Part 5
BELLAMIRA. Come, my dear love, let's in and sleep together.
ITHAMORE. O, that ten thousand nights were put in one, that we might sleep seven years together afore we wake!
BELLAMIRA. Come, amorous wag, first banquet, and then sleep. [Exeunt.]
Enter BARABAS, [159] reading a letter.
BARABAS. BARABAS, SEND ME THREE HUNDRED CROWNS;-- Plain Barabas! O, that wicked courtezan! He was not wont to call me Barabas;-- OR ELSE I WILL CONFESS;--ay, there it goes: But, if I get him, coupe de gorge for that. He sent a shaggy, tatter'd, [160] staring slave, That, when he speaks, draws out his grisly beard, And winds it twice or thrice about his ear; Whose face has been a grind-stone for men's swords; His hands are hack'd, some fingers cut quite off; Who, when he speaks, grunts like a hog, and looks Like one that is employ'd in catzery [161] And cross-biting; [162] such a rogue As is the husband to a hundred whores; And I by him must send three hundred crowns. Well, my hope is, he will not stay there still; And, when he comes--O, that he were but here!
Enter PILIA-BORZA.
PILIA-BORZA. Jew, I must ha' more gold.
BARABAS. Why, want'st thou any of thy tale? [163]
PILIA-BORZA. No; but three hundred will not serve his turn.
BARABAS. Not serve his turn, sir!
PILIA-BORZA. No, sir; and therefore I must have five hundred more.
BARABAS. I'll rather----
PILIA-BORZA. O, good words, sir, and send it you were best! see, there's his letter. [Gives letter.]
BARABAS. Might he not as well come as send? pray, bid him come and fetch it: what he writes for you, [164] ye shall have straight.
PILIA-BORZA. Ay, and the rest too, or else----
BARABAS. I must make this villain away [Aside].--Please you dine with me, sir--and you shall be most heartily poisoned. [Aside.]
PILIA-BORZA. No, God-a-mercy. Shall I have these crowns?
BARABAS. I cannot do it; I have lost my keys.
PILIA-BORZA. O, if that be all, I can pick ope your locks.
BARABAS. Or climb up to my counting-house window: you know my meaning.
PILIA-BORZA. I know enough, and therefore talk not to me of your counting-house. The gold! or know, Jew, it is in my power to hang thee.
BARABAS. I am betray'd.-- [Aside.] 'Tis not five hundred crowns that I esteem; I am not mov'd at that: this angers me, That he, who knows I love him as myself, Should write in this imperious vein. Why, sir, You know I have no child, and unto whom Should I leave all, but unto Ithamore?
PILIA-BORZA. Here's many words, but no crowns: the crowns!
BARABAS. Commend me to him, sir, most humbly, And unto your good mistress as unknown.
PILIA-BORZA. Speak, shall I have 'em, sir?
BARABAS. Sir, here they are.-- [Gives money.] O, that I should part [165] with so much gold!-- [Aside.] Here, take 'em, fellow, with as good a will---- As I would see thee hang'd [Aside]. O, love stops my breath! Never lov'd man servant as I do Ithamore.
PILIA-BORZA. I know it, sir.
BARABAS. Pray, when, sir, shall I see you at my house?
PILIA-BORZA. Soon enough to your cost, sir. Fare you well. [Exit.]
BARABAS. Nay, to thine own cost, villain, if thou com'st! Was ever Jew tormented as I am? To have a shag-rag knave to come [force from me] Three hundred crowns, and then five hundred crowns! Well; I must seek a means to rid [166] 'em all, And presently; for in his villany He will tell all he knows, and I shall die for't. I have it: I will in some disguise go see the slave, And how the villain revels with my gold. [Exit.]
Enter BELLAMIRA, [167] ITHAMORE, and PILIA-BORZA.
BELLAMIRA. I'll pledge thee, love, and therefore drink it off.
ITHAMORE. Say'st thou me so? have at it! and do you hear? [Whispers to her.]
BELLAMIRA. Go to, it shall be so.
ITHAMORE. Of [168] that condition I will drink it up: Here's to thee.
BELLAMIRA. [169] Nay, I'll have all or none.
ITHAMORE. There, if thou lov'st me, do not leave a drop.
BELLAMIRA. Love thee! fill me three glasses.
ITHAMORE. Three and fifty dozen: I'll pledge thee.
PILIA-BORZA. Knavely spoke, and like a knight-at-arms.
ITHAMORE. Hey, Rivo Castiliano! [170] a man's a man.
BELLAMIRA. Now to the Jew.
ITHAMORE. Ha! to the Jew; and send me money he [171] were best.
PILIA-BORZA. What wouldst thou do, if he should send thee none?
ITHAMORE. Do nothing: but I know what I know; he's a murderer.
BELLAMIRA. I had not thought he had been so brave a man.
ITHAMORE. You knew Mathias and the governor's son; he and I killed 'em both, and yet never touched 'em.
PILIA-BORZA. O, bravely done!
ITHAMORE. I carried the broth that poisoned the nuns; and he and I, snicle hand too fast, strangled a friar. [172]
BELLAMIRA. You two alone?
ITHAMORE. We two; and 'twas never known, nor never shall be for me.
PILIA-BORZA. This shall with me unto the governor. [Aside to BELLAMIRA.]
BELLAMIRA. And fit it should: but first let's ha' more gold.-- [Aside to PILIA-BORZA.] Come, gentle Ithamore, lie in my lap.
ITHAMORE. Love me little, love me long: let music rumble, Whilst I in thy incony [173] lap do tumble.
Enter BARABAS, disguised as a French musician, with a lute, and a nosegay in his hat.
BELLAMIRA. A French musician!--Come, let's hear your skill.
BARABAS. Must tuna my lute for sound, twang, twang, first.
ITHAMORE. Wilt drink, Frenchman? here's to thee with a--Pox on this drunken hiccup!
BARABAS. Gramercy, monsieur.
BELLAMIRA. Prithee, Pilia-Borza, bid the fiddler give me the posy in his hat there.
PILIA-BORZA. Sirrah, you must give my mistress your posy.
BARABAS. A votre commandement, madame. [Giving nosegay.]
BELLAMIRA. How sweet, my Ithamore, the flowers smell!
ITHAMORE. Like thy breath, sweetheart; no violet like 'em.
PILIA-BORZA. Foh! methinks they stink like a hollyhock. [174]
BARABAS. So, now I am reveng'd upon 'em all: The scent thereof was death; I poison'd it. [Aside.]
ITHAMORE. Play, fiddler, or I'll cut your cat's guts into chitterlings.
BARABAS. Pardonnez moi, be no in tune yet: so, now, now all be in.
ITHAMORE. Give him a crown, and fill me out more wine.
PILIA-BORZA. There's two crowns for thee: play. [Giving money.]
BARABAS. How liberally the villain gives me mine own gold! [Aside, and then plays.]
PILIA-BORZA. Methinks he fingers very well.
BARABAS. So did you when you stole my gold. [Aside.]
PILIA-BORZA. How swift he runs!
BARABAS. You run swifter when you threw my gold out of my window. [Aside.]
BELLAMIRA. Musician, hast been in Malta long?
BARABAS. Two, three, four month, madam.
ITHAMORE. Dost not know a Jew, one Barabas?
BARABAS. Very mush: monsieur, you no be his man?
PILIA-BORZA. His man!
ITHAMORE. I scorn the peasant: tell him so.
BARABAS. He knows it already. [Aside.]
ITHAMORE. 'Tis a strange thing of that Jew, he lives upon pickled grasshoppers and sauced mushrooms. [175]
BARABAS. What a slave's this! the governor feeds not as I do. [Aside.]
ITHAMORE. He never put on clean shirt since he was circumcised.
BARABAS. O rascal! I change myself twice a-day. [Aside.]
ITHAMORE. The hat he wears, Judas left under the elder when he hanged himself. [176]
BARABAS. 'Twas sent me for a present from the Great Cham. [Aside.]
PILIA-BORZA. A nasty [177] slave he is.--Whither now, fiddler?
BARABAS. Pardonnez moi, monsieur; me [178] be no well.
PILIA-BORZA. Farewell, fiddler [Exit BARABAS.] One letter more to the Jew.
BELLAMIRA. Prithee, sweet love, one more, and write it sharp.
ITHAMORE. 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-BORZA. Let me alone to urge it, now I know the meaning.
ITHAMORE. The meaning has a meaning. Come, let's in: To undo a Jew is charity, and not sin. [Exeunt.]
## ACT V.
Enter FERNEZE, [179] KNIGHTS, MARTIN DEL BOSCO, and OFFICERS.
FERNEZE. 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.
BELLAMIRA. O, bring us to the governor!
FERNEZE. Away with her! she is a courtezan.
BELLAMIRA. Whate'er I am, yet, governor, hear me speak: I bring thee news by whom thy son was slain: Mathias did it not; it was the Jew.
PILIA-BORZA. 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.
FERNEZE. Had we but proof of this----
BELLAMIRA. Strong proof, my lord: his man's now at my lodging, That was his agent; he'll confess it all.
FERNEZE. Go fetch him [180] straight [Exeunt OFFICERS]. I always fear'd that Jew.
Re-enter OFFICERS with BARABAS and ITHAMORE.
BARABAS. I'll go alone; dogs, do not hale me thus.
ITHAMORE. Nor me neither; I cannot out-run you, constable.--O, my belly!
BARABAS. One dram of powder more had made all sure: What a damn'd slave was I! [Aside.]
FERNEZE. Make fires, heat irons, let the rack be fetch'd.
FIRST KNIGHT. Nay, stay, my lord; 't may be he will confess.
BARABAS. Confess! what mean you, lords? who should confess?
FERNEZE. Thou and thy Turk; 'twas that slew my son.
ITHAMORE. Guilty, my lord, I confess. Your son and Mathias were both contracted unto Abigail: [he] forged a counterfeit challenge.
BARABAS. Who carried that challenge?
ITHAMORE. I carried it, I confess; but who writ it? marry, even he that strangled Barnardine, poisoned the nuns and his own daughter.
FERNEZE. Away with him! his sight is death to me.
BARABAS. 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.
FERNEZE. Once more, away with him!--You shall have law.
BARABAS. 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.
KATHARINE. Was my Mathias murder'd by the Jew? Ferneze, 'twas thy son that murder'd him.
FERNEZE. Be patient, gentle madam: it was he; He forg'd the daring challenge made them fight.
KATHARINE. Where is the Jew? where is that murderer?
FERNEZE. In prison, till the law has pass'd on him.
Re-enter FIRST OFFICER.
FIRST OFFICER. My lord, the courtezan and her man are dead; So is the Turk and Barabas the Jew.
FERNEZE. Dead!
FIRST OFFICER. Dead, my lord, and here they bring his body.
MARTIN DEL BOSCO. This sudden death of his is very strange.
Re-enter OFFICERS, carrying BARABAS as dead.
FERNEZE. 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. [181]
BARABAS. [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.
Enter CALYMATH, BASSOES, [182] and TURKS.
CALYMATH. Whom have we there? a spy?
BARABAS. Yes, my good lord, one that can spy a place Where you may enter, and surprize the town: My name is Barabas; I am a Jew.
CALYMATH. Art thou that Jew whose goods we heard were sold For tribute-money?
BARABAS. The very same, my lord: And since that time they have hir'd a slave, my man, To accuse me of a thousand villanies: I was imprisoned, but scap [']d their hands.
CALYMATH. Didst break prison?
BARABAS. No, no: I drank of poppy and cold mandrake juice; And being asleep, belike they thought me dead, And threw me o'er the walls: so, or how else, The Jew is here, and rests at your command.
CALYMATH. 'Twas bravely done: but tell me, Barabas, Canst thou, as thou report'st, make Malta ours?
BARABAS. Fear not, my lord; for here, against the trench, [183] The rock is hollow, and of purpose digg'd, To make a passage for the running streams And common channels [184] of the city. Now, whilst you give assault unto the walls, I'll lead five hundred soldiers through the vault, And rise with them i' the middle of the town, Open the gates for you to enter in; And by this means the city is your own.
CALYMATH. If this be true, I'll make thee governor.
BARABAS. And, if it be not true, then let me die.
CALYMATH. Thou'st doom'd thyself.--Assault it presently. [Exeunt.]
Alarums within. Enter CALYMATH, [185] BASSOES, TURKS, and BARABAS; with FERNEZE and KNIGHTS prisoners.
CALYMATH. Now vail [186] 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 [187] thy promise than be thus surpris'd?
FERNEZE. What should I say? we are captives, and must yield.
CALYMATH. 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.
BARABAS. Thanks, my lord.
FERNEZE. O fatal day, to fall into the hands Of such a traitor and unhallow'd Jew! What greater misery could heaven inflict?
CALYMATH. 'Tis our command:--and, Barabas, we give, To guard thy person, these our Janizaries: Entreat [188] them well, as we have used thee.-- And now, brave bassoes, [189] come; we'll walk about The ruin'd town, and see the wreck we made.-- Farewell, brave Jew, farewell, great Barabas!
BARABAS. 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.
FERNEZE. O villain! heaven will be reveng'd on thee.
BARABAS. Away! no more; let him not trouble me. [Exeunt TURKS with FERNEZE and KNIGHTS.] Thus hast thou gotten, [190] by thy policy, No simple place, no small authority: 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 [191] 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 Aesop 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! [192]
Enter FERNEZE, with a GUARD.
FERNEZE. My lord?
BARABAS. 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?
FERNEZE. 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.
BARABAS. 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, [193] 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.
FERNEZE. Will Barabas recover Malta's loss? Will Barabas be good to Christians?
BARABAS. 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?
FERNEZE. 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.
BARABAS. 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 [194] 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.
FERNEZE. Here is my hand; believe me, Barabas, I will be there, and do as thou desirest. When is the time?
BARABAS. Governor, presently; For Calymath, when he hath view'd the town, Will take his leave, and sail toward Ottoman.
FERNEZE. Then will I, Barabas, about this coin, And bring it with me to thee in the evening.
BARABAS. Do so; but fail not: now farewell, Ferneze:-- [Exit FERNEZE.] 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. To what event my secret purpose drives, I know; and they shall witness with their lives. [Exeunt.]
Enter CALYMATH and BASSOES. [195]
CALYMATH. 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] [196] 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, [197] 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.
MESSENGER. 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.
CALYMATH. 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.
MESSENGER. 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.
CALYMATH. I cannot feast my men in Malta-walls, Except he place his tables in the streets.
MESSENGER. 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.
CALYMATH. Well, tell the governor we grant his suit; We'll in this summer-evening feast with him.
MESSENGER. I shall, my lord. [Exit.]
CALYMATH. And now, bold bassoes, let us to our tents, And meditate how we may grace us best, To solemnize our governor's great feast. [Exeunt.]
Enter FERNEZE, [198] KNIGHTS, and MARTIN DEL BOSCO.
FERNEZE. 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, [199] 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?
FERNEZE. On, then; be gone.
KNIGHTS. Farewell, grave governor. [Exeunt, on one side, KNIGHTS and MARTIN DEL BOSCO; on the other, FERNEZE.]
Enter, above, [200] BARABAS, with a hammer, very busy; and CARPENTERS.
BARABAS. How stand the cords? how hang these hinges? fast? Are all the cranes and pulleys sure?
FIRST CARPENTER. [201] All fast.
BARABAS. 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 CARPENTER. We shall, my lord, and thank you. [Exeunt CARPENTERS.]
BARABAS. 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?
MESSENGER. He will; and has commanded all his men To come ashore, and march through Malta-streets, That thou mayst feast them in thy citadel.
BARABAS. 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?
FERNEZE. With free consent, a hundred thousand pounds.
BARABAS. 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 [202] from the tower, To give thee knowledge when to cut the cord, And fire the house. Say, will not this be brave?
FERNEZE. O, excellent! here, hold thee, Barabas; I trust thy word; take what I promis'd thee.