a traitor and unhallow'd Jew! What greater misery could heaven inflict? CALYMATH. 'Tis our command:—and, Barabas, we give, To guard thy person, these our Janizaries: Entreat 188 them well, as we have used thee.— And now, brave bassoes, 189 come; we'll walk about The ruin'd town, and see the wreck we made.— Farewell, brave Jew, farewell, great Barabas! BARABAS. May all good fortune follow Calymath! [Exeunt CALYMATH and BASSOES.] And now, as entrance to our safety, To prison with the governor and these Captains, his consorts and confederates. FERNEZE. O villain! heaven will be reveng'd on thee. BARABAS. Away! no more; let him not trouble me. [Exeunt TURKS with FERNEZE and KNIGHTS.] Thus hast thou gotten, 190 by thy policy, No simple place, no small authority: I now am governor of Malta; true,— But Malta hates me, and, in hating me, My life's in danger; and what boots it thee, Poor Barabas, to be the governor, Whenas 191 thy life shall be at their command? No, Barabas, this must be look'd into; And, since by wrong thou gott'st authority, Maintain it bravely by firm policy; At least, unprofitably lose it not; For he that liveth in authority, And neither gets him friends nor fills his bags, Lives like the ass that Aesop speaketh of, That labours with a load of bread and wine, And leaves it off to snap on thistle-tops: But Barabas will be more circumspect. Begin betimes; Occasion's bald behind: Slip not thine opportunity, for fear too late Thou seek'st for much, but canst not compass it.— Within here! 192 Enter FERNEZE, with a GUARD. FERNEZE. My lord? BARABAS. Ay, LORD; thus slaves will learn. Now, governor,—stand by there, wait within,— [Exeunt GUARD.] This is the reason that I sent for thee: Thou seest thy life and Malta's happiness Are at my arbitrement; and Barabas At his discretion may dispose of both: Now tell me, governor, and plainly too, What think'st thou shall become of it and thee? FERNEZE. This, Barabas; since things are in thy power, I see no reason but of Malta's wreck, Nor hope of thee but extreme cruelty: Nor fear I death, nor will I flatter thee. BARABAS. Governor, good words; be not so furious 'Tis not thy life which can avail me aught; Yet you do live, and live for me you shall: And as for Malta's ruin, think you not 'Twere slender policy for Barabas To dispossess himself of such a place? For sith, 193 as once you said, within this isle, In Malta here, that I have got my goods, And in this city still have had
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