Ferneze, governor of Malta. Lodowick, his son. Selim Calymath, son to the Grand Seignior. Martin del Bosco, Vice-Admiral of Spain. Mathias, a Gentleman. Barabas, a wealthy Jew. Ithamore, Barabas’ slav...

Machiavel: Enter Machiavel. Machiavel: Albeit the world think Machiavel is dead, Yet was his soul but flown beyond the Alps, And, now the Guise2 is dead, is come from France, To view this land, and fr...

Barabas: Barabas discovered in his counting-house, with heaps of gold before him. Barabas: So that of thus much that return was made: And of the third part of the Persian ships, There was the venture ...

Barabas: Barabas discovered in his counting-house, with heaps of gold before him. Barabas: So that of thus much that return was made: And of the third part of the Persian ships, There was the venture ...

Ferneze: Enter Ferneze governor of Malta, Knights, and Officers; met by Calymath, and Bassoes of the Turk.13 Ferneze: Now, Bassoes,14 what demand you at our hands? First Basso: Know, Knights of Malta,...

Barabas: Enter Barabas, with a light.25 Barabas: Thus, like the sad presaging raven, that tolls The sick man’s passport in her hollow beak, And in the shadow of the silent night Doth shake contagion f...

Barabas: Enter Barabas, with a light.25 Barabas: Thus, like the sad presaging raven, that tolls The sick man’s passport in her hollow beak, And in the shadow of the silent night Doth shake contagion f...

Ferneze: Enter Ferneze, Martin del Bosco, and Knights. Ferneze: Now, captain, tell us whither thou art bound? Whence is thy ship that anchors in our road? And why thou cam’st ashore without our leave?...

Officers: Enter Officers, with Ithamore and other Slaves.33 First Officer: This is the market-place, here let ’em stand: Fear not their sale, for they’ll be quickly bought. Second Officer: Every one’s...

Bellamira: Enter Bellamira.46 Bellamira: Since this town was besieged, my gain grows cold: The time has been, that but for one bare night, A hundred ducats have been freely given: But now against my w...

Bellamira: Enter Bellamira.46 Bellamira: Since this town was besieged, my gain grows cold: The time has been, that but for one bare night, A hundred ducats have been freely given: But now against my w...

Mathias: Enter Mathias.47 Mathias: This is the place; now Abigail shall see Whether Mathias holds her dear or no. Lodowick: Enter Lodowick. What, dares the villain write in such base terms? Looking at...

Ithamore: Enter Ithamore.49 Ithamore: Why, was there ever seen such villany, So neatly plotted, and so well performed? Both held in hand, and flatly both beguiled? Abigail: Enter Abigail. Abigail: Why...

Barabas: Enter Barabas, reading a letter.51 Barabas: What, Abigail become a nun again! False and unkind; what, hast thou lost thy father? And all unknown, and unconstrained of me, Art thou again got t...

Ferneze: Enter Ferneze, Martin del Bosco, Knights, and Basso.55 Ferneze: Welcome, great basso; how fares Calymath? What wind drives you thus into Malta-road? Basso: The wind that bloweth all the world...

Friar Jacomo: Enter Friar Jacomo and Friar Barnadine.57 Friar Jacomo: O, brother, brother, all the nuns are sick, And physic will not help them: they must die. Friar Barnadine: The abbess sent for me ...

Barabas: Enter Barabas and Ithamore. Bells within.61 Barabas: There is no music to62 a Christian’s knell: How sweet the bells ring now the nuns are dead, That sound at other times like tinkers’ pans! ...

Barabas: Enter Barabas and Ithamore. Bells within.61 Barabas: There is no music to62 a Christian’s knell: How sweet the bells ring now the nuns are dead, That sound at other times like tinkers’ pans! ...

Barabas: Enter Barabas and Ithamore.66 Barabas: Ithamore, tell me, is the friar asleep? Ithamore: Yes; and I know not what the reason is Do what I can he will not strip himself, Nor go to bed, but sle...

Friar Jacomo: Enter Friar Jacomo.69 Friar Jacomo: This is the hour wherein I shall proceed;70 O happy hour wherein I shall convert An infidel, and bring his gold into our treasury! But soft, is not th...

Bellamira: Enter Bellamira and Pilia-Borza.71 Bellamira: Pilia-Borza, did’st thou meet with Ithamore? Pilia-Borza: I did. Bellamira: And didst thou deliver my letter? Pilia-Borza: I did. Bellamira: An...

Barabas: Enter Barabas, reading a letter.81 Barabas: “Barabas, send me three hundred crowns.⁠—” Plain Barabas! O, that wicked courtesan! He was not wont to call me Barabas. “Or else I will confess:” a...

Bellamira: Enter Bellamira, Ithamore, and Pilia-Borza.86 Bellamira: I’ll pledge thee, love, and therefore drink it off. Ithamore: Say’st thou me so? have at it; and do you hear? Whispers. Bellamira: G...

Ferneze: Enter Ferneze, Knights, Martin del Bosco, and Officers.92 Ferneze: Now, gentlemen, betake you to your arms, And see that Malta be well fortified; And it behoves you to be resolute; For Calyma...

Ferneze: Enter Ferneze, Knights, Martin del Bosco, and Officers.92 Ferneze: Now, gentlemen, betake you to your arms, And see that Malta be well fortified; And it behoves you to be resolute; For Calyma...

Barabas: Barabas discovered rising.93 Barabas: What, all alone? well fare, sleepy drink. I’ll be revenged on this accursed town; For by my means Calymath shall enter in. I’ll help to slay their childr...

Calymath: Alarums within. Enter Calymath, Bassoes, Turks, and Barabas; with Ferneze and Knights prisoners.95 Calymath: Now vail96 your pride, you captive Christians And kneel for mercy to your conquer...

Calymath: Enter Calymath and Bassoes.99 Calymath: Thus have we viewed the city, seen the sack, And caused the ruins to be new-repaired, Which with our bombards’100 shot and basilisks We rent in sunder...

Ferneze: Enter Ferneze, Knights and Martin del Bosco.101 Ferneze: In this, my countrymen, be ruled by me, Have special care that no man sally forth Till you shall hear a culverin discharged By him tha...

Barabas: Enter, above, Barabas, with a hammer, very busy; and Carpenters.104 Barabas: How stand the cords? how hang these hinges? fast? Are all the cranes and pulleys sure? First Carpenter: All fast. ...

This distinguished Florentine, degraded into a personification of unscrupulous policy, was frequently appealed to on the Elizabethan stage ↩ The Due de Guise, who had organised the Massacre of St. Bar...