_Bar._ Alas, my lord, we are no soldiers: And what"s our aid against so great a prince?

_1 Knight._ Tut, Jew, we know thou art no soldier; Thou art a merchant and a moneyed man, And "tis thy money, Barabas, we seek.

_Bar._ How, my lord! my money?

_Gov._ Thine and the rest.

For, to be short, amongst you"t must be had.

_1 Jew._ Alas, my lord, the most of us are poor.

_Gov._ Then let the rich increase your portions.

_Bar._ Are strangers with your tribute to be taxed? 60

_2 Knight._ Have strangers leave with us to get their wealth?

Then let them with us contribute.

_Bar._ How! equally?

_Gov._ 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 determined.

Read there the articles of our decrees.

_Reader. 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._ 70

_Bar._ How, half his estate? I hope you mean not mine. [_Aside._

_Gov._ Read on.

_Reader. Secondly, he that denies to pay shall straight become a Christian._

_Bar._ How! a Christian? Hum, what"s here to do? [_Aside._

_Reader. Lastly, he that denies this shall absolutely lose all he has._

_All 3 Jews._ O my lord, we will give half.

_Bar._ O earth-mettled villains, and no Hebrews born!

And will you basely thus submit yourselves 80 To leave your goods to their arbitrament?

_Gov._ Why, Barabas, wilt thou be christened?

_Bar._ No, governor, I will be no convert.i.te.[24]

_Gov._ Then pay thy half.

_Bar._ 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.

_Gov._ Sir, half is the penalty of our decree, Either pay that, or we will seize on all.

_Bar. Corpo di Dio!_ stay! you shall have the half; 90 Let me be used but as my brethren are.

_Gov._ No, Jew, thou hast denied the articles, And now it cannot be recalled.

_Bar._ Will you then steal my goods?

Is theft the ground of your religion?

_Gov._ No, Jew, we take particularly thine To save the ruin of a mult.i.tude: And better one want for the common good Than many perish for a private man: Yet, Barabas, we will not banish thee, 100 But here in Malta, where thou gott"st thy wealth, Live still; and, if thou canst, get more.

_Bar._ Christians, what or how can I multiply?

Of naught is nothing made.

_1 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 scorned of all the world, "Tis not our fault, but thy inherent sin.

_Bar._ What, bring you scripture to confirm your wrongs? 110 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?

_Gov._ Out, wretched Barabas!

Sham"st thou not thus to justify thyself, As if we knew not thy profession? 120 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.

_Bar._ I, but theft is worse: tush! take not from me then, For that is theft! and if you rob me thus, I must be forced to steal and compa.s.s more.

_1 Knight._ Grave governor,[25] listen not to his exclaims.

Convert his mansion to a nunnery; His house will harbour many holy nuns. 130

_Gov._ It shall be so.

_Enter_ Officers.

Now, officers, have you done?

_Off._ I, my lord, we have seized upon the goods And wares of Barabas, which being valued, Amount to more than all the wealth in Malta, And of the other we have seized half.

_Gov._[26] Then we"ll take order for the residue.

_Bar._ 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 enjoyed; And, having all, you can request no more; 140 Unless your unrelenting flinty hearts Suppress all pity in your stony b.r.e.a.s.t.s, And now shall move you to bereave my life.

_Gov._ No, Barabas, to stain our hands with blood Is far from us and our profession.

_Bar._ Why, I esteem the injury far less To take the lives of miserable men Than be the causes of their misery.

You have my wealth, the labour of my life, The comfort of mine age, my children"s hope, 150 And therefore ne"er distinguish of the wrong.

_Gov._ Content thee, Barabas, thou hast naught but right.