Christopher Marlowe

The Jew of Malta


Source text for this digital edition:
Marlowe, Christopher. The Jew of Malta. Edited by Richard van Fossen. Lincoln / London: University of Nebraska / Edward Arnold, 1965. Regents Renaissance Drama Series.
Digital text encoding for EMOTHE:
  • Tronch Pérez, Jesús

Note on this digital edition

This publication is part of the research project “Early Modern Spanish and European Theatre: Heritage and Databases”, reference PID2019-104045GB-C54 (acronym EMOTHE), funded by MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.

Reproduced by kind permission of the University of Nebraska Press. Copyright 1965 by the University of Nebraska Press.

This digital edition reproduces the text edited by Richard van Fossen, except for the modernization of the past participle when its vowel “e” is sounded (that is, "usher’d" is here modernized as "ushered", and “crazed” as “crazèd”), and in other formal aspects derived from the adaptation of the printed text to the electronic format and XML-TEI encoding for the EMOTHE Digital Library.

[Dramatis Personae

Ferneze, Governor of Malta
Lodowick, his son
Selim Calymath, son of the Emperor of Turkey
Martin del Bosco, Vice-Admiral of Spain
Mathias, a gentleman
Barabas, the Jew of Malta
Ithamore, his slave
Callapine, bashaw to Calymath
Friar Jacomo
Friar Barnardine
Pilia-Borza, a bully
Two Merchants
Three Jews
Knights of Malta, Bashaws, Officers, Friars, Slaves, Guard, Messenger, Attendants, Carpenters
Katherine, mother to Mathias
Abigail, daughter to Barabas
Bellamira, a courtesan
Abbess
Nun
Machiavel, speaker of the Prologue

The Prologue Spoken at Court

1
Gracious and great, that we so boldly dare
2
(¨Mongst other plays that now in fashion are)
3
To present this, writ many years agone,
4
And in that age, thought second unto none,
5
We humbly crave your pardon; we pursue
6
The story of a rich and famous Jew
7
Who lived in Malta. You shall find him still,
8
In all his projects, a sound Machevill;
9
And that’s his character. He that hath past
10
So many censures, is now come at last
11
To have your princely ears. Grace you him; then
12
You crown the action, and renown the pen.

The Prologue to the Stage, at the Cock-pit

13
We know not how our play may pass this stage,
14
But by the best ofN
X
Nota del autor

Marlowe

poets in that age
15
The Malta Jew had being, and was made;
16
And he, then by the best ofN
X
Nota del autor

Alleyn

actors played.
17
In Hero and Leander, one did gain
18
A lasting memory; in Tamburlaine,
19
This Jew, with others many, th’ other wan
20
The attribute of peerless, being a man
21
Whom we may rank with (doing no one wrong)
22
Proteus for shapes, and Roscius for a tongue,
23
So could he speak, so vary; nor is ’t hate
24
To merit inN
X
Nota del autor

Perkins

him who doth personate
25
Our Jew this day, nor is it his ambition
26
To exceed, or equal, being of condition
27
More modest; this is all that he intends
28
(And that, too, at the urgence of some friends):
29
To prove his best, and if none here gainsay it,
30
The part he hath studied, and intends to play it.

[Prologue]

[Enter] Machiavel.

Machiavel
31
Albeit the world think Machiavel is dead,
32
Yet was his soul but flown beyond the Alps,
33
And, now the Guise is dead, is come from France,
34
To view this land, and frolic with his friends.
35
To some, perhaps, my name is odious,
36
But such as love me, guard me from their tongues,
37
And let them know that I am Machiavel,
38
And weigh not men, and therefore not men’s words.
39
Admired I am of those that hate me most:
40
Though some speak openly against my books,
41
Yet will they read me, and thereby attain
42
To Peter’s chair; and when they cast me off,
43
Are poisoned by my climbing followers.
44
I count religion but a childish toy,
45
And told there is no sin but ignorance.
46
Birds of the air will tell of murders past;
47
I am ashamed to hear such fooleries.
48
Many will talk of title to a crown;
49
What right had Caesar to the empire?
50
Might first made kings, and laws were then most sure
51
When, like the Draco’s, they were writ in blood.
52
Hence comes it, that a strong-built citadel
53
Commands much more than letters can import.
54
Which maxim had Phalaris observed,
55
H’ had never bellowed in a brazen bull
56
Of great ones’ envy; o’ th’ poor, petty wights,
57
Let me be envied and not pitied!
58
But whiter am I bound? I come not, I,
59
To read a lecture here in Britain,
60
But to present the tragedy of a Jew,
61
Who smiles to see how full his bags are crammed,
62
Which money was not got without my means.
63
I crave but this: grace him as he deserves,
64
And let him not be entertained the worse
65
Because he favors me.

[Exit.]

[I.i]

Enter Barabas in his countinghouse, with heaps of gold before him.

Barabas
1
So that of thus much that return was made:
2
And of the third part of the Persian ships,
3
There was the venture summed and satisfied.
4
As for those Scenites, and the men of Uz,
5
That bought my Spanish oils, and wines of Greece,
6
Here have I pursed their paltry silverlings.
7
Fie! what a trouble ’tis to count this trash.
8
Well fare the Arabians, who so richly pay
9
The things they traffic for with wedge of gold,
10
Whereof a man may easily in a day
11
Tell that which may maintain him all his life.
12
The needy groom, that never fingered groat,
13
Would make a miracle of thus much coin;
14
But he whose steel-barred coffers are crammed full,
15
And all his lifetime hath been tired,
16
Wearying his fingers’ ends with telling it,
17
Would in his age be loath to labor so,
18
And for a pound to sweat himself to death.
19
Give me the merchants of the Indian mines,
20
That trade in metal of the purest mold;
21
The wealthy Moor, that in the eastern rocks
22
Without control can pick his riches up,
23
And in his house heap pearl like pebble-stones,
24
Receive them free, and sell them by the weight,
25
Bags of fiery opals, sapphires, amethysts,
26
Jacinths, hard topaz, grass-green emeralds,
27
Beauteous rubies, sparkling diamonds,
28
And seld-seen costly stones of so great price
29
As one of them, indifferently rated,
30
And of a carat of this quantity,
31
May serve in peril of calamity
32
To ransom great kings from captivity.
33
This is the ware wherein consists my wealth:
34
And thus methinks should men of judgment frame
35
Their means of traffic from the vulgar trade,
36
And as their wealth increaseth, so enclose
37
Infinite riches in a little room.
38
But now how stands the wind?
39
Into what corner peers my halcyon’s bill?
40
Ha! to the east? yes: see how stands the vanes?
41
East by south. Why then I hope my ships
42
I sent for Egypt and the bordering isles
43
Are gotten up by Nilus’ winding banks:
44
Mine argosy from Alexandria,
45
Loaden with spice and silks, now under sail,
46
Are smoothly gliding down by Candy shore
47
To Malta, through our Mediterranean sea.
48
But who comes here? How now?

Enter a Merchant.

1 Merchant
Barabas, thy ships are safe,
49
Riding in Malta road; and all the merchants
50
With other merchandise are safe arrived,
51
And have sent me to know whether yourself
52
Will come and custom them.

Barabas
53
The ships are safe, thou say’st, and richly fraught?

1 Merchant
54
They are.

Barabas
Why then go bid them come ashore,
55
And bring with them their bills of entry:
56
I hope our credit in the customhouse
57
Will serve as well as I were present there.
58
Go send ’em threescore camels, thirty mules,
59
And twenty wagons to bring up the ware.
60
But art thou master in a ship of mine,
61
And is thy credit not enough for that?

1 Merchant
62
The very custom barely comes to more
63
Than many merchants of the town are worth,
64
And therefore far exceeds my credit, sir.

Barabas
65
Go tell ’em the Jew of Malta sent thee, man:
66
Tush, who amongst ’em knows not Barabas?

1 Merchant
67
I go.

Barabas
So then, there’s somewhat come. Sirrah,
68
Which of my ships art thou master of?

1 Merchant
69
Of the Speranza, sir.

Barabas
And saw’st thou not
70
Mine argosy at Alexandria?
71
Thou couldst not come from Egypt, or by Caire,
72
But at the entry there into the sea
73
Where Nilus pays his tribute to the main;
74
Thou needs must sail by Alexandria.

1 Merchant
75
I neither saw them, nor inquired of them.
76
But this we heard some of our seamen say,
77
They wondered how you durst with so much wealth
78
Trust such a crazèd vessel, and so far.

Barabas
79
Tush; they are wise! I know her and her strength.
80
But go, go thou thy ways, discharge thy ship,
81
And bid my factor bring his loading in.
[Exit 1 Merchant.]
82
And yet I wonder at this argosy.

Enter a second Merchant.

2 Merchant
83
Thine argosy from Alexandria,
84
Know, Barabas, doth ride in Malta road,
85
Laden with riches, and exceeding store
86
Of Persian silks, of gold, and orient pearl.

Barabas
87
How chance you came not with those other ships
88
That sailed by Egypt?

2 Merchant
Sir, we saw ’em not.

Barabas
89
Belike they coasted round by Candy shore
90
About their oils, or other businesses.
91
But ’twas ill done of you to come so far
92
Without the aid or conduct of their ships.

2 Merchant
93
Sir, we were wafted by a Spanish fleet
94
That never left us till within a league,
95
That had the galleys of the Turk in chase.

Barabas
96
O, they were going up to Sicily. Well, go
97
And bid the merchants and my men despatch
98
And come ashore, and see the fraught discharged.

2 Merchant
99
I go.

Exit.

Barabas
100
Thus trolls our fortune in by land and sea,
101
And thus are we on every side enriched:
102
These are the blessings promised to the Jews,
103
And herein was old Abraham’s happiness.
104
What more may heaven do for earthly man
105
Than thus to pour out plenty in their laps,
106
Ripping the bowels of the earth for them,
107
Making the sea their servants, and the winds
108
To drive their substance with successful blasts?
109
Who hateth me but for my happiness?
110
Or who is honored now but for his wealth?
111
Rather had I, a Jew, be hated thus,
112
Than pitied in a Christian poverty;
113
For I can see no fruits in all their faith,
114
But malice, falsehood, and excessive pride,
115
Which methinks fits not their profession.
116
Happily some hapless man hath conscience,
117
And for his conscience lives in beggary.
118
They say we are a scattered nation:
119
I cannot tell; but we have scambled up
120
More wealth by far than those that brag of faith.
121
There’s Kirrian Jairim, the great Jew of Greece,
122
Obed in Bairseth, Nones in Portugal,
123
Myself in Malta, some in Italy,
124
Many in France, and wealthy every one:
125
Ay, wealthier far than any Christian.
126
I must confess we come not to be kings;
127
That’s not our fault: alas, our number’s few,
128
And crowns come either by succession,
129
Or urged by force; and nothing violent,
130
Oft have I heard tell, can be permanent.
131
Give us a peaceful rule; make Christian kings,
132
That thirst so much for principality.
133
I have no charge, nor many children,
134
But one sole daughter, whom I hold as dear
135
As Agamemnon did his Iphigen;
136
And all I have is hers. But who comes here?

Enter three Jews.

1 Jew
137
Tush, tell not me ’twas done of policy.

2 Jew
138
Come, therefore, let us go to Barabas,
139
For he can counsel best in these affairs;
140
And here he comes.

Barabas
Why, how now, countrymen?
141
Why flock you thus to me in multitudes?
142
What accident’s betided to the Jews?

1 Jew
143
A fleet of warlike galleys, Barabas,
144
Are come from Turkey, and lie in our road;
145
And they this day sit in the council-house
146
To entertain them and their embassy.

Barabas
147
Why, let ’em come, so they come not to war;
148
Or let ’em war, so we be conquerors.
149
(aside)
Nay, let ’em combat, conquer, and kill all,
150
So they spare me, my daughter, and my wealth.

1 Jew
151
Were it for confirmation of a league,
152
They would not come in warlike manner thus.

2 Jew
153
I fear their coming will afflict us all.

Barabas
154
Fond men, what dream you of their multitudes?
155
What need they treat of peace that are in league?
156
The Turks and those of Malta are in league.
157
Tut, tut, there is some other matter in ’t.

1 Jew
158
Why, Barabas, they come for peace or war.

Barabas
159
Happily for neither, but to pass along
160
Towards Venice by the Adriatic sea,
161
With whom they have attempted many times,
162
But never could effect their stratagem.

3 Jew
163
And very wisely said; it may be so.

2 Jew
164
But there’s a meeting in the senate-house,
165
And all the Jews in Malta must be there.

Barabas
166
Hum; all the Jews in Malta must be there?
167
Ay, like enough; why, then, let every man
168
Provide him, and be there for fashion sake.
169
If anything shall there concern our state,
170
Assure yourselves I’ll look unto –
(aside)
myself.

1 Jew
171
I know you will; well, brethren, let us go.

2 Jew
172
Let’s take our leaves; farewell, good Barabas.

Barabas
173
Do so; farewell, Zaareth, farewell, Temainte.
[Exeunt Jews.]
174
And, Barabas, now search this secret out.
175
Summon thy senses, call thy wits together:
176
These silly men mistake the matter clean.
177
Long to the Turk did Malta contribute,
178
Which tribute – all in policy, I fear –
179
The Turks have let increase to such a sum
180
As all the wealth of Malta cannot pay;
181
And now by that advantage thinks, belike,
182
To seize upon the town. Ay, that he seeks.
183
Howe’er the world go, I’ll make sure for one,
184
And seek in time to intercept the worst,
185
Warily guarding that which I ha’ got.
186
Ego mihimet sum semper proximus.
187
Why, let ’em enter, let ’em take the town.

[Exit.]

[I.ii]

Enter [FERNEZE,] Governors of Malta (Knights) [, and Officers,] met by [Callapine and other] Bashaws of the Turk [and] Calymath.

Ferneze
1
Now, bashaws, what demand you at our hands?

Callapine
2
Know, Knights of Malta, that we came from Rhodes,
3
From Cyprus, Candy, and those other isles
4
That lie betwixt the Mediterranean seas.

Ferneze
5
What’s Cyprus, Candy, and those other isles
6
To us, or Malta? What at our hands demand ye?

Calymath
7
The ten years’ tribute that remains unpaid.

Ferneze
8
Alas, my lord, the sum is overgreat;
9
I hope your Highness will consider us.

Calymath
10
I wish, grave governors, ’twere in my power
11
To favour you, but ’tis my father’s cause,
12
Wherein I may not, nay, I dare not dally.

Ferneze
13
Then give us leave, great Selim Calymath.

Calymath
14
[to the bashaws]
Stand all aside, and let the knights determine –
15
And send to keep our galleys under sail,
16
For happily we shall not tarry here.
17
[to the Maltese]
Now, governors, how are you resolved?

Ferneze
18
Thus: since your hard conditions are such
19
That you will needs have ten years’ tribute past,
20
We may have time to make collection
21
Amongst the inhabitants of Malta for ’t.

Callapine
22
That’s more than is in our commission.

Calymath
23
What, Callapine, a little courtesy!
24
Let’s know their time. Perhaps it is not long;
25
And ’tis more kingly to obtain by peace
26
Than to enforce conditions by constraint.
27
What respite ask you, governors?

Ferneze
But a month.

Calymath
28
We grant a month, but see you keep your promise.
29
Now launch our galleys back again to sea,
30
Where we’ll attend the respite you have ta’en,
31
And for the money send our messenger.
32
Farewell, great governors, and brave Knights of Malta.

Exeunt [Calymath, Callapine, and Bashaws].

Ferneze
33
And all go fortune wait on Calymath.
34
Go, one, and call those Jews of Malta hither:
35
Were they not summoned to appear today?

1 Officer
36
They were, my lord, and here they come.

Enter Barabas and three Jews.

1 Knight
37
Have you determined what to say to them?

Ferneze
38
Yes, give me leave; and, Hebrews, now come near.
39
From the Emperor of Turkey is arrived
40
Great Selim Calymath, his Highness’ son,
41
To levy of us ten years’ tribute past;
42
Now then, here know that it concerneth us –

Barabas
43
Then, good my lord, to keep your quiet still,
44
Your lordship shall do well to let them have it.

Ferneze
45
Soft, Barabas, there’s more ’longs to ’t than so.
46
To what this ten years’ tribute will amount,
47
That we have cast, but cannot compass it
48
By reason of the wars, that robbed our store;
49
And therefore are we to request your aid.

Barabas
50
Alas, my lord, we are no soldiers:
51
And what’s our aid against so great a prince?

1 Knight
52
Tut, Jew, we know thou art no soldier;
53
Thou art a merchant, and a moneyed man,
54
And ’tis thy money, Barabas, we seek.

Barabas
55
How, my lord, my money?

Ferneze
Thine and the rest;
56
For, to be short, amongst you ’t must be had.

1 Jew
57
Alas, my lord, the most of us are poor.

Ferneze
58
Then let the rich increase your portions.

Barabas
59
Are strangers with your tribute to be taxed?

2 Knight
60
Have strangers leave with us to get their wealth?
61
Then let them with us contribute.

Barabas
62
How, equally?

Ferneze
No, Jew, like infidels.
63
For through our sufferance of your hateful lives,
64
Who stand accursèd in the sight of heaven,
65
These taxes and afflictions are befall’n,
66
And therefore thus we are determinèd:
67
Read there the articles of our decrees.

1 Officer
68 [reading] First, the tribute money of the Turks shall all be levied 69amongst the Jews, and each of them to pay one half of his 70estate.

Barabas
71
How, half his estate? I hope you mean not mine!

Ferneze
72
Read on.

1 Officer
73 [reading] Secondly, he that denies to pay, shall straight become a 74Christian.

Barabas
75
How! a Christian! Hum, what’s here to do?

1 Officer
76 [reading] Lastly, he that denies this, shall absolutely lose all he has.

All 3 Jews
77
O, my lord, we will give half.

Barabas
78
O, earth-mettled villains, and no Hebrews born!
79
And will you basely thus submit yourselves
80
To leave your goods to their arbitrament?

Ferneze
81
Why, Barabas, wilt thou be christened?

Barabas
82
No, governor, I will be no convertite.

Ferneze
83
Then pay thy half.

Barabas
84
Why, know you what you did by this device?
85
Half of my substance is a city’s wealth.
86
Governor, it was not got so easily;
87
Nor will I part so slightly therewithal.

Ferneze
88
Sir, half is the penalty of our decree;
89
Either pay that, or we will seize on all.

[Exeunt Officers, on a sign from Ferneze.]

Barabas
90
Corpo di Dio! stay: you shall have half;
91
Let me be used but as my brethren are.

Ferneze
92
No, Jew, thou hast denied the articles,
93
And now it cannot be recalled.

Barabas
94
Will you then steal my goods?
95
Is theft the ground of your religion?

Ferneze
96
No, Jew, we take particularly thine
97
To save the ruin of a multitude:
98
And better one want for a common good,
99
Than many perish for a private man.
100
Yet, Barabas, we will not banish thee,
101
But here in Malta, where thou gott’st thy wealth,
102
Live still; and, if thou canst, get more.

Barabas
103
Christians – what, or how can I multiply?
104
Of naught is nothing made.

1 Knight
105
From naught at first thou cam’st to little wealth,
106
From little unto more, from more to most:
107
If your first curse fall heavy on thy head,
108
And make thee poor and scorned of all the world,
109
’Tis not our fault, but thy inherent sin.

Barabas
110
What? bring you scripture to confirm your wrongs?
111
Preach me not out of my possessions.
112
Some Jews are wicked, as all Christians are:
113
But say the tribe that I descended of
114
Were all in general cast away for sin,
115
Shall I be tried by their transgression?
116
The man that dealeth righteously shall live:
117
And which of you can charge me otherwise?

Ferneze
118
Out, wretched Barabas!
119
Sham’st thou not thus to justify thyself
120
As if we knew not thy profession?
121
If thou rely upon thy righteousness,
122
Be patient and thy riches will increase.
123
Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness,
124
And covetousness, O, ’tis a monstrous sin.

Barabas
125
Ay, but theft is worse; tush, take not from me then,
126
For that is theft; and if you rob me thus,
127
I must be forced to steal and compass more.

1 Knight
128
Grave governors, list not to his exclaims:
129
Convert his mansion to a nunnery;
Enter Officers.
130
His house will harbour many holy nuns.

Ferneze
131
It shall be so: now, officers, have you done?

1 Officer
132
Ay, my lord, we have seized upon the goods
133
And wares of Barabas, which being valued
134
Amount to more than all the wealth in Malta.
135
And of the other we have seizèd half.

Ferneze
136
Then we’ll take order for the residue.

Barabas
137
Well then, my lord, say, are you satisfied?
138
You have my goods, my money, and my wealth,
139
My ships, my store, and all that I enjoyed;
140
And having all, you can request no more,
141
Unless your unrelenting flinty hearts
142
Supress all pity in your stony breasts,
143
And now shall move you to bereave my life.

Ferneze
144
No, Barabas, to stain our hands with blood
145
Is far from us and our profession.

Barabas
146
Why, I esteem the injury far less,
147
To take the lives of miserable men,
148
Than be the causers of their misery;
149
You have my wealth, the labor of my life,
150
The comfort of mine age, my children’s hope;
151
And therefore ne’er distinguish of the wrong.

Ferneze
152
Content thee, Barabas; thou hast naught but right.

Barabas
153
Your extreme right does me exceeding wrong:
154
But take it to you i’ th’ devil’s name.

Ferneze
155
Come, let us in, and gather of these goods
156
The money for this tribute of the Turk.

1 Knight
157
’Tis necessary that be looked unto:
158
For if we break our day, we break the league,
159
And that will prove but simple policy.

Exeunt. [Manent Barabas and the three Jews.]

Barabas
160
Ay, policy! that’s their profession,
161
And not simplicity, as they suggest.
162
The plagues of Egypt, and the curse of heaven,
163
Earth’s barrenness, and all men’s hatred
164
Inflict upon them, thou great Primus Motor.
165
And here upon my knees, striking the earth,
166
I ban their souls to everlasting pains
167
And extreme tortures of the fiery deep
168
That thus have dealt with me in my distress.

1 Jew
169
O, yet be patient, gentle Barabas.

Barabas
170
O, silly brethren, born to see this day!
171
Why stand you thus unmoved with my laments?
172
Why weep you not to think upon my wrongs?
173
Why pine not I, and die in this distress?

1 Jew
174
Why, Barabas, as hardly can we brook
175
The cruel handling of ourselves in this:
176
Thou seest they have taken half our goods.

Barabas
177
Why did you yield to their extortion?
178
You were a multitude, and I but one,
179
And of me only have they taken all.

1 Jew
180
Yet, brother Barabas, remember Job.

Barabas
181
What tell you me of Job? I wot his wealth
182
Was written thus: he had seven thousand sheep,
183
Three thousand camels, and two hundred yoke
184
Of laboring oxen, and five hundred
185
She asses; but for every one of those,
186
Had they been valued at indifferent rate,
187
I had at home, and in mine argosy
188
And other ships that came from Egypt last,
189
As much as would have bought his beasts and him,
190
And yet have kept enough to live upon;
191
So that not he, but I may curse the day,
192
Thy fatal birthday, forlorn Barabas,
193
And henceforth wish for an eternal night,
194
That clouds of darkness may enclose my flesh,
195
And hide these extreme sorrows from mine eyes:
196
For only I have toiled to inherit here
197
The months of vanity and loss of time,
198
And painful nights have been appointed me.

2 Jew
199
Good Barabas, be patient.

Barabas
Ay, ay;
200
Pray leave me in my patience. You that
201
Were ne’er possessed of wealth, are pleased with want.
202
But give him liberty at least to mourn,
203
Than in a field amidst his enemies
204
Doth see his soldiers slain, himself disarmed,
205
And knows no means of his recovery:
206
Ay, let me sorrow for this sudden chance;
207
’Tis in the trouble of my spirit I speak.
208
Great injuries are not so soon forgot.

1 Jew
209
Come, let us leave him in his ireful mood;
210
Our words will but increase his ecstasy.

2 Jew
211
On then; but trust me ’tis a misery
212
To see a man in such affliction.
213
Farewell, Barabas.

Exeunt. [Manet Barabas.]

Barabas
Ay, fare you well.
214
See the simplicity of these base slaves,
215
Who, for the villains have no wit themselves,
216
Think me to be a senseless lump of clay
217
That will with every water wash to dirt:
218
No, Barabas is born to better chance,
219
And framed of finer mold than common men,
220
That measure naught but by the present time.
221
A reaching thought will search his deepest wits,
222
And cast with cunning for the time to come:
223
For evils are apt to happen every day –
224
But whither wends my beauteous Abigail?
Enter Abigail, the Jew’s daughter.
225
O, what has made my lovely daughter sad?
226
What? woman, moan not for a little loss:
227
Thy father has enough in store for thee.

Abigail
228
Not for myself, but agèd Barabas:
229
Father, for thee lamenteth Abigail.
230
But I will learn to leave these fruitless tears,
231
And, urged thereto with my afflictions,
232
With fierce exclaims run to the senate-house,
233
And in the senate reprehend them all,
234
And rent their hearts with tearing of my hair,
235
Till they reduce the wrongs done to my father.

Barabas
236
No, Abigail, things past recovery
237
Are hardly cured with exclamations.
238
Be silent, daughter; sufferance breeds ease,
239
And time may yield us an occasion
240
Which on the sudden cannot serve the turn.
241
Besides, my girl, think me not all so fond
242
As negligently to forgo so much
243
Without provision for thyself and me.
244
Ten thousand portagues, besides great pearls,
245
Rich, costly jewels, and stones infinite,
246
Fearing the worst of this before it fell,
247
I closely hid.

Abigail
Where, father?

Barabas
In my house, my girl.

Abigail
248
Then shall they ne’er be seen of Barabas:
249
For they have seized upon thy house and wares.

Barabas
250
But they will give me leave once more, I trow,
251
To go into my house.

Abigail
That may they not:
252
For there I left the governor placing nuns,
253
Displacing me; and of thy house they mean
254
To make a nunnery, where none but their own sect
255
Must enter in, men generally barred.

Barabas
256
My gold, my gold, and all my wealth is gone!
257
You partial heavens, have I deserved this plague?
258
What, will you thus oppose me, luckless stars,
259
To make me desperate in my poverty?
260
And knowing me impatient in distress
261
Think me so mad as I will hang myself,
262
That I may vanish o’er the earth in air,
263
And leave no memory that e’er I was?
264
No! I will live; nor loathe I this my life;
265
And since you live me in the ocean thus
266
To sink or swim, and put me to my shifts,
267
I’ll rouse my senses, and awake myself.
268
Daughter, I have it: thou perceiv’st the plight
269
Wherein these Christians have oppressèd me:
270
Be ruled by me, for in extremity
271
We ought to make bar of no policy.

Abigail
272
Father, whate’er it be, to injure them
273
That have so manifestly wrongèd us,
274
What will not Abigail attempt?

Barabas
Why, so;
275
Then thus: thou told’st me they have turned my house
276
Into a nunnery, and some nuns are there.

Abigail
277
I did.

Barabas
Then, Abigail, there must my girl
278
Entreat the Abbess to be entertained.

Abigail
279
How, as a nun?

Barabas
Ay, daughter, for religion
280
Hides many mischiefs from suspicion.

Abigail
281
Ay, but, father, they will suspect me there.

Barabas
282
Let ’em suspect, but be thou so precise
283
As they may think it done of holiness.
284
Entreat ’em fair, and give them friendly speech,
285
And seem to them as if thy sins were great,
286
Till thou hast gotten to be entertained.

Abigail
287
Thus, father, shall I much dissemble.

Barabas
Tush!
288
As good dissemble that thou never mean’st,
289
As first mean truth, and then dissemble it.
290
A counterfeit profession is better
291
Than unseen hypocrisy.

Abigail
Well, father,
292
Say I be entertained; what then shall follow?

Barabas
293
This shall follow then:
294
There have I hid close underneath the plank
295
That runs along the upper-chamber floor,
296
The gold and jewels which I kept for thee.
297
But here they come; be cunning, Abigail.

Abigail
298
Then, father, go with me.

Barabas
No, Abigail, in this
299
It is not necessary I be seen,
300
For I will seem offended with thee for ’t.
301
Be close, my girl, for this must fetch my gold.

Enter three Friars [including Jacomo and Barnardine] and two Nuns [one an Abbess].

Friar Jacomo
302
Sisters, we now are almost at the new-made nunnery.

Abbess
303
The better; for we love not to be seen:
304
’Tis thirty winters long since some of us
305
Did stray so far amongst the multitude.

Friar Jacomo
306
But, madam, this house and waters of this new-made
307
nunnery will much delight you.

Abbess
308
It may be so; but who comes here?

Abigail
309
Grave Abbess, and you, happy virgins’ guide,
310
Pity the state of a distressèd maid.

Abbess
311
What art thou, daughter?

Abigail
312
The hopeless daughter of a hapless Jew,
313
The Jew of Malta, wretched Barabas,
314
Sometimes the owner of a goodly house,
315
Which they have now turned to a nunnery.

Abbess
316
Well, daughter, say, what is thy suit with us?

Abigail
317
Fearing the afflictions which my father feels
318
Proceed from sin, or want of faith in us,
319
I’d pass away my life in penitence,
320
And be a novice in your nunnery,
321
To make atonement for my laboring soul.

Friar Jacomo
322
No doubt, brother, but this proceedeth of the spirit.

Friar Barnardine
323
Ay, and of a moving spirit too, brother; but come,
324
Let us entreat she may be entertained.

Abbess
325
Well, daughter, we admit you for a nun.

Abigail
326
First let me as a novice learn to frame
327
My solitary life to your strait laws,
328
And let me lodge where I was wont to lie;
329
I do not doubt, by your divine precepts
330
And mine own industry, but to profit much.

Barabas
331
(aside)
As much, I hope, as all I hid is worth.

Abbess
332
Come, daughter, follow us.

Barabas
Why, how now, Abigail?
333
What mak’st thou amongst these hateful Christians?

Friar Jacomo
334
Hinder her not, thou man of little faith,
335
For she has mortified herself.

Barabas
How, mortified!

Friar Jacomo
336
And is admitted to the sisterhood.

Barabas
337
Child of perdition, and thy father’s shame,
338
What wilt thou do among these hateful fiends?
339
I charge thee on my blessing that thou leave
340
These devils, and their damnèd heresy.

Abigail
341
Father, give me –

Barabas
Nay, back, Abigail.
342
(whispers to her)
And think upon the jewels and the gold;
343
The board is markèd thus
[makes cross]
that covers it.
344
– Away, accursèd, from thy father’s sight.

Friar Jacomo
345
Barabas, although thou art in misbelief,
346
And wilt not see thine own afflictions,
347
Yet let thy daughter be no longer blind.

Barabas
348
Blind? Friar, I reck not thy persuasions.
349
[aside to Abigail]
The board is markèd thus
[makes cross]
that covers it.
350
– For I had rather die, than see her thus.
351
Wilt thou forsake me too in my distress,
352
Seducèd daughter?
(aside to her)
Go, forget not.
353
– Becomes it Jews to be so credulous?
354
(aside to her)
Tomorrow early I’ll be at the door.
355
– No, come not at me, if thou wilt be damned.
356
Forget me, see me not, and so be gone.
357
(aside[to her])
Farewell; remember tomorrow morning.
358
– Out, out, thou wretch.

[Exeunt, Barabas separately.]
Enter Mathias.

Mathias
359
Who’s this? fair Abigail, the rich Jew’s daughter,
360
Become a nun! Her father’s sudden fall
361
Has humbled her and brought her down to this.
362
Tut, she were fitter for a tale of love
363
Than to be tired out with orisons;
364
And better would she far become a bed,
365
Embracèd in a friendly lover’s arms,
366
Than rise at midnight to a solemn mass.

Enter Lodowick.

Lodowick
367
Why, how now, Don Mathias, in a dump?

Mathias
368
Believe me, noble Lodowick, I have seen
369
The strangest sight, in my opinion,
370
That ever I beheld.

Lodowick
What was ’t, I prithee?

Mathias
371
A fair young maid, scarce fourteen years of age,
372
The sweetest flower in Cytherea’s field,
373
Cropped from the pleasures of the fruitful earth,
374
And strangely metamorphosed nun.

Lodowick
375
But say, what was she?

Mathias
Why, the rich Jew’s daughter.

Lodowick
376
What, Barabas, whose goods were lately seized?
377
Is she so fair?

Mathias
And matchless beautiful;
378
As had you seen her ’twould have moved your heart,
379
Though countermured with walls of brass, to love,
380
Or at the least to pity.

Lodowick
381
And if she be so fair as you report,
382
’Twere time well spent to go and visit her:
383
How say you, shall we?

Mathias
384
I must and will, sir; there’s no remedy.

Lodowick
385
And so will I too, or it shall go hard.
386
Farewell, Mathias.

Mathias
Farewell, Lodowick.

Exeunt [severally].

[II.i]

Enter Barabas with a light.

Barabas
1
Thus like the sad presaging raven that tolls
2
The sick man’s passport in her hollow beak,
3
And in the shadow of the silent night
4
Doth shake contagion from her sable wings,
5
Vexed and tormented runs poor Barabas
6
With fatal curses towards these Christians.
7
The incertain pleasures of swift-footed time
8
Have ta’en their flight, and left me in despair;
9
And of my former riches rests no more
10
But bare remembrance, like a soldier’s scar,
11
That has no further comfort for his maim.
12
O, Thou, that with a fiery pillar ledd’st
13
The sons of Israel through the dismal shades,
14
Light Abraham’s offspring, and direct the hand
15
Of Abigail this night; or let the day
16
Turn the eternal darkness after this:
17
No sleep can fasten on my watchful eyes,
18
Nor quiet enter my distempered thoughts,
19
Till I have answer of my Abigail.

Enter Abigail above.

Abigail
20
Now have I happily espied a time
21
To search the plank my father did appoint;
22
And here, behold, unseen, where I have found
23
The gold, the pearls, and jewels which he hid.

Barabas
24
Now I remember those old women’s words,
25
Who in my wealth would tell me winter’s tales,
26
And speak of spirits and ghosts that glide by night
27
About the place where treasure hath been hid;
28
And now methinks that I am one of those:
29
For whilst I live, here lives my soul’s sole hope,
30
And when I die, here shall my spirit walk.

Abigail
31
Now that my father’s fortune were so good
32
As but to be about this happy place –
33
’Tis not so happy; yet when we parted last,
34
He said he would attend me in the morn.
35
Then, gentle sleep, where’er his body rests,
36
Give charge to Morpheus that he may dream
37
A golden dream, and of the sudden walk,
38
Come and receive the treasure I have found.

Barabas
39
Bien para todos mi ganada no es:
40
As good go on, as sit so sadly thus.
41
But stay! what star shines yonder in the east?
42
The lodestar of my life, if Abigail.
43
Who’s there?

Abigail
Who’s that?

Barabas
Peace, Abigail, ’tis I.

Abigail
44
Then father, here receive thy happiness.

Barabas
45
Hast thou ’t?

Abigail
46
Here.
(Throws down bags.)
Hast thou ’t?
47
There’s more, and more, and more.

Barabas
O, my girl,
48
My gold, my fortune, my felicity;
49
Strength to my soul, death to mine enemy;
50
Welcome, the first beginner of my bliss!
51
O, Abigail, that I had thee here too,
52
Then my desires were fully satisfied;
53
But I will practice thy enlargement thence.
54
O girls, O gold, O beauty, O my bliss!

Hugs his bags.

Abigail
55
Father, it draweth towards midnight now,
56
And ’bout this time the nuns begin to wake;
57
To shun suspicion, therefore, let us part.

Barabas
58
Farewell, my joy, and by my fingers take
59
A kiss from him that sends it from his soul.
[Exit Abigail above.]
60
Now, Phoebus, ope the eyelids of the day,
61
And, for the raven, wake the morning lark,
62
That I may hover with her in the air,
63
Singing o’er these, as she does o’er her young.
64
Hermoso placer de los dineros.

[II.ii]

Enter Ferneze, Martin del Bosco, the Knights [, and Officers].

Ferneze
1
Now, captain, tell us whither thou art bound,
2
Whence is thy ship that anchors in our road,
3
And why thou cam’st ashore without our leave?

Del Bosco
4
Governor of Malta, hither am I bound;
5
My ship, The Flying Dragon, is of Spain,
6
And so am I; del Bosco is my name,
7
Vice-admiral unto the Catholic king.

1 Knight
8
’Tis true, my lord; therefore entreat him well.

Del Bosco
9
Our fraught is Grecians, Turks, and Afric Moors.
10
For late upon the coast of Corsica,
11
Because we vailed not to the Turkish fleet,
12
Their creeping galleys had us in the chase;
13
But suddenly the wind began to rise,
14
And then we luffed and tacked, and fought at ease.
15
Some have we fired, and many have we sunk,
16
But one amongst the rest became our prize:
17
The captain’s slain, the rest remain our slaves,
18
Of whom we would make sale in Malta here.

Ferneze
19
Martin del Bosco, I have heard of thee;
20
Welcome to Malta, and to all of us.
21
But to admit a sale of these thy Turks
22
We may not, nay, we dare not give consent,
23
By reason of a tributary league.

1 Knight
24
Del Bosco, as thou lovest and honor’st us,
25
Persuade our governor against the Turk.
26
This truce we have is but in hope of gold,
27
And with that sum he craves might we wage war.

Del Bosco
28
Will Knights of Malta be in league with Turks,
29
And buy it basely, too, for sums of gold?
30
My lord, remember that, to Europe’s shame,
31
The Christian isle of Rhodes, from whence you came,
32
Was lately lost, and you were stated here
33
To be at deadly enmity with Turks.

Ferneze
34
Captain, we know it, but our force is small.

Del Bosco
35
What is the sum that Calymath requires?

Ferneze
36
A hundred thousand crowns.

Del Bosco
37
My lord and king hath title to this isle,
38
And he means quickly to expel you hence;
39
Therefore be ruled by me, and keep the gold.
40
I’ll write unto his Majesty for aid
41
And not depart until I see you free.

Ferneze
42
On this condition shall thy Turks be sold.
43
Go, officers, and set them straight in show.
[Exeunt Officers.]
44
Bosco, thou shalt be Malta’s general;
45
We and our warlike knights will follow thee
46
Against these barbarous misbelieving Turks.

Del Bosco
47
So shall you imitate those you succeed:
48
For when their hideous force environed Rhodes,
49
Small though the number was that kept the town,
50
They fought it out, and not a man survived
51
To bring the hapless news to Christendom.

Ferneze
52
So will we fight it out; come, let’s away.
53
Proud, daring Calymath, instead of gold,
54
We’ll send thee bullets wrapped in smoke and fire;
55
Claim tribute where thou wilt, we are resolved;
56
Honor is bought with blood and not with gold.

Exeunt.

[II.iii]

Enter Officers with [Ithamore and other] Slaves.

1 Officer
1
This is the marketplace; here let ’em stand:
2
Fear not their sale, for they’ll be quickly bought.

2 Officer
3
Every one’s price is written on his back,
4
And so much must they yield or not be sold.

Enter Barabas.

1 Officer
5
Here comes the Jew; had not his goods been seized,
6
He’d give us present money for them all.

Barabas
7
In spite of these swine-eating Christians
8
(Unchosen nation, never circumcised,
9
Such as, poor villains, were ne’er thought upon
10
Till Titus and Vespasian conquered us),
11
Am I become as wealthy as I was.
12
They hoped my daughter would ha’ been a nun,
13
But she’s at home, and I have bought a house
14
As great and fair as is the governor’s;
15
And there in spite of Malta will I dwell,
16
Having Ferneze’s hand, whose heart I’ll have;
17
Ay, and his son’s, too, or it shall go hard.
18
I am not of the Tribe of Levi, I,
19
That can so soon forget an injury.
20
We Jews can fawn like spaniels when we please,
21
And when we grin, we bite; yet are our looks
22
As innocent and harmless as a lamb’s.
23
I learned in Florence how to kiss my hand,
24
Heave up my shoulders when they call me dog,
25
And duck as low as any barefoot friar,
26
Hoping to see them starve upon a stall,
27
Or else be gathered for in our synagogue,
28
That when the offering basin comes to me,
29
Even for charity I may spit into ’t.
30
Here comes Don Lodowick, the governor’s son,
31
One that I love for his good father’s sake.

Enter Lodowick.

Lodowick
32
I hear the wealthy Jew walkèd this way;
33
I’ll seek him out, and so insinuate
34
That I may have a sight of Abigail;
35
For Don Mathias tells me she is fair.

Barabas
36[aside] Now will I show myself to have more of the serpent than 37 the dove; that is, more knave than fool.

Lodowick
38
Yond walks the Jew; now for fair Abigail.

Barabas
39
[aside]
Ay, ay; no doubt but she’s at your command.

Lodowick
40
Barabas, thou know’st I am the governor’s son.

Barabas
41I would you were his father too, sir; that’s all the harm I 42wish you. [aside] – The slave looks like a hog’s cheek new 43 singed.

Lodowick
44
Whither walk’st thou, Barabas?

Barabas
45
No further: ’tis a custom held with us,
46
That when we speak with Gentiles like to you,
47
We turn into the air to purge ourselves:
48
For unto us the promise doth belong.

Lodowick
49
Well, Barabas, canst help me to a diamond?

Barabas
50
O, sir, your father had my diamonds.
51
Yet I have one left that will serve your turn:
52
(aside)
I mean my daughter; but ere he shall have her,
53
I’ll sacrifice her on a pile of wood.
54
I ha’ the poison of the city for him,
55
And the white leprosy.

Lodowick
56
What sparkle does it give without a foil?

Barabas
57
The diamond that I talk of ne’er was foiled;
58
[aside]
But when he touches it, it will be foiled.
59
[to him]
Lord Lodowick it sparkles bright and fair.

Lodowick
60
Is it square or pointed? pray let me know.

Barabas
61
Pointed it is, good sir;
(aside)
– but not for you.

Lodowick
62
I like it much the better.

Barabas
So do I, too.

Lodowick
63
How shows it by night?

Barabas
Outshines Cynthia’s rays:
64
(aside)
You’ll like it better far a’ nights than days.

Lodowick
65
And what’s the price?

Barabas
[aside]
Your life, and if you have it.
66
[to him]
– O, my lord,
67
We will not jar about the price; come to my house,
68
And I will give ‘t your honor –
(aside)
with a vengeance.

Lodowick
69
No, Barabas, I will deserve it first.

Barabas
70
Good sir,
71
Your father has deserved it at my hands,
72
Who, of mere charity and Christian ruth,
73
To bring me to religious purity,
74
And, as it were, in catechizing sort,
75
To make me mindful of my mortal sins,
76
Against my will, and whether I would or no,
77
Seized all I had, and thrust me out a’ doors,
78
And made my house a place for nuns most chaste.

Lodowick
79
No doubt your soul shall reap the fruit of it.

Barabas
80
Ay, but, my lord, the harvest is far off;
81
And yet I know the prayers of those nuns
82
And holy friars, having money for their pains,
83
Are wondrous;
(aside)
and indeed do no man good.
84
[to him]
– And seeing they are not idle, but still doing,
85
’Tis likely they in time may reap some fruit;
86
I mean in fullness of perfection.

Lodowick
87
Good Barabas, glance not at our holy nuns.

Barabas
88
No, but I do it through a burning zeal,
89
(aside)
Hoping ere long to set the house afire;
90
For though they do a while increase and multiply,
91
I’ll have a saying to that nunnery.
92
[to him]
– As for the diamond, sir, I told you of,
93
Come home, and there’s no price shall make us part,
94
Even for your honourable father’s sake.
95
(aside)
It shall go hard but I will see your death.
96
[to him]
– But now I must be gone to buy a slave.

Lodowick
97
And, Barabas, I’ll bear thee company.

Barabas
98
Come, then; here’s the marketplace.
99
What’s the price of this slave? Two hundred crowns?
100
Do the Turk weigh so much?

1 Officer
Sir, that’s his price.

Barabas
101
What, can he steal that you demand so much?
102
Belike he has some new trick for a purse;
103
And if he has, he is worth three hundred plates,
104
So that, being bought, the town seal might be got
105
To keep him for his lifetime from the gallows.
106
The sessions day is critical to thieves,
107
And few or none ’scape but by being purged.

Lodowick
108
Ratest thou this Moor but at two hundred plates?

1 Officer
109
No more, my lord.

Barabas
110
Why should this Turk be dearer than that Moor?

1 Officer
111
Because he is young and has more qualities.

Barabas
112What, hast the philosopher’s stone? And thou hast, break 113my head with it; I’ll forgive thee.

1 Slave
114No, sir; I can cut and shave.

Barabas
115Let me see, sirrah; are you not an old shaver?

1 Slave
116Alas, sir, I am a very youth.

Barabas
117A youth? I’ll buy you and marry you to Lady Vanity, if 118you do well.

1 Slave
119I will serve you, sir.

Barabas
120Some wicked trick or other. It may be under color of 121shaving thou ’It cut my throat for my goods. Tell me, hast 122thou thy health well?

1 Slave
123Ay, passing well.

Barabas
124So much the worse; I must have one that’s sickly, and be 125but for sparing victuals; ’tis not a stone of beef a day will 126maintain you in these chops. Let me see one that’s somewhat leaner.

1 Officer
127Here’s a leaner. How like you him?

Barabas
128
Where was thou born?

Ithamore
129
In Thrace; brought up in Arabia.

Barabas
130
So much the better; thou art for my turn.
131
And hundred crowns? I’ll have him; there’s the coin.

1 Officer
132
Then mark him, sir, and take him hence.

Barabas
133
[aside]
Ay, mark him, you were best; for this is he
134
That by my help shall do much villainy.
135
– My lord, farewell.
[to Ithamore]
Come, sirrah, you are mine.
136
[to Lodowick]
As for the diamond, it shall be yours.
137
I pray, sir, be no stranger at my house;
138
All that I have shall be at your command.

Enter Mathias [and his] Mother [,Katherine].

Mathias
139
[aside]
What makes the Jew and Lodowick so private?
140
I fear me ’tis about fair Abigail.

Barabas
141
Yonder comes Don Mathias; let us stay.
142
He loves my daughter, and she holds him dear,
143
But I have sworn to frustrate both their hopes,
144
And be revenged upon the –
[aside]
governor.

[Exit Lodowick.]

Katherine
145
This Moor is comeliest, is he not? Speak, son.

Mathias
146
No, this is the better, mother; view this well.

Barabas
147
[aside to Mathias]
Seem not to know me here before your mother,
148
Lest she mistrust the match that is in hand.
149
When you have brought her home, come to my house;
150
Think of me as thy father; son, farewell.

Mathias
151
[aside to Barabas]
But wherefore talked Don Lodowick with you?

Barabas
152
[aside to him]
Tush, man, we talked of diamonds, not of Abigail.

Katherine
153
Tell me, Mathias, is not that the Jew?

Barabas
154
As for the comment on the Maccabees,
155
I have it, sir, and ’tis at your command.

Mathias
156
Yes, madam, and my talk with him was but
157
About the borrowing of a book or two.

Katherine
158
Converse not with him; he is cast off from heaven.
159
Thou hast thy crowns, fellow. Come, let’s away.

Mathias
160
Sirrah Jew, remember the book.

Barabas
161
Marry, will I, sir.

Exeunt [Mathias, Katherine, and Slave].

1 Officer
162
Come, I have made a reasonable market; let’s away.

[Exeunt Officers with Slaves.]

Barabas
163
Now let me know thy name, and therewithal
164
Thy birth, condition, and profession.

Ithamore
165Faith, sir, my birth is but mean, my name’s Ithamore, my 166profession what you please.

Barabas
167
Hast thou no trade? Then listen to my words,
168
And I will teach thee that shall stick by thee.
169
First, be thou void of these affections:
170
Compassion, love, vain hope, and heartless fear;
171
Be moved at nothing, see thou pity none,
172
But to thyself smile when the Christians moan.

Ithamore
173
O brave, master; I worship your nose for this.

Barabas
174
As for myself, I walk abroad a’ nights
175
And kill sick people groaning under walls;
176
Sometimes I go about and poison wells;
177
And now and then, to cherish Christian thieves,
178
I am content to lose some of my crowns,
179
That I may, walking in my gallery,
180
See ’em go pinioned along by my door.
181
Being young, I studied physic, and began
182
To practice first upon the Italian;
183
There I enriched the priests with burials,
184
And always kept the sexton’s arms in ure
185
With digging graves and ringing dead men’s knells.
186
And after that was I an engineer,
187
And in the wars ’twixt France and Germany,
188
Under pretense of helping Charles the Fifth,
189
Slew friend and enemy with my stratagems.
190
Then after that was I an usurer,
191
And with extorting, cozening, forfeiting,
192
And tricks belonging unto brokery,
193
I filled the jails with bankrouts in a year,
194
And with young orphans planted hospitals,
195
And every moon made some or other mad,
196
And now and then one hang himself for grief,
197
Pinning upon his breast a long great scroll,
198
How I with interest tormented him.
199
But mark how I am blessed for plaguing them:
200
I have as much coin as will buy the town.
201
But tell me, now, how hast thou spent thy time?

Ithamore
202
Faith, master,
203
In setting Christian villages on fire,
204
Chaining of eunuchs, binding galley slaves.
205
One time I was an hostler in an inn,
206
And in the nighttime secretly would I steal
207
To travelers’ chambers, and there cut their throats.
208
Once at Jerusalem, where the pilgrims kneeled,
209
I strowèd powder on the marble stones,
210
And therewithal their knees would rankle, so
211
That I have laughed a-good to see the cripples
212
Go limping home to Christendom on stilts.

Barabas
213
Why, this is something! Make account of me
214
As of thy fellow; we are villains both.
215
Both circumcisèd, we hate Christians both.
216
Be true and secret, thou shalt want no gold.
217
But stand aside; here comes Don Lodowick.

Enter Lodowick.

Lodowick
218
O, Barabas, well met;
219
Where is the diamond you told me of?

Barabas
220
I have it for you, sir; please you walk in with me.
221
What ho, Abigail! open the door, I say.

Enter Abigail.

Abigail
222
In good time, father; here are letters come
223
From Ormus, and the post stays here within.

Barabas
224
Give me the letters; daughter, do you hear?
225
Entertain Lodowick, the governor’s son,
226
With all the courtesy you can afford,
227
Provided that you keep your maidenhead.
228
Use him as if he were a –
(aside)
Philistine.
229
Dissemble, swear, protest, vow to love him;
230
He is not of the seed of Abraham.
231
– I am a little busy, sir; pray pardon me.
232
Abigail, bid him welcome for my sake.

Abigail
233
For your sake and his own he’s welcome hither.

Barabas
234
Daughter, a word more:
[aside to her]
kiss him, speak him fair,
235
And like a cunning Jew so cast about
236
That ye be both made sure ere you come out.

Abigail
237
[aside to Barabas]
O, father, Don Mathias is my love!

Barabas
238
[aside to her]
I know it; yet I say make love to him.
239
Do, it is requisite it should be so.
240
– Nay, on my life, it is my factor’s hand.
241
But go you in; I’ll think upon the account.
[Exeunt Lodowick and Abigail.]
242
The account is made, for Lodowick dies.
243
My factor sends me word a merchant’s fled
244
That owes me for a hundred tun of wine;
245
I weight it thus much
[snaps his fingers]:
I have wealth enough.
246
For now by this has he kissed Abigail,
247
And she vows love him, and he to her.
248
As sure as heaven rained manna for the Jews,
249
So sure shall he and Don Mathias die.
250
His father was my chiefest enemy.
Enter Mathias
251
Whither goes Don Mathias? Stay a while.

Mathias
252
Whither but to my fair love Abigail?

Barabas
253
Thou know’st, and heaven can witness it is true,
254
That I intend my daughter shall be thine.

Mathias
255
Ay, Barabas, or else thou wrong’st me much.

Barabas
256
O, heaven forbid I should have such a thought.
257
Pardon me though I weep; the governor’s son
258
Will, whether I will or no, have Abigail:
259
He sends her letters, bracelets, jewels, rings.

Mathias
260
Does she receive them?

Barabas
261
She? no, Mathias, no, but sends them back,
262
And when he comes, she locks herself up fast;
263
Yet through the keyhole will he talk to her,
264
While she runs to the window, looking out
265
When you should come and hale him from the door.

Mathias
266
O, treacherous Lodowick!

Barabas
267
Even now, as I came home, he slipped me in,
268
And I am sure he is with Abigail.

Mathias
269
I’ll rouse him thence.

Barabas
270
Not for all Malta; therefore sheathe your sword.
271
If you love me, no quarrels in my house;
272
But steal you in, and seem to see him not.
273
I’ll give him such a warning ere he goes
274
As he shall have small hopes of Abigail.
275
Away, for here they come.

Enter Lodowick [and] Abigail.

Mathias
276
What, hand in hand! I cannot suffer this.

Barabas
277
Mathias, as thou lov’st me, not a word.

Mathias
278
Well, let it pass; another time shall serve.

Exit.

Lodowick
279
Barabas, is not that the widow’s son?

Barabas
280
Ay, and take heed, for he hath sworn your death.

Lodowick
281
My death? what, is the base-born peasant mad?

Barabas
282
No, no; but happily he stands in fear
283
Of that which you, I think, ne’er dream upon:
284
My daughter here, a paltry, silly girl.

Lodowick
285
Why, loves she Don Mathias?

Barabas
286
Doth she not with her smiling answer you?

Abigail
287
[aside]
He has my heart; I smile against my will.

Lodowick
288
Barabas, thou know’st I have loved thy daughter long.

Barabas
289
And so has she done you, even from a child.

Lodowick
290
And now I can no longer hold my mind.

Barabas
291
Nor I the affection that I bear to you.

Lodowick
292
This is thy diamond; tell me, shall I have it?

Barabas
293
Win it, and wear it; it is yet unsoiled.
294
O, but I know your lordship would disdain
295
To marry with the daughter of a Jew;
296
And yet I’ll give her many a golden cross,
297
With Christian posies round about the ring.

Lodowick
298
’Tis not thy wealth, but her that I esteem,
299
Yet crave I thy consent.

Barabas
300
And mine you have; yet let me talk to her.
301
(aside [to Abigail])
This offspring of Cain, this Jebusite,
302
That never tasted of the Passover,
303
Nor e’er shall see the land of Canaan,
304
Nor our Messias that is yet to come,
305
This gentle maggot Lodowick, I mean,
306
Must be deluded: let him have thy hand,
307
But keep thy heart till Don Mathias comes.
308
ABIGAIL at, shall I be betrothed to Lodowick?

Barabas
309
[aside to her]
It’s no sin to deceive a Christian,
310
For they themselves hold it a principle
311
Faith is not to be held with heretics;
312
But all are heretics that are not Jews;
313
This follows well, and therefore, daughter, fear not.
314
– I have entreated her, and she will grant.

Lodowick
315
Then, gentle Abigail, plight thy faith to me.

Abigail
316
I cannot choose, seeing my father bids:
317
Nothing but death shall part my love and me.

Lodowick
318
Now have I that for which my soul hath longed.

Barabas
319
(aside)
So have not I, but yet I hope I shall.

Abigail
320
[aside]
O, wretched Abigail, what hast thee done?

Lodowick
321
Why on the sudden is your color changed?

Abigail
322
I know not; but farewell, I must be gone.

Barabas
323
Stay her, but let her not speak one word more.

Lodowick
324
Mute o’ the sudden; here’s a sudden change.

Barabas
325
O, muse not at it; ’tis the Hebrews’ guise
326
That maidens new-betrothed should weep a while.
327
Trouble her not, sweet Lodowick; depart;
328
She is thy wife, and thou shalt be mine heir.

Lodowick
329
O, is ’t the custom? Then I am resolved;
330
But rather let the brightsome heavens be dim,
331
And nature’s beauty choke with stifling clouds,
332
Than my fair Abigail should frown on me.
333
There comes the villain; now I’ll be revenged.

Enter Mathias.

Barabas
334
Be quiet, Lodowick; it is enough
335
That I have made thee sure to Abigail.

Lodowick
336
Well, let him go.

Exit.

Barabas
337
Well, but for me, as you went in at doors
338
You had been stabbed: but not a word on ’t now;
339
Here must no speeches pass, nor swords be drawn.

Mathias
340
Suffer me, Barabas, but to follow him.

Barabas
341
No; so shall I, if any hurt be done,
342
Be made an accessory of your deeds.
343
Revenge it on him when you meet him next.

Mathias
344
For this I’ll have his heart.

Barabas
345
Do so; lo, here I give thee Abigail.

Mathias
346
What greater gift can poor Mathias have?
347
Shall Lodowick rob me of so fair a love?
348
My life is not so dear as Abigail.

Barabas
349
My heart misgives me, that, to cross your love,
350
He’s with your mother; therefore after him.

Mathias
351
What, is he gone unto my mother?

Barabas
352
Nay, if you will, stay till she comes herself.

Mathias
353
I cannot stay; for if my mother come,
354
She’ll die with grief.

Exit.

Abigail
355
I cannot take my leave of him for tears.
356
Father, why have you thus incensed them both?

Barabas
357
What’s that to thee?

Abigail
I’ll make ’em friends again.

Barabas
358
You’ll make ’em friends? Are there not Jews enow in Malta
359
But thou must dote upon a Christian?

Abigail
360
I will have Don Mathias; he is my love.

Barabas
361
Yes, you shall have him. – Go, put her in.

Ithamore
362
Ay, I’ll put her in.

[Puts Abigail in.]

Barabas
363
Now tell me, Ithamore, how lik’st thou this?

Ithamore
364Faith, master, I think by this you purchase both their lives; 365is it not so?

Barabas
366
True; and it shall be cunningly performed.

Ithamore
367
O, master, that I might have a hand in this!

Barabas
368
Ay, so thou shalt; ’tis thou must do the deed.
369
Take this and bear it to Mathias straight,
370
And tell him that it comes from Lodowick.

Ithamore
371
’Tis poisoned, is it not?

Barabas
372
No, no; and yet it might be done that way.
373
It is a challenge, feigned from Lodowick.

Ithamore
374Fear not; I’ll so set his heart afire that he shall verily think 375it comes from him.

Barabas
376
I cannot choose but like thy readiness:
377
Yet be not rash, but do it cunningly.

Ithamore
378
As I behave myself in this, employ me hereafter.

Barabas
379
Away then.
Exit [Ithamore].
380
So, now will I go in to Lodowick,
381
And like a cunning spirit feign some lie,
382
Till I have set ’em both at enmity.

Exit.

[III.i]

Enter [Bellamira,] a Courtesan.

Bellamira
1
Since this town was besieged, my gain grows cold.
2
The time has been, that but for one bare night
3
A hundred ducats have been freely given;
4
But now against my will I must be chaste.
5
And yet I know my beauty doth not fail.
6
From Venice, merchants, and from Padua,
7
Were wont to come rare-witted gentlemen,
8
Scholars I mean, learnèd and liberal;
9
And now, save Pilia-Borza, comes there none,
10
And here is very seldom from my house.
11
And here he comes.

Enter Pilia-Borza.

Pilia-Borza
12
Hold thee, wench; there’s something for thee to spend.

Bellamira
13
’Tis silver; I disdain it.

Pilia-Borza
14
Ay, but the Jew has gold,
15
And I will have it, or it shall go hard.

Bellamira
16
Tell me, how cam’st thou by this?

Pilia-Borza
17Faith, walking the back lanes through the gardens I 18chanced to cast mine eye up to the Jew’s countinghouse, 19where I saw some bags of money, and in the night I 20clambered up with my hooks, and as I was taking my 21choice, I heard a rumbling in the house; so I took only this, 22and run my way. But here’s the Jew’s man.

Enter Ithamore.

Bellamira
23
Hide the bag.

Pilia-Borza
24Look not towards him; let’s away. Zounds, what a looking 25thou keep’st; thou ’It betray ’s anon.

[Exeunt Bellamira and Pilia-Borza.]

Ithamore
26O, the sweetest face that ever I beheld! I know she is a 27courtesan by her attire; now would I give a hundred of the 28Jew’s crowns that I had such a concubine. Well, 29I have delivered the challenge in such sort, 30As meet they will, and fighting die; brave sport.

[III. ii]

Enter Mathias.

Mathias
1
This is the place; now Abigail shall see
2
Whether Mathias holds her dear or no.
Enter Lodowick, reading.
3
What, dares the villain write in such base terms?

Lodowick
4
I did it; and revenge it if thou dar’st!

[They] fight. Enter Barabas above.

Barabas
5
O, bravely fought! and yet they thrust not home.
6
Now, Lodowick! now, Mathias! So!
[Both fall dead.]
7
So now they have showed themselves to be tall fellows.

[Cries] within
8
Part ’em! part ’em!

Barabas
9
Ay, part ’em now they are dead. Farewell, farewell.

Exit.
Enter Ferneze, Katherine [, and Attendants].

Ferneze
10
What sight is this? my Lodowick slain!
11
These arms of mine shall be thy sepulcher.

Katherine
12
Who is this? my son Mathias slain!

Ferneze
13
O, Lodowick, hadst thou perished by the Turk,
14
Wretched Ferneze might have venged thy death.

Katherine
15
Thy son slew mine, and I’ll revenge his death.

Ferneze
16
Look, Katherine, look; thy son gave mine these wounds.

Katherine
17
O, leave to grieve me; I am grieved enough

Ferneze
18
O, that my sighs could turn to lively breath,
19
And these my tears to blood, that he might live.

Katherine
20
Who made them enemies?

Ferneze
21
I know not; and that grieves me most of all.

Katherine
22
My son loved thine.

Ferneze
And so did Lodowick him.

Katherine
23
Lend me that weapon that did kill my son,
24
And it shall murder me.

Ferneze
25
Nay, madam, stay; that weapon was my son’s,
26
And on that rather should Ferneze die.

Katherine
27
Hold; let’s inquire the causers of their deaths,
28
That we may venge their blood upon their heads.

Ferneze
29
Then take them up, and let them be interred
30
Within one sacrèd monument of stone,
31
Upon which altar I will offer up
32
My daily sacrifice of sights and tears,
33
And with my prayers pierce impartial heavens,
34
Till they reveal the causers of our smarts,
35
Which forced their hands divide united hearts.
36
Come, Katherine, our losses equal are;
37
Then of true grief let us take equal share.

Exeunt [with the bodies].
[III. iii]

Enter Ithamore.

Ithamore
1
Why, was there ever seen such villainy,
2
So neatly plotted, and so well performed?
3
Both held in hand, and flatly both beguiled!

Enter Abigail.

Abigail
4
Why, how now, Ithamore, why laugh’st thou so?

Ithamore
5
O, mistress, ha, ha, ha!

Abigail
6
Why, what ail’st thou?

Ithamore
7
O, my master!

Abigail
8
Ha!

Ithamore
9O, mistress! I have the bravest, gravest, secret, subtle, 10bottle-nosed knave to my master that ever gentleman had.

Abigail
11
Say, knave, why rail’st upon my father thus?

Ithamore
12O, my master has the bravest policy.

Abigail
13
Wherein?

Ithamore
14Why, know you not?

Abigail
15
Why, no.

Ithamore
16Know you not of Mathias’ and Don Lodowick’s disaster?

Abigail
17
No, what was it?

Ithamore
18Why, the devil invented a challenge, my master writ it, and 19I carried it, first to Lodowick, and imprimis to Mathias. 20And then they met, and as the story says, 21In doleful wise they ended both their days.

Abigail
22
And was my father furtherer of their deaths?

Ithamore
23
Am I Ithamore?

Abigail
24
Yes.

Ithamore
25So sure did your father write, and I carry the challenge.

Abigail
26
Well, Ithamore, let me request thee this:
27
Go to the new-made nunnery, and inquire
28
For any of the friars of St. Jacques,
29
And say I pray them come and speak with me.

Ithamore
30I pray, mistress, will you answer me to one question?

Abigail
31
Well, sirrah, what is ’t?

Ithamore
32A very feeling one: have not the nuns fine sport with the 33friars now and then?

Abigail
34
Go to, sirrah sauce; is this your question? Get ye gone.

Ithamore
35I will forsooth, mistress.

Exit.

Abigail
36
Hard-hearted father, unkind Barabas,
37
Was this the pursuit of thy policy?
38
To make me show them favor severally,
39
That by my favor they should both be slain?
40
Admit thou lov’st not Lodowick for his sire,
41
Yet Don Mathias ne’er offended thee.
42
But thou wert set upon extreme revenge,
43
Because the prior dispossessed thee once,
44
And couldst not venge it, but upon his son,
45
Nor on his son, but by Mathias’ means,
46
Nor on Mathias, but by murdering me.
47
But I perceive there is no love on earth,
48
Pity in Jews, nor piety in Turks.
49
But here comes cursèd Ithamore with the friar.

Enter Ithamore [and] Friar [Jacomo].

Friar Jacomo
50
Virgo, salve.

Ithamore
51When! duck you?

Abigail
52
Welcome, grave friar; Ithamore, be gone.
Exit [Ithamore].
53
Know, holy sir, I am bold to solicit thee.

Friar Jacomo
54
Wherein?

Abigail
55
To get me be admitted for a nun.

Friar Jacomo
56
Why, Abigail, it is not yet long since
57
That I did labor thy admission,
58
And then thou didst not like that holy life.

Abigail
59
Then were my thoughts so frail and unconfirmed,
60
And I was chained to follies of the world;
61
But now experience, purchasèd with grief,
62
Has made me see the difference of things.
63
My sinful soul, alas, hath paced too long
64
The fatal labyrinth of misbelief,
65
Far from the Son that gives eternal life.

Friar Jacomo
66
Who taught thee this?

Abigail
The Abbess of the house,
67
Whose zealous admonition I embrace.
68
O, therefore, Jacomo, let me be one,
69
Although unworthy, of that sisterhood.

Friar Jacomo
70
Abigail, I will; but see thou change no more,
71
For that will be most heavy to thy soul.

Abigail
72
That was my father’s fault.

Friar Jacomo
Thy father’s, how?

Abigail
73
Nay, you shall pardon me.
[aside]
O, Barabas,
74
Though thou deservest hardly at my hands,
75
Yet never shall these lips bewray thy life.

Friar Jacomo
76
Come, shall we go?

Abigail
My duty waits on you.

Exeunt.

[III. iv]

Enter Barabas reading a letter.

Barabas
1
What, Abigail become a nun again?
2
False and unkind! What, hast thou lost thy father?
3
And all unknown, and unconstrained of me,
4
Art thou again got to the nunnery?
5
Now here she writes, and wills me to repent.
6
Repentance? Spurca! What pretendeth this?
7
I fear she knows (’tis so) of my device
8
In Don Mathias’ and Lodovico’s deaths:
9
If so, ’tis time that it be seen into,
10
For she that varies from me in belief
11
Gives great presumption that she loves me not;
12
Or loving, doth dislike of something done.
13
But who comes here?
[Enter Ithamore.]
O, Ithamore, come near;
14
Come near, my love; come near, thy master’s life,
15
My trusty servant, nay, my second self,
16
For I have now no hope but even in thee,
17
And no that hope my happiness is built.
18
When saw’st thou Abigail?

Ithamore
Today.

Barabas
With whom?

Ithamore
19
A friar.

Barabas
20
A friar? false villain, he hath done the deed.

Ithamore
21
How, sir?

Barabas
Why, made mine Abigail a nun.

Ithamore
22
That’s no lie, for she sent me for him.

Barabas
23
O, unhappy day!
24
False, credulous, inconstant Abigail!
25
But let ’em go; and, Ithamore, from hence
26
Ne’er shall she grieve me more with her disgrace;
27
Ne’er shall she live to inherit aught of mine,
28
Be blessed of me, nor come within my gates,
29
But perish underneath my bitter curse,
30
Like Cain by Adam, for his brother’s death.

Ithamore
31
O, master!

Barabas
32
Ithamore, entreat not for her; I am moved,
33
And she is hateful to my soul and me:
34
And ’less thou yield to this that I entreat,
35
I cannot think but that thou hat’st my life.

Ithamore
36
Who, I, master? Why I’ll run to some rock
37
And throw myself headlong into the sea;
38
Why I’ll do anything for your sweet sake.

Barabas
39
O, trusty Ithamore! no servant, but my friend;
40
I here adopt thee for mine only heir.
41
All that I have is thine when I am dead,
42
And whilst I live, use half; spend as myself.
43
Here, take my keys, I’ll give ’em thee anon.
44
Go buy thee garments. But thou shalt not want.
45
Only know this, that thus thou art to do.
46
But first go fetch me in the pot of rice
47
That for our supper stands upon the fire.

Ithamore
48
[aside]
I hold my head my master’s hungry. –
49
I go, sir.

Exit.

Barabas
50
Thus every villain ambles after wealth,
51
Although he ne’er be richer than in hope.
52
But hush ’t.

Enter Ithamore with the pot.

Ithamore
Here ’tis, master.

Barabas
Well said, Ithamore.
53
What, hast thou brought the ladle with thee too?

Ithamore
54Yes, sir; the proverb says, he that eats with the devil had 55need of a long spoon. I have brought you a ladle.

Barabas
56
Very well, Ithamore; then now be secret,
57
And for thy sake, whom I so dearly love,
58
Now shalt thou see the death of Abigail,
59
That thou mayst freely live to be my heir.

Ithamore
60Why, master, will you poison her with a mess of rice 61porridge? That will preserve life, make her round and 62plump, and batten more than you are aware.

Barabas
63
Ay, but, Ithamore, seest thou this?
64
It is a precious powder that I bought
65
Of an Italian in Ancona once,
66
Whose operation is to bind, infect,
67
And poison deeply, yet not appear
68
In forty hours after it is ta’en.

Ithamore
69
How, master?

Barabas
70
Thus, Ithamore:
71
This even they use in Malta here (’tis called
72
Saint Jacques’ Even) and then, I say, they use
73
To send their alms unto the nunneries;
74
Among the rest, bear this, and set it there.
75
There’s a dark entry where they take it in,
76
Where they must neither see the messenger,
77
Nor make inquiry who hath sent it them.

Ithamore
78
How so?

Barabas
79
Belike there is some ceremony in ’t.
80
There, Ithamore, must thou go place this pot;
81
Stay, let me spice it first.

Ithamore
82Pray do, and let me help you, master. Pray let me taste first.

Barabas
83
Prithee, do. What say’st thou now?

Ithamore
84Troth, master, I’m loath such a pot of pottage should 85be spoiled.

Barabas
86
Peace, Ithamore; ’tis better so than spared.
87
Assure thyself thou shalt have broth by the eye.
88
My purse, my coffer, and myself is thine.

Ithamore
89
Well, master, I go.

Barabas
90
Stay, first let me stir it, Ithamore.
91
As fatal be it to her as the draught
92
Of which great Alexander drunk, and died;
93
And with her let it work like Borgia’s wine,
94
Whereof his sire, the Pope, was poisoned.
95
In few, the blood of Hydra, Lerna’s bane,
96
The juice of hebon, and Cocytus’ breath,
97
And all the poisons of the Stygian pool
98
Break from the fiery kingdom, and in this
99
Vomit your venom, and envenom her
100
That like a fiend hath left her father thus.

Ithamore
101What a blessing has he giv’n ’t! Was ever pot of rice porridge 102so sauced? What shall I do with it?

Barabas
103
O, my sweet Ithamore, go set it down
104
And come again so soon as thou hast done,
105
For I have other business for thee.

Ithamore
106Here’s a drench to poison a whole stable of Flanders mares. 107I’ll carry ’t to the nuns with a powder.

Barabas
108
And the horse pestilence to boot; away!

Ithamore
109
I am gone.
110
Pay me my wages, for my work is done.

Exit.

Barabas
111
I’ll pay thee with a vengeance, Ithamore.

Exit.

[III. v]

Enter Ferneze, [Martin del] Bosco, Knights, [and] Callapine.

Ferneze
1
Welcome, great bashaw; how fares Calymath?
2
What wind drives you thus into Malta road?

Callapine
3
The wind that bloweth all the world besides:
4
Desire of gold.

Ferneze
Desire of gold, great sir?
5
That’s to be gotten in the Western Inde:
6
In Malta are no golden minerals.

Callapine
7
To you of Malta thus saith Calymath:
8
The time you took for respite is at hand
9
For the performance of your promise past;
10
And for the tribute money I am sent.

Ferneze
11
Bashaw, in brief, shalt have no tribute here,
12
Nor shall the heathens live upon our spoil.
13
First will we raze the city walls ourselves,
14
Lay waste the island, hew the temples down,
15
And shipping of our goods to Sicily,
16
Open an entrance for the wasteful sea,
17
Whose billows, beating the resistless banks,
18
Shall overflow it with their refluence.

Callapine
19
Well, governor, since thou hast broke the league
20
By flat denial of the promised tribute,
21
Talk not of razing down your city walls:
22
You shall not need trouble yourselves so far,
23
For Selim Calymath shall come himself,
24
And with brass bullets batter down your towers,
25
And turn proud Malta to a wilderness
26
For these intolerable wrongs of yours.
27
And so, farewell.

Ferneze
28
Farewell.
[Exit Callapine.]
29
And now, you men of Malta, look about,
30
And let’s provide to welcome Calymath.
31
Close your portcullis, charge your basilisks,
32
And as you profitably tale up arms,
33
So now courageously encounter them;
34
For by this answer, broken is the league,
35
And naught is to be looked for now but wars,
36
And naught to us more welcome is than wars.

Exeunt.

[III.vi]

Enter two Friars [, Jacomo and Barnardine].

Friar Jacomo
1
O, brother, brother, all the nuns are sick,
2
And physic will not help them; they must die.

Friar Barnardine
3
The Abbess sent for me to be confessed:
4
O, what a sad confession will there be!

Friar Jacomo
5
And so did fair Maria send for me.
6
I’ll to her lodging; hereabouts she lies.

Exit.
Enter Abigail.

Friar Barnardine
7
What, all dead save only Abigail?

Abigail
8
And I shall die too, for I feel death coming.
9
Where is the friar that conversed with me?

Friar Barnardine
10
O, he is gone to see the other nuns.

Abigail
11
I sent for him, but seeing you are come,
12
Be you my ghostly father; and first know
13
That in this house I lived religiously,
14
Chaste, and devout, much sorrowing for my sins,
15
But ere I came –

Friar Barnardine
16
What then?

Abigail
17
I did offend high heaven so grievously
18
As I am almost desperate for my sins;
19
And one offense torments me more than all.
20
You knew Mathias and Don Lodowick?

Friar Barnardine
21
Yes, what of them?

Abigail
22
My father did contract me to ’em both:
23
First to Don Lodowick. Him I never loved.
24
Mathias was the man that I held dear,
25
And for his sake did I become a nun.

Friar Barnardine
26
So; say how was their end?

Abigail
27
Both, jealous of my love, envied each other,
28
And by my father’s practice, which is there
[Gives a paper.]
29
Set down at large, the gallants were both slain.

Friar Barnardine
30
O, monstrous villainy!

Abigail
31
To work my peace, this I confess to thee;
32
Reveal it not, for then my father dies.

Friar Barnardine
33
Know that confession must not be revealed;
34
The canon law forbids it, and the priest
35
That makes it known, being degraded first,
36
Shall be condemned, and then sent to the fire.

Abigail
37
So I have heard; pray; therefore, keep it close.
38
Death seizeth on my heart. Ah, gentle friar,
39
Convert my father, that he may be saved,
40
And witness that I die a Christian.

[Dies.]

Friar Barnardine
41
Ay, and a virgin, too; that grieves me most.
42
But I must to then Jew and exclaim on him,
43
And make him stand in fear of me.

Enter 1 Friar [Jacomo].

Friar Jacomo
O, brother,
44
All the nuns are dead; let’s bury them.

Friar Barnardine
45
First help to bury this, then go with me
46
And help me to exclaim against the Jew.

Friar Jacomo
47
Why? what has he done?

Friar Barnardine
48
A thing that makes me tremble to unfold.

Friar Jacomo
49
What, has he crucified a child?

Friar Barnardine
50
No, but a worse thing. ’Twas told me in shrift;
51
Thou know’st ’tis death and if it be revealed.
52
Come, let’s away.

Exeunt [with the body].

[IV.i]

Enter Barabas [and] Ithamore. Bells within.

Barabas
1
There is no music to a Christian’s knell.
2
How sweet the bells ring now the nuns are dead
3
That sound at other times like tinkers’ pans!
4
I was afraid the poison had not wrought;
5
Or, though it wrought, it would have done no good,
6
For every year they swell, and yet they live.
7
Now all are dead; not one remains alive.

Ithamore
8
That’s brave, master, but think you it will not be known?

Barabas
9
How can it if we two be secret?

Ithamore
10
For my part fear you not.

Barabas
11
I’d cut thy throat if I did.

Ithamore
And reason, too.
12
But here’s a royal monast’ry hard by;
13
Good master, let me poison all the monks.

Barabas
14
Thou shalt not need, for now the nuns are dead,
15
They’ll die with grief.

Ithamore
16
Do you not sorrow for your daughter’s death?

Barabas
17
No, but I grieve because she lived so long.
18
An Hebrew born, and would become a Christian!
19
Cazzo! diabolo!

Enter the two Friars [, Jacomo and Barnardine].

Ithamore
20Look, look, master; here come two religious caterpillars.

Barabas
21
I smelt ’em ere they came.

Ithamore
22
God-a-mercy, nose; come, let’s be gone.

Friar Barnardine
23
Stay, wicked Jew; repent, I say, and stay.

Friar Jacomo
24
Thou hast offended, therefore must be damned.

Barabas
25
I fear they know we sent the poisoned broth.

Ithamore
26
And so do I, master; therefore speak ’em fair.

Friar Barnardine
27
Barabas, thou hast –

Friar Jacomo
28
Ay, that thou hast –

Barabas
29
True, I have money; what though I have?

Friar Barnardine
30
Thou art a –

Friar Jacomo
31
Ay, that thou art, a –

Barabas
32
What needs all this? I know I am a Jew.

Friar Barnardine
33
Thy daughter –

Friar Jacomo
34
Ay, thy daughter –

Barabas
35
O, speak not of her; then I die with grief.

Friar Barnardine
36
Remember that –

Friar Jacomo
37
Ay, remember that –

Barabas
38
I must needs say that I have been a great usurer.

Friar Barnardine
39
Thou hast committed –

Barabas
40Fornication? but that was in another country: and besides, 41the wench is dead.

Friar Barnardine
42
Ay, but Barabas, remember Mathias and Don Lodowick.

Barabas
43
Why, what of them?

Friar Barnardine
44
I will not say that a forgèd challenge they met.

Barabas
45
(aside)
She has confessed, and we are both undone;
46
My bosom inmates! but I must dissemble.
47
– O, holy friars, the burden of my sins
48
Lie heavy on my soul. Then, pray you, tell me,
49
Is ’t not too late now to turn Christian?
50
I have been zealous in the Jewish faith,
51
Hard-hearted to the poor, a covetous wretch,
52
That would for lucre’s sake have sold my soul.
53
A hundred for a hundred I have ta’en,
54
And now for store of wealth may I compare
55
With all the Jews in Malta. But what is wealth?
56
I am a Jew, and therefore am I lost.
57
Would penance serve for this my sin,
58
I could afford to whip myself to death.

Ithamore
59
And so could I; but penance will not serve.

Barabas
60
To fast, to pray, and wear a shirt of hair,
61
And on my knees creep to Jerusalem;
62
Cellars of wine, and sollars full of wheat,
63
Warehouses stuffed with spices and with drugs,
64
Whole chests of gold, in bullion, and in coin,
65
Besides I know not how much weight in pearl,
66
Orient and around, have I within my house;
67
At Alexandria, merchandise unsold;
68
But yesterday two ships went from this town;
69
Their voyage will be worth ten thousand crowns.
70
In Florence, Venice, Antwerp, London, Seville,
71
Frankfort, Lubeck, Moscow, and where not,
72
Have I debts owing, and, in most of these,
73
Great sums of money lying in the banco.
74
All this I’ll give to some religious house,
75
So I may be baptized and live therein.

Friar Jacomo
76
O, good Barabas, come to our house!

Friar Barnardine
77
O no, good Barabas, come to our house!
78
And, Barabas, you know –

Barabas
79
[to Barnardine]
I know that I have highly sinned.
80
You shall convert me; you shall have all my wealth.

Friar Jacomo
81
O, Barabas, their laws are strict.

Barabas
82
I know they are, and I will be with you.

Friar Barnardine
83
They wear no shirts, and they go barefoot, too.

Barabas
84
[to Barnardine]
Then ’tis not for me; and I am resolved
85
You shall confess me, and have all my goods.

Friar Jacomo
86
Good Barabas, come to me.

Barabas
87
[aside to Jacomo]
You see I answer him, and yet he stays;
88
Rid him away, and go you home with me.

Friar Jacomo
89
[aside to Barabas]
I’ll be with you tonight.

Barabas
90
[aside to Jacomo]
Come to my house at one o’clock this night.

Friar Jacomo
91
You hear your answer, and you may be gone.

Friar Barnardine
92
Why, go, get you away.

Friar Jacomo
93
I will not go for thee.

Friar Barnardine
94
Not! then I’ll make thee go.

Friar Jacomo
95
How, dost call me rogue?

[They] fight.

Ithamore
96
Part ’em, master, part ’em!

Barabas
97
This is mere frailty, brethren; be content.
98
Friar Barnardine, go you with Ithamore.
99
[aside to Barnardine]
You know my mind; let me alone with him.

Friar Jacomo
100
Why does he go to thy house? Let him be gone.

Barabas
101
[aside to Jacomo]
I’ll give him something, and so stop his mouth.
Exit [Ithamore with Friar Barnardine]
102
I never heard of any man but he
103
Maligned the order of the Jacobins;
104
But do you think that I believe his words?
105
Why, brother, you converted Abigail,
106
And I am bound in charity to requite it;
107
And so I will. O, Jacomo, fail not, but come.

Friar Jacomo
108But, Barabas, who shall be your godfathers? For presently 109you shall be shrived.

Barabas
110Marry, the Turk shall be one of my godfathers: but not 111a word to any of your covent.

Friar Jacomo
112
I warrant thee, Barabas.

Exit.

Barabas
113
So now the fear is past, and I am safe:
114
For he that shrived her is within my house.
115
What if I murdered him ere Jacomo comes?
116
Now I have such a plot for both their lives
117
As never Jew nor Christian knew the like.
118
One turned my daughter, therefore he shall die;
119
The other knows enough to have my life,
120
Therefore ’tis not requisite he should live.
121
But are not both these wise men to suppose
122
That I will leave my house, my goods, and all,
123
To fast and be well whipped? I’ll none of that.
124
Now, Friar Barnardine, I come to you.
125
I’ll feast you, lodge you, give you fair words,
126
And after that, I and my trusty Turk –
127
No more but so: it must and shall be done.
128
Ithamore, tell me, is the friar asleep?

Enter Ithamore.

Ithamore
129
Yes; and I know not what the reason is:
130
Do what I can, he will not strip himself,
131
Nor go to bed, but sleeps in his own clothes;
132
I fear me he mistrusts what we intend.

Barabas
133
No, ’tis an order which the friars use.
134
Yet if he knew our meanings, could he ’scape?

Ithamore
135
No, none can hear him, cry he ne’er so loud.

Barabas
136
Why, true; therefore did I place him there:
137
The other chambers open towards the street.

Ithamore
138
You loiter, master; wherefore stay we thus?
139
O, how I long to see him shake his heels.

Barabas
140
Come on, sirrah.
141
Off with your girdle; make a handsome noose.
142
Friar, awake!

[Draws curtains of the inner stage, revealing Barnardine asleep.]

Friar Barnardine
143
What, do you mean to strangle me?

Ithamore
144
Yes, ’cause you use to confess.

Barabas
145
Blame not us but the proverb, “Confess and be hanged.”
146
Pull hard!

Friar Barnardine
147
What, will you have my life?

Barabas
148
Pull hard, I say; you would have had my goods.

Ithamore
149
Ay, and our lives, too; therefore pull amain.
[Friar Barnardine dies.]
150
’Tis neatly done, sir; here’s no print at all.

Barabas
151
Then is it as it should be; take him up.

Ithamore
152Nay, master, be ruled by me a little. So, let him lean upon 153his staff; excellent, he stands as if he were begging of bacon.

Barabas
154
Who would not think but that this friar lived?
155
What time a’ night is ’t now, sweet Ithamore?

Ithamore
156
Towards one.

Barabas
157
Then will not Jacomo be long from hence.

[Exit. Ithamore hides.]
Enter [Friar] Jacomo.

Friar Jacomo
158
This is the hour wherein I shall proceed;
159
O, happy hour, wherein I shall convert
160
An infidel, and bring his gold into our treasury.
161
But soft, is not this Barnardine? It is;
162
And, understanding I should come this way,
163
Stands here a’ purpose, meaning me some wrong,
164
And intercept my going to the Jew
165
Barnardine!
166
Wilt thou not speak? Thou think’st I see thee not.
167
Away, I’d wish thee, and let me go by.
168
No, wilt thou not? Nay, then, I’ll force my way;
169
And see, a staff stands ready for the purpose:
170
As thou lik’st that, stop me another time!

Strike him, he falls.
Enter Barabas.

Barabas
171
Why, how now, Jacomo, what hast thou done?

Friar Jacomo
172
Why, stricken him that would have stroke at me.

Barabas
173
Who is it? Barnardine? Now out, alas, he is slain.

Ithamore
174Ay, master, he’s slain; look how his brains drop out on’s nose.

Friar Jacomo
175Good sirs, I have done’t, but nobody knows it but you two. 176I may escape.

Barabas
177
So might my man and I hang with you for company.

Ithamore
178
No, let us bear him to the magistrates.

Friar Jacomo
179
Good Barabas, let me go.

Barabas
180
No, pardon me; the law must have his course.
181
I must be forced to give in evidence
182
That being importuned by this Barnardine
183
To be a Christian, I shut him out,
184
And there he sat. Now I, to keep my word,
185
And give my goods and substance to your house,
186
Was up thus early, with intent to go
187
Unto your friary, because you stayed.

Ithamore
188Fie upon ’em! Master, will you turn Christian, when 189holy friars turn devils and murder one another?

Barabas
190
No, for this example I’ll remain a Jew.
191
Heaven bless me! what, a friar a murderer?
192
When shall you see a Jew commit the like?

Ithamore
193
Why, a Turk could ha’ done no more.

Barabas
194
Tomorrow is the sessions; you shall to it.
195
Come, Ithamore, let’s help to take him hence.

Friar Jacomo
196
Villains, I am a sacrèd person. Touch me not.

Barabas
197
The law shall touch you; we’ll but lead you, we.
198
’Las, I could weep at your calamity.
199
Take in the staff too, for that must be shown:
200
Law wills that each particular be known.

Exeunt [with the body].

[IV.ii]

Enter Bellamira and Pilia-Borza.

Bellamira
1Pilia-Borza, didst thou meet with Ithamore?

Pilia-Borza
2I did.

Bellamira
3And didst thou deliver my letter?

Pilia-Borza
4I did.

Bellamira
5And what think’st tou, will he come?

Pilia-Borza
6I think so, and yet I cannot tell, for at the reading of the 7letter, he looked like a man of another world.

Bellamira
8Why so?

Pilia-Borza
9That such a base slave as he should be saluted by such a 10tall man as I am, from such a beautiful dame as you.

Bellamira
11And what said he?

Pilia-Borza
12Not a wise word, only gave me a nod, as who should say, 13“Is it even so?” and so I left him, being driven to a non-plus 14at the critical aspect of my terrible countenance.

Bellamira
15
And where didst meet him?

Pilia-Borza
16Upon mine own freehold, within forty foot of the gallows, 17conning his neck-verse, I take it, looking of a friar’s execution, 18whom I saluted with an old hempen proverb, hodie 19tibi, cras mihi, and so I left him to the mercy of the hangman. 20But the exercise being done, see where he comes.

Enter Ithamore.

Ithamore
21I never knew a man take his death so patiently as this friar. 22He was ready to leap off ere the halter was about his neck; 23and when the hangman had put on his hempen tippet, he 24made such haste to his prayers as if he had had another 25cure to serve. Well, go whither he will, I’ll be none of his 26followers in haste. And now I think on ’t, going to the 27execution, a fellow met me with a muschatoes like a raven’s 28wing, and a dagger with a hilt like a warming pan, and he 29gave me a letter from one Madam Bellamira, saluting me in 30such sort as if he had meant to make clean my boots with his 31lips. The effect was that I should come to her house. I 32wonder what the reason is? It may be she sees more in me 33than I can find in myself; for she writes further, that she 34loves me ever since she saw me, and who would not requite 35such love? Here’s her house, and here she comes, and now 36would I were gone; I am not worthy to look upon her.

Pilia-Borza
37This is the gentleman you writ to.

Ithamore
38[aside] “Gentleman!” he flouts me; what gentry can be in a poor 39 Turk of ten pence? I’ll be gone.

Bellamira
40Is ’t not a sweet-faced youth, Pilia?

Ithamore
41[aside] Again, “sweet youth!” – Did not you, sir, bring the sweet youth a letter?

Pilia-Borza
42I did, sir, and from this gentlewoman, who, as myself and 43the rest of the family, stand or fall at your service.

Bellamira
44Though woman’s modesty should hale me back, I can withhold 45no longer: welcome, sweet love.

Ithamore
46[aside] Now am I clean, or rather foully, out of the way.

Bellamira
47Whither so soon?

Ithamore
48[aside] I’ll go steal some money from my master to make me 49 handsome. – Pray, pardon me, I must go see a ship discharged.

Bellamira
50Canst thou be so unkind to leave me thus?

Pilia-Borza
51And ye did but know how she loves you, sir!

Ithamore
52Nay, I care not how much she loves me. –Sweet Bellamira, 53would I had my master’s wealth for thy sake.

Pilia-Borza
54And you can have it, sir, and if you please.

Ithamore
55If ’twere above ground I could, and would have it; but he 56hides and buries it up as partridges do their eggs, under the earth.

Pilia-Borza
57And is ’t not possible to find it out?

Ithamore
58By no means possible.

Bellamira
59[aside to Pilia-Borza] What shall we do with this base villain then?

Pilia-Borza
60
[aside to her]
Let me alone; do but you speak him fair. –
61
But you know some secrets of the Jew,
62
Which if they were revealed would do him harm.

Ithamore
63Ay, and such as – go to, no more! I’ll make him send me 64half he has, and glad he ’scapes so, too. Pen and ink! I’ll 65write unto him. We’ll have money straight.

Pilia-Borza
66Send for a hundred crowns at least.

Ithamore
67Ten hundred thousand crowns. (He writes.) “Master Barabas.”

Pilia-Borza
68Write not so submissively, but threat’ning him.

Ithamore
69“Sirrah Barabas, send me a hundred crowns.”

Pilia-Borza
70Put in two hundred at least.

Ithamore
71“I charge thee send me three hundred by this bearer, and 72this shall be tour warrant; if you do not, no more but so.”

Pilia-Borza
73Tell him you will confess.

Ithamore
74“Otherwise I’ll confess all.” Vanish and return in a twinkle.

Pilia-Borza
75Let me alone; I’ll use him in his kind.

[Exit.]

Ithamore
76Hang him, Jew.

Bellamira
77
Now, gentle Ithamore, lie in my lap.
78
Where are my maids? Provide a running banquet.
79
Send to the merchant, bid him bring me silks;
80
Shall Ithamore my love go in such rags?

Ithamore
81
And bid the jeweller come hither too.

Bellamira
82
I have no husband, sweet; I’ll marry thee.

Ithamore
83
Content; but we will leave this paltry land,
84
And sail from hence to Greece, to lovely Greece.
85
I’ll be thy Jason, thou my golden fleece;
86
Where painted carpets o’er the meads are hurled,
87
And Bacchus’ vineyards o’erspread the world;
88
Where woods and forests go in goodly green,
89
I’ll be Adonis, thou shalt be Love’s Queen.
90
The meads, the orchards, and the primrose lanes,
91
Instead of sedge and reed, bear sugar canes:
92
Thou in those groves, by Dis above,
93
Shalt live with me and be my love.

Bellamira
94
Whither will I not go with gentle Ithamore?

Enter Pilia-Borza.

Ithamore
95
How now? hast thou the gold?

Pilia-Borza
96
Yes.

Ithamore
97But came it freely? Did the cow give down her milk freely?

Pilia-Borza
98At reading of the letter, he stared and stamped and turned 99aside. I took him by the beard, and looked upon him thus; 100told him he were best to send it; then he hugged and embraced me.

Ithamore
101Rather for fear than love.

Pilia-Borza
102Then, like a Jew, he laughed and jeered, and told me he 103loved me for your sake, and said what a faithful servant you had been.

Ithamore
104The more villain he to keep me thus. Here’s goodly ’parel, is there not?

Pilia-Borza
105To conclude, he gave me ten crowns.

Ithamore
106But ten? I’ll not leave him worth a gray groat. Give me a 107ream of paper; we’ll have a kingdom of gold for ‘t.

Pilia-Borza
108Write for five hundred crowns.

Ithamore
109“Sirrah Jew, as you love your life, send me five hundred 110crowns, and give the bearer one hundred.” Tell him I must have ’t.

Pilia-Borza
111I warrant your worship shall have ’t.

Ithamore
112And if he ask why I demand so much, tell him I scorn to 113write a line under a hundred crowns.

Pilia-Borza
114You’d make a rich poet, sir. I am gone.

Exit.

Ithamore
115
Take thou the money; spend it for my sake.

Bellamira
116
’Tis not thy money, but thyself I weigh:
117
Thus Bellamira esteems of gold:
[Throws it aside.]
118
But thus of thee –

Kiss him.

Ithamore
That kiss again; she runs
119
Division of my lips. What an eye
120
She casts on me! It twinkles like a star.

Bellamira
121
Come, my dear love, let’s in and sleep together.

Ithamore
122
O, that ten thousand nights were put in one,
123
That we might sleep seven years together afore we wake.

Bellamira
124
Come, amorous wag; first banquet, and then sleep.

[Exeunt.]

[IV.iii]

Enter Barabas reading a letter.

Barabas
1
“Barabas, send me three hundred crown.”
2
Plain Barabas! O, that wicked courtesan!
3
He was not wont to call me Barabas.
4
“Or else I will confess.” Ay, there it goes.
5
But if I get him, coupe de gorge. For that
6
He sent a shaggy, tottered, staring slave,
7
That when he speaks, draws out his grisly beard,
8
And winds it twice or thrice about his ear;
9
Whose face has been a grindstone for men’s swords;
10
His hands are hacked, some fingers cut quite off;
11
Who when he speaks, grunts like a hog, and looks
12
Like one that is employed in catzerie
13
And crossbiting; such a rogue
14
As is the husband to a hundred whores –
15
And I by him must send three hundred crowns!
16
Well, my hope is he will not stay there still;
17
And when he comes – O, that he were but here!

Enter Pilia-Borza.

Pilia-Borza
18Jew, I must ha’ more gold.

Barabas
19Why, want’st thou any of thy tale?

Pilia-Borza
20No; but three hundred will not serve his turn.

Barabas
21Not serve his turn, sir?

Pilia-Borza
22No, sir; and therefore I must have five hundred more.

Barabas
23I’ll rather –

Pilia-Borza
24O, good words, sir, and send it you were best; see, there’s his 25letter.

Barabas
26Might he not as well come as send? Pray bid him come and 27fetch it; what he writes for you, ye shall have straight.

Pilia-Borza
28Ay, and the rest too, or else –

Barabas
29[aside] I must make this villain away. [to him] Please you dine with 30me, sir; [aside] and you shall be most heartily poisoned.

Pilia-Borza
31No, God-a-mercy; shall I have these crowns?

Barabas
32I cannot do it; I have lost my keys.

Pilia-Borza
33O, if that be all, I can pick ope your locks.

Barabas
34Or climb up to my countinghouse window: you know my 35meaning.

Pilia-Borza
36I know enough, and therefore talk not to me of your 37countinghouse. The gold! or know, Jew, it is in my power 38to hang thee.

Barabas
39
[aside]
I am betrayed.
40
[to him]
’Tis not five hundred crowns that I esteem,
41
I am not moved at that: this angers me,
42
That he who knows I love him as myself
43
Should write in this imperious vein! Why, sir,
44
You know I have no child, and unto whom
45
Should I leave all but unto Ithamore?

Pilia-Borza
46Here’s many words, but no crowns; the crowns!

Barabas
47
Commend me to him, sir, most humbly,
48
And unto your good mistress, as unknown.

Pilia-Borza
49
Speak, shall I have ’em, sir?

Barabas
Sir, here they are.
50
[aside]
O, that I should part with so much gold!
51
[to him]
Here, take ’em, fellow, with as good a will –
52
[aside]
As I would see thee hanged;
[to him]
O, love stops my breath.
53
Never loved man servant as I do Ithamore.

Pilia-Borza
54
I know it, sir.

Barabas
55
Pray when, sir, shall I see you at my house?

Pilia-Borza
56
Soon enough to your cost, sir. Fare you well.

Exit.

Barabas
57
Nay, to thine own cost, villain, if thou com’st.
58
Was ever Jew tormented as I am?
59
To have a shag-rag knave to come –
60
Three hundred crowns, and then five hundred crowns!
61
Well, I must seek a means to rid ’em all,
62
And presently: for in his villainy
63
He will tell all he knows, and I shall die for ’t.
64
I have it:
65
I will in some disguise go see the slave,
66
And how the villain revels with my gold.

Exit.

[IV.iv]

Enter Bellamira, Ithamore, [and] Pilia-Borza.

Bellamira
1
I’ll pledge thee, love, and therefore drink it off.

Ithamore
2
Say’st thou me so? Have at it! And do you hear?

[Whispers.]

Bellamira
3
Go to, it shall be so.

Ithamore
4
Of that condition I will drink it up.
5
Here’s to thee.

Bellamira
Nay, I’ll have all or none.

Ithamore
6
There; if thou lov’st me do not leave a drop.

Bellamira
7
Love thee! fill me three glasses.

Ithamore
8
Three and fifty dozen I’ll pledge thee.

Pilia-Borza
9
Knavely spoke, and like a knight at arms.

Ithamore
10
Hey, Rivo Castiliano! a man’s a man.

Bellamira
11
Now to the Jew.

Ithamore
12
Ha! to the Jew. And send me money you were best!

Pilia-Borza
13
What wouldst thou do if he should send thee none?

Ithamore
14Do nothing; but I know what I know. He’s a murderer.

Bellamira
15
I had not thought he had been so brave a man.

Ithamore
16You knew Mathias and the governor’s son? He and I killed
17
’em both, and yet never touched ’em.

Pilia-Borza
18
O, bravely done.

Ithamore
19I carried the broth that poisoned the nuns, and he and I, 20snicle hand too fast, strangled a friar.

Bellamira
21
You two alone?

Ithamore
22We two; and ’twas never known, nor never shall be for me.

Pilia-Borza
23
[aside to Bellamira]
This shall with me unto the governor.

Bellamira
24
[aside to Pilia-Borza]
And fit it should; but first let’s ha’ more gold. –
25
Come, gentle Ithamore, lie in my lap.

Ithamore
26
Love me little, love me long. Let music rumble,
27
Whilst I in thy incony lap do tumble.

Enter Barabas with a lute, disguised.

Bellamira
28
A French musician! Come, let’s hear your skill.

Barabas
29
Must tuna my lute for sound, twang, twang, first.

Ithamore
30Wilt drink, Frenchman? Here’s to thee with a – pox on this 31drunken hiccup!

Barabas
32
Gramercy, monsieur.

Bellamira
33Prithee, Pilia-Borza, bid the fiddler give me the posy in his 34hat there.

Pilia-Borza
35Sirrah, you must give my mistress your posy.

Barabas
36
A votre commandement, madame.

Bellamira
37
How sweet, my Ithamore, the flowers smell.

Ithamore
38
Like thy breath, sweetheart; no violet like ’em.

Pilia-Borza
39
Foh! methinks they stink like a hollyhock.

Barabas
40
[aside]
So, now I am revenged upon ’em all.
41
The scent thereof was death; I poisoned it.

Ithamore
42Play, fiddler, or I’ll cut your cat’s guts into chitterlings.

Barabas
43Pardona moy; be no in tune yet. So, now, now all be in.

Ithamore
44
Give him a crown, and fill me out more out.

Pilia-Borza
45
There’s two crowns for thee; play.

Barabas
46
(aside)
How liberally the villain gives me mine own gold.

Pilia-Borza
47
Methinks he fingers very well.

Barabas
48
(aside)
So did you when you stole my gold.

Pilia-Borza
49
How swift he runs!

Barabas
50(aside) You run swifter when you threw my gold out of my window.

Bellamira
51Musician, hast been in Malta long?

Barabas
52Two, three, four month, madam.

Ithamore
53Dost not know a Jew, one Barabas?

Barabas
54Very mush; monsieur, you no be his man?

Pilia-Borza
55His man!

Ithamore
56I scorn the peasant; tell him so.

Barabas
57
[aside]
He knows it already.

Ithamore
58’Tis a strange thing of that Jew, he lives upon pickled grasshoppers, 59and sauced mushrooms.

Barabas
60
(aside)
What a slave’s this! The governor feeds not as I do.

Ithamore
61He never put on clean shirt since he was circumcised.

Barabas
62
(aside)
O, rascal! I change myself twice a day.

Ithamore
63The hat he wears, Judas left under the elder when he hanged himself.

Barabas
64
(aside)
’Twas sent me for a present from the Great Cham.

Pilia-Borza
65A masty slave he is. Whither now, fiddler?

Barabas
66Pardona moy, monsieur, me be no well.

Exit.

Pilia-Borza
67Farewell, fiddler. One letter more to the Jew.

Bellamira
68Prithee, sweet love, one more, and write it sharp.

Ithamore
69No, I’ll send by word of mouth now. Bid him deliver thee a 70thousand crowns, by the same token that the nuns loved 71rice, that Friar Barnardine slept in his clothes – any of ’em will do it.

Pilia-Borza
72Let me alone to urge it, now I know the meaning.

Ithamore
73
The meaning has a meaning. Come, let’s in;
74
To undo a Jew is charity, and not sin.

Exeunt.

[V.i]

Enter Ferneze, Knights, Martin del Bosco [, and Officers]

Ferneze
1
Now, gentlemen, betake you to your arms,
2
And see that Malta be well fortified;
3
And it behooves you to be resolute,
4
For Calymath, having hovered here so long,
5
Will win the town, or die before the walls.

1 Knight
6
And die he shall, for we will never yield.

Enter Bellamira [and] Pilia-Borza.

Bellamira
7
O, bring us to the governor!

Ferneze
8
Away with her, she is a courtesan.

Bellamira
9
Whate’er I am, yet, governor, hear me speak.
10
I bring thee news by whom thy son was slain:
11
Mathias did it not, it was the Jew.

Pilia-Borza
12
Who, besides the slaughter of these gentlemen,
13
Poisoned his own daughter and the nuns,
14
Strangled a friar, and I know not what
15
Mischief beside.

Ferneze
Had we but proof of this –

Bellamira
16
Strong proof, my lord. His man’s now at my lodging
17
That was his agent; he’ll confess it all.

Ferneze
18
Go fetch him straight.
[Exeunt Officers.]
I always feared that Jew.

Enter [Officers with] Barabas [and] Ithamore.

Barabas
19
I’ll go alone; dogs, do not hale me thus.

Ithamore
20Nor me neither. I cannot outrun you, constable. O, my 21belly!

Barabas
22
[aside]
One dram of powder more had made all sure.
23
What a damned slave was I!

Ferneze
24
Make fires, heat irons, let the rack be fetched.

1 Knight
25
Nay, stay, my lord; ’t may be he will confess.

Barabas
26
Confess! What mean you, lords? Who should confess?

Ferneze
27
Thou and thy Turk; ’twas you that slew my son.

Ithamore
28Guilty, my lord, I confess. Your son and Mathias were 29both contracted unto Abigail. He forged a counterfeit 30challenge.

Barabas
31
Who carried that challenge?

Ithamore
32I carried it, I confess, but who writ it? Marry, even he that 33strangled Barnardine, poisoned the nuns, and his own 34daughter.

Ferneze
35
Away with him! His sight is death to me.

Barabas
36
For what? You men of Malta, hear me speak.
37
She is a courtesan, and he a thief,
38
And he my bondman. Let me have law,
39
For none of this can prejudice my life.

Ferneze
40
Once more, away with him! You shall have law.

Barabas
41
Devils, do your worst! I live in spite of you!
42
As these have spoke, so be it to their souls.
43
[aside]
I hope the poisoned flowers will work anon.

[Exeunt Officers with Barabas, Ithamore, Pilia-Borza, and Bellamira.]
Enter Katherine.

Katherine
44
Was my Mathias murdered by the Jew?
45
Ferneze, ’twas thy son that murdered him.

Ferneze
46
Be patient, gentle madam; it was he.
47
He forged the daring challenge made them fight.

Katherine
48
Where is the Jew? Where is that murderer?

Ferneze
49
In prison till the law has passed on him.

Enter Officer.

1 Officer
50
My lord, the courtesan and her man are dead;
51
So is the Turk, and Barabas the Jew.

Ferneze
52
Dead?

1 Officer
53
Dead, my lord, and here they bring his body.

[Enter Officers, carrying Barabas as dead.]

Del Bosco
54
This sudden death of his is very strange.

Ferneze
55
Wonder not at it, sir, the heavens are just:
56
Their deaths were like their lives; then think not of ’em.
57
Since they are dead, let them be buried.
58
For the Jew’s body, throw that o’er the walls,
59
To be a prey for vultures and wild beasts.
60
So, now away, and fortify the town.

Exeunt. [Manet Barabas.]

Barabas
61
What, all alone? well fare, sleepy drink.
62
I’ll be revenged on this accursèd town,
63
For by my means Calymath shall enter in.
64
I’ll help to slay their children and their wives,
65
To fire the churches, pull their houses down.
66
Take my goods, too, and seize upon my lands
67
I hope to see the governor a slave,
68
And, rowing in a gallery, whipped to death.

Enter Calymath, Bashaws, [and] Turks.

Calymath
69
Whom have we there, a spy?

Barabas
70
Yes, my good lord, one that can spy a place
71
Where you may enter, and surprise the town.
72
My name is Barabas; I am a Jew.

Calymath
73
Art thou that Jew whose goods we heard were sold
74
For tribute money?

Barabas
The very same, my lord.
75
And since that time they have hired a slave, my man,
76
To accuse me of a thousand villainies.
77
I was imprisoned, but escaped their hands.

Calymath
78
Didst break prison?

Barabas
79
No, no:
80
I drank of poppy and cold mandrake juice,
81
And, being asleep, belike they thought me dead,
82
And threw me o’er the walls; so, or how else,
83
The Jew is here, and rests at your command.

Calymath
84
’Twas bravely done. But tell me, Barabas,
85
Canst thou, as thou report’st, make Malta ours?

Barabas
86
Fear not, my lord, for here, against the truce,
87
The rock is hollow, and of purpose digged,
88
To make a passage for the running streams
89
And common channels of the city.
90
Now whilst you give assault unto the walls,
91
I’ll lead five hundred soldiers through the vault,
92
And rise with them i’ th’ middle of the town,
93
Open the gates for you to enter in,
94
And by this means the city is your own.

Calymath
95
If this be true, I’ll make thee governor.

Barabas
96
And if it be not true, then let me die.

Calymath
97
Thou’st doomed thyself. Assault it presently.

Exeunt.

[V.ii]

Alarms. Enter Turks [and] Barabas [with] Ferneze and Knights prisoners.

Calymath
1
Now vail your pride, you captive Christians,
2
And kneel for mercy to your conquering foe.
3
Now where’s the hope you had of haughty Spain?
4
Ferneze, speak: had it not been much better
5
To ’ve kept thy promise than be thus surprised?

Ferneze
6
What should I say? We are captives and must yield.

Calymath
7
Ay, villains, you must yield; and under Turkish yokes
8
Shall groaning bear the burden of our ire.
9
And, Barabas, as erst we promised thee,
10
For thy desert we make thee governor;
11
Use them at thy discretion.

Barabas
Thanks, my lord.

Ferneze
12
O, fatal day, to fall into the hands
13
Of such a traitor and unhallowed Jew!
14
What greater misery could heaven inflict?

Calymath
15
’Tis our command; and, Barabas, we give
16
To guard thy person, these our Janizaries:
17
Entreat them well, as we have usèd thee.
18
And now, brave bashaws, come, we’ll walk about
19
The ruined town, and see the wrack we made.
20
Farewell, brave Jew; farewell, great Barabas.

Exeunt [Calymath and Bashaws].

Barabas
21
May all good fortune follow Calymath.
22
And now, as entrance to our safety,
23
To prison with the governor and these
24
Captains, his consorts and confederates.

Ferneze
25
O, villain, heaven will be revenged on thee!

Barabas
26
Away! no more! let him not trouble me.
Exeunt. [Manet Barabas.]
27
Thus hast thou gotten, by thy policy,
28
No simple place, no small authority.
29
I now am governor of Malta. True,
30
But Malta hates me, and in hating me
31
My life’s in danger, and what boots it thee,
32
Poor Barabas, to be the governor,
33
Whenas thy life shall be at their command?
34
No, Barabas, this must be looked into;
35
And since by wrong thou gott’st authority,
36
Maintain it bravely by firm policy;
37
At least unprofitably lose it not.
38
For he that liveth in authority,
39
And neither gets him friends nor fills his bags,
40
Lives like the ass that Aesop speaketh of,
41
That labors with a load of bread and wine,
42
And leaves it off to snap on thistle tops.
43
But Barabas will be more circumspect.
44
Begin betimes. Occasion’s bald behind;
45
Slip not thine opportunity, for fear too late
46
Thou seek’st for much, but canst not compass it.
47
Within here!

Enter Ferneze with a Guard.

Ferneze
48
My lord?

Barabas
49
Ay, “lord”; thus slaves will learn.
50
Now, governor – stand by there; wait within –
[Exeunt Guard.]
51
This is the reason that I sent for thee:
52
Thou seest thy life, and Malta’s happiness,
53
Are at my arbitrament, and Barabas
54
At his discretion may dispose of both.
55
Now tell me, governor, and plainly too,
56
What think’st thou shall become of it and thee?

Ferneze
57
This, Barabas: since things are in thy power,
58
I see no reason but of Malta’s wrack,
59
Nor hope of thee but extreme cruelty;
60
Nor fear I death, nor will I flatter thee.

Barabas
61
Governor, good words; be not so furious.
62
’Tis not thy life which can avail me aught;
63
Yet you do live, and live for me you shall.
64
And as for Malta’s ruin, think you not
65
’Twere slender policy for Barabas
66
To dispossess himself of such a place?
67
For sith, as once you said, within this isle,
68
In Malta here, that I have got my goods,
69
And in this city still have had success,
70
And now at length am grown your governor,
71
Yourselves shall see it shall not be forgot:
72
For as a friend not known but in distress,
73
I’ll rear up Malta, now remediless.

Ferneze
74
Will Barabas recover Malta’s loss?
75
Will Barabas be good to Christians?

Barabas
76
What wilt thou give me, governor, to procure
77
A dissolution of the slavish bands
78
Wherein the Turk hath yoked your land and you?
79
What will you give me if I render you
80
The life of Calymath, surprise his men,
81
And in an outhouse of the city shut
82
His soldiers, till I have consumed ’em all with fire?
83
What will you give him that procureth this?

Ferneze
84
Do but bring this to pass which thou pretendest,
85
Deal truly with us as thou intimatest,
86
And I will send amongst the citizens
87
And by my letters privately procure
88
Great sums of money for thy recompense:
89
Nay, more, do this, and live thou governor still.

Barabas
90
Nay, do thou this, Ferneze, and be free.
91
Governor, I enlarge thee; live with me,
92
Go walk about the city, see thy friends.
93
Tush, send not letters to ’em, go thyself,
94
And let me see what money thou canst make.
95
Here is my hand that I’ll set Malta free,
96
And thus we cast it: to a solemn fest
97
I will invite young Selim Calymath,
98
Where be thou present only to perform
99
One stratagem that I’ll impart to thee,
100
Wherein no danger shall betide thy life,
101
And I will warrant Malta free for ever.

Ferneze
102
Here is my hand. Believe me, Barabas,
103
I will be there, and do as thou desirest.
104
When is the time?

Barabas
Governor, presently.
105
For Calymath, when he hath viewed the town,
106
Will take his leave and sail toward Ottoman.

Ferneze
107
Then will I, Barabas, about this coin,
108
And bring it with me to thee in the evening.

Barabas
109
Do so, but fail not; now farewell, Ferneze.
[Exit Ferneze.]
110
And thus far roundly goes the business.
111
Thus, loving neither, will I live with both,
112
Making a profit of my policy;
113
And he from whom my most advantage comes
114
Shall be my friend.
115
This is the life we Jews are used to lead;
116
And reason, too, for Christians do the like.
117
Well, now about effecting this device.
118
First to surprise great Selim’s soldiers,
119
And then to make provision for the feast,
120
That at one instant all things may be done.
121
My policy detests prevention.
122
To what event my secret purpose drives,
123
I know; and they shall witness with their lives.

Exit.

[V.iii]

Enter Calymath [and] Bashaws.

Calymath
1
Thus have we viewed the city, seen the sack,
2
And caused the ruins to be new repaired,
3
Which with our bombards’ shot and basilisk
4
We rent in sunder at our entry.
5
And now I see the situation,
6
And how secure this conquered island stands,
7
Environed with the Mediterranean Sea,
8
Strong countermured with other petty isles,
9
And toward Calabria, backed by Sicily
10
(Where Syracusian Dionysius reigned),
11
Two lofty turrets that command the town,
12
I wonder how it could be conquered thus.

Enter a Messenger.

Messenger
13
From Barabas, Malta’s governor, I bring
14
A message unto mighty Calymath:
15
Hearing his Sovereign was bound for sea,
16
To sail to Turkey, to great Ottoman,
17
He humbly would entreat your Majesty
18
To come and see his homely citadel,
19
And banquet with him ere thou leav’st the isle.

Calymath
20
To banquet with him in his citadel?
21
I fear me, messenger, to feast my train
22
Within a town of war so lately pillaged
23
Will be too costly and too troublesome.
24
Yet would I gladly visit Barabas,
25
For well has Barabas deserved of us.

Messenger
26
Selim, for that, thus saith the governor,
27
That he hath in store a pearl so big,
28
So precious, and withal so orient,
29
As, be it valued but indifferently,
30
The price thereof will serve to entertain
31
Selim and all his soldiers for a month;
32
Therefore he humbly would entreat your Highness
33
Not to depart till he has feasted you.

Calymath
34
I cannot feast my men in Malta walls,
35
Except he place his tables in the streets.

Messenger
36
Know, Selim, that there is a monastery
37
Which standeth as an outhouse to the town;
38
There will he banquet them, but thee at home,
39
With all thy bashaws and brave followers.

Calymath
40
Well, tell the governor we grant his suit;
41
We’ll in this summer evening feast with him.

Messenger
42
I shall, my lord.

Exit.

Calymath
43
And now, bold bashaws, let us to our tents,
44
And meditate how we may grace us best
45
To solemnize our governor’s great feast.

Exeunt.

[V.iv]

Enter Ferneze, Knights, [and Martin] del Bosco.

Ferneze
1
In this, my countrymen, be ruled by me.
2
Have special care that no man sally forth
3
Till you shall hear a culverin discharged
4
By him that bears the linstock, kindled thus;
5
Then issue out and come to rescue me,
6
For happily I shall be in distress,
7
Or you releasèd of this servitude.

1 Knight
8
Rather than thus to live as Turkish thralls,
9
What will we not adventure?

Ferneze
10
On then, be gone.

Knights
Farewell, grave governor.

[Exeunt.]

[V.v]

Enter [Barabas] with a hammer above, very busy [, and Carpenters].

Barabas
1
How stand the cords? How long these hinges? Fast?
2
Are all the cranes and pulleys sure?

1 Carpenter
All fast.

Barabas
3
Leave nothing loose, all leveled to my mind.
4
Why, now I see that you have art indeed.
5
There, carpenters, divide that gold amongst you.
6
Go swill in bowls of sack and muscadine:
7
Down to the cellar; taste of all my wines.

Carpenters
8
We shall, my lord, and thank you.

Exeunt.

Barabas
9
And if you like them, drink your fill and die;
10
For so I live, perish may all the world.
11
Now, Selim Calymath, return me word
12
That thou wilt come, and I am satisfied.
Enter Messenger.
13
Now, sirrah, what, will he come?

Messenger
14
He will; and has commanded all his men
15
To come ashore, and march through Malta streets,
16
That thou mayst feast them in thy citadel.

Barabas
17
Then now are all things as my wish would have ’em.
18
There wanteth nothing but the governor’s pelf,
Enter Ferneze.
19
And see, he brings it. Now, governor, the sum?

Ferneze
20
With free consent, a hundred thousand pounds.

Barabas
21
Pounds, say’st thou, governor? Well, since it is no more,
22
I’ll satisfy myself with that. Nay, keep it still,
23
For if I keep not promise, trust not me.
24
And, governor, now partake my policy:
25
First, for his army, they are sent before,
26
Entered the monastery, and underneath
27
In several places are fieldpieces pitched,
28
Bombards, whole barrels full of gunpowder,
29
That on the sudden shall dissever it,
30
And batter all the stones about their ears,
31
Whence none can possibly escape alive.
32
Now as for Calymath and his consorts,
33
Here have I made a dainty gallery,
34
The floor whereof, this cable being cut,
35
Doth fall asunder, so that it doth sink
36
Into a deep pit past recovery.
37
Here, hold that knife, and when thou seest he comes,
38
And with his bashaws shall be blithely set,
39
A warning-piece shall be shot off from the tower,
40
To give thee knowledge when to cut the cord,
41
And fire the house. Say, will not this be brave?

Ferneze
42
O, excellent! Here, hold thee, Barabas,
43
I trust thy word; take what I promised thee.

Barabas
44
No, governor, I’ll satisfy thee first;
45
Thou shalt not live in doubt of anything.
46
Stand close, for here they come.
[Ferneze retires.]
Why, is not this
47
A kingly kind of trade, to purchase towns
48
By treachery, and sell ’em by deceit?
49
Now tell me, worldlings, underneath the sun,
50
If greater falsehood ever has been done?

Enter Calymath and Bashaws.

Calymath
51
Come, my companion bashaws, see, I pray,
52
How busy Barabas is there above
53
To entertain us in his gallery.
54
Let us salute him. Save thee, Barabas.

Barabas
55
Welcome, great Calymath.

Ferneze
56
[aside]
How the slave jeers at him!

Barabas
57
Will ’t please thee, mighty Selim Calymath,
58
To ascend our homely stairs?

Calymath
Ay, Barabas.
59
Come, bashaws, attend.

Ferneze
Stay, Calymath!
60
For I will show thee greater courtesy
61
Than Barabas would have afforded thee.

1 Knight
62
[within]
Sound a charge there!

A charge [sounded within;] the cable cut [by Ferneze; the floor of the upper stage giving way, Barabas falls into] a caldron, discovered [below].
[Enter Martin del Bosco and Knights.]

Calymath
63
How now! what means this?

Barabas
64
Help, help me! Christians, help!

Ferneze
65
See, Calymath, this was devised for thee.

Calymath
66
Treason, treason! Bashaws, fly!

Ferneze
67
No, Selim, do not fly.
68
See his end first, and fly then if thou canst.

Barabas
69
O, help me, Selim; help me, Christians.
70
Governor, why stand you all so pitiless?

Ferneze
71
Should I in pity of thy plaints or thee,
72
Accursèd Barabas, base Jew, relent?
73
No, thus I’ll see thy treachery repaid,
74
But wish thou hadst behaved thee otherwise.

Barabas
75
You will not help me, then?

Ferneze
No, villain, no.

Barabas
76
And, villains, know you cannot help me now.
77
Then, Barabas, breathe forth thy latest fate,
78
And in the fury of thy torments, strive
79
To end thy life with resolution.
80
Know, governor, ’twas I that slew thy son;
81
I framed the challenge that did make them meet.
82
Know, Calymath, I aimed thy overthrow,
83
And had I but escaped this stratagem,
84
I would have brought confusion on you all,
85
Damned Christians, dogs, and Turkish infidels.
86
But now begins the extremity of heat
87
To pinch me with intolerable pangs:
88
Die, life! fly, soul! tongue, curse thy fill and die!

[Dies.]

Calymath
89
Tell me, you Christians, what doth this portend?

Ferneze
90
This train he laid to have entrapped thy life.
91
Now, Selim, note the unhallowed deeds of Jews;
92
Thus he determined to have handled thee,
93
But I have rather chose to save thy life.

Calymath
94
Was this the banquet he prepared for us?
95
Let’s hence, lest further mischief be pretended.

Ferneze
96
Nay, Selim, stay, for since we have thee here,
97
We will not let thee part so suddenly:
98
Besides, if we should let thee go, all’s one,
99
For with thy galleys couldst thou not get hence,
100
Without fresh men to rig and furnish them.

Calymath
101
Tush, governor, take thou no care for that;
102
My men are all aboard,
103
And do attend my coming there by this.

Ferneze
104
Why, heard’st thou not the trumpet sound a charge?

Calymath
105
Yes, what of that?

Ferneze
Why then the house was fired,
106
Blown up, and all thy soldiers massacrèd.

Calymath
107
O, monstrous treason!

Ferneze
A Jew’s courtesy;
108
For he that did by treason work our fall,
109
By treason hath delivered thee to us.
110
Know, therefore, till thy father hath made good
111
The ruins done to Malta and to us,
112
Thou canst not part; for Malta shall be freed,
113
Or Selim ne’er return to Ottoman.

Calymath
114
Nay, rather, Christians, let me go to Turkey,
115
In person there to meditate your peace;
116
To keep me here will naught advantage you.

Ferneze
117
Content thee, Calymath; here thou must stay,
118
And live in Malta prisoner; for come all the world
119
To rescue thee, so will we guard us now,
120
As sooner shall they drink the ocean dry
121
Than conquer Malta, or endanger us.
122
So march away, and let due praise be given
123
Neither to fate nor fortune, but to heaven.

[Exeunt.]
Finis.

Epilogue Spoken at Court

124
It is our fear, dread Sovereign, we have been
125
Too tedious; neither can ’t be less than sin
126
To wrong your princely patience: if we have,
127
Thus low dejected, we your pardon crave;
128
And, if aught here offend your ear or sight,
129
We only act, and speak, what others write.

Epilogue to the Stage

130
In graving, with Pygmalion to contend,
131
Or painting, with Apelles, doubtless the end
132
Must be disgrace; our actor did not so:
133
He only aimed to go, but not outgo.
134
Nor think that this day any prize was played;
135
Here were no bets at all, no wagers laid;
136
All the ambition that his mind doth swell
137
Is butt to hear from you (by me) ’twas well.