CAL. Stand all aside, and let the knights deter

mine;

And send to keep our galleys under sail,

For hapily we shall not tarry here.

Now, governor, how are you

resolv'd?

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.

FIRST BAS. That's more than is in our commis

sion.

CAL. What, Callapine! a little courtesy:

Let's know their time; perhaps it is not long;
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!

[Exeunt CALYMATH and Bassoes. Go one and call those Jews of Malta hither:

* Cal. Stand all aside, &c.] "The Governor and the Maltese knights here consult apart, while Calymath gives these directions." COLLIER (apud Dodsley's O. P.).

Were they not summon'd to appear to-day?
FIRST OFF. They were, my lord, and here they

come.

Enter BARABAS and three JEWS.

FIRST KNIGHT. Have you determin'd what to say to them?

FERN. Yes; give me leave :-and, Hebrews, now

come near.

From the Emperor of Turkey is arriv'd
Great Selim Calymath, his highness' son,
To levy of us ten years' tribute past:
Now, then, here know that it concerneth us.
BARA. 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 robb'd our store;
And therefore are we to request your aid.

BARA. Alas, my lord, we are no soldiers!
And what's our aid against so great a prince?

FIRST KNIGHT. Tut, Jew, we know thou art no

soldier :

Thou art a merchant, and a money'd man,

And 'tis thy money, Barabas, we seek.

BARA. How, my lord! my money!

FERN. Thine and the rest;

For, to be short, amongst you 't must be had.

FIRST JEW. Alas, my lord, the most of us are

poor!

FERN. Then let the rich increase your portions. BARA. Are strangers with your tribute to be tax'd? SEC. KNIGHT. Have strangers leave with us to get their wealth?

Then let them with us contribute.

BARA. 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 determinèd.—
Read there the articles of our decrees.

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.

BARA. HOW! half his estate!—I hope you mean

not mine.

FERN. Read on.

[Aside.

OFFICER. [reads] Secondly, he that denies↑ to pay, shall straight become a Christian.

BARA. HOW! a Christian!-Hum, what's here to

do?

[Aside.

OFFICER. [reads] Lastly, he that denies this, shall absolutely lose all he has.

THREE JEWS. Oh, my lord, we will give half!

* Officer] Old ed. "Reader."

t denies] i. e. refuses.

BARA. Oh, earth-mettled villains, and no Hebrews

born!

And will you basely thus submit yourselves

To leave your goods to their arbitrement?

FERN. Why, Barabas, wilt thou be christened? BARA. No, governor, I will be no convertite*. FERN. Then pay thy half.

BARA. 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.

BARA. Corpo di Dio! stay: you shall have half;

Let me be us'd but as my brethren are.

FERN. No, Jew, thou hast denied the articles, And now it cannot be recall'd.

[Exeunt Officers, on a sign from FERNEZE. BARA. 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 a 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.

convertite] "i. e. convert, as in Shakespeare's King John, act v. sc. 1." STEEVENS (apud Dodsley's O. P.).

BARA. Christians, what or how can I multiply? Of nought is nothing made.

FIRST KNIGHT. From nought at first thou cam'st to little wealth,

From little unto more, from more to most:

If your first curse fall heavy on thy head,

And make thee poor and scorn'd of all the world, 'Tis not our fault, but thy inherent sin.

BARA. What! bring you Scripture to confirm your

wrongs?

Preach me not out of my possessions.

Some Jews are wicked, as all Christians are:
But say
the tribe that I descended of
Were all in general cast away for sin,
Shall I be tried by their transgression?
The man that dealeth righteously shall live;
And which of you can charge me otherwise?
FERN. Out, wretched Barabas!
Sham'st thou not thus to justify thyself,
As if we knew not thy profession?
If thou rely upon thy righteousness,
Be patient, and thy riches will increase.
Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness;
And covetousness, oh, 'tis a monstrous sin!
BARA. Ay, but theft is worse: tush! take not from

me, then,

For that is theft; and, if you rob me thus,

I must be forc'd to steal, and compass more. FIRST KNIGHT. Grave governor, list not to his exclaims :