The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Publisher's Notice
• To My Worthy Friend , Master Thomas Hammon, of Gray's Inn , &c.
• Persons Represented.
• The Jew of Malta.
• Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Edward the Second.
• Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• The Massacre At Paris.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Scene VII.
• Scene VIII.
• Scene IX.
• Scene X.
• Scene XI.
• Scene XII.
• Scene XIII.
• Scene XIV.
• Scene XV.
• Scene XVI.
• Scene XVII.
• Scene XVIII.
• Scene XIX.
• Scene XX.
• Scene XXI.
• Scene XXII.
• Scene XXIII.
• Scene XXIV.
• The Tragedy of Dido, Queen of Carthage.
• Act I.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act II.
• Scene I.
• Act III.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene Iii
• Scene IV.
• Scene V
• Act V.
• Scene I.

SCENE I.

EnterBarabasin his counting-house, with heaps of gold before him.

Bar.

• So that of thus much that return was made:
• And of the third part of the Persian ships,
• There was the venture summed and satisfied.
• As for those Sabans,1 and the men of Uz,
• That bought my Spanish oils and wines of Greece,
• Here have I purst their paltry silverlings.2
• 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

  10

• 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-barred coffers are crammed full,
• And all his lifetime hath been tirèd,
• Wearying his fingers' ends with telling it,
• Would in his age be loth to labour so,
• And for a pound to sweat himself to death.
• Give me the merchants of the Indian mines,
• That trade in metal of the purest mould;

  20

• The wealthy Moor, that in the eastern rocks
• Without control can pick his riches up,
• And in his house heap pearls like pebble-stones,
• Receive them free, and sell them by the weight;
• Bags of fiery opals, sapphires, amethysts,
• Jacinths, hard topaz, grass-green emeralds,
• Beauteous rubies, sparkling diamonds,
• And seld-seen costly stones of so great price,
• As one of them indifferently rated,
• And of a carat of this quantity,

  30

• May serve in peril of calamity
• To ransom great kings from captivity.
• This is the ware wherein consists my wealth;
• And thus methinks should men of judgment frame
• Their means of traffic from the vulgar trade,
• And as their wealth increaseth, so inclose
• Infinite riches in a little room.
• But now how stands the wind?
• Into what corner peers my halcyon's1 bill?
• Ha! to the east? yes: see, how stands the vanes?

  40

• East and by south: why then I hope my ships
• I sent for Egypt and the bordering isles
• Are gotten up by Nilus' winding banks:
• Mine argosy from Alexandria,
• Loaden with spice and silks, now under sail,
• Are smoothly gliding down by Candy shore
• To Malta, through our Mediterranean sea.
• But who comes here? How now!
• Enter a Merchant.

Merch.

• Barabas, thy ships are safe,
• Riding in Malta Road: and all the merchants

  50

• With other merchandise are safe arrived,
• And have sent me to know whether yourself
• Will come and custom1 them.

Bar.

• The ships are safe thou say'st, and richly fraught.

Merch.

• They are.

Bar.

• Why then go bid them come ashore,
• And bring with them their bills of entry:
• I hope our credit in the custom-house
• Will serve as well as I were present there.
• Go send 'em threescore camels, thirty mules,
• And twenty waggons to bring up the ware.

  60

• But art thou master in a ship of mine,
• And is thy credit not enough for that?

Merch.

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

Bar.

• Go tell 'em the Jew of Malta sent thee, man:
• Tush! who amongst 'em knows not Barabas?

Merch.

• I go.

Bar.

• So then, there's somewhat come.
• Sirrah, which of my ships art thou master of?

  70

Merch.

• Of the Speranza, sir.

Bar.

• And saw'st thou not
• Mine argosy at Alexandria?
• Thou could'st 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.

Merch.

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

  80

Bar.

• Tush, they are wise! I know her and her strength.
• But1 go, go thou thy ways, discharge thy ship,
• And bid my factor bring his loading in.
• [Exit Merch.
• And yet I wonder at this argosy.
• Enter a second Merchant.

2 Merch.

• Thine argosy from Alexandria,
• Know, Barabas, doth ride in Malta Road,
• Laden with riches, and exceeding store
• Of Persian silks, of gold, and orient pearl.

Bar.

• How chance you came not with those other ships That sailed by Egypt?

2 Merch.

• Sir, we saw 'em not.

  90

Bar.

• 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.

2 Merch.

• 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.

Bar.

• O!—they were going up to Sicily:—
• Well, go,
• And bid the merchants and my men despatch

  100

• And come ashore, and see the fraught discharged.

2 Merch.

• I go.
• [Exit.

Bar.

• Thus trowls our fortune in by land and sea,
• And thus are we on every side enriched:
• These are the blessings promised to the Jews,
• And herein was old Abram'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

  110

• To drive their substance with successful blasts?
• Who hateth me but for my happiness?
• Or who is honoured now but for his wealth?
• Rather had I a Jew be hated thus,
• Than pitied in a Christian poverty:
• For I can see no fruits in all their faith,
• But malice, falsehood, and excessive pride,
• Which methinks fits not their profession.
• Haply some hapless man hath conscience,
• And for his conscience lives in beggary.

  120

• They say we are a scattered nation:
• I cannot tell, but we have scambled1 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,

  130

• And crowns come either by succession,
• Or urged by force; and nothing violent,
• Oft have I heard tell, can be permanent.
• Give us a peaceful rule, make Christians kings,
• That thirst so much for principality.
• I have no charge, nor many children,
• But one sole daughter, whom I hold as dear
• As Agamemnon did his Iphigen:
• And all I have is hers. But who comes here?
• Enter three Jews.1

1 Jew.

• Tush, tell not me; 'twas done of policy.

  140

2 Jew.

• Come, therefore, let us go to Barabas,
• For he can counsel best in these affairs;
• And here he comes.

Bar.

• Why, how now, countrymen!
• Why flock you thus to me in multitudes?
• What accident's betided to the Jews?

1 Jew.

• A fleet of warlike galleys, Barabas,
• Are come from Turkey, and lie in our road:
• And they this day sit in the council-house
• To entertain them and their embassy.

  149

Bar.

• Why, let 'em come, so they come not to war;
• Or let 'em war, so we be conquerors—
• Nay, let 'em combat, conquer, and kill all!
• So they spare me, my daughter, and my wealth.
• [Aside.

1 Jew.

• Were it for confirmation of a league,
• They would not come in warlike manner thus.

2 Jew.

• I fear their coming will afflict us all.

Bar.

• Fond men! what dream you of their multitudes.
• What need they treat of peace that are in league?
• The Turks and those of Malta are in league.
• Tut, tut, there is some other matter in't.

  160

1 Jew.

• Why, Barabas, they come for peace or war.

Bar.

• Haply for neither, but to pass along
• Towards Venice by the Adriatic Sea;
• With whom they have attempted many times,
• But never could effect their stratagem.

3 Jew.

• And very wisely said. It may be so.

2 Jew.

• But there's a meeting in the senate-house,
• And all the Jews in Malta must be there.

Bar.

• Hum; all the Jews in Malta must be there?
• Ay, like enough, why then let every man

  170

• Provide him, and be there for fashion-sake.
• If anything shall there concern our state,
• Assure yourselves I'll look—unto myself.
• [Aside.

1 Jew.

• I know you will; well, brethren, let us go.

2 Jew.

• Let's take our leaves; farewell, good Barabas.

Bar.

• Farewell,1 Zaareth; farewell, Temainte.
• [Exeunt Jews.
• And, Barabas, now search this secret out;
• Summon thy senses, call thy wits together:
• These silly men mistake the matter clean.
• Long to the Turk did Malta contribute;

  180

• 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: ay, that he seeks.
• However the world go, I'll make sure for one,
• And seek in time to intercept the worst,
• Warily guarding that which I ha' got.
• Ego mihimet sum semper proximus.2
• Why, let 'em enter, let 'em take the town.
• [Exit.

  190

[1]Old ed. “Samintes,” for which the modern editors give “Samnites.” Between the “Samnites” and the “men of Uz” there can be no possible connection. My emendation suits the context. We have Saba for Sabæa in Faustus, xii. 25, &c.

[2]Old ed. “silverbings.” Dyce observes that the word “silverling” occurs in Isaiah (vii. 23):—“A thousand vines at a thousand silverlings.”

[1]It was a common belief that a stuffed halcyon (i.e., kingfisher), suspended by the bill, showed from what quarter the wind blew, Shakespeare alludes to the superstition in Lear, ii. 2,—

• “Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks
• With every gale and vary of their masters.”

Sir Thomas Browne, who discusses the subject in Vulgar Errors (iii. 10), says that “the eldest custom of hanging up these birds was founded upon a tradition that they would renew their feathers every year as though they were alive.”

[1]Pay the duty on them.

[1]Old ed. “By” (which might perhaps be defended, as meaning “good-bye.” Cf. Shirley's Constant Maid, 1. i,—”Buoy, Close, buoy, honest Close: we are blanks, blanks.”)

[1]A recognised form of “scrambled.” Cf. Henry V., i. 1:—

• “But that the scambling and unquiet time
• Did push it out of farther question.”

[1]The scene is shifted to the Exchange.

[1]Old ed. “Jew. Doe so; Farewell, Zaareth,” &c. Dyce is doubtless right in considering that “doe so” is a stage direction (= Exeunt Merchants), which has crept into the text.

[2]A misquotation from Terence's Andria, iv. 1, 12, “Proximus sum egomet mihi.”