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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

The Jew of Malta

Act: 5 Scene: 2<<- -

Alarmes. Enter Turkes, Barabas, Governour, and Knights prisoners.

Calymath

Now vaile your pride you captive Christians,

And kneele for mercy to your conquering foe:

Now where's the hope you had of haughty Spaine?

Ferneze, speake, had it not beene much better

To keep thy promise then be thus surpriz'd?

Governor

What should I say? we are captives and must yeeld.

Calymath

I, villains, you must yeeld, and under Turkish yokes

Shall groping beare the burthen of our ire;

And Barabas, as erst we promis'd thee,

For thy desert we make thee Governor,

Use them at thy discretion.

Barabas

Thankes, my Lord.

Governor

Oh fatall day, to fall into the hands

Of such a Traitor and unhallowed Jew!

What greater misery could heaven inflict?

Calymath

'Tis our command: and Barabas we give

To guard thy person, these our Janizaries:

Intreat them well, as we have used thee.

And now, brave Bashawes, come, wee'll walke about

The ruin'd Towne, and see the wracke we made:

Farewell brave Jew, farewell great Barabas.

Exeunt.

Barabas

May all good fortune follow Calymath.

And now, as entrance to our safety,

To prison with the Governour and these

Captaines, his consorts and confederates.

Governor

Oh villaine, Heaven will be reveng'd on thee.

Exeunt. [Manes Barabas.]

Barabas

Away, no more, let him not trouble me.

Thus hast thou gotten, by thy policie,

No simple place, no small authority,

I now am Governour of Malta; true,

But Malta hates me, and in hating me

My life's in danger, and what boots it thee

Poore Barabas, to be the Governour,

When as thy life shall be at their command ?

No, Barabas, this must be look'd into;

And since by wrong thou got'st Authority,

Maintaine it bravely by firme policy,

At least unprofitably lose it not:

For he that liveth in Authority,

And neither gets him friends, nor fils his bags,

Lives like the Asse that Aesope 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 shine opportunity, for feare too late

Thou seek'st for much, but canst not compasse it.

Within here.

Enter Governorwith a guard.

Governor

My Lord ?

Barabas

I, Lord, thus slaves will learne.

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 happinesse,

Are at my Arbitrament; and Barabas

At his discretion may dispose of both:

Now tell me, Governor, and plainely too,

What thinkst thou shall become of it and thee?

Governor

This, Barabas; since things are in thy power,

I see no reason but of Malta's wracke,

Nor hope of thee but extreme cruelty,

Nor feare I death, nor will I flatter thee.

Barabas

Governor, good words, be not so furious;

'Tis not thy life which can availe me ought,

Yet you doe live, and live for me you shall:

And as for Malta's ruine, thinke you not

'Twere slender policy for Barabas

To dispossesse himselfe of such a place?

For sith, as once you said, within this Ile

In Malta here, that I have got my goods,

And in this City still have had successe,

And now at length am growne your Governor,

Your selves shall see it shall not be forgot:

For as a friend not knowne, but in distresse,

I'le reare up Malta now remedilesse.

Governor

Will Barabas recover Malta's losse?

Will Barabas be good to Christians?

Barabas

What wilt thou give me, Governor, to procure

A dissolution of the slavish Bands

Wherein the Turke hath yoak'd your land and you?

What will you give me if I render you

The life of Calymath, surprize his men,

And in an out-house of the City shut

His souldiers, till I have consum'd 'em all with fire?

What will you give him that procureth this?

Governor

Doe but bring this to passe which thou pretendest,

Deale truly with us as thou intimatest,

And I will send amongst the Citizens

And by my letters privately procure

Great summes of mony for thy recompence:

Nay more, doe this, and live thou Governor still.

Barabas

Nay, doe thou this, Ferneze, and be free;

Governor, I enlarge thee, live with me,

Goe walke about the City, see thy friends:

Tush, send not letters to 'em, goe thy selfe,

And let me see what mony thou canst make;

Here is my hand that I'le set Malta free:

And thus we cast it: To a solemne feast

I will invite young Selim-Calymath,

Where be thou present onely to performe

One stratagem that I'le impart to thee,

Wherein no danger shall betide thy life,

And I will warrant Malta free for ever.

Governor

Here is my hand, beleeve me, Barabas,

I will be there, and doe as thou desirest;

When is the time?

Barabas

Governor, presently.

For Callymath, when he hath view'd the Towne,

Will take his leave and saile toward Ottoman.

Governor

Then will I, Barabas, about this coyne,

And bring it with me to thee in the evening.

Barabas

Doe so, but faire not; now farewell Ferneze:

[Exit Governor.]

And thus farre roundly goes the businesse:

Thus loving neither, will I live with both,

Making a profit of my policie;

And he from whom my most advantage comes,

Shall be my friend.

This is the life we Jewes are us'd to lead;

And reason too, for Christians doe the like:

Well, now about effecting this device:

First to surprize great Selims souldiers,

And then to make provision for the feast,

That at one instant all things may be done,

My policie detests prevention:

To what event my secret purpose drives,

I know; and they shall witnesse with their lives.

Exit.

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