 | The Famous Tragedy of The Rich Ievv of Malta |  |
Actus Quintus.
Enter Gouernor. Knights. Martin Del-Bosco.Gov.
Now, Gentlemen, betake you to your Armes,
And see that Malta be well fortifi'd;
And it behoues you to be resolute;
For Calymath hauing houer'd here so long,
Will winne the Towne, or dye before the wals.
Kni.
And dye he shall, for we will neuer yeeld.
Enter Curtezane, Pilia-borza.
Curt.
Oh bring vs to the Gouernor.
Gov.
Away with her, she is a Curtezane.
Curt.
What e're I am, yet Gouernor heare me speake;
I bring thee newes by whom thy sonne was slaine:
Mathias did it not, it was the Iew.
Pil.
Who, besides the slaughter of these Gentlemen,
Poyson'd his owne daughter and the Nuns,
Strangled a Fryar, and I know not what
Mischiefe beside.
Gov.
Had we but proofe of this.
Curt.
Strong proofe, my Lord, his man's now at my
Lodging that was his Agent, he'll confesse it all.
Gov.
Goe fetch him straight, I alwayes fear'd that Iew.
Enter Iew, Ithimore.
Bar.
I'le goe alone, dogs do not hale me thus.
Ith:
Nor me neither, I cannot out-run you Constable, oh my belly.
Bar.
One dram of powder more had made all sure,
What a damn'd slaue was I?
Make fires, heat irons, let the racke be fetch'd.
Kni.
Nay stay, my Lord, 'tmay be he will confesse.
Bar.
Confesse; what meane you, Lords, who should confesse?
Gov.
Thou and thy Turk; 'twas you that slew my son.
Ith.
Gilty, my Lord, I confesse; your sonne and Mathias
Were both contracted vnto Abigall,
Forg'd a counterfeit challenge.
Iew.
Who carried that challenge?
Ith.
I carried it, I confesse, but who writ it?
Marry euen he that strangled Bernardine, poyson'd the
Nuns, and his owne daughter.
Gov.
Away with him, his sight is death to me.
Bar.
For what, you men of Malta, heare me speake;
Shee is a Curtezane and he a theefe,
And he my bondman, let me haue law,
For none of this can preiudice my life:
Gov.
Once more away with him; you shall haue law.
Bar.
Deuils doe your worst, I liue in spite of you.
As these haue spoke so be it to their soules:
I hope the poyson'd flowers will worke anon.
Exit.
Enter Mater.
Mater.
Was my Mathias murder'd by the Iew?
Ferueze, 'twas thy sonne that murder'd him.
Gov,
Be patient, gentle Madam, it was he,
He forged the daring challenge made them fight.
Mat.
Where is the Iew, where is that murderer?
Gov.
In prison till the Law has past on him.
Enter Officer.
Offi.
My Lord, the Curtezane and her man are dead;
So is the Turke, and Barabas the Iew.
Gov.
Dead?
Offi.
Dead, my Lord, and here they bring his body.
Bosco.
This sudden death of his is very strange.
Gov.
Wonder not at it, Sir, the heauens are iuste;
Their deaths were like their liues, then think not of 'em.
Since they are dead, let them be buried.
To be a prey for Vultures and wild beasts.
So, now away and fortifie the Towne.
Exeunt.
Bar.
What, all alone? well fare sleepy drinke.
I'le be reueng'd on this accursed Towne;
For by my meanes Calymath shall enter in.
I'le helpe to slay their children and their wiues,
To fire the Churches, pull their houses downe,
Take my goods too, and seize vpon my lands:
I hope to see the Gouernour a slaue,
And, rowing in a Gally, whipt to death.
Enter Calymath, Bashawes, Turkes.
Caly.
Whom haue we there, a spy?
Bar.
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 Iew.
Caly.
Art thou that Iew whose goods we heard were sold
For Tribute-mony?
Bar.
The very same, my Lord:
And since that time they haue hir'd a slaue my man
To accuse me of a thousand villanies:
I was imprison'd, but scap'd their hands.
Caly.
Didst breake prison?
Bar.
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 Iew is here, and rests at your command.
Caly.
'Twas brauely done: but tell me, Barabas,
Canst thou, as thou reportest, make Malta ours?
Bar.
Feare not, my Lord, for here against the Truce,
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 giue assault vnto the wals,
I'le lead 500 souldiers through the Vault,
And rise with them i'th middle of the Towne,
And by this meanes the City is your owne.
Caly.
If this be true, I'le make thee Gouernor.
Iew.
And if it be not true, then let me dye.
Caly.
Thou'st doom'd thy selfe, assault it presently.
Exeunt.
Alarmes.
Enter Turkes, Barabas, Gouernour, and Knights prisoners.
Caly.
Now vaile your pride you captiue Christians,
And kneele for mercy to your conquering foe:
Now where's the hope you had of haughty Spaine?
Ferneze, speake, had it not beene much better
To kept thy promise then be thus surpriz'd?
Gov.
What should I say, we are captiues and must yeeld.
Caly.
I, villains, you must yeeld, and vnder Turkish yokes
Shall groning beare the burthen of our ire;
And Barabas, as erst we promis'd thee,
For thy desert we make the Gouernor,
Vse them at thy discretion.
Bar.
Thankes, my Lord.
Gov.
Oh fatall day to fall into the hands
Of such a Traitor and vnhallowed Iew!
What greater misery could heauen inflict?
Caly.
'Tis our command: and Barabas, we giue
To guard thy person, these our Ianizaries:
Intreat them well, as we haue vsed thee.
And now, braue Bashawes, come, wee'll walke about
The ruin'd Towne, and see the wracke we made:
Farewell braue Iew, farewell great Barabas.
Exeunt.
Bar.
May all good fortune follow Calymath.
And now, as entrance to our safety,
To prison with the Gouernour and these
Captaines, his consorts and confederates.
Gov.
Oh villaine, Heauen will be reueng'd on thee.
Exeunt.
Bar.
Away, no more, let him not trouble me.
Thus hast thou gotten, by thy policie,
I now am Gouernour 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 Gouernour,
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 brauely by firme policy,
At least vnprofitably lose it not:
For he that liueth in Authority,
And neither gets him friends, nor fils his bags,
Liues like the Asse that Æsope speaketh of,
That labours with a load of bread and wine,
And leaues it off to snap on Thistle tops:
But Barabas will be more circumspect.
Begin betimes, Occasion's bald behind,
Slip not thine oportunity, for feare too late
Thou seek'st for much, but canst not compasse it
Within here.
Enter Gouernor with a guard.
Gov.
My Lord?
Bar.
I, Lord, thus slaues will learne.
Now Gouernor stand by there, wait within,
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, Gouernor, and plainely too,
What thinkst thou shall become of it and thee?
Gov.
This; Barabas, since things are in thy power,
I see no reason but of Malta's wracke,
Nor hope of thee but extreme cruelty,
Nor feare I death, nor will I flatter thee.
Bar.
Gouernor, good words, be not so furious;
'Tis not thy life which can auaile me ought,
Yet you doe liue, and liue for me you shall:
'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 haue got my goods,
And in this City still haue had successe,
And now at length am growne your Governor,
Your selues shall see it shall not be forgot:
For as a friend not knowne, but in distresse,
I'le reare vp Malta now remedilesse.
Gov.
Will Barabas recouer Malta's losse?
Will Barabas be good to Christians?
Bar.
What wilt thou giue me, Gouernor, to procure
A dissolution of the slauish Bands
Wherein the Turke hath yoak'd your land and you?
What will you giue me if I render you
The life of Calymath, surprize his men,
And in and out-house of the City shut
His souldiers, till I haue consum'd 'em all with fire?
What will you giue him that procureth this?
Gov.
Doe but bring this to passe which thou pretendest,
Deale truly with vs as thou intimatest,
And I will send amongst the Citizens
And by my letters priuately procure
Great summes of mony for thy recompence:
Nay more, doe this, and liue thou Gouernor still.
Bar.
Nay, doe thou this, Ferneze, and be free;
Gouernor, I enlarge thee, liue 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 inuite 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,
Gov.
Here is my hand, beleeue me, Barabas,
I will be there, and doe as thou desirest;
When is the time?
Bar.
Gouernor, presently.
For Callymath, when he hath view'd the Towne,
Will take his leaue and saile toward, Ottoman,
Gov.
Then will I, Barabas, about this coyne,
And bring it with me to thee in the euening.
Bar.
Doe so, but faile not; now farewell Ferneze:
And thus farre roundly goes the businesse:
Thus louing neither, will I liue with both,
Making a profit of my policie;
And he from whom my most aduantage comes,
Shall be my friend.
This is the life we Iewes are vs'd to lead;
And reason too, for Christians doe the like:
Well, now about effecting this deuice:
First to surprize great Selims souldiers,
And then to make prouision for the feast,
That at one instant all things may be done,
My policie detests preuention:
To what euent my secret purpose driues,
I know; and they shall witnesse with their liues.
Exit.
Enter Calymath, Bashawes.
Caly.
Thus haue we view'd the City, seene the sacke,
And caus'd the ruines to be new repair'd,
Which with our Bombards shot and Basiliske,
We rent in sunder at our entry:
And now I see the Scituation,
And how secure this conquer'd Iland stands
Inuiron'd with the mediterranean Sea,
Strong contermin'd with other petty Iles;
And toward Calabria back'd by Sicily,
Two lofty Turrets that command the Towne.
When Siracusian Dionisius reign'd;
I wonder how it could be conquer'd thus?
Mess.
From Barabas, Malta's Gouernor, I bring
A message vnto mighty Calymath;
Hearing his Soueraigne was bound for Sea,
To saile to Turkey, to great Ottamon,
He humbly would intreat your Maiesty
To come and see his homely Citadell,
And banquet with him e're thou leau'st the Ile.
Caly.
To banquet with him in his Citadell,
I feare me, Messenger, to feast my traine
Within a Towne of warre so lately pillag'd,
Will be too costly and too troublesome:
Yet would I gladly visit Barabas.
For well has Barabas deseru'd of vs.
Mess.
Selim, for that, thus saith the Gouernor,
That he hath in store a Pearle so big,
So precious, and withall so orient,
As be it valued but indifferently,
The price thereof will serue to entertaine
Selim and all his souldiers for a month;
Therefore he humbly would intreat your Highnesse
Not to depart till he has feasted you.
Caly.
I cannot feast my men in Malta wals,
Except he place his Tables in the streets.
Mess.
Know, Selim, that there is a monastery
Which standeth as an out-house to the Towne;
There will he banquet them, but thee at home,
With all thy Bashawes and braue followers.
Caly.
Well, tell the Gouernor we grant his suit,
Wee'll in this Summer Euening feast with him.
Mess.
I shall, my Lord,
Exit.
Caly.
And now, bold Bashawes, let vs to our Tents,
And meditate how we may grace vs best
To solemnize our Gouernors great feast.
Exeunt.
Enter Gouernor, Knights, Del-bosco.
Gov.
In this, my Countrimen, be rul'd by me,
Haue speciall care that no man sally forth
By him that beares the Linstocke, kindled thus;
Then issue out and come to rescue me,
For happily I shall be in distresse,
Or you released of this seruitude.
1 Kni.
Rather then thus to liue as Turkish thrals,
What will we not aduenture?
Gov.
On then, begone.
Kni:
Farewell graue Gouernor.
Enter with a Hammar aboue, very busie.
Bar.
How stand the cords? How hang these hinges, fast?
Are all the Cranes and Pulleyes sure?
Serv.
All fast.
Bar.
Leaue nothing loose, all leueld to my mind.
Why now I see that you haue Art indeed.
There, Carpenters, diuide that gold amongst you:
Goe swill in bowles of Sacke and Muscadine:
Downe to the Celler, taste of all my wines.
Carp.
We shall, my Lord, and thanke you:
Exeunt.
Bar.
And if you like them, drinke your fill and dye:
For so I liue, 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?
Enter Messenger.
Mess.
He will; and has commanded all his men
To come ashore, and march through Malta streets,
That thou maist feast them in thy Citadell.
Bar.
Then now are all things as my wish wud haue 'em,
There wanteth nothing but the Gouernors pelfe,
And see he brings it: Now, Gouernor, the summe.
Enter Gouernour.
Gou.
With free consent a hundred thousand pounds.
Bar.
Pounds saist thou, Gouernor, 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 Gouernour, now partake my policy:
Enter'd the Monastery, and vnderneath
In seuerall places are field-pieces pitch'd,
Bombards, whole Barrels full of Gunpowder,
That on the sudden shall disseuer it,
And batter all the stones about their eares,
Whence none can possibly escape aliue:
Now as for Calymath and his consorts,
Here haue 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 recouery.
Here, hold that knife, and when thou seest he comes,
And with his Bashawes shall be blithely set,
A warning-peece shall be shot off from the Tower,
To giue thee knowledge when to cut the cord,
And fire the house; say, will not this be braue?
Gov.
Oh excellent! here, hold thee, Barabas,
I trust thy word, take what I promis'd thee.
Bar.
No, Gouernor, I'le satisfie thee first,
Thou shalt not liue in doubt of any thing.
Stand close, for here they come: why, is not this
A kingly kinde of trade to purchase Townes
By treachery, and sell 'em by deceit?
Now tell me, worldlings, vnderneath the summe,
If greater falshood euer has bin done.
Enter Calymath and Bashawes.
Caly.
Come, my Companion-Bashawes, see I pray
How busie Barrabas is there aboue
To entertaine vs in his Gallery;
Let vs salute him, Saue thee, Barabas.
Bar.
Welcome great Calymath.
Gov.
How the slaue jeeres at him?
Bar.
Will't please thee, mighty Selim-Calymath,
To ascend our homely stayres?
Caly.
I, Barabas, come Bashawes, attend.
Gov.
Stay, Calymath;
Then Barabas would haue affoorded thee.
Kni.
Sound a charge there.
Cal.
How now, what means this
A charge, the cable cut, A Caldron discouered.
Bar.
Helpe, helpe me, Christians, helpe.
Gov.
See Calymath, this was deuis'd for thee.
Caly.
Treason, treason Bashawes, flye.
Gov.
No, Selim, doe not flye;
See his end first, and flye then if thou canst.
Bar.
Oh helpe me, Selim, helpe me, Christians.
Gouernour, why stand you all so pittilesse?
Gov.
Should I in pitty of thy plaints or thee,
Accursed Barabas; base Iew relent:
No, thus I'le see thy treachery repaid,
But wish thou hadst behau'd thee otherwise.
Bar.
You will not helpe me then?
Gov.
No, villaine, no.
Bar.
And villaines, know you cannot helpe me now.
Then Barabas breath forth thy latest fate,
And in the fury of thy torments, striue
To end thy life with resolution:
Know, Gouernor, 'twas I that slew thy sonne;
I fram'd the challenge that did make them meet:
Know, Calymath, I aym'd thy ouerthrow,
And had I but escap'd this stratagem,
I would haue 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:
Caly.
Tell me, you Christians, what doth this portend?
Gov.
This traine he laid to haue intrap'd thy life;
Now Selim note the vnhallowed deeds of Iewes:
Thus he determin'd to haue handled thee,
But I haue rather chose to saue thy life.
Caly.
Was this the banquet he prepar'd for vs?
Let's hence, lest further mischiefe be pretended.
Nay, Selim, stay, for since we haue thee here,
We will not let thee part so suddenly:
Besides, if we should let thee goe, all's one,
For with thy Gallyes couldst thou not get hence,
Without fresh men to rigge and furnish them.
Caly.
Tush, Gouernor, take thou no care for that,
My men are all aboord,
And doe attend my comming there by this.
Gov.
Why hardst thou not the trumpet sound a charge?
Caly.
Yes, what of that?
Gov.
Why then the house was fir'd,
Blowne vp, and all thy souldiers massacred.
Caly.
Oh monstrous treason!
Gov.
A Iewes curtesie:
For he that did by treason worke our fall,
By treason hath deliuered thee to vs:
Know therefore, till thy father hath made good
The ruines done to Malta and to vs,
Thou canst not part: for Malta shall be freed,
Or Selim ne're returne to Ottamen.
Caly.
Nay rather, Christians, let me goe to Turkey,
In person there to meditate your peace;
To keepe me here will nought aduantage you.
Gov.
Content thee, Calymath, here thou must stay,
And liue in Malta prisoner; for come call the world
To rescue thee, so will we guard vs now,
As sooner shall they drinke the Ocean dry,
Then conquer Malta, or endanger vs.
So march away, and let due praise be giuen
Neither to Fate nor Fottune, but to Heauen.
FINIS.
| The Famous Tragedy of The Rich Ievv of Malta | |