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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

The Jew of Malta

Act: 5 Scene: 1<<- -

Enter Governor, Knights, Martin Del Bosco.

Governor

Now, Gentlemen, betake you to your Armes,

And see that Malta be well fortifi'd;

And it behoves you to be resolute;

For Calymath having hover'd here so long,

Will winne the Towne, or dye before the wals.

1. Knight

And dye he shall, for we will never yeeld.

Enter Curtezane, Pilia- borza.

Curtezane

Oh bring us to the Governor.

Governor

Away with her, she is a Curtezane.

Curtezane

What e're I am, yet Governor heare me speake;

I bring thee newes by whom thy sonne was slaine:

Mathias did it not, it was the Jew.

Pilia-borza

Who, besides the slaughter of these Gentlemen, poyson'd his owne daughter and the Nuns, strangled a Fryar, and I know not what mischiefe beside.

Governor

Had we but proofe of this—

Curtezane

Strong proofe, my Lord, his man's now at my lodging

That was his Agent, he'll confesse it all.

Governor

Goe fetch him straight.

[Exit Officers.]

I alwayes fear'd that Jew.

Enter Jew, Ithimore [with Officers].

Barabas

I'le goe alone, dogs, do not hale me thus.

Ithimore

Nor me neither, I cannot out-run you Constable, oh my belly.

Barabas

One dram of powder more had made all sure.

[Aside.]

What a damn'd slave was I?

Governor

Make fires, heat irons, let the racke be fetch'd.

1. Knight

Nay stay, my Lord, 'tmay be he will confesse.

Barabas

Confesse; what meane you, Lords, who should confesse?

Governor

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

Ithimore

Gilty, my Lord, I confesse; your sonne and Mathias were both contracted unto Abigall ; he forg'd a counterfeit challenge.

Barabas

Who carried that challenge?

Ithimore

I carried it, I confesse, but who writ it? Marry, even he that strangled Bernardine, poyson'd the Nuns, and his owne daughter.

Governor

Away with him, his sight is death to me.

Barabas

For what? you men of Malta, heare me speake;

Shee is a Curtezane and he a theefe,

And he my bondman, let me have law,

For none of this can prejudice my life.

Governor

Once more away with him; you shall have law.

Barabas

Devils doe your worst, I'le live in spite of you.

As these have spoke so be it to their soules:—

I hope the poyson'd flowers will worke anon.

Exit [Barabas, Curtezane, Pilia-borza, with Officers].

Enter Mater.

Mater

Was my Mathias murder'd by the Jew?

Ferneze, 'twasthy sonne that murder'd him.

Governor

Be patient, gentle Madam, it was he,

He forged the daring challenge made them fight.

Mater

Where is the Jew, where is that murderer?

Governor

In prison till the Law has past on him.

Enter 1. Officer .

1. Officer

My Lord, the Curtezane and her man are dead; so

So is the Turke, and Barabas the Jew.

Governor

Dead?

1. Officer

Dead, my Lord, and here they bring his body.

[Enter Officers carrying Barabas, as dead.]

Bosco

This sudden death of his is very strange.

Governor

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 Jewes body, throw that o're the wals,

To be a prey for Vultures and wild beasts.

[They take body aside.]

So, now away and fortifie the Towne.

Exeunt. [Manet Barabas.]

Barabas

What, all alone? well fare sleepy drinke.

I'le be reveng'd on this accursed Towne;

For by my meanes Calymath shall enter in.

I'le helpe to slay their children and their wives,

To fire the Churches, pull their houses downe,

Take my goods too, and seize upon my lands:

I hope to see the Governour a slave,

And, rowing in a Gally, whips to death.

Enter Calymath, Bashawes, Turkes.

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 Towne:

My name is Barabas; I am a Jew.

Calymath

Art thou that Jew whose goods we heard were sold

For Tribute-mony?

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 imprison'd, but escap'd their hands.

Calymath

Didst breake prison?

Barabas

No, no:

I dranke of Poppy and cold mandrake juyce;

And being asleepe, belike they thought me dead,

And threw me o're the wals: 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 reportest, make Malta ours?

Barabas

Feare not, my Lord, for here, against the sluice,

The rocke is hollow, and of purpose digg'd,

To make a passage for the running streames

And common channels of the City.

Now whilst you give assault unto the wals,

I'le lead five hundred souldiers through the Vault,

And rise with them i'th middle of the Towne,

Open the gates for you to enter in,

And by this meanes the City is your owne.

Calymath

If this be true, I'le make thee Governor.

Barabas

And if it be not true, then let me dye.

Calymath

Thou'st doom'd thy selfe, assault it presently.

Exeunt.

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