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 II.

Enter3 Governor, MartindelBosco, and Knights.

Gov.

• Now, captain, tell us whither thou art bound?
• Whence is thy ship that anchors in our road?
• And why thou cam'st ashore without our leave?

Bosc.

• 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.

1 Knight.

• 'Tis true, my lord, therefore entreat him well.

Bosc.

• Our fraught is Grecians, Turks, and Afric Moors.
• For late upon the coast of Corsica,

  10

• Because we vailed1 not to the Turkish2 fleet,
• Their creeping galleys had us in the chase:
• But suddenly the wind began to rise,
• And then we luffed and tacked,3 and fought at ease:
• Some have we fired, 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.

Gov.

• Martin del Bosco, I have heard of thee;
• Welcome to Malta, and to all of us;

  20

• But to admit a sale of these thy Turks
• We may not, nay, we dare not give consent
• By reason of a tributary league.

1 Knight.

• Del Bosco, as thou lov'st and honour'st us,
• Persuade our governor against the Turk;
• This truce we have is but in hope of gold,

Bosc.

• 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,

  30

• The Christian Isle of Rhodes, from whence you came,
• Was lately lost, and you were stated4 here
• To be at deadly enmity with Turks.

Gov.

• Captain, we know it, but our force is small.

Bosc.

• What is the sum that Calymath requires?

Gov.

• A hundred thousand crowns.

Bosc.

• My lord and king hath title to this isle,
• And he means quickly to expel you hence;
• Therefore be ruled by me, and keep the gold:
• I'll write unto his majesty for aid,

  40

• And not depart until I see you free.

Gov.

• 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 barb'rous misbelieving Turks.

Bosc.

• So shall you imitate those you succeed:
• For when their hideous force environed Rhodes,
• Small though the number was that kept the town,
• They fought it out, and not a man survived

  50

• To bring the hapless news to Christendom.

Gov.

• So will we fight it out; come, let's away:
• Proud daring Calymath, instead of gold,
• We'll send thee bullets wrapt1 in smoke and fire:
• Claim tribute where thou wilt, we are resolved,
• Honour is bought with blood and not with gold.
• [Exeunt.

[3]Scene: the Senate-house.

[1]I.e., did not lower our sails. Cf. 1 Tamburlaine, i, 2, l. 193.

[2]Old ed. “Spanish.”

[3]Old ed. “left and tooke.” The correction was made by Dyce.

[4]Established.

[1]Cf. King John, i. 2:—

• “And now instead of bullets wrapt in fire.”