Christopher Marlowe, The Jew of Malta

Act Two, Scene One

Barabas
Thus like the sad presaging Raven that tolls
The sicke mans passeport in her hollow beake,
And in the shadow of the silent night
Doth shake contagion from her sable wings;
Vex'd and tormented runnes poore Barabas
With fatall curses towards these Christians.
The incertaine pleasures of swift-footed time
Have tane their flight, and left me in despaire;
And of my former riches rests no more
But bare remembrance; like a souldiers skarre,
That has no further comfort for his maime.
Oh thou that with a fiery piller led'st
The sonnes of Israel through the dismall shades,
Light Abrahams off-spring; and direct the hand
Of Abigall this night; or let the day
Turne to eternall darkenesse after this:
No sleepe can fasten on my watchfull eyes,
Nor quiet enter my distemper'd thoughts,
Till I have answer of my Abigall.
Enter Abigall above.

Abigall
Now have I happily espy'd a time
To search the plancke my father did appoint;
And here behold (unseene) where I have found
The gold, the perles, and Jewels which he hid.

Barabas
Now I remember those old womens words,
Who in my wealth wud tell me winters tales,
And speake of spirits and ghosts that glide by night
About the place where Treasure hath bin hid:
And now me thinkes that I am one of those:
For whilst I live, here lives my soules sole hope,
And when I dye, here shall my spirit walke.

Abigall
Now that my fathers fortune were so good
As but to be about this happy place;
'Tis not so happy: yet when we parted last,
He said he wud attend me in the morne.
Then, gentle sleepe, where e're his bodie rests,
Give charge to Morpheus that he may dreame
A golden dreame, and of the sudden walke,
Come and receive the Treasure I have found.

Barabas
Bien para todos mi ganado no es:
As good goe on, as sit so sadly thus.
But stay, what starre shines yonder in the East?
The Loadstarre of my life, if Abigall.
Who's there?

Abigall
Who's that?

Barabas
Peace, Abigal, 'tis I.

Abigall
Then father here receive thy happinesse.

Barabas
Hast thou't?

Abigall
Here,
Throwes downe bags.
Hast thou't?
There's more, and more, and more.

Barabas
Oh my girle,
My gold, my fortune, my felicity;
Strength to my soule, death to mine enemy;
Welcome the first beginner of my blisse:
Oh Abigal Abigal, that I had thee here too,
Then my desires were fully satisfied,
But I will practice thy enlargement thence:
Oh girle, oh gold, oh beauty, oh my blisse!
Hugs his bags.

Abigall
Father, it draweth towards midnight now,
And 'bout this time the Nuns begin to wake;
To shun suspition, therefore, let us part.

Barabas
Farewell my joy, and by my fingers take
A kisse from him that sends it from his soule.
Now Phoebus ope the eye-lids of the day,
And for the Raven wake the morning Larke,
That I may hover with her in the Ayre,
Singing ore these, as she does ore her young.
Hermoso Placer de los Dineros.
Exeunt.

Act Two, Scene Two

Governor
Now Captaine tell us whither thou art bound?
Whence is thy ship that anchors in our Rhoad?
And why thou cam'st ashore without our leave?

Bosco
Governor of Malta, hither am I bound;
My Ship, the flying Dragon, is of Spaine,
And so am I, Delbosco is my name;
Vizadmirall unto the Catholike King.

1. Knight
'Tis true, my Lord, therefore intreat him well.

Bosco
Our fraught is Grecians, Turks, and Africk Moores.
For late upon the coast of Corsica,
Because we vail'd not to the Turkish Fleet,
Their creeping Gallyes had us in the chase:
But suddenly the wind began to rise,
And then we luft, and tackt, and fought at ease:
Some have we fir'd, and many have we sunke;
But one amongst the rest became our prize:
The Captain's slaine, the rest remaine our slaves,
Of whom we would make sale in Malta here.

Governor
Martin del Bosco, I have heard of thee;
Welcome to Malta, and to all of us;
But to admit a sale of these thy Turkes
We may not, nay we dare not give consent
By reason of a Tributary league.

1. Knight
Delbosco, as thou lovest and honour'st us,
Perswade our Governor against the Turke;
This truce we have is but in hope of gold,
And with that summe he craves might we wage warre.

Bosco
Will Knights of Malta be in league with Turkes,
And buy it basely too for summes of gold?
My Lord, Remember that toEurop's shame,
The Christian Ile of Rhodes, from whence you came,
Was lately lost, and you were stated here
To be at deadly enmity with Turkes.

Governor
Captaine we know it, but our force is small.

Bosco
What is the summe that Calymath requires?

Governor
A hundred thousand Crownes.

Bosco
My Lord and King hath title to this isle,
And he meanes quickly to expell you hence;
Therefore be rul'd by me, and keepe the gold:
I'le write unto his majesty for ayd,
And not depart untill I see you free.

Governor
On this condition shall thy Turkes be sold.
Goe Officers and set them straight in shew.
[Exeunt Officers.]
Bosco, thou shalt be Malta's Generall;
We and our warlike Knights will follow thee
Against these barbarous mis-beleeving Turkes.

Bosco
So shall you imitate those you succeed:
For when their hideous force inviron'd Rhodes,
Small though the number was that kept the Towne,
They fought it out, and not a man surviv'd
To bring the haplesse newes to Christendome.

Governor
So will we fight it out; come, let's away:
Proud-daring Calymath, instead of gold,
Wee'll send thee bullets wrapt in smoake and fire:
Claime tribute where thou wilt, we are resolv'd,
Honor is bought with bloud and not with gold.
Exeunt.

Act Two, Scene Three

1. Officer
This is the Market-place, here let 'em stand
Feare not their sale, for they'll be quickly bought.

2. Officer
Every ones price is written on his backe,
And so much must they yeeld or not be sold.
Enter Barabas.

1. Officer
Here comes the Jew, had not his goods bin seiz'd,
He'de give us present mony for them all.

Barabas
In spite of these swine-eating Christians,
(Unchosen Nation, never circumciz'd;
Such as, poore villaines, were ne're thought upon
Till Titus and Vespasian conquer'd us)
Am I become as wealthy as I was:
They hop'd my daughter would ha bin a Nun;
But she's at home, and I have bought a house
As great and faire as is the Governors;
And there in spite of Malta will I dwell:
Having Fernezes hand, whose heart I'le have;
I, and his sonnes too, or it shall goe hard.
I am not of the Tribe of Levy, I,
That can so soone forget an injury.
We Jewes can fawne like Spaniels when we please;
And when we grin we bite, yet are our lookes
As innocent and harmelesse as a Lambes.
I learn'd in Florence how to kisse my hand,
Heave up my shoulders when they call me dogge,
And ducke as low as any bare-foot Fryar,
Hoping to see them starve upon a stall,
Or else be gather'd for in our Synagogue;
That when the offering-Bason comes to me,
Even for charity I may spit intoo't.
Here comes Don Lodowicke the Governor's sonne,
One that I love for his good fathers sake.
Enter Lodowicke.

Lodowicke
I heare the wealthy Jew walked this way;
I'le seeke him out, and so insinuate,
That I may have a sight of Abigall;
For Don Mathias tels me she is faire.

Barabas
Now will I shew my selfe to have more of the Serpent then the Dove; that is, more knave than foole.

Lodowicke
Yond walks the Jew, now for faire Abigall.

Barabas
I, I, no doubt but shee's at your command.

Lodowicke
Barabas, thou know'st I am the Governors sonne.

Barabas
I wud you were his father too, Sir, that's al the harm I
wish you: the slave looks like a hogs cheek new sindg'd.

[Aside.]

Lodowicke
Whither walk'st thou, Barabas?

Barabas
No further: 'tis a custome held with us,
That when we speake with Gentiles like to you,
We turne into the Ayre to purge our selves:
For unto us the Promise cloth belong.

Lodowicke
Well, Barabas, canst helpe me to a Diamond?

Barabas
Oh, Sir, your father had my Diamonds.
Yet I have one left that will serve your turne:
I meane my daughter:—but e're he shall have her
Aside.
I'le sacrifice her on a pile of wool.
I ha the poyson of the City for him,
And the white leprosie.

Lodowicke
What sparkle does it give without a foile?

Barabas
The Diamond that I talke of, ne'r was foild:
But when he touches it, it will be foild:
[Aside.]
Lord Lodowicke, it sparkles bright and faire.

Lodowicke
Is it square or pointed, pray let me know.

Barabas
Pointed it is, good Sir,—but not for you.
Aside.

Lodowicke
I like it much the better.

Barabas
So doe I too.

Lodowicke
How showes it by night?

Barabas
Outshines Cinthia's rayes:
You'le like it better farre a nights than dayes.
Aside.

Lodowicke
And what's the price?

Barabas
Your life and if you have it.—
[Aside.]
Oh my Lord we will not jarre about the price;
Come to my house and I will giv't your honour—
Aside.
With a vengeance.

Lodowicke
No, Barabas, I will deserve it first.

Barabas
Good Sir,
Your father has deserv'd it at my hands,
Who of meere charity and Christian ruth,
To bring me to religious purity,
And as it were in Catechising sort,
To make me mindfull of my mortall sinnes,
Against my will, and whether I would or no,
Seiz'd all I had, and thrust me out a doves,
And made my house a place for Nuns most chast.

Lodowicke
No doubt your soule shall reape the fruit of it.

Barabas
I, but my Lord, the harvest is farre off:
And yet I know the prayers of those Nuns
And holy Fryers, having mony for their paines,
Are wondrous; and indeed doe no man good:
Aside.
And seeing they are not idle, but still doing,
'Tis likely they in time may reape some fruit,
I meane in fulnesse of perfection.

Lodowicke
Good Barabas glance not at our holy Nuns.

Barabas
No, but I doe it through a burning zeale,
Hoping ere long to set the house a fire;
Aside.
For though they doe a while increase and multiply,
I'le have a saying to that Nunnery.
As for the Diamond, Sir, I told you of,
Come home and there's no price shall make us part,
Even for your Honourable fathers sake.
It shall goe hard but I will see your death.
Aside.
But now I must be gone to buy a slave.

Lodowicke
And, Barabas, I'le beare thee company.

Barabas
Come then, here's the marketplace; whats the price of
this slave, two hundred Crowns? Do the Turkes weigh so much?

1. Officer
Sir, that's his price.

Barabas
What, can he steale that you demand so much?
Belike he has some new tricke for a purse;
And if he has, he is worth three hundred plats.
So that, being bought, the Towne-seale might be got
To keepe him for his life time from the gallowes.
The Sessions day is criticall to theeves,
And few or none scape but by being purg'd.

Lodowicke
Ratest thou this Moorebut at two hundred plats?

1. Officer
No more, my Lord.

Barabas
Why should this Turke be dearer then that Moore?

1. Officer
Because he is young and has more qualities.

Barabas
What, hast the Philosophers stone? and thou hast,
breake my head with it, I'le forgive thee.

Slave
No Sir, I can cut and shave.

Barabas
Let me see, sirra, are you not an old shaver?

Slave
Alas, Sir, I am a very youth.

Barabas
A youth? I'le buy you, and marry you to Lady vanity,
if you doe well.

Slave
I will serve you, Sir.

Barabas
Some wicked trick or other. It may be under colourof
shaving, thou'lt cut my throat for my goods.
Tell me, hast thou thy health well?

Slave
I, passing well.

Barabas
So much the worse; I must have one that's sickly, and
be but for sparing vittles: 'tis not a stone of beef a day will main-
taine you in these chops; let me see one that's somewhat leaner.

2. Officer
Here's a leaner, how like you him?

Barabas
Where was thou borne?

Ithimore
In Trace; brought up in Arabia.

Barabas
So much the better, thou art for my turne.
An hundred Crownes, I'le have him; there's the coyne.

1. Officer
Then marke him, Sir, and take him hence.

Barabas
I, marke him, you were best, for this is he
[Aside.]
That by my helpe shall doe much villanie.
My Lord farewell: Come Sirra you are mine.
As for the Diamond it shall be yours;
I pray, Sir, be no stranger at my house,
All that I have shall be at your command.
Enter Mathias,Mater.

Mathias
What makes the Jew and Lodowicke so private?
I feare me 'tis about faire Abigall.
[Aside.]

Barabas
Yonder comes Don Mathias, let us stay;
He loves my daughter, and she holds him deare:
But I have sworne to frustrate both their hopes,
And be reveng'd upon the —Governor.
[Aside.]
[Exit Lodowicke.]

Mater
This Moore is comeliest, is he not? speake son.

Mathias
No, this is the better, mother, view this well.

Barabas
Seeme not to know me here before your mother
Lest she mistrust the match that is in hand:
When you have brought her home, come to my house;
Thinke of me as thy father; Sonne farewell.

Mathias
But wherefore talk'd Von Lodowick with you?

Barabas
Tush man, we talk'd of Diamonds, not of Abigal.

Mater
Tell me, Mathias, is not that the Jew?

Barabas
As for the Comment on the Machabees
I have it, Sir, and 'tis at your command.

Mathias
Yes, Madam, and my talke with him was but
About the borrowing of a booke or two.

Mater
Converse not with him, he is cast off from heaven.
Thou hast thy Crownes, fellow, come let's away.
Exeunt [Mater and slave].

Mathias
Sirra, Jew, remember the booke.

Barabas
Marry will I, Sir.
[Exit Mathias.]

1. Officer
Come, I have made a reasonable market,
Lets away.
[Exeunt Officers with slaves.]

Barabas
Now let me know thy name, and therewithall
Thy birth, condition, and profession.

Ithimore
Faith, Sir, my birth is but meane, my name's Ithimor,
My profession what you please.

Barabas
Hast thou no Trade? then listen to my words,
And I will teach thee that shall sticke by thee:
First be thou voyd of these affections,
Compassion, love, vaine hope, and hartlesse feare,
Be mov'd at nothing, see thou pitty none,
But to thy selfe smile when the Christians moane.

Ithimore
Oh brave, master, I worship your nose for this.

Barabas
As for my selfe, I walke abroad a nights
And kill sicke people groaning under walls:
Sometimes I goe about and poyson wells;
And now and then, to cherish Christian theeves,
I am content to lose some of my Crownes;
That I may, walking in my Gallery,
See 'em goe pinion'd along by my dove.
Being young I studied Physicke, and began
To practice first upon the Italian;
There I enrich'd the Priests with burials,
And alwayes kept the Sexton's armes in ure
With digging graves and ringing dead mens keels:
And after that I was an Engineere,
And in the warres 'twixt France and Germanie,
Under presence of helping Charles the fifth,
Slew friend and enemy with my stratagems.
Then after that was I an Usurer,
And with extorting, cozening, forfeiting,
And tricks belonging unto Brokery,
I fill'd the Jailes with Bankrouts in a yeare,
And with young Orphans planted Hospitals,
And every Moone made some or other mad,
And now and then one hang himselfe for griefe,
Pinning upon his breast a long great Scrowle
How I with interest tormented him.
But marke how I am blest for plaguing them,
I have as much coyne as will buy the Towne.
But tell me now, How hast thou spent thy time?

Ithimore
Faith, Master,
In setting christian villages on fire,
Chaining of Eunuches, binding gally-slaves.
One time I was an Hostler in an Inne,
And in the night time secretly would I steale
To travellers Chambers, and there cut their throats:
Once at Jerusalem, where the pilgrims kneel'd,
I strowed powder on the Marble stones,
And therewithall their knees would ranckle, so
That I have laugh'd agood to see the cripples
Goe limping home to Christendome on stilts.

Barabas
Why this is something: make account of me
As of thy fellow; we are villaines both:
Both circumcized, we hate Christians both:
Be true and secret, thou shalt want no gold.
But stand aside, here comes Don Lodowicke.
Enter Lodowicke.

Lodowicke
Oh Barabas well met;
Where is the Diamond you told me of?

Barabas
I have it for you, Sir; please you walke in with me:
What, ho, Abigall; open the doore I say.
Enter Abigall.

Abigall
In good time, father, here are letters come
From Ormus, and the Post stayes here within.

Barabas
Give me the letters, daughter, doe you heare?
Entertaine Lodowicke the Governors sonne
With all the curtesie you can affoord;
Provided, that you keepe your Maiden-head.
Use him as if he were a—Philistine.
Aside.
Dissemble, sweare, protest, vow to love him,
He is not of the seed of Abraham.
I am a little busie, Sir, pray pardon me.
Abigall, bid him welcome for my sake.

Abigall
For your sake and his own he's welcome hither.

Barabas
Daughter, a word more; kisse him, speake him faire,
[Aside.]
And like a cunning Jew so cast about,
That ye be both made sure e're you come out.

Abigall
O father, Don Mathias is my love.

Barabas
I know it: yet I say make love to him;
Doe, it is requisite it should be so.
Nay on my life it is my Factors hand,
But goe you in, I'le thinke upon the account:
[Exeunt Lodowicke and Abigall.]
The account is made, for Lodovico dyes.
My Factor sends me word a Merchant's fled
That owes me for a hundred Tun of Wine:
I weigh it thus much; I have wealth enough.
For now by this has he kist Abigall;
And she vowes love to him, and hee to her.
As sure as heaven rain'd Manna for the Jewes,
So sure shall he and Don Mathias dye:
His father was my chiefest enemie.
Enter Mathias.
Whither goes Don Mathias? stay a while.

Mathias
Whither but to my faire love Abigall?

Barabas
Thou know'st, and heaven can witnesse it is true,
That I intend my daughter shall be thine.

Mathias
I, Barabas, or else thou wrong'st me much.

Barabas
Oh heaven forbid I should have such a thought.
Pardon me though I weepe; the Governors sonne
Will, whether I will or no, have Abigall:
He sends her letters, bracelets, jewels, rings.

Mathias
Does she receive them?

Barabas
Shee? No, Mathias, no, but sends them backe,
And when he comes, she lockes her selfe up fast;
Yet through the key-hole will he talke to her,
While she runs to the window looking out
When you should come and hale him from the doore.

Mathias
Oh treacherous Lodowicke!

Barabas
Even now as I came home, he slips me in,
And I am sure he is with Abigall.

Mathias
I'le rouze him thence.

Barabas
Not for all Malta, therefore sheath your sword;
If you love me, no quarrels in my house;
But steale you in, and seeme to see him not;
I'le give him such a warning e're he goes
As he shall have small hopes of Abigall.
Away, for here they come.
Enter Lodowicke, Abigall.

Mathias
What, hand in hand, I cannot suffer this.

Barabas
Mathias, as thou lov'st me, not a word.

Mathias
Well, let it passe, another time shall serve.
Exit.

Lodowicke
Barabas, is not that the widowes sonne?

Barabas
I, and take heed, for he hath sworne your death.

Lodowicke
My death? what, is the base borne peasant mad?

Baratas
No, no, but happily he stands in feare
Of that which you, I thinke, ne're dreame upon,
My daughter here, a paltry silly girle.

Lodowicke
Why, loves she Don Mathias?

Barabas
Doth she not with her smiling answer you?

Abigall
He has my heart, I smile against my will.
[Aside.]

Lodowicke
Barabas, thou know'st I have lov'd thy daughter long.

Barabas
And so has she done you, even from a child.

Lodowicke
And now I can no longer hold my minde.

Barabas
Nor I the affection that I beare to you.

Lodowicke
This is thy Diamond, tell me, shall I have it?

Barabas
Win it, and weare it, it is yet unfoyl'd.
Oh but I know your Lordship wud disdaine
To marry with the daughter of a Jew:
And yet I'le give her many a golden crosse
With Christian posies round about the ring.

Lodowicke.
'Tis not thy wealth, but her that I esteeme,
Yet crave I thy consent.

Barabas
And mine you have, yet let me talke to her;
This offspring of Cain, this Jebusite
That never tasted of the Passeover,
Nor e're shall see the land of Canaan,
Nor our Messias that is yet to come,
This gentle Magot, Lodowicke I meane,
Must be deluded: let him have thy hand,
But keepe thy heart till Don Mathias comes.

Abigall
What, shall I be betroth'd to Lodowicke?

Barabas
It's no sinne to deceive a Christian;
For they themselves hold it a principle,
Faith is not to be held with Heretickes;
But all are Hereticks that are not Jewes;
This followes well, and therefore daughter feare not.
I have intreated her, and she will grant.

Lodowicke
Then gentle Abigal plight thy faith to me.

Abigall
I cannot chuse, seeing my father bids:—
[Aside.]
Nothing but death shall part my love and me.

Lodowicke
Now have I that for which my soule hath long'd.

Barabas
So have not I, but yet I hope I shall.
[Aside.]

Abigall
Oh wretched Abigal, what hast thou done?

Lodowicke
Why on the sudden is your colour chang'd?

Abigall
I know not, but farewell, I must be gone.

Barabas
Stay her,— but let her not speake one word more.
[Aside.]

Lodowicke
Mute a the sudden; here's a sudden change.

Barabas
Oh muse not at it, 'tis the Hebrewes guize,
That maidens new betroth'd should weepe a while:
Trouble her not, sweet Lodowicke depart:
Shee is thy wife, and thou shalt be mine heire.

Lodowicke
Oh, is't the custome, then I am resolv'd:
But rather let the brightsome heavens be dim,
And Natures beauty choake with stifeling clouds,
Then my faire Abigal should frowne on me.
There comes the villaine, now I'le be reveng'd.
Enter Mathias.

Barabas
Be quiet Lodowicke, it is enough
That I have made thee sure to Abigal.

Lodowicke
Well, let him goe.
Exit.

Barabas
Well, but for me, as you went in at dores
You had bin stab'd, but not a word on't now;
Here must no speeches passe, nor swords be drawne.

Mathias
Suffer me, Barabas, but to follow him.

Barabas
No; so shall I, if any hurt be done,
Be made an accessary of your deeds;
Revenge it on him when you meet him next.

Mathias
For this I'le have his heart.

Barabas
Doe so; loe here I give thee Abigall.

Mathias
What greater gift can poore Mathias have?
Shall Lodowicke rob me of so faire a love?
My life is not so deare as Abigall.

Barabas
My heart misgives me, that to crosse your love,
Hee's with your mother, therefore after him.

Mathias
What, is he gone unto my mother?

Barabas
Nay, if you will, stay till she comes her selfe.

Mathias
I cannot stay; for if my mother come,
Shee'll dye with griefe.
Exit.

Abigall
I cannot take my leave of him for teares:
Father, why have you thus incenst them both?

Barabas
What's that to thee?

Abigall
I'le make 'em friends againe.

Barabas
You'll make 'em friends?
Are there not Jewes enow in Malta,
But thou must dote upon a Christian?

Abigall
I will have Don Mathias, he is my love.

Barabas
Yes, you shall have him: Goe put her in.

Ithimore
I, I'le put her in.
[Exit Abigall.]

Barabas
Now tell me, Ithimore, how lik'st thou this?

Ithimore
Faith Master, I thinke by this
You purchase both their lives; is it not so?

Barabas
True; and it shall be cunningly perform'd.

Ithimore
Oh, master, that I might have a hand in this.

Barabas
I, so thou shalt, 'tis thou must doe the deed:
Take this and beare it to Mathias streight,
And tell him that it comes from Lodowicke.

Ithimore
Tis poyson'd, is it not?

Barabas
No, no, and yet it might be done that way:
It is a challenge feign'd from Lodowicke.

Ithimore
Feare not, I'le so set his heart a fire,
That he shall verily thinke it comes from him.

Barabas
I cannot choose but like thy readinesse:
Yet be not rash, but doe it cunningly.

Ithimore
As I behave my selfe in this, imploy me hereafter.
Exit.

Barabas
Away then.
So, now will I goe in to Lodowicke,
And like a cunning spirit feigne some lye,
Till I have set 'em both at enmitie.
Exit.