We pursue The story of a rich and famous Jew Who liv'd in Malta: you
shall find him still, In all his projects, a sound Machiavill;…Proteus
for shapes, and Roscius for a tongue,— So could he speak, so vary; nor
is't hate
Two Merchants. Three Jews.
I count religion but a childish toy, And hold there is no sin but ignorance.
What right had Caesar to the empery? 12 Might first made kings, and
laws were then most sure When, like the Draco's, 13 they were writ in
blood.
I come not, I, To read a lecture here 15 in Britain, But to present
the tragedy of a Jew, Who smiles to see how full his bags are cramm'd;
Which money was not got without my means. I crave but this,—grace him
as he deserves, And let him not be entertain'd the worse Because he
favours me.
But he whose steel-barr'd coffers are cramm'd full, And all his
life-time hath been tired, Wearying his fingers' ends with telling it,
Would in his age be loath to labour so, And for a pound to sweat
himself to death.
The wealthy Moor, that in the eastern rocks Without control can pick
his riches up, And in his house heap pearl like pebble-stones,
And in his house heap pearl like pebble-stones, Receive them free, and
sell them by the weight; Bags of fiery opals, sapphires, amethysts,
Jacinths, hard topaz, grass-green emeralds, Beauteous rubies,
sparkling diamonds,
I hope my ships I sent for Egypt and the bordering isles Are gotten up
by Nilus' winding banks; Mine argosy from Alexandria, Loaden with
spice and silks, now under sail, Are smoothly gliding down by
Candy-shore To Malta, through our Mediterranean sea.— But who comes
here?
I hope our credit in the custom-house
ut art thou master in a ship of mine, And is thy credit not enough for that?
Sir, we were wafted by a Spanish fleet, That never left us till within
a league, That had the galleys of the Turk in chase.
BARABAS. Thus trolls our fortune in by land and sea, And thus are we
on every side enrich'd: These are the blessings promis'd to the Jews,
And herein was old Abraham's happiness: What more may heaven do for
earthly man Than thus to pour out plenty in their laps, Ripping the
bowels of the earth for them, Making the sea[s] their servants, and
the winds To drive their substance with successful blasts? Who hateth
me but for my happiness? Or who is honour'd now but for his wealth?
Rather had I, a Jew, be hated thus, Than pitied in a Christian
poverty; For I can see no fruits in all their faith, But malice,
falsehood, and excessive pride, Which methinks fits not their
profession.
They say we are a scatter'd nation: I cannot tell; but we have
scambled 25 up More wealth by far than those that brag of faith:
There's Kirriah Jairim, the great Jew of Greece, Obed in Bairseth,
Nones in Portugal, Myself in Malta, some in Italy, Many in France, and
wealthy every one; Ay, wealthier far than any Christian. I must
confess we come not to be kings: That's not our fault: alas, our
number's
few! And crowns come either by succession, Or urg'd by force; and
nothing violent, Oft have I heard tell, can be permanent. Give us a
peaceful rule; make Christians kings, That thirst so much for
principality. I have no charge, nor many children, But one sole
daughter, whom I hold as dear As Agamemnon did his Iphigen; And all I
have is hers.—But who comes here? …Nay, let 'em combat, conquer, and
kill all, So they spare me, my daughter, and my wealth. [Aside.]
FIRST JEW. Why, Barabas, they come for peace or war.
BARABAS. 29 Farewell, Zaareth; farewell, Temainte. [Exeunt JEWS.]
FERNEZE. What's Cyprus, Candy, and those other isles To us or Malta?
what at our hands demand ye? CALYMATH. The ten years' tribute that
remains unpaid.
What respite ask you, governor? FERNEZE. But a month.
[Exeunt CALYMATH and BASSOES.]
BARABAS. Alas, my lord, we are no soldiers! And what's our aid
against so great a prince? FIRST KNIGHT. Tut, Jew, we know thou art no
soldier: Thou art a merchant and a money'd man, And 'tis thy money,
Barabas, we seek. BARABAS. How, my lord! my money!
FERNEZE. These taxes and afflictions are befall'n, And therefore thus
we are determined.— Read there the articles of our decrees.
OFFICER. 37 [reads] FIRST, THE TRIBUTE-MONEY OF THE TURKS SHALL ALL
BE LEVIED AMONGST THE JEWS, AND EACH OF THEM TO PAY ONE HALF OF HIS
ESTATE.
OFFICER. [reads] SECONDLY, HE THAT DENIES 38 TO PAY, SHALL
STRAIGHT-BECOME A CHRISTIAN.
OFFICER. [reads] LASTLY, HE THAT DENIES THIS, SHALL ABSOLUTELY LOSE ALL HE HAS.
THREE JEWS. O my lord, we will give half!
BARABAS. O earth-mettled villains, and no Hebrews born! And will you
basely thus submit yourselves To leave your goods to their
arbitrement?
BARABAS. Why, know you what you did by this device? Half of my
substance is a city's wealth. Governor, it was not got so easily; Nor
will I part so slightly therewithal.
BARABAS. Corpo di Dio! stay: you shall have half; Let me be us'd but
as my brethren are. FERNEZE. No, Jew, thou hast denied the articles,
And now it cannot be recall'd. [Exeunt OFFICERS, on a sign from
FERNEZE]
But here in Malta, where thou gott'st thy wealth, Live still; and, if
thou canst, get more.
FIRST KNIGHT. From naught at first thou cam'st to little wealth,
]From little unto more, from more to most: If your first curse fall
heavy on thy head, And make thee poor and scorn'd of all the world,
'Tis not our fault, but thy inherent sin…Now, officers, have you done?
FIRST OFFICER. Ay, my lord, we have seiz'd upon the goods And wares
of Barabas, which, being valu'd, Amount to more than all the wealth in
Malta: And of the other we have seized half.
BARABAS. And now shall move you to bereave my life.
FERNEZE. No, Barabas; to stain our hands with blood Is far from us
and our profession.
FERNEZE. Come, let us in, and gather of these goods The money for this
tribute of the Turk.
FIRST KNIGHT. 'Tis necessary that be look'd unto; For, if we break our
day, we break the league, And that will prove but simple policy.
[Exeunt all except BARABAS and the three JEWS.] BARABAS. Ay, policy!
that's their profession, And not simplicity, as they suggest.—
BARABAS. Why did you yield to their extortion? You were a multitude,
and I but one; And of me only have they taken all. FIRST JEW. Yet,
brother Barabas, remember Job.
BARABAS.
Thy fatal birth-day, forlorn Barabas; And henceforth wish for an
eternal night, That clouds of darkness may inclose my flesh,
BARABAS.
Great injuries are not so soon forgot.
[Exeunt three JEWS.]
Enter ABIGAIL. But whither wends my beauteous Abigail? O, what has
made my lovely daughter sad?
BARABAS.
BARABAS. No, Abigail; things past recovery Are hardly cur'd with
exclamations: Be silent, daughter; sufferance breeds ease, And time
may yield us an occasion, Which on the sudden cannot serve the turn.
Ten thousand portagues, 45 besides great pearls, Rich costly jewels,
and stones infinite, Fearing the worst of this before it fell, I
closely hid.
BARABAS. In my house, my girl. ABIGAIL. Then shall they ne'er be seen
of Barabas; For they have seiz'd upon thy house and wares. BARABAS.
But they will give me leave once more, I trow, To go into my house.
BARABAS. My gold, my gold, and all my wealth is gone!— You partial
heavens, have I deserv'd this plague? What, will you thus oppose me,
luckless stars, To make me desperate in my poverty?
No, I will live; nor loathe I this my life: And, since you leave me in
the ocean thus To sink or swim, and put me to my shifts, I'll rouse my
senses, and awake myself.—
Daughter, I have it: thou perceiv'st the plight Wherein these
Christians have oppressed me: Be rul'd by me, for in extremity We
ought to make bar of no policy.
BARABAS. Why, so. Then thus: thou told'st me they have turn'd my
house Into a nunnery, and some nuns are there? ABIGAIL. I did.
BARABAS. Then, Abigail, there must my girl Entreat the abbess to be
entertain'd. ABIGAIL. How! as a nun? BARABAS. Ay, daughter; for
religion Hides many mischiefs from suspicion.
BARABAS. A counterfeit profession is better Than unseen hypocrisy.
BARABAS. This shall follow then. There have I hid, close underneath
the plank That runs along the upper-chamber floor, The gold and jewels
which I kept for thee:— But here they come: be cunning, Abigail.
Be close, my girl, for this must fetch my gold. [They retire.] Enter
FRIAR JACOMO, 47 FRIAR BARNARDINE, ABBESS, and a NUN.
ABBESS. Well, daughter, we admit you for a nun. ABIGAIL. First let me
as a novice learn to frame My solitary life to your strait laws,
BARABAS. [coming forward] Why, how now, Abigail! What mak'st thou
'mongst these hateful Christians? FRIAR JACOMO. Hinder her not, thou
man of little faith, For she has mortified herself.
[Aside to ABIGAIL in a whisper.] Away, accursed, from thy father's sight!
FRIAR JACOMO. Yet let thy daughter be no longer blind.
Farewell; remember to-morrow morning.— [Aside to her in a whisper.]
[Exit, on one side, BARABAS. Exeunt, on the other side, FRIARS,
ABBESS, NUN, and ABIGAIL: and, as they are going out,] Enter MATHIAS.
MATHIAS. Who's this? fair Abigail, the rich Jew's daughter, Become a
nun! her father's sudden fall Has humbled her, and brought her down to
this: Tut, she were fitter for a tale of love, Than to be tired out
with orisons;
Enter LODOWICK. MATHIAS. And matchless beautiful, As, had you seen
her, 'twould have mov'd your heart, Though countermin'd with walls of
brass, to love, Or, at the least, to pity.
LODOWICK. An if she be so fair as you report, 'Twere time well spent
to go and visit her: How say you? shall we? [Exeunt severally.]
ACT II. Enter BARABAS, with a light. 53
BARABAS.
No sleep can fasten on my watchful eyes, Nor quiet enter my
distemper'd thoughts, Till I have answer of my Abigail. Enter ABIGAIL
above. ABIGAIL. Now have I happily espied a time To search the plank
my father did appoint; And here, behold, unseen, where I have found
The gold, the pearls, and jewels, which he hid.
ABIGAIL. Here.[throws down bags] Hast thou't? There's more, and more,
and more. BARABAS. O my girl, My gold, my fortune, my felicity,
Strength to my soul, death to mine enemy; Welcome the first beginner
of my bliss! O Abigail, Abigail, that I had thee here too! Then my
desires were fully satisfied:
O girl! O gold! O beauty! O my bliss! [Hugs the bags.] [Exit ABIGAIL above.]
[Exit.] Enter FERNEZE, 60 MARTIN DEL BOSCO, KNIGHTS, and OFFICERS.
MARTIN DEL BOSCO. Governor of Malta, hither am I bound; My ship, the
Flying Dragon, is of Spain, And so am I; Del Bosco is my name,
Vice-admiral unto the Catholic King. FIRST KNIGHT. 'Tis true, my lord;
therefore entreat 61 him well.
MARTIN DEL BOSCO…Because we vail'd not 62 to the Turkish 63 fleet,
Their creeping galleys had us in the chase: But suddenly the wind
began to rise, And then we luff'd and tack'd, 64 and fought at ease:
Some have we fir'd, and many have we sunk; But one amongst the rest
became our prize: The captain's slain; the rest remain our slaves, Of
whom we would make sale in Malta here.
MARTIN DEL BOSCO. Will knights of Malta be in league with Turks, And
buy it basely too for sums of gold? My lord, remember that, to
Europe's shame, The Christian isle of Rhodes, from whence you came,
Was lately lost, and you were stated 65 here To be at deadly enmity
with Turks.
FERNEZE. Captain, we know it; but our force is small. MARTIN DEL
BOSCO. What is the sum that Calymath requires? FERNEZE. A hundred
thousand crowns. MARTIN DEL BOSCO. My lord and king hath title to this
isle, And he means quickly to expel you hence; Therefore be rul'd by
me, and keep the gold: I'll write unto his majesty for aid, And not
depart until I see you free.
FERNEZE. On this condition shall thy Turks be sold.— Go, officers,
and set them straight in show.— [Exeunt OFFICERS.]
Bosco, thou shalt be Malta's general; We and our warlike knights will
follow thee Against these barbarous misbelieving Turks.
FERNEZE. Honour is bought with blood, and not with gold. [Exeunt.]
Enter OFFICERS, 66 with ITHAMORE and other SLAVES. FIRST OFFICER. This
is the market-place; here let 'em stand: Fear not their sale, for
they'll be quickly bought. SECOND OFFICER. Every one's price is
written on his back, And so much must they yield, or not be sold.
Enter BARABAS. Having Ferneze's hand; whose heart I'll have, Ay, and
his son's too, or it shall go hard.
We Jews can fawn like spaniels when we please; And when we grin we
bite; yet are our looks As innocent and harmless as a lamb's. I
learn'd in Florence how to kiss my hand, Heave up my shoulders when
they call me dog, And duck as low as any bare-foot friar; Hoping to
see them starve upon a stall, Or else be gather'd for in our
synagogue, That, when the offering-basin comes to me, Even for charity
I may spit into't.—
Here comes Don Lodowick, the governor's son, One that I love for his
good father's sake. Enter LODOWICK.
LODOWICK. Well, Barabas, canst help me to a diamond? BARABAS. O, sir,
your father had my diamonds: Yet I have one left that will serve your
turn.— I mean my daughter; but, ere he shall have her, I'll sacrifice
her on a pile of wood: I ha' the poison of the city 69 for him, And
the white leprosy.
BARABAS. Pointed it is, good sir,—but not for you. [Aside.]
LODOWICK. And what's the price? BARABAS. Your life, an if you have it
[Aside].—O my lord, We will not jar about the price: come to my house,
And I will give't your honour—with a vengeance. [Aside.]
LODOWICK. No, Barabas, I will deserve it first. BARABAS. Good sir,
Your father has deserv'd it at my hands, Who, of mere charity and
Christian ruth, To bring me to religious purity,
BARABAS. Even for your honourable father's sake,— It shall go hard but
I will see your death.— [Aside.] But now I must be gone to buy a
slave.
BARABAS. Come, then; here's the market-place.— What's the price of
this slave? two hundred crowns! do the Turks weigh so much?
SLAVE. Alas, sir, I am a very youth! BARABAS. A youth! I'll buy you,
and marry you to Lady Vanity, 74 if you do well. SLAVE. I will serve
you, sir.
BARABAS.
ell me, hast thou thy health well? SLAVE. Ay, passing well.
BARABAS. Where wast thou born? ITHAMORE. In Thrace; brought up in Arabia.
BARABAS. So much the better; thou art for my turn. An hundred crowns?
Enter MATHIAS and KATHARINE. 75
BARABAS
He loves my daughter, and she holds him dear; But I have sworn to
frustrate both their hopes, And be reveng'd upon the—governor.
[Aside.] [Exit LODOWICK.]
BARABAS. Tush, man! we talk'd of diamonds, not of Abigail.
KATHARINE. Tell me, Mathias, is not that the Jew? BARABAS. As for the
comment on the Maccabees, I have it, sir, and 'tis at your command.
KATHARINE. Converse not with him; he is cast off from heaven.— Thou
hast thy crowns, fellow.—Come, let's away. [Exeunt KATHARlNE and
MATHIAS.]
FIRST OFFICER. Come, I have made a reasonable market; let's away.
[Exeunt OFFICERS with SLAVES.]
BARABAS. Now let me know thy name, and therewithal Thy birth,
condition, and profession. ITHAMORE. Faith, sir, my birth is but mean;
my name's Ithamore; my profession what you please.
BARABAS. Hast thou no trade? then listen to my words, And I will teach
[thee] that shall stick by thee: First, be thou void of these
affections, Compassion, love, vain hope, and heartless fear; Be mov'd
at nothing, see thou pity none, But to thyself smile when the
Christians moan. ITHAMORE. O, brave, master! 78 I worship your nose 79
for this.
BARABAS…Being young, I studied physic, and began To practice first
upon the Italian; There I enrich'd the priests with burials, And
always kept the sexton's arms in ure 80 With digging graves and
ringing dead men's knells: And, after that, was I an engineer, And in
the wars 'twixt France and Germany, Under pretence of helping Charles
the Fifth, Slew friend and enemy with my stratagems: Then, after that,
was I an usurer, And with extorting, cozening, forfeiting, And tricks
belonging unto brokery, I fill'd the gaols with bankrupts in a year,
And with young orphans planted hospitals;
I have as much coin as will buy the town. But tell me now, how hast
thou spent thy time? ITHAMORE. Faith, master, In setting Christian
villages on fire, Chaining of eunuchs, binding galley-slaves…we are
villains both; Both circumcised; we hate Christians both: Be true and
secret; thou shalt want no gold. But stand aside; here comes Don
Lodowick. Enter LODOWICK. 82
Enter ABIGAIL, with letters.
BARABAS. Use him as if he were a Philistine; Dissemble, swear,
protest, vow love to him: 83 He is not of the seed of Abraham.— [Aside
to her.] I am a little busy, sir; pray, pardon me.— Abigail, bid him
welcome for my sake.
BARABAS. Daughter, a word more: kiss him, speak him fair, And like a
cunning Jew so cast about, That ye be both made sure 84 ere you come
out. [Aside to her.]
ABIGAIL. O father, Don Mathias is my love!
BARABAS. I know it: yet, I say, make love to him; Do, it is requisite
it should be so.— [Aside to her.] [Exeunt ABIGAIL and LODOWICK into
the house.]
The account is made, for Lodovico 85 dies.
For now by this has he kiss'd Abigail, And she vows love to him, and
he to her. As sure as heaven rain'd manna for the Jews, So sure shall
he and Don Mathias die: His father was my chiefest enemy. Enter
MATHIAS.-- http://www.gutenberg.org/files/901/901-h/901-h.htm
BARABAS…
MATHIAS. O treacherous Lodowick! BARABAS. Even now, as I came home, he
slipt me in, And I am sure he is with Abigail. MATHIAS. I'll rouse him
thence. Re-enter LODOWICK and ABIGAIL.
MATHIAS. What, hand in hand! I cannot suffer this. BARABAS. Mathias,
as thou lov'st me, not a word. MATHIAS. Well, let it pass; another
time shall serve. [Exit into the house.]
LODOWICK. Why, loves she Don Mathias?
LODOWICK. Barabas, thou know'st I have lov'd thy daughter long.
BARABAS. And so has she done you, even from a child. LODOWICK. And
now I can no longer hold my mind. BARABAS. Nor I the affection that I
bear to you. LODOWICK. This is thy diamond; tell me, shall I have it?
BARABAS. Win it, and wear it; it is yet unsoil'd. 87 O, but I know
your lordship would disdain To marry with the daughter of a Jew: And
yet I'll give her many a golden cross 88 With Christian posies round
about the ring.
LODOWICK. 'Tis not thy wealth, but her that I esteem; Yet crave I thy consent.
BARABAS
Must be deluded: let him have thy hand, But keep thy heart till Don
Mathias comes. [Aside to her.] ABIGAIL. What, shall I be betroth'd to
Lodowick? BARABAS. It's no sin to deceive a Christian; For they
themselves hold it a principle, Faith is not to be held with heretics:
But all are heretics that are not Jews;
ABIGAIL. I cannot choose, seeing my father bids: Nothing but death
shall part my love and me. LODOWICK. Now have I that for which my soul
hath long'd.
BARABAS. O, muse not at it; 'tis the Hebrews' guise, That maidens
new-betroth'd should weep a while: Trouble her not; sweet Lodowick,
depart: She is thy wife, and thou shalt be mine heir.
LODOWICK. There comes the villain; now I'll be reveng'd.
Re-enter MATHIAS.
LODOWICK. Well, let him go. [Exit.]
BARABAS.
Revenge it on him when you meet him next.
MATHIAS. My life is not so dear as Abigail.
MATHIAS. I cannot stay; for, if my mother come, She'll die with grief. [Exit.]
ABIGAIL. I cannot take my leave of him for tears. Father, why have you
thus incens'd them both? BARABAS. What's that to thee? ABIGAIL. I'll
make 'em friends again.
ABIGAIL. I will have Don Mathias; he is my love. [Puts in ABIGAIL.]
[Giving a letter.]
ITHAMORE. Fear not; I will so set his heart a-fire, That he shall
verily think it comes from him.
ITHAMORE. As I behave myself in this, employ me hereafter. BARABAS.
Away, then! [Exit ITHAMORE.]
And, like a cunning spirit, feign some lie, Till I have set 'em both
at enmity. [Exit.]
ACT III. Enter BELLAMIRA. 91
BELLAMIRA. Were wont to come rare-witted gentlemen, Scholars I mean,
learned and liberal; And now, save Pilia-Borza, comes there none, And
he is very seldom from my house; And here he comes. Enter PILIA-BORZA.
[Shewing a bag of silver.] BELLAMIRA. 'Tis silver; I disdain it.
Enter ITHAMORE. ITHAMORE [Exit.]
Enter MATHIAS. Enter LODOWICK.
[Looking at a letter.]
[They fight.] Enter BARABAS above. Now, Lodovico! 93 now,
Mathias!—So; [Both fall.] So, now they have shew'd themselves to be
tall 94 fellows. [Cries within] Part 'em, part 'em! BARABAS. Ay, part
'em now they are dead. Farewell, farewell! [Exit above.] Enter
FERNEZE, KATHARINE, and ATTENDANTS. FERNEZE. What sight is this! 95 my
Lodovico 96 slain! These arms of mine shall be thy sepulchre. 97
KATHARINE. Who is this? my son Mathias slain! FERNEZE. O Lodowick,
hadst thou perish'd by the Turk, Wretched Ferneze might have veng'd
thy death!
KATHARINE. Thy son slew mine, and I'll revenge his death. FERNEZE.
Look, Katharine, look! thy son gave mine these wounds. KATHARINE. O,
leave to grieve me! I am griev'd enough.
KATHARINE. Who made them enemies? FERNEZE. I know not; and that
grieves me most of all. KATHARINE. My son lov'd thine.
KATHARINE. Lend me that weapon that did kill my son, And it shall
murder me. FERNEZE. Nay, madam, stay; that weapon was my son's, And on
that rather should Ferneze die.
KATHARINE. Hold; let's inquire the causers of their deaths, That we
may venge their blood upon their heads.
Come, Katharine; 98 our losses equal are; Then of true grief let us
take equal share. [Exeunt with the bodies.] Enter ITHAMORE
ITHAMORE. Why, was there ever seen such villany, So neatly plotted,
and so well perform'd? Both held in hand, 100 and flatly both
beguil'd? Enter ABIGAIL. ABIGAIL. Why, how now, Ithamore! why laugh'st
thou so? ITHAMORE. O mistress! ha, ha, ha!
ITHAMORE. O mistress, I have the bravest, gravest, secret, subtle,
bottle-nosed 101 knave to my master, that ever gentleman had!
ITHAMORE. Know you not of Mathia[s'] and Don Lodowick['s] disaster?
ABIGAIL. No: what was it?
ABIGAIL. And say, I pray them come and speak with me.
ITHAMORE. A very feeling one: have not the nuns fine sport with the
friars now and then? ABIGAIL. Go to, Sirrah Sauce! is this your
question? get ye gone. ITHAMORE. I will, forsooth, mistress. [Exit.]
ABIGAIL. And couldst not venge it but upon his son; Nor on his son but
by Mathias' means; Nor on Mathias but by murdering me: But I perceive
there is no love on earth, Pity in Jews, nor piety in
Turks.— But here comes cursed Ithamore with the friar. Re-enter
ITHAMORE with FRIAR JACOMO. FRIAR JACOMO. Virgo, salve. ITHAMORE. When
duck you?
ABIGAIL. Welcome, grave friar.—Ithamore, be gone. [Exit ITHAMORE.]
Know, holy sir, I am bold to solicit thee. FRIAR JACOMO. Wherein?
ABIGAIL. To get me be admitted for a nun. FRIAR JACOMO. Why, Abigail,
it is not yet long since That I did labour thy admission, And then
thou didst not like that holy life.
ABIGAIL. My sinful soul, alas, hath pac'd too long The fatal labyrinth
of misbelief, Far from the sun that gives eternal life!
FRIAR JACOMO. Abigail, I will: but see thou change no more, For that
will be most heavy to thy soul. ABIGAIL. That was my father's fault.
FRIAR JACOMO. Thy father's! how? ABIGAIL. Nay, you shall pardon me.—O
Barabas, Though thou deservest hardly at my hands, Yet never shall
these lips bewray thy life!
ABIGAIL. My duty waits on you. [Exeunt.] Enter BARABAS, 105 reading a letter.
BARABAS. Art thou again got to the nunnery?
Gives great presumption that she loves me not,
Enter ITHAMORE. my second self;
ITHAMORE. A friar.
BARABAS. Ne'er shall she live to inherit aught of mine,
But perish underneath my bitter curse, Like Cain by Adam for his
brother's death. ITHAMORE. O master—
ITHAMORE. Who, I, master? why, I'll run to some rock, And throw
myself headlong into the sea; Why, I'll do any thing for your sweet
sake. BARABAS. O trusty Ithamore! no servant, but my friend! I here
adopt thee for mine only heir:
ITHAMORE. I hold my head, my master's hungry [Aside].—I go, sir. [Exit.]
Re-enter ITHAMORE with the pot.
BARABAS. Well said, 109 Ithamore! What, hast thou brought The ladle
with thee too? ITHAMORE. Yes, sir; the proverb says, 110 he that eats
with the devil had need of a long spoon; I have brought you a ladle.
BARABAS. Very well, Ithamore; then now be secret; And, for thy sake,
whom I so dearly love, Now shalt thou see the death of Abigail, That
thou mayst freely live to be my heir.
BARABAS. Ay, but, Ithamore, seest thou this? It is a precious powder
that I bought Of an Italian, in Ancona, once, Whose operation is to
bind, infect, And poison deeply, yet not appear In forty hours after
it is ta'en. ITHAMORE. How, master? BARABAS. Thus, Ithamore: This even
they use in Malta here,—'tis call'd Saint Jaques' Even,—and then, I
say, they use To send their alms unto the nunneries:
ITHAMORE. Pray, do, and let me help you, master. Pray, let me taste first.
BARABAS. My purse, my coffer, and myself is thine.
ITHAMORE. Well, master, I go. BARABAS. Stay; first let me stir it,
Ithamore. As fatal be it to her as the draught Of which great
Alexander drunk, and died; And with her let it work like Borgia's
wine, Whereof his sire the Pope was poisoned! In few, 114 the blood of
Hydra, Lerna's bane, The juice of hebon, 115 and Cocytus' breath, And
all the poisons of the Stygian pool,
ITHAMORE. What a blessing has he given't! was ever pot of
rice-porridge so sauced? [Aside].—What shall I do with it?
ITHAMORE. I am gone: Pay me my wages, for my work is done. [Exit with the pot.]
BARABAS. I'll pay thee with a vengeance, Ithamore! [Exit.] Enter
FERNEZE, 116 MARTIN DEL BOSCO, KNIGHTS, and BASSO.
FERNEZE. Welcome, great basso: 117 how fares Calymath? What wind
drives you thus into Malta-road? BASSO. The wind that bloweth all the
world besides, Desire of gold.
BASSO. For Selim Calymath shall come himself, And with brass bullets
batter down your towers, And turn proud Malta to a wilderness, For
these intolerable wrongs of yours: And so, farewell. FERNEZE.
Farewell. [Exit BASSO.] [Exeunt.]
Enter FRIAR JACOMO 120 and FRIAR BARNARDINE. FRIAR JACOMO. O brother,
brother, all the nuns are sick, And physic will not help them! they
must die. [Exit.]
-- http://www.gutenberg.org/files/901/901-h/901-h.htm
Enter ABIGAIL. ABIGAIL. And I shall die too, for I feel death coming.
Where is the friar that convers'd with me? 121
FRIAR BARNARDINE. What then? ABIGAIL. I did offend high heaven so
grievously As I am almost desperate for my sins; And one offense
torments me more than all. You knew Mathias and Don Lodowick?
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Yes; what of them? ABIGAIL. My father did contract
me to 'em both; First to Don Lodowick: him I never lov'd; Mathias was
the man that I held dear, And for his sake did I become a nun.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. So: say how was their end? ABIGAIL. Both, jealous of
my love, envied 122 each other; And by my father's practice, 123 which
is there [Gives writing.] Set down at large, the gallants were both
slain.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. O, monstrous villany! ABIGAIL. To work my peace,
this I confess to thee: Reveal it not; for then my father dies.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. Know that confession must not be reveal'd; The
canon-law forbids it, and the priest That makes it known, being
degraded first, Shall be condemn'd, and then sent to the fire.
ABIGAIL. Convert my father that he may be sav'd, And witness that I
die a Christian! [Dies.] FRIAR BARNARDINE. Ay, and a virgin too; that
grieves me most. But I must to the Jew, and exclaim on him, And make
him stand in fear of me. Re-enter FRIAR JACOMO.
FRIAR BARNARDINE. A thing that makes me tremble to unfold. FRIAR
JACOMO. What, has he crucified a child? 1
ACT IV. Enter BARABAS 125 and ITHAMORE. Bells within.
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,
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.
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. Thou hast committed— BARABAS. Fornication: but that
was in another country; And besides, the wench is dead.
BARABAS. She has confess'd, and we are both undone, My bosom inmate!
129 but I must dissemble.— [Aside to ITHAMORE.]
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
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. 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. [Exit ITHAMORE with Friar
BARNARDINE.]
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?
One turn'd my daughter, therefore he shall die; The other knows enough
to have my life, Therefore 'tis not requisite he should live.
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.
[They strangle the FRIAR.]
ITHAMORE
[Takes the body, sets it upright against the wall, and puts a staff
in its hand.]
[Exeunt.] Enter FRIAR JACOMO. 142 [Takes the staff, and strikes down
the body.] Enter BARABAS and ITHAMORE.
BARABAS. Why, how now, Jacomo! what hast thou done? FRIAR JACOMO.
Good sirs, I have done't: but nobody knows it but you two; I may
escape.
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. [Exeunt.]
Enter BELLAMIRA 145 and PILIA-BORZA. 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.
Enter ITHAMORE. 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.
ITHAMORE. Gentleman! he flouts me: what gentry can be in a poor Turk
of tenpence? 151 I'll be gone. [Aside.]
BELLAMIRA. Though woman's modesty should hale me back, I can withhold
no longer: welcome, sweet love.
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.
ITHAMORE. Nay, I care not how much she loves me.—Sweet Bellamira,
would I had my master's wealth for thy sake!
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.
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.
PILIA-BORZA. Tell him you will confess. ITHAMORE. [writing] OTHERWISE
I'LL CONFESS ALL.— Vanish, and return in a twinkle. [Exit PILIA-BORZA
with the letter.]
BELLAMIRA. Now, gentle Ithamore, lie in my lap.—
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; Re-enter PILIA-BORZA.
PILIA-BORZA. To conclude, he gave me ten crowns. [Delivers the money
to ITHAMORE.]
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.
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. 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… 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;
Enter PILIA-BORZA. [Gives letter.]
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…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?
[Exit.] BARABAS
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.
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. What wouldst thou do, if he should send thee none?
ITHAMORE. Do nothing: but I know what I know; he's a murderer.
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. 1
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.]
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.
PILIA-BORZA. Sirrah, you must give my mistress your posy. BARABAS. A
votre commandement, madame. [Giving nosegay.]
ITHAMORE. 'Tis a strange thing of that Jew, he lives upon pickled
grasshoppers and sauced mushrooms.
PILIA-BORZA. Farewell, fiddler [Exit BARABAS.]
ITHAMORE. The meaning has a meaning. Come, let's in: To undo a Jew is
charity, and not sin. [Exeunt.]
ACT V. Enter FERNEZE, 179 KNIGHTS, MARTIN DEL BOSCO, and OFFICERS.
FERNEZE. Now, gentlemen, betake you to your arms, And see that Malta
be well fortified;
Enter BELLAMIRA and PILIA-BORZA.
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.
[Exeunt OFFICERS]. I always fear'd that Jew. Re-enter OFFICERS with
BARABAS and ITHAMORE.
ITHAMORE…O, my belly!
BARABAS. Confess! what mean you, lords? who should confess? FERNEZE.
Thou and thy Turk; 'twas that slew my son.
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.
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!
Re-enter OFFICERS, carrying BARABAS as dead.
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. 1
BARABAS. [rising]
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.
BARABAS
My name is Barabas; I am a Jew.
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
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
Barabas
For thy desert we make thee governor; Use them at thy discretion.
FERNEZE
What greater misery could heaven inflict?
CALYMATH
Farewell, brave Jew, farewell, great Barabas!
[Exeunt CALYMATH and BASSOES.]
FERNEZE. O villain! heaven will be reveng'd on thee.
BARABAS
[Exeunt TURKS with FERNEZE and KNIGHTS.]
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,
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.
Enter FERNEZE, with a GUARD.
BARABAS
[Exeunt GUARD.]
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;
I know; and they shall witness with their lives. [Exeunt.] Enter
CALYMATH and BASSOES.
And, now I see the situation, And how secure this conquer'd island stands,
Two lofty turrets that command the town, I wonder how it could be
conquer'd thus. Enter a MESSENGER.
MESSENGER
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:
CALYMATH. I cannot feast my men in Malta-walls, Except he place his
tables in the streets.
CALYMATH. Well, tell the governor we grant his suit; We'll in this
summer-evening feast with him. MESSENGER. I shall, my lord. [Exit.]
[Exeunt.] Enter FERNEZE, 198 KNIGHTS, and MARTIN DEL BOSCO.
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
[Giving money.]
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!
Enter MESSENGER.
Enter FERNEZE.
Now, governor, the sum? FERNEZE. With free consent, a hundred thousand pounds.
BARABAS
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:
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 retires.]
Enter CALYMATH and BASSOES.
FERNEZE. How the slave jeers at him! [Aside.]
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
BARABAS. Help, help me, Christians, help!
BARABAS. O, help me, Selim! help me, Christians! Governor, why stand
you all so pitiless?
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.—
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.]
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!
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,
So, march away; and let due praise be given
Neither to Fate nor Fortune, but to Heaven.
[Exeunt.]
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