 | The Famous Tragedy of The Rich Ievv of Malta |  |
Actus Secundus.
Enter Barabas with a light.Bar.
Thus like the sad presaging Rauen 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
Haue 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 haue answer of my Abigall.
Enter Abigall aboue.
Abig.
Now haue I happily espy'd a time
To search the plancke my father did appoint;
And here behold (vnseene) where I haue found
The gold, the perles, and Iewels which he hid.
Bar.
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 liue, here liues my soules sole hope,
And when I dye, here shall my spirit walke.
Abig.
Now that my fathers fortune were so good
'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 receiue the Treasure I haue found.
Bar.
Birn para todos, my ganada no er:
As good goe on, as fit so sadly thus.
But stay, what starre shines yonder in the East?
The Loadstarre of my life, if Abigall.
Who's there?
Abig.
Who's that?
Bar.
Peace, Abigal, 'tis I.
Abig.
Then father here receiue thy happinesse.
Bar.
Hast thou't?
Throwes downe bags,
Abig.
Here,
Hast thou't?
There's more, and more, and more.
Bar.
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 Aigal, Abigal, that I had thee here too,
Then my desires were fully satisfied,
But I will practise thy enlargement thence:
Oh girle, oh gold, oh beauty, oh my blisse!
hugs his bags
Abig.
Father, it draweth towards midnight now,
And 'bout this time the Nuns begin to wake;
To shun suspition, therefore, let vs part.
Bar.
Farewell my ioy, and by my fingers take
A kisse from him that sends it from his soule.
Now Phœbus ope the eye-lids of the day,
And for the Rauen wake the morning Larke,
That I may houer with her in the Ayre;
Singing ore these, as she does ore her young.
Hermoso Piarer, de les Denirch.
Exeunt.
Gov.
Now Captaine tell vs whither thou art bound?
Whence is thy ship that anchors in our Rhoad?
And why thou cam'st ashore without our leaue?
Bosc.
Governor of Malta, hither am I bound;
My Ship, the flying Dragon, is of Spaine,
And so am I, Delbosco is my name;
Vizadmirall vnto the Catholike King.
1 Kni.
'Tis true, my Lord, therefore intreat him well.
Bosc.
Our fraught is Grecians, Turks, and Africk Moores.
For late vpon the coast of Corsica,
Because we vail'd not to the Spanish Fleet,
Their creeping Gallyes had vs in the chase:
But suddenly the wind began to rise,
And then we left, and tooke, and fought at ease:
Some have we fir'd, and many haue we sunke;
But one amongst the rest became our prize:
The Captain's slaine, the rest remaine our slaues,
Of whom we would make sale in Malta here.
Gov.
Martin del Bosco, I haue heard of thee;
Welcome to Malta, and to all of vs;
But to admit a sale of these thy Turkes
We may not, nay we dare not giue consent
By reason of a Tributary league.
1 Kni.
Delbosco, as thou louest and honour'st vs,
Perswade our Gouernor against the Turke;
This truce we haue is but in hope of gold,
And with that summe he craues might we wage warre.
Bosc.
Will Knights of Malta be in league with Turkes,
And buy it basely too for summes of gold?
My Lord, Remember that to Europ'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
Gov.
Captaine we know it, but our force is small.
Bosc.
What is the summe that Calymath requires?
Gov.
A hundred thousand Crownes.
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 Maiesty for ayd,
And not depart vntill I see you free.
Gov.
On this condition shall thy Turkes be sold.
Goe Officers and set them straight in shew.
Bosco, thou shalt be Malta's Generall;
We and our warlike Knights will follow thee
Against these barbarous mis-beleeuing Turkes.
Bosc.
So shall you imitate those you succeed:
For when their hideous force inuiron'd Rhodes,
Small though the number was that kept the Towne,
They fought it out, and not a man suruiu'd
To bring the haplesse newes to Christendome.
Gov.
So will we fight it out; come, let's away:
Proud-daring Calymath, instead of gold,
Wee'll send the bullets wrapt in smoake and fire:
Claime tribute where thou wilt, we are resolu'd,
Honor is bought with bloud and not with gold.
Exeunt.
Enter Officers with slaues.
1 Off.
This is the Market-place, here let 'em stand:
Feare not their sale, for they'll be quickly bought.
2 Off.
Euery ones price is written on his backe,
And so much must they yeeld or not be sold.
Ent. Bar.
1 Off.
Here comes the Iew, had not his goods bin seiz'd,
He'de giue vs present mony for them all.
Enter Barabas.
Bar,
In spite of these swine-eating Christians,
(Vnchosen Nation, neuer circumciz'd;
Such as poore villaines were ne're thought vpon
Till Titus and Vespasian conquer'd vs.)
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 haue bought a house
As great and faire as is the Gouernors;
And there in spite of Malta will I dwell:
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 iniury.
We Iewes 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 vp my shoulders when they call me dogge,
And ducke as low as any bare-foot Fryar,
Hoping to see them starue vpon a stall,
Or else be gather'd for in our Synagogue;
That when the offering-Bason comes to me,
Euen for charity I may spit intoo't.
Here comes Don Lodswicke the Gouernor's sonne,
One that I loue for his good fathers sake.
Enter Lodowicke.
Lod.
I heare the wealthy Iew walked this way;
I'le seeke him out, and so insinuate,
That I may haue a sight of Abigall;
For Don Mathias tels me she is faire.
Bar.
Now will I shew my selfe to haue more of the Serpent
Then the Doue; that is, more knaue than foole.
Lod.
Yond walks the Iew, now for faire Abigall.
Bar.
I, I, no doubt but shee's at your command.
Lod.
Barabas, thou know'st I am the Gouernors sonne.
Bar.
I wud you were his father too, Sir, that's al the harm
I wish you: the slaue looks like a hogs cheek new findg'd.
Lod.
Whither walk'st thou Barabas?
Bar.
No further: 'tis a custome held with vs,
That when we speake with Gentiles like to you,
We turne into the Ayre to purge our selues:
For vnto vs the Promise doth belong.
Lod.
Well, Barabas, canst helpe me to a Diamond?
Bar.
Oh, Sir, your father had my Diamonds.
Yet I haue one left that will serve your turne:
I meane my daughter:—but e're he shall haue her
aside.
I ha the poyson of the City for him, and the
White leprosie.
Lod.
What sparkle does it give without a foile?
Bar.
The Diamond that I talke of, ne'r was foild:
But when he touches it, it will be foild:
Lord Lodowicke, it sparkles bright and faire.
Lod.
Is it square or pointed, pray let me know.
Bar.
Pointed it is, good Sir,—but not for you.
aside
Lod.
I like it much the better.
Brr.
So doe I too.
Lod.
How showes it by night?
Bar.
Out shines Cinthia's rayes:
Yeu'le like it better farre a nights than dayes.
aside.
Lod.
And what's the price?
Bar.
Your life and if you haue it.—Oh my Lord
We will not iarre about the price; come to my house
And I will giu't your honour—with a vengeance.
aside.
Lod.
No, Barabas, I will deserue it first.
Bar.
Good Sir, your father has deseru'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 mindful! of my mortall sinnes,
Against my will, and whether I would or no,
Seiz'd all I had, and thrust me out a doores,
And made my house a place for Nuns most chast.
Lod.
No doubt your soule shall reape the fruit of it.
Bar.
I, but my Lord, the haruest is farre off:
And yet I know the prayers of those Nuns
And holy Fryers, hauing 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.
Lod.
Good Barabas glance not at our holy Nuns.
Bar.
No, but I doe it through a burning zeale,
For though they doe a while increase and multiply,
aside.
I'le haue a saying to that Nunnery.
As for the Diamond, Sir, I told you of,
Come home and there's no price shall make vs part,
Euen 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 slaue.
Lod.
And, Barabas, I'le beare thee company.
Bar.
Come then, here's the marketplace; whats the price
Of this slaue, 200 Crowns? Do the Turke weigh so much?
Off.
Sir, that's his price.
Bar.
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 300 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 theeues,
And few or none scape but by being purg'd.
Lod.
Ratest thou this Moore but at 200 plats?
1 Off.
No more, my Lord.
Bar.
Why should this Turke be dearer then that Moore?
Off.
Because he is young and has more qualities.
Bar.
What, hast the Philosophers stone? and thou hast,
Breake my head with it, I'le forgiue thee.
Itha.
No Sir, I can cut and shaue.
Bar.
Let me see, sirra, are you not an old shauer?
Ith.
Alas, Sir, I am a very youth.
Bar.
A youth? I'le buy you, and marry you to Lady vanity
If you doe well.
Ith.
I will serue you, Sir.
Bar.
Some wicked trick or other. It may be vnder colour
Of shauing, thou'lt cut my throat for my goods.
Tell me, hast thou thy health well?
Ith.
I, passing well.
Bar.
So much the worse; I must haue one that's sickly,
And be but for sparing vittles: 'tis not a stone of beef a day
That's some what leaner.
1 Off.
Here's a leaner, how like you him?
Bar.
Where was thou borne?
Itha.
In Trace; brought vp in Arabia.
Bar.
So much the better, thou art for my turne,
An hundred Crownes, I'le haue him; there's the coyne.
1 Off.
Then marke him, Sir, and take him hence.
Bar.
I, marke him, you were best, for this is he
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 haue shall be at your command.
Enter Mathias, Mater.
Math.
What makes the Iew and Lodowicke so priuate?
I feare me 'tis about faire Abigall.
Bar.
Yonder comes Don Mathias, let vs stay;
He loues my daughter, and she holds him deare:
But I haue sworne to frustrate both their hopes,
And be reveng'd upon the—Gouernor.
Mater.
This Moore is comeliest, is he not? speake son.
Math.
No, this is the better, mother, view this well.
Bar.
Seeme not to know me here before your mother
Lest she mistrust the match that is in hand:
When you haue brought her home, come to my house;
Thinke of me as thy father; Sonne farewell.
Math.
But wherefore talk'd Don Lodowick with you?
Bar.
Tush man, we talk'd of Diamonds, not of Abigal,
Mater.
Tell me, Mathias, is not that the Iew?
Bar.
As for the Comment on the Machabees
I haue it, Sir, and 'tis at your command.
Math.
Yes, Madam, and my talke with him was
About the borrowing of a booke or two.
Mater.
Conuerse not with him, he is cast off from heauen.
Thou hast thy Crownes, fellow, come let's away.
exeunt.
Math.
Sirra, Iew, remember the booke.
Marry will I, Sir.
Off.
Come, I haue made a reasonable market, let's away.
Bar.
Now let me know thy name, and therewithall
Thy birth, condition, and profession.
Ithi.
Faith, Sir, my birth is but meane, my name's Ithimer,
My profession what you please.
Bar.
Hast thou no Trade? then listen to my words,
And I will teach that shall sticke by thee:
First be thou voyd of these affections,
Compassion, loue, vaine hope, and hartlesse feare,
Be mou'd at nothing, see thou pitty none,
But to thy selfe smile when the Christians moane.
Ithi.
Oh braue, master, I worship your nose for this.
Bar.
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 doore.
Being young I studied Physicke, and began
To practise first vpon the Italian;
There I enric'd the Priests with burials,
And alwayes kept the Sexton's armes in vre
With digging graues and ringing dead mens knels:
And after that was I an Engineere,
And in the warres 'twixt France and Germanie,
Vnder pretence of helping Charles the fifth,
Slew friend and enemy with my stratagems.
Then after that was I an Vsurer,
And with extorting, cozening, forfeiting,
And tricks belonging vnto Brokery,
I fill'd the Iailes with Bankrouts in a yeare,
And with young Orphans planted Hospitals,
And euery Moone made some or other mad,
And now and then one hang himselfe for griefe,
Pinning vpon his breast a long great Scrowle
But marke how I am blest for plaguing them,
I haue as much coyne as will buy the Towne.
But tell me now, How hast thou spent thy time?
Ithi.
Faith, Master, in setting Christian villages on fire,
Chaining of Eunuches, binding gally-slaues.
One time I was an Hostler in an Inne,
And in the night time secretly would I steale
To trauellers Chambers, and there cut their throats:
Once at Ierusalem, where the pilgrims kneel'd,
I strowed powder on the Marble stones,
And there withall their knees would ranckle, so
That I haue laugh'd agood to see the cripples
Goe limping home to Christendome on stilts.
Bar.
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.
Lod.
Oh Barabas well met; where is the Diamond
You told me of?
Bar.
I haue it for you, Sir; please you walke in with me:
What, ho, Abigall; open the doore I say.
Enter Abigall.
Abig.
In good time, father, here are letters come
From Ormus, and the Post stayes here within.
Bar.
Giue me the letters, daughter, doe you heare?
Entertaine Lodowicke the Gouernors sonne
With all the curtesie you can affoord;
Prouided, that you keepe your Maiden-head.
Vse him as if he were a Philistine.
aside.
Dissemble, sweare, protest, vow to loue 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.
Abig.
For your sake and his own he's welcome hither.
Daughter, a word more; kisse him, speake him faire,
And like a cunning Iew so cast about,
That ye be both made sure e're you come out.
Abig.
Oh father, Don Mathias is my loue.
Bar.
I know it: yet I say make loue 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 vpon the account:
The account is made, for Lodowicke 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 haue wealth enough.
For now by this has he kist Abigall;
And she vowes loue to him, and hee to her.
As sure as heauen rain'd Manna for the Iewes,
So sure shall he and Don Mathias dye:
His father was my chiefest enemie.
Whither goes Don Mathias? stay a while.
Enter Mathias.
Math.
Whither but to my faire loue Abigall?
Bar.
Thou know'st, and heauen can witnesse it is true,
That I intend my daughter shall be thine.
Math.
I, Barabas, or else thou wrong'st me much:
Bar.
Oh heauen forbid I should haue such a thought.
Pardon me though I weepe; the Gouernors sonne
Will, whether I will or no, haue Abigall:
He sends her letters, bracelets, jewels, rings.
Math.
Does she receiue them?
Bar.
Shee? No, Mathias, no, but sends them backe,
And when he comes, she lockes her selfe vp 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;
Math.
Oh treacherous Lodowicke!
Bar.
Even now as I came home, he slipt me in,
And I am sure he is with Abigall.
Math.
I'le rouze him thence.
Not for all Malta, therefore sheath your sword;
If you loue me, no quarrels in my house;
But steale you in, and seeme to see him not;
I'le giue him such a warning e're he goes
As he shall haue small hopes of Abigall.
Away, for here they come,
Enter Lodowicke, Abigall.
Math.
What hand in hand, I cannot suffer this.
Bar.
Mathias, as thou lou'st me, not a word.
Math.
Well, let it passe, another time shall serue.
Exit.
Lod.
Barabas, is not that the widowes sonne?
Bar.
I, and take heed, for he hath sworne your death.
Lod.
My death? what is the base borne peasant mad?
Bar.
No, no, but happily he stands in feare
Of that which you, I thinke, ne're dreame vpon,
My daughter here, a paltry silly girle.
Lod.
Why loues she Don Mathias?
Bar.
Doth she not with her smiling answer you?
Abig.
He has my heart, I smile against my will.
Lod.
Barabas, thou know'st I haue lou'd thy daughter long.
Bar.
And so has she done you, euen from a child.
Lod.
And now I can no longer hold my minde.
Bar.
Nor I the affection that I beare to you.
Lod.
This is thy Diamond, tell me, shall I haue it?
Bar.
Win it, and weare it, it is yet vnsoyl'd.
Oh but I know your Lordship wud disdaine
To marry with the daughter of a Iew:
And yer I'le giue her many a golden crosse
With Christian posies round about the ring.
Lod.
'Tis not thy wealth, but her that I esteeme,
Yet craue I thy consent.
Bar.
And mine you haue, yet let me talke to her;
This off-spring of Cain, this Iebusite
That neuer tasted of the Passeouer,
Nor e're shall see the land of Canaan,
aside.
This gentle Magot Lodowicke I meane,
Must be deluded: let him haue thy hand,
But keepe thy heart till Don Mathias comes.
Abig.
What shall I be betroth'd to Lodowicke?
Bar.
It's no sinne to deceiue a Christian;
For they themselues hold it a principle,
Faith is not to be held with Heretickes;
But all are Hereticks that are not Iewes;
This followes well, and therefore daughter feare not.
I haue intreated her, and she will grant.
Lod.
Then gentle Abigal plight thy faith to me.
Abig.
I cannot chuse, seeing my father bids:
Nothing but death shall part my loue and me.
Lod.
Now haue I that for which my soule hath long'd
Bar.
So haue not I, but yet I hope I shall.
aside.
Abig.
Oh wretched Abigal, what hast thee done?
Lod.
Why on the sudden is your colour chang'd?
Abig.
I know not, but farewell, I must be gone.
Bar.
Stay her, but let her not speake one word more.
Lod.
Mute a the sudden; here's a sudden change.
Bar.
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.
Lod.
Oh, is't the custome, then I am resolu'd:
But rathe let the brightsome heauens 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 reueng'd.
Enter Mathias.
Bar.
Be quiet Lodowicke, it is enough
That I haue made thee sure to Abigal.
Lod.
Well, let him goe.
Exit.
Bar.
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.
Suffer me, Barabas, but to follow him.
Bar.
No; so shall I, if any hurt be done,
Be made an accessary of your deeds;
Reuenge it on him when you meet him next.
Math.
For this I'le haue his heart.
Bar.
Doe so; loe here I giue thee Abigall.
Math.
What greater gift can poore Mathias haue?
Shall Lodowicke rob me of so faire a loue?
My life is not so deare as Abigall.
Bar.
My heart misgiues me, that to crosse your loue,
Hee's with your mother, therefore after him.
Math.
What, is he gone vnto my mother?
Bar.
Nay, if you will, stay till she comes her selfe.
Math.
I cannot stay; for if my mother come,
Shee'll dye with griefe.
Exit.
Abig.
I cannot take my leaue of him for teares:
Father, why haue you thus incenst them both?
Bar.
What's that to thee?
Abig.
I'le make 'em friends againe.
Bar.
You'll make 'em friends? are there not Iewes
Enow in Malta.
But thou must dote vpon a Christian?
Abig.
I will haue Don Mathias, he is my loue.
Bar.
Yes, you shall haue him: Goe put her in.
Ith.
I, I'le put her in.
Bar.
Now tell me, Ithimere, how lik'st thou his?
Ith.
Faith Master, I thinke by this
You purchase both their liues; is it not so?
Bar.
True; and it shall be cunningly perform'd.
Ith.
Oh, master, that I might haue a hand in this.
Bar.
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.
Ith.
'Tis poyson'd, is it not?
Bar.
No, no, and yet it might be done that way:
It is a challenge feign'd from Lodowicke.
Ith.
Feare not, I'le so set his heart a fire, that he
Bar.
I cannot choose but like thy readinesse:
Yet be not rash, but doe it cunningly.
Ith.
As I behaue my selfe in this, imploy me hereafter.
Exit.
Bar.
Away then.
So, now will I goe in to Lodowicke,
And like a cunning spirit feigne some lye,
Till I haue set 'em both at enmitie.
Exit
| The Famous Tragedy of The Rich Ievv of Malta | |