The Jew of Malta

know the meaning.

Ithamore

The meaning has a meaning. Come let’s in

To undo a Jew is charity, and not sin.




Exeunt.


Act V

Scene I




Enter Ferneze, Knights, Martin del Bosco, and Officers. 92


Ferneze

Now, gentlemen, betake you to your arms,

And see that Malta be well fortified;

And it behoves you to be resolute;

For Calymath, having hovered here so long,

Will win the town, or die before the walls.



First Knight

And die he shall; for we will never yield.




Enter Bellamira and Pilia-Borza.


Bellamira

O, bring us to the governor.



Ferneze

Away with her! she is a courtesan.



Bellamira

Whate’er I am, yet, governor, hear me speak:

I bring thee news by whom thy son was slain:

Mathias did it not; it was the Jew.



Pilia-Borza

Who, besides the slaughter of these gentlemen,

Poisoned his own daughter and the nuns,

Strangled a friar, and I know not what

Mischief beside.



Ferneze

Had we but proof of this⁠—



Bellamira

Strong proof, my lord; his man’s now at my lodging,

That was his agent; he’ll confess it all.



Ferneze

Go fetch him straight.




Exeunt Officers.




I always feared that Jew.




Enter Officers with Barabas and Ithamore.


Barabas

I’ll go alone; dogs! do not hale me thus.



Ithamore

Nor me neither, I cannot outrun you, constable:⁠—O, my belly!



Barabas

One dram of powder more had made all sure;

What a damned slave was I! Aside.



Ferneze

Make fires, heat irons, let the rack be fetched.



First Knight

Nay, stay, my lord; ’t may be he will confess.



Barabas

Confess! what mean you, lords? who should confess?



Ferneze

Thou and thy Turk; ’twas you that slew my son.



Ithamore

Guilty, my lord, I confess. Your son and Mathias were both contracted unto Abigail; he forged a counterfeit challenge.



Barabas

Who carried that challenge?



Ithamore

I carried it, I confess; but who writ it? Marry, even he that strangled Barnardine, poisoned the nuns and his own daughter.



Ferneze

Away with him! his sight is death to me.



Barabas

For what, you men of Malta? hear me speak:

She is a courtezan, and he a thief,

And he my bondman. Let me have law,

For none of this can prejudice my life.



Ferneze

Once more, away with him; you shall have law.



Barabas

Devils, do your worst! I’ll live in spite of you. Aside.

As these have spoke, so be it to their souls!⁠—

I hope the poisoned flowers will work anon. Aside.




Exeunt Officers with Barabas and Ithamore, Bellamira, and Pilia-Borza.



Enter Katharine.


Katharine

Was my Mathias murdered by the Jew?

Ferneze, ’twas thy son that murdered him.



Ferneze

Be patient, gentle madam, it was he;

He forged the daring challenge made them fight.



Katharine

Where is the Jew? where is that murderer?



Ferneze

In prison till the law has passed on him.




Re-enter First Officer.


First Officer

My lord, the courtesan and her man are dead;

So is the Turk and Barabas the Jew.



Ferneze

Dead!



First Officer

Dead, my lord, and here they bring his body.



Martin del Bosco

This sudden death of his is very strange.




Re-enter Officers, carrying Barabas as dead.


Ferneze

Wonder not at it, sir, the Heavens are just;

Their deaths were like their lives; then think not of ’em.

Since they are dead, let them be buried;

For the Jew’s body, throw that o’er the walls,

To be a prey for vultures and wild beasts.⁠—

So now away and fortify the town.




Exeunt all, leaving Barabas on the floor.





Scene II




Barabas discovered rising. 93


Barabas

What, all alone? well fare, sleepy drink.

I’ll be revenged on this accursed town;

For by my means Calymath shall enter in.

I’ll help to slay their children and their wives,

To fire the churches, pull their houses down,

Take my goods too, and seize upon my lands.

I hope to see the governor a slave,

And, rowing in a galley, whipt to death.




Enter Calymath, Bassoes, and Turks.


Calymath

Whom have we there? a spy?



Barabas

Yes, my good lord, one that can spy a place

Where you may enter, and surprise the town:

My name is Barabas; I am a Jew.



Calymath

Art thou that Jew whose goods we heard were sold

For tribute-money?



Barabas

The very same, my lord:

And since that time they have hired a slave, my man,

To accuse me of a thousand villanies:

I was imprisoned, but ’scaped their hands.



Calymath

Did’st break prison?



Barabas

No, no:

I drank of poppy and cold mandrake juice:

And being asleep, belike they thought me dead,

And threw me o’er the walls: so, or how else,

The Jew is here, and rests at your command.



Calymath

’Twas bravely done: but tell me, Barabas,

Canst thou, as thou report’st, make Malta ours?



Barabas

Fear not, my lord; for here, against the sluice, 94

The rock is hollow, and of purpose digged,

To make a passage for the running streams

And common channels of the city.

Now, whilst you give assault unto the walls,

I’ll lead five hundred soldiers through the vault,

And rise with them i’ the middle of the town,

Open the gates for you to enter in;

And by this means the city is your own.



Calymath

If this be true, I’ll make thee governor.



Barabas

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



Calymath

Thou’st doomed thyself. Assault it presently.




Exeunt.





Scene III




Alarums within. Enter Calymath, Bassoes, Turks, and Barabas; with Ferneze and Knights prisoners. 95


Calymath

Now vail 96 your pride, you captive Christians

And kneel for mercy to your conquering foe:

Now where’s the hope you had of haughty Spain?

Ferneze, speak, had it not been much better

T’have kept thy promise than be thus surprised?



Ferneze

What should I say? We are captives and must yield.



Calymath

Ay, villains, you must yield, and under Turkish yokes

Shall groaning bear the burden of our ire;

And, Barabas, as erst we promised thee,

For thy desert we make thee governor;

Use them at thy discretion.



Barabas

Thanks, my lord.



Ferneze