The Jew of Malta Christopher Marlowe (top non fiction books of all time txt) 📖
- Author: Christopher Marlowe
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The meaning has a meaning. Come let’s in
To undo a Jew is charity, and not sin.
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.
And die he shall; for we will never yield.
Enter Bellamira and Pilia-Borza. BellamiraO, bring us to the governor.
FernezeAway with her! she is a courtesan.
BellamiraWhate’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.
Who, besides the slaughter of these gentlemen,
Poisoned his own daughter and the nuns,
Strangled a friar, and I know not what
Mischief beside.
Had we but proof of this—
BellamiraStrong proof, my lord; his man’s now at my lodging,
That was his agent; he’ll confess it all.
Go fetch him straight.
Exeunt Officers.I always feared that Jew.
Enter Officers with Barabas and Ithamore. BarabasI’ll go alone; dogs! do not hale me thus.
IthamoreNor me neither, I cannot outrun you, constable:—O, my belly!
BarabasOne dram of powder more had made all sure;
What a damned slave was I! Aside.
Make fires, heat irons, let the rack be fetched.
First KnightNay, stay, my lord; ’t may be he will confess.
BarabasConfess! what mean you, lords? who should confess?
FernezeThou and thy Turk; ’twas you that slew my son.
IthamoreGuilty, my lord, I confess. Your son and Mathias were both contracted unto Abigail; he forged a counterfeit challenge.
BarabasWho carried that challenge?
IthamoreI carried it, I confess; but who writ it? Marry, even he that strangled Barnardine, poisoned the nuns and his own daughter.
FernezeAway with him! his sight is death to me.
BarabasFor 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.
Once more, away with him; you shall have law.
BarabasDevils, 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.
Was my Mathias murdered by the Jew?
Ferneze, ’twas thy son that murdered him.
Be patient, gentle madam, it was he;
He forged the daring challenge made them fight.
Where is the Jew? where is that murderer?
FernezeIn prison till the law has passed on him.
Re-enter First Officer. First OfficerMy lord, the courtesan and her man are dead;
So is the Turk and Barabas the Jew.
Dead!
First OfficerDead, my lord, and here they bring his body.
Martin del BoscoThis sudden death of his is very strange.
Re-enter Officers, carrying Barabas as dead. FernezeWonder 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.
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.
Whom have we there? a spy?
BarabasYes, 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.
Art thou that Jew whose goods we heard were sold
For tribute-money?
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.
Did’st break prison?
BarabasNo, 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.
’Twas bravely done: but tell me, Barabas,
Canst thou, as thou report’st, make Malta ours?
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.
If this be true, I’ll make thee governor.
BarabasAnd, if it be not true, then let me die.
CalymathThou’st doomed thyself. Assault it presently.
Exeunt. Scene III Alarums within. Enter Calymath, Bassoes, Turks, and Barabas; with Ferneze and Knights prisoners.95 CalymathNow vail96 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?
What should I say? We are captives and must yield.
CalymathAy, 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.
Thanks, my lord.
Ferneze
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