The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume II Part 21

_Gov._ In prison till the law has past on him. 50

_Enter_ Officer.

_Off._ My lord, the courtesan and her man are dead: So is the Turk and Barabas the Jew.

_Gov._ Dead!

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

_Bosco._ This sudden death of his is very strange.

_Re-enter_ Officers _carrying_ BARABAS _as dead._

_Gov._ 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. 60 So now away, and fortify the town.

[_Exeunt all, leaving_ BARABAS _on the floor._[141]

_Bar._ [_Rising._] 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, Ba.s.soes, _and_ Turks.

_Caly._ Whom have we here, a spy? 70

_Bar._ 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.

_Caly._ Art thou that Jew whose goods we heard were sold For tribute-money?

_Bar._ 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 escaped their hands.

_Caly._ Did'st break prison? 80

_Bar._ No, no; I drank of poppy and cold mandrake juice:[142]

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.

_Caly._ 'Twas bravely done: but tell me, Barabas, Canst thou, as thou report'st, make Malta ours?

_Bar._ Fear not, my lord, for here against the sluice,[143]

The rock is hollow, and of purpose digged, To make a pa.s.sage for the running streams 90 And common channels of the city.

Now, whilst you give a.s.sault 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.

_Caly._ If this be true, I'll make thee governor.

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

_Caly._ Thou'st doomed thyself. a.s.sault it presently.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE II.

_Alarms. Enter_[144] Turks, BARABAS, _&c._; Governor _and_ Knights _prisoners._

_Caly._ Now vail[145] 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[146] kept thy promise than be thus surprised?

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

_Caly._ I, 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; 10 Use them at thy discretion.

_Bar._ Thanks, my lord.

_Gov._ O fatal day, to fall into the hand Of such a traitor and unhallowed Jew!

What greater misery could Heaven inflict?

_Caly._ 'Tis our command: and, Barabas, we give To guard thy person these our Janizaries: Intreat them well, as we have used thee.

And now, brave ba.s.soes, come, we'll walk about The ruined town, and see the wreck we made: 20 Farewell, brave Jew; farewell, great Barabas!

[_Exeunt_ CALYMATH _and_ Ba.s.soes.

_Bar._ May all good fortune follow Calymath.

And now, as entrance to our safety, To prison with the Governor and these Captains, his consorts and confederates.

_Gov._ O villain, Heaven will be revenged on thee. [_Exeunt._

_Bar._ Away, no more, let him not trouble me.

Thus[147] hast thou gotten, by thy policy, No simple place, no small authority, I now am governor of Malta; true, 30 But Malta hates me, and in hating me My life's in danger, and what boots it thee, Poor Barabas, to be the governor, Whenas thy life shall be at their command?

No, Barabas, this must be looked into; And since by wrong thou got'st authority, Maintain it bravely by firm policy.

At least unprofitably lose it not: For he that liveth in authority, And neither gets him friends, nor fills his bags, 40 Lives like the a.s.s that aesop speaketh of, That labours with a load of bread and wine, And leaves it off to snap on thistle tops: But Barabas will be more circ.u.mspect.

Begin betimes; occasion's bald behind, Slip not thine opportunity, for fear too late Thou seek'st for much, but canst not compa.s.s it.

Within here!

_Enter_ Governor, _with a_ Guard.

_Gov._ My lord?

_Bar._ I, _lord_; thus slaves will learn. 50 Now, Governor, stand by there:--wait within. [_Exit_ Guard.

This is the reason that I sent for thee; Thou seest thy life and Malta's happiness Are at my arbitrement; and Barabas At his discretion may dispose of both: Now tell me, Governor, and plainly too, What think'st thou shall become of it and thee?

_Gov._ This, Barabas; since things are in thy power, I see no reason but of Malta's wreck, Nor hope of thee but extreme cruelty; 60 Nor fear I death, nor will I flatter thee.

_Bar._ Governor, good words; be not so furious.

'Tis not thy life which can avail me aught, Yet you do live, and live for me you shall: And, as for Malta's ruin, think you not 'Twere slender policy for Barabas To dispossess himself of such a place?

For sith, as once you said, 'tis in this isle, In Malta here, that I have got my goods, And in this city still have had success, 70 And now at length am grown your governor, Yourselves shall see it shall not be forgot: For as a friend not known, but in distress, I'll rear up Malta, now remediless.

_Gov._ Will Barabas recover Malta's loss?

Will Barabas be good to Christians?

_Bar._ What wilt thou give me, Governor, to procure A dissolution of the slavish bands Wherein the Turk hath yoked your lands and you?