Enter BARABAS
125 and ITHAMORE. Bells within.
BARABAS. There is no music to
126 a Christian's knell:
How sweet the bells ring, now the nuns are dead,
That sound at other times like tinkers' pans!
I was afraid the poison had not wrought,
Or, though it wrought, it would have done no good,
For every year they swell, and yet they live:
Now all are dead, not one remains alive.
ITHAMORE.
That's brave, master: but think you it will not be known?
BARABAS. How can it, if we two be secret?
ITHAMORE. For my part, fear you not.
BARABAS. I'd cut thy throat, if I did.
ITHAMORE. And reason too.
But here's a royal monastery hard by;
Good master, let me poison all the monks.
BARABAS. Thou shalt not need; for, now the nuns are dead,
They'll die with grief.
ITHAMORE. Do you not sorrow for your daughter's death?
BARABAS. No, but I grieve because she liv'd so long,
An Hebrew born, and would become a Christian:
Cazzo,
127 diabolo!
ITHAMORE.
Look, look, master; here come two religious caterpillars.
Enter FRIAR JACOMO and FRIAR BARNARDINE.
BARABAS. I smelt 'em ere they came.
ITHAMORE. God-a-mercy, nose!
128 Come, let's begone.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Stay, wicked Jew; repent, I say, and stay.
FRIAR JACOMO. Thou hast offended, therefore must be damn'd.
BARABAS. I fear they know we sent the poison'd broth.
ITHAMORE. And so do I, master; therefore speak 'em fair.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Barabas, thou hast—
FRIAR JACOMO. Ay, that thou hast—
BARABAS. True, I have money; what though I have?
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Thou art a—
FRIAR JACOMO. Ay, that thou art, a—
BARABAS. What needs all this? I know I am a Jew.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Thy daughter—
FRIAR JACOMO. Ay, thy daughter—
BARABAS. O, speak not of her! then I die with grief.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Remember that—
FRIAR JACOMO. Ay, remember that—
BARABAS. I must needs say that I have been a great usurer.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Thou hast committed—
BARABAS. Fornication: but that was in another country;
And besides, the wench is dead.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Ay, but, Barabas,
Remember Mathias and Don Lodowick.
BARABAS. Why, what of them?
FRIAR BARNARDINE.
I will not say that by a forged challenge they met.
BARABAS. She has confess'd, and we are both undone,
My bosom inmate!
129 but I must dissemble.—
[Aside to ITHAMORE.]
O holy friars, the burden of my sins
Lie heavy
130 on my soul! then, pray you, tell me,
Is't not too late now to turn Christian?
I have been zealous in the Jewish faith,
Hard-hearted to the poor, a covetous wretch,
That would for lucre's sake have sold my soul;
A hundred for a hundred I have ta'en;
And now for store of wealth may I compare
With all the Jews in Malta: but what is wealth?
I am a Jew, and therefore am I lost.
Would penance serve [to atone] for this my sin,
I could afford to whip myself to death,—
ITHAMORE. And so could I; but penance will not serve.
BARABAS. To fast, to pray, and wear a shirt of hair,
And on my knees creep to Jerusalem.
Cellars of wine, and sollars
131 full of wheat,
Warehouses stuff'd with spices and with drugs,
Whole chests of gold in bullion and in coin,
Besides, I know not how much weight in pearl
Orient and round, have I within my house;
At Alexandria merchandise untold;
132 But yesterday two ships went from this town,
Their voyage will be worth ten thousand crowns;
In Florence, Venice, Antwerp, London, Seville,
Frankfort, Lubeck, Moscow, and where not,
Have I debts owing; and, in most of these,
Great sums of money lying in the banco;
All this I'll give to some religious house,
So I may be baptiz'd, and live therein.
FRIAR JACOMO. O good Barabas, come to our house!
FRIAR BARNARDINE. O, no, good Barabas, come to our house!
And, Barabas, you know—
BARABAS. I know that I have highly sinn'd:
You shall convert me, you shall have all my wealth.
FRIAR JACOMO. O Barabas, their laws are strict!
BARABAS. I know they are; and I will be with you.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. They wear no shirts, and they go bare-foot too.
BARABAS. Then 'tis not for me; and I am resolv'd
You shall confess me, and have all my goods.
FRIAR JACOMO. Good Barabas, come to me.
BARABAS. You see I answer him, and yet he stays;
Rid him away, and go you home with me.
FRIAR JACOMO. I'll be with you to-night.
BARABAS. Come to my house at one o'clock this night.
FRIAR JACOMO. You hear your answer, and you may be gone.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Why, go, get you away.
FRIAR JACOMO. I will not go for thee.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Not! then I'll make thee go.
FRIAR JACOMO. How! dost call me rogue?
[They fight.]
ITHAMORE. Part 'em, master, part 'em.
BARABAS. This is mere frailty: brethren, be content.—
Friar Barnardine, go you with Ithamore:
You know my mind; let me alone with him.
FRIAR JACOMO. Why does he go to thy house? let him be gone.
133
BARABAS. I'll give him something, and so stop his mouth.
[Exit ITHAMORE with Friar BARNARDINE.]
I never heard of any man but he
Malign'd the order of the Jacobins:
But do you think that I believe his words?
Why, brother, you converted Abigail;
And I am bound in charity to requite it,
And so I will. O Jacomo, fail not, but come.
FRIAR JACOMO. But, Barabas, who shall be your godfathers?
For presently you shall be shriv'd.
BARABAS. Marry, the Turk
134 shall be one of my godfathers,
But not a word to any of your covent.
135
FRIAR JACOMO. I warrant thee, Barabas.
[Exit.]
BARABAS. So, now the fear is past, and I am safe;
For he that shriv'd her is within my house:
What, if I murder'd him ere Jacomo comes?
Now I have such a plot for both their lives,
As never Jew nor Christian knew the like:
One turn'd my daughter, therefore he shall die;
The other knows enough to have my life,
Therefore 'tis not requisite he should live.
136 But are not both these wise men, to suppose
That I will leave my house, my goods, and all,
To fast and be well whipt? I'll none of that.
Now, Friar Barnardine, I come to you:
I'll feast you, lodge you, give you fair
137 words,
And, after that, I and my trusty Turk—
No more, but so: it must and shall be done.
138
Enter ITHAMORE.
Ithamore, tell me, is the friar asleep?
ITHAMORE. Yes; and I know not what the reason is,
Do what I can, he will not strip himself,
Nor go to bed, but sleeps in his own clothes:
I fear me he mistrusts what we intend.
BARABAS. No; 'tis an order which the friars use:
Yet, if he knew our meanings, could he scape?
ITHAMORE. No, none can hear him, cry he ne'er so loud.
BARABAS. Why, true; therefore did I place him there:
The other chambers open towards the street.
ITHAMORE. You loiter, master; wherefore stay we thus?
O, how I long to see him shake his heels!
BARABAS. Come on, sirrah:
Off with your girdle; make a handsome noose.—
[ITHAMORE takes off his girdle, and ties a noose on it.]
Friar, awake!
139 [They put the noose round the FRIAR'S neck.]
FRIAR BARNARDINE. What, do you mean to strangle me?
ITHAMORE. Yes, 'cause you use to confess.
BARABAS. Blame not us, but the proverb,—Confess and be
hanged.—Pull hard.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. What, will you have
140 my life?
BARABAS. Pull hard, I say.—You would have had my goods.
ITHAMORE. Ay, and our lives too:—therefore pull amain.
[They strangle the FRIAR.]
'Tis neatly done, sir; here's no print at all.
BARABAS. Then is it as it should be. Take him up.
ITHAMORE. Nay, master, be ruled by me a little. [Takes the body,
sets it upright against the wall, and puts a staff in its hand.]
So, let him lean upon his staff; excellent! he stands as if he
were begging of bacon.
BARABAS. Who would not think but that this friar liv'd?
What time o' night is't now, sweet Ithamore?
ITHAMORE. Towards one.
141
BARABAS. Then will not Jacomo be long from hence.
[Exeunt.]
Enter FRIAR JACOMO.
142
FRIAR JACOMO. This is the hour wherein I shall proceed;
143 O happy hour, wherein I shall convert
An infidel, and bring his gold into our treasury!
But soft! is not this Barnardine? it is;
And, understanding I should come this way,
Stands here o' purpose, meaning me some wrong,
And intercept my going to the Jew.—
Barnardine!
Wilt thou not speak? thou think'st I see thee not;
Away, I'd wish thee, and let me go by:
No, wilt thou not? nay, then, I'll force my way;
And, see, a staff stands ready for the purpose.
As thou lik'st that, stop me another time!
[Takes the staff, and strikes down the body.]
Enter BARABAS and ITHAMORE.
BARABAS. Why, how now, Jacomo! what hast thou done?
FRIAR JACOMO. Why, stricken him that would have struck at me.
BARABAS. Who is it? Barnardine! now, out, alas, he is slain!
ITHAMORE. Ay, master, he's slain; look how his brains drop out
on's
144 nose.
FRIAR JACOMO. Good sirs, I have done't: but nobody knows it but
you two; I may escape.
BARABAS. So might my man and I hang with you for company.
ITHAMORE. No; let us bear him to the magistrates.
FRIAR JACOMO. Good Barabas, let me go.
BARABAS. No, pardon me; the law must have his course:
I must be forc'd to give in evidence,
That, being importun'd by this Barnardine
To be a Christian, I shut him out,
And there he sate: now I, to keep my word,
And give my goods and substance to your house,
Was up thus early, with intent to go
Unto your friary, because you stay'd.
ITHAMORE. Fie upon 'em! master, will you turn Christian, when
holy friars turn devils and murder one another?
BARABAS. No; for this example I'll remain a Jew:
Heaven bless me! what, a friar a murderer!
When shall you see a Jew commit the like?
ITHAMORE. Why, a Turk could ha' done no more.
BARABAS. To-morrow is the sessions; you shall to it.—
Come, Ithamore, let's help to take him hence.
FRIAR JACOMO. Villains, I am a sacred person; touch me not.
BARABAS. The law shall touch you; we'll but lead you, we:
'Las, I could weep at your calamity!—
Take in the staff too, for that must be shown:
Law wills that each particular be known.
[Exeunt.]
Enter BELLAMIRA
145 and PILIA-BORZA.
BELLAMIRA. Pilia-Borza, didst thou meet with Ithamore?
PILIA-BORZA. I did.
BELLAMIRA. And didst thou deliver my letter?
PILIA-BORZA. I did.
BELLAMIRA. And what thinkest thou? will he come?
PILIA-BORZA. I think so: and yet I cannot tell; for, at the
reading of the letter, he looked like a man of another world.
BELLAMIRA. Why so?
PILIA-BORZA. That such a base slave as he should be saluted by
such a tall
146 man as I am, from such a beautiful dame as you.
BELLAMIRA. And what said he?
PILIA-BORZA. Not a wise word; only gave me a nod, as who should
say, "Is it even so?" and so I left him, being driven to a
non-plus at the critical aspect of my terrible countenance.
BELLAMIRA. And where didst meet him?
PILIA-BORZA. Upon mine own free-hold, within forty foot of the
gallows, conning his neck-verse,
147 I take it, looking of
148 a friar's execution; whom I saluted with an old hempen proverb,
Hodie tibi, cras mihi, and so I left him to the mercy of the
hangman: but, the exercise
149 being done, see where he comes.
Enter ITHAMORE.
ITHAMORE. I never knew a man take his death so patiently as
this friar; he was ready to leap off ere the halter was about
his neck; and, when the hangman had put on his hempen tippet,
he made such haste to his prayers, as if he had had another
cure to serve. Well, go whither he will, I'll be none of his
followers in haste: and, now I think on't, going to the
execution, a fellow met me with a muschatoes
150 like a raven's
wing, and a dagger with a hilt like a warming-pan; and he gave
me a letter from one Madam Bellamira, saluting me in such sort
as if he had meant to make clean my boots with his lips; the
effect was, that I should come to her house: I wonder what the
reason is; it may be she sees more in me than I can find in
myself; for she writes further, that she loves me ever since she
saw me; and who would not requite such love? Here's her house;
and here she comes; and now would I were gone! I am not worthy
to look upon her.
PILIA-BORZA. This is the gentleman you writ to.
ITHAMORE. Gentleman! he flouts me: what gentry can be in a poor
Turk of tenpence?
151 I'll be gone.
[Aside.]
BELLAMIRA. Is't not a sweet-faced youth, Pilia?
ITHAMORE. Again, sweet youth! [Aside.]—Did not you, sir, bring
the sweet youth a letter?
PILIA-BORZA. I did, sir, and from this gentlewoman, who, as
myself and the rest of the family, stand or fall at your service.
BELLAMIRA. Though woman's modesty should hale me back,
I can withhold no longer: welcome, sweet love.
ITHAMORE. Now am I clean, or rather foully, out of the way.
[Aside.]
BELLAMIRA. Whither so soon?
ITHAMORE. I'll go steal some money from my master to make me
handsome [Aside].—Pray, pardon me; I must go see a ship
discharged.
BELLAMIRA. Canst thou be so unkind to leave me thus?
PILIA-BORZA. An ye did but know how she loves you, sir!
ITHAMORE. Nay, I care not how much she loves me.—Sweet
Bellamira, would I had my master's wealth for thy sake!
PILIA-BORZA. And you can have it, sir, an if you please.
ITHAMORE. If 'twere above ground, I could, and would have it;
but he hides and buries it up, as partridges do their eggs,
under the earth.
PILIA-BORZA. And is't not possible to find it out?
ITHAMORE. By no means possible.
BELLAMIRA. What shall we do with this base villain, then?
[Aside to PILIA-BORZA.]
PILIA-BORZA. Let me alone; do but you speak him fair.—
[Aside to her.]
But you know
152 some secrets of the Jew,
Which, if they were reveal'd, would do him harm.
ITHAMORE. Ay, and such as—go to, no more! I'll make him
153 send me half he has, and glad he scapes so too: I'll write unto
him; we'll have money straight.
PILIA-BORZA. Send for a hundred crowns at least.
ITHAMORE. Ten hundred thousand crowns.—[writing] MASTER BARABAS,—
PILIA-BORZA. Write not so submissively, but threatening him.
ITHAMORE. [writing] SIRRAH BARABAS, SEND ME A HUNDRED CROWNS.
PILIA-BORZA. Put in two hundred at least.
ITHAMORE. [writing] I CHARGE THEE SEND ME THREE HUNDRED BY THIS
BEARER, AND THIS SHALL BE YOUR WARRANT: IF YOU DO NOT—NO MORE,
BUT SO.
PILIA-BORZA. Tell him you will confess.
ITHAMORE. [writing] OTHERWISE I'LL CONFESS ALL.—
Vanish, and return in a twinkle.
PILIA-BORZA. Let me alone; I'll use him in his kind.
ITHAMORE. Hang him, Jew!
[Exit PILIA-BORZA with the letter.]
BELLAMIRA. Now, gentle Ithamore, lie in my lap.—
Where are my maids? provide a cunning
154 banquet;
Send to the merchant, bid him bring me silks;
Shall Ithamore, my love, go in such rags?
ITHAMORE. And bid the jeweller come hither too.
BELLAMIRA. I have no husband; sweet, I'll marry thee.
ITHAMORE. Content: but we will leave this paltry land,
And sail from hence to Greece, to lovely Greece;—
I'll be thy Jason, thou my golden fleece;—
Where painted carpets o'er the meads are hurl'd,
And Bacchus' vineyards overspread the world;
Where woods and forests go in goodly green;—
I'll be Adonis, thou shalt be Love's Queen;—
The meads, the orchards, and the primrose-lanes,
Instead of sedge and reed, bear sugar-canes:
Thou in those groves, by Dis above,
Shalt live with me, and be my love.
155
BELLAMIRA. Whither will I not go with gentle Ithamore?
Re-enter PILIA-BORZA.
ITHAMORE. How now! hast thou the gold [?]
PILIA-BORZA. Yes.
ITHAMORE. But came it freely? did the cow give down her milk
freely?
PILIA-BORZA. At reading of the letter, he stared and stamped,
and turned aside: I took him by the beard,
156 and looked upon
him thus; told him he were best to send it: then he hugged and
embraced me.
ITHAMORE. Rather for fear than love.
PILIA-BORZA. Then, like a Jew, he laughed and jeered, and told
me he loved me for your sake, and said what a faithful servant
you had been.
ITHAMORE. The more villain he to keep me thus: here's goodly
'parel, is there not?
PILIA-BORZA. To conclude, he gave me ten crowns.
[Delivers the money to ITHAMORE.]
ITHAMORE. But ten? I'll not leave him worth a grey groat. Give
me a ream of paper: we'll have a kingdom of gold for't.
157
PILIA-BORZA. Write for five hundred crowns.
ITHAMORE. [writing] SIRRAH JEW, AS YOU LOVE YOUR LIFE, SEND ME
FIVE HUNDRED CROWNS, AND GIVE THE BEARER A HUNDRED.—Tell him
I must have't.
PILIA-BORZA. I warrant, your worship shall have't.
ITHAMORE. And, if he ask why I demand so much, tell him I scorn
to write a line under a hundred crowns.
PILIA-BORZA. You'd make a rich poet, sir. I am gone.
[Exit with the letter.]
ITHAMORE. Take thou the money; spend it for my sake.
BELLAMIRA. 'Tis not thy money, but thyself I weigh:
Thus Bellamira esteems of gold;
[Throws it aside.]
But thus of thee.
[Kisses him.]
ITHAMORE. That kiss again!—She runs division
158 of my
lips. What an eye she casts on me! it twinkles like a star.
[Aside.]
BELLAMIRA. Come, my dear love, let's in and sleep together.
ITHAMORE. O, that ten thousand nights were put in one, that
we might sleep seven years together afore we wake!
BELLAMIRA. Come, amorous wag, first banquet, and then sleep.
[Exeunt.]
Enter BARABAS,
159 reading a letter.
BARABAS. BARABAS, SEND ME THREE HUNDRED CROWNS;—
Plain Barabas! O, that wicked courtezan!
He was not wont to call me Barabas;—
OR ELSE I WILL CONFESS;—ay, there it goes:
But, if I get him, coupe de gorge for that.
He sent a shaggy, tatter'd,
160 staring slave,
That, when he speaks, draws out his grisly beard,
And winds it twice or thrice about his ear;
Whose face has been a grind-stone for men's swords;
His hands are hack'd, some fingers cut quite off;
Who, when he speaks, grunts like a hog, and looks
Like one that is employ'd in catzery
161 And cross-biting;
162 such a rogue
As is the husband to a hundred whores;
And I by him must send three hundred crowns.
Well, my hope is, he will not stay there still;
And, when he comes—O, that he were but here!
Enter PILIA-BORZA.
PILIA-BORZA. Jew, I must ha' more gold.
BARABAS. Why, want'st thou any of thy tale?
163
PILIA-BORZA. No; but three hundred will not serve his turn.
BARABAS. Not serve his turn, sir!
PILIA-BORZA.
No, sir; and therefore I must have five hundred more.
BARABAS. I'll rather——
PILIA-BORZA. O, good words, sir, and send it you were best! see,
there's his letter.
[Gives letter.]
BARABAS. Might he not as well come as send? pray, bid him come
and fetch it: what he writes for you,
164 ye shall have
straight.
PILIA-BORZA. Ay, and the rest too, or else——
BARABAS. I must make this villain away [Aside].—Please you dine
with me, sir—and you shall be most heartily poisoned.
[Aside.]
PILIA-BORZA. No, God-a-mercy. Shall I have these crowns?
BARABAS. I cannot do it; I have lost my keys.
PILIA-BORZA. O, if that be all, I can pick ope your locks.
BARABAS.
Or climb up to my counting-house window: you know my meaning.
PILIA-BORZA. I know enough, and therefore talk not to me of
your counting-house. The gold! or know, Jew, it is in my power
to hang thee.
BARABAS. I am betray'd.—
[Aside.]
'Tis not five hundred crowns that I esteem;
I am not mov'd at that: this angers me,
That he, who knows I love him as myself,
Should write in this imperious vein. Why, sir,
You know I have no child, and unto whom
Should I leave all, but unto Ithamore?
PILIA-BORZA. Here's many words, but no crowns: the crowns!
BARABAS. Commend me to him, sir, most humbly,
And unto your good mistress as unknown.
PILIA-BORZA. Speak, shall I have 'em, sir?
BARABAS. Sir, here they are.—
[Gives money.]
O, that I should part
165 with so much gold!—
[Aside.]
Here, take 'em, fellow, with as good a will——
As I would see thee hang'd [Aside]. O, love stops my breath!
Never lov'd man servant as I do Ithamore.
PILIA-BORZA. I know it, sir.
BARABAS. Pray, when, sir, shall I see you at my house?
PILIA-BORZA. Soon enough to your cost, sir. Fare you well.
[Exit.]
BARABAS. Nay, to thine own cost, villain, if thou com'st!
Was ever Jew tormented as I am?
To have a shag-rag knave to come [force from me]
Three hundred crowns, and then five hundred crowns!
Well; I must seek a means to rid
166 'em all,
And presently; for in his villany
He will tell all he knows, and I shall die for't.
I have it:
I will in some disguise go see the slave,
And how the villain revels with my gold.
[Exit.]
Enter BELLAMIRA,
167 ITHAMORE, and PILIA-BORZA.
BELLAMIRA. I'll pledge thee, love, and therefore drink it off.
ITHAMORE. Say'st thou me so? have at it! and do you hear?
[Whispers to her.]
BELLAMIRA. Go to, it shall be so.
ITHAMORE. Of
168 that condition I will drink it up:
Here's to thee.
BELLAMIRA.
169 Nay, I'll have all or none.
ITHAMORE. There, if thou lov'st me, do not leave a drop.
BELLAMIRA. Love thee! fill me three glasses.
ITHAMORE. Three and fifty dozen: I'll pledge thee.
PILIA-BORZA. Knavely spoke, and like a knight-at-arms.
ITHAMORE. Hey, Rivo Castiliano!
170 a man's a man.
BELLAMIRA. Now to the Jew.
ITHAMORE. Ha! to the Jew; and send me money he
171 were best.
PILIA-BORZA. What wouldst thou do, if he should send thee none?
ITHAMORE. Do nothing: but I know what I know; he's a murderer.
BELLAMIRA. I had not thought he had been so brave a man.
ITHAMORE. You knew Mathias and the governor's son; he and I
killed 'em both, and yet never touched 'em.
PILIA-BORZA. O, bravely done!
ITHAMORE. I carried the broth that poisoned the nuns; and he
and I, snicle hand too fast, strangled a friar.
172
BELLAMIRA. You two alone?
ITHAMORE.
We two; and 'twas never known, nor never shall be for me.
PILIA-BORZA. This shall with me unto the governor.
[Aside to BELLAMIRA.]
BELLAMIRA. And fit it should: but first let's ha' more gold.—
[Aside to PILIA-BORZA.]
Come, gentle Ithamore, lie in my lap.
ITHAMORE. Love me little, love me long: let music rumble,
Whilst I in thy incony
173 lap do tumble.
Enter BARABAS, disguised as a French musician, with a lute,
and a nosegay in his hat.
BELLAMIRA. A French musician!—Come, let's hear your skill.
BARABAS. Must tuna my lute for sound, twang, twang, first.
ITHAMORE. Wilt drink, Frenchman? here's to thee with a—Pox on
this drunken hiccup!
BARABAS. Gramercy, monsieur.
BELLAMIRA. Prithee, Pilia-Borza, bid the fiddler give me the
posy in his hat there.
PILIA-BORZA. Sirrah, you must give my mistress your posy.
BARABAS. A votre commandement, madame.
[Giving nosegay.]
BELLAMIRA. How sweet, my Ithamore, the flowers smell!
ITHAMORE. Like thy breath, sweetheart; no violet like 'em.
PILIA-BORZA. Foh! methinks they stink like a hollyhock.
174
BARABAS. So, now I am reveng'd upon 'em all:
The scent thereof was death; I poison'd it.
[Aside.]
ITHAMORE.
Play, fiddler, or I'll cut your cat's guts into chitterlings.
BARABAS.
Pardonnez moi, be no in tune yet: so, now, now all be in.
ITHAMORE. Give him a crown, and fill me out more wine.
PILIA-BORZA. There's two crowns for thee: play.
[Giving money.]
BARABAS. How liberally the villain gives me mine own gold!
[Aside, and then plays.]
PILIA-BORZA. Methinks he fingers very well.
BARABAS. So did you when you stole my gold.
[Aside.]
PILIA-BORZA. How swift he runs!
BARABAS. You run swifter when you threw my gold out of my window.
[Aside.]
BELLAMIRA. Musician, hast been in Malta long?
BARABAS. Two, three, four month, madam.
ITHAMORE. Dost not know a Jew, one Barabas?
BARABAS. Very mush: monsieur, you no be his man?
PILIA-BORZA. His man!
ITHAMORE. I scorn the peasant: tell him so.
BARABAS. He knows it already.
[Aside.]
ITHAMORE. 'Tis a strange thing of that Jew, he lives upon
pickled grasshoppers and sauced mushrooms.
175
BARABAS. What a slave's this! the governor feeds not as I do.
[Aside.]
ITHAMORE. He never put on clean shirt since he was circumcised.
BARABAS. O rascal! I change myself twice a-day.
[Aside.]
ITHAMORE. The hat he wears, Judas left under the elder when he
hanged himself.
176
BARABAS. 'Twas sent me for a present from the Great Cham.
[Aside.]
PILIA-BORZA. A nasty
177 slave he is.—Whither now, fiddler?
BARABAS. Pardonnez moi, monsieur; me
178 be no well.
PILIA-BORZA. Farewell, fiddler [Exit BARABAS.] One letter more
to the Jew.
BELLAMIRA. Prithee, sweet love, one more, and write it sharp.
ITHAMORE. No, I'll send by word of mouth now.
—Bid him deliver thee a thousand crowns, by the same token
that the nuns loved rice, that Friar Barnardine slept in his
own clothes; any of 'em will do it.
PILIA-BORZA. Let me alone to urge it, now I know the meaning.
ITHAMORE. The meaning has a meaning. Come, let's in:
To undo a Jew is charity, and not sin.
[Exeunt.]
Enter FERNEZE,
179 KNIGHTS, MARTIN DEL BOSCO, and OFFICERS.
FERNEZE. Now, gentlemen, betake you to your arms,
And see that Malta be well fortified;
And it behoves you to be resolute;
For Calymath, having hover'd here so long,
Will win the town, or die before the walls.
FIRST KNIGHT. And die he shall; for we will never yield.
Enter BELLAMIRA and PILIA-BORZA.
BELLAMIRA. O, bring us to the governor!
FERNEZE. Away with her! she is a courtezan.
BELLAMIRA. Whate'er I am, yet, governor, hear me speak:
I bring thee news by whom thy son was slain:
Mathias did it not; it was the Jew.
PILIA-BORZA. Who, besides the slaughter of these gentlemen,
Poison'd his own daughter and the nuns,
Strangled a friar, and I know not what
Mischief beside.
FERNEZE. Had we but proof of this——
BELLAMIRA. Strong proof, my lord: his man's now at my lodging,
That was his agent; he'll confess it all.
FERNEZE. Go fetch him
180 straight [Exeunt OFFICERS].
I always fear'd that Jew.
Re-enter OFFICERS with BARABAS and ITHAMORE.
BARABAS. I'll go alone; dogs, do not hale me thus.
ITHAMORE.
Nor me neither; I cannot out-run you, constable.—O, my belly!
BARABAS. One dram of powder more had made all sure:
What a damn'd slave was I!
[Aside.]
FERNEZE. Make fires, heat irons, let the rack be fetch'd.
FIRST KNIGHT. Nay, stay, my lord; 't may be he will confess.
BARABAS. Confess! what mean you, lords? who should confess?
FERNEZE. Thou and thy Turk; 'twas that slew my son.
ITHAMORE. Guilty, my lord, I confess. Your son and Mathias
were both contracted unto Abigail: [he] forged a counterfeit
challenge.
BARABAS. Who carried that challenge?
ITHAMORE.
I carried it, I confess; but who writ it? marry, even he that
strangled Barnardine, poisoned the nuns and his own daughter.
FERNEZE. Away with him! his sight is death to me.
BARABAS. For what, you men of Malta? hear me speak.
She is a courtezan, and he a thief,
And he my bondman: let me have law;
For none of this can prejudice my life.
FERNEZE. Once more, away with him!—You shall have law.
BARABAS. Devils, do your worst!—I['ll] live in spite of you.—
[Aside.]
As these have spoke, so be it to their souls!—
I hope the poison'd flowers will work anon.
[Aside.]
[Exeunt OFFICERS with BARABAS and ITHAMORE; BELLAMIRA,
and PILIA-BORZA.]
Enter KATHARINE.
KATHARINE. Was my Mathias murder'd by the Jew?
Ferneze, 'twas thy son that murder'd him.
FERNEZE. Be patient, gentle madam: it was he;
He forg'd the daring challenge made them fight.
KATHARINE. Where is the Jew? where is that murderer?
FERNEZE. In prison, till the law has pass'd on him.
Re-enter FIRST OFFICER.
FIRST OFFICER. My lord, the courtezan and her man are dead;
So is the Turk and Barabas the Jew.
FERNEZE. Dead!
FIRST OFFICER. Dead, my lord, and here they bring his body.
MARTIN DEL BOSCO. This sudden death of his is very strange.
Re-enter OFFICERS, carrying BARABAS as dead.
FERNEZE. Wonder not at it, sir; the heavens are just;
Their deaths were like their lives; then think not of 'em.—
Since they are dead, let them be buried:
For the Jew's body, throw that o'er the walls,
To be a prey for vultures and wild beasts.—
So, now away and fortify the town.
Exeunt all, leaving BARABAS on the floor.
181
BARABAS. [rising] What, all alone! well fare, sleepy drink!
I'll be reveng'd on this accursed town;
For by my means Calymath shall enter in:
I'll help to slay their children and their wives,
To fire the churches, pull their houses down,
Take my goods too, and seize upon my lands.
I hope to see the governor a slave,
And, rowing in a galley, whipt to death.
Enter CALYMATH, BASSOES,
182 and TURKS.
CALYMATH. Whom have we there? a spy?
BARABAS. Yes, my good lord, one that can spy a place
Where you may enter, and surprize the town:
My name is Barabas; I am a Jew.
CALYMATH. Art thou that Jew whose goods we heard were sold
For tribute-money?
BARABAS. The very same, my lord:
And since that time they have hir'd a slave, my man,
To accuse me of a thousand villanies:
I was imprisoned, but scap [']d their hands.
CALYMATH. Didst break prison?
BARABAS. No, no:
I drank of poppy and cold mandrake juice;
And being asleep, belike they thought me dead,
And threw me o'er the walls: so, or how else,
The Jew is here, and rests at your command.
CALYMATH. 'Twas bravely done: but tell me, Barabas,
Canst thou, as thou report'st, make Malta ours?
BARABAS. Fear not, my lord; for here, against the trench,
183 The rock is hollow, and of purpose digg'd,
To make a passage for the running streams
And common channels
184 of the city.
Now, whilst you give assault unto the walls,
I'll lead five hundred soldiers through the vault,
And rise with them i' the middle of the town,
Open the gates for you to enter in;
And by this means the city is your own.
CALYMATH. If this be true, I'll make thee governor.
BARABAS. And, if it be not true, then let me die.
CALYMATH. Thou'st doom'd thyself.—Assault it presently.
[Exeunt.]
Alarums within. Enter CALYMATH,
185 BASSOES, TURKS, and
BARABAS; with FERNEZE and KNIGHTS prisoners.
CALYMATH. Now vail
186 your pride, you captive Christians,
And kneel for mercy to your conquering foe:
Now where's the hope you had of haughty Spain?
Ferneze, speak; had it not been much better
To kept
187 thy promise than be thus surpris'd?
FERNEZE. What should I say? we are captives, and must yield.
CALYMATH. Ay, villains, you must yield, and under Turkish yokes
Shall groaning bear the burden of our ire:—
And, Barabas, as erst we promis'd thee,
For thy desert we make thee governor;
Use them at thy discretion.
BARABAS. Thanks, my lord.
FERNEZE. O fatal day, to fall into the hands
Of such a traitor and unhallow'd Jew!
What greater misery could heaven inflict?
CALYMATH. 'Tis our command:—and, Barabas, we give,
To guard thy person, these our Janizaries:
Entreat
188 them well, as we have used thee.—
And now, brave bassoes,
189 come; we'll walk about
The ruin'd town, and see the wreck we made.—
Farewell, brave Jew, farewell, great Barabas!
BARABAS. May all good fortune follow Calymath!
[Exeunt CALYMATH and BASSOES.]
And now, as entrance to our safety,
To prison with the governor and these
Captains, his consorts and confederates.
FERNEZE. O villain! heaven will be reveng'd on thee.
BARABAS. Away! no more; let him not trouble me.
[Exeunt TURKS with FERNEZE and KNIGHTS.]
Thus hast thou gotten,
190 by thy policy,
No simple place, no small authority:
I now am governor of Malta; true,—
But Malta hates me, and, in hating me,
My life's in danger; and what boots it thee,
Poor Barabas, to be the governor,
Whenas
191 thy life shall be at their command?
No, Barabas, this must be look'd into;
And, since by wrong thou gott'st authority,
Maintain it bravely by firm policy;
At least, unprofitably lose it not;
For he that liveth in authority,
And neither gets him friends nor fills his bags,
Lives like the ass that Aesop speaketh of,
That labours with a load of bread and wine,
And leaves it off to snap on thistle-tops:
But Barabas will be more circumspect.
Begin betimes; Occasion's bald behind:
Slip not thine opportunity, for fear too late
Thou seek'st for much, but canst not compass it.—
Within here!
192
Enter FERNEZE, with a GUARD.
FERNEZE. My lord?
BARABAS. Ay, LORD; thus slaves will learn.
Now, governor,—stand by there, wait within,—
[Exeunt GUARD.]
This is the reason that I sent for thee:
Thou seest thy life and Malta's happiness
Are at my arbitrement; and Barabas
At his discretion may dispose of both:
Now tell me, governor, and plainly too,
What think'st thou shall become of it and thee?
FERNEZE. This, Barabas; since things are in thy power,
I see no reason but of Malta's wreck,
Nor hope of thee but extreme cruelty:
Nor fear I death, nor will I flatter thee.
BARABAS. Governor, good words; be not so furious
'Tis not thy life which can avail me aught;
Yet you do live, and live for me you shall:
And as for Malta's ruin, think you not
'Twere slender policy for Barabas
To dispossess himself of such a place?
For sith,
193 as once you said, within this isle,
In Malta here, that I have got my goods,
And in this city still have had success,
And now at length am grown your governor,
Yourselves shall see it shall not be forgot;
For, as a friend not known but in distress,
I'll rear up Malta, now remediless.
FERNEZE. Will Barabas recover Malta's loss?
Will Barabas be good to Christians?
BARABAS. What wilt thou give me, governor, to procure
A dissolution of the slavish bands
Wherein the Turk hath yok'd your land and you?
What will you give me if I render you
The life of Calymath, surprise his men,
And in an out-house of the city shut
His soldiers, till I have consum'd 'em all with fire?
What will you give him that procureth this?
FERNEZE. Do but bring this to pass which thou pretendest,
Deal truly with us as thou intimatest,
And I will send amongst the citizens,
And by my letters privately procure
Great sums of money for thy recompense:
Nay, more, do this, and live thou governor still.
BARABAS. Nay, do thou this, Ferneze, and be free:
Governor, I enlarge thee; live with me;
Go walk about the city, see thy friends:
Tush, send not letters to 'em; go thyself,
And let me see what money thou canst make:
Here is my hand that I'll set Malta free;
And thus we cast
194 it: to a solemn feast
I will invite young Selim Calymath,
Where be thou present, only to perform
One stratagem that I'll impart to thee,
Wherein no danger shall betide thy life,
And I will warrant Malta free for ever.
FERNEZE. Here is my hand; believe me, Barabas,
I will be there, and do as thou desirest.
When is the time?
BARABAS. Governor, presently;
For Calymath, when he hath view'd the town,
Will take his leave, and sail toward Ottoman.
FERNEZE. Then will I, Barabas, about this coin,
And bring it with me to thee in the evening.
BARABAS. Do so; but fail not: now farewell, Ferneze:—
[Exit FERNEZE.]
And thus far roundly goes the business:
Thus, loving neither, will I live with both,
Making a profit of my policy;
And he from whom my most advantage comes,
Shall be my friend.
This is the life we Jews are us'd to lead;
And reason too, for Christians do the like.
Well, now about effecting this device;
First, to surprise great Selim's soldiers,
And then to make provision for the feast,
That at one instant all things may be done:
My policy detests prevention.
To what event my secret purpose drives,
I know; and they shall witness with their lives.
[Exeunt.]
Enter CALYMATH and BASSOES.
195
CALYMATH. Thus have we view'd the city, seen the sack,
And caus'd the ruins to be new-repair'd,
Which with our bombards' shot and basilisk[s]
196 We rent in sunder at our entry:
And, now I see the situation,
And how secure this conquer'd island stands,
Environ'd with the Mediterranean sea,
Strong-countermin'd with other petty isles,
And, toward Calabria,
197 back'd by Sicily
(Where Syracusian Dionysius reign'd),
Two lofty turrets that command the town,
I wonder how it could be conquer'd thus.
Enter a MESSENGER.
MESSENGER. From Barabas, Malta's governor, I bring
A message unto mighty Calymath:
Hearing his sovereign was bound for sea,
To sail to Turkey, to great Ottoman,
He humbly would entreat your majesty
To come and see his homely citadel,
And banquet with him ere thou leav'st the isle.
CALYMATH. To banquet with him in his citadel!
I fear me, messenger, to feast my train
Within a town of war so lately pillag'd,
Will be too costly and too troublesome:
Yet would I gladly visit Barabas,
For well has Barabas deserv'd of us.
MESSENGER. Selim, for that, thus saith the governor,—
That he hath in [his] store a pearl so big,
So precious, and withal so orient,
As, be it valu'd but indifferently,
The price thereof will serve to entertain
Selim and all his soldiers for a month;
Therefore he humbly would entreat your highness
Not to depart till he has feasted you.
CALYMATH. I cannot feast my men in Malta-walls,
Except he place his tables in the streets.
MESSENGER. Know, Selim, that there is a monastery
Which standeth as an out-house to the town;
There will he banquet them; but thee at home,
With all thy bassoes and brave followers.
CALYMATH. Well, tell the governor we grant his suit;
We'll in this summer-evening feast with him.
MESSENGER. I shall, my lord.
[Exit.]
CALYMATH. And now, bold bassoes, let us to our tents,
And meditate how we may grace us best,
To solemnize our governor's great feast.
[Exeunt.]
Enter FERNEZE,
198 KNIGHTS, and MARTIN DEL BOSCO.
FERNEZE. In this, my countrymen, be rul'd by me:
Have special care that no man sally forth
Till you shall hear a culverin discharg'd
By him that bears the linstock,
199 kindled thus;
Then issue out and come to rescue me,
For happily I shall be in distress,
Or you released of this servitude.
FIRST KNIGHT. Rather than thus to live as Turkish thralls,
What will we not adventure?
FERNEZE. On, then; be gone.
KNIGHTS. Farewell, grave governor.
[Exeunt, on one side, KNIGHTS and MARTIN DEL BOSCO;
on the other, FERNEZE.]
Enter, above,
200 BARABAS, with a hammer, very busy;
and CARPENTERS.
BARABAS. How stand the cords? how hang these hinges? fast?
Are all the cranes and pulleys sure?
FIRST CARPENTER.
201 All fast.
BARABAS. Leave nothing loose, all levell'd to my mind.
Why, now I see that you have art, indeed:
There, carpenters, divide that gold amongst you;
[Giving money.]
Go, swill in bowls of sack and muscadine;
Down to the cellar, taste of all my wines.
FIRST CARPENTER. We shall, my lord, and thank you.
[Exeunt CARPENTERS.]
BARABAS. And, if you like them, drink your fill and die;
For, so I live, perish may all the world!
Now, Selim Calymath, return me word
That thou wilt come, and I am satisfied.
Enter MESSENGER.
Now, sirrah; what, will he come?
MESSENGER. He will; and has commanded all his men
To come ashore, and march through Malta-streets,
That thou mayst feast them in thy citadel.
BARABAS. Then now are all things as my wish would have 'em;
There wanteth nothing but the governor's pelf;
And see, he brings it.
Enter FERNEZE.
Now, governor, the sum?
FERNEZE. With free consent, a hundred thousand pounds.
BARABAS. Pounds say'st thou, governor? well, since it is no more,
I'll satisfy myself with that; nay, keep it still,
For, if I keep not promise, trust not me:
And, governor, now partake my policy.
First, for his army, they are sent before,
Enter'd the monastery, and underneath
In several places are field-pieces pitch'd,
Bombards, whole barrels full of gunpowder,
That on the sudden shall dissever it,
And batter all the stones about their ears,
Whence none can possibly escape alive:
Now, as for Calymath and his consorts,
Here have I made a dainty gallery,
The floor whereof, this cable being cut,
Doth fall asunder, so that it doth sink
Into a deep pit past recovery.
Here, hold that knife; and, when thou seest he comes,
[Throws down a knife.]
And with his bassoes shall be blithely set,
A warning-piece shall be shot off
202 from the tower,
To give thee knowledge when to cut the cord,
And fire the house. Say, will not this be brave?
FERNEZE. O, excellent! here, hold thee, Barabas;
I trust thy word; take what I promis'd thee.
BARABAS. No, governor; I'll satisfy thee first;
Thou shalt not live in doubt of any thing.
Stand close, for here they come.
[FERNEZE retires.]
Why, is not this
A kingly kind of trade, to purchase towns
By treachery, and sell 'em by deceit?
Now tell me, worldlings, underneath the sun
203 If greater falsehood ever has been done?
Enter CALYMATH and BASSOES.
CALYMATH. Come, my companion-bassoes: see, I pray,
How busy Barabas is there above
To entertain us in his gallery:
Let us salute him.—Save thee, Barabas!
BARABAS. Welcome, great Calymath!
FERNEZE. How the slave jeers at him!
[Aside.]
BARABAS. Will't please thee, mighty Selim Calymath,
To ascend our homely stairs?
CALYMATH. Ay, Barabas.—
Come, bassoes, ascend.
204
FERNEZE. [coming forward] Stay, Calymath;
For I will shew thee greater courtesy
Than Barabas would have afforded thee.
KNIGHT. [within] Sound a charge there!
[A charge sounded within: FERNEZE cuts the cord; the floor
of the gallery gives way, and BARABAS falls into a caldron
placed in a pit.
Enter KNIGHTS and MARTIN DEL BOSCO.
205
CALYMATH. How now! what means this?
BARABAS. Help, help me, Christians, help!
FERNEZE. See, Calymath! this was devis'd for thee.
CALYMATH. Treason, treason! bassoes, fly!
FERNEZE. No, Selim, do not fly:
See his end first, and fly then if thou canst.
BARABAS. O, help me, Selim! help me, Christians!
Governor, why stand you all so pitiless?
FERNEZE. Should I in pity of thy plaints or thee,
Accursed Barabas, base Jew, relent?
No, thus I'll see thy treachery repaid,
But wish thou hadst behav'd thee otherwise.
BARABAS. You will not help me, then?
FERNEZE. No, villain, no.
BARABAS. And, villains, know you cannot help me now.—
Then, Barabas, breathe forth thy latest fate,
And in the fury of thy torments strive
To end thy life with resolution.—
Know, governor, 'twas I that slew thy son,—
I fram'd the challenge that did make them meet:
Know, Calymath, I aim'd thy overthrow:
And, had I but escap'd this stratagem,
I would have brought confusion on you all,
Damn'd Christian
206 dogs, and Turkish infidels!
But now begins the extremity of heat
To pinch me with intolerable pangs:
Die, life! fly, soul! tongue, curse thy fill, and die!
[Dies.]
CALYMATH. Tell me, you Christians, what doth this portend?
FERNEZE. This train
207 he laid to have entrapp'd thy life;
Now, Selim, note the unhallow'd deeds of Jews;
Thus he determin'd to have handled thee,
But I have rather chose to save thy life.
CALYMATH. Was this the banquet he prepar'd for us?
Let's hence, lest further mischief be pretended.
208
FERNEZE. Nay, Selim, stay; for, since we have thee here,
We will not let thee part so suddenly:
Besides, if we should let thee go, all's one,
For with thy galleys couldst thou not get hence,
Without fresh men to rig and furnish them.
CALYMATH. Tush, governor, take thou no care for that;
My men are all aboard,
And do attend my coming there by this.
FERNEZE. Why, heard'st thou not the trumpet sound a charge?
CALYMATH. Yes, what of that?
FERNEZE. Why, then the house was fir'd,
Blown up, and all thy soldiers massacred.
CALYMATH. O, monstrous treason!
FERNEZE. A Jew's courtesy;
For he that did by treason work our fall,
By treason hath deliver'd thee to us:
Know, therefore, till thy father hath made good
The ruins done to Malta and to us,
Thou canst not part; for Malta shall be freed,
Or Selim ne'er return to Ottoman.
CALYMATH. Nay, rather, Christians, let me go to Turkey,
In person there to mediate
209 your peace:
To keep me here will naught advantage you.
FERNEZE. Content thee, Calymath, here thou must stay,
And live in Malta prisoner; for come all
210 the world
To rescue thee, so will we guard us now,
As sooner shall they drink the ocean dry,
Than conquer Malta, or endanger us.
So, march away; and let due praise be given
Neither to Fate nor Fortune, but to Heaven.
[Exeunt.]