Bara. Pardonnez moi, monsieur; me* be no well.

Pilia. Farewell, fiddler [Exit BARABAS.] One letter more to the Jew.

Bell. Prithee, sweet love, one more, and write it sharp.

Itha. No, I'll send by word of mouth now. -Bid him deliver thee a thousand crowns, by the same token that the nuns loved rice, that Friar Barnardine slept in his own clothes; any of 'em will do it.

Pilia. Let me alone to urge it, now I know the meaning.

Itha. The meaning has a meaning. Come, let's in:

To undo a Jew is charity, and not sin. [Exeunt.

Enter FERNEZE,§ Knights, MARTIN DEL Bosco, and Officers.

Fern. Now, gentlemen, betake you to your

arms,

And see that Malta be well fortified;
And it behoves you to be resolute;
For Calymath, having hover'd here so long,
Will win the town, or die before the walls.
First Knight. And die he shall; for we will
never yield.

Enter BELLAMIRA and PILIA-Borza.

Bell. O, bring us to the governor !

Fern. Away with her! she is a courtezan. Bell. Whate'er I am, yet, governor, hear me speak :

* mushrooms] For this word (as, indeed, for most words) our early writers had no fixed spelling. Here the old ed. has "Mushrumbs": and in our author's Edward the Second, the 4tos have "mushrump."

↑ under the elder when he hanged himself] That Judas hanged himself on an elder-tree, was a popular legend. Nay, the very tree was exhibited to the curious in Sir John Mandeville's days: "And faste by, is zit the Tree of Eldre, that Judas henge him self upon, for despeyt that he hadde, whan he solde and betrayed oure Lorde." Voiage and Travaile, &c. p. 112 ed. 1725. But, according to Pulci, Judas had recourse to a carob-tree:

"Era di sopra a la fonte un carrubbio,
L'arbor, si dice, ove s'impiccò Giuda," &c.
Morgante Mag. C. xxv. st. 77.

t nasty] Old ed. "masty."

§ Enter Ferneze, &c.] Scene, the interior of the Councilhouse.

I bring thee news by whom thy son was slain : Mathias did it not; it was the Jew.

Pilia. Who, besides the slaughter of these gentlemen,

Poison'd his own daughter and the nuns,
Strangled a friar, and I know not what
Mischief beside.

Fern. Had we but proof of this

Bell. Strong proof, my lord: his man's now at my lodging,

That was his agent; he'll confess it all.
Fern. Go fetch him+ straight [Exeunt Officers].
I always fear'd that Jew.

Pern. Thou and thy Turk; 'twas you that slew my son.

Itha. Guilty, my lord, I confess. Your son and Mathias were both contracted unto Abigail : [he] forged a counterfeit challenge.

Bara. Who carried that challenge?

Itha. I carried it, I confess; but who writ it? marry, even he that strangled Barnardine, poisoned the nuns and his own daughter.

Fern. Away with him! his sight is death to

me.

Bara. For what, you men of Malta? hear me speak.

She is a courtezan, and he a thief,

And he my bondman: let me have law;
For none of this can prejudice my life.

Fern. Once more, away with him!-You shall have law.

Bara. Devils, do your worst!-I['ll] live in spite of you.— [Aside. As these have spoke, so be it to their souls!— I hope the poison'd flowers will work anon.

[Aside.

[Exeunt Officers with BARABAS and ITHAMORE ; BELLAMIRA, and PILIA-BORZA.

Enter KATHARINE

Kath. Was my Mathias murder'd by the Jew? Ferneze, 'twas thy son that murder'd him. Fern. Be patient, gentle madam: it was he; He forg'd the daring challenge made them fight.

Kath. Where is the Jew? where is that murderer?

Fern. In prison, till the law has pass'd on him.

Re-enter First Officer.

First Off. My lord, the courtezan and her man are dead;

So is the Turk and Barabas the Jew.

Fern. Dead!

First Off. Dead, my lord, and here they bring his body.

Bosco. This sudden death of his is very strange.

Re-enter Officers, carrying BARABAS as dead.

Fern. Wonder not at it, sir; the heavens are just;

Their deaths were like their lives; then think not of 'em.

Since they are dead, let them be buried:

For the Jew's body, throw that o'er the walls,

To be a prey for vultures and wild beasts.-
So, now away and fortify the town.

[Exeunt all, leaving BARABAS on the floor.* Bara. [rising] What, all alone! well fare, sleepy drink!

I'll be reveng'd 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, whipt to death.

Open the gates for you to enter in ; And by this means the city is your own. Caly. If this be true, I'll make thee governor. Bara. And, if it be not true, then let me die. Caly. Thou'st doom'd thyself.-Assault it presently. [Exeunt.

Alarus within. Enter CALYMATH, Bassoes, Turks, and BARABAS; with FERNEZE and Knights prisoners,

Caly. Now vailt 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
To kept thy promise than be thus surpris'd?
Fern. 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 promis'd thee,
For thy desert we make thee governor ;
Use them at thy discretion.

Bara. Thanks, my lord.

Fern. O fatal day, to fall into the hands Of such a traitor and unhallow'd Jew! What greater misery could heaven inflict? Caly. 'Tis our command :-and, Barabas, we give,

To guard thy person, these our Janizaries: Entreats them well, as we have used thee.— And now, brave bassoes, come; we'll walk about

The ruin'd town, and see the wreck we made.
Farewell, brave Jew, farewell, great Barabas !
Bara. May all good fortune follow Calymath!
[Exeunt CALYMATH and Bassoes.

And now, as entrance to our safety,
To prison with the governor and these
Captains, his consorts and confederates.
Fern. O villain! heaven will be reveng'd on
thee.

Bara. Away! no more; let him not trouble

me.

[Exeunt Turks with FERNEZE and Knights. Thus hast thou gotten, by thy policy, No simple place, no small authority:

Enter Calymath, &c.] Scene, an open place in the city. vail] i.e. lower, stoop.

To kept] i.e. To have kept.

§ Entreat] i.e. Treat.

bassoes] Here old ed. "Bashawes." See note §, p. 164. Thus hast thou gotten, &c.] A change of scene is supposed here-to the Citadel, the residence of Barabas as governor.

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,

Whenas thy life shall be at their command?
No, Barabas, this must be look'd into;
And, since by wrong thou gott'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 Esop speaketh of,
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 FERNEZE, with a Guard.

Fern. My lord?

Bara. Ay, lord; thus slaves will learn. Now, governor,-stand by there, wait within,[Exeunt 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?
Fern. 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.

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

Whenas] i.e. When.

+ Within here] The usual exclamation is "Within there!" but compare The Hogge hath lost his Pearle (by R. Tailor), 1614; "What, ho! within here!" Sig. E 2. sith] i. e. since.

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

Bara. What wilt thou give me, governor, to

procure

A dissolution of the slavish bands

Wherein the Turk hath yok'd your land and you?
What will you give me if I render you
The life of Calymath, surprise his men,
And in an out-house of the city shut

His soldiers, till I have consum'd'em all with fire?
What will you give him that procureth this?
Fern. Do but bring this to pass which thou
pretendest,

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.
Bara. 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 '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,
And I will warrant Malta free for ever.

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

Bara. Governor, presently;

For Calymath, when he hath view'd the town, Will take his leave, and sail toward Ottoman. Fern. Then will I, Barabas, about this coin, And bring it with me to thee in the evening. Bara. Do so; but fail not: now farewell, Fer[Exit FERNEZE.

neze :

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 us'd 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:
My policy detests prevention.

cast] ie. plot, contrive.

To what event my secret purpose drives, I know; and they shall witness with their lives. [Exeunt.

Enter CALYMATH and Bassoes.*

Caly. Thus have we view'd the city, seen the sack,

And caus'd the ruins to be new-repair'd,
Which with our bombards' shot and basilisk[s]+
We rent in sunder at our entry:
And, now I see the situation,

And how secure this conquer'd island stands,
Environ'd with the Mediterranean sea,
Strong-countermin'd with other petty isles,
And, toward Calabria,+ back'd by Sicily
(Where Syracusian Dionysius reign'd),
Two lofty turrets that command the town,
I wonder how it could be conquer'd thus.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. From Barabas, Malta's governor, I bring
A message unto mighty Calymath :
Hearing his sovereign was bound for sea,
To sail to Turkey, to great Ottoman,

He humbly would entreat your majesty
To come and see his homely citadel,

And banquet with him ere thou leav'st the isle.
Caly. To banquet with him in his citadel !
I fear me, messenger, to feast my train
Within a town of war so lately pillag'd,
Will be too costly and too troublesome:
Yet would I gladly visit Barabas,

For well has Barabas deserv'd of us.

Mess. Selim, for that, thus saith the governor, — That he hath in [his] store a pearl so big, So precious, and withal so orient, As, be it valu'd but indifferently, The price thereof will serve to entertain Selim and all his soldiers for a month; Therefore he humbly would entreat your highness Not to depart till he has feasted you.

Caly. I cannot feast my men in Malta-walls, Except he place his tables in the streets.

Mess. Know, Selim, that there is a monastery Which standeth as an out-house to the town; There will he banquet them; but thee at home, With all thy bassoes and brave followers.

* Bassoes] Here and afterwards old ed. "Bashawes." See note §, p. 164.-Scene, outside the walls of the city. + basilisk[s] See note ‡, p. 25.

And, toward Calabria, &c.] So the Editor of 1826.Old ed. thus;

"And toward Calabria back'd by Sicily,

Two lofty Turrets that command the Towne.

When Siracusian Dionisius reign'd;

I wonder how it could be conquer'd thus ?"

Enter FERNEZE, Knights, and MARTIN DEL BOSCO. Fern. In this, my countrymen, be rul'd by me: Have special care that no man sally forth Till you shall hear a culverin discharg'd By him that bears the linstock,† kindled thus; Then issue out and come to rescue me, For happily I shall be in distress, Or you released of this servitude.

First Knight. Rather than thus to live as Turkish thralls,

What will we not adventure?

Fern. On, then; be gone.
Knights. Farewell, grave governor.

[Exeunt, on one side, Knights and MARTIN Del
Bosco; on the other, FERNEZE,

Enter, abovet, BARABAS, with a hammer, very busy; and Carpenters.

Bara. How stand the cords? how hang these hinges? fast?

Are all the cranes and pulleys sure?

First Carp. All fast.

Bara. Leave nothing loose, all levell'd to my mind.

Why, now I see that you have art, indeed:
There, carpenters, divide that gold amongst you;
[Giving money.

Go, swill in bowls of sack and muscadine;
Down to the cellar, taste of all my wines.
First Carp. We shall, my lord, and thank you.
[Exeunt Carpenters.

Bara. 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.

Enter Messenger.

Now, sirrah; what, will he come?

Mess. He will; and has commanded all his men

*Enter Ferneze, &c.] Scene, a street.

+linstock] "i. o. the long match with which cannon are fired." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's 0. P.).

↑ Enter, above, &c.] Scene, a hall in the Citadel, with a gallery.

§ First Carp.] Old ed. here "Serv."; but it gives "Carp." as the prefix to the second speech after this.

To come ashore, and march through Malta-streets,
That thou mayst feast them in thy citadel.
Bara. Then now are all things as my wish
would have 'em ;

There wanteth nothing but the governor's pelf;
And see, he brings it.

Enter FERNEZE.

Now, governor, the sum? Fern. With free consent, a hundred thousand pounds.

Bara. Pounds say'st thou, governor? well, since it is no more,

I'll satisfy myself 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,
Enter'd the monastery, and underneath
In several places are field-pieces pitch'd,
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,
Doth fall asunder, so that it doth sink
Into a deep pit past recovery.

Here, hold that knife; and, when thou seest he
comes,
[Throws down a knife.
And with his bassoes 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?
Fern. O, excellent! here, hold thee, Barabas;

I trust thy word; take what I promis'd thee.
Bara. No, governor; I'll satisfy thee first;
Thou shalt not live in doubt of any thing.
Stand close, for here they come.

[FERNEZE retires. Why, is not this

A kingly kind of trade, to purchase towns
By treachery, and sell 'em by deceit ?
Now tell me, worldlings, underneath the sun †
If greater falsehood ever has been done?

Enter CALYMATH and Bassoes.

Caly. Come, my companion-bassoes: see, I pray,

How busy Barabas is there above

of] An interpolation perhaps.

† sun] Old ed. "summe."

N