BARABAS

Then good my Lord, to keep your quiet still, Your Lordship shall do well to let them have it. Alas, my Lord, we are no soldiers: And what's our aid against so great a Prince? How, my Lord, my money? Are strangers with your tribute to be taxed? How, equally? How, half his estate? I hope you mean not mine. How a Christian? Hum, what's here to do? O earth-mettall'd villains, and no Hebrews born! And will you basely thus submit your selves To leave your goods to their arbitrament? No, Governor, I will be no convertite. Why know you what you did by this device? Half of my substance is a Cities wealth. Governor, it was not God so easily; Nor will I partly so slightly therewithal. Corpo di deo ; stay, you shall have half, Let me be used but as my brothers are. Christians; what, or how can I multiply? Of nought is nothing made. What? bring you Scripture to confirm your wrong? reach m not out of my possessions. Some Jews are wicked, as all Christians are: But say the Tribe that I descended of Were all in general cast away for sin, Shall I be tried by their transgression? The man that deals righteously shall live: And which of you can charge me otherwise? I, but theft is worse: tush, take not from me then, For that is theft; and if you rob me thus, I must be forced to steal and compass more. Well then my Lord, say, are you satisfied? You have my goods, my money, and my wealth, My ships, my store, and all that I enjoyed; And having all, you can request no more; Unless your unrelenting flinty hearts Suppress all pity in your stony breasts, And now shall move you to bereave my life. Why I esteem the injury far less, To take the lives of miserable men, Then be the causers of their misery, You have my wealth the labour of my life, The comfort of mine age, my children's hope, And therefore never distinguish of the wrong. Your extreme right does me exceeding wrong: But take it to you i'th devils name. I, policy? that's their profession, And not simplicity, as they suggest. The plagues of Egypt, and the curse of heaven, Earth's barrenness, and all men's hatred Inflict upon them, thou great Primas Motor. And here upon my knees, striking the earth, I ban their souls to everlasting pains And extreme tortures of the fiery deep, That thus have dealt with me in my distress. O silly brothers, born to see this day! Why stand you thus unmoved with my laments? Why weep you not to think upon my wrongs? Why pine not I, and die in this distress? Why did you yield to their extortion? You were a multitude, and I but one, And of me only have they taken all. What tell you me of Job ? I wot his wealth Was written thus: he had seven thousand sheep, Three thousand Camels, and two hundred yoke Of labouring Oxen, and five hundred She Asses: but for every one of those, Had they been valued at indifferent rate, I had at home, and in mine Argosy And other ships that came from Egypt last, As much as would have bought his beasts and him, And yet have kept enough to live upon; So that not he, but I may curse the day, Thy fatal birthday, forlorn Barabas ; And henceforth wish for and eternal night, That clouds of darkness may enclose my flesh, And hide these extreme sorrows from mine eyes: For only I have toiled to inherit here The months of vanity and lose of time, And painful nights have been appointed me. I, I pray leave me in my patience. You that were never possessed of wealth, are pleased with want. But give him liberty at least to mourn, That in a field amid his enemies, Does see his soldiers slain, himself disarmed, And knows no means of his recovery: I, let me sorrow for this sudden chance, It's in the trouble of my spirit I speak; Great injuries are not so soon forgotten. I, fare you well. See the simplicity of these base S aves, Who for the villains have no wit themselves, Think me to be a senseless lump of clay That will with every water wash to dirt: No, Barabas is born to better chance, And framed of finer mould then common men, That measure nought but by the present time. A reaching thought will search his deepest wits, And cast with cunning for the time to come: For evils are apt to happen every day But whither wends my beauteous Abigall? O what has made my lovely daughter sad? What? woman, moan not for a little lose: Thy father has enough in store for thee. No, Abigail, things passed recovery Are hardly cured with exclamations. Be silent, Daughter, sufferance breeds ease, And time may yield us and occasion Which on the sudden cannot serve the turn. Beside, my girl, think me not all so found As negligently to forgo so much Without provision for thy self and me. Ten thousand Portagnes, beside great Pearls, Rich costly Jewels, and Stones infinite, Fearing the worst of this before it fell, I closely hid. In my house my girl. But they will give me leave once more, I trow, To go into my house. My gold, my gold, and all my wealth is gone. You partial heavens, have I deserved this plague? What will you thus oppose me, luckless Stars, To make me desperate in my poverty? And knowing me impatient in distress Think me so mad as I will hang my self, That I may vanish over the earth in air, And leave no memory that ever I was. No, I will live; nor loath 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 my self. Daughter, I have it: thou perceivest the plighted Wherein these Christians have oppressed me: Be ruled by me, for in extremity We ought to make bar of no policy. Why so; then thus, thou toldst me they have turned my house Into a Nunnery, and some Nuns are there. Then Abigall, there must my girl Entreat the Abbasse to be entertained. I, Daughter, for Religion Hides many mischiefs from suspicion. Let they suspect, but be thou so precise As they may think it done of Holiness. Entreat they fair, and give them friendly speech, And seem to them as if thy sins were great, Till thou hast got to be entertained. Tush, as good dissemble that thou never meanest As first mean truth, and then dissemble it, A counterfeit profession is better Then unseen hypocrisy. 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 Abigall. No, Abigall, in this It is not necessary I be seen. For I will seem offended with thee for't. Be close, my girl, for this must fetch my gold. As much I hope as all I hid is worth. aside. Why how now Abigall, what makest thou Amongst these hateful Christians? How, mortified I Child of pordition, and thy father's shame, What wilt thou do among these hateful fiends? I charge thee on my blessing that thou leave These devils, and their damned heresy. Nay back, Abigall, And think upon the Jewels and the gold Whispers to he . The board is marked thus that covers it. Away accursed from thy father's sighed. Blind, Fryer, I wreck oh thy persuasions. The board is marked thus † that covers I For I had rather die, then see her thus. Wilt thou forsake me too in my distress, Seduced Daughter, Go forget n to. aside to her. Becomes it Jews to be so credulo S, To morrow early Il'e be at that doors. aside to her. No come not at me, if thou wilt be damned, Forget me, see me not, and so Farewell, Remember to morrow morning. aside. Out, out thou wretch. THus Like the sad presaging Raven that tolls The sick men passport in her hollow beak, And in the shadow of the silent night Does shake contagion from her sable wings; Vexed and tormented runs poor Barabas With fatal curses towards these Christians. The incertain pleasures of swift-footed time Have taken their flight, and left me in despair; And of my former riches rests no more But bore remembrance; Like a soldiers skarre, That has no further comfort for his maim. O thou that with a fiery pillar leddest The sons of Israel through the dismal shades, Light Abrahams offspring; and direct the hand Of Abigall this night; or let the day Turn to eternal darkness after this: No sleep can fasten on my watchful eyes, Nor quiet enter my distempered thoughts, Till I have answer of my Abigall. Now I remember those old women's words, Who in my wealth would tell me winter's tales, And speak of spirits and ghosts that glide by night About the place where Treasure hath been hid: And now me thinks that I am one of those: For while I live, here lives my souls sole hope, And when I die, here shall my spirit walk. Birn para todos, my Gam nada no er: As good go on, as fit so sadly thus. But stay, what star shines yonder in the East ? The Loadstar of my life, if Abigall. Who's there? Peace, Abigail, it's I. Hast thou'lt? Throws down bags, 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 Aigal, Abigail, that I had thee here too, Then my desires were fully satisfied, But I will practice thy enlargement thence: O girl, o gold, o beauty, o my bl sse! hugs his bags Farewell my oy, and by my fingers take A kiss from him that sends it from his soul. Now Phœbus open the eyelids of the day, And for the Raven wake the morning Lark, That I may hover with her in the Air; Singing over these, as she does over her young. H rmoso Pi r, de less Worser nirch. Exeunt Now will I show my self to have more of the Sir penned Then the Dove; that is, more knave than fool. I, I, no doubt but she's at your command. I would you were his father too, Sir, that's all the harm I wish you: the slave looks Like a hogs cheek new findg'd. No further: it's a custom held with us, That when we speak with Gentiles Like to you, We turn into the Air to purge our selves: For unto us the Promise does belong. O, Sir, your father had my Diamonds. Yet I have one left that will serve your turn: I mean my daughter:—but ever he shall have her I'll sacrifice her on a pile of wood. aside. I would the poison of the City for him, and the White leprosy. The Diamond that I talk of, never was foiled: But when he touches it, it will be foiled: Lord Lodowick, it sparkles bright and fair. Pointed it is, good Sir,— but not for you. aside Your life and if you have it. — O my Lord We will not larre about the price; come to my house And I will giu`t your honour— with a vengeance. aside Good Sir, your father has deserved it at my hands, Who of mere charity and Christian ruth, To bring me to religious purity, And as it were in Catechising sort, To make me mindful of my mortal sins, Against my will, and whither I would or no, Seized all I had, and thrust me out a doors, And made my house a place for Nuns most chased. I, but my Lord, the harvest is far off: And yet I know the prayers of those Nuns And holy Friars, having money for their pains, Are wondrous; and indeed do no man good : aside. And seeing they are not idle, but still doing, It's likely they in time may reap some fruit, I mean in fullness of perfection. No, but I do it through a burning zeal, Hoping ere long to set the house a fire; For though they do a while increase and multiply, aside. I'll have a saying to that Nunnery. As for the Diamond, Sir, I told you of, Come home and there's no price shall make us partly, 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. Come then, here's the marketplace; whats the price Of this flave, 200 Crowns? Do the Turk weigh so much? What, can he steal that you demand so much? Belike he has some new trick for a purse; And if he has, he is worth 300 plaits. So that, being bought, the Town-seal might be God To keep him for his life time from the gallows. The Sessions day is critical to thieves, And few or none escape but by being purged. Why should this Turk be dearer then that More ? What, hast the Philosophers stone? and thou hast, Break my head with it, I'll forgive thee. Let me see, sirrah, are you not and old shaver? A youth? I'll buy you, and marry you to Lady vam nity If you do well. Some wicked trick or other. It may be under colour Of shaving, thou'lt cut my throat for my goods. Tell me, hast thou thy health well? So much the worse; I must have one that's ickly, And be but for sparing vittles: it's not a stone of beef a day Will maintain you in these chops; let me see one That's some what leaner. Where was thou born? So much the better, thou art for my turn, And hundred Crowns; I'll have him; there's the coin. I, mark him, you were best, for this is he That by my help shall do much villainy. My Lord farewell: Come Sirrah you are mine. As for the Diamond it shall be yours; I pray, Sir, be no stranger at my house, All that I have shall be at your command. Yonder comes Done Mathias, let us stay; He loves my daughter, and she holds him deer: But I have sworn to frustrate both their Hope's, And be revenged upon the —Governor. Seem not to know me here before your mother Lest she mistrust the match that is in hand: When you have brought her home, come to my house; Think of me as thy father; Son farewell. Tush man, we talked of Diamonds, not of Abigail. As for the Comment on the Machabees I have it, Sir, and it's at your command. Marry will I, Sir. Now let me know thy name, and there withal Thy birth, condition, and profession. Hast thou no Trade? then listen to my words, And I will teach that shall stick by thee: First be thou void of these affections, Compassion, love, vain hope, and heartless fear, Be moved at nothing, see thou pity none, But to high self smile when the Christians moan. As for my self, I walk abroad a nights And kill sick people groaning under walls: Sometime I go about and poison wells; And now and then, to cherish Christian thieves, I am content to loose some of my Crowns; That I may, walking in my Gallery, See they go pinioned along by my door. Being young I studied Physic, and began To practice first upon the Italian ; There I enric'd the Priests with burials, And always kept the Sexton's arms in use With digging graves and ringing dead men's kneels: And after that was I and Engineere, And in the wars betwixt France and Germany, Under pretence of helping Charles the fifth, Slew friend and enemy with my stratagems. Then after that was I and Usurer, And with extorting, cozening, forfeiting, And tricks belonging unto Brokery, I filled the Jails with Bankrupts in a year, And with young Orphans planted Hospitals, And every Moon made some or other mad, And now and then one hang himself for grief, Pinning upon his breast along great Scroll How I with interest tormented him. But mark how I am blessed for plaguing them, I have as much coin as will buy the Town. But tell me now, How hast thou spent thy time? Why this is something: make account of me As of thy fellow; we are villains both: Both circumcided, we hate Christians both: Be true and secret, thou shalt want no gold. But stand a idem, here comes Done Lodowick. I have it for you, Sir; please you walk in with me: What, ho, Abigall ; open the door I say. Give me the letters, daughter, do you hear? Entertain Lodowick the Governors son With all the courtesy you can afford; Provided, that you keep your Maidenhead. Use him as if he were a Philist . aside. Dissemble, swear, protest, vow to lo e him, He is not of the seed of Abraham. I am a little busy, Sir, pray pardon me. Abigall, bid him welcome for my sake. Daughter, a word more; kiss him, speak him fair, And Like a cunning Jew so cast about, That you be both made sure ever you come out. I know it: yet I say make love to him; Do, it is requisite it should be so. Nay on my life it is my Factors hand, But go you in, I'll think upon the account: The account is made, for Lodowick die. My Factor sends me word a Merchant's fled That owes me for a hundred Tun of Wine: I weigh it thus much; I have wealth enough. For now by this has he kissed Abigall ; And she vows love to him, and he to her. As sure as heaven rained Manna for the Jews, So sure shall he and Done Mathias die: His father was my chiefest enemy. Whither goes Done Mathias? stay a while. Thou knowest, and heaven can witness it is true, That I intend my daughter shall be thine. O heaven forbid I should have such a thought. Pardon me though I weep; the Governors son Will, whither I will or no, have Abigall : He sends her letters, bracelets, jewels, rings. She? No, Mathias, no, but sends them back, And when he comes, she locks her self up fast; Yet through the key hold will he talk to her, While she runs to the with dow looking out When you should come and hale him from the door Even now as I came home, he slipped me in, And I am sure he is with Abigall. Not for all Malta, therefore sheath your sword; If you love me, no quarrels in my house; But st ale you in, and seem to see him not; I'll give him such a warning ever he goes As he shall have small Hope's of Abigall. Away, for here they come, Mathias, as thou lovest me, not a word. I, and take heed, for he hath sworn your death. Does she not with her smiling answer you? And so has she done you, even from a child. Nor I the affection that I bear to you Win it, and wear it, it is yet un oiled, 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 With Christian posies round about the ring. And mine you have, yet let me talk to her; This offspring of Cain, this Jebusite That never tasted of the Passover, Nor ever shall see the land of Canaan, Nor our Messias that is yet to come, aside. This gentle Magot Lodowick I mean, Must be deluded: let him have thy hand, But keep thy heart till Done Mathias comes. It's no sin to deceive a Christian; For they them S lues hold it a principle, Faith is not to be held with Heretics; But all are Heretics that are not Jews; This follows well, and therefore daughter fear not. I have entreated her, and she will grant. So have not I, but yet I hope I shall. aside. Stay her, but let her not speak one word more. O muse not at it, it's the Hebrews guise, That maidens new betrothed should weep a while Trouble her not, sweet Lodowick depart: She is thy wife, and thou shalt be mine heir. Be quiet Lodowick, it is enough That I have made thee sure to Abigail. Well, but for me, as you went in at doors You had been stabbed, but not a word on't now; Here must no speeches pass, nor swords be drawn. No; so shall I, if any hurt be done, Be made and accessary of your deeds; Revenge it on him when you meet him next. Do so; lo here I give thee Abigall. My heart misgives me, that to cross your love, He's with your mother, therefore after him. Nay, if you will, stay till she comes her self. What's that to thee? You'll make they friends? are there not Jews Enough in Malta. But thou must dote upon a Christian? Yes, you shall have him: Go put her in. Now tell me, Ithimore, how likest thou this? True; and it shall be cunningly performed. I, so thou shalt, it's thou must do the deed: Take this and bear it to Mathias straight, And tell him that it comes from Lodowick. No, no, and yet it might be done that way: It is a challenge feigned from Lodowick. I cannot choose but Like thy readiness: Yet be not rash, but do it cunningly. Away then. Exit. So, now will I go in to Lodowick, And Like a cunning spirit feign some lie, Till I have set they both at enmity. Exit. SInce this Town was besieged, my gain grows cold The time has been, that but for one bore night A hundred Ducats have been freely given: But now against my will I must be chased. And yet I know my beauty does not fail. From Venice Merchant's, and from Padua, Were wont to come rare witted Gentlemen, Scholars I mean, learned and liberal; And now, save Pilia-borza, comes there none, And he is very seldom from my house; And here he comes. O bravely fought, and yet they thrust not home. Now Lodowick, now Mathias, so; So now they have showed themselves to be tall fellows. Within, Partly they, partly they. I, partly they now they are dead: Farewell, farewell. What, Abigall become a Nun again? False, and unkind; what hast thou lost thy father? And all unknown, and unconstrained of me, Art thou again God to the Nunnery? Now here she writes, and wills me to repent. Repentance? Spurca : what pretendeth this? I fear she knows (it's so) of my device In Done Mathias and Lodovicoes death's: If so, it's time that it be seen into: For she that varies from me in belief Gives great presumption that she loves me not; Or loving, does dislike of something done: But who comes here? O Ithimore come near; Come near my love, come near thy Master's life, My trusty servant, nay, my second life; For I have now no hope but even in thee; And on that hope my happiness is built: When sawest thou Abigall ? With whom? A Friar? false villain, he hath done the deed. Why made mine Abigall a Nun. Ithimore, entreat not for her, I am moved, And she is hateful to my soul and me: And least thou yield to this that I entreat, I cannot think but that thou hatest my life. O trusty Ithimore ; no servant, but my friend; I here adopt thee for mine only heir, All that I have is thine when I am dead, And while I live use ; spend as my self; Here take my keys, I'll give they thee anon Go buy thee garments: but thou shalt not want: Only know this, that thus thou art to do: But first go fetch me in the pot of Rice That for our supper stands upon the fire. Thus every villain ambles after wealth Although he never be richer then in hope: But hu h't. Well said, Ithimore ; what hast thou brought The Ladle with thee too? Very well, Ithimore, then now be secret And for thy sake, whom I so dearly love, Now shalt thou see the death of Abigall, That thou mayest freely live to be my heir. I but Ithimore seest thou this? It is a precious powder that I bought Of and Italian in And nam once, Whose operation is to bind infect, And poison deeply: yet not appear In forty hours after it is ta e. Thus Ithimore : This Even they use in Malta here (it's called Saint Iagues Even) and then I say they use To send their Alms unto the Nunneries: Among the rest bear this, and set it there; There's a dark entry where ey take it in, Where they must neither see the messenger, Nor make enquiry who hath sent it them. Belike there is some Ceremony in't. There Ithimore must thou go place this plot: Stay, let me spice it first. Prethe do: what sayest thou now? Peace, Ithimore, it's better so then spared. Assure thy self thou shalt have broth by the eye. My purse, my Coffer, and my self is thine. Stay, first let me stir it Ithimore. As fatal be it to her as the draught Of which great Alexander drunk, and died: And with her let it work Like Borgias wine, Whereof his sire, the Pope, was poisoned. In few, the blood of Hydra, Lerna's bane; The iouyce of Hebon, and Cocitus breath, And all the poisons of the Stygian pool Break from the fiery kingdom; and in this Vomit your venom, and inuenome her That Like a fiend hath left her father thus. O my sweet Ithimore go set it down And come again so soon as thou hast done, For I have other business for thee. I'll pay thee with a vengeance Ithamore. Exit. THere is no music to a Christians knell: How sweet the Bells ring now the Nuns are dead That found 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 li e; Now all are dead not one remains alive. How can it if we two be secret. I'de cut thy throat if I did. Thou shalt not needs, for now the Nuns are dead, They'll die with grief. No, but I gr eve because she lived so long and Hebrew Catho diabola. Born, and would become a Christian. I smelled they ever they came. I fear they know we sent the poisoned broth. True, I have money, what though I have? What needs all this? I know I am a Jew. O speak not of her, then I die with grief. I must needs say that I have been a great usurer. Fornication? but that was in another Country: And beside, the Wench is dead. Why, what of them? She has confessed, and we are both undone; My bosom inmates, but I must dissemble. aside. O holy Friars, the burden of my sins Lie heavy 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 Lucars sake have sold my soul. A hundred for a hundred I have ane; And now for store of wealth may I compare With all the Jews in Ma ta ; but what is wealth? I am a Jew, and therefore am I lost. Would penance serve for this my sin, I could afford to whip my self to death. To fast, to pray, and wear a shirt of hair, And on my knees creep to Jerusalem, Cellars of Wine, and Sollers full of Wheat, Warehouses stuffed with spices and with drugs, Whole Chests of Gold, in Bulloine, and in Coin, Beside I know not how much weight in Pearl Orient and round, have I within my house; At Alexandria, Merchandise unsold: But yesterday two ships went from this Town, Their voyage will be worth ten thousand Crowns. In Flo ence, Venice, Antwerp, London, Civil, Frankfurt, Lubeck, Mosco, and where not, Have I debts owing; and in most of these, Great sums of money lying in the bancho; All this I'll give to some religious house So I may be baptized and live therein. I know that I have highly sinned, You shall convert me, you shall have all my wealth. I know they are, and I will be with you. Then it's not for me; and I am resolved You shall confess me, and have all my goods. You see I answer him, and yet he stays; Rid him away, and go you home with me. Come to my house at one a clock this night. This is mere frailty, brothers, be content. Friar Barnardine go you with Ithimore. I'll give him something and so stop his mouth. I never herd of any man but he Maligned the order of the Jacobines : But do you think that I believe his words? Why Brother you converted Abigall ; And I am bound in charity to requite it, And so I will, o Iocome, fail not but come. Marry the Turk shall be one of my godfathers, But not a word to any of your Covent. So now the fear is passed, and I am safe: For he that shrived her is within my house, What if I murdered him ever Jocoma comes? Now I have such a plot for both their lives, As never Jew nor Christian knew the Like: One turned my daughter, therefore he shall die; The other knows enough to have my life, Therefore it's not requisite he should live. But are not both these wise men to suppose That I will leave my house, my goods, and all, To fast and be well whipped; I'll none of that. Now Friar Bernardine I come to you, I'll feast you, lodge you, give you fair words, And after that, I and my trusty Turk — No more but so: it must and shall be done. Ithimore, tell me, is the Friar asleep? No, it's and order which the Friars use: Yet if he knew our meanings, could he escape? Why true, therefore did I place him there: The other Chambers open towards the street. Come on, sirrah, off with your girdle, make a handsome noose; Friar awake. Blame not us but the proverb, Confess & be hanged Pull hard. Pull hard, I say, you would have had my goods. Then is it as it should be, take him up. Who would not think but that this Friar lived? What time a night is't now, sweet Ithimore ? Then will not Jocoma long from hence. Why how now Jocoma, what hast thou done? Who is it Bernardine ? now out alas, he is slain. So might my man and I hang with you for come pany. No, pardon me, the Law must have his course. I must be forced to give in evidence, That being importuned by this Ber ardin To be a Christian, I shut him out, And there he sat: 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 Friery, because you stayed. 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? To morrow is the Sessions; you shall to it. Come Ithimore, let's help to take him hence. The Law shall touch you, we'll but led you, we alas I could weep at your calamity. Take in the staff too, for that must be shown: Law wills that each particular be known. Exeunt. Barabas send me 300 Crowns. Plain Barabas : o that wicked Curtezane! He was not wont to call me Barabas. Or else I will confess: I, there it goes: But if I get him Coupe de Gorge, for that He sent a shaggy tottered 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 Grindstone for men's swords, His hands are hacked, some fingers cut quite off; Who when he speaks, grunts Like a hog, and looks Like one that is employed in Catzerie, And crosbiting 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! Why wantest thou any of thy tale? Not serve his turn, Sir? I'll rather — Might he not as well come as send; pray bid him Come & fetch it, what he writes for you, you shall have straight. I must make this villain away: please you dine With me, Sir, & you shall be most heartily poisoned. aside I cannot do it, I have lost my keys. Or climb up to my Countinghouse window: You know my meaning. I am betrayed. It's not 500 Crowns that I esteem, I am not moved at that: this anger's me, That he who knows I love him as my self Should write in this imperious vain? why Sir, You know I have no child, and unto whom Should I leave all but unto Ithimore ? Commend me to him, Sir, most humbly, And unto your good mistress as unknown. Sir here they are. O that I should partly with so much gold! Here take they, fellow, with as good a will — — As I and see thee hanged ; o, love stops my breath: Never loved man servant as I do Ithimore. Pray when, Sir, shall I see you at my house? Nay to thine own cost, villain, if thou comest. Was ever Jew tormented as I am? To have a shagrag knave to come 300 Crowns, and then 500 Crowns? Well, I must seek a means to rid they all, And presently: for in his villainy 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. Must tuna my Lute for found, twang twang first. Gramercy Mounsier. A voustre commandemente Madam. So, now I am revenged upon they all. The scent thereof was death, I poisoned it. How liberally the villain gives me mine own gold. So did you when you stole my gold. aside You run swifter when yond threw my gold out of My Window. aside. Two, three, four month Madam. Very much, Mounsier, you no be his man. He knows it already. What a slave's this? The Governor feeds not as I do. aside. O rascal! I change my self twice a day. aside 'Twas sent me for a present from the great Cham. Pardona moi, Mounsier, we be no well. Exit. I'll go alone, dogs do not hale me thus. One dram of powder more had made all sure, What a damned slave was I? Confess; what mean you, Lords, who should confess? For what, you men of Malta, hear me speak; She is a Curtezane and he a thief, And he my bondman, let me have law, For none of this can prejudice my life: Devils do your worst, I live in spite of you. As these have spoke so be it to their souls: I hope the poisoned flowers will work anon. Exit. What, all alone? well fare sleepy drink. I'll be revenged 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, whipped to death. Yes, my good Lord, one that can spy a place Where you may enter, and surprise the Town: My name is Barabas ; I am a Jew. The very same, my Lord: And since that time they have hired a slave my man To accuse me of a thousand villainies: I was imprisoned, but scaped their hands. No, no: I drank of Poppy and cold mandrake juice; And being asleep, belike they thought me dead, And threw me over the walls so, or how else, The Jew is here, and rests at your command. Fear not, my Lord, for here against the Truce, The rock is hollow, and of purpose dug, To make a passage for the running streams And common channels of the City. Now while you give assault unto the walls, I'll led 500 soldiers through the Vault, And rise with them i'th middle of the Town, Open the gates for you to enter in, And by this means the City is your own. Thanks, my Lord. May all good fortune follow Calymath. And now, as entrance to our safety, To prison with the Governor and these Captains, his consorts and confederates. A way, no more, let him not trouble me. Thus hast thou got, 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, When as thy life shall be at their command? No, Barabas, this must be looked into; And since by wrong thou gottest Authority, Maintain it bravely by firm policy, At least unprofitably loose it not: For he that lives in Authority, And neither gets him friends, nor fills his bags, Lives Like the Ass that Aesop speaks of, That labours with a load of bred 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 seekest for much, but canst not compass it Within here. I, Lord, thus aves will learn Now Governor stand by there, wait within, This is the reason that I sent for thee; Thou seest thy life, and Malta's happiness, Are at my Arbitrament; and Barabas At his discretion may dispose of both: Now tell me, Governor, and plainly too, What thinkest thou shall become of it and thee? Governor, good words, be not so furious; It's not thy life which can ava le me ought, Yet you do live, and live for me you shall: And as for Malta's ruin, think you no 'Twere slender policy for Barabas To dispossess himself of such a place? For sith, as once you said, within this I'll In Malta here, that I have God my goods, And in this City still have had success, And now at length am grown your Governor, Your selves shall see it shall not be forgotten: For as a friend not known, but in distress, I'll rear up Malta now remediless. What wilt thou give me, Governor, to procure A dissolution of the slavish Bans Wherein the Turk hath yoked your land and you? What will you give me if I render you The life of Calymath, surprise his men, And in and out house of the City shut His soldiers, till I have consumed they all with fire? What will you give him that procureth this? 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 they, go thy self, And let me see what money thou canst make; Here is my hand that I'll set Malta free: And thus we Can to 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. Governor, presently. For Callymath, when he hath viewed the Town, Will take his leave and sail towards, Ottoman, Do so, but fail not; now farewell 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 used to led; And reason too, for Christians do the Like: Well, now about effecting this device: First to surprise great Selims 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. Exit. How stand the cords? How hang these hinges, fast? Are all the Cranes and Pulleys sure? Leave nothing lose, all leveled to my mind. Why now I see that you have Art indeed. There, Carpenters, divide that gold amongst you: Go swill in bowls of Sack and Muscadine: Down to the Cell r, taste of all my wines. 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. Now sirrah, what, will he come? Then now are all things as my wish would have they, There wants nothing but the Governors pelf, And see he brings it: Now, Governor, the sum. Pounds sayest thou, Gouer or, well since it is no more I'll satisfy my self 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, Entered the Monastery, and underneath In several places are field-pieces pitched, 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, Does fallen asunder; so that it does sink Into a deep pit passed recovery. Here, hold that knife, and when thou seest he comes, And with his Pashas shall be blithely set, A warning-piece shall be shot off from the Tower, To give thee knowledge when to cut the cord, And fire the house; say, will not this be brave? No, Governor, I'll satisfy thee first, Thou shalt not live in doubt of any thing. Stand close, for here they come: why, is not this A kingly kind of trade to purchase Towns By treachery, and fell they by deceit? Now tell me, worldlings, underneath the sum, If greater falsehood ever h S been done. Welcome great Calymath. Will't please thee, mighty Selim-Calymath, To ascend our homely stairs? Help, help me, Christians, help. O help me, Selim, help me, Christians. Governor, why stand you all so pitiless? You will not help me then? And villains, know you cannot help me now. Then Barabas breath 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 framed the challenge that did make them meet Know, Calymath, I aimed thy overthrow, And had I but escaped this stratagem, I would have brought confusion on you all, Damned Christians, dogs, and Turkish Infidels; But now begins the extremity of heat To pinch me with intolerable pangs: Die life, fly soul, tongue curse thy ill and die: The ships are safe thou sayest, and richly fraught. Why then go bid them come ashore, And bring with them their bills of entry: I hope our credit in the Customhouse Will serve as well as I were present there. Go send ' m threescore Camels, thirty Mules, And twenty Wagons to bring up the beware. But art thou master in a ship of mine, And is thy credit not enough for that? Go tell they the Jew of Malta sent thee, man. Tush, who amongst they knows not Barrabas ? So then, there's somewhat ome. Sirrah, which of my ships art thou Master off? And sawest thou not mine Argosy at Alexandria Thou couldst not come from Egypt, or by Caire But at the entry there into the sea, Where Nilus pays his tribute to the main, Thou needs must sail by Alexandria. Tush; they are wise, I know her and her strength: By go, go thou thy ways, discharge thy Ship, And bid my Factor bring his loading in. And yet I wonder at his Argosy, How chance you came not with those other ship That sailed by Egypt ? Belike they coasted round by Candy shore About their Oils, or other businesses. But 'twas ill done of you to come so far Without the aid or conduct of their ships. O they were going up to Sicily : well, go And bid the Merchant's and my men dispatch And come ashore, and see the fraught discharged. Thus trowles our fortune in by land and Sea, And thus are we on enery side enriched: These are the Blessings promised to the Jews, And herein was old Abrams happiness: What more may Heaven do for earthly man Then thus to pour out plenty in their laps, Ripping the bowels of the earth for them, Making the Sea their servants, and the winds To driven their substance with successful blasts? Who hates me but for my happiness? Or who is honoured now but for his wealth? Rather had I a Jew be hated thus, Then pitied in a Christian poverty: For I can see no fruits in all their faith, But malice, falsehood, and excessive pride, Which me thinks fits not their profession. Happily some hapless man hath conscience, And for his conscience lives in beggary. They say we are a scattered Nation: I cannot tell, but we have scambled up More wealth by far then those that brag of faith. There's Kirriab Jairim, the great Jew of Greece, Obed in Bairseth, No es in Portugal, My self in Malta, some in Italy, Many in France, and wealthy every one: I, wealthier far then 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 urged by force; and nothing violent, Oft have I herd 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 deer As Agamemnon did his Iphigen : And all I have is hers. But who comes here? Why how now Countrymen? Why flock you thus to me in multitudes? What accident's betided to the Jews? Why let they come, so they come not to war; Or let they war, so we be conquerors: Nay, let they combat, conquer, and kill all, Aside. So they spare me, my daughter, and my wealth. Found men, what dream you of their multitudes? What needs they treat of peace that are in league? The Turks and those of Malta are in league. Tut, tut, there is some other matter in't. Happily for neither, but to pass along Towards Venice by the Adriatic Sea; With whom they have attempted many times, But never could effect their Stratagem. Umh; All the Jews in Malta must be there? I, Like enough, why then let every man Provide him, and be there for fashion-sake. If any thing shall there concern our state Assure your selves I'll look unto my self. aside, Do so; Farewell Zaareth, farewell Temainte. And Barabas now search this secret out. Summon thy senses, call thy wits togethre: These silly men mistake the matter clean. Long to the Turk did Malta contribute; Which Tribute all in policy, I fear, The Turks have let increase to such a sum, As all the wealth of Malta cannot pay; And now by that advantage thinks, belike, To seize upon the Town: I, that he seeks. How ere the world go, I'll make sure for one, And seek in time to intercept the worst, Warily guarding that which I would God. Ego mihimet sum semper proximas. Why let they enter, let they take the Town. Alas, my Lord, the most of us are poor. Who carried that challenge? And if it be not true, then let me die. So that of thus much that return was made: And of the third partly of the Persian ships, That re was the venture summed and satisfied. As for those Samintes, and the men of Vzz, That bought my Spanish Oils, and Wines of Greece, Here have I purst their paltry siluerbings. Fie; what a trouble 'tis to count this trash. Well fare the Arabians, who so richly pay, The things they traffic for with wedge of gold, Whereof a man may easily in a day Tell that which may maintain him all his life. The needy groom that never fingered groat, Would make a miracle of thus much coin: But he whose steel-bard continued ers are crammed full, And all his life time hath been tired, Wearying his fingers ends with telling it, Would in his age be loath to labour so, And for a pound to sweat himself to death: Give me the Merchant's of the Indian Mines, That trade in mettle of the purest mould; The wealth Moor , that in the Eastern rocks Without control can pick his riches up, And in his house heap pearl Like pebble-stones: Receive them free, and fell them by the weight, Bags of fiery Opals, Saphires, Amatists, Iacints, hard Topas, grass-green Emeralds, Beauteous Rubies, sparkling Diamonds, And seildsene costly stones of so great price, As one of them indifferently rated, And of a C rrect of this quantity, May serve in peril of calamity To ransom great Kings from captivity. This is the beware wherein consists my wealth: And thus me thinks should men of judgement frame Their means of traffic from the vulgar trade, And as their wealth increases, so enclose In mite riches in a little room. But now how stands the wind? Into what corner peers my Halcions bill? H , to the East ? yes: See how stands the Vanes? East and by- South : why then I hope my ships I sent for Egypt and the bordering Isles Are got up by Nilus winding banks: Mine Argosy from Alexandria, Loaded with Spice and Silks, now under sail, Are smoothly gl ding down by Candy shore To Malta, through our Mediterranean sea. But who comes hear? How now. Will you then steal my goods? Is theft the ground of your Religion? In spite of these swine-eating Christians, (Unchosen Nation, never circumcised; Such as poor villains were never thought upon Till Titus and Vespasian conquered us.) Am I become as wealthy as I was: They hoped my daughter would would been a Nun; But she's at home, and I have bought a house As great and fair as is the Governors; And there in spite of Malta will I dwell: Having Fernezes hand, whose heart I'll have; I, and his sons too, or it shall go hard. I am not of the Tribe of Levy, I, That can so soon forget and injury. We Jews can fawn Like Spaniels when we please; And when we grin we bite, yet are our looks As innocent and harmless as a Lambs. I learned in Florence how to kiss my hand, Heave up my shoulders when they call me dog, And duck as low as any barefoot Friar, Hoping to see them starve upon a stall, Or else be gathered for in our Synagogue; That when the offering-Bason comes to me, Even for charity I may spit intoo't. Here comes Done Lodowick the Governor's son, One that I love for his good father's sake. So do I too. O unhappy day, False, credulous, inconstant Abigall! But let they go: And Ithimore, from hence Never shall she grieve me more with her disgrace; Never shall she live to inherit ought of mine, Be blessed of me, nor come within my gates, But perish underneath my bitter curse Like Cain by Adam, for his brother's death. Out shines Cinthia's rays: Yeu'le Like it better far a nights than days. aside. No, no, but happily he stands in fear Of that to which you, I think, never dream upon, My daughter here, a paltry silly girl. And the horse pestilence to boot; away.