But thou wo't not believe me: had he lived, Avails too late compunction? Noble gentleman! Duke, Who now Shall marry my Eugenia? I have.undone The hope of our posterity. Eug. Not so, sir; If yet you'll give me leave to make my choice, I'll not despair to find a husband. Duke. Where? Eug. Here, royal sir; Philenzo is not dead, But made, by virtue of a drink, to seem so; Thus to prevent his suffering, that I night, Or other friend by my confederacy, By begging of his body fit for burial, Preserve him from your anger. Duke. Do'st not mock me? Eug. Let me beg your pardon: Confident of your change to mercy, I have Confessed what terror could not force me to. Enter MORELLO, BONAMICO, and Ladies. Grut. This is pretty, Dondolo. Rol. 'Tis a miracle! Duke. You must believe it: In sign how we are pleased, proclaim this day, Grul. Make me happy to renew my suit. I was in hell last; 'tis little less to be in a petticoat sometimes. Rol. Madam, vouchsafe him kiss your hand; We owe him much. [Presenting BONAMICO. Duke. We'll take him to our service. Bon. I am too much honoured. Duke. And you into our bosom. This day shall Be consecrate to triumph; and may time, When 'tis decreed the world shall have an end, By revolution of the year, make this The day that shall conclude all memories! [Exeunt, 29 Barlibreak-Littleton explains Chorus circularis," Barley-break, when they dance taking hands round." So, in The Virgin Martyr, A. 5. S. 1: "He is at Barli-break, and the last couple are now in hell.” The Guardian, A. 1. S. 1.: "Hey-day! there are a legion of young Cupids A new Wonder, A Woman never vext, 1632, A. 1.: 66 If you find my mistris Have a mind to this coupling at barly-breake, Reynard's Deliverance of 266 Christians, 1608. Sign. A. 3. : 66 or rather, as lovers roming after young damosels at barli-breako." EDITION. The Bird in a Cage, a Comedie, as it hath beene presented at the Phoenix in Drury-lane. The author James Shirley, servant to her Majesty:-Javen. Satyra 7, Et spes et ratio Studiorum in Casare tantum. London, printed by B. Alsop and T. Fawcet, for William Cooke; and are to be sold at his shop neere Furnivals Inne Gate, in Holborne, 1633. 4to. VOL. I. 21 THE JEW OF MALTA. BY CHRISTOPHER MARLOW. TO MY WORTHY FRIEND MR THOMAS HAMMON, OF GRAY'S INN, &c. THIS Play, composed by so worthy an author as Mr Marlow, and the part of the Jew presented by so inimitable an actor as Mr Allen, being in this latter age commended to the stage: as I ushered it unto the court, and presented it to the Cock-pit, with these prologues and epilogues here inserted, so now being newly brought to the press, I was loth it should be published without the ornament of an epistle; making choice of you unto whom to devote it; than whom (of all those gentlemen and acquaintance, within the compass of my long knowledge) there is none more able to tax ignorance, or attribute right to merit. Sir, you have been pleased to grace some of mine own works with your courteous patronage: I hope this will not be the worse accepted, because commended by me; over whom, none can claim more power or privilege than yourself. I had no better a new-year's gift to present you with; receive it therefore as a continuance of that inviolable obligement, by which he rests still engaged, who, as he ever hath, shall always remain Tuissimus, THE PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT COURT. Gracious and great, that we so boldly dare, Who lived in Malta: you shall find him still, The praises bestowed on this excellent actor and worthy man, by his contemporaries, would be sufficient to send his name down to posterity with honour, independent of the noble endowment which be founded at Dulwich. He was born in Loudon on the 1st of September, 1566, was early introduced to the stage, and appears to have been at the head of his profession, by which he acquired a considerable fortune. He retired to Dulwich several years before his death, which happened on the 25th of Novem ber, 1626. See his life in the Biographia Britannica. + Thomas Heywood.-See an account of him, page 1 of this volume. Perkins.-This was Richard Perkins, one of the performers belonging to the Cockpit theatre in Drury-Lane. His name is printed among those who acted in Hannibal and Scipio, by Nabbes; The Wedding, by Shirley; and The Fair Maid of the West, by Heywood. After the playhouses were shut up, on account of the confusion arising from the civil wars, Perkins and Sumner, who belonged to the same bouse, lived together at Clerkenwell, where they died and were buried. They both died some years be. fore the Restoration. See The Dialogue on Plays and Players, vol. xii. THE JEW OF MALTA.* Enter MACHIAVEL. ACT I. He had never bellowed in a brazen bull. Mach. Albeit the world think Machiavel is Let me be envied and not pitied! dead, Yet was his soul but flown beyond the Alps, Admired I am of those that hate me most; sure When, like the Draco's3, they were writ in blood. Hence comes it, that a strong-built citadel Commands much more than letters can import; Which maxim had but Phalaris observed, But whither am I bound? I come not, I, Enter BARABAS in his Counting-house, with heaps of Gold before him. Bar. So that of thus much that return was made. And of the third part of the Persian ships, This play, though not printed earlier than 1633, was, with the ballad on the same subject, intituled, The murtherous Lyfe and terrible death of the Rich Jewe of Malta, entered on the Stationers books May 1594. See Mr Steevens's note to The Merchant of Venice. 1 The Guize.-i. e. the Duke of Guise, who had been the principal contriver and actor in the horrid massacre on St Bartholomew's day, 1572. He met with his deserved fate, being assassinated, by order of the French king, in 1588. 2 Empery-The quarto edition reads empire: but to complete the verse, we should read empery; a word that occurs often in our ancient plays. S. 3 Draco's-i. e. The severe law-giver of Athens; "whose statutes," said Demades," were not wrilten with ink, but blood." S. 4 Silverbings. I am unacquainted with any such word: perhaps we should read silverings, or silverlings; a diminutive, to express the Jew's contempt of a metal inferior in value to gold. S. 2 And all his life-time hath been tired, To ransom great kings from captivity. This is the ware wherein consists my wealth; And thus methinks should men of judgment frame Their means of traffic from the vulgar trade; And as their wealth increaseth, so inclose Infinite riches in a little room. But now how stands the wind? Into what corner peers my halcyon's bill? 7 Loaden with spice and silks, now under sail, Than many merchants of the town are worth; Bar. Go tell 'em the Jew of Malta sent thee, man; Tush, who amongst 'em knows not Barabas? Bar. So then, there's somewhat come. Bar. And saw'st thou not mine Argosie at Thou couldst not come from Egypt, or by Cairo, Where Nilus pays his tribute to the main; Mer. I neither saw them, nor enquired of them; Trust such a crazy vessel, and so far. Bur. Tush, they are wise; I know her and her Bye, go, go thou thy ways, discharge thy ship, [Exit 1 Merchant. And yet I wonder at this Argosie. Enter a 2d Merchant. 2 Mer. Thine Argosie from Alexandria, Know, Barabas, doth ride in Malta Road, Laden with riches and exceeding store Of Persian silks, of gold, and orient pearl. Bar. How chance you came not with those other ships, That sailed by Egypt? 2 Mer. Sir, we saw 'em not. Bar. Belike they coasted round by Candy shore, About their oils, or other businesses; But 'twas ill done of you to come so far Without the aid or conduct of their ships. 2 Mer. Sir, we were wafted by a Spanish fleet, That never left us till within a league, That had the galleys of the Turk in chase. Bar. Oh, they were going up to Sicily; well go And bid the merchants and my men dispatch And come ashore, and see the freight discharged. 2 Mer. I go. [Exit. Bar. Thus trouls our fortune in by land and sea, And thus are we on every side enriched; These are the blessings promised to the Jews, And herein was old Abraham's happiness. What more may heaven do for earthly man, Than thus to pour out plenty in their laps, 5 Seld scen-i. e. rarely beheld. A carrect-or carat, a weight of four grains, with which diamonds are weighed. S. ? Into what corner peers my halcyon's bill?—It was anciently believed, that this bird, (the King Fisher) if hung up, would vary with the wind, and by that means shew from what quarter it blew. See note on King Lear, vol. 9. p. 419. edit. 1778. & Custom them-i. e. enter the goods they contain at the custom-house. |