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.

Alarms. Enter2 Turks, Barabas, &c.; Governor and Knights prisoners.

Caly.

• Now vail3 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
• T'have1 kept thy promise than be thus surprised?

Gov.

• What should I say? We are captives and must yield.

Caly.

• Ay, villains, you must yield, and under Turkish yokes
• Shall groaning bear the burden of our ire;
• And, Barabas, as erst we promised thee,
• For thy desert we make thee governor;

  10

• Use them at thy discretion.

Bar.

• Thanks, my lord.

Gov.

• O fatal day, to fall into the hand
• Of such a traitor and unhallowed Jew!

Caly.

• 'Tis our command: and, Barabas, we give
• To guard thy person these our Janizaries:
• Entreat them well, as we have usèd thee.
• And now, brave bassoes, come, we'll walk about
• The ruined town, and see the wreck we made:
• Farewell, brave Jew; farewell, great Barabas!

  20

• [ExeuntCalymathand Bassoes.

Bar.

• May all good fortune follow Calymath.
• And now, as entrance to our safety,
• To prison with the Governor and these

Gov.

• O villain, Heaven will be revenged on thee.
• [Exeunt.

Bar.

• Away, no more, let him not trouble me.
• Thus1 hast thou gotten, by thy policy,
• No simple place, no small authority,
• I now am governor of Malta; true,
• But Malta hates me, and, in hating me,

  30

• My life's in danger, and what boots it thee,
• Poor Barabas, to be the governor,
• Whenas thy life shall be at their command?
• No, Barabas, this must be looked into;
• And since by wrong thou got'st authority,
• Maintain it bravely by firm policy.
• At least unprofitably lose it not:
• For he that liveth in authority,
• And neither gets him friends, nor fills his bags,
• Lives like the ass that Æsop speaketh of,

  40

• That labours with a load of bread 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 seek'st for much, but canst not compass it.
• Within here!
• Enter Governor, with a Guard.

Gov.

• My lord?

Bar.

• Ay, lord; thus slaves will learn.
• Now, Governor, stand by there:—wait within.

  50

• [Exit Guard.
• This is the reason that I sent for thee;
• Thou seest thy life and Malta's happiness
• Are at my arbitrement; and Barabas
• At his discretion may dispose of both:
• Now tell me, Governor, and plainly too,
• What think'st thou shall become of it and thee?

Gov.

• This, Barabas; since things are in thy power,
• I see no reason but of Malta's wreck,
• Nor hope of thee but extreme cruelty;
• Nor fear I death, nor will I flatter thee.

  60

Bar.

• Governor, good words; be not so furious.
• 'Tis not thy life which can avail me aught,
• Yet you do live, and live for me you shall:
• And, as for Malta's ruin, think you not
• 'Twere slender policy for Barabas
• To dispossess himself of such a place?
• For sith, as once you said, 'tis in this isle,
• In Malta here, that I have got my goods,
• And in this city still have had success,
• And now at length am grown your governor,

  70

• Yourselves shall see it shall not be forgot:
• For, as a friend not known but in distress,
• I'll rear up Malta, now remediless.

Gov.

• Will Barabas recover Malta's loss?
• Will Barabas be good to Christians?

Bar.

• What wilt thou give me, Governor, to procure
• A dissolution of the slavish bands
• 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

  80

• And in an outhouse of the city shut
• His soldiers, till I have consumed 'em all with fire?
• What will you give him that procureth this?

Gov.

• Do but bring this to pass which thou pretend'st,1
• Deal truly with us as thou intimatest,
• And I will send amongst the citizens,
• And by my letters privately procure
• Great sums of money for thy recompense:
• Nay more, do this, and live thou governor still.

Bar.

• Nay, do thou this, Ferneze, and be free;

  90

• Governor, I enlarge thee; live with me,
• Go walk about the city, see thy friends:
• Tush, send not letters to 'em, go thyself,
• And let me see what money thou canst make;
• Here is my hand that I'll set Malta free:
• And thus we cast 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,

  100

• And I will warrant Malta free for ever.

Gov.

• Here is my hand, believe me, Barabas,
• I will be there, and do as thou desirest;
• When is the time?

Bar.

• Governor, presently;
• For Calymath, when he hath viewed the town,

Gov.

• Then will I, Barabas, about this coin,
• And bring it with me to thee in the evening.

Bar.

• Do so, but fail not; now farewell, Ferneze:
• [Exit Governor.
• And thus far roundly goes the business:

  110

• 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 lead;
• And reason too, for Christians do the like.
• Well, now about effecting this device:
• First to surprise great Selim's soldiers,
• And then to make provision for the feast,
• That at one instant all things may be done:

  120

• My policy detests prevention:
• To what event my secret purpose drives,
• I know; and they shall witness with their lives.
• [Exit.

[2]Scene: a square in the city.

[3]Lower.

[1]Old ed. “To kept,”

[1]The scene shifts to the Governor's house.

[1]I.e., intend'st.