Act 5 — [Scene VI.][594]

Bar. How stands the cords? How hang these hinges? Fast? Are all the cranes and pulleys sure? 1 Carp. All fast. Bar. Leave nothing loose, all levell’d to my mind. Why now I see that you have art indeed. There, carpenters, divide that gold amongst you: 5 [Gives money.] Go swill in bowls of sack and muscadine! Down to the cellar, taste of all my wines. 1 Carp. We shall, my lord, and thank you. Exeunt [Carpenters]. Bar. And, if you like them, drink your fill and die: For so I live, perish may all the world!10 Now, Selim Calymath, return me word That thou wilt come, and I am satisfied. Enter Messenger. Now, sirrah, what, will he come? Mess. He will; and has commanded all his men To come ashore, and march through Malta streets,15 That thou may’st feast them in thy citadel. Bar. Then now are all things as my wish would have ’em, There wanteth nothing but the governor’s pelf, And see, he brings it. Enter Ferneze. Now, governor, the sum. Fern. With free consent, a hundred thousand pounds.20 Bar. Pounds, say’st thou, governor? Well, since it is no more, I’ll satisfy myself with that; nay, keep it still, For if I keep not promise, trust not me, And, governor, now partake my policy: First, for his army; they are sent before,25 Enter’d the monastery, and underneath In several places are field-pieces pitch’d, Bombards, whole barrels full of gunpowder That on the sudden shall dissever it, And batter all the stones about their ears,30 Whence none can possibly escape alive. Now as for Calymath and his consorts Here have I made a dainty gallery, The floor whereof, this cable being cut, Doth fall asunder; so that it doth sink35 Into a deep pit past recovery. Here, hold that knife [throws down a knife], and when thou seest he comes, And with his bassoes shall be blithely set, A warning-piece shall be shot off from the tower, To give thee knowledge when to cut the cord40 And fire the house; say, will not this be brave? Fern. O excellent! here, hold thee, Barabas, I trust thy word, take what I promis’d thee. Bar. No, governor, I’ll satisfy thee first, Thou shalt not live in doubt of anything.45 Stand close,[595] for here they come [Ferneze retires]. Why, is not this A kingly kind of trade to purchase towns By treachery and sell ’em by deceit? Now tell me, worldlings, underneath the sun If greater falsehood ever has been done?50

Caly. Come, my companion bassoes; see, I pray, How busy Barabas is there above To entertain us in his gallery; Let us salute him. Save thee, Barabas! Bar. Welcome, great Calymath!55 Fern. [Aside.] How the slave jeers at him. Bar. Will’t please thee, mighty Selim Calymath, To ascend our homely stairs? Caly. Ay, Barabas;— Come bassoes, attend.[596] Fern. [coming forward.] Stay, Calymath!60 For I will show thee greater courtesy Than Barabas would have afforded thee. Knight [within.] Sound a charge there! A charge [sounded within. Ferneze] cuts the cord: [the floor of the gallery gives way, and Barabas falls into] a caldron.

Caly. How now! what means this? Bar. Help, help me! Christians, help!65 Fern. See, Calymath, this was devis’d for thee! Caly. Treason! treason! bassoes, fly! Fern. No, Selim, do not fly; See his end first, and fly then if thou canst.69 Bar. O help me, Selim! help me, Christians! Governor, why stand you all so pitiless? Fern. Should I in pity of thy plaints or thee, Accursed Barabas, base Jew, relent? No, thus I’ll see thy treachery repaid, But wish thou hadst behav’d thee otherwise.75 Bar. You will not help me, then? Fern. No, villain, no. Bar. And, villains, know you cannot help me now.— Then, Barabas, breathe forth thy latest [hate,][597] And in the fury of thy torments strive To end thy life with resolution.80 Know, governor, ’t was I that slew thy son; I fram’d the challenge that did make them meet. Know, Calymath, I aim’d thy overthrow, And had I but escap’d this stratagem, I would have brought confusion on you all,85 Damn’d Christians, dogs, and Turkish infidels! But now begins the extremity of heat To pinch me with intolerable pangs. Die, life! fly, soul! tongue, curse thy fill, and die! [Dies.] Caly. Tell me, you Christians, what doth this portend?90 Fern. This train he laid to have entrapp’d thy life. Now, Selim, note the unhallowed deeds of Jews: Thus he determin’d to have handled thee, But I have rather chose to save thy life. Caly. Was this the banquet he prepared for us?95 Let’s hence, lest further mischief be pretended.[598] Fern. Nay, Selim, stay; for since we have thee here, We will not let thee part so suddenly: Besides, if we should let thee go, all’s one. For with thy galleys could’st thou not get hence,100 Without fresh men to rig and furnish them. Caly. Tush, governor, take thou no care for that, My men are all aboard, And do attend my coming there by this. Fern. Why heard’s thou not the trumpet sound a charge?105 Caly. Yes, what of that? Fern. Why then the house was fir’d, Blown up, and all thy soldiers massacred. Caly. O monstrous treason! Fern. A Jew’s courtesy: For he that did by treason work our fall, By treason hath delivered thee to us.110 Know, therefore, till thy father hath made good The ruins done to Malta and to us, Thou canst not part; for Malta shall be freed, Or Selim ne’er return to Ottoman. Caly. Nay, rather, Christians, let me go to Turkey,115 In person there to mediate[599] your peace; To keep me here will naught advantage you. Fern. Content thee, Calymath, here thou must stay, And live in Malta prisoner; for come all the world To rescue thee, so will we guard us now,120 As sooner shall they drink the ocean dry Than conquer Malta, or endanger us. So march away, and let due praise be given Neither to Fate nor Fortune, but to Heaven. [Exeunt.]