EPILOGUE TO THE STAGE, AT THE COCK-PIT. + + In graving with Pygmalion to contend, + Or painting with Apelles, doubtless the end + Must be disgrace: our actor did not so,-- + He only aim'd to go, but not out-go. + Nor think that this day any prize was play'd; [9] + Here were no bets at all, no wagers laid: [10] + All the ambition that his mind doth swell, + Is but to hear from you (by me) 'twas well. + + + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE. + + FERNEZE, governor of Malta. + LODOWICK, his son. + SELIM CALYMATH, son to the Grand Seignior. + MARTIN DEL BOSCO, vice-admiral of Spain. + MATHIAS, a gentleman. + JACOMO, | + BARNARDINE, | friars. + BARABAS, a wealthy Jew. + ITHAMORE, a slave. + PILIA-BORZA, a bully, attendant to BELLAMIRA. + Two Merchants. + Three Jews. + Knights, Bassoes, Officers, Guard, Slaves, Messenger, + and Carpenters + + KATHARINE, mother to MATHIAS. + ABIGAIL, daughter to BARABAS. + BELLAMIRA, a courtezan. + Abbess. + Nun. + + MACHIAVEL as Prologue speaker. + + Scene, Malta. + + + + + +THE JEW OF MALTA. + + Enter MACHIAVEL. + + MACHIAVEL. Albeit the world think Machiavel is dead, + Yet was his soul but flown beyond the Alps; + And, now the Guise [11] is dead, is come from France, + To view this land, and frolic with his friends. + To some perhaps my name is odious; + But such as love me, guard me from their tongues, + And let them know that I am Machiavel, + And weigh not men, and therefore not men's words. + Admir'd I am of those that hate me most: + Though some speak openly against my books, + Yet will they read me, and thereby attain + To Peter's chair; and, when they cast me off, + Are poison'd by my climbing followers. + I count religion but a childish toy, + And hold there is no sin but ignorance. + Birds of the air will tell of murders past! + I am asham'd to hear such fooleries. + Many will talk of title to a crown: + What right had Caesar to the empery? [12] + Might first made kings, and laws were then most sure + When, like the Draco's, [13] they were writ in blood. + Hence comes it that a strong-built citadel + Commands much more than letters can import: + Which maxim had [14] Phalaris observ'd, + H'ad never bellow'd, in a brazen bull, + Of great ones' envy: o' the poor petty wights + Let me be envied and not pitied. + But whither am I bound? I come not, I, + To read a lecture here [15] in Britain, + But to present the tragedy of a Jew, + Who smiles to see how full his bags are cramm'd; + Which money was not got without my means. + I crave but this,--grace him as he deserves, + And let him not be entertain'd the worse + Because he favours me. + [Exit.] + + + + +ACT I. [16] + + BARABAS discovered in his counting-house, with heaps + of gold before him. + + BARABAS. So that of thus much that return was made; + And of the third part of the Persian ships + There was the venture summ'd and satisfied. + As for those Samnites, [17] and the men of Uz, + That bought my Spanish oils and wines of Greece, + Here have I purs'd their paltry silverlings. [18] + Fie, what a trouble 'tis to count this trash! + Well fare the Arabians, who so richly pay + The things they traffic for with wedge of gold, + Whereof a man may easily in a day + Tell [19] that which may maintain him all his life. + The needy groom, that never finger'd groat, + Would make a miracle of thus much coin; + But he whose steel-barr'd coffers are cramm'd full, + And all his life-time hath been tired, + Wearying his fingers' ends with telling it, + Would in his age be loath to labour so, + And for a pound to sweat himself to death. + Give me the merchants of the Indian mines, + That trade in metal of the purest mould; + The wealthy Moor, that in the eastern rocks + Without control can pick his riches up, + And in his house heap pearl like pebble-stones, + Receive them free, and sell them by the weight; + Bags of fiery opals, sapphires, amethysts, + Jacinths, hard topaz, grass-green emeralds, + Beauteous rubies, sparkling diamonds, + And seld-seen [20] costly stones of so great price, + As one of them, indifferently rated, + And of a carat of this quantity, + May serve, in peril of calamity, + To ransom great kings from captivity. + This is the ware wherein consists my wealth; + And thus methinks should men of judgment frame + Their means of traffic from the vulgar trade, + And, as their wealth increaseth, so inclose + Infinite riches in a little room. + But now how stands the wind? + Into what corner peers my halcyon's bill? [21] + Ha! to the east? yes. See how stand the vanes-- + East and by south: why, then, I hope my ships + I sent for Egypt and the bordering isles + Are gotten up by Nilus' winding banks; + Mine argosy from Alexandria, + Loaden with spice and silks, now under sail, + Are smoothly gliding down by Candy-shore + To Malta, through our Mediterranean sea.-- + But who comes here? + + Enter a MERCHANT. + + How now! + + MERCHANT. Barabas, thy ships are safe, + Riding in Malta-road; and all the merchants + With other merchandise are safe arriv'd, + And have sent me to know whether yourself + Will come and custom them. [22] + + BARABAS. The ships are safe thou say'st, and richly fraught? + + MERCHANT. They are. + + BARABAS. Why, then, go bid them come ashore, + And bring with them their bills of entry: + I hope our credit in the custom-house + Will serve as well as I were present there. + Go send 'em threescore camels, thirty mules, + And twenty waggons, to bring up the ware. + But art thou master in a ship of mine, + And is thy credit not enough for that? + + MERCHANT. The very custom barely comes to more + Than many merchants of the town are worth, + And therefore far exceeds my credit, sir. + + BARABAS. Go tell 'em the Jew of Malta sent thee, man: + Tush, who amongst 'em knows not Barabas? + + MERCHANT. I go. + + BARABAS. So, then, there's somewhat come.-- + Sirrah, which of my ships art thou master of? + + MERCHANT. Of the Speranza, sir. + + BARABAS. And saw'st thou not + Mine argosy at Alexandria? + Thou couldst not come from Egypt, or by Caire, + But at the entry there into the sea, + Where Nilus pays his tribute to the main, + Thou needs must sail by Alexandria. + + MERCHANT. I neither saw them, nor inquir'd of them: + But this we heard some of our seamen say, + They wonder'd how you durst with so much wealth + Trust such a crazed vessel, and so far. + + BARABAS. Tush, they are wise! I know her and her strength. + But [23] go, go thou thy ways, discharge thy ship, + And bid my factor bring his loading in. + [Exit MERCHANT.] + And yet I wonder at this argosy. + + Enter a Second MERCHANT. + + SECOND MERCHANT. Thine argosy from Alexandria, + Know, Barabas, doth ride in Malta-road, + Laden with riches, and exceeding store + Of Persian silks, of gold, and orient pearl. + + BARABAS. How chance you came not with those other ships + That sail'd by Egypt? + + SECOND MERCHANT. Sir, we saw 'em not. + + BARABAS. Belike they coasted round by Candy-shore + About their oils or other businesses. + But 'twas ill done of you to come so far + Without the aid or conduct of their ships. + + SECOND MERCHANT. Sir, we were wafted by a Spanish fleet, + That never left us till within a league, + That had the galleys of the Turk in chase. + + BARABAS. O, they were going up to Sicily. + Well, go, + And bid the merchants and my men despatch, + And come ashore, and see the fraught [24] discharg'd. + + SECOND MERCHANT. I go. + [Exit.] + + BARABAS. Thus trolls our fortune in by land and sea, + And thus are we on every side enrich'd: + These are the blessings promis'd to the Jews, + And herein was old Abraham's happiness: + What more may heaven do for earthly man + Than thus to pour out plenty in their laps, + Ripping the bowels of the earth for them, + Making the sea[s] their servants, and the winds + To drive their substance with successful blasts? + Who hateth me but for my happiness? + Or who is honour'd now but for his wealth? + Rather had I, a Jew, be hated thus, + Than pitied in a Christian poverty; + For I can see no fruits in all their faith, + But malice, falsehood, and excessive pride, + Which methinks fits not their profession. + Haply some hapless man hath conscience, + And for his conscience lives in beggary. + They say we are a scatter'd nation: + I cannot tell; but we have scambled [25] up + More wealth by far than those that brag of faith: + There's Kirriah Jairim, the great Jew of Greece, + Obed in Bairseth, Nones in Portugal, + Myself in Malta, some in Italy, + Many in France, and wealthy every one; + Ay, wealthier far than any Christian. + I must confess we come not to be kings: + That's not our fault: alas, our number's few! + And crowns come either by succession, + Or urg'd by force; and nothing violent, + Oft have I heard tell, can be permanent. + Give us a peaceful rule; make Christians kings, + That thirst so much for principality. + I have no charge, nor many children, + But one sole daughter, whom I hold as dear + As Agamemnon did his Iphigen; + And all I have is hers.--But who comes here? + + Enter three JEWS. [26] + + FIRST JEW. Tush, tell not me; 'twas done of policy. + + SECOND JEW. Come, therefore, let us go to Barabas; + For he can counsel best in these affairs: + And here he comes. + + BARABAS. Why, how now, countrymen! + Why flock you thus to me in multitudes? + What accident's betided to the Jews? + + FIRST JEW. A fleet of warlike galleys, Barabas, + Are come from Turkey, and lie in our road: + And they this day sit in the council-house + To entertain them and their embassy. + + BARABAS. Why, let 'em come, so they come not to war; + Or let 'em war, so we be conquerors.-- + Nay, let 'em combat, conquer, and kill all, + So they spare me, my daughter, and my wealth. + [Aside.] + + FIRST JEW. Were it for confirmation of a league, + They would not come in warlike manner thus. + + SECOND JEW. I fear their coming will afflict us all. + + BARABAS. Fond [27] men, what dream you of their multitudes? + What need they treat of peace that are in league? + The Turks and those of Malta are in league: + Tut, tut, there is some other matter in't. + + FIRST JEW. Why, Barabas, they come for peace or war. + + BARABAS. Haply for neither, but to pass along, + Towards Venice, by the Adriatic sea, + With whom they have attempted many times, + But never could effect their stratagem. + + THIRD JEW. And very wisely said; it may be so. + + SECOND JEW. But there's a meeting in the senate-house, + And all the Jews in Malta must be there. + + BARABAS. Hum,--all the Jews in Malta must be there! + Ay, like enough: why, then, let every man + Provide him, and be there for fashion-sake. + If any thing shall there concern our state, + Assure yourselves I'll look--unto myself. + [Aside.] [28] + + FIRST JEW. I know you will.--Well, brethren, let us go. + + SECOND JEW. Let's take our leaves.--Farewell, good Barabas. + + BARABAS. [29] Farewell, Zaareth; farewell, Temainte. + [Exeunt JEWS.] + And, Barabas, now search this secret out; + Summon thy senses, call thy wits together: + These silly men mistake the matter clean. + Long to the Turk did Malta contribute; + Which tribute all in policy, I fear, + The Turk has [30] let increase to such a sum + As all the wealth of Malta cannot pay; + And now by that advantage thinks, belike, + To seize upon the town; ay, that he seeks. + Howe'er the world go, I'll make sure for one, + And seek in time to intercept the worst, + Warily guarding that which I ha' got: + Ego mihimet sum semper proximus: [31] + Why, let 'em enter, let 'em take the town. + [Exit.] [32] + + Enter FERNEZE governor of Malta, KNIGHTS, and OFFICERS; + met by CALYMATH, and BASSOES of the TURK. + + FERNEZE. Now, bassoes, [33] what demand you at our hands? + + FIRST BASSO. Know, knights of Malta, that we came from Rhodes, + ]From Cyprus, Candy, and those other isles + That lie betwixt the Mediterranean seas. + + FERNEZE. What's Cyprus, Candy, and those other isles + To us or Malta? what at our hands demand ye? + + CALYMATH. The ten years' tribute that remains unpaid. + + FERNEZE. Alas, my lord, the sum is over-great! + I hope your highness will consider us. + + CALYMATH. I wish, grave governor, [34] 'twere in my power + To favour you; but 'tis my father's cause, + Wherein I may not, nay, I dare not dally. + + FERNEZE. Then give us leave, great Selim Calymath. + + CALYMATH. Stand all aside, [35] and let the knights determine; + And send to keep our galleys under sail, + For happily [36] we shall not tarry here.-- + Now, governor, how are you resolv'd? + + FERNEZE. Thus; since your hard conditions are such + That you will needs have ten years' tribute past, + We may have time to make collection + Amongst the inhabitants of Malta for't. + + FIRST BASSO. That's more than is in our commission. + + CALYMATH. What, Callapine! a little courtesy: + Let's know their time; perhaps it is not long; + And 'tis more kingly to obtain by peace + Than to enforce conditions by constraint.-- + What respite ask you, governor? + + FERNEZE. But a month. + + CALYMATH. We grant a month; but see you keep your promise. + Now launch our galleys back again to sea, + Where we'll attend the respite you have ta'en, + And for the money send our messenger. + Farewell, great governor, and brave knights of Malta. + + FERNEZE. And all good fortune wait on Calymath! + [Exeunt CALYMATH and BASSOES.] + Go one and call those Jews of Malta hither: + Were they not summon'd to appear to-day? + + FIRST OFFICER. They were, my lord; and here they come. + + Enter BARABAS and three JEWS. + + FIRST KNIGHT. Have you determin'd what to say to them? + + FERNEZE. Yes; give me leave:--and, Hebrews, now come near. + ]From the Emperor of Turkey is arriv'd + Great Selim Calymath, his highness' son, + To levy of us ten years' tribute past: + Now, then, here 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 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 man: + Yet, Barabas, we will not banish thee, + But here in Malta, where thou gott'st thy wealth, + Live still; and, if thou canst, get more. + + BARABAS. Christians, what or how can I multiply? + Of naught is nothing made. + + FIRST KNIGHT. From naught at first thou cam'st to little wealth, + ]From little unto more, from more to most: + If your first curse fall heavy on thy head, + And make thee poor and scorn'd of all the world, + 'Tis not our fault, but thy inherent sin. + + BARABAS. What, bring you Scripture to confirm your wrongs? + Preach me not out of my possessions. + Some Jews are wicked, as all Christians are: + But say the tribe that I descended of + Were all in general cast away for sin, + Shall I be tried by their transgression? + The man that dealeth righteously shall live; + And which of you can charge me otherwise? + + FERNEZE. Out, wretched Barabas! + Sham'st thou not thus to justify thyself, + As if we knew not thy profession? + If thou rely upon thy righteousness, + Be patient, and thy riches will increase. + Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness; + And covetousness, O, 'tis a monstrous sin! + + BARABAS. Ay, but theft is worse: tush! take not from me, then, + For that is theft; and, if you rob me thus, + I must be forc'd to steal, and compass more. + + FIRST KNIGHT. Grave governor, list not to his exclaims: + Convert his mansion to a nunnery; + His house will harbour many holy nuns. + + FERNEZE. It shall be so. + + Re-enter OFFICERS. + + Now, officers, have you done? + + FIRST OFFICER. Ay, my lord, we have seiz'd upon the goods + And wares of Barabas, which, being valu'd, + Amount to more than all the wealth in Malta: + And of the other we have seized half. + + FERNEZE. Then we'll take [40] order for the residue. + + BARABAS. Well, then, my lord, say, are you satisfied? + You have my goods, my money, and my wealth, + My ships, my store, and all that I enjoy'd; + And, having all, you can request no more, + Unless your unrelenting flinty hearts + Suppress all pity in your stony breasts, + And now shall move you to bereave my life. + + FERNEZE. No, Barabas; to stain our hands with blood + Is far from us and our profession. + + BARABAS. Why, I esteem the injury far less, + To take the lives of miserable men + Than be the causers of their misery. + You have my wealth, the labour of my life, + The comfort of mine age, my children's hope; + And therefore ne'er distinguish of the wrong. + + FERNEZE. Content thee, Barabas; thou hast naught but right. + + BARABAS. Your extreme right does me exceeding wrong: + But take it to you, i'the devil's name! + + FERNEZE. Come, let us in, and gather of these goods + The money for this tribute of the Turk. + + FIRST KNIGHT. 'Tis necessary that be look'd unto; + For, if we break our day, we break the league, + And that will prove but simple policy. + [Exeunt all except BARABAS and the three JEWS.] + + BARABAS. Ay, policy! that's their profession, + And not simplicity, as they suggest.-- + The plagues of Egypt, and the curse of heaven, + Earth's barrenness, and all men's hatred, + Inflict upon them, thou great Primus Motor! + And here upon my knees, striking the earth, + I ban their souls to everlasting pains, + And extreme tortures of the fiery deep, + That thus have dealt with me in my distress! + + FIRST JEW. O, yet be patient, gentle Barabas! + + BARABAS. O silly brethren, born to see this day, + Why stand you thus unmov'd with my laments? + Why weep you not to think upon my wrongs? + Why pine not I, and die in this distress? + + FIRST JEW. Why, Barabas, as hardly can we brook + The cruel handling of ourselves in this: + Thou seest they have taken half our goods. + + BARABAS. Why did you yield to their extortion? + You were a multitude, and I but one; + And of me only have they taken all. + + FIRST JEW. Yet, brother Barabas, remember Job. + + BARABAS. What tell you me of Job? I wot his wealth + Was written thus; he had seven thousand sheep, + Three thousand camels, and two hundred yoke + Of labouring oxen, and five hundred + She-asses: but for every one of those, + Had they been valu'd at indifferent rate, + I had at home, and in mine argosy, + And other ships that came from Egypt last, + As much as would have bought his beasts and him, + And yet have kept enough to live upon; + So that not he, but I, may curse the day, + Thy fatal birth-day, forlorn Barabas; + And henceforth wish for an eternal night, + That clouds of darkness may inclose my flesh, + And hide these extreme sorrows from mine eyes; + For only I have toil'd to inherit here + The months of vanity, and loss of time, + And painful nights, have been appointed me. + + SECOND JEW. Good Barabas, be patient. + + BARABAS. Ay, I pray, leave me in my patience. You, that + Were ne'er possess'd of wealth, are pleas'd with want; + But give him liberty at least to mourn, + That in a field, amidst his enemies, + Doth see his soldiers slain, himself disarm'd, + And knows no means of his recovery: + Ay, let me sorrow for this sudden chance; + 'Tis in the trouble of my spirit I speak: + Great injuries are not so soon forgot. + + FIRST JEW. Come, let us leave him; in his ireful mood + Our words will but increase his ecstasy. [41] + + SECOND JEW. On, then: but, trust me, 'tis a misery + To see a man in such affliction.-- + Farewell, Barabas. + + BARABAS. Ay, fare you well. + [Exeunt three JEWS.] [42] + See the simplicity of these base slaves, + Who, for the villains have no wit themselves, + Think me to be a senseless lump of clay, + That will with every water wash to dirt! + No, Barabas is born to better chance, + And fram'd of finer mould than common men, + That measure naught but by the present time. + A reaching thought will search his deepest wits, + And cast with cunning for the time to come; + For evils are apt to happen every day. + + Enter ABIGAIL. + + But whither wends my beauteous Abigail? + O, what has made my lovely daughter sad? + What, woman! moan not for a little loss; + Thy father has enough in store for thee. + + ABIGAIL. Nor for myself, but aged Barabas, + Father, for thee lamenteth Abigail: + But I will learn to leave these fruitless tears; + And, urg'd thereto with my afflictions, + With fierce exclaims run to the senate-house, + And in the senate reprehend them all, + And rent their hearts with tearing of my hair, + Till they reduce [43] the wrongs done to my father. + + BARABAS. No, Abigail; things past recovery + Are hardly cur'd with exclamations: + Be silent, daughter; sufferance breeds ease, + And time may yield us an occasion, + Which on the sudden cannot serve the turn. + Besides, my girl, think me not all so fond [44] + As negligently to forgo so much + Without provision for thyself and me: + Ten thousand portagues, [45] besides great pearls, + Rich costly jewels, and stones infinite, + Fearing the worst of this before it fell, + I closely hid. + + ABIGAIL. Where, father? + + BARABAS. In my house, my girl. + + ABIGAIL. Then shall they ne'er be seen of Barabas; + For they have seiz'd upon thy house and wares. + + BARABAS. But they will give me leave once more, I trow, + To go into my house. + + ABIGAIL. That may they not; + For there I left the governor placing nuns, + Displacing me; and of thy house they mean + To make a nunnery, where none but their own sect [46] + Must enter in; men generally barr'd. + + BARABAS. My gold, my gold, and all my wealth is gone!-- + You partial heavens, have I deserv'd this plague? + What, will you thus oppose me, luckless stars, + To make me desperate in my poverty? + And, knowing me impatient in distress, + Think me so mad as I will hang myself, + That I may vanish o'er the earth in air, + And leave no memory that e'er I was? + No, I will live; nor loathe I this my life: + And, since you leave me in the ocean thus + To sink or swim, and put me to my shifts, + I'll rouse my senses, and awake myself.-- + Daughter, I have it: thou perceiv'st the plight + Wherein these Christians have oppressed me: + Be rul'd by me, for in extremity + We ought to make bar of no policy. + + ABIGAIL. Father, whate'er it be, to injure them + That have so manifestly wronged us, + What will not Abigail attempt? + + BARABAS. Why, so. + Then thus: thou told'st me they have turn'd my house + Into a nunnery, and some nuns are there? + + ABIGAIL. I did. + + BARABAS. Then, Abigail, there must my girl + Entreat the abbess to be entertain'd. + + ABIGAIL. How! as a nun? + + BARABAS. Ay, daughter; for religion + Hides many mischiefs from suspicion. + + ABIGAIL. Ay, but, father, they will suspect me there. + + BARABAS. Let 'em suspect; but be thou so precise + As they may think it done of holiness: + Entreat 'em fair, and give them friendly speech, + And seem to them as if thy sins were great, + Till thou hast gotten to be entertain'd. + + ABIGAIL. Thus, father, shall I much dissemble. + + BARABAS. Tush! + As good dissemble that thou never mean'st, + As first mean truth and then dissemble it: + A counterfeit profession is better + Than unseen hypocrisy. + + ABIGAIL. Well, father, say I be entertain'd, + What then shall follow? + + BARABAS. This shall follow then. + There have I hid, close underneath the plank + That runs along the upper-chamber floor, + The gold and jewels which I kept for thee:-- + But here they come: be cunning, Abigail. + + ABIGAIL. Then, father, go with me. + + BARABAS. No, Abigail, in this + It is not necessary I be seen; + For I will seem offended with thee for't: + Be close, my girl, for this must fetch my gold. + [They retire.] + + Enter FRIAR JACOMO, [47] FRIAR BARNARDINE, ABBESS, and a NUN. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Sisters, + We now are almost at the new-made nunnery. + + ABBESS. [48] The better; for we love not to be seen: + 'Tis thirty winters long since some of us + Did stray so far amongst the multitude. + + FRIAR JACOMO. But, madam, this house + And waters of this new-made nunnery + Will much delight you. + + ABBESS. It may be so.--But who comes here? + + [ABIGAIL comes forward.] + + ABIGAIL. Grave abbess, and you happy virgins' guide, + Pity the state of a distressed maid! + + ABBESS. What art thou, daughter? + + ABIGAIL. The hopeless daughter of a hapless Jew, + The Jew of Malta, wretched Barabas, + Sometimes [49] the owner of a goodly house, + Which they have now turn'd to a nunnery. + + ABBESS. Well, daughter, say, what is thy suit with us? + + ABIGAIL. Fearing the afflictions which my father feels + Proceed from sin or want of faith in us, + I'd pass away my life in penitence, + And be a novice in your nunnery, + To make atonement for my labouring soul. + + FRIAR JACOMO. No doubt, brother, but this proceedeth of + the spirit. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. + Ay, and of a moving spirit too, brother: but come, + Let us entreat she may be entertain'd. + + ABBESS. Well, daughter, we admit you for a nun. + + ABIGAIL. First let me as a novice learn to frame + My solitary life to your strait laws, + And let me lodge where I was wont to lie: + I do not doubt, by your divine precepts + And mine own industry, but to profit much. + + BARABAS. As much, I hope, as all I hid is worth. + [Aside.] + + ABBESS. Come, daughter, follow us. + + BARABAS. [coming forward] Why, how now, Abigail! + What mak'st thou 'mongst these hateful Christians? + + FRIAR JACOMO. Hinder her not, thou man of little faith, + For she has mortified herself. + + BARABAS. How! mortified! + + FRIAR JACOMO. And is admitted to the sisterhood. + + BARABAS. Child of perdition, and thy father's shame! + What wilt thou do among these hateful fiends? + I charge thee on my blessing that thou leave + These devils and their damned heresy! + + ABIGAIL. Father, forgive me-- [50] + + BARABAS. Nay, back, Abigail, + And think upon the jewels and the gold; + The board is marked thus that covers it.-- + [Aside to ABIGAIL in a whisper.] + Away, accursed, from thy father's sight! + + FRIAR JACOMO. Barabas, although thou art in misbelief, + And wilt not see thine own afflictions, + Yet let thy daughter be no longer blind. + + BARABAS. Blind friar, I reck not thy persuasions,-- + The board is marked thus [51] that covers it-- + [Aside to ABIGAIL in a whisper.] + For I had rather die than see her thus.-- + Wilt thou forsake me too in my distress, + Seduced daughter?--Go, forget not.-- [52] + [Aside to her in a whisper.] + Becomes it Jews to be so credulous?-- + To-morrow early I'll be at the door.-- + [Aside to her in a whisper.] + No, come not at me; if thou wilt be damn'd, + Forget me, see me not; and so, be gone!-- + Farewell; remember to-morrow morning.-- + [Aside to her in a whisper.] + Out, out, thou wretch! + [Exit, on one side, BARABAS. Exeunt, on the other side, + FRIARS, ABBESS, NUN, and ABIGAIL: and, as they are going + out,] + + Enter MATHIAS. + + MATHIAS. Who's this? fair Abigail, the rich Jew's daughter, + Become a nun! her father's sudden fall + Has humbled her, and brought her down to this: + Tut, she were fitter for a tale of love, + Than to be tired out with orisons; + And better would she far become a bed, + Embraced in a friendly lover's arms, + Than rise at midnight to a solemn mass. + + Enter LODOWICK. + + LODOWICK. Why, how now, Don Mathias! in a dump? + + MATHIAS. Believe me, noble Lodowick, I have seen + The strangest sight, in my opinion, + That ever I beheld. + + LODOWICK. What was't, I prithee? + + MATHIAS. A fair young maid, scarce fourteen years of age, + The sweetest flower in Cytherea's field, + Cropt from the pleasures of the fruitful earth, + And strangely metamorphos'd [to a] nun. + + LODOWICK. But say, what was she? + + MATHIAS. Why, the rich Jew's daughter. + + LODOWICK. What, Barabas, whose goods were lately seiz'd? + Is she so fair? + + MATHIAS. And matchless beautiful, + As, had you seen her, 'twould have mov'd your heart, + Though countermin'd with walls of brass, to love, + Or, at the least, to pity. + + LODOWICK. An if she be so fair as you report, + 'Twere time well spent to go and visit her: + How say you? shall we? + + MATHIAS. I must and will, sir; there's no remedy. + + LODOWICK. And so will I too, or it shall go hard. + Farewell, Mathias. + + MATHIAS. Farewell, Lodowick. + [Exeunt severally.] + + + + +ACT II. + + Enter BARABAS, with a light. [53] + + BARABAS. Thus, like the sad-presaging raven, that tolls + The sick man's passport in her hollow beak, [54] + And in the shadow of the silent night + Doth shake contagion from her sable wings, + Vex'd and tormented runs poor Barabas + With fatal curses towards these Christians. + The incertain pleasures of swift-footed time + Have ta'en their flight, and left me in despair; + And of my former riches rests no more + But bare remembrance; like a soldier's scar, + That has no further comfort for his maim.-- + O Thou, that with a fiery pillar ledd'st + The sons of Israel through the dismal shades, + Light Abraham's offspring; and direct the hand + Of Abigail this night! or let the day + Turn to eternal darkness after this!-- + No sleep can fasten on my watchful eyes, + Nor quiet enter my distemper'd thoughts, + Till I have answer of my Abigail. + + Enter ABIGAIL above. + + ABIGAIL. Now have I happily espied a time + To search the plank my father did appoint; + And here, behold, unseen, where I have found + The gold, the pearls, and jewels, which he hid. + + BARABAS. Now I remember those old women's words, + Who in my wealth would tell me winter's tales, + And speak of spirits and ghosts that glide by night + About the place where treasure hath been hid: + And now methinks that I am one of those; + For, whilst I live, here lives my soul's sole hope, + And, when I die, here shall my spirit walk. + + ABIGAIL. Now that my father's fortune were so good + As but to be about this happy place! + 'Tis not so happy: yet, when we parted last, + He said he would attend me in the morn. + Then, gentle Sleep, where'er his body rests, + Give charge to Morpheus that he may dream + A golden dream, and of [55] the sudden wake, [56] + Come and receive the treasure I have found. + + BARABAS. Bueno para todos mi ganado no era: [57] + As good go on, as sit so sadly thus.-- + But stay: what star shines yonder in the east? [58] + The loadstar of my life, if Abigail.-- + Who's there? + + ABIGAIL. Who's that? + + BARABAS. Peace, Abigail! 'tis I. + + ABIGAIL. Then, father, here receive thy happiness. + + BARABAS. Hast thou't? + + ABIGAIL. Here.[throws down bags] Hast thou't? + There's more, and more, and more. + + BARABAS. O my girl, + My gold, my fortune, my felicity, + Strength to my soul, death to mine enemy; + Welcome the first beginner of my bliss! + O Abigail, Abigail, that I had thee here too! + Then my desires were fully satisfied: + But I will practice thy enlargement thence: + O girl! O gold! O beauty! O my bliss! + [Hugs the bags.] + + ABIGAIL. Father, it draweth towards midnight now, + And 'bout this time the nuns begin to wake; + To shun suspicion, therefore, let us part. + + BARABAS. Farewell, my joy, and by my fingers take + A kiss from him that sends it from his soul. + [Exit ABIGAIL above.] + Now, Phoebus, ope the eye-lids of the day. + And, for the raven, wake the morning lark, + That I may hover with her in the air, + Singing o'er these, as she does o'er her young. + Hermoso placer de los dineros. [59] + [Exit.] + + Enter FERNEZE, [60] MARTIN DEL BOSCO, KNIGHTS, and OFFICERS. + + FERNEZE. Now, captain, tell us whither thou art bound? + Whence is thy ship that anchors in our road? + And why thou cam'st ashore without our leave? + + MARTIN DEL BOSCO. Governor of Malta, hither am I bound; + My ship, the Flying Dragon, is of Spain, + And so am I; Del Bosco is my name, + Vice-admiral unto the Catholic King. + + FIRST KNIGHT. 'Tis true, my lord; therefore entreat [61] him well. + + MARTIN DEL BOSCO. + Our fraught is Grecians, Turks, and Afric Moors; + For late upon the coast of Corsica, + Because we vail'd not [62] to the Turkish [63] fleet, + Their creeping galleys had us in the chase: + But suddenly the wind began to rise, + And then we luff'd and tack'd, [64] and fought at ease: + Some have we fir'd, and many have we sunk; + But one amongst the rest became our prize: + The captain's slain; the rest remain our slaves, + Of whom we would make sale in Malta here. + + FERNEZE. Martin del Bosco, I have heard of thee: + Welcome to Malta, and to all of us! + But to admit a sale of these thy Turks, + We may not, nay, we dare not give consent, + By reason of a tributary league. + + FIRST KNIGHT. Del Bosco, as thou lov'st and honour'st us, + Persuade our governor against the Turk: + This truce we have is but in hope of gold, + And with that sum he craves might we wage war. + + MARTIN DEL BOSCO. Will knights of Malta be in league with Turks, + And buy it basely too for sums of gold? + My lord, remember that, to Europe's shame, + The Christian isle of Rhodes, from whence you came, + Was lately lost, and you were stated [65] here + To be at deadly enmity with Turks. + + FERNEZE. Captain, we know it; but our force is small. + + MARTIN DEL BOSCO. What is the sum that Calymath requires? + + FERNEZE. A hundred thousand crowns. + + MARTIN DEL BOSCO. My lord and king hath title to this isle, + And he means quickly to expel you hence; + Therefore be rul'd by me, and keep the gold: + I'll write unto his majesty for aid, + And not depart until I see you free. + + FERNEZE. On this condition shall thy Turks be sold.-- + Go, officers, and set them straight in show.-- + [Exeunt OFFICERS.] + Bosco, thou shalt be Malta's general; + We and our warlike knights will follow thee + Against these barbarous misbelieving Turks. + + MARTIN DEL BOSCO. So shall you imitate those you succeed; + For, when their hideous force environ'd Rhodes, + Small though the number was that kept the town, + They fought it out, and not a man surviv'd + To bring the hapless news to Christendom. + + FERNEZE. So will we fight it out: come, let's away. + Proud daring Calymath, instead of gold, + We'll send thee bullets wrapt in smoke and fire: + Claim tribute where thou wilt, we are resolv'd,-- + Honour is bought with blood, and not with gold. + [Exeunt.] + + Enter OFFICERS, [66] with ITHAMORE and other SLAVES. + + FIRST OFFICER. This is the market-place; here let 'em stand: + Fear not their sale, for they'll be quickly bought. + + SECOND OFFICER. Every one's price is written on his back, + And so much must they yield, or not be sold. + + FIRST OFFICER. + Here comes the Jew: had not his goods been seiz'd, + He'd give us present money for them all. + + Enter BARABAS. + + BARABAS. In spite of these swine-eating Christians, + (Unchosen nation, never circumcis'd, + Poor villains, such as were [67] ne'er thought upon + Till Titus and Vespasian conquer'd us,) + Am I become as wealthy as I was. + They hop'd my daughter would ha' been a nun; + But she's at home, and I have bought a house + As great and fair as is the governor's: + And there, in spite of Malta, will I dwell, + Having Ferneze's hand; whose heart I'll have, + Ay, and his son's too, or it shall go hard. + I am not of the tribe of Levi, I, + That can so soon forget an injury. + We Jews can fawn like spaniels when we please; + And when we grin we bite; yet are our looks + As innocent and harmless as a lamb's. + I learn'd in Florence how to kiss my hand, + Heave up my shoulders when they call me dog, + And duck as low as any bare-foot friar; + Hoping to see them starve upon a stall, + Or else be gather'd for in our synagogue, + That, when the offering-basin comes to me, + Even for charity I may spit into't.-- + Here comes Don Lodowick, the governor's son, + One that I love for his good father's sake. + + Enter LODOWICK. + + LODOWICK. I hear the wealthy Jew walked this way: + I'll seek him out, and so insinuate, + That I may have a sight of Abigail, + For Don Mathias tells me she is fair. + + BARABAS. Now will I shew myself to have more of the serpent than + the dove; that is, more knave than fool. + [Aside.] + + LODOWICK. Yond' walks the Jew: now for fair Abigail. + + BARABAS. Ay, ay, no doubt but she's at your command. + [Aside.] + + LODOWICK. Barabas, thou know'st I am the governor's son. + + BARABAS. + I would you were his father too, sir! that's all the harm + I wish you.--The slave looks like a hog's cheek new-singed. + [Aside.] + + LODOWICK. Whither walk'st thou, Barabas? + + BARABAS. No further: 'tis a custom held with us, + That when we speak with Gentiles like to you, + We turn into [68] the air to purge ourselves; + For unto us the promise doth belong. + + LODOWICK. Well, Barabas, canst help me to a diamond? + + BARABAS. O, sir, your father had my diamonds: + Yet I have one left that will serve your turn.-- + I mean my daughter; but, ere he shall have her, + I'll sacrifice her on a pile of wood: + I ha' the poison of the city [69] for him, + And the white leprosy. + [Aside.] + + LODOWICK. What sparkle does it give without a foil? + + BARABAS. The diamond that I talk of ne'er was foil'd:-- + But, when he touches it, it will be foil'd.-- [70] + [Aside.] + Lord Lodowick, it sparkles bright and fair. + + LODOWICK. Is it square or pointed? pray, let me know. + + BARABAS. Pointed it is, good sir,--but not for you. + [Aside.] + + LODOWICK. I like it much the better. + + BARABAS. So do I too. + + LODOWICK. How shews it by night? + + BARABAS. Outshines Cynthia's rays:-- + You'll like it better far o' nights than days. + [Aside.] + + LODOWICK. And what's the price? + + BARABAS. Your life, an if you have it [Aside].--O my lord, + We will not jar about the price: come to my house, + And I will give't your honour--with a vengeance. + [Aside.] + + LODOWICK. No, Barabas, I will deserve it first. + + BARABAS. Good sir, + Your father has deserv'd it at my hands, + Who, of mere charity and Christian ruth, + To bring me to religious purity, + And, as it were, in catechising sort, + To make me mindful of my mortal sins, + Against my will, and whether I would or no, + Seiz'd all I had, and thrust me out o' doors, + And made my house a place for nuns most chaste. + + LODOWICK. No doubt your soul shall reap the fruit of it. + + BARABAS. Ay, but, my lord, the harvest is far off: + And yet I know the prayers of those nuns + And holy friars, having money for their pains, + Are wondrous;--and indeed do no man good;-- + [Aside.] + And, seeing they are not idle, but still doing, + 'Tis likely they in time may reap some fruit, + I mean, in fullness of perfection. + + LODOWICK. Good Barabas, glance not at our holy nuns. + + BARABAS. No, but I do it through a burning zeal,-- + Hoping ere long to set the house a-fire; + For, though they do a while increase and multiply, + I'll have a saying to that nunnery.-- [71] + [Aside.] + As for the diamond, sir, I told you of, + Come home, and there's no price shall make us part, + Even for your honourable father's sake,-- + It shall go hard but I will see your death.-- + [Aside.] + But now I must be gone to buy a slave. + + LODOWICK. And, Barabas, I'll bear thee company. + + BARABAS. Come, then; here's the market-place.-- + What's the price of this slave? two hundred crowns! do the Turks + weigh so much? + + FIRST OFFICER. Sir, that's his price. + + BARABAS. What, can he steal, that you demand so much? + Belike he has some new trick for a purse; + An if he has, he is worth three hundred plates, [72] + So that, being bought, the town-seal might be got + To keep him for his life-time from the gallows: + The sessions-day is critical to thieves, + And few or none scape but by being purg'd. + + LODOWICK. Rat'st thou this Moor but at two hundred plates? + + FIRST OFFICER. No more, my lord. + + BARABAS. Why should this Turk be dearer than that Moor? + + FIRST OFFICER. Because he is young, and has more qualities. + + BARABAS. What, hast the philosopher's stone? an thou hast, break + my head with it, I'll forgive thee. + + SLAVE. [73] No, sir; I can cut and shave. + + BARABAS. Let me see, sirrah; are you not an old shaver? + + SLAVE. Alas, sir, I am a very youth! + + BARABAS. A youth! I'll buy you, and marry you to Lady Vanity, [74] + if you do well. + + SLAVE. I will serve you, sir. + + BARABAS. Some wicked trick or other: it may be, under colour + of shaving, thou'lt cut my throat for my goods. Tell me, + hast thou thy health well? + + SLAVE. Ay, passing well. + + BARABAS. So much the worse: I must have one that's sickly, an't + be but for sparing victuals: 'tis not a stone of beef a-day + will maintain you in these chops.--Let me see one that's + somewhat leaner. + + FIRST OFFICER. Here's a leaner; how like you him? + + BARABAS. Where wast thou born? + + ITHAMORE. In Thrace; brought up in Arabia. + + BARABAS. So much the better; thou art for my turn. + An hundred crowns? I'll have him; there's the coin. + [Gives money.] + + FIRST OFFICER. Then mark him, sir, and take him hence. + + BARABAS. Ay, mark him, you were best; for this is he + That by my help shall do much villany.-- + [Aside.] + My lord, farewell.--Come, sirrah; you are mine.-- + As for the diamond, it shall be yours: + I pray, sir, be no stranger at my house; + All that I have shall be at your command. + + Enter MATHIAS and KATHARINE. [75] + + MATHIAS. What make the Jew and Lodowick so private? + I fear me 'tis about fair Abigail. + [Aside.] + + BARABAS. [to LODOWICK.] Yonder comes Don Mathias; let us stay: [76] + He loves my daughter, and she holds him dear; + But I have sworn to frustrate both their hopes, + And be reveng'd upon the--governor. + [Aside.] + [Exit LODOWICK.] + + KATHARINE. This Moor is comeliest, is he not? speak, son. + + MATHIAS. No, this is the better, mother, view this well. + + BARABAS. Seem not to know me here before your mother, + Lest she mistrust the match that is in hand: + When you have brought her home, come to my house; + Think of me as thy father: son, farewell. + + MATHIAS. But wherefore talk'd Don Lodowick with you? + + BARABAS. Tush, man! we talk'd of diamonds, not of Abigail. + + KATHARINE. Tell me, Mathias, is not that the Jew? + + BARABAS. As for the comment on the Maccabees, + I have it, sir, and 'tis at your command. + + MATHIAS. Yes, madam, and my talk with him was [77] + About the borrowing of a book or two. + + KATHARINE. Converse not with him; he is cast off from heaven.-- + Thou hast thy crowns, fellow.--Come, let's away. + + MATHIAS. Sirrah Jew, remember the book. + + BARABAS. Marry, will I, sir. + [Exeunt KATHARlNE and MATHIAS.] + + FIRST OFFICER. Come, I have made a reasonable market; let's away. + [Exeunt OFFICERS with SLAVES.] + + BARABAS. Now let me know thy name, and therewithal + Thy birth, condition, and profession. + + ITHAMORE. Faith, sir, my birth is but mean; my name's Ithamore; + my profession what you please. + + BARABAS. Hast thou no trade? then listen to my words, + And I will teach [thee] that shall stick by thee: + First, be thou void of these affections, + Compassion, love, vain hope, and heartless fear; + Be mov'd at nothing, see thou pity none, + But to thyself smile when the Christians moan. + + ITHAMORE. O, brave, master! [78] I worship your nose [79] for this. + + BARABAS. As for myself, I walk abroad o' nights, + And kill sick people groaning under walls: + Sometimes I go about and poison wells; + And now and then, to cherish Christian thieves, + I am content to lose some of my crowns, + That I may, walking in my gallery, + See 'em go pinion'd along by my door. + Being young, I studied physic, and began + To practice first upon the Italian; + There I enrich'd the priests with burials, + And always kept the sexton's arms in ure [80] + With digging graves and ringing dead men's knells: + And, after that, was I an engineer, + And in the wars 'twixt France and Germany, + Under pretence of helping Charles the Fifth, + Slew friend and enemy with my stratagems: + Then, after that, was I an usurer, + And with extorting, cozening, forfeiting, + And tricks belonging unto brokery, + I fill'd the gaols with bankrupts in a year, + And with young orphans planted hospitals; + And every moon made some or other mad, + And now and then one hang himself for grief, + Pinning upon his breast a long great scroll + How I with interest tormented him. + But mark how I am blest for plaguing them;-- + I have as much coin as will buy the town. + But tell me now, how hast thou spent thy time? + + ITHAMORE. Faith, master, + In setting Christian villages on fire, + Chaining of eunuchs, binding galley-slaves. + One time I was an hostler in an inn, + And in the night-time secretly would I steal + To travellers' chambers, and there cut their throats: + Once at Jerusalem, where the pilgrims kneel'd, + I strewed powder on the marble stones, + And therewithal their knees would rankle so, + That I have laugh'd a-good [81] to see the cripples + Go limping home to Christendom on stilts. + + BARABAS. Why, this is something: make account of me + As of thy fellow; we are villains both; + Both circumcised; we hate Christians both: + Be true and secret; thou shalt want no gold. + But stand aside; here comes Don Lodowick. + + Enter LODOWICK. [82] + + LODOWICK. O, Barabas, well met; + Where is the diamond you told me of? + + BARABAS. I have it for you, sir: please you walk in with me.-- + What, ho, Abigail! open the door, I say! + + Enter ABIGAIL, with letters. + + ABIGAIL. In good time, father; here are letters come + ]From Ormus, and the post stays here within. + + BARABAS. Give me the letters.--Daughter, do you hear? + Entertain Lodowick, the governor's son, + With all the courtesy you can afford, + Provided that you keep your maidenhead: + Use him as if he were a Philistine; + Dissemble, swear, protest, vow love to him: [83] + He is not of the seed of Abraham.-- + [Aside to her.] + I am a little busy, sir; pray, pardon me.-- + Abigail, bid him welcome for my sake. + + ABIGAIL. For your sake and his own he's welcome hither. + + BARABAS. Daughter, a word more: kiss him, speak him fair, + And like a cunning Jew so cast about, + That ye be both made sure [84] ere you come out. + [Aside to her.] + + ABIGAIL. O father, Don Mathias is my love! + + BARABAS. I know it: yet, I say, make love to him; + Do, it is requisite it should be so.-- + [Aside to her.] + Nay, on my life, it is my factor's hand; + But go you in, I'll think upon the account. + [Exeunt ABIGAIL and LODOWICK into the house.] + The account is made, for Lodovico [85] dies. + My factor sends me word a merchant's fled + That owes me for a hundred tun of wine: + I weigh it thus much[snapping his fingers]! I have wealth enough; + For now by this has he kiss'd Abigail, + And she vows love to him, and he to her. + As sure as heaven rain'd manna for the Jews, + So sure shall he and Don Mathias die: + His father was my chiefest enemy. + + Enter MATHIAS. + + Whither goes Don Mathias? stay a while. + + MATHIAS. Whither, but to my fair love Abigail? + + BARABAS. Thou know'st, and heaven can witness it is true, + That I intend my daughter shall be thine. + + MATHIAS. Ay, Barabas, or else thou wrong'st me much. + + BARABAS. O, heaven forbid I should have such a thought! + Pardon me though I weep: the governor's son + Will, whether I will or no, have Abigail; + He sends her letters, bracelets, jewels, rings. + + MATHIAS. Does she receive them? + + BARABAS. She! no, Mathias, no, but sends them back; + And, when he comes, she locks herself up fast; + Yet through the key-hole will he talk to her, + While she runs to the window, looking out + When you should come and hale him from the door. + + MATHIAS. O treacherous Lodowick! + + BARABAS. Even now, as I came home, he slipt me in, + And I am sure he is with Abigail. + + MATHIAS. I'll rouse him thence. + + BARABAS. Not for all Malta; therefore sheathe your sword; + If you love me, no quarrels in my house; + But steal you in, and seem to see him not: + I'll give him such a warning ere he goes, + As he shall have small hopes of Abigail. + Away, for here they come. + + Re-enter LODOWICK and ABIGAIL. + + MATHIAS. What, hand in hand! I cannot suffer this. + + BARABAS. Mathias, as thou lov'st me, not a word. + + MATHIAS. Well, let it pass; another time shall serve. + [Exit into the house.] + + LODOWICK. Barabas, is not that the widow's son? + + BARABAS. Ay, and take heed, for he hath sworn your death. + + LODOWICK. My death! what, is the base-born peasant mad? + + BARABAS. No, no; but happily [86] he stands in fear + Of that which you, I think, ne'er dream upon,-- + My daughter here, a paltry silly girl. + + LODOWICK. Why, loves she Don Mathias? + + BARABAS. Doth she not with her smiling answer you? + + ABIGAIL. He has my heart; I smile against my will. + [Aside.] + + LODOWICK. Barabas, thou know'st I have lov'd thy daughter long. + + BARABAS. And so has she done you, even from a child. + + LODOWICK. And now I can no longer hold my mind. + + BARABAS. Nor I the affection that I bear to you. + + LODOWICK. This is thy diamond; tell me, shall I have it? + + BARABAS. Win it, and wear it; it is yet unsoil'd. [87] + O, but I know your lordship would disdain + To marry with the daughter of a Jew: + And yet I'll give her many a golden cross [88] + With Christian posies round about the ring. + + LODOWICK. 'Tis not thy wealth, but her that I esteem; + Yet crave I thy consent. + + BARABAS. And mine you have; yet let me talk to her.-- + This offspring of Cain, this Jebusite, + That never tasted of the Passover, + Nor e'er shall see the land of Canaan, + Nor our Messias that is yet to come; + This gentle maggot, Lodowick, I mean, + Must be deluded: let him have thy hand, + But keep thy heart till Don Mathias comes. + [Aside to her.] + + ABIGAIL. What, shall I be betroth'd to Lodowick? + + BARABAS. It's no sin to deceive a Christian; + For they themselves hold it a principle, + Faith is not to be held with heretics: + But all are heretics that are not Jews; + This follows well, and therefore, daughter, fear not.-- + [Aside to her.] + I have entreated her, and she will grant. + + LODOWICK. Then, gentle Abigail, plight thy faith to me. + + ABIGAIL. I cannot choose, seeing my father bids: + Nothing but death shall part my love and me. + + LODOWICK. Now have I that for which my soul hath long'd. + + BARABAS. So have not I; but yet I hope I shall. + [Aside.] + + ABIGAIL. O wretched Abigail, what hast thou [89] done? + [Aside.] + + LODOWICK. Why on the sudden is your colour chang'd? + + ABIGAIL. I know not: but farewell; I must be gone. + + BARABAS. Stay her, but let her not speak one word more. + + LODOWICK. Mute o' the sudden! here's a sudden change. + + BARABAS. O, muse not at it; 'tis the Hebrews' guise, + That maidens new-betroth'd should weep a while: + Trouble her not; sweet Lodowick, depart: + She is thy wife, and thou shalt be mine heir. + + LODOWICK. O, is't the custom? then I am resolv'd: [90] + But rather let the brightsome heavens be dim, + And nature's beauty choke with stifling clouds, + Than my fair Abigail should frown on me.-- + There comes the villain; now I'll be reveng'd. + + Re-enter MATHIAS. + + BARABAS. Be quiet, Lodowick; it is enough + That I have made thee sure to Abigail. + + LODOWICK. Well, let him go. + [Exit.] + + BARABAS. Well, but for me, as you went in at doors + You had been stabb'd: but not a word on't now; + Here must no speeches pass, nor swords be drawn. + + MATHIAS. Suffer me, Barabas, but to follow him. + + BARABAS. No; so shall I, if any hurt be done, + Be made an accessary of your deeds: + Revenge it on him when you meet him next. + + MATHIAS. For this I'll have his heart. + + BARABAS. Do so. Lo, here I give thee Abigail! + + MATHIAS. What greater gift can poor Mathias have? + Shall Lodowick rob me of so fair a love? + My life is not so dear as Abigail. + + BARABAS. My heart misgives me, that, to cross your love, + He's with your mother; therefore after him. + + MATHIAS. What, is he gone unto my mother? + + BARABAS. Nay, if you will, stay till she comes herself. + + MATHIAS. I cannot stay; for, if my mother come, + She'll die with grief. + [Exit.] + + ABIGAIL. I cannot take my leave of him for tears. + Father, why have you thus incens'd them both? + + BARABAS. What's that to thee? + + ABIGAIL. I'll make 'em friends again. + + BARABAS. + You'll make 'em friends! are there not Jews enow in Malta, + But thou must dote upon a Christian? + + ABIGAIL. I will have Don Mathias; he is my love. + + BARABAS. Yes, you shall have him.--Go, put her in. + + ITHAMORE. Ay, I'll put her in. + [Puts in ABIGAIL.] + + BARABAS. Now tell me, Ithamore, how lik'st thou this? + + ITHAMORE. Faith, master, I think by this + You purchase both their lives: is it not so? + + BARABAS. True; and it shall be cunningly perform'd. + + ITHAMORE. O, master, that I might have a hand in this! + + BARABAS. Ay, so thou shalt; 'tis thou must do the deed: + Take this, and bear it to Mathias straight, + [Giving a letter.] + And tell him that it comes from Lodowick. + + ITHAMORE. 'Tis poison'd, is it not? + + BARABAS. No, no; and yet it might be done that way: + It is a challenge feign'd from Lodowick. + + ITHAMORE. Fear not; I will so set his heart a-fire, + That he shall verily think it comes from him. + + BARABAS. I cannot choose but like thy readiness: + Yet be not rash, but do it cunningly. + + ITHAMORE. As I behave myself in this, employ me hereafter. + + BARABAS. Away, then! + [Exit ITHAMORE.] + So; now will I go in to Lodowick, + And, like a cunning spirit, feign some lie, + Till I have set 'em both at enmity. + [Exit.] + + + + +ACT III. + + Enter BELLAMIRA. [91] + + BELLAMIRA. Since this town was besieg'd, my gain grows cold: + The time has been, that but for one bare night + A hundred ducats have been freely given; + But now against my will I must be chaste: + And yet I know my beauty doth not fail. + ]From Venice merchants, and from Padua + Were wont to come rare-witted gentlemen, + Scholars I mean, learned and liberal; + And now, save Pilia-Borza, comes there none, + And he is very seldom from my house; + And here he comes. + + Enter PILIA-BORZA. + + PILIA-BORZA. + Hold thee, wench, there's something for thee to spend. + [Shewing a bag of silver.] + + BELLAMIRA. 'Tis silver; I disdain it. + + PILIA-BORZA. Ay, but the Jew has gold, + And I will have it, or it shall go hard. + + BELLAMIRA. Tell me, how cam'st thou by this? + + PILIA-BORZA. Faith, walking the back-lanes, through the gardens, + I chanced to cast mine eye up to the Jew's counting-house, where + I saw some bags of money, and in the night I clambered up with + my hooks; and, as I was taking my choice, I heard a rumbling in + the house; so I took only this, and run my way.--But here's the + Jew's man. + + BELLAMIRA. Hide the bag. + + Enter ITHAMORE. + + PILIA-BORZA. Look not towards him, let's away. Zoons, what a + looking thou keepest! thou'lt betray's anon. + [Exeunt BELLAMIRA and PILIA-BORZA.] + + ITHAMORE. O, the sweetest face that ever I beheld! I know she + is a courtezan by her attire: now would I give a hundred of + the Jew's crowns that I had such a concubine. + Well, I have deliver'd the challenge in such sort, + As meet they will, and fighting die,--brave sport! + [Exit.] + + 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.] + + 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! + + 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] + + 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.] + + Enter ITHAMORE. [99] + + ITHAMORE. Why, was there ever seen such villany, + So neatly plotted, and so well perform'd? + Both held in hand, [100] and flatly both beguil'd? + + Enter ABIGAIL. + + ABIGAIL. Why, how now, Ithamore! why laugh'st thou so? + + ITHAMORE. O mistress! ha, ha, ha! + + ABIGAIL. Why, what ail'st thou? + + ITHAMORE. O, my master! + + ABIGAIL. Ha! + + ITHAMORE. O mistress, I have the bravest, gravest, secret, + subtle, bottle-nosed [101] knave to my master, that ever + gentleman had! + + ABIGAIL. Say, knave, why rail'st upon my father thus? + + ITHAMORE. O, my master has the bravest policy! + + ABIGAIL. Wherein? + + ITHAMORE. Why, know you not? + + ABIGAIL. Why, no. + + ITHAMORE. + Know you not of Mathia[s'] and Don Lodowick['s] disaster? + + ABIGAIL. No: what was it? + + ITHAMORE. Why, the devil inverted a challenge, my master + writ it, and I carried it, first to Lodowick, and imprimis + to Mathia[s]; + And then they met, [and], as the story says, + In doleful wise they ended both their days. + + ABIGAIL. And was my father furtherer of their deaths? + + ITHAMORE. Am I Ithamore? + + ABIGAIL. Yes. + + ITHAMORE. + So sure did your father write, and I carry the challenge. + + ABIGAIL. Well, Ithamore, let me request thee this; + Go to the new-made nunnery, and inquire + For any of the friars of Saint Jaques, [102] + And say, I pray them come and speak with me. + + ITHAMORE. I pray, mistress, will you answer me to one question? + + ABIGAIL. Well, sirrah, what is't? + + ITHAMORE. A very feeling one: have not the nuns fine sport with + the friars now and then? + + ABIGAIL. Go to, Sirrah Sauce! is this your question? get ye gone. + + ITHAMORE. I will, forsooth, mistress. + [Exit.] + + ABIGAIL. Hard-hearted father, unkind Barabas! + Was this the pursuit of thy policy, + To make me shew them favour severally, + That by my favour they should both be slain? + Admit thou lov'dst not Lodowick for his sire, [103] + Yet Don Mathias ne'er offended thee: + But thou wert set upon extreme revenge, + Because the prior dispossess'd thee once, + And couldst not venge it but upon his son; + Nor on his son but by Mathias' means; + Nor on Mathias but by murdering me: + But I perceive there is no love on earth, + Pity in Jews, nor piety in Turks.-- + But here comes cursed Ithamore with the friar. + + Re-enter ITHAMORE with FRIAR JACOMO. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Virgo, salve. + + ITHAMORE. When duck you? + + ABIGAIL. Welcome, grave friar.--Ithamore, be gone. + [Exit ITHAMORE.] + Know, holy sir, I am bold to solicit thee. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Wherein? + + ABIGAIL. To get me be admitted for a nun. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Why, Abigail, it is not yet long since + That I did labour thy admission, + And then thou didst not like that holy life. + + ABIGAIL. Then were my thoughts so frail and unconfirm'd + As [104] I was chain'd to follies of the world: + But now experience, purchased with grief, + Has made me see the difference of things. + My sinful soul, alas, hath pac'd too long + The fatal labyrinth of misbelief, + Far from the sun that gives eternal life! + + FRIAR JACOMO. Who taught thee this? + + ABIGAIL. The abbess of the house, + Whose zealous admonition I embrace: + O, therefore, Jacomo, let me be one, + Although unworthy, of that sisterhood! + + FRIAR JACOMO. Abigail, I will: but see thou change no more, + For that will be most heavy to thy soul. + + ABIGAIL. That was my father's fault. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Thy father's! how? + + ABIGAIL. Nay, you shall pardon me.--O Barabas, + Though thou deservest hardly at my hands, + Yet never shall these lips bewray thy life! + [Aside.] + + FRIAR JACOMO. Come, shall we go? + + ABIGAIL. My duty waits on you. + [Exeunt.] + + Enter BARABAS, [105] reading a letter. + + BARABAS. What, Abigail become a nun again! + False and unkind! what, hast thou lost thy father? + And, all unknown and unconstrain'd of me, + Art thou again got to the nunnery? + Now here she writes, and wills me to repent: + Repentance! Spurca! what pretendeth [106] this? + I fear she knows--'tis so--of my device + In Don Mathias' and Lodovico's deaths: + If so, 'tis time that it be seen into; + For she that varies from me in belief, + Gives great presumption that she loves me not, + Or, loving, doth dislike of something done.-- + But who comes here? + + Enter ITHAMORE. + + 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 freely live to be my heir. + + ITHAMORE. Why, master, will you poison her with a mess of rice- + porridge? that will preserve life, make her round and plump, and + batten [111] more than you are aware. + + BARABAS. Ay, but, Ithamore, seest thou this? + It is a precious powder that I bought + Of an Italian, in Ancona, once, + Whose operation is to bind, infect, + And poison deeply, yet not appear + In forty hours after it is ta'en. + + ITHAMORE. How, master? + + BARABAS. Thus, Ithamore: + This even they use in Malta here,--'tis call'd + Saint Jaques' Even,--and then, I say, they use + To send their alms unto the nunneries: + Among the rest, bear this, and set it there: + There's a dark entry where they take it in, + Where they must neither see the messenger, + Nor make inquiry who hath sent it them. + + ITHAMORE. How so? + + BARABAS. Belike there is some ceremony in't. + There, Ithamore, must thou go place this pot: [112] + Stay; let me spice it first. + + ITHAMORE. Pray, do, and let me help you, master. + Pray, let me taste first. + + BARABAS. Prithee, do.[ITHAMORE tastes.] What say'st thou now? + + ITHAMORE. Troth, master, I'm loath such a pot of pottage should + be spoiled. + + BARABAS. Peace, Ithamore! 'tis better so than spar'd. + [Puts the powder into the pot.] + Assure thyself thou shalt have broth by the eye: [113] + My purse, my coffer, and myself is thine. + + ITHAMORE. Well, master, I go. + + BARABAS. Stay; first let me stir it, Ithamore. + As fatal be it to her as the draught + Of which great Alexander drunk, and died; + And with her let it work like Borgia's wine, + Whereof his sire the Pope was poisoned! + In few, [114] the blood of Hydra, Lerna's bane, + The juice of hebon, [115] and Cocytus' breath, + And all the poisons of the Stygian pool, + Break from the fiery kingdom, and in this + Vomit your venom, and envenom her + That, like a fiend, hath left her father thus! + + ITHAMORE. What a blessing has he given't! was ever pot of + rice-porridge so sauced? [Aside].--What shall I do with it? + + BARABAS. O my sweet Ithamore, go set it down; + And come again so soon as thou hast done, + For I have other business for thee. + + ITHAMORE. Here's a drench to poison a whole stable of Flanders + mares: I'll carry't to the nuns with a powder. + + BARABAS. And the horse-pestilence to boot: away! + + ITHAMORE. I am gone: + Pay me my wages, for my work is done. + [Exit with the pot.] + + BARABAS. I'll pay thee with a vengeance, Ithamore! + [Exit.] + + Enter FERNEZE, [116] MARTIN DEL BOSCO, KNIGHTS, and BASSO. + + FERNEZE. Welcome, great basso: [117] how fares Calymath? + What wind drives you thus into Malta-road? + + BASSO. The wind that bloweth all the world besides, + Desire of gold. + + FERNEZE. Desire of gold, great sir! + That's to be gotten in the Western Inde: + In Malta are no golden minerals. + + BASSO. To you of Malta thus saith Calymath: + The time you took for respite is at hand + For the performance of your promise pass'd; + And for the tribute-money I am sent. + + FERNEZE. Basso, in brief, shalt have no tribute here, + Nor shall the heathens live upon our spoil: + First will we raze the city-walls ourselves, + Lay waste the island, hew the temples down, + And, shipping off our goods to Sicily, + Open an entrance for the wasteful sea, + Whose billows, beating the resistless banks, [118] + Shall overflow it with their refluence. + + BASSO. Well, governor, since thou hast broke the league + By flat denial of the promis'd tribute, + Talk not of razing down your city-walls; + You shall not need trouble yourselves so far, + For Selim Calymath shall come himself, + And with brass bullets batter down your towers, + And turn proud Malta to a wilderness, + For these intolerable wrongs of yours: + And so, farewell. + + FERNEZE. Farewell. + [Exit BASSO.] + And now, you men of Malta, look about, + And let's provide to welcome Calymath: + Close your port-cullis, charge your basilisks, [119] + And, as you profitably take up arms, + So now courageously encounter them, + For by this answer broken is the league, + And naught is to be look'd for now but wars, + And naught to us more welcome is than wars. + [Exeunt.] + + Enter FRIAR JACOMO [120] and FRIAR BARNARDINE. + + FRIAR JACOMO. O brother, brother, all the nuns are sick, + And physic will not help them! they must die. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. The abbess sent for me to be confess'd: + O, what a sad confession will there be! + + FRIAR JACOMO. And so did fair Maria send for me: + I'll to her lodging; hereabouts she lies. + [Exit.] + + Enter ABIGAIL. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. What, all dead, save only Abigail! + + ABIGAIL. And I shall die too, 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, though it wrought, it would have done no good, + For every year they swell, and yet they live: + Now all are dead, not one remains alive. + + ITHAMORE. + That's brave, master: but think you it will not be known? + + BARABAS. How can it, if we two be secret? + + ITHAMORE. For my part, fear you not. + + BARABAS. I'd cut thy throat, if I did. + + ITHAMORE. And reason too. + But here's a royal monastery hard by; + Good master, let me poison all the monks. + + BARABAS. Thou shalt not need; for, now the nuns are dead, + They'll die with grief. + + ITHAMORE. Do you not sorrow for your daughter's death? + + BARABAS. No, but I grieve because she liv'd so long, + An Hebrew born, and would become a Christian: + Cazzo, [127] diabolo! + + ITHAMORE. + Look, look, master; here come two religious caterpillars. + + Enter FRIAR JACOMO and FRIAR BARNARDINE. + + BARABAS. I smelt 'em ere they came. + + ITHAMORE. God-a-mercy, nose! [128] Come, let's begone. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. Stay, wicked Jew; repent, I say, and stay. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Thou hast offended, therefore must be damn'd. + + BARABAS. I fear they know we sent the poison'd broth. + + ITHAMORE. And so do I, master; therefore speak 'em fair. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. Barabas, thou hast-- + + FRIAR JACOMO. Ay, that thou hast-- + + BARABAS. True, I have money; what though I have? + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. Thou art a-- + + FRIAR JACOMO. Ay, that thou art, a-- + + BARABAS. What needs all this? I know I am a Jew. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. Thy daughter-- + + FRIAR JACOMO. Ay, thy daughter-- + + BARABAS. O, speak not of her! then I die with grief. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. Remember that-- + + FRIAR JACOMO. Ay, remember that-- + + BARABAS. I must needs say that I have been a great usurer. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. Thou hast committed-- + + BARABAS. Fornication: but that was in another country; + And besides, the wench is dead. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. Ay, but, Barabas, + Remember Mathias and Don Lodowick. + + BARABAS. Why, what of them? + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. + I will not say that by a forged challenge they met. + + BARABAS. She has confess'd, and we are both undone, + My bosom inmate! [129] but I must dissemble.-- + [Aside to ITHAMORE.] + O holy friars, the burden of my sins + Lie heavy [130] on my soul! then, pray you, tell me, + Is't not too late now to turn Christian? + I have been zealous in the Jewish faith, + Hard-hearted to the poor, a covetous wretch, + That would for lucre's sake have sold my soul; + A hundred for a hundred I have ta'en; + And now for store of wealth may I compare + With all the Jews in Malta: but what is wealth? + I am a Jew, and therefore am I lost. + Would penance serve [to atone] for this my sin, + I could afford to whip myself to death,-- + + ITHAMORE. And so could I; but penance will not serve. + + BARABAS. To fast, to pray, and wear a shirt of hair, + And on my knees creep to Jerusalem. + Cellars of wine, and sollars [131] full of wheat, + Warehouses stuff'd with spices and with drugs, + Whole chests of gold in bullion and in coin, + Besides, I know not how much weight in pearl + Orient and round, have I within my house; + At Alexandria merchandise untold; [132] + But yesterday two ships went from this town, + Their voyage will be worth ten thousand crowns; + In Florence, Venice, Antwerp, London, Seville, + Frankfort, Lubeck, Moscow, and where not, + Have I debts owing; and, in most of these, + Great sums of money lying in the banco; + All this I'll give to some religious house, + So I may be baptiz'd, and live therein. + + FRIAR JACOMO. O good Barabas, come to our house! + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. O, no, good Barabas, come to our house! + And, Barabas, you know-- + + BARABAS. I know that I have highly sinn'd: + You shall convert me, you shall have all my wealth. + + FRIAR JACOMO. O Barabas, their laws are strict! + + BARABAS. I know they are; and I will be with you. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. They wear no shirts, and they go bare-foot too. + + BARABAS. Then 'tis not for me; and I am resolv'd + You shall confess me, and have all my goods. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Good Barabas, come to me. + + BARABAS. You see I answer him, and yet he stays; + Rid him away, and go you home with me. + + FRIAR JACOMO. I'll be with you to-night. + + BARABAS. Come to my house at one o'clock this night. + + FRIAR JACOMO. You hear your answer, and you may be gone. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. Why, go, get you away. + + FRIAR JACOMO. I will not go for thee. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. Not! then I'll make thee go. + + FRIAR JACOMO. How! dost call me rogue? + + [They fight.] + + ITHAMORE. Part 'em, master, part 'em. + + BARABAS. This is mere frailty: brethren, be content.-- + Friar Barnardine, go you with Ithamore: + You know my mind; let me alone with him. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Why does he go to thy house? let him be gone. [133] + + BARABAS. I'll give him something, and so stop his mouth. + [Exit ITHAMORE with Friar BARNARDINE.] + I never heard of any man but he + Malign'd the order of the Jacobins: + But do you think that I believe his words? + Why, brother, you converted Abigail; + And I am bound in charity to requite it, + And so I will. O Jacomo, fail not, but come. + + FRIAR JACOMO. But, Barabas, who shall be your godfathers? + For presently you shall be shriv'd. + + BARABAS. Marry, the Turk [134] shall be one of my godfathers, + But not a word to any of your covent. [135] + + FRIAR JACOMO. I warrant thee, Barabas. + [Exit.] + + BARABAS. So, now the fear is past, and I am safe; + For he that shriv'd her is within my house: + What, if I murder'd him ere Jacomo comes? + Now I have such a plot for both their lives, + As never Jew nor Christian knew the like: + One turn'd my daughter, therefore he shall die; + The other knows enough to have my life, + Therefore 'tis not requisite he should live. [136] + But are not both these wise men, to suppose + That I will leave my house, my goods, and all, + To fast and be well whipt? I'll none of that. + Now, Friar Barnardine, I come to you: + I'll feast you, lodge you, give you fair [137] words, + And, after that, I and my trusty Turk-- + No more, but so: it must and shall be done. [138] + + Enter ITHAMORE. + + Ithamore, tell me, is the friar asleep? + + ITHAMORE. Yes; and I know not what the reason is, + Do what I can, he will not strip himself, + Nor go to bed, but sleeps in his own clothes: + I fear me he mistrusts what we intend. + + BARABAS. No; 'tis an order which the friars use: + Yet, if he knew our meanings, could he scape? + + ITHAMORE. No, none can hear him, cry he ne'er so loud. + + BARABAS. Why, true; therefore did I place him there: + The other chambers open towards the street. + + ITHAMORE. You loiter, master; wherefore stay we thus? + O, how I long to see him shake his heels! + + BARABAS. Come on, sirrah: + Off with your girdle; make a handsome noose.-- + [ITHAMORE takes off his girdle, and ties a noose on it.] + Friar, awake! [139] + [They put the noose round the FRIAR'S neck.] + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. What, do you mean to strangle me? + + ITHAMORE. Yes, 'cause you use to confess. + + BARABAS. Blame not us, but the proverb,--Confess and be + hanged.--Pull hard. + + FRIAR BARNARDINE. What, will you have [140] my life? + + BARABAS. Pull hard, I say.--You would have had my goods. + + ITHAMORE. Ay, and our lives too:--therefore pull amain. + [They strangle the FRIAR.] + 'Tis neatly done, sir; here's no print at all. + + BARABAS. Then is it as it should be. Take him up. + + ITHAMORE. Nay, master, be ruled by me a little. [Takes the body, + sets it upright against the wall, and puts a staff in its hand.] + So, let him lean upon his staff; excellent! he stands as if he + were begging of bacon. + + BARABAS. Who would not think but that this friar liv'd? + What time o' night is't now, sweet Ithamore? + + ITHAMORE. Towards one. [141] + + BARABAS. Then will not Jacomo be long from hence. + [Exeunt.] + + Enter FRIAR JACOMO. [142] + + FRIAR JACOMO. This is the hour wherein I shall proceed; [143] + O happy hour, wherein I shall convert + An infidel, and bring his gold into our treasury! + But soft! is not this Barnardine? it is; + And, understanding I should come this way, + Stands here o' purpose, meaning me some wrong, + And intercept my going to the Jew.-- + Barnardine! + Wilt thou not speak? thou think'st I see thee not; + Away, I'd wish thee, and let me go by: + No, wilt thou not? nay, then, I'll force my way; + And, see, a staff stands ready for the purpose. + As thou lik'st that, stop me another time! + [Takes the staff, and strikes down the body.] + + Enter BARABAS and ITHAMORE. + + BARABAS. Why, how now, Jacomo! what hast thou done? + + FRIAR JACOMO. Why, stricken him that would have struck at me. + + BARABAS. Who is it? Barnardine! now, out, alas, he is slain! + + ITHAMORE. Ay, master, he's slain; look how his brains drop out + on's [144] nose. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Good sirs, I have done't: but nobody knows it but + you two; I may escape. + + BARABAS. So might my man and I hang with you for company. + + ITHAMORE. No; let us bear him to the magistrates. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Good Barabas, let me go. + + BARABAS. No, pardon me; the law must have his course: + I must be forc'd to give in evidence, + That, being importun'd by this Barnardine + To be a Christian, I shut him out, + And there he sate: now I, to keep my word, + And give my goods and substance to your house, + Was up thus early, with intent to go + Unto your friary, because you stay'd. + + ITHAMORE. Fie upon 'em! master, will you turn Christian, when + holy friars turn devils and murder one another? + + BARABAS. No; for this example I'll remain a Jew: + Heaven bless me! what, a friar a murderer! + When shall you see a Jew commit the like? + + ITHAMORE. Why, a Turk could ha' done no more. + + BARABAS. To-morrow is the sessions; you shall to it.-- + Come, Ithamore, let's help to take him hence. + + FRIAR JACOMO. Villains, I am a sacred person; touch me not. + + BARABAS. The law shall touch you; we'll but lead you, we: + 'Las, I could weep at your calamity!-- + Take in the staff too, for that must be shown: + Law wills that each particular be known. + [Exeunt.] + + Enter BELLAMIRA [145] and PILIA-BORZA. + + BELLAMIRA. Pilia-Borza, didst thou meet with Ithamore? + + PILIA-BORZA. I did. + + BELLAMIRA. And didst thou deliver my letter? + + PILIA-BORZA. I did. + + BELLAMIRA. And what thinkest thou? will he come? + + PILIA-BORZA. I think so: and yet I cannot tell; for, at the + reading of the letter, he looked like a man of another world. + + BELLAMIRA. Why so? + + PILIA-BORZA. That such a base slave as he should be saluted by + such a tall [146] man as I am, from such a beautiful dame as you. + + BELLAMIRA. And what said he? + + PILIA-BORZA. Not a wise word; only gave me a nod, as who should + say, "Is it even so?" and so I left him, being driven to a + non-plus at the critical aspect of my terrible countenance. + + BELLAMIRA. And where didst meet him? + + PILIA-BORZA. Upon mine own free-hold, within forty foot of the + gallows, conning his neck-verse, [147] I take it, looking of [148] + a friar's execution; whom I saluted with an old hempen proverb, + Hodie tibi, cras mihi, and so I left him to the mercy of the + hangman: but, the exercise [149] being done, see where he comes. + + Enter ITHAMORE. + + ITHAMORE. I never knew a man take his death so patiently as + this friar; he was ready to leap off ere the halter was about + his neck; and, when the hangman had put on his hempen tippet, + he made such haste to his prayers, as if he had had another + cure to serve. Well, go whither he will, I'll be none of his + followers in haste: and, now I think on't, going to the + execution, a fellow met me with a muschatoes [150] like a raven's + wing, and a dagger with a hilt like a warming-pan; and he gave + me a letter from one Madam Bellamira, saluting me in such sort + as if he had meant to make clean my boots with his lips; the + effect was, that I should come to her house: I wonder what the + reason is; it may be she sees more in me than I can find in + myself; for she writes further, that she loves me ever since she + saw me; and who would not requite such love? Here's her house; + and here she comes; and now would I were gone! I am not worthy + to look upon her. + + PILIA-BORZA. This is the gentleman you writ to. + + ITHAMORE. Gentleman! he flouts me: what gentry can be in a poor + Turk of tenpence? [151] I'll be gone. + [Aside.] + + BELLAMIRA. Is't not a sweet-faced youth, Pilia? + + ITHAMORE. Again, sweet youth! [Aside.]--Did not you, sir, bring + the sweet youth a letter? + + PILIA-BORZA. I did, sir, and from this gentlewoman, who, as + myself and the rest of the family, stand or fall at your service. + + BELLAMIRA. Though woman's modesty should hale me back, + I can withhold no longer: welcome, sweet love. + + ITHAMORE. Now am I clean, or rather foully, out of the way. + [Aside.] + + BELLAMIRA. Whither so soon? + + ITHAMORE. I'll go steal some money from my master to make me + handsome [Aside].--Pray, pardon me; I must go see a ship + discharged. + + BELLAMIRA. Canst thou be so unkind to leave me thus? + + PILIA-BORZA. An ye did but know how she loves you, sir! + + ITHAMORE. Nay, I care not how much she loves me.--Sweet + Bellamira, would I had my master's wealth for thy sake! + + PILIA-BORZA. And you can have it, sir, an if you please. + + ITHAMORE. If 'twere above ground, I could, and would have it; + but he hides and buries it up, as partridges do their eggs, + under the earth. + + PILIA-BORZA. And is't not possible to find it out? + + ITHAMORE. By no means possible. + + BELLAMIRA. What shall we do with this base villain, then? + [Aside to PILIA-BORZA.] + + PILIA-BORZA. Let me alone; do but you speak him fair.-- + [Aside to her.] + But you know [152] some secrets of the Jew, + Which, if they were reveal'd, would do him harm. + + ITHAMORE. Ay, and such as--go to, no more! I'll make him [153] + send me half he has, and glad he scapes so too: I'll write unto + him; we'll have money straight. + + PILIA-BORZA. Send for a hundred crowns at least. + + ITHAMORE. Ten hundred thousand crowns.--[writing] MASTER BARABAS,-- + + PILIA-BORZA. Write not so submissively, but threatening him. + + ITHAMORE. [writing] SIRRAH BARABAS, SEND ME A HUNDRED CROWNS. + + PILIA-BORZA. Put in two hundred at least. + + ITHAMORE. [writing] I CHARGE THEE SEND ME THREE HUNDRED BY THIS + BEARER, AND THIS SHALL BE YOUR WARRANT: IF YOU DO NOT--NO MORE, + BUT SO. + + PILIA-BORZA. Tell him you will confess. + + ITHAMORE. [writing] OTHERWISE I'LL CONFESS ALL.-- + Vanish, and return in a twinkle. + + PILIA-BORZA. Let me alone; I'll use him in his kind. + + ITHAMORE. Hang him, Jew! + [Exit PILIA-BORZA with the letter.] + + BELLAMIRA. Now, gentle Ithamore, lie in my lap.-- + Where are my maids? provide a cunning [154] banquet; + Send to the merchant, bid him bring me silks; + Shall Ithamore, my love, go in such rags? + + ITHAMORE. And bid the jeweller come hither too. + + BELLAMIRA. I have no husband; sweet, I'll marry thee. + + ITHAMORE. Content: but we will leave this paltry land, + And sail from hence to Greece, to lovely Greece;-- + I'll be thy Jason, thou my golden fleece;-- + Where painted carpets o'er the meads are hurl'd, + And Bacchus' vineyards overspread the world; + Where woods and forests go in goodly green;-- + I'll be Adonis, thou shalt be Love's Queen;-- + The meads, the orchards, and the primrose-lanes, + Instead of sedge and reed, bear sugar-canes: + Thou in those groves, by Dis above, + Shalt live with me, and be my love. [155] + + BELLAMIRA. Whither will I not go with gentle Ithamore? + + Re-enter PILIA-BORZA. + + ITHAMORE. How now! hast thou the gold [?] + + PILIA-BORZA. Yes. + + ITHAMORE. But came it freely? did the cow give down her milk + freely? + + PILIA-BORZA. At reading of the letter, he stared and stamped, + and turned aside: I took him by the beard, [156] and looked upon + him thus; told him he were best to send it: then he hugged and + embraced me. + + ITHAMORE. Rather for fear than love. + + PILIA-BORZA. Then, like a Jew, he laughed and jeered, and told + me he loved me for your sake, and said what a faithful servant + you had been. + + ITHAMORE. The more villain he to keep me thus: here's goodly + 'parel, is there not? + + PILIA-BORZA. To conclude, he gave me ten crowns. + [Delivers the money to ITHAMORE.] + + ITHAMORE. But ten? I'll not leave him worth a grey groat. Give + me a ream of paper: we'll have a kingdom of gold for't. [157] + + PILIA-BORZA. Write for five hundred crowns. + + ITHAMORE. [writing] SIRRAH JEW, AS YOU LOVE YOUR LIFE, SEND ME + FIVE HUNDRED CROWNS, AND GIVE THE BEARER A HUNDRED.--Tell him + I must have't. + + PILIA-BORZA. I warrant, your worship shall have't. + + ITHAMORE. And, if he ask why I demand so much, tell him I scorn + to write a line under a hundred crowns. + + PILIA-BORZA. You'd make a rich poet, sir. I am gone. + [Exit with the letter.] + + ITHAMORE. Take thou the money; spend it for my sake. + + BELLAMIRA. 'Tis not thy money, but thyself I weigh: + Thus Bellamira esteems of gold; + [Throws it aside.] + But thus of thee. + [Kisses him.] + + ITHAMORE. That kiss again!--She runs division [158] of my + lips. What an eye she casts on me! it twinkles like a star. + [Aside.] + + BELLAMIRA. Come, my dear love, let's in and sleep together. + + ITHAMORE. O, that ten thousand nights were put in one, that + we might sleep seven years together afore we wake! + + BELLAMIRA. Come, amorous wag, first banquet, and then sleep. + [Exeunt.] + + Enter BARABAS, [159] reading a letter. + + BARABAS. BARABAS, SEND ME THREE HUNDRED CROWNS;-- + Plain Barabas! O, that wicked courtezan! + He was not wont to call me Barabas;-- + OR ELSE I WILL CONFESS;--ay, there it goes: + But, if I get him, coupe de gorge for that. + He sent a shaggy, tatter'd, [160] staring slave, + That, when he speaks, draws out his grisly beard, + And winds it twice or thrice about his ear; + Whose face has been a grind-stone for men's swords; + His hands are hack'd, some fingers cut quite off; + Who, when he speaks, grunts like a hog, and looks + Like one that is employ'd in catzery [161] + And cross-biting; [162] such a rogue + As is the husband to a hundred whores; + And I by him must send three hundred crowns. + Well, my hope is, he will not stay there still; + And, when he comes--O, that he were but here! + + Enter PILIA-BORZA. + + PILIA-BORZA. Jew, I must ha' more gold. + + BARABAS. Why, want'st thou any of thy tale? [163] + + PILIA-BORZA. No; but three hundred will not serve his turn. + + BARABAS. Not serve his turn, sir! + + PILIA-BORZA. + No, sir; and therefore I must have five hundred more. + + BARABAS. I'll rather---- + + PILIA-BORZA. O, good words, sir, and send it you were best! see, + there's his letter. + [Gives letter.] + + BARABAS. Might he not as well come as send? pray, bid him come + and fetch it: what he writes for you, [164] ye shall have + straight. + + PILIA-BORZA. Ay, and the rest too, or else---- + + BARABAS. I must make this villain away [Aside].--Please you dine + with me, sir--and you shall be most heartily poisoned. + [Aside.] + + PILIA-BORZA. No, God-a-mercy. Shall I have these crowns? + + BARABAS. I cannot do it; I have lost my keys. + + PILIA-BORZA. O, if that be all, I can pick ope your locks. + + BARABAS. + Or climb up to my counting-house window: you know my meaning. + + PILIA-BORZA. I know enough, and therefore talk not to me of + your counting-house. The gold! or know, Jew, it is in my power + to hang thee. + + BARABAS. I am betray'd.-- + [Aside.] + 'Tis not five hundred crowns that I esteem; + I am not mov'd at that: this angers me, + That he, who knows I love him as myself, + Should write in this imperious vein. Why, sir, + You know I have no child, and unto whom + Should I leave all, but unto Ithamore? + + PILIA-BORZA. Here's many words, but no crowns: the crowns! + + BARABAS. Commend me to him, sir, most humbly, + And unto your good mistress as unknown. + + PILIA-BORZA. Speak, shall I have 'em, sir? + + BARABAS. Sir, here they are.-- + [Gives money.] + O, that I should part [165] with so much gold!-- + [Aside.] + Here, take 'em, fellow, with as good a will---- + As I would see thee hang'd [Aside]. O, love stops my breath! + Never lov'd man servant as I do Ithamore. + + PILIA-BORZA. I know it, sir. + + BARABAS. Pray, when, sir, shall I see you at my house? + + PILIA-BORZA. Soon enough to your cost, sir. Fare you well. + [Exit.] + + BARABAS. Nay, to thine own cost, villain, if thou com'st! + Was ever Jew tormented as I am? + To have a shag-rag knave to come [force from me] + Three hundred crowns, and then five hundred crowns! + Well; I must seek a means to rid [166] 'em all, + And presently; for in his villany + He will tell all he knows, and I shall die for't. + I have it: + I will in some disguise go see the slave, + And how the villain revels with my gold. + [Exit.] + + Enter BELLAMIRA, [167] ITHAMORE, and PILIA-BORZA. + + BELLAMIRA. I'll pledge thee, love, and therefore drink it off. + + ITHAMORE. Say'st thou me so? have at it! and do you hear? + [Whispers to her.] + + BELLAMIRA. Go to, it shall be so. + + ITHAMORE. Of [168] that condition I will drink it up: + Here's to thee. + + BELLAMIRA. [169] Nay, I'll have all or none. + + ITHAMORE. There, if thou lov'st me, do not leave a drop. + + BELLAMIRA. Love thee! fill me three glasses. + + ITHAMORE. Three and fifty dozen: I'll pledge thee. + + PILIA-BORZA. Knavely spoke, and like a knight-at-arms. + + ITHAMORE. Hey, Rivo Castiliano! [170] a man's a man. + + BELLAMIRA. Now to the Jew. + + ITHAMORE. Ha! to the Jew; and send me money he [171] were best. + + PILIA-BORZA. What wouldst thou do, if he should send thee none? + + ITHAMORE. Do nothing: but I know what I know; he's a murderer. + + BELLAMIRA. I had not thought he had been so brave a man. + + ITHAMORE. You knew Mathias and the governor's son; he and I + killed 'em both, and yet never touched 'em. + + PILIA-BORZA. O, bravely done! + + ITHAMORE. I carried the broth that poisoned the nuns; and he + and I, snicle hand too fast, strangled a friar. [172] + + BELLAMIRA. You two alone? + + ITHAMORE. + We two; and 'twas never known, nor never shall be for me. + + PILIA-BORZA. This shall with me unto the governor. + [Aside to BELLAMIRA.] + + BELLAMIRA. And fit it should: but first let's ha' more gold.-- + [Aside to PILIA-BORZA.] + Come, gentle Ithamore, lie in my lap. + + ITHAMORE. Love me little, love me long: let music rumble, + Whilst I in thy incony [173] lap do tumble. + + Enter BARABAS, disguised as a French musician, with a lute, + and a nosegay in his hat. + + BELLAMIRA. A French musician!--Come, let's hear your skill. + + BARABAS. Must tuna my lute for sound, twang, twang, first. + + ITHAMORE. Wilt drink, Frenchman? here's to thee with a--Pox on + this drunken hiccup! + + BARABAS. Gramercy, monsieur. + + BELLAMIRA. Prithee, Pilia-Borza, bid the fiddler give me the + posy in his hat there. + + PILIA-BORZA. Sirrah, you must give my mistress your posy. + + BARABAS. A votre commandement, madame. + [Giving nosegay.] + + BELLAMIRA. How sweet, my Ithamore, the flowers smell! + + ITHAMORE. Like thy breath, sweetheart; no violet like 'em. + + PILIA-BORZA. Foh! methinks they stink like a hollyhock. [174] + + BARABAS. So, now I am reveng'd upon 'em all: + The scent thereof was death; I poison'd it. + [Aside.] + + ITHAMORE. + Play, fiddler, or I'll cut your cat's guts into chitterlings. + + BARABAS. + Pardonnez moi, be no in tune yet: so, now, now all be in. + + ITHAMORE. Give him a crown, and fill me out more wine. + + PILIA-BORZA. There's two crowns for thee: play. + [Giving money.] + + BARABAS. How liberally the villain gives me mine own gold! + [Aside, and then plays.] + + PILIA-BORZA. Methinks he fingers very well. + + BARABAS. So did you when you stole my gold. + [Aside.] + + PILIA-BORZA. How swift he runs! + + BARABAS. You run swifter when you threw my gold out of my window. + [Aside.] + + BELLAMIRA. Musician, hast been in Malta long? + + BARABAS. Two, three, four month, madam. + + ITHAMORE. Dost not know a Jew, one Barabas? + + BARABAS. Very mush: monsieur, you no be his man? + + PILIA-BORZA. His man! + + ITHAMORE. I scorn the peasant: tell him so. + + BARABAS. He knows it already. + [Aside.] + + ITHAMORE. 'Tis a strange thing of that Jew, he lives upon + pickled grasshoppers and sauced mushrooms. [175] + + BARABAS. What a slave's this! the governor feeds not as I do. + [Aside.] + + ITHAMORE. He never put on clean shirt since he was circumcised. + + BARABAS. O rascal! I change myself twice a-day. + [Aside.] + + ITHAMORE. The hat he wears, Judas left under the elder when he + hanged himself. [176] + + BARABAS. 'Twas sent me for a present from the Great Cham. + [Aside.] + + PILIA-BORZA. A nasty [177] slave he is.--Whither now, fiddler? + + BARABAS. Pardonnez moi, monsieur; me [178] be no well. + + PILIA-BORZA. Farewell, fiddler [Exit BARABAS.] One letter more + to the Jew. + + BELLAMIRA. Prithee, sweet love, one more, and write it sharp. + + ITHAMORE. No, I'll send by word of mouth now. + --Bid him deliver thee a thousand crowns, by the same token + that the nuns loved rice, that Friar Barnardine slept in his + own clothes; any of 'em will do it. + + PILIA-BORZA. Let me alone to urge it, now I know the meaning. + + ITHAMORE. The meaning has a meaning. Come, let's in: + To undo a Jew is charity, and not sin. + [Exeunt.] + + + + +ACT V. + + Enter FERNEZE, [179] KNIGHTS, MARTIN DEL BOSCO, and OFFICERS. + + FERNEZE. Now, gentlemen, betake you to your arms, + And see that Malta be well fortified; + And it behoves you to be resolute; + For Calymath, having hover'd here so long, + Will win the town, or die before the walls. + + FIRST KNIGHT. And die he shall; for we will never yield. + + Enter BELLAMIRA and PILIA-BORZA. + + BELLAMIRA. O, bring us to the governor! + + FERNEZE. Away with her! she is a courtezan. + + BELLAMIRA. Whate'er I am, yet, governor, hear me speak: + I bring thee news by whom thy son was slain: + Mathias did it not; it was the Jew. + + PILIA-BORZA. Who, besides the slaughter of these gentlemen, + Poison'd his own daughter and the nuns, + Strangled a friar, and I know not what + Mischief beside. + + FERNEZE. Had we but proof of this---- + + BELLAMIRA. Strong proof, my lord: his man's now at my lodging, + That was his agent; he'll confess it all. + + FERNEZE. Go fetch him [180] straight [Exeunt OFFICERS]. + I always fear'd that Jew. + + Re-enter OFFICERS with BARABAS and ITHAMORE. + + BARABAS. I'll go alone; dogs, do not hale me thus. + + ITHAMORE. + Nor me neither; I cannot out-run you, constable.--O, my belly! + + BARABAS. One dram of powder more had made all sure: + What a damn'd slave was I! + [Aside.] + + FERNEZE. Make fires, heat irons, let the rack be fetch'd. + + FIRST KNIGHT. Nay, stay, my lord; 't may be he will confess. + + BARABAS. Confess! what mean you, lords? who should confess? + + FERNEZE. Thou and thy Turk; 'twas that slew my son. + + ITHAMORE. Guilty, my lord, I confess. Your son and Mathias + were both contracted unto Abigail: [he] forged a counterfeit + challenge. + + BARABAS. Who carried that challenge? + + ITHAMORE. + I carried it, I confess; but who writ it? marry, even he that + strangled Barnardine, poisoned the nuns and his own daughter. + + FERNEZE. Away with him! his sight is death to me. + + BARABAS. For what, you men of Malta? hear me speak. + She is a courtezan, and he a thief, + And he my bondman: let me have law; + For none of this can prejudice my life. + + FERNEZE. Once more, away with him!--You shall have law. + + BARABAS. Devils, do your worst!--I['ll] live in spite of you.-- + [Aside.] + As these have spoke, so be it to their souls!-- + I hope the poison'd flowers will work anon. + [Aside.] + [Exeunt OFFICERS with BARABAS and ITHAMORE; BELLAMIRA, + and PILIA-BORZA.] + + Enter KATHARINE. + + KATHARINE. Was my Mathias murder'd by the Jew? + Ferneze, 'twas thy son that murder'd him. + + FERNEZE. Be patient, gentle madam: it was he; + He forg'd the daring challenge made them fight. + + KATHARINE. Where is the Jew? where is that murderer? + + FERNEZE. In prison, till the law has pass'd on him. + + Re-enter FIRST OFFICER. + + FIRST OFFICER. My lord, the courtezan and her man are dead; + So is the Turk and Barabas the Jew. + + FERNEZE. Dead! + + FIRST OFFICER. Dead, my lord, and here they bring his body. + + MARTIN DEL BOSCO. This sudden death of his is very strange. + + Re-enter OFFICERS, carrying BARABAS as dead. + + FERNEZE. Wonder not at it, sir; the heavens are just; + Their deaths were like their lives; then think not of 'em.-- + Since they are dead, let them be buried: + For the Jew's body, throw that o'er the walls, + To be a prey for vultures and wild beasts.-- + So, now away and fortify the town. + + Exeunt all, leaving BARABAS on the floor. [181] + + BARABAS. [rising] What, all alone! well fare, sleepy drink! + I'll be reveng'd on this accursed town; + For by my means Calymath shall enter in: + I'll help to slay their children and their wives, + To fire the churches, pull their houses down, + Take my goods too, and seize upon my lands. + I hope to see the governor a slave, + And, rowing in a galley, whipt to death. + + Enter CALYMATH, BASSOES, [182] and TURKS. + + CALYMATH. Whom have we there? a spy? + + BARABAS. Yes, my good lord, one that can spy a place + Where you may enter, and surprize the town: + My name is Barabas; I am a Jew. + + CALYMATH. Art thou that Jew whose goods we heard were sold + For tribute-money? + + BARABAS. The very same, my lord: + And since that time they have hir'd a slave, my man, + To accuse me of a thousand villanies: + I was imprisoned, but scap [']d their hands. + + CALYMATH. Didst break prison? + + BARABAS. No, no: + I drank of poppy and cold mandrake juice; + And being asleep, belike they thought me dead, + And threw me o'er the walls: so, or how else, + The Jew is here, and rests at your command. + + CALYMATH. 'Twas bravely done: but tell me, Barabas, + Canst thou, as thou report'st, make Malta ours? + + BARABAS. Fear not, my lord; for here, against the trench, [183] + The rock is hollow, and of purpose digg'd, + To make a passage for the running streams + And common channels [184] of the city. + Now, whilst you give assault unto the walls, + I'll lead five hundred soldiers through the vault, + And rise with them i' the middle of the town, + Open the gates for you to enter in; + And by this means the city is your own. + + CALYMATH. If this be true, I'll make thee governor. + + BARABAS. And, if it be not true, then let me die. + + CALYMATH. Thou'st doom'd thyself.--Assault it presently. + [Exeunt.] + + Alarums within. Enter CALYMATH, [185] BASSOES, TURKS, and + BARABAS; with FERNEZE and KNIGHTS prisoners. + + CALYMATH. Now vail [186] your pride, you captive Christians, + And kneel for mercy to your conquering foe: + Now where's the hope you had of haughty Spain? + Ferneze, speak; had it not been much better + To kept [187] thy promise than be thus surpris'd? + + FERNEZE. What should I say? we are captives, and must yield. + + CALYMATH. Ay, villains, you must yield, and under Turkish yokes + Shall groaning bear the burden of our ire:-- + And, Barabas, as erst we promis'd thee, + For thy desert we make thee governor; + Use them at thy discretion. + + BARABAS. Thanks, my lord. + + FERNEZE. O fatal day, to fall into the hands + Of such a traitor and unhallow'd Jew! + What greater misery could heaven inflict? + + CALYMATH. 'Tis our command:--and, Barabas, we give, + To guard thy person, these our Janizaries: + Entreat [188] them well, as we have used thee.-- + And now, brave bassoes, [189] come; we'll walk about + The ruin'd town, and see the wreck we made.-- + Farewell, brave Jew, farewell, great Barabas! + + BARABAS. May all good fortune follow Calymath! + [Exeunt CALYMATH and BASSOES.] + And now, as entrance to our safety, + To prison with the governor and these + Captains, his consorts and confederates. + + FERNEZE. O villain! heaven will be reveng'd on thee. + + BARABAS. Away! no more; let him not trouble me. + [Exeunt TURKS with FERNEZE and KNIGHTS.] + Thus hast thou gotten, [190] by thy policy, + No simple place, no small authority: + I now am governor of Malta; true,-- + But Malta hates me, and, in hating me, + My life's in danger; and what boots it thee, + Poor Barabas, to be the governor, + Whenas [191] thy life shall be at their command? + No, Barabas, this must be look'd into; + And, since by wrong thou gott'st authority, + Maintain it bravely by firm policy; + At least, unprofitably lose it not; + For he that liveth in authority, + And neither gets him friends nor fills his bags, + Lives like the ass that Aesop speaketh of, + That labours with a load of bread and wine, + And leaves it off to snap on thistle-tops: + But Barabas will be more circumspect. + Begin betimes; Occasion's bald behind: + Slip not thine opportunity, for fear too late + Thou seek'st for much, but canst not compass it.-- + Within here! [192] + + Enter FERNEZE, with a GUARD. + + FERNEZE. My lord? + + BARABAS. Ay, LORD; thus slaves will learn. + Now, governor,--stand by there, wait within,-- + [Exeunt GUARD.] + This is the reason that I sent for thee: + Thou seest thy life and Malta's happiness + Are at my arbitrement; and Barabas + At his discretion may dispose of both: + Now tell me, governor, and plainly too, + What think'st thou shall become of it and thee? + + FERNEZE. This, Barabas; since things are in thy power, + I see no reason but of Malta's wreck, + Nor hope of thee but extreme cruelty: + Nor fear I death, nor will I flatter thee. + + BARABAS. Governor, good words; be not so furious + 'Tis not thy life which can avail me aught; + Yet you do live, and live for me you shall: + And as for Malta's ruin, think you not + 'Twere slender policy for Barabas + To dispossess himself of such a place? + For sith, [193] as once you said, within this isle, + In Malta here, that I have got my goods, + And in this city still have had success, + And now at length am grown your governor, + Yourselves shall see it shall not be forgot; + For, as a friend not known but in distress, + I'll rear up Malta, now remediless. + + FERNEZE. Will Barabas recover Malta's loss? + Will Barabas be good to Christians? + + BARABAS. What wilt thou give me, governor, to procure + A dissolution of the slavish bands + Wherein the Turk hath yok'd your land and you? + What will you give me if I render you + The life of Calymath, surprise his men, + And in an out-house of the city shut + His soldiers, till I have consum'd 'em all with fire? + What will you give him that procureth this? + + FERNEZE. Do but bring this to pass which thou pretendest, + Deal truly with us as thou intimatest, + And I will send amongst the citizens, + And by my letters privately procure + Great sums of money for thy recompense: + Nay, more, do this, and live thou governor still. + + BARABAS. Nay, do thou this, Ferneze, and be free: + Governor, I enlarge thee; live with me; + Go walk about the city, see thy friends: + Tush, send not letters to 'em; go thyself, + And let me see what money thou canst make: + Here is my hand that I'll set Malta free; + And thus we cast [194] it: to a solemn feast + I will invite young Selim Calymath, + Where be thou present, only to perform + One stratagem that I'll impart to thee, + Wherein no danger shall betide thy life, + And I will warrant Malta free for ever. + + FERNEZE. Here is my hand; believe me, Barabas, + I will be there, and do as thou desirest. + When is the time? + + BARABAS. Governor, presently; + For Calymath, when he hath view'd the town, + Will take his leave, and sail toward Ottoman. + + FERNEZE. Then will I, Barabas, about this coin, + And bring it with me to thee in the evening. + + BARABAS. Do so; but fail not: now farewell, Ferneze:-- + [Exit FERNEZE.] + And thus far roundly goes the business: + Thus, loving neither, will I live with both, + Making a profit of my policy; + And he from whom my most advantage comes, + Shall be my friend. + This is the life we Jews are us'd to lead; + And reason too, for Christians do the like. + Well, now about effecting this device; + First, to surprise great Selim's soldiers, + And then to make provision for the feast, + That at one instant all things may be done: + My policy detests prevention. + To what event my secret purpose drives, + I know; and they shall witness with their lives. + [Exeunt.] + + Enter CALYMATH and BASSOES. [195] + + CALYMATH. Thus have we view'd the city, seen the sack, + And caus'd the ruins to be new-repair'd, + Which with our bombards' shot and basilisk[s] [196] + We rent in sunder at our entry: + And, now I see the situation, + And how secure this conquer'd island stands, + Environ'd with the Mediterranean sea, + Strong-countermin'd with other petty isles, + And, toward Calabria, [197] back'd by Sicily + (Where Syracusian Dionysius reign'd), + Two lofty turrets that command the town, + I wonder how it could be conquer'd thus. + + Enter a MESSENGER. + + MESSENGER. From Barabas, Malta's governor, I bring + A message unto mighty Calymath: + Hearing his sovereign was bound for sea, + To sail to Turkey, to great Ottoman, + He humbly would entreat your majesty + To come and see his homely citadel, + And banquet with him ere thou leav'st the isle. + + CALYMATH. To banquet with him in his citadel! + I fear me, messenger, to feast my train + Within a town of war so lately pillag'd, + Will be too costly and too troublesome: + Yet would I gladly visit Barabas, + For well has Barabas deserv'd of us. + + MESSENGER. Selim, for that, thus saith the governor,-- + That he hath in [his] store a pearl so big, + So precious, and withal so orient, + As, be it valu'd but indifferently, + The price thereof will serve to entertain + Selim and all his soldiers for a month; + Therefore he humbly would entreat your highness + Not to depart till he has feasted you. + + CALYMATH. I cannot feast my men in Malta-walls, + Except he place his tables in the streets. + + MESSENGER. Know, Selim, that there is a monastery + Which standeth as an out-house to the town; + There will he banquet them; but thee at home, + With all thy bassoes and brave followers. + + CALYMATH. Well, tell the governor we grant his suit; + We'll in this summer-evening feast with him. + + MESSENGER. I shall, my lord. + [Exit.] + + CALYMATH. And now, bold bassoes, let us to our tents, + And meditate how we may grace us best, + To solemnize our governor's great feast. + [Exeunt.] + + Enter FERNEZE, [198] KNIGHTS, and MARTIN DEL BOSCO. + + FERNEZE. In this, my countrymen, be rul'd by me: + Have special care that no man sally forth + Till you shall hear a culverin discharg'd + By him that bears the linstock, [199] kindled thus; + Then issue out and come to rescue me, + For happily I shall be in distress, + Or you released of this servitude. + + FIRST KNIGHT. Rather than thus to live as Turkish thralls, + What will we not adventure? + + FERNEZE. On, then; be gone. + + KNIGHTS. Farewell, grave governor. + [Exeunt, on one side, KNIGHTS and MARTIN DEL BOSCO; + on the other, FERNEZE.] + + Enter, above, [200] BARABAS, with a hammer, very busy; + and CARPENTERS. + + BARABAS. How stand the cords? how hang these hinges? fast? + Are all the cranes and pulleys sure? + + FIRST CARPENTER. [201] All fast. + + BARABAS. Leave nothing loose, all levell'd to my mind. + Why, now I see that you have art, indeed: + There, carpenters, divide that gold amongst you; + [Giving money.] + Go, swill in bowls of sack and muscadine; + Down to the cellar, taste of all my wines. + + FIRST CARPENTER. We shall, my lord, and thank you. + [Exeunt CARPENTERS.] + + BARABAS. And, if you like them, drink your fill and die; + For, so I live, perish may all the world! + Now, Selim Calymath, return me word + That thou wilt come, and I am satisfied. + + Enter MESSENGER. + + Now, sirrah; what, will he come? + + MESSENGER. He will; and has commanded all his men + To come ashore, and march through Malta-streets, + That thou mayst feast them in thy citadel. + + BARABAS. Then now are all things as my wish would have 'em; + There wanteth nothing but the governor's pelf; + And see, he brings it. + + Enter FERNEZE. + + Now, governor, the sum? + + FERNEZE. With free consent, a hundred thousand pounds. + + BARABAS. Pounds say'st thou, governor? well, since it is no more, + I'll satisfy myself with that; nay, keep it still, + For, if I keep not promise, trust not me: + And, governor, now partake my policy. + First, for his army, they are sent before, + Enter'd the monastery, and underneath + In several places are field-pieces pitch'd, + Bombards, whole barrels full of gunpowder, + That on the sudden shall dissever it, + And batter all the stones about their ears, + Whence none can possibly escape alive: + Now, as for Calymath and his consorts, + Here have I made a dainty gallery, + The floor whereof, this cable being cut, + Doth fall asunder, so that it doth sink + Into a deep pit past recovery. + Here, hold that knife; and, when thou seest he comes, + [Throws down a knife.] + And with his bassoes shall be blithely set, + A warning-piece shall be shot off [202] from the tower, + To give thee knowledge when to cut the cord, + And fire the house. Say, will not this be brave? + + FERNEZE. O, excellent! here, hold thee, Barabas; + I trust thy word; take what I promis'd thee. + + BARABAS. No, governor; I'll satisfy thee first; + Thou shalt not live in doubt of any thing. + Stand close, for here they come. + [FERNEZE retires.] + Why, is not this + A kingly kind of trade, to purchase towns + By treachery, and sell 'em by deceit? + Now tell me, worldlings, underneath the sun [203] + If greater falsehood ever has been done? + + Enter CALYMATH and BASSOES. + + CALYMATH. Come, my companion-bassoes: see, I pray, + How busy Barabas is there above + To entertain us in his gallery: + Let us salute him.--Save thee, Barabas! + + BARABAS. Welcome, great Calymath! + + FERNEZE. How the slave jeers at him! + [Aside.] + + BARABAS. Will't please thee, mighty Selim Calymath, + To ascend our homely stairs? + + CALYMATH. Ay, Barabas.-- + Come, bassoes, ascend. [204] + + FERNEZE. [coming forward] Stay, Calymath; + For I will shew thee greater courtesy + Than Barabas would have afforded thee. + + KNIGHT. [within] Sound a charge there! + [A charge sounded within: FERNEZE cuts the cord; the floor + of the gallery gives way, and BARABAS falls into a caldron + placed in a pit. + + Enter KNIGHTS and MARTIN DEL BOSCO. [205] + + CALYMATH. How now! what means this? + + BARABAS. Help, help me, Christians, help! + + FERNEZE. See, Calymath! this was devis'd for thee. + + CALYMATH. Treason, treason! bassoes, fly! + + FERNEZE. No, Selim, do not fly: + See his end first, and fly then if thou canst. + + BARABAS. O, help me, Selim! help me, Christians! + Governor, why stand you all so pitiless? + + FERNEZE. Should I in pity of thy plaints or thee, + Accursed Barabas, base Jew, relent? + No, thus I'll see thy treachery repaid, + But wish thou hadst behav'd thee otherwise. + + BARABAS. You will not help me, then? + + FERNEZE. No, villain, no. + + BARABAS. And, villains, know you cannot help me now.-- + Then, Barabas, breathe forth thy latest fate, + And in the fury of thy torments strive + To end thy life with resolution.-- + Know, governor, 'twas I that slew thy son,-- + I fram'd the challenge that did make them meet: + Know, Calymath, I aim'd thy overthrow: + And, had I but escap'd this stratagem, + I would have brought confusion on you all, + Damn'd Christian [206] dogs, and Turkish infidels! + But now begins the extremity of heat + To pinch me with intolerable pangs: + Die, life! fly, soul! tongue, curse thy fill, and die! + [Dies.] + + CALYMATH. Tell me, you Christians, what doth this portend? + + FERNEZE. This train [207] he laid to have entrapp'd thy life; + Now, Selim, note the unhallow'd deeds of Jews; + Thus he determin'd to have handled thee, + But I have rather chose to save thy life. + + CALYMATH. Was this the banquet he prepar'd for us? + Let's hence, lest further mischief be pretended. [208] + + FERNEZE. Nay, Selim, stay; for, since we have thee here, + We will not let thee part so suddenly: + Besides, if we should let thee go, all's one, + For with thy galleys couldst thou not get hence, + Without fresh men to rig and furnish them. + + CALYMATH. Tush, governor, take thou no care for that; + My men are all aboard, + And do attend my coming there by this. + + FERNEZE. Why, heard'st thou not the trumpet sound a charge? + + CALYMATH. Yes, what of that? + + FERNEZE. Why, then the house was fir'd, + Blown up, and all thy soldiers massacred. + + CALYMATH. O, monstrous treason! + + FERNEZE. A Jew's courtesy; + For he that did by treason work our fall, + By treason hath deliver'd thee to us: + Know, therefore, till thy father hath made good + The ruins done to Malta and to us, + Thou canst not part; for Malta shall be freed, + Or Selim ne'er return to Ottoman. + + CALYMATH. Nay, rather, Christians, let me go to Turkey, + In person there to mediate [209] your peace: + To keep me here will naught advantage you. + + FERNEZE. Content thee, Calymath, here thou must stay, + And live in Malta prisoner; for come all [210] the world + To rescue thee, so will we guard us now, + As sooner shall they drink the ocean dry, + Than conquer Malta, or endanger us. + So, march away; and let due praise be given + Neither to Fate nor Fortune, but to Heaven. + [Exeunt.] + + + + +Footnotes: + + +[Footnote 1: Heywood dedicates the First Part of THE IRON AGE (printed +1632) "To my Worthy and much Respected Friend, Mr. Thomas +Hammon, of Grayes Inne, Esquire."] + +[Footnote 2: Tho. Heywood: The well-known dramatist.] + +[Footnote 3: censures: i.e. judgments.] + +[Footnote 4: bin: i.e. been.] + +[Footnote 5: best of poets: "Marlo." Marg. note in old ed.] + +[Footnote 6: best of actors: "Allin." Marg. note in old. ed.--Any account +of the celebrated actor, Edward Alleyn, the founder of Dulwich +College, would be superfluous here.] + +[Footnote 7: In HERO AND LEANDER, &c.: The meaning is--The one (Marlowe) +gained a lasting memory by being the author of HERO AND LEANDER; +while the other (Alleyn) wan the attribute of peerless by +playing the parts of Tamburlaine, the Jew of Malta, &c.--The +passage happens to be mispointed in the old ed. thus, + + "In Hero and Leander, one did gaine + A lasting memorie: in Tamberlaine, + This Jew, with others many: th' other wan," &c. + +and hence Mr. Collier, in his HIST. OF ENG. DRAM. POET. iii. +114, understood the words, + + "in Tamburlaine, + This Jew, with others many," + +as applying to Marlowe: he afterwards, however, in his MEMOIRS +OF ALLEYN, p. 9, suspected that the punctuation of the old ed. +might be wrong,--which it doubtless is.] + +[Footnote 8: him: "Perkins." Marg. note in old ed.--"This was Richard +Perkins, one of the performers belonging to the Cock-pit theatre +in Drury-Lane. His name is printed among those who acted in +HANNIBAL AND SCIPIO by Nabbes, THE WEDDING by Shirley, and +THE FAIR MAID OF THE WEST by Heywood. After the play-houses +were shut up on account of the confusion arising from the civil +wars, Perkins and Sumner, who belonged to the same house, lived +together at Clerkenwell, where they died and were buried. They +both died some years before the Restoration. See THE DIALOGUE +ON PLAYS AND PLAYERS [Dodsley's OLD PLAYS, 1. clii., last ed.]." +REED (apud Dodsley's O. P.). Perkins acted a prominent part in +Webster's WHITE DEVIL, when it was first brought on the stage, +--perhaps Brachiano (for Burbadge, who was celebrated in +Brachiano, does not appear to have played it originally): in a +notice to the reader at the end of that tragedy Webster says; +"In particular I must remember the well-approved industry of my +friend Master Perkins, and confess the worth of his action did +crown both the beginning and end." About 1622-3 Perkins belonged +to the Red Bull theatre: about 1637 he joined the company at +Salisbury Court: see Webster's WORKS, note, p. 51, ed. Dyce, +1857.] + +[Footnote 9: prize was play'd: This expression (so frequent in our early +writers) is properly applied to fencing: see Steevens's note +on Shakespeare's MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, act. i. sc. 1.] + +[Footnote 10: no wagers laid: "Wagers as to the comparative merits of +rival actors in particular parts were not unfrequent of old," +&c. Collier (apud Dodsley's O. P.). See my ed. of Peele's +WORKS, i. x. ed. 1829; and Collier's MEMOIRS OF ALLEYN, p. 11.] + +[Footnote 11: the Guise: "i.e. the Duke of Guise, who had been the +principal contriver and actor in the horrid massacre of +St. Bartholomew's day, 1572. He met with his deserved fate, +being assassinated, by order of the French king, in 1588." +REED (apud Dodsley's O. P.). And see our author's MASSACRE +AT PARIS.] + +[Footnote 12: empery: Old ed. "Empire."] + +[Footnote 13: the Draco's: "i.e. the severe lawgiver of Athens; 'whose +statutes,' said Demades, 'were not written with ink, but blood.'" +STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.).--Old ed. "the Drancus."] + +[Footnote 14: had: Qy. "had BUT"?] + +[Footnote 15: a lecture here: Qy. "a lecture TO YOU here"?] + +[Footnote 16: Act I.: The Scenes of this play are not marked in the +old ed.; nor in the present edition,--because occasionally +(where the audience were to SUPPOSE a change of place, it +was impossible to mark them.] + +[Footnote 17: Samnites: Old ed. "Samintes."] + +[Footnote 18: silverlings: When Steevens (apud Dodsley's O. P.) called +this "a diminutive, to express the Jew's contempt of a metal +inferior in value to gold," he did not know that the word occurs +in Scripture: "a thousand vines at a thousand SILVERLINGS." +ISAIAH, vii. 23.--Old ed. "siluerbings."] + +[Footnote 19: Tell: i.e. count.] + +[Footnote 20: seld-seen: i.e. seldom-seen.] + +[Footnote 21: Into what corner peers my halcyon's bill?: "It was anciently +believed that this bird (the king-fisher), if hung up, would vary +with the wind, and by that means shew from what quarter it blew." +STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.),--who refers to the note on the +following passage of Shakespeare's KING LEAR, act ii. sc. 2; + + "Renege, affirm, and turn their HALCYON BEAKS + With every gale and vary of their masters," &c.] + +[Footnote 22: custom them: "i.e. enter the goods they contain at the +Custom-house." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 23: But: Old ed. "By."] + +[Footnote 24: fraught: i.e. freight.] + +[Footnote 25: scambled: i.e. scrambled. (Coles gives in his DICT. +"To SCAMBLE, certatim arripere"; and afterwards renders +"To scramble" by the very same Latin words.)] + +[Footnote 26: Enter three JEWS: A change of scene is supposed here, +--to a street or to the Exchange.] + +[Footnote 27: Fond: i.e. Foolish.] + +[Footnote 28: Aside: Mr. Collier (apud Dodsley's O. P.), mistaking the +purport of this stage-direction (which, of course, applies only +to the words "UNTO MYSELF"), proposed an alteration of the text.] + +[Footnote 29: BARABAS. Farewell, Zaareth, &c.: Old ed. "Iew. DOE SO; +Farewell Zaareth," &c. But "Doe so" is evidently a stage- +direction which has crept into the text, and which was intended +to signify that the Jews DO "take their leaves" of Barabas: +--here the old ed. has no "EXEUNT."] + +[Footnote 30: Turk has: So the Editor of 1826.--Old ed. "Turkes haue": +but see what follows.] + +[Footnote 31: Ego mihimet sum semper proximus: The words of Terence are +"Proximus sum egomet mihi." ANDRIA, iv. 1. 12.] + +[Footnote 32: Exit: The scene is now supposed to be changed to the +interior of the Council-house.] + +[Footnote 33: bassoes: i.e. bashaws.] + +[Footnote 34: governor: Old ed. "Gouernours" here, and several times +after in this scene.] + +[Footnote 35: CALYMATH. Stand all aside, &c.: "The Governor and the +Maltese knights here consult apart, while Calymath gives these +directions." COLLIER (apud Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 36: happily: i.e. haply.] + +[Footnote 37: Officer: Old ed. "Reader."] + +[Footnote 38: denies: i.e. refuses.] + +[Footnote 39: convertite: "i.e. convert, as in Shakespeare's KING JOHN, +act v. sc. 1." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 40: Then we'll take, &c.: In the old ed. this line forms +a portion of the preceding speech.] + +[Footnote 41: ecstasy: Equivalent here to--violent emotion. "The word +was anciently used to signify some degree of alienation of mind." +COLLIER (apud Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 42: Exeunt three Jews: On their departure, the scene is supposed +to be changed to a street near the house of Barabas.] + +[Footnote 43: reduce: If the right reading, is equivalent to--repair. +But qy. "redress"?] + +[Footnote 44: fond: "i.e. foolish." REED (apud Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 45: portagues: Portuguese gold coins, so called.] + +[Footnote 46: sect: "i.e. sex. SECT and SEX were, in our ancient dramatic +writers, used synonymously." REED (apud Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 47: Enter FRIAR JACOMO, &c.: Old ed. "Enter three Fryars and +two Nuns:" but assuredly only TWO Friars figure in this play.] + +[Footnote 48: Abb.: In the old ed. the prefix to this speech is "1 Nun," +and to the next speech but one "Nun." That both speeches belong +to the Abbess is quite evident.] + +[Footnote 49: Sometimes: Equivalent here (as frequently in our early +writers) to--Sometime.] + +[Footnote 50: forgive me--: Old ed. "GIUE me--"] + +[Footnote 51: thus: After this word the old ed. has "†",--to signify, +perhaps, the motion which Barabas was to make here with his hand.] + +[Footnote 52: forget not: Qy. "forget IT not"] + +[Footnote 53: Enter BARABAS, with a light: The scene is now before the +house of Barabas, which has been turned into a nunnery.] + +[Footnote 54: Thus, like the sad-presaging raven, that tolls + The sick man's passport in her hollow beak +Mr. Collier (HIST. OF ENG. DRAM. POET. iii. 136) remarks that +these lines are cited (with some variation, and from memory, +as the present play was not printed till 1633) in an epigram on +T. Deloney, in Guilpin's SKIALETHEIA OR THE SHADOWE OF TRUTH, +1598,-- + + "LIKE TO THE FATALL OMINOUS RAVEN, WHICH TOLLS + THE SICK MAN'S DIRGE WITHIN HIS HOLLOW BEAKE, + So every paper-clothed post in Poules + To thee, Deloney, mourningly doth speake," &c.] + +[Footnote 55: of: i.e. on.] + +[Footnote 56: wake: Old ed. "walke."] + +[Footnote 57: Bueno para todos mi ganado no era: Old ed. "Birn para todos, +my ganada no er."] + +[Footnote 58: But stay: what star shines yonder in the east, &c. +Shakespeare, it would seem, recollected this passage, when +he wrote,-- + + "But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? + It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!" + ROMEO AND JULIET, act ii. sc. 2.] + +[Footnote 59: Hermoso placer de los dineros: Old ed. "Hormoso Piarer, +de les Denirch."] + +[Footnote 60: Enter Ferneze, &c.: The scene is the interior of the +Council-house.] + +[Footnote 61: entreat: i.e. treat.] + +[Footnote 62: vail'd not: "i.e. did not strike or lower our flags." +STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 63: Turkish: Old ed. "Spanish."] + +[Footnote 64: luff'd and tack'd: Old ed. "LEFT, and TOOKE."] + +[Footnote 65: stated: i.e. estated, established, stationed.] + +[Footnote 66: Enter OFFICERS, &c.: The scene being the market-place.] + +[Footnote 67: Poor villains, such as were: Old ed. "SUCH AS poore +villaines were", &c.] + +[Footnote 68: into: i.e. unto: see note †, p. 15. + + [note |, p. 15, The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great: + "| into: Used here (as the word was formerly often used) + for UNTO."] + +[Footnote 69: city: The preceding editors have not questioned this word, +which I believe to be a misprint.] + +[Footnote 70: foil'd]=filed, i.e. defiled.] + +[Footnote 71: I'll have a saying to that nunnery: Compare Barnaby Barnes's +DIVILS CHARTER, 1607; + + "Before I do this seruice, lie there, peece; + For I must HAUE A SAYING to those bottels. HE DRINKETH. + True stingo; stingo, by mine honour.* * * + * * * * * * * * * * * * + I must HAUE A SAYING to you, sir, I must, though you be + prouided for his Holines owne mouth; I will be bould to be + the Popes taster by his leaue." Sig. K 3.] + +[Footnote 72: plates: "i.e. pieces of silver money." STEEVENS (apud +Dodsley's O. P.).--Old ed. "plats."] + +[Footnote 73: Slave: To the speeches of this Slave the old ed. prefixes +"Itha." and "Ith.", confounding him with Ithamore.] + +[Footnote 74: Lady Vanity: So Jonson in his FOX, act ii. sc. 3., + + "Get you a cittern, LADY VANITY, + And be a dealer with the virtuous man," &c.; + +and in his DEVIL IS AN ASS, act i. sc. 1.,-- + + "SATAN. What Vice? + PUG. Why, any: Fraud, + Or Covetousness, or LADY VANITY, + Or old Iniquity."] + +[Footnote 75: Katharine: Old ed. "MATER."--The name of Mathias's mother +was, as we afterwards learn, Katharine.] + +[Footnote 76: stay: i.e. forbear, break off our conversation.] + +[Footnote 77: was: Qy. "was BUT"?] + +[Footnote 78: O, brave, master: The modern editors strike out the comma +after "BRAVE", understanding that word as an epithet to "MASTER": +but compare what Ithamore says to Barabas in act iv.: "That's +BRAVE, MASTER," p. 165, first col.] + +[Footnote 79: your nose: An allusion to the large artificial nose, with +which Barabas was represented on the stage. See the passage +cited from W. Rowley's SEARCH FOR MONEY, 1609, in the ACCOUNT +OF MARLOWE AND HIS WRITINGS.] + +[Footnote 80: Ure: i.e. use, practice.] + +[Footnote 81: a-good: "i.e. in good earnest. Tout de bon." REED (apud +Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 82: Enter LODOWICK: A change of scene supposed here,--to the +outside of Barabas's house.] + +[Footnote 83: vow love to him: Old ed. "vow TO LOUE him": but compare, +in Barabas's next speech but one, "And she VOWS LOVE TO HIM," &c.] + +[Footnote 84: made sure: i.e. affianced.] + +[Footnote 85: Ludovico: Old ed. "Lodowicke."--In act iii. we have, + + "I fear she knows--'tis so--of my device + In Don Mathias' and LODOVICO'S deaths." p. 162, sec. col.] + +[Footnote 86: happily: i.e. haply.] + +[Footnote 87: unsoil'd: "Perhaps we ought to read 'unfoil'd', +consistently with what Barabas said of her before under the +figure of a jewel-- + + 'The diamond that I talk of NE'ER WAS FOIL'D'." +COLLIER (apud Dodsley's O. P.). But see that passage, p. 155, +sec. col., and note ||. [i.e. note 70.]] + +[Footnote 88: cross: i.e. piece of money (many coins being marked with a +cross on one side).] + +[Footnote 89: thou: Old ed. "thee."] + +[Footnote 90: resolv'd: "i.e. satisfied." GILCHRIST (apud Dodsley's +O. P.).] + +[Footnote 91: Enter BELLAMIRA: She appears, we may suppose, in a veranda +or open portico of her house (that the scene is not the interior +of the house, is proved by what follows).] + +[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."] + +[Footnote 93: Lodovico: Old ed. "Lodowicke."--See note *, p. 158. (i.e. +note 85.)] + +[Footnote 94: tall: i.e. bold, brave.] + +[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.] + +[Footnote 98: Katharine: Old ed. "Katherina."] + +[Footnote 99: Enter ITHAMORE: The scene a room in the house of Barabas.] + +[Footnote 100: held in hand: i.e. kept in expectation, having their hopes +flattered.] + +[Footnote 101: bottle-nosed: See note †, p. 157. [i.e. note 79.]] + +[Footnote 102: Jaques: Old ed. "Iaynes."] + +[Footnote 103: sire: Old ed. "sinne" (which, modernised to "sin", the +editors retain, among many other equally obvious errors of the +old copy).] + +[Footnote 104: As: Old ed. "And."] + +[Footnote 105: Enter BARABAS: The scene is still within the house of +Barabas; but some time is supposed to have elapsed since the +preceding conference between Abigail and Friar Jacomo.] + +[Footnote 106: pretendeth: Equivalent to PORTENDETH; as in our author's +FIRST BOOK OF LUCAN, "And which (ay me) ever PRETENDETH ill," &c.] + +[Footnote 107: self: Old ed. "life" (the compositor's eye having caught +"life" in the preceding line).] + +[Footnote 108: 'less: Old ed. "least."] + +[Footnote 109: Well said: See note *, p. 69.] + + (note *, p. 69, The Second Part of Tamburlaine the Great: + + "* Well said: Equivalent to--Well done! as appears from + innumerable passages of our early writers: see, for + instances, my ed. of Beaumont and Fletcher's WORKS, vol. i. + 328, vol. ii. 445, vol. viii. 254.")] + +[Footnote 110: the proverb says, &c.: A proverb as old as Chaucer's time: +see the SQUIERES TALE, v. 10916, ed. Tyrwhitt.] + +[Footnote 111: batten: i.e. fatten.] + +[Footnote 112: pot: Old ed. "plot."] + +[Footnote 113: thou shalt have broth by the eye: "Perhaps he means--thou +shalt SEE how the broth that is designed for thee is made, that +no mischievous ingredients enter its composition. The passage +is, however, obscure." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.).--"BY THE +EYE" seems to be equivalent to--in abundance. Compare THE CREED +of Piers Ploughman: + + "Grey grete-heded quenes + With gold BY THE EIGHEN." + +v. 167, ed. Wright (who has no note on the expression): and +Beaumont and Fletcher's KNIGHT OF THE BURNING PESTLE, act ii. +sc. 2; "here's money and gold BY TH' EYE, my boy." In Fletcher's +BEGGARS' BUSH, act iii. sc. 1, we find, "Come, English beer, +hostess, English beer BY THE BELLY!"] + +[Footnote 114: In few: i.e. in a few words, in short.] + +[Footnote 115: hebon: i.e. ebony, which was formerly supposed to be a +deadly poison.] + +[Footnote 116: Enter FERNEZE, &c.: The scene is the interior of the +Council-house.] + +[Footnote 117: basso: Old ed. "Bashaws" (the printer having added an S +by mistake), and in the preceding stage-direction, and in the +fifth speech of this scene, "Bashaw": but in an earlier scene +(see p. 148, first col.) we have "bassoes" (and see our author's +TAMBURLAINE, PASSIM). + + (From p. 148, this play: + + "Enter FERNEZE governor of Malta, KNIGHTS, and OFFICERS; + met by CALYMATH, and BASSOES of the TURK.")] + +[Footnote 118: the resistless banks: i.e. the banks not able to resist.] + +[Footnote 119: basilisks: See note ||, p. 25. + + (note ||, p. 25, The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great:) + + "basilisks: Pieces of ordnance so called. They were of + immense size; see Douce's ILLUST. OF SHAKESPEARE, i. 425."] + +[Footnote 120: Enter FRIAR JACOMO, &c.: Scene, the interior of the +Nunnery.] + +[Footnote 121: convers'd with me: She alludes to her conversation with +Jacomo, p. 162, sec. col. + + (p. 162, second column, this play: + + "ABIGAIL. Welcome, grave friar.--Ithamore, be gone. + + Exit ITHAMORE. + + Know, holy sir, I am bold to solicit thee. + FRIAR JACOMO. Wherein?")] + +[Footnote 122: envied: i.e. hated.] + +[Footnote 123: practice: i.e. artful contrivance, stratagem.] + +[Footnote 124: crucified a child: A crime with which the Jews were often +charged. "Tovey, in his ANGLIA JUDAICA, has given the several +instances which are upon record of these charges against the +Jews; which he observes they were never accused of, but at such +times as the king was manifestly in great want of money." REED +(apud Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 125: Enter BARABAS, &c.: Scene a street.] + +[Footnote 126: to: Which the Editor of 1826 deliberately altered to +"like," means--compared to, in comparison of.] + +[Footnote 127: Cazzo: Old ed. "catho."--See Florio's WORLDE OF WORDES +(Ital. and Engl. Dict.) ed. 1598, in v.--"A petty oath, a cant +exclamation, generally expressive, among the Italian populace, +who have it constantly in their mouth, of defiance or contempt." +Gifford's note on Jonson's WORKS, ii. 48.] + +[Footnote 128: nose: See note †, p. 157. [i.e. note 79.]] + +[Footnote 129: inmate: Old ed. "inmates."] + +[Footnote 130: the burden of my sins +Lie heavy, &c.: One of the modern editors altered "LIE" to +"Lies": but examples of similar phraseology,--of a nominative +singular followed by a plural verb when a plural genitive +intervenes,--are common in our early writers; see notes on +Beaumont and Fletcher's WORKS, vol. v. 7, 94, vol. ix. 185, +ed. Dyce.] + +[Footnote 131: sollars: "i.e. lofts, garrets." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's +O. P.).] + +[Footnote 132: untold: i.e. uncounted.--Old ed. "vnsold."] + +[Footnote 133: BARABAS. This is mere frailty: brethren, be content.-- +Friar Barnardine, go you with Ithamore: +You know my mind; let me alone with him.] + +FRIAR JACOMO. Why does he go to thy house? let him be gone + +Old ed. thus; + +"BAR. This is meere frailty, brethren, be content. +Fryar Barnardine goe you with Ithimore. +ITH. You know my mind, let me alone with him; +Why does he goe to thy house, let him begone."] + +[Footnote 134: the Turk: "Meaning Ithamore." COLLIER (apud Dodsley's +O. P.). Compare the last line but one of Barabas's next speech.] + +[Footnote 135: covent: i.e. convent.] + +[Footnote 136: Therefore 'tis not requisite he should live: Lest the +reader should suspect that the author wrote, + + "Therefore 'tis requisite he should not live," + I may observe that we have had before (p. 152, first col.) + a similar form of expression,-- + "It is not necessary I be seen."] + +[Footnote 137: fair: See note |||, p. 15. ('15' sic.) + + (note |||, p. 13, The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great:) + + "In fair, &c.: Here "FAIR" is to be considered as a + dissyllable: compare, in the Fourth act of our author's + JEW OF MALTA, + "I'll feast you, lodge you, give you FAIR words, + And, after that," &c."] + +[Footnote 138: shall be done: Here a change of scene is supposed, to the +interior of Barabas's house.] + +[Footnote 139: Friar, awake: Here, most probably, Barabas drew a curtain, +and discovered the sleeping Friar.] + +[Footnote 140: have: Old ed. "saue."] + +[Footnote 141: What time o' night is't now, sweet Ithamore? + + ITHAMORE. Towards one: Might be adduced, among other +passages, to shew that the modern editors are right when they +print in Shakespeare's KING JOHN. act iii. sc. 3, + + "If the midnight bell + Did, with his iron tongue and brazen mouth, + Sound ONE into the drowsy ear of NIGHT," &c.] + +[Footnote 142: Enter FRIAR JACOMO: The scene is now before Barabas's +house,--the audience having had to SUPPOSE that the body of +Barnardine, which Ithamore had set upright, was standing +outside the door.] + +[Footnote 143: proceed: Seems to be used here as equivalent to--succeed.] + +[Footnote 144: on's: i.e. of his.] + +[Footnote 145: Enter BELLAMIRA, &c.: The scene, as in p. 160, a veranda +or open portico of Bellamira's house. + + (p. 160, this play:) + + " Enter BELLAMIRA. (91) + BELLAMIRA. Since this town was besieg'd," etc.] + +[Footnote 146: tall: Which our early dramatists generally use in the +sense of--bold, brave (see note ‡, p. 161), [i.e. note 94: is +here perhaps equivalent to--handsome. ("Tall or SEMELY." PROMPT. +PARV. ed. 1499.)] + +[Footnote 147: neck-verse: i.e. the verse (generally the beginning of the +51st Psalm, MISERERE MEI, &c.) read by a criminal to entitle him +to benefit of clergy.] + +[Footnote 148: of: i.e. on.] + +[Footnote 149: exercise: i.e. sermon, preaching.] + +[Footnote 150: with a muschatoes: i.e. with a pair of mustachios. The +modern editors print "with MUSTACHIOS," and "with a MUSTACHIOS": +but compare,-- + + "My Tuskes more stiffe than are a Cats MUSCHATOES." + S. Rowley's NOBLE SPANISH SOLDIER, 1634, Sig. C. + + "His crow-black MUCHATOES." + THE BLACK BOOK,--Middleton's WORKS, v. 516, ed. Dyce.] + +[Footnote 151: Turk of tenpence: An expression not unfrequently used by +our early writers. So Taylor in some verses on Coriat; + + "That if he had A TURKE OF TENPENCE bin," &c. + WORKES, p. 82, ed. 1630. + +And see note on Middleton's WORKS, iii. 489, ed. Dyce.] + +[Footnote 152: you know: Qy. "you know, SIR,"?] + +[Footnote 153: I'll make him, &c.: Old ed. thus: + + "I'le make him send me half he has, & glad he scapes so too. + PEN AND INKE: + I'll write vnto him, we'le haue mony strait." + +There can be no doubt that the words "Pen and inke" were a +direction to the property-man to have those articles on the +stage.] + +[Footnote 154: cunning: i.e. skilfully prepared.--Old ed. "running." +(The MAIDS are supposed to hear their mistress' orders WITHIN.)] + +[Footnote 155: Shalt live with me, and be my love: A line, slightly +varied, of Marlowe's well-known song. In the preceding line, +the absurdity of "by Dis ABOVE" is, of course, intentional.] + +[Footnote 156: beard: Old ed. "sterd."] + +[Footnote 157: give me a ream of paper: we'll have a kingdom of gold +for't: A quibble. REALM was frequently written ream; and +frequently (as the following passages shew), even when the +former spelling was given, the L was not sounded; + + "Vpon the siluer bosome of the STREAME + First gan faire Themis shake her amber locks, + Whom all the Nimphs that waight on Neptunes REALME + Attended from the hollowe of the rocks." + Lodge's SCILLAES METAMORPHOSIS, &c. 1589, Sig. A 2. + + "How he may surest stablish his new conquerd REALME, + How of his glorie fardest to deriue the STREAME." + A HERINGS TAYLE, &c. 1598, Sig. D 3. + + "Learchus slew his brother for the crowne; + So did Cambyses fearing much the DREAME; + Antiochus, of infamous renowne, + His brother slew, to rule alone the REALME." + MIROUR FOR MAGISTRATES, p. 78, ed. 1610.] + +[Footnote 158: runs division: "A musical term [of very common +occurrence]." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 159: Enter BARABAS: The scene certainly seems to be now the +interior of Barabas's house, notwithstanding what he presently +says to Pilia-Borza (p. 171, sec. col.), "Pray, when, sir, shall +I see you at my house?"] + +[Footnote 160: tatter'd: Old ed. "totter'd": but in a passage of our +author's EDWARD THE SECOND the two earliest 4tos have "TATTER'D +robes":--and yet Reed in a note on that passage (apud Dodsley's +OLD PLAYS, where the reading of the third 4to, "tottered robes", +is followed) boldly declares that "in every writer of this +period the word was spelt TOTTERED"! The truth is, it was spelt +sometimes one way, sometimes the other.] + +[Footnote 161: catzery: i.e. cheating, roguery. It is formed from CATSO +(CAZZO, see note *, p. 166 i.e. note 127), which our early +writers used, not only as an exclamation, but as an opprobrious +term.] + +[Footnote 162: cross-biting: i.e. swindling (a cant term).--Something has +dropt out here.] + +[Footnote 163: tale: i.e. reckoning.] + +[Footnote 164: what he writes for you: i.e. the hundred crowns to be +given to the bearer: see p. 170, sec. col. + + p. 170, second column, this play: + + "ITHAMORE. [writing: SIRRAH JEW, AS YOU LOVE YOUR LIFE, + SEND ME FIVE HUNDRED CROWNS, AND GIVE THE BEARER A HUNDRED. + --Tell him I must have't."] + +[Footnote 165: I should part: Qy. "I E'ER should part"?] + +[Footnote 166: rid: i.e. despatch, destroy.] + +[Footnote 167: Enter BELLAMIRA, &c.: They are supposed to be sitting in +a veranda or open portico of Bellamira's house: see note *, +p. 168. [i.e. note 145.] + +[Footnote 168: Of: i.e. on.] + +[Footnote 169: BELLAMIRA.: Old ed. "Pil."] + +[Footnote 170: Rivo Castiliano: The origin of this Bacchanalian +exclamation has not been discovered. RIVO generally is used +alone; but, among passages parallel to that of our text, is +the following one (which has been often cited),-- + + "And RYUO will he cry and CASTILE too." + LOOKE ABOUT YOU, 1600, Sig. L. 4. + +A writer in THE WESTMINSTER REVIEW, vol. xliii. 53, thinks that +it "is a misprint for RICO-CASTELLANO, meaning a Spaniard +belonging to the class of RICOS HOMBRES, and the phrase +therefore is-- + + 'Hey, NOBLE CASTILIAN, a man's a man!' +'I can pledge like a man and drink like a man, MY WORTHY TROJAN;' +as some of our farce-writers would say." But the frequent +occurrence of RIVO in various authors proves that it is NOT +a misprint.] + +[Footnote 171: he: Old ed. "you".] + +[Footnote 172: and he and I, snicle hand too fast, strangled a friar] +There is surely some corruption here. Steevens (apud Dodsley's +O. P.) proposes to read "hand TO FIST". Gilchrist (ibid.) +observes, "a snicle is a north-country word for a noose, and +when a person is hanged, they say he is snicled." See too, +in V. SNICKLE, Forby's VOC. OF EAST ANGLIA, and the CRAVEN +DIALECT.--The Rev. J. Mitford proposes the following (very +violent) alteration of this passage; + + "Itha. I carried the broth that poisoned the nuns; and he + and I-- + Pilia. Two hands snickle-fast-- + Itha. Strangled a friar."] + +[Footnote 173: incony: i.e. fine, pretty, delicate.--Old ed. "incoomy."] + +[Footnote 174: they stink like a hollyhock: "This flower, however, has +no offensive smell. STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.). Its +odour resembles that of the poppy.] + +[Footnote 175: mushrooms: For this word (as, indeed, for most words) our +early writers had no fixed spelling. Here the old ed. has +"Mushrumbs": and in our author's EDWARD THE SECOND, the 4tos +have "mushrump."] + +[Footnote 176: under the elder when he hanged himself: That Judas hanged +himself on an elder-tree, was a popular legend. Nay, the very +tree was exhibited to the curious in Sir John Mandeville's days: +"And faste by, is zit the Tree of Eldre, that Judas henge him +self upon, for despeyt that he hadde, whan he solde and betrayed +oure Lorde." VOIAGE AND TRAVAILE, &c. p. 112. ed. 1725. But, +according to Pulci, Judas had recourse to a carob-tree: + + "Era di sopra a la fonte UN CARRUBBIO, + L'ARBOR, SI DICE, OVE S'IMPICCO GIUDA," &c. + MORGANTE MAG. C. xxv. st. 77.] + +[Footnote 177: nasty: Old ed. "masty."] + +[Footnote 178: me: Old ed. "we".] + +[Footnote 179: Enter Ferneze, &c.: Scene, the interior of the Council- +house.] + +[Footnote 180: him: Qy. "'em"?] + +[Footnote 181: Exeunt all, leaving Barabas on the floor: Here the audience +were to suppose that Barabas had been thrown over the walls, and +that the stage now represented the outside of the city.] + +[Footnote 182: Bassoes: Here old ed. "Bashawes." See note §, p. 164. +[Footnote i.e. note 117.]] + +[Footnote 183: trench: A doubtful reading.--Old ed. "Truce."--"Query +'sluice'? 'TRUCE' seems unintelligible." COLLIER (apud Dodsley's +O. P.).--The Rev. J. Mitford proposes "turret" or "tower."] + +[Footnote 184: channels: i.e. kennels.] + +[Footnote 185: Enter CALYMATH, &c.: Scene, an open place in the city.] + +[Footnote 186: vail: i.e. lower, stoop.] + +[Footnote 187: To kept: i.e. To have kept.] + +[Footnote 188: Entreat: i.e. Treat.] + +[Footnote 189: Bassoes: Here old ed. "Bashawes." See note §, p. 164. +[Footnote i.e. note 117.]] + +[Footnote 190: Thus hast thou gotten, &c.: A change of scene is supposed +here--to the Citadel, the residence of Barabas as governor.] + +[Footnote 191: Whenas: i.e. When. + +[Footnote 192: Within here: The usual exclamation is "Within THERE!" but +compare THE HOGGE HATH LOST HIS PEARLE (by R. Tailor), 1614; +"What, ho! within HERE!" Sig. E 2.] + +[Footnote 193: sith: i.e. since.] + +[Footnote 194: cast: i.e. plot, contrive.] + +[Footnote 195: Bassoes: Here and afterwards old ed. "Bashawes." See note +§, p. 164. [i.e. note 117.]--Scene, outside the walls of the +city.] + +[Footnote 196: basilisk[s: See note ‡, p. 25. + + [note ||, p. 25, The First Part of Tamburlaine the Great: + "|| basilisks: Pieces of ordnance so called. They were of + immense size; see Douce's ILLUST. OF SHAKESPEARE, i. 425."] + +[Footnote 197: And, toward Calabria, &c.: So the Editor of 1826.--Old ed. +thus: + + "And toward Calabria back'd by Sicily, + Two lofty Turrets that command the Towne. + WHEN Siracusian Dionisius reign'd; + I wonder how it could be conquer'd thus?"] + +[Footnote 198: Enter FERNEZE, &c.: Scene, a street.] + +[Footnote 199: linstock: "i.e. the long match with which cannon are +fired." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.).] + +[Footnote 200: Enter, above, &c.: Scene, a hall in the Citadel, with a +gallery.] + +[Footnote 201: FIRST CARPENTER.: Old ed. here "Serv."; but it gives +"CARP." as the prefix to the second speech after this.] + +[Footnote 202: off: An interpolation perhaps.] + +[Footnote 203: sun: Old ed. "summe."] + +[Footnote 204: ascend: Old ed. "attend."] + +[Footnote 205: A charge sounded within: FERNEZE cuts the cord; the floor +of the gallery gives way, and BARABAS falls into a caldron +placed in a pit. + + Enter KNIGHTS and MARTIN DEL BOSCO + +Old ed. has merely "A charge, the cable cut, A Caldron +discouered."] + +[Footnote 206: Christian: Old ed. "Christians."] + +[Footnote 207: train: i.e. stratagem.] + +[Footnote 208: pretended: i.e. intended.] + +[Footnote 209: mediate: Old ed. "meditate."] + +[Footnote 210: all: Old ed. "call."] + + + + +SQUARE BRACKETS: +The square brackets, i.e. [ ] are copied from the printed book, +without change, except that the stage directions usually do not +have closing brackets. These have been added. + +FOOTNOTES: +For this E-Text version of the book, the footnotes have been +consolidated at the end of the play. + +Numbering of the footnotes has been changed, and each footnote +is given a unique identity in the form [XXX]. + + +CHANGES TO THE TEXT: +Character names were expanded. For Example, BARABAS was BARA., +FERNEZE was FERN., etc. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Jew of Malta, by Christopher Marlowe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JEW OF MALTA *** + +***** This file should be named 901-8.txt or 901-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/0/901/ + +Produced by Gary R. Young + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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