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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

The Jew of Malta

Act: 4 Scene: 1

Barabas

There is no musicke to a Christians knell:

How sweet the Bels ring now the Nuns are dead

That sound at other times like Tinkers pans?

I was afraid the poyson had not wrought;

Or though it wrought, it would have done no good,

For every yeare they swell, and yet they live;

Now all are dead, not one remaines alive.

Barabas

How can it if we two be secret.

Barabas

I'de cut thy throat if I did.

Barabas

Thou shalt not need, for now the Nuns are dead.

They'll dye with griefe.

Barabas

No, but I grieve because she liv'd so long.

An Hebrew bome, and would become a Christian?

Cazzo , diabolo.

Barabas

I smelt 'em e're they came.

Barabas

I feare they know we sent the poyson'd broth.

Barabas

True, I have mony, what though I have?

Barabas

What needs all this? I know I am a Jew.

Barabas

Oh speake not of her, then I dye with griefe.

Barabas

I must needs say that I have beene a great usurer.

Barabas

Fornication? but that was in another Country:

And besides, the Wench is dead.

Barabas

Why, what of them?

Barabas

She has confest, and we are both undone,

My bosome inmate, but I must dissemble.

Aside.

Oh holy Fryars, the burthen of my sinnes

Lye heavy on my soule; then pray you tell me,

Is't not too late now to turne Christian?

I have beene zealous in the Jewish faith,

Hard harted to the poore, a covetous wretch,

That would for Lucars sake have sold my soule.

A hundred for a hundred I have tane;

And now for store of wealth may I compare

With all the Jewes in Malta but what is wealth?

I am a Jew, and therefore am I lost.

Would pennance serve for this my sinne,

I could afford to whip my selfe to death.

Barabas

To fast, to pray, and weare a shirt of haire,

And on my knees creepe to Jerusalem .

Cellers of Wine, and Sollers full of Wheat,

Ware-houses stuft with spices and with drugs,

Whole Chests of Gold, in Bullion, and in Coyne,

Besides I know not how much weight in Pearle

Orient and round, have I within my house;

At Alexendria, Merchandize unsold:

But yesterday two ships went from this Towne,

Their voyage will be worth ten thousand Crownes.

In Florence, Venice, Antwerpe, London, Civill,

Frankeford, Lubecke, Mosco, and where not,

Have I debts owing; and in most of these,

Great summes of mony lying in the bancho;

All this I'le give to some religious house

So I may be baptiz'd and live therein.

Barabas

I know that I have highly sinn'd,

You shall convert me, you shall have all my wealth.

Barabas

I know they are, and I will be with you.

Barabas

Then 'tis not for me; and I am resolv'd

You shall confesse me, and have all my goods.

Barabas

You see I answer him, and yet he stayes;

Rid him away, and goe you home with me.

Barabas

Come to my house at one a clocke this night.

Barabas

This is meere frailty, brethren, be content.

Fryar Barnardine goe you with Ithimore.

You know my mind, let me clone with him.

Barabas

I'le give him something and so stop his mouth.

I never heard of any man but he

Malign'd the order of the Jacobines:

But doe you thinke that I beleeve his words?

Why, Brother, you converted Abigall;

And I am bound in charitie to requite it,

And so I will, oh Jacomo, faile not but come.

Barabas

Marry the Turke shall be one of my godfathers,

But not a word to any of your Covent.

Barabas

So, now the feare is past, and I am safe:

For he that shriv'd her is within my house.

What if I murder'd him e're Jacomo comes?

Now I have such a plot for both their lives,

As never Jew nor Christian knew the like:

One turn'd my daughter, therefore he shall dye;

The other knowes enough to have my life,

Therefore 'tis not requisite he should live.

But are not both these wise men to suppose

That I will leave my house, my goods, and all,

To fast and be well whips; I'le none of that.

Now Fryar Bernardine I come to you,

I'le feast you, lodge you, give you faire words,

And after that, I and my trusty Turke—

No more but so: it must and shall be done.

Ithimore, tell me, is the Fryar asleepe?

Barabas

No, 'tis an order which the Fryars use:

Yet if he knew our meanings, could he scape?

Barabas

Why true, therefore did I place him there:

The other Chambers open towards the street.

Barabas

Come on, sirra,

Off with your girdle, make a hansom noose;

Fryar, awake.

Barabas

Blame not us but the proverb, Confes and be hang'd.

Pull hard.

Barabas

Pull hard, I say, you would have had my goods.

Barabas

Then is it as it should be, take him up.

Barabas

Who would not thinke but that this Fryar liv'd?

What time a night is't now, sweet Ithimore?

Barabas

Then will not Jacomo be long from hence.

Barabas

Why, how now Jacomo , what hast thou done?

Barabas

Who is it? Bernardine? now out alas, He is slaine.

Barabas

So might my man and I hang with you for company.

Barabas

No, pardon me, the Law must have his course.

I must be forc'd to give in evidence,

That being importun'd by this Bernardine

To be a Christian, I shut him out,

And there he sate: now I to keepe my word,

And give my goods and substance to your house,

Was up thus early; with intent to goe

Unto your Friery, because you staid.

Barabas

No, for this example I'le remaine a Jew:

Heaven blesse me; what, a Fryar a murderer?

When shall you see a Jew commit the like?

Barabas

To morrow is the Sessions; you shall to it.

Come Ithimore, let's helpe to take him hence.

Barabas

The Law shall touch you, we'll but lead you, we:

'Las I could weepe at your calamity.

Take in the staffe too, for that must be showne:

Law wils that each particular be knowne.

Act: 4 Scene: 3

Barabas

Barabas send me three hundred Crownes.

Plaine Barabas: oh that wicked Curtezane!

He was not wont to call me Barabas.

Or else I will confesse: I, there it goes:

But if I get him, Coupe de Gorge for that.

He sent a shaggy totter'd staring slave,

That when he speakes, drawes out his grisly beard,

And winds it twice or thrice about his eare;

Whose face has bin a grind-stone for mens swords,

His hands are hacks, some fingers cut quite off;

Who when he speakes, grunts like a hog, and looks

Like one that is imploy'd in Catzerie

And crosbiting, such a Rogue

As is the husband to a hundred whores:

And I by him must send three hundred crownes.

Well, my hope is, he will not stay there still;

And when he comes: oh that he were but here!

Barabas

Why, wantst thou any of thy tale?

Barabas

Not serve his turne, Sir?

Barabas

I'le rather—

Barabas

Might he not as well come as send; pray bid him come and fetch it: what tree writes for you, ye shall have streight.

Barabas

I must make this villaine away: please you dine with me, Sir, and you shal be most hartily poyson'd.

Barabas

I cannot doe it, I have lost my keyes.

Barabas

Or climbe up to my Counting-house window: you know my meaning.

Barabas

I am betraid.—

[Aside.]

'Tis not five hundred Crownes that I esteeme,

I am not mov'd at that: this angers me,

That he who knowes I love him as my selfe

Should write in this imperious vaine! why Sir,

You know I have no childe, and unto whom

Should I leave all but unto Ithimore?

Barabas

Commend me to him, Sir, most humbly,

And unto your good mistris as unknowne.

Barabas

Sir, here they are.

Oh that I should part with so much gold!

[Aside.]

Here take 'em, fellow, with as good a will—

As I wud see thee hang'd; oh, love stops my breath:

Never lov'd man servant as I doe Ithimore.

Barabas

Pray when, Sir, shall I see you at my house?

Barabas

Nay to thine owne cost, villaine, if thou com'st.

Was ever Jew tormented as I am?

To have a shag-rag knave to come demand

Three hundred Crownes, and then five hundred Crownes?

Well, I must seeke a meanes to rid 'em all,

And presently: for in his villany

He will tell all he knowes and I shall dye for't.

I have it.

I will in some disguize goe see the slave,

And how the villaine revels with my gold.

Act: 4 Scene: 4

Barabas

Must tuna my Lute for sound, twang twang first.

Barabas

Gramercy Mounsier.

Barabas

A voustre commandemente Madam.

Barabas

So, now I am reveng'd upon 'em all.

[Aside.]

The scent thereof was death, I poyson'd it.

Barabas

Pardona moy, be no in tune yet; so, now, now all be in.

Barabas

How liberally the villian gives me mine own gold.

Barabas

So did you when you stole my gold.

Barabas

You run swifter when you threw my gold out of my

Window.

Barabas

Two, three, foure month Madam.

Barabas

Very mush, Mounsier, you no be his man?

Barabas

He knowes it already.

Barabas

What a slave's this?The Governour feeds not as I doe.

Barabas

Oh raskall! I change my selfe twice a day.

Barabas

'Twas sent me for a present from the great Cham.

Barabas

Pardona moy, Mounsier, mebe no well.