Chapter XVII: Act V: Scene I (3)

_Bar._ And saw’st thou not
Mine argosy at Alexandria? 71
Thou could’st not come from Egypt, or by Caire,
But at the entry there into the sea,
Where Nilus pays his tribute to the main,
Thou needs must sail by Alexandria. 75

_Merch._ I neither saw them, nor inquir’d of them:
But this we heard some of our seamen say,
They wond’red how you durst with so much wealth
Trust such a crazed vessel, and so far.

_Bar._ Tush, they are wise! I know her and her strength. 80
[But] go, go thou thy ways, discharge thy ship,
And bid my factor bring his loading in.
[_Exit_ Merch.]
And yet I wonder at this argosy.

_Enter a second_ Merchant.

_2 Merch._ Thine argosy from Alexandria,
Know, Barabas, doth ride in Malta-road, 85
Laden with riches, and exceeding store
Of Persian silks, of gold, and orient pearl.

_Bar._ How chance you came not with those other ships
That sail’d by Egypt?

_2 Merch._ Sir, we saw ’em not.

_Bar._ Belike they coasted round by Candy shore 90
About their oils, or other businesses.
But ’t was ill done of you to come so far
Without the aid or conduct of their ships.

_2 Merch._ Sir, we were wafted by a Spanish fleet,
That never left us till within a league, 95
That had the galleys of the Turk in chase.

_Bar._ O! they were going up to Sicily.—
Well, go,
And bid the merchants and my men despatch
And come ashore, and see the fraught discharg’d. 100

_2 Merch._ I go. _Exit._

_Bar._ Thus trowls our fortune in by land and sea,
And thus are we on every side enrich’d.
These are blessings promis’d to the Jews,
And herein was old Abram’s happiness. 105
What more may Heaven do for earthly man
Than thus to pour out plenty in their laps,
Ripping the bowels of the earth for them,
Making the sea their servant,[473] and the winds
To drive their substance with successful blasts?
Who hateth me but for my happiness? 111
Or who is honour’d now but for his wealth?
Rather had I, a Jew, be hated thus,
Than pitied in a Christian poverty;
For I can see no fruits in all their faith, 115
But malice, falsehood, and excessive pride,
Which methinks fits not their profession.
Haply some hapless man hath conscience,
And for his conscience lives in beggary.
They say we are a scatter’d nation: 120
I cannot tell, but we have scambled[474] up
More wealth by far than those that brag of faith.
There ’s Kirriah Jairim, the great Jew of Greece,
Obed in Bairseth, Nones in Portugal,
Myself in Malta, some in Italy, 125
Many in France, and wealthy every one;
Ay, wealthier far than any Christian.
I must confess we come not to be kings;
That’s not our fault: alas, our number’s few,
And crowns come either by succession, 130
Or urg’d by force; and nothing violent
Oft have I heard tell, can be permanent.
Give us a peaceful rule, make Christians kings,
That thirst so much for principality.
I have no charge,[475] nor many children, 135
But one sole daughter, whom I hold as dear
As Agamemnon did his Iphigen;
And all I have is hers. But who comes here?

_Enter three_ Jews.[476]

_1 Jew._ Tush, tell not me; ’t was done of policy.

_2 Jew._ Come, therefore, let us go to Barabas, 140
For he can counsel best in these affairs;
And here he comes.

_Bar._ Why, how now, countrymen!
Why flock you thus to me in multitudes?
What accident’s betided to the Jews?

_1 Jew._ A fleet of warlike galleys, Barabas, 145
Are come from Turkey, and lie in our road;
And they this day sit in the council-house
To entertain them and their embassy.

_Bar._ Why, let ’em come, so they come not to war;
Or let ’em war, so we be conquerors:— 150
Nay, let ’em combat, conquer, and kill all!
So they spare me, my daughter, and my wealth. _Aside._

_1 Jew._ Were it for confirmation of a league,
They would not come in warlike manner thus.

_2 Jew._ I fear their coming will afflict us all.

_Bar._ Fond[477] men! what dream you of their multitudes? 156
What need they treat of peace that are in league?
The Turks and those of Malta are in league.
Tut, tut, there is some other matter in ’t.

_1 Jew._ Why, Barabas, they come for peace or war. 160

_Bar._ Haply for neither, but to pass along
Towards Venice by the Adriatic Sea;
With[478] whom they have attempted many times,
But never could effect their stratagem.

_3 Jew._ And very wisely said. It may be so.

_2 Jew._ But there’s a meeting in the senate-house, 166
And all the Jews in Malta must be there.

_Bar._ Hum; all the Jews in Malta must be there?
Ay, like enough. Why, then, let every man
Provide him, and be there for fashion-sake, 170
If anything shall there concern our state,
Assure yourselves I’ll look—unto myself. _Aside._

_1 Jew._ I know you will. Well, brethren, let us go.

_2 Jew._ Let’s take our leaves. Farewell, good Barabas.

_Bar._ Do so. Farewell, Zaareth; farewell, Temainte.
[_Exeunt_ Jews.] 175
And, Barabas, now search this secret out;
Summon thy senses, call thy wits together:
These silly men mistake the matter clean.
Long to the Turk did Malta contribute;
Which tribute, all in policy, I fear, 180
The Turks have let increase to such a sum
As all the wealth of Malta cannot pay;
And now by that advantage thinks, belike,
To seize upon the town: ay, that he seeks.
Howe’er the world go, I’ll make sure for one,
And seek in time to intercept the worst, 185
Warily guarding that which I ha’ got.
_Ego mihimet sum semper proximus._[479]
Why, let ’em enter, let ’em take the town. [_Exit._]

[SCENE II.][480]

_Enter_ [FERNEZE,] _Governor of Malta,_ Knights, [_and_ Officers;] _met by_ Bassoes _of the Turk_; CALYMATH.

_Fern._ Now, Bassoes,[481] what demand you at our hands?

_1 Bas._ Know, Knights of Malta, that we came from Rhodes,
From Cyprus, Candy, and those other Isles
That lie betwixt the Mediterranean seas.

_Fern._ What ’s Cyprus, Candy, and those other Isles 5
To us or Malta? What at our hands demand ye?

_Cal._ The ten years’ tribute that remains unpaid.

_Fern._ Alas! my lord, the sum is over-great.
I hope your highness will consider us.

_Cal._ I wish, grave governor, ’t were in my power 10
To favour you, but ’t is my father’s cause,
Wherein I may not, nay, I dare not dally.

_Fern._ Then give us leave, great Selim Calymath.
[_Consults apart with the_ Knights.]

_Cal._ Stand all aside, and let the knights determine,
And send to keep our galleys under sail, 15
For happily[482] we shall not tarry here.—
Now, governor, how are you resolv’d?

_Fern._ Thus: since your hard conditions are such
That you will needs have ten years’ tribute past,
We may have time to make collection 20
Amongst the inhabitants of Malta for ’t.

_1 Bas._ That’s more than is in our commission.

_Cal._ What, Callipine! a little courtesy.
Let ’s know their time, perhaps it is not long;
And ’t is more kingly to obtain by peace 25
Than to enforce conditions by constraint.
What respite ask you, governors?

_Fern._ But a month.

_Cal._ We grant a month, but see you keep your promise.
Now launch our galleys back again to sea,
Where we’ll attend[483] the respite you have ta’en,
And for the money send our messenger. 31
Farewell, great governor and brave Knights of Malta.

_Fern._ And all good fortune wait on Calymath!
_Exeunt_ [CALYMATH _and_ Bassoes.]
Go one and call those Jews of Malta hither:
Were they not summon’d to appear to-day? 35

_Off._ They were, my lord, and here they come.

_Enter_ BARABAS _and three_ Jews.

_1 Knight._ Have you determined what to say to them?

_Fern._ Yes, give me leave:—and, Hebrews, now come near.
From the Emperor of Turkey is arriv’d
Great Selim Calymath, his highness’ son, 40
To levy of us ten years’ tribute past,
Now then, here know that it concerneth us—

_Bar._ Then, good my lord, to keep your quiet still,
Your lordship shall do well to let them have it.

_Fern._ Soft, Barabas, there’s more longs to ’t than so. 45
To what this ten years’ tribute will amount,
That we have cast,[484] but cannot compass it
By reason of the wars that robb’d our store;
And therefore are we to request your aid.

_Bar._ Alas, my lord, we are no soldiers; 50
And what’s our aid against so great a prince?

_1 Knight._ Tut, Jew, we know thou art no soldier;
Thou art a merchant and a monied man,
And ’t is thy money, Barabas, we seek. 54

_Bar._ How, my lord! my money?

_Fern._ Thine and the rest.
For, to be short, amongst you ’t must be had.

_1 Jew._ Alas, my lord, the most of us are poor.

_Fern._ Then let the rich increase your portions.

_Bar._ Are strangers with your tribute to be tax’d?

_2 Knight._ Have strangers leave with us to get their wealth? 60
Then let them with us contribute.

_Bar._ How! Equally?

_Fern._ No, Jew, like infidels.
For through our sufferance of your hateful lives,
Who stand accursed in the sight of Heaven,
These taxes and afflictions are befall’n, 65
And therefore thus we are determined.
Read there the articles of our decrees.

_Reader._ “First, the tribute-money of the
Turks shall all be levied amongst the Jews, and
each of them to pay one half of his estate.” 70

_Bar._ How, half his estate? I hope you mean not mine. [_Aside._]

_Fern._ Read on.

_Reader._ “Secondly, he that denies[485] to pay shall straight become
a Christian.”

_Bar._ How, a Christian? Hum, what’s here to do? [_Aside._] 75

_Reader._ “Lastly, he that denies this shall absolutely lose all he
has.”

_All three Jews._ O my lord, we will give half.

_Bar._ O earth-mettl’d villains, and no Hebrews born!
And will you basely thus submit yourselves 80
To leave your goods to their arbitrament?

_Fern._ Why, Barabas, wilt thou be christened?

_Bar._ No, governor, I will be no convertite.[486]

_Fern._ Then pay thy half.

_Bar._ Why, know you what you did by this device? 85
Half of my substance is a city’s wealth.
Governor, it was not got so easily;
Nor will I part so slightly therewithal.

_Fern._ Sir, half is the penalty of our decree,
Either pay that, or we will seize on all. 90

_Bar. Corpo di Dio!_ stay! you shall have half;
Let me be us’d but as my brethren are.

_Fern._ No, Jew, thou hast denied the articles,
And now it cannot be recall’d.

[_Exeunt_ Officers, _on a sign from_ FERNEZE.]

_Bar._ Will you then steal my goods? 95
Is theft the ground of your religion?

_Fern._ No, Jew, we take particularly thine
To save the ruin of a multitude;
And better one want for the common good
Than many perish for a private man. 100
Yet, Barabas, we will not banish thee,
But here in Malta, where thou gott’st thy wealth,
Live still; and, if thou canst, get more.

_Bar._ Christians, what or how can I multiply?
Of naught is nothing made. 105

_1 Knight._ From naught at first thou cam’st to little wealth,
From little unto more, from more to most.
If your first curse fall heavy on thy head,
And make thee poor and scorn’d of all the world,
’T is not our fault, but thy inherent sin. 110

_Bar._ What, bring you Scripture to your wrongs?
Preach me not out of my possessions.
Some Jews are wicked, as all Christians are;
But say the tribe that I descended of
Were all in general cast away for sin, 115
Shall I be tried by their transgression?
The man that dealeth righteously shall live;
And which of you can charge me otherwise?

_Fern._ Out, wretched Barabas!
Sham’st thou not thus to justify thyself, 120
As if we knew not thy profession?
If thou rely upon thy righteousness,
Be patient and thy riches will increase.
Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness:
And covetousness, O, ’tis a monstrous sin. 125

_Bar._ Ay, but theft is worse. Tush! take not from me then,
For that is theft; and if you rob me thus,
I must be forc’d to steal and compass more.

_1 Knight._ Grave governor, list not to his exclaims.
Convert his mansion to a nunnery; 130
_Re-enter_ Officers.
His house will harbour many holy nuns.

_Fern._ It shall be so. Now, officers, have you done?

_Off._ Ay, my lord, we have seiz’d upon the goods
And wares of Barabas, which being valued,
Amount to more than all the wealth in Malta. 135
And of the other we have seized half.

[_Fern._] Then we’ll take order for the residue.

_Bar._ Well then, my lord, say, are you satisfied?
You have my goods, my money, and my wealth,
My ships, my store, and all that I enjoy’d; 140
And, having all, you can request no more;
Unless your unrelenting flinty hearts
Suppress all pity in your stony breasts,
And now shall move you to bereave my life.

_Fern._ No, Barabas, to stain our hands with blood 145
Is far from us and our profession.

_Bar._ Why, I esteem the injury far less
To take the lives of miserable men
Than be the causers of their misery.
You have my wealth, the labour of my life, 150
The comfort of mine age, my children’s hope,
And therefore ne’er distinguish of the wrong.

_Fern._ Content thee, Barabas, thou hast naught but right.

_Bar._ Your extreme right does me exceeding wrong:
But take it to you, i’ the devil’s name. 155

_Fern._ Come, let us in, and gather of these goods
The money for this tribute of the Turk.

_1 Knight._ ’Tis necessary that be look’d unto;
For if we break our day, we break the league,
And that will prove but simple[487] policy. 160

_Exeunt_ [_all except_ BARABAS _and the_ Jews.]

_Bar._ Ay, policy! that’s their profession,
And not simplicity, as they suggest.
The plagues of Egypt, and the curse of Heaven,
Earth’s barrenness, and all men’s hatred
Inflict upon them, thou great _Primus Motor_! 165
And here upon my knees, striking the earth,
I ban their souls to everlasting pains
And extreme tortures of the fiery deep,
That thus have dealt with me in my distress.

_1 Jew._ O yet be patient, gentle Barabas. 170

_Bar._ O silly brethren, born to see this day,
Why stand you thus unmov’d with my laments?
Why weep you not to think upon my wrongs?
Why pine not I, and die in this distress?

_1 Jew._ Why, Barabas, as hardly can we brook 175
The cruel handling of ourselves in this;
Thou seest they have taken half our goods.

_Bar._ Why did you yield to their extortion?
You were a multitude, and I but one;
And of me only have they taken all. 180

_1 Jew._ Yet, Brother Barabas, remember Job.

_Bar._ What tell you me of Job? I wot his wealth
Was written thus: he had seven thousand sheep,
Three thousand camels, and two hundred yoke
Of labouring oxen, and five hundred 185
She-asses: but for every one of those,
Had they been valued at indifferent rate,
I had at home, and in mine argosy,
And other ships that came from Egypt last,
As much as would have bought his beasts and him, 190
And yet have kept enough to live upon:
So that not he, but I may curse the day,
Thy fatal birth-day, forlorn Barabas;
And henceforth wish for an eternal night, 194
That clouds of darkness may inclose my flesh,
And hide these extreme sorrows from mine eyes:
For only I have toil’d to inherit here
The months of vanity and loss of time,
And painful nights, have been appointed me.[488]

_2 Jew._ Good Barabas, be patient. 200

_Bar._ Ay;
Pray, leave me in my patience. You that
Were ne’er possess’d of wealth, are pleas’d with want;
But give him liberty at least to mourn,
That in a field amidst his enemies 205
Doth see his soldiers slain, himself disarm’d,
And knows no means of his recovery.
Ay, let me sorrow for this sudden chance;
’Tis in the trouble of my spirit I speak;
Great injuries are not so soon forgot. 210

_1 Jew._ Come, let us leave him; in his ireful mood
Our words will but increase his ecstasy.[489]

_2 Jew._ On, then; but trust me ’t is a misery
To see a man in such affliction.—
Farewell, Barabas! _Exeunt_ [_the three_ Jews.]

_Bar._ Ay, fare you well. 215
See the simplicity of these base slaves,
Who, for the villains have no wit themselves,
Think me to be a senseless lump of clay
That will with every water wash to dirt.
No, Barabas is born to better chance, 220
And fram’d of finer mould than common men,
That measure naught but by the present time.
A reaching thought will search his deepest wits,
And cast[490] with cunning for the time to come:
For evils are apt to happen every day.— 225
_Enter_ ABIGAIL.[491]
But wither wends my beauteous Abigail?
O! what has made my lovely daughter sad?
What, woman! moan not for a little loss:
Thy father has enough in store for thee.

_Abig._ Not for myself, but aged Barabas; 230
Father, for thee lamenteth Abigail.
But I will learn to leave these fruitless tears,
And, urg’d thereto with my afflictions,
With fierce exclaims run to the senate-house,
And in the senate reprehend them all, 235
And rend their hearts with tearing of my hair,
Till they reduce[492] the wrongs done to my father.

_Bar._ No, Abigail, things past recovery
Are hardly cur’d with exclamations.
Be silent, daughter, sufferance breeds ease, 240
And time may yield us an occasion
Which on the sudden cannot serve the turn.
Besides, my girl, think me not all so fond[493]
As negligently to forego so much
Without provision for thyself and me: 245
Ten thousand portagues,[494] besides great pearls,
Rich costly jewels, and stones infinite,
Fearing the worst of this before it fell,
I closely hid.

_Abig._ Where, father?

_Bar._ In my house, my girl.

_Abig._ Then shall they ne’er be seen of Barabas: 250
For they have seiz’d upon thy house and wares.

_Bar._ But they will give me leave once more, I trow,
To go into my house.

_Abig._ That may they not:
For there I left the governor placing nuns,
Displacing me; and of thy house they mean 255
To make a nunnery, where none but their own sect[495]
Must enter in; men generally barr’d.

_Bar._ My gold! my gold! and all my wealth is gone!
You partial heavens, have I deserv’d this plague?
What, will you thus oppose me, luckless stars, 260
To make me desperate in my poverty?
And knowing me impatient in distress,
Think me so mad as I will hang myself,
That I may vanish o’er the earth in air,
And leave no memory that e’er I was? 265
No, I will live; nor loathe I this my life:
And, since you leave me in the ocean thus
To sink or swim, and put me to my shifts,
I’ll rouse my senses and awake myself. 269
Daughter, I have it! Thou perceiv’st the plight
Wherein these Christians have oppressed me.
Be rul’d by me, for in extremity
We ought to make bar of no policy.

_Abig._ Father, whate’er it be to injure them
That have so manifestly wronged us, 275
What will not Abigail attempt?

_Bar._ Why, so;
Then thus, thou told’st me they have turn’d my house
Into a nunnery, and some nuns are there?

_Abig._ I did.

_Bar._ Then, Abigail, there must my girl
Entreat the abbess to be entertain’d. 280

_Abig._ How, as a nun?

_Bar._ Ay, daughter, for religion
Hides many mischiefs from suspicion.

_Abig._ Ay, but, father, they will suspect me there.

_Bar._ Let ’em suspect; but be thou so precise
As they may think it done of holiness. 285
Entreat ’em fair, and give them friendly speech,
And seem to them as if thy sins were great,
Till thou has gotten to be entertain’d.

_Abig._ Thus, father, shall I much dissemble.

_Bar._ Tush!
As good dissemble that thou never mean’st, 290
As first mean truth and then dissemble it.
A counterfeit profession is better
Than unseen hypocrisy.

_Abig._ Well, father, say [that] I be entertain’d.
What then shall follow?

_Bar._ This shall follow then:
There have I hid, close underneath the plank 296
That runs along the upper-chamber floor,
The gold and jewels which I kept for thee.
But here they come; be cunning, Abigail.

_Abig._ Then, father, go with me.

_Bar._ No, Abigail, in this
It is not necessary I be seen; 301
For I will seem offended with thee for ’t.
Be close,[496] my girl, for this must fetch my gold.
[_They retire._]

_Enter_ Friars [JACOMO _and_ BARNARDINE, Abbess,] _and a_ Nun.

_F. Jac._ Sisters, 304
We now are almost at the new-made nunnery.

_Abb._ The better; for we love not to be seen.
’T is thirty winters long since some of us
Did stray so far amongst the multitude.

_F. Jac._ But, madam, this house
And waters[497] of this new-made nunnery 310
Will much delight you.

_Abb._ It may be so; but who comes here?
[ABIGAIL _comes forward._]

_Abig._ Grave abbess, and you, happy virgins’ guide,
Pity the state of a distressed maid.

_Abb._ What art thou, daughter? 315

_Abig._ The hopeless daughter of a hapless Jew,
The Jew of Malta, wretched Barabas;
Sometimes the owner of a goodly house,
Which they have now turn’d to a nunnery.

_Abb._ Well, daughter, say, what is thy suit with us? 320

_Abig._ Fearing the afflictions which my father feels
Proceed from sin, or want of faith in us,
I ’d pass away my life in penitence,
And be a novice in your nunnery,
To make atonement for my labouring soul. 325

_F. Jac._ No doubt, brother, but this proceedeth of the spirit.

_F. Barn._ Ay, and a moving spirit too, brother; but come,
Let us entreat she may be entertain’d.

_Abb._ Well, daughter, we admit you for a nun. 329

_Abig._ First let me as a novice learn to frame
My solitary life to your strait laws,
And let me lodge where I was wont to lie.
I do not doubt, by your divine precepts
And mine own industry, but to profit much.

_Bar._ As much, I hope, as all I hid is worth.
_Aside._

_Abb._ Come, daughter, follow us. 336

_Bar._ [_coming forward._] Why, how now, Abigail, what makest thou
Amongst these hateful Christians?

_F. Jac._ Hinder her not, thou man of little faith, 339
For she has mortified herself.

_Bar._ How! mortified?

_F. Jac._ And is admitted to the sisterhood.

_Bar._ Child of perdition, and thy father’s shame!
What wilt thou do among these hateful fiends?
I charge thee on my blessing that thou leave
These devils, and their damned heresy. 345

_Abig._ Father, give me— [_She goes to him._]

_Bar._ (_Whispers to her._) Nay, back, Abigail,—
And think upon the jewels and the gold;
The board is marked thus that covers it.—
Away, accursed, from thy father’s sight.

_F. Jac._ Barabas, although thou art in misbelief, 350
And wilt not see thine own afflictions,
Yet let thy daughter be no longer blind.

_Bar._ Blind friar, I reck not thy persuasions,—
(The board is marked thus + that covers it.)
[_Aside to_ ABIGAIL _in a whisper_.]
For I had rather die than see her thus. 355
Wilt thou forsake me too in my distress,
Seduced daughter? (Go, forget not!) _Aside._
Becomes it Jews to be so credulous?—
(To-morrow early I’ll be at the door.) _Aside._
No, come not at me; if thou wilt be damn’d,
Forget me, see me not, and so be gone.— 361
(Farewell, remember to-morrow morning.)— _Aside._
Out, out, thou wretch!

[_Exeunt, on one side_ BARABAS, _on the other side_ Friars, Abbess, NUN, _and_ ABIGAIL; _as they are going out_,]

_Enter_ MATHIAS.

_Math._ Who’s this? Fair Abigail, the rich Jew’s daughter,
Become a nun! Her father’s sudden fall 365
Has humbled her and brought her down to this.
Tut, she were fitter for a tale of love,
Than to be tired out with orisons;
And better would she far become a bed,
Embraced in a friendly lover’s arms, 370
Than rise at midnight to a solemn mass.

_Enter_ LODOWICK.

_Lod._ Why, how now, Don Mathias! in a dump?

_Math._ Believe me, noble Lodowick, I have seen
The strangest sight, in my opinion,
That ever I beheld.

_Lod._ What was ’t I pritbee? 375

_Math._ A fair young maid, scarce fourteen years of age,
The sweetest flower in Cytherea’s field,
Cropt from the pleasures of the fruitful earth,
And strangely metamorphos’d [to a] nun.

_Lod._ But say, what was she?

_Math._ Why, the rich Jew’s daughter.

_Lod._ What, Barabas, whose goods were lately seiz’d? 381
Is she so fair?

_Math._ And matchless beautiful,
As, had you seen her, ’t would have mov’d your heart,
Though countermin’d with walls of brass, to love,
Or at the least to pity. 385

_Lod._ And if she be so fair as you report,
’T were time well spent to go and visit her.
How say you, shall we?

_Math._ I must and will, sir; there ’s no remedy.

_Lod._ And so will I too, or it shall go hard.
Farewell, Mathias.

_Math._ Farewell, Lodowick. 391
_Exeunt_ [_severally_.]