CALYMATH. Art thou that Jew whose goods we heard were sold For tribute-money?
BARABAS. The very same, my lord: And since that time they have hir'd a slave, my man, To accuse me of a thousand villanies: I was imprisoned, but scap(')d their hands.
CALYMATH. Didst break prison?
BARABAS. No, 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.
CALYMATH. 'Twas bravely done: but tell me, Barabas, Canst thou, as thou report'st, make Malta ours?
BARABAS. Fear not, my lord; for here, against the trench,(183) The rock is hollow, and of purpose digg'd, To make a passage for the running streams And common channels(184) 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.
CALYMATH. If this be true, I'll make thee governor.
BARABAS. And, if it be not true, then let me die.
CALYMATH. Thou'st doom'd thyself.--Assault it presently. [Exeunt.]
Alarums within. Enter CALYMATH,(185) BASSOES, TURKS, and BARABAS; with FERNEZE and KNIGHTS prisoners.
CALYMATH. Now vail(186) 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 To kept(187) thy promise than be thus surpris'd?
FERNEZE. What should I say? we are captives, and must yield.
CALYMATH. Ay, villains, you must yield, and under Turkish yokes Shall groaning bear the burden of our ire:-- And, Barabas, as erst we promis'd thee, For thy desert we make thee governor; Use them at thy discretion.
BARABAS. Thanks, my lord.
FERNEZE. O fatal day, to fall into the hands Of such a traitor and unhallow'd Jew! What greater misery could heaven inflict?
CALYMATH. 'Tis our command:--and, Barabas, we give, To guard thy person, these our Janizaries: Entreat(188) them well, as we have used thee.-- And now, brave bassoes,(189) come; we'll walk about The ruin'd town, and see the wreck we made.-- Farewell, brave Jew, farewell, great Barabas!
BARABAS. May all good fortune follow Calymath! [Exeunt CALYMATH and BASSOES.] And now, as entrance to our safety, To prison with the governor and these Captains, his consorts and confederates.
FERNEZE. O villain! heaven will be reveng'd on thee.
BARABAS. Away! no more; let him not trouble me. [Exeunt TURKS with FERNEZE and KNIGHTS.] Thus hast thou gotten,(190) by thy policy, No simple place, no small authority: I now am governor of Malta; true,-- 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(191) thy life shall be at their command? No, Barabas, this must be look'd into; And, since by wrong thou gott'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, Lives like the ass 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 circumspect. Begin betimes; Occasion's bald behind: Slip not thine opportunity, for fear too late Thou seek'st for much, but canst not compass it.-- Within here!(192)
Enter FERNEZE, with a GUARD.
FERNEZE. My lord?
BARABAS. Ay, LORD; thus slaves will learn. Now, governor,--stand by there, wait within,-- [Exeunt 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?
FERNEZE. This, Barabas; since things are in thy power, I see no reason but of Malta's wreck, Nor hope of thee but extreme cruelty: Nor fear I death, nor will I flatter thee.