With whom they have attempted many times,
But never could effect their stratagem.

3d Jew. And very wisely said. It may be so.
2d Jew. But there's a meeting in the senate-house,
And all the Jews in Malta must be there.

Bar. Hum; all the Jews in Malta must be there?
Ay, like enough, why then let every man
Provide him, and be there for fashion-sake.
If anything shall there concern our state,
Assure yourselves I'll look (aside) unto myself.

1st Jew. I know you will. Well, brethren, let us go.
2d Jew. Let's take our leaves. Farewell, good Barabas.
Bar. Farewell, Zaareth; farewell, Temainte.

And, Barabas, now search this secret out;
Summon thy senses, call thy wits together:
These silly men mistake the matter clean.
Long to the Turk did Malta contribute;
Which tribute, all in policy I fear,

The Turks have let increase to such a sum
As all the wealth of Malta cannot pay;
And now by that advantage thinks belike
To seize upon the town: ay, that he seeks.
Howe'er the world go, I'll make sure for one,
And seek in time to intercept the worst,
Warily guarding that which I ha' got.
Ego mihimet sum semper proximus.1

170

[Exeunt Jews.

180

Why, let 'em enter, let 'em take the town.

[Exit.

1 Misquotation from Terence, Andria. iv, 1, 12, Proximus sum egomet

mihi.

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
To us, or Malta? What at our hands demand ye?
Cal. The ten years' tribute that remains unpaid.
Fern. Alas! my lord, the sum is over-great,
I hope your highness will consider us.

Cal. I wish, grave governor, 'twere in my power
To favour you, but 'tis my father's cause,
Wherein I may not, nay, I dare not dally.

Fern. Then give us leave, great Selim Calymath.

IQ

[Consults apart with the Knights. Cal. Stand all aside, and let the knights determine, And send to keep our galleys under sail,

For happily 2 we shall not tarry here;

Now, governor, say, how are you resolved?

Fern. Thus since your hard conditions are such
That you will needs have ten years' tribute past,
We may have time to make collection

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.

What respite ask you, governor?

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.
Fern. And all good fortune wait on Calymath!

30

[Exeunt CALYMATH and Bassoes.

Go one and call those Jews of Malta hither:
Were they not summoned to appear to-day?
Off. They were, my lord, and here they come.

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
Great Selim Calymath, his highness' son,
To levy of us ten years' tribute past;

Now then, here know that it concerneth us

Bar. Then, good my lord, to keep your quiet still,
Your lordship shall do well to let them have it.

Fern. Soft, Barabas, there's more 'longs to't than so.
To what this ten years' tribute will amount,
That we have cast, but cannot compass it
By reason of the wars that robbed our store;
And therefore are we to request your 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 accursed in the sight of Heaven,
These taxes and afflictions are befallen,
And therefore thus we are determined.

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.

1

Off (reading). "Secondly, he that denies 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.

[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,
Live still; and, if thou canst, get more.

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.