FERNEZE. Martin del Bosco, I have heard of thee: Welcome to Malta, and to all of us! But to admit a sale of these thy Turks, We may not, nay, we dare not give consent, By reason of a tributary league.
FIRST KNIGHT. Del Bosco, as thou lov'st and honour'st us, Persuade our governor against the Turk: This truce we have is but in hope of gold, And with that sum he craves might we wage war.
MARTIN DEL BOSCO. Will knights of Malta be in league with Turks, And buy it basely too for sums of gold? My lord, remember that, to Europe's shame, The Christian isle of Rhodes, from whence you came, Was lately lost, and you were stated(65) here To be at deadly enmity with Turks.
FERNEZE. Captain, we know it; but our force is small.
MARTIN DEL BOSCO. What is the sum that Calymath requires?
FERNEZE. A hundred thousand crowns.
MARTIN DEL BOSCO. My lord and king hath title to this isle, And he means quickly to expel you hence; Therefore be rul'd by me, and keep the gold: I'll write unto his majesty for aid, And not depart until I see you free.
FERNEZE. On this condition shall thy Turks be sold.-- Go, officers, and set them straight in show.-- [Exeunt OFFICERS.] Bosco, thou shalt be Malta's general; We and our warlike knights will follow thee Against these barbarous misbelieving Turks.
MARTIN DEL BOSCO. So shall you imitate those you succeed; For, when their hideous force environ'd Rhodes, Small though the number was that kept the town, They fought it out, and not a man surviv'd To bring the hapless news to Christendom.
FERNEZE. So will we fight it out: come, let's away. Proud daring Calymath, instead of gold, We'll send thee bullets wrapt in smoke and fire: Claim tribute where thou wilt, we are resolv'd,-- Honour is bought with blood, and not with gold. [Exeunt.]
Enter OFFICERS,(66) with ITHAMORE and other SLAVES.
FIRST OFFICER. This is the market-place; here let 'em stand: Fear not their sale, for they'll be quickly bought.
SECOND OFFICER. Every one's price is written on his back, And so much must they yield, or not be sold.
FIRST OFFICER. Here comes the Jew: had not his goods been seiz'd, He'd give us present money for them all.
Enter BARABAS.
BARABAS. In spite of these swine-eating Christians, (Unchosen nation, never circumcis'd, Poor villains, such as were(67) ne'er thought upon Till Titus and Vespasian conquer'd us,) Am I become as wealthy as I was. They hop'd my daughter would ha' been a nun; But she's at home, and I have bought a house As great and fair as is the governor's: And there, in spite of Malta, will I dwell, Having Ferneze's hand; whose heart I'll have, Ay, and his son's too, or it shall go hard. I am not of the tribe of Levi, I, That can so soon forget an injury. We Jews can fawn like spaniels when we please; And when we grin we bite; yet are our looks As innocent and harmless as a lamb's. I learn'd in Florence how to kiss my hand, Heave up my shoulders when they call me dog, And duck as low as any bare-foot friar; Hoping to see them starve upon a stall, Or else be gather'd for in our synagogue, That, when the offering-basin comes to me, Even for charity I may spit into't.-- Here comes Don Lodowick, the governor's son, One that I love for his good father's sake.
Enter LODOWICK.
LODOWICK. I hear the wealthy Jew walked this way: I'll seek him out, and so insinuate, That I may have a sight of Abigail, For Don Mathias tells me she is fair.
BARABAS. Now will I shew myself to have more of the serpent than the dove; that is, more knave than fool. [Aside.]
LODOWICK. Yond' walks the Jew: now for fair Abigail.
BARABAS. Ay, ay, no doubt but she's at your command. [Aside.]
LODOWICK. Barabas, thou know'st I am the governor's son.
BARABAS. I would you were his father too, sir! that's all the harm I wish you.--The slave looks like a hog's cheek new-singed. [Aside.]
LODOWICK. Whither walk'st thou, Barabas?
BARABAS. No further: 'tis a custom held with us, That when we speak with Gentiles like to you, We turn into(68) the air to purge ourselves; For unto us the promise doth belong.