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Young using an IBM compatible +486-33 computer, a Hewlett Packard Scanjet IIP scanner, OmniPage +Pro OCR software, and Microsoft Word software. + + +Gary Young +younggr@echo-on.net +or +CR677@torfree.net + + + + + +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.] + + +<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." + +<2> Tho. Heywood] The well-known dramatist. + +<3> censures] i.e. judgments. + +<4> bin] i.e. been. + +<5> best of poets] "Marlo." Marg. note in old ed. + +<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. + +<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. + +<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. + +<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. + +<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. + +<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. + +<12> empery] Old ed. "Empire." + +<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." + +<14> had] Qy. "had BUT"? + +<15> a lecture here] Qy. "a lecture TO YOU here"? + +<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. + +<17> Samnites] Old ed. "Samintes." + +<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." + +<19> Tell] i.e. count. + +<20> seld-seen] i.e. seldom-seen. + +<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. + +<22> custom them] "i.e. enter the goods they contain at the +Custom-house." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.). + +<23> But] Old ed. "By." + +<24> fraught] i.e. freight. + +<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.) + +<26> Enter three JEWS] A change of scene is supposed here, +--to a street or to the Exchange. + +<27> Fond] i.e. Foolish. + +<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. + +<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." + +<30> Turk has] So the Editor of 1826.--Old ed. "Turkes haue": +but see what follows. + +<31> Ego mihimet sum semper proximus] The words of Terence are +"Proximus sum egomet mihi." ANDRIA, iv. 1. 12. + +<32> Exit] The scene is now supposed to be changed to the +interior of the Council-house. + +<33> bassoes] i.e. bashaws. + +<34> governor] Old ed. "Gouernours" here, and several times +after in this scene. + +<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.). + +<36> happily] i.e. haply. + +<37> Officer] Old ed. "Reader." + +<38> denies] i.e. refuses. + +<39> convertite] "i.e. convert, as in Shakespeare's KING JOHN, +act v. sc. 1." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.). + +<40> Then we'll take, &c.] In the old ed. this line forms +a portion of the preceding speech. + +<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.). + +<42> Exeunt three Jews] On their departure, the scene is supposed +to be changed to a street near the house of Barabas. + +<43> reduce] If the right reading, is equivalent to--repair. +But qy. "redress"? + +<44> fond] "i.e. foolish." REED (apud Dodsley's O. P.). + +<45> portagues] Portuguese gold coins, so called. + +<46> sect] "i.e. sex. SECT and SEX were, in our ancient dramatic +writers, used synonymously." REED (apud Dodsley's O. P.). + +<47> Enter FRIAR JACOMO, &c.] Old ed. "Enter three Fryars and +two Nuns:" but assuredly only TWO Friars figure in this play. + +<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. + +<49> Sometimes] Equivalent here (as frequently in our early +writers) to--Sometime. + +<50> forgive me--] Old ed. "GIUE me--" + +<51> thus] After this word the old ed. has "†",--to signify, +perhaps, the motion which Barabas was to make here with his hand. + +<52> forget not] Qy. "forget IT not" + +<53> Enter BARABAS, with a light] The scene is now before the +house of Barabas, which has been turned into a nunnery. + +<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. + +<55> of] i.e. on. + +<56> wake] Old ed. "walke." + +<57> Bueno para todos mi ganado no era] Old ed. "Birn para todos, +my ganada no er." + +<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. + +<59> Hermoso placer de los dineros] Old ed. "Hormoso Piarer, +de les Denirch." + +<60> Enter Ferneze, &c.] The scene is the interior of the +Council-house. + +<61> entreat] i.e. treat. + +<62> vail'd not] "i.e. did not strike or lower our flags." +STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.). + +<63> Turkish] Old ed. "Spanish." + +<64> luff'd and tack'd] Old ed. "LEFT, and TOOKE." + +<65> stated] i.e. estated, established, stationed. + +<66> Enter OFFICERS, &c.] The scene being the market-place. + +<67> Poor villains, such as were] Old ed. "SUCH AS poore +villaines were", &c. + +<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."> + +<69> city] The preceding editors have not questioned this word, +which I believe to be a misprint. + +<70> foil'd]=filed, i.e. defiled. + +<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. + +<72> plates] "i.e. pieces of silver money." STEEVENS (apud +Dodsley's O. P.).--Old ed. "plats." + +<73> Slave] To the speeches of this Slave the old ed. prefixes +"Itha." and "Ith.", confounding him with Ithamore. + +<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." + +<75> Katharine] Old ed. "MATER."--The name of Mathias's mother +was, as we afterwards learn, Katharine. + +<76> stay] i.e. forbear, break off our conversation. + +<77> was] Qy. "was BUT"? + +<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. + +<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. + +<80> Ure] i.e. use, practice. + +<81> a-good] "i.e. in good earnest. Tout de bon." REED (apud +Dodsley's O. P.). + +<82> Enter LODOWICK] A change of scene supposed here,--to the +outside of Barabas's house. + +<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. + +<84> made sure] i.e. affianced. + +<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. + +<86> happily] i.e. haply. + +<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.> + +<88> cross] i.e. piece of money (many coins being marked with a +cross on one side). + +<89> thou] Old ed. "thee." + +<90> resolv'd] "i.e. satisfied." GILCHRIST (apud Dodsley's +O. P.). + +<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). + +<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." + +<93> Lodovico] Old ed. "Lodowicke."--See note *, p. 158.<i.e. +note 85.> + +<94> tall] i.e. bold, brave. + +<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). + +<96> Lodovico] Old ed. "Lodowicke." + +<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. + +<98> Katharine] Old ed. "Katherina." + +<99> Enter ITHAMORE] The scene a room in the house of Barabas. + +<100> held in hand] i.e. kept in expectation, having their hopes +flattered. + +<101> bottle-nosed] See note †, p. 157.<i.e. note 79.> + +<102> Jaques] Old ed. "Iaynes." + +<103> sire] Old ed. "sinne" (which, modernised to "sin", the +editors retain, among many other equally obvious errors of the +old copy). + +<104> As] Old ed. "And." + +<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. + +<106> pretendeth] Equivalent to PORTENDETH; as in our author's +FIRST BOOK OF LUCAN, "And which (ay me) ever PRETENDETH ill," &c. + +<107> self] Old ed. "life" (the compositor's eye having caught +"life" in the preceding line). + +<108> 'less] Old ed. "least." + +<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."> + +<110> the proverb says, &c.] A proverb as old as Chaucer's time: +see the SQUIERES TALE, v. 10916, ed. Tyrwhitt. + +<111> batten] i.e. fatten. + +<112> pot] Old ed. "plot." + +<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!" + +<114> In few] i.e. in a few words, in short. + +<115> hebon] i.e. ebony, which was formerly supposed to be a +deadly poison. + +<116> Enter FERNEZE, &c.] The scene is the interior of the +Council-house. + +<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."> + +<118> the resistless banks] i.e. the banks not able to resist. + +<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."> + +<120> Enter FRIAR JACOMO, &c.] Scene, the interior of the +Nunnery. + +<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?"> + +<122> envied] i.e. hated. + +<123> practice] i.e. artful contrivance, stratagem. + +<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.). + +<125> Enter BARABAS, &c.] Scene a street. + +<126> to] Which the Editor of 1826 deliberately altered to +"like," means--compared to, in comparison of. + +<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. + +<128> nose] See note †, p. 157.<i.e. note 79.> + +<129> inmate] Old ed. "inmates." + +<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. + +<131> sollars] "i.e. lofts, garrets." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's +O. P.). + +<132> untold] i.e. uncounted.--Old ed. "vnsold." + +<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." + +<134> the Turk] "Meaning Ithamore." COLLIER (apud Dodsley's +O. P.). Compare the last line but one of Barabas's next speech. + +<135> covent] i.e. convent. + +<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." + +<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."> + +<138> shall be done] Here a change of scene is supposed, to the +interior of Barabas's house. + +<139> Friar, awake] Here, most probably, Barabas drew a curtain, +and discovered the sleeping Friar. + +<140> have] Old ed. "saue." + +<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. + +<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. + +<143> proceed] Seems to be used here as equivalent to--succeed. + +<144> on's] i.e. of his. + +<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.> + +<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.) + +<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. + +<148> of] i.e. on. + +<149> exercise] i.e. sermon, preaching. + +<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. + +<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. + +<152> you know] Qy. "you know, SIR,"? + +<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. + +<154> cunning] i.e. skilfully prepared.--Old ed. "running." +(The MAIDS are supposed to hear their mistress' orders WITHIN.) + +<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. + +<156> beard] Old ed. "sterd." + +<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. + +<158> runs division] "A musical term [of very common +occurrence]." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.). + +<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?" + +<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. + +<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. + +<162> cross-biting] i.e. swindling (a cant term).--Something has +dropt out here. + +<163> tale] i.e. reckoning. + +<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."> + +<165> I should part] Qy. "I E'ER should part"? + +<166> rid] i.e. despatch, destroy. + +<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.> + +<168> Of] i.e. on. + +<169> BELLAMIRA.] Old ed. "Pil." + +<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. + +<171> he] Old ed. "you". + +<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." + +<173> incony] i.e. fine, pretty, delicate.--Old ed. "incoomy." + +<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. + +<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." + +<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. + +<177> nasty] Old ed. "masty." + +<178> me] Old ed. "we". + +<179> Enter Ferneze, &c.] Scene, the interior of the Council- +house. + +<180> him] Qy. "'em"? + +<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. + +<182> Bassoes] Here old ed. "Bashawes." See note §, p. 164. +<i.e. note 117.> + +<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." + +<184> channels] i.e. kennels. + +<185> Enter CALYMATH, &c.] Scene, an open place in the city. + +<186> vail] i.e. lower, stoop. + +<187> To kept] i.e. To have kept. + +<188> Entreat] i.e. Treat. + +<189> Bassoes] Here old ed. "Bashawes." See note §, p. 164. +<i.e. note 117.> + +<190> Thus hast thou gotten, &c.] A change of scene is supposed +here--to the Citadel, the residence of Barabas as governor. + +<191> Whenas] i.e. When. + +<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. + +<193> sith] i.e. since. + +<194> cast] i.e. plot, contrive. + +<195> Bassoes] Here and afterwards old ed. "Bashawes." See note +§, p. 164.<i.e. note 117.>--Scene, outside the walls of the +city. + +<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."> + +<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?" + +<198> Enter FERNEZE, &c.] Scene, a street. + +<199> linstock] "i.e. the long match with which cannon are +fired." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.). + +<200> Enter, above, &c.] Scene, a hall in the Citadel, with a +gallery. + +<201> FIRST CARPENTER.] Old ed. here "Serv."; but it gives +"CARP." as the prefix to the second speech after this. + +<202> off] An interpolation perhaps. + +<203> sun] Old ed. "summe." + +<204> ascend] Old ed. "attend." + +<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." + +<206> Christian] Old ed. "Christians." + +<207> train] i.e. stratagem. + +<208> pretended] i.e. intended. + +<209> mediate] Old ed. "meditate." + +<210> all] Old ed. "call." + +<End of E-Text> <End of E-Text> <End of E-Text> <End of E-Text> +<End of E-Text> <End of E-Text> <End of E-Text> <End of E-Text> + + + + +Comments on the preparation of the E-Text: + + +ANGLE BRACKETS: + +Any place where angle brackets are used, i.e. < >, it is +a change made during the preparation of this E-Text. The +original printed book did not use this character at all. + + +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 Etext of The Jew of Malta, by Marlowe + diff --git a/old/jmlta10.zip b/old/jmlta10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bfbb8db --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jmlta10.zip |