SCENE II. - Inside the Council-house. Enter FERNEZE, Governor of Malta, Knights, and Officers; met by CALYMATH and Bassoes of the Turk. Fern. Now, Bassoes,1 what demand you at our hands? 1st Bas. Know, Knights of Malta, that we came from Rhodes, From Cyprus, Candy, and those other Isles That lie betwixt the Mediterranean seas. Fern. What's Cyprus, Candy, and those other Isles Cal. I wish, grave governor, 'twere in my power Fern. Then give us leave, great Selim Calymath. ΙΟ [Consults apart with the Knights. Cal. Stand all aside, and let the knights determine, And send to keep our galleys under sail, 2 For happily we shall not tarry here; Now, governor, say, how are you resolved? Fern. Thus since your hard conditions are such Amongst the inhabitants of Malta for't. 1st Bas. That's more than is in our commission. Cal. What, Callipine! a little courtesy. Let's know their time, perhaps it is not long; 1 Pashas, formerly spelt bashaws. 2 Haply. 20 And 'tis more kingly to obtain by peace Than to enforce conditions by constraint. Fern. But a month. Cal. We grant a month, but see you keep your promise. Now launch our galleys back again to sea, Where we'll attend the respite you have ta'en, And for the money send our messenger. Farewell, great governor and brave Knights of Malta. 30 [Exeunt CALYMATH and Bassoes. Go one and call those Jews of Malta hither: Enter BARABAS and three Jews. 1st Knight. Have you determined what to say to them? Fern. Yes; give me leave: - and, Hebrews, now come near. From the Emperor of Turkey is arrived Now then, here know that it concerneth us Bar. Then, good my lord, to keep your quiet still, Fern. Soft, Barabas, there's more 'longs to't than so. aid. Bar. Alas, my lord, we are no soldiers : And what's our aid against so great a prince? 40 50 1st Knight. Tut, Jew, we know thou art no soldier ; Thou art a merchant and a moneyed man, And 'tis thy money, Barabas, we seek. Bar. How, my lord! my money? Fern. Thine and the rest. For, to be short, amongst you't must be had. 1st Jew. Alas, my lord, the most of us are poor. Fern. Then let the rich increase your portions. Bar. Are strangers with your tribute to be taxed? 2d Knight. Have strangers leave with us to get their wealth? Then let them with us contribute. Bar. How! equally? Fern. No, Jew, like infidels. For through our sufferance of your hateful lives, Who stand accursèd in the sight of Heaven, Read there the articles of our decrees. 60 Officer (reads). "First, the tribute-money of the Turks shall all be levied amongst the Jews, and each of them to pay one half of his estate." 70 Bar. How, half his estate? (Aside) I hope you mean not mine. Fern. Read on. Off. (reading). "Secondly, he that denies1 to pay shall straight become a Christian." Bar. How! a Christian? (Aside) Hum, what's here to do? Off (reading). "Lastly, he that denies this shall absolutely lose all he has." 1 Refuses. The three Jews. O my lord, we will give half. Bar. O earth-mettled villains, and no Hebrews born! And will you basely thus submit yourselves To leave your goods to their arbitrament? Fern. Why, Barabas, wilt thou be christened? Bar. No, governor, I will be no convertite.1 Fern. Then pay thy half. Bar. Why, know you what you did by this device? Half of my substance is a city's wealth. Governor, it was not got so easily; Nor will I part so slightly therewithal. Fern. Sir, half is the penalty of our decree, Either pay that, or we will seize on all. Bar. Corpo di Dio! stay! you shall have the half; Let me be used but as my brethren are. Fern. No, Jew, thou hast denied the articles, And now it cannot be recalled. 80 90 [Exeunt Officers, on a sign from FERNEZE. Bar. Will you then steal my goods? Is theft the ground of your religion? Fern. No, Jew, we take particularly thine To save the ruin of a multitude: And better one want for the common good Than many perish for a private man : Yet, Barabas, we will not banish thee, But here in Malta, where thou gott'st thy wealth, Bar. Christians, what or how can I multiply? Of naught is nothing made. 100 1st Knight. From naught at first thou cam'st to little wealth, 1 Convert; so used in As You Like It and King John. From little unto more, from more to most: If your first curse fall heavy on thy head, And make thee poor and scorned of all the world, 'Tis not our fault, but thy inherent sin. 110 Bar. What, bring you Scripture to confirm your wrongs? Preach me not out of my possessions. Some Jews are wicked, as all Christians are: But say the tribe that I descended of Were all in general cast away from sin, And covetousness, O, 'tis a monstrous sin. 120 Bar. Ay, but theft is worse: tush! take not from me then, 1 For that is theft! and if you rob me thus, I must be forced to steal and compass1 more. Ist Knight. Grave governor, listen not to his exclaims. Convert his mansion to a nunnery ; His house will harbour many holy nuns. Fern. It shall be so. Re-enter Officers. Now, officers, have you done? Off. Ay, my lord, we have seized upon the goods 1 Cheat. 130 |