The Jew of Malta | Page 7

to be tax'd?
SECOND KNIGHT. Have strangers leave with us to get their wealth?
Then let them with us contribute.
BARABAS. How! equally?

FERNEZE. 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 befall'n, And therefore thus we are determined.--
Read there the articles of our decrees.
OFFICER.<37> [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.
BARABAS. How! half his estate!--I hope you mean not mine. [Aside.]
FERNEZE. Read on.
OFFICER. [reads] SECONDLY, HE THAT DENIES<38> TO PAY,
SHALL STRAIGHT-BECOME A CHRISTIAN.
BARABAS. 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. O my lord, we will give half!
BARABAS. O earth-mettled villains, and no Hebrews born! And will
you basely thus submit yourselves To leave your goods to their
arbitrement?
FERNEZE. Why, Barabas, wilt thou be christened?
BARABAS. No, governor, I will be no convertite.<39>
FERNEZE. Then pay thy half.
BARABAS. 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.
FERNEZE. Sir, half is the penalty of our decree; Either pay that, or we
will seize on all.
BARABAS. Corpo di Dio! stay: you shall have half; Let me be us'd but
as my brethren are.
FERNEZE. No, Jew, thou hast denied the articles, And now it cannot
be recall'd. [Exeunt OFFICERS, on a sign from FERNEZE]
BARABAS. Will you, then, steal my goods? Is theft the ground of your
religion?
FERNEZE. 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.

BARABAS. Christians, what or how can I multiply? Of naught is
nothing made.
FIRST KNIGHT. From naught 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.
BARABAS. 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?
FERNEZE. 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, O, 'tis a monstrous sin!
BARABAS. 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: Convert his
mansion to a nunnery; His house will harbour many holy nuns.
FERNEZE. It shall be so.
Re-enter OFFICERS.
Now, officers, have you done?
FIRST OFFICER. Ay, my lord, we have seiz'd upon the goods And
wares of Barabas, which, being valu'd, Amount to more than all the
wealth in Malta: And of the other we have seized half.
FERNEZE. Then we'll take<40> order for the residue.
BARABAS. Well, then, my lord, say, are you satisfied? You have my
goods, my money, and my wealth, My ships, my store, and all that I
enjoy'd; And, having all, you can request no more, Unless your
unrelenting flinty hearts Suppress all pity in your stony breasts, And
now shall move you to bereave my life.
FERNEZE. No, Barabas; to stain our hands with blood Is far from us
and our profession.
BARABAS. Why, I esteem the injury far less, To take the lives of
miserable men Than be the causers of their misery. You have my

wealth, the labour of my life, The comfort of mine age, my children's
hope; And therefore ne'er distinguish of the wrong.
FERNEZE. Content thee, Barabas; thou hast naught but right.
BARABAS. Your extreme right does me exceeding wrong: But take it
to you, i'the devil's name!
FERNEZE. Come, let us in, and gather of these goods The money for
this tribute of the Turk.
FIRST KNIGHT. 'Tis necessary that be look'd unto; For, if we break
our day, we break the league, And that will prove but simple policy.