To some perhaps my name is odious, But such as love me guard me from their tongues; And weigh not men, and therefore not men's words. What right had Cæsar to the empery? Might first made kings, and laws were then most sure He had never bellowed, in a brazen bull, But whither am I bound? I come not, I, To read a lecture here in Britain, But to present the tragedy of a Jew, Who smiles to see how full his bags are crammed, I crave but this grace him as he deserves, And let him not be entertained the worse Because he favours me. 10 20 309 [Exit. ACT I. SCENE I.— BARABAS discovered in his Counting-house, with Heaps of Gold before him. Bar. So that of thus much that return was made: And of the third part of the Persian ships, Fie; what a trouble 'tis to count this trash. Tell that which may maintain him all his life. But he whose steel-barred coffers are crammed full, Wearying his fingers' ends with telling it, 1 Silver coins; cf. Isaiah vii, 23. 2 Count. ΙΟ 20 Jacinths, hard topaz, grass-green emeralds, Beauteous rubies, sparkling diamonds, And seld-seen1 costly stones of so great price, May serve in peril of calamity To ransom great kings from captivity. This is the ware wherein consists my wealth; And thus methinks should men of judgment frame And as their wealth increaseth, so inclose But now how stands the wind? Into what corner peers my halcyon's bill?2 Ha! to the east? yes: see, how stand the vanes? I sent for Egypt and the bordering isles Loaden with spice and silks, now under sail, Enter a Merchant. How now? Merch. Barabas, thy ships are safe, Riding in Malta-road: and all the merchants 1 Seldom seen. 30 40 50 2 A stuffed kingfisher (the halcyon), suspended by a string, was supposed to show the direction of the wind. Halcyon days were calm days, the belief being that the weather was always calm when kingfishers were breeding. Cf. King Lear, ii, 2; Sir T. Browne, Vulgar Errors, lii, 10. With other merchandise are safe arrived, And have sent me to know whether yourself Bar. The ships are safe thou say'st, and richly fraught. Bar. Why then go bid them come ashore, And twenty waggons to bring up the ware. And is thy credit not enough for that? Merch. The very custom barely comes to more Than many merchants of the town are worth, And therefore far exceeds my credit, sir. Bar. Go tell 'em the Jew of Malta sent thee, man : Tush! who amongst 'em knows not Barabas? Merch. I go. Bar. So then, there's somewhat come. Sirrah, which of my ships art thou master of? Bar. And saw'st thou not Mine argosy at Alexandria? Thou could'st not come from Egypt, or by Caire, But at the entry there into the sea, Where Nilus pays his tribute to the main, Thou needs must sail by Alexandria. Merch. I neither saw them, nor inquired of them : But this we heard some of our seamen say, They wondered how you durst with so much wealth 1 Pay the duty on them. 60 70 Trust such a crazèd vessel, and so far. Bar. Tush, they are wise! I know her and her strength. 80 But go, go thou thy ways, discharge thy ship, And bid my factor bring his loading in. And yet I wonder at this argosy. Enter a second Merchant. 2d Merch. Thine argosy from Alexandria, Know, Barabas, doth ride in Malta-road, Laden with riches, and exceeding store Of Persian silks, of gold, and orient pearl. [Exit Merch. Bar. How chance you came not with those other ships That sailed by Egypt? 2d Merch. Sir, we saw 'em not. Bar. Belike they coasted round by Candy shore About their oils, or other businesses. But 'twas ill done of you to come so far Without the aid or conduct of their ships. 2d Merch. Sir, we were wafted by a Spanish fleet, That never left us till within a league, That had the galleys of the Turk in chase. Bar. O!- they were going up to Sicily: Well, go, And bid the merchants and my men despatch And come ashore, and see the fraught1 discharged. 2d Merch. I go. Bar. Thus trowls 2 our fortune in by land and sea, These are the blessings promised to the Jews, [Exit. |