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 III.

Enter2 Officers withIthamoreand other slaves.

1 Off.

• This is the market-place, here let 'em stand:
• Fear not their sale, for they'll be quickly bought.

2 Off.

• Every one's price is written on his back,
• And so much must they yield or not be sold.

1 Off.

• Here comes the Jew; had not his goods been seized,
• He'd given us present money for them all.
• EnterBarabas.

Bar.

• In spite of these swine-eating Christians,—
• Unchosen nation, never circumcised,
• Such1 as (poor villains!) were ne'er thought upon
• Till Titus and Vespasian conquered us,—

  10

• Am I become as wealthy as I was:
• They hoped my daughter would ha' been a nun;
• But she's at home, and I have bought a house
• As great and fair as is the Governor's;
• And there in spite of Malta will I dwell,
• Having Ferneze's hand, whose heart I'll have;
• Ay, and his son's too, or it shall go hard.
• I am not of the tribe of Levi, I,
• That can so soon forget an injury.
• We Jews can fawn like spaniels when we please:

  20

• And when we grin we bite, yet are our looks
• As innocent and harmless as a lamb's.
• I learned in Florence how to kiss my hand,
• Heave up my shoulders when they call me dog,2
• 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-basin comes to me,
• Even for charity I may spit into't.
• Here comes Don Lodowick, the Governor's son,

  30

• One that I love for his good father's sake.
• EnterLodowick.

Lod.

• I hear the wealthy Jew walkèd this way:
• I'll seek him out, and so insinuate,
• That I may have a sight of Abigail;

Bar.

• Now will I show myself
• To have more of the serpent than the dove;
• That is—more knave than fool.

Lod.

• Yond' walks the Jew; now for fair Abigail.

Bar.

• Ay, ay, no doubt but she's at your command.

  40

• [Aside.

Lod.

• Barabas, thou know'st I am the Governor's son.

Bar.

• I would you were his father too, sir;
• That's all the harm I wish you.—The slave looks
• Like a hog's-cheek new singed.
• [Aside.

Lod.

• Whither walk'st thou, Barabas?

Bar.

• No farther: 'tis a custom held with us,
• That when we speak with Gentiles like to you,
• We turn into the air to purge ourselves:
• For unto us the promise doth belong.

Lod.

• Well, Barabas, canst help me to a diamond?

  50

Bar.

• 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 [?] for him,
• And the white leprosy.
• [Aside.

Lod.

• What sparkle does it give without a foil?

Bar.

• The diamond that I talk of ne'er was foiled:—
• But when he touches it, it will be foiled:—
• [Aside.
• Lord Lodowick, it sparkles bright and fair.

  60

Lod.

• Is it square or pointed, pray let me know.

Bar.

• Pointed it is, good sir—but not for you.
• [Aside.

Lod.

• I like it much the better.

Bar.

• So do I too.

Lod.

• How shows it by night?

Bar.

• Outshines Cynthia's rays:
• You'll like it better far o' nights than days.
• [Aside.

Lod.

• And what's the price?

Bar.

• 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.

Lod.

• No, Barabas, I will deserve it first.

  70

Bar.

• Good sir,
• Your father has deserved it at my hands,
• Who, of mere charity and Christian truth,
• 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 whether I would or no,

Lod.

• No doubt your soul shall reap the fruit of it.

  80

Bar.

• Ay, 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,
• 'Tis likely they in time may reap some fruit,
• I mean in fulness of perfection.

Lod.

• Good Barabas, glance not at our holy nuns.

Bar.

• No, but I do it through a burning zeal,—
• Hoping ere long to set the house afire;

  90

• For though they do a while increase and multiply,
• I'll have a saying to1 that nunnery.—
• [Aside.
• As for the diamond, sir, I told you of,
• Come home and there's no price shall make us part,
• 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.

Lod.

• And, Barabas, I'll bear thee company.

Bar.

• Come then—here's the market-place.
• What's the price of this slave? Two hundred crowns!
• Do the Turks weigh so much?

1 Off.

• Sir, that's his price.

  101

Bar.

• 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 three hundred plates,2
• So that, being bought, the town-seal might be got
• To keep him for his lifetime from the gallows:
• The sessions day is critical to thieves,
• And few or none 'scape but by being purged.

Lod.

• Rat'st thou this Moor but at two hundred plates?

1 Off.

• No more, my lord.

  110

Bar.

• Why should this Turk be dearer than that Moor?

1 Off.

• Because he is young and has more qualities.

Bar.

• What, hast the philosopher's stone? and thou hast, break my head with it, I'll forgive thee.

Slave.1

• No, sir; I can cut and shave.

Bar.

• Let me see, sirrah, are you not an old shaver?2

Slave.3

• Alas, sir! I am a very youth.

Bar.

• A youth? I'll buy you, and marry you to Lady Vanity,4 if you do well.

Slave. 3.

• I will serve you, sir.

  120

Bar.

• 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?

Slave. 3.

• Ay, passing well.

Bar.

• So much the worse; I must have one that's sickly, an't be but for sparing victuals: 'tis not a stone of beef a day will maintain you in these chops; let me see one that's somewhat leaner.

1 Off.

• Here's a leaner, how like you him?

Bar.

• Where wast thou born?

  130

Itha.

• In Thrace; brought up in Arabia.

Bar.

• So much the better, thou art for my turn.
• An hundred crowns? I'll have him; there's the coin.

1 Off.

• Then mark him, sir, and take him hence.

Bar.

• Ay, mark him, you were best, for this is he
• That by my help shall do much villainy.
• [Aside.
• 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.

  140

• EnterMathiasand his Mother.1

Math.

• What makes the Jew and Lodowick so private?
• I fear me 'tis about fair Abigail.
• [Aside.

Bar.

• Yonder comes Don Mathias, let us stay;2
• [ExitLodowick
• He loves my daughter, and she holds him dear:
• But I have sworn to frustrate both their hopes,
• And be revenged upon the Governor.

Moth.

• This Moor is comeliest, is he not? speak, son.

Math.

• No, this is the better, mother; view this well.

Bar.

• Seem not to know me here before your mother,
• Lest she mistrust the match that is in hand:

  150

• When you have brought her home, come to my house;
• Think of me as thy father; son, farewell.

Math.

• But wherefore talked Don Lodowick with you?

Bar.

• Tush! man, we talked of diamonds, not of Abigail.

Moth.

• Tell me, Mathias, is not that the Jew?

Bar.

• As for the comment on the Maccabees,
• I have it, sir, and 'tis at your command.

Math.

• Yes, madam, and my talk with him was [but]1
• About the borrowing of a book or two.

Moth.

• Converse not with him, he's cast off from heaven.

  160

• Thou hast thy crowns, fellow; come, let's away.

Math.

• Sirrah, Jew, remember the book.

Bar.

• Marry will I, sir.
• [ExeuntMathiasand his Mother.

Off.

• Come, I have made
• A reasonable market; let's away.
• [Exeunt Officers with slaves.

Bar.

• Now let me know thy name, and therewithal
• Thy birth, condition, and profession.

Itha.

• Faith, sir, my birth is but mean: my name's
• Ithamore, my profession what you please.

Bar.

• Hast thou no trade? then listen to my words,

  170

• 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 moved at nothing, see thou pity none,
• But to thyself smile when the Christians moan.

Itha.

• O brave! master, I worship your nose2 for this.

Bar.

• As1 for myself, I walk abroad o' nights
• And kill sick people groaning under walls:
• Sometimes I go about and poison wells;
• And now and then, to cherish Christian thieves,

  180

• I am content to lose some of my crowns,
• That I may, walking in my gallery,
• See 'em go pinioned along by my door.
• Being young, I studied physic, and began
• To practise first upon the Italian;
• There I enriched the priests with burials,
• And always kept the sextons' arms in ure2
• With digging graves and ringing dead men's knells:
• And after that was I an engineer,
• And in the wars 'twixt France and Germany,

  190

• 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 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 a long great scroll

  200

• How I with interest tormented him.
• But mark how I am blest for plaguing them;
• I have as much coin as will buy the town.
• But tell me now, how hast thou spent thy time?

Itha.

• 'Faith, master,
• In setting Christian villages on fire,
• Chaining of eunuchs, binding galley-slaves.
• One time I was an hostler in an inn,
• And in the night-time secretly would I steal
• To travellers' chambers, and there cut their throats:

  210

• Once at Jerusalem, where the pilgrims kneeled,
• I strewèd powder on the marble stones,
• And therewithal their knees would rankle so
• That I have laughed a-good1 to see the cripples
• Go limping home to Christendom on stilts.

Bar.

• Why this is something: make account of me
• As of thy fellow; we are villains both:
• Both circumcisèd, we hate Christians both:
• Be true and secret, thou shalt want no gold.
• But stand aside, here comes Don Lodowick.

  220

• EnterLodowick.

Lod.

• O Barabas, well met;
• Where is the diamond you told me of?

Bar.

• I have it for you, sir; please you walk in with me:
• What ho, Abigail!2 open the door, I say.
• EnterAbigail.

Abig.

• In good time, father; here are letters come
• From Ormus, and the post stays here within.

Bar.

• Give me the letters.—Daughter, do you hear,
• Entertain Lodowick the Governor's son
• With all the courtesy you can afford;
• Provided that you keep your maidenhead.

  230

• Use him as if he were a Philistine,
• Dissemble, swear, protest, vow love1 to him,
• He is not of the seed of Abraham.
• [Aside.
• I am a little busy, sir, pray pardon me.
• Abigail, bid him welcome for my sake.

Abig.

• For your sake and his own he's welcome hither.

Bar.

• Daughter, a word more; kiss him, speak him fair,
• And like a cunning Jew so cast about,
• That ye be both made sure2 ere you come out.
• [Aside.

Abig.

• O father! Don Mathias is my love.

  240

Bar.

• 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 factor's hand—
• But go you in, I'll think upon the account.
• [ExeuntAbigailandLodowick.
• The account is made, for Lodowick [he3 ] dies.
• My factor sends me word a merchant's fled
• That owes me for a hundred tun of wine:
• I weigh it thus much [snapping his fingers]; I have wealth enough.
• For now by this has he kissed Abigail;
• And she vows love to him, and he to her.

  250

• As sure as heaven rained manna for the Jews,
• So sure shall he and Don Mathias die:
• His father was my chiefest enemy.
• EnterMathias.
• Whither goes Don Mathias? stay awhile.

Math.

• Whither, but to my fair love Abigail?

Bar.

• Thou know'st, and Heaven can witness this is true,
• That I intend my daughter shall be thine.

Math.

• Ay, Barabas, or else thou wrong'st me much.

Bar.

• O, Heaven forbid I should have such a thought.
• Pardon me though I weep: the Governor's son

  260

• Will, whether I will or no, have Abigail:
• He sends her letters, bracelets, jewels, rings.

Math.

• Does she receive them?

Bar.

• She? No, Mathias, no, but sends them back,
• And when he comes, she locks herself up fast;
• Yet through the keyhole will he talk to her,
• While she runs to the window looking out,
• When you should come and hale him from the door.

Math.

• O treacherous Lodowick!

Bar.

• Even now as I came home, he slipt me in,

  270

• And I am sure he is with Abigail.

Math.

• I'll rouse him thence.

Bar.

• Not for all Malta, therefore sheathe your sword;
• If you love me, no quarrels in my house;
• But steal you in, and seem to see him not;
• I'll give him such a warning ere he goes
• As he shall have small hopes of Abigail.
• Away, for here they come.
• EnterLodowickandAbigail.

Math.

• What, hand in hand! I cannot suffer this.

Bar.

• Mathias, as thou lovest me, not a word.

  280

Math.

• Well, let it pass, another time shall serve.
• [Exit.

Lod.

• Barabas, is not that the widow's son?

Bar.

• Ay, and take heed, for he hath sworn your death.

Lod.

• My death? what, is the base-born peasant mad?

Bar.

• No, no, but happily he stands in fear
• Of that which you, I think, ne'er dream upon,
• My daughter here, a paltry silly girl.

Lod.

• Why, loves she Don Mathias?

Bar.

• Doth she not with her smiling answer you?

Abig.

• He has my heart; I smile against my will.

  290

• [Aside.

Lod.

• Barabas, thou know'st I've loved thy daughter long.

Bar.

• And so has she done you, even from a child.

Lod.

• And now I can no longer hold my mind.

Bar.

• Nor I the affection that I bear to you.

Lod.

• This is thy diamond, tell me shall I have it?

Bar.

• Win it, and wear it, it is yet unsoiled.
• 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 cross1
• With Christian posies round about the ring.

  300

Lod.

• 'Tis not thy wealth, but her that I esteem.
• Yet crave I thy consent.

Bar.

• And mine you have, yet let me talk to her.—
• This offspring of Cam, this Jebusite,
• That never tasted of the Passover,
• Nor e'er shall see the land of Canaan,
• Nor our Messias that is yet to come;
• This gentle maggot, Lodowick, I mean,
• Must be deluded: let him have thy hand,
• But keep thy heart till Don Mathias comes.
• [Aside.

  310

Abig.

• What, shall I be betrothed to Lodowick?

Bar.

• 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;
• This follows well, and therefore, daughter, fear not.
• [Aside.
• I have entreated her, and she will grant.

Lod.

• Then, gentle Abigail, plight thy faith to me.

Abig.

• I cannot choose, seeing my father bids.—
• Nothing but death shall part my love and me.
• [Aside.

  320

Lod.

• Now have I that for which my soul hath longed.

Bar.

• So have not I, but yet I hope I shall.
• [Aside.

Abig.

• O wretched Abigail, what hast thou1 done?
• [Aside.

Lod.

• Why on the sudden is your colour changed?

Abig.

• I know not, but farewell, I must be gone.

Bar.

• Stay her, but let her not speak one word more.

Lod.

• Mute o' the sudden! here's a sudden change.

Bar.

• O, muse not at it, 'tis the Hebrews' guise,
• That maidens new betrothed should weep awhile:
• Trouble her not; sweet Lodowick, depart:

  330

• She is thy wife, and thou shalt be mine heir.

Lod.

• O, is't the custom? then I am resolved:
• But rather let the brightsome heavens be dim,
• And nature's beauty choke with stifling clouds,
• Than my fair Abigail should frown on me.—
• There comes the villain, now I'll be revenged.
• EnterMathias.

Bar.

• Be quiet, Lodowick, it is enough
• That I have made thee sure to Abigail.

Lod.

• Well, let him go.
• [Exit.

Bar.

• Well, but for me, as you went in at doors

  340

• You had been stabbed, but not a word on't now;

Math.

• Suffer me, Barabas, but to follow him.

Bar.

• No; so shall I, if any hurt be done,
• Be made an accessary of your deeds;
• Revenge it on him when you meet him next.

Math.

• For this I'll have his heart.

Bar.

• Do so; lo here I give thee Abigail.

Math.

• What greater gift can poor Mathias have?
• Shall Lodowick rob me of so fair a love?

  350

• My life is not so dear as Abigail.

Bar.

• My heart misgives me, that, to cross your love,
• He's with your mother; therefore after him.

Math.

• What, is he gone unto my mother?

Bar.

• Nay, if you will, stay till she comes herself.

Math.

• I cannot stay; for if my mother come,
• She'll die with grief.
• [Exit.

Abig.

• I cannot take my leave of him for tears:
• Father, why have you thus incensed them both?

Bar.

• What's that to thee?

  360

Abig.

• I'll make 'em friends again.

Bar.

• You'll make 'em friends!
• Are there not Jews enow in Malta,

Abig.

• I will have Don Mathias, he is my love.

Bar.

• Yes, you shall have him: go put her in.

Itha.

• Ay, I'll put her in.
• [Puts her in.

Bar.

• Now tell me, Ithamore, how lik'st thou this?

Itha.

• Faith, master, I think by this
• You purchase both their lives; is it not so?

Bar.

• True; and it shall be cunningly performed.

  370

Itha.

• O master, that I might have a hand in this.

Bar.

• Ay, so thou shalt, 'tis thou must do the deed:
• Take this, and bear it to Mathias straight,
• [Gives a letter.
• And tell him that it comes from Lodowick.

Itha.

• 'Tis poisoned, is it not?

Bar.

• No, no, and yet it might be done that way:
• It is a challenge feigned from Lodowick.

Itha.

• Fear not; I will so set his heart afire,
• That he shall verily think it comes from him.

Bar.

• I cannot choose but like thy readiness:

  380

• Yet be not rash, but do it cunningly.

Itha.

• As I behave myself in this, employ me hereafter.

Bar.

• Away then.
• [Exit.
• So, now will I go in to Lodowick,
• And, like a cunning spirit, feign some lie,
• Till I have set 'em both at enmity.
• [Exit.

ACT THE THIRD.

[2]Scene: the market-place.

[1]The modern editors give “Poor villains, such as,” &c.; but the reading of the 4to. is quite intelligible.

[2]Cf. Shylock's “Still have I borne it with a patient shrug.”

[1]Dyce quotes from Barnabe Barnes' Divils Charter, 1607, “For 1 must have a saying to those bottels.”

[2]Pieces of silver. Cf. Ant. and Cleo.:—

• “Realms and islands were
• As plates dropt from his pocket.”

[1]Old ed. “Itha.”

[2]A cant word still in use.

[3]Old ed. “1th.”

[4]An allegorical character in the old moralities. Cf. 1 Henry IV., ii. 4—“That reverend vice, that grey iniquity, that vanity in years.” In the Devil is an Ass, “Lady Vanity” is coupled with “Iniquity.”

[1]Old ed. “Mater.”

[2]Stop our conversation.

[1]I have followed Dyce's suggestion in adding this word.

[2]An important part in Barabas' get-up was his large nose. In William Rowley's Search for Money, 1609, there is an allusion to the “artificial Jew of Malta's nose.”

[1]In Titus Andronicus Aaron gives a somewhat similar catalogue of villainies.

[2]Use.

[1]Heartily.

[2]The scene shifts to the front of Barabas' house.

[1]Dyce's correction for the old copy's “vow to love him.”

[2]Affianced. “Accordailles, the betrothing or making sure of a man and woman together.”—Cotgrave.

[3]The word “he” was inserted by Cunningham for the sake of the metre.

[1]A piece of money marked on one side with a cross.

[1]Old ed. “thee.”