SCENE II.

_Alarms. Enter_[144] Turks, BARABAS, _&c._; Governor _and_ Knights _prisoners._

_Caly._ Now vail[145] 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 T'have[146] kept thy promise than be thus surprised?

_Gov._ What should I say? We are captives and must yield.

_Caly._ I, villains, you must yield, and under Turkish yokes Shall groaning bear the burden of our ire; And, Barabas, as erst we promised thee, For thy desert we make thee governor; 10 Use them at thy discretion.

_Bar._ Thanks, my lord.

_Gov._ O fatal day, to fall into the hand Of such a traitor and unhallowed Jew! What greater misery could Heaven inflict?

_Caly._ 'Tis our command: and, Barabas, we give To guard thy person these our Janizaries: Intreat them well, as we have usèd thee. And now, brave bassoes, come, we'll walk about The ruined town, and see the wreck we made: 20 Farewell, brave Jew; farewell, great Barabas! [_Exeunt_ CALYMATH _and_ Bassoes. _Bar._ May all good fortune follow Calymath. And now, as entrance to our safety, To prison with the Governor and these Captains, his consorts and confederates.

_Gov._ O villain, Heaven will be revenged on thee. [_Exeunt._

_Bar._ Away, no more, let him not trouble me. Thus[147] hast thou gotten, by thy policy, No simple place, no small authority, I now am governor of Malta; true, 30 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 thy life shall be at their command? No, Barabas, this must be looked into; And since by wrong thou got'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, 40 Lives like the ass that Æsop 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!

_Enter_ Governor, _with a_ Guard.

_Gov._ My lord?

_Bar._ I, _lord_; thus slaves will learn. 50 Now, Governor, stand by there:--wait within. [_Exit_ 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?

_Gov._ This, Barabas; since things are in thy power, I see no reason but of Malta's wreck, Nor hope of thee but extreme cruelty; 60 Nor fear I death, nor will I flatter thee.

_Bar._ Governor, good words; be not so furious. 'Tis not thy life which can avail me aught, Yet you do live, and live for me you shall: And, as for Malta's ruin, think you not 'Twere slender policy for Barabas To dispossess himself of such a place? For sith, as once you said, 'tis in this isle, In Malta here, that I have got my goods, And in this city still have had success, 70 And now at length am grown your governor, Yourselves shall see it shall not be forgot: For as a friend not known, but in distress, I'll rear up Malta, now remediless.

_Gov._ Will Barabas recover Malta's loss? Will Barabas be good to Christians?

_Bar._ What wilt thou give me, Governor, to procure A dissolution of the slavish bands Wherein the Turk hath yoked your lands and you? What will you give me if I render you 80 The life of Calymath, surprise his men And in an outhouse of the city shut His soldiers, till I have consumed 'em all with fire? What will you give him that procureth this?

_Gov._ Do but bring this to pass which thou pretend'st,[148] Deal truly with us as thou intimatest, And I will send amongst the citizens; And by my letters privately procure Great sums of money for thy recompense: Nay more, do this, and live thou governor still. 90

_Bar._ Nay, do thou this, Ferneze, and be free; Governor, I enlarge thee; live with me, Go walk about the city, see thy friends: Tush, send not letters to 'em, go thyself, And let me see what money thou canst make; Here is my hand that I'll set Malta free: And thus we cast it: To a solemn feast I will invite young Selim Calymath, Where be thou present only to perform One stratagem that I'll impart to thee, 100 Wherein no danger shall betide thy life, And I will warrant Malta free for ever.

_Gov._ Here is my hand, believe me, Barabas, I will be there, and do as thou desirest; When is the time?

_Bar._ Governor, presently. For Calymath, when he hath viewed the town, Will take his leave and sail towards Ottoman.

_Gov._ Then will I, Barabas, about this coin, And bring it with me to thee in the evening. 110

_Bar._ Do so, but fail not; now farewell, Ferneze: [_Exit_ Governor. And thus far roundly goes the business: Thus loving neither, will I live with both, Making a profit of my policy; And he from whom my most advantage comes Shall be my friend. This is the life we Jews are used to lead; And reason too, for Christians do the like. Well, now about effecting this device: First to surprise great Selim's soldiers, 120 And then to make provision for the feast, That at one instant all things may be done: My policy detests prevention: To what event my secret purpose drives, I know; and they shall witness with their lives. [_Exit._