Berkley Castle. The KING is left alone with LIGHTBORN, a murderer. Edw. Who's there? what light is that? wherefore com'st thou ? Light. To comfort you, and bring you joyful news. Edw. Small comfort finds poor Edward in thy looks. Villain, I know thou com'st to murder me. Light. To murder you, my most gracious lord! The queen sent me to see how you were us'd, And what eyes can refrain from shedding tears, Edw. Weep'st thou already? list a while to me Edw. And there, in mire and puddle have I stood This ten days' space; and lest that I should sleep, One plays continually upon a drum. They give me bread and water, being a king; Light. O speak no more, my lord! this breaks my heart. Lie on this bed, and rest yourself awhile. Edw. These looks of thine can harbour nought but I see my tragedy written in thy brows. * His keepers. [death: VOL. I. C That even then when I shall lose my life, My mind may be more stedfast on my God. Light. What means your highness to mistrust me thus ? Edw. What mean'st thou to dissemble with me thus? Light. These hands were never stain'd with innocent blood, Nor shall they now be tainted with a king's. Edw. Forgive my thought, for having such a thought. O if thou harbour'st murder in thy heart, Light. You're overwatch'd my lord, lie down and rest. [sleep; Light. If you mistrust me, I'll be gone, my lord. Edw. O let me not die; yet stay, O stay awhile. Edw. Something still buzzeth in mine ears, This fear is that which makes me tremble thus. Assist me, sweet God, and receive my soul. [This tragedy is in a very different style from "mighty Tamburlaine." The reluctant pangs of abdicating Royalty in Edward furnished hints which Shakspeare scarce improved in his Richard the Second; and the death-scene of Marlowe's king moves pity and terror beyond any scene, ancient or modern, with which I am acquainted.] 27 THE RICH JEW OF MALTA. A TRAGEDY, BY CHRISTOPHER MARLowe. BARABAS, the Rich Jew, in his Counting-house, with heaps of gold before him; in contemplation of his wealth. Bar. So that of thus much that return was made; Tell that, which may maintain him all his life. May serve in peril of calamity To ransome great kings from captivity. This is the ware wherein consists my wealth: But now how stands the wind? Into what corner peers my Halcyon's bill? Loaden with spice and silks, now under sail, Certain Merchants enter, and inform BARABAS, that his ships from various ports are safe arrived, and riding in Malta roads. He descants on the temporal condition of the Jews, how they thrive and attain to great worldly prosperity, in spite of the curse denounced against them. Thus trolls our fortune in by land and sea, Or who is honour'd now but for his wealth? I cannot tell; but we have scambled up More wealth by far than those that brag of faith. Myself in Malta, some in Italy, Many in France, and wealthy every one : I must confess, we come not to be kings; [Marlowe's Jew does not approach so near to Shakspeare's as his Edward II. does to Richard II. Shylock, in the midst of his savage purpose, is a man. His motives, feelings, resentments, have something human in them. "If you wrong us, shall we not revenge?" Barabas is a mere monster, brought in with a large painted nose, to please the rabble. He kills in sport, poisons whole nunneries, invents infernal machines. He is just such an exhibition as a century or two earlier might have been played before the Londoners by the Royal command, when a general pillage and massacre of the Hebrews had been previously resolved on in the cabinet. It is curious to see a superstition wearing out. The idea of a Jew (which our pious ancestors contemplated with such horror) has nothing in it now revolting. We have tamed the claws of the beast, and pared its nails, and now we take it to our arms, fondle it, write plays to flatter it: it is visited by princes, affects a taste, patronises the arts, and is the only liberal and gentleman-like thing in Christendom.] THE TRAGICAL HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS. BY CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE. How FAUSTUS fell to the study of magic. In Germany, within a town called Rhodes : |