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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

The Jew of Malta

Act: 5 Scene: 1

Barabas

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

Barabas

One dram of powder more had made all sure.

[Aside.]

What a damn'd slave was I?

Barabas

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

Barabas

Who carried that challenge?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Barabas

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

Act: 5 Scene: 2

Barabas

Thankes, my Lord.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.

Barabas

Governor, presently.

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

Will take his leave and saile toward Ottoman.

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.

Act: 5 Scene: 5

Barabas

How stand the cords? How hang these hinges, fast?

Are all the Cranes and Pulleyes sure?

Barabas

Leave nothing loose, all leveld to my mind.

Why now I see that you have Art indeed.

There, Carpenters, divide that gold amongst you:

Goe swill in bowles of Sacke and Muscadine:

Downe to the Celler, taste of all my wines.

Barabas

And if you like them, drinke your fill and dye:

For so I live, perish may all the world.

Now Selim-Calymath ,returne me word

That thou wilt come, and I am satisfied.

Now sirra, what, will he come?

Barabas

Then now are all things as my wish wud have 'em,

There wanteth nothing but the Governors pelfe,

And see he brings it: Now, Governor, the summe?

Barabas

Pounds saist thou, Governor, wel since it is no more

I'le satisfie my selfe with that; nay, keepe it still,

For if I keepe not promise, trust not me.

And Governour, now partake my policy:

First,for his Army, they are sent before,

Enter'd the Monastery, and underneath

In severall 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 eares,

Whence none can possibly escape alive:

Now as for Calymath and his consorts,

Here have I made a dainty Gallery,

The floore whereof, this Cable being cut,

Doth fall asunder; so that it doth sinke

Into a deepe pit past recovery.

Here, hold that knife, and when thou seest he comes,

And with his Bashawes shall be blithely set,

A warning-peace 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?

Barabas

No, Governor, I'le satisfie thee first,

Thou shalt not live in doubt of any thing.

Stand close, for here they come:

[Governor stands aloof.]

Why, is not this

A kingly kinde of trade to purchase Townes

By treachery, and sell 'em by deceit?

Now tell me, worldlings, underneath the sunne,

If greater falshood ever has bin done.

Barabas

Welcome great Calymath.

Barabas

Will't please thee, mighy Selim-Calymath,

To ascend our homely stayres?

Barabas

Helpe, helpe me, Christians, helpe.

Barabas

Oh helpe me, Selim, helpe me, Christians.

Governour, why stand you all so pittilesse?

Barabas

You will not helpe me then?

Barabas

And villaines, know you cannot helpe me now.

Then Barabas breath forth thy latest fate,

And in the fury of thy torments, strive

To end thy life with resolution:

Know, Governor, 'twas I that slew thy sonne;

I fram'd the challenge that did make them meet:

Know, Calymath, I aym'd thy overthrow,

And had I but escap'd this stratagem,

I would have brought confusion on you all,

Damn'd Christians, dogges, and Turkish Infidels;

But now begins the extremity of heat

To pinch me with intolerable pangs:

Dye life, flye soule, tongue curse thy fill and dye.