The Jew of Malta
shot and basilisk[s] 196 We rent in sunder at our entry:      And, now I see the situation, And how secure this conquer'd island stands, Environ'd with the Mediterranean sea, Strong-countermin'd with other petty isles, And, toward Calabria, 197 back'd by Sicily      (Where Syracusian Dionysius reign'd), Two lofty turrets that command the town, I wonder how it could be conquer'd thus. Enter a MESSENGER. MESSENGER. From Barabas, Malta's governor, I bring A message unto mighty Calymath:      Hearing his sovereign was bound for sea, To sail to Turkey, to great Ottoman, He humbly would entreat your majesty To come and see his homely citadel, And banquet with him ere thou leav'st the isle. CALYMATH. To banquet with him in his citadel! I fear me, messenger, to feast my train Within a town of war so lately pillag'd, Will be too costly and too troublesome:      Yet would I gladly visit Barabas, For well has Barabas deserv'd of us. MESSENGER. Selim, for that, thus saith the governor,—      That he hath in [his] store a pearl so big, So precious, and withal so orient, As, be it valu'd but indifferently, The price thereof will serve to entertain Selim and all his soldiers for a month; Therefore he humbly would entreat your highness Not to depart till he has feasted you. CALYMATH. I cannot feast my men in Malta-walls, Except he place his tables in the streets. MESSENGER. Know, Selim, that there is a monastery Which standeth as an out-house to the town; There will he banquet them; but thee at home, With all thy bassoes and brave followers. CALYMATH. Well, tell the governor we grant his suit; We'll in this summer-evening feast with him. MESSENGER. I shall, my lord.           [Exit.]       CALYMATH. And now, bold bassoes, let us to our tents, And meditate how we may grace us best, To solemnize our governor's great feast.           [Exeunt.]            Enter FERNEZE, 198 KNIGHTS, and MARTIN DEL BOSCO. FERNEZE. In this, my countrymen, be rul'd by me:      Have special care that no man sally forth Till you shall hear a culverin discharg'd By him that bears the linstock, 199 kindled thus; Then issue out and come to rescue me, For happily I shall be in distress, Or you released of this servitude. FIRST KNIGHT. Rather than thus to live as Turkish thralls, What will we not adventure? FERNEZE. On, then; be gone. KNIGHTS. Farewell, grave governor.           [Exeunt, on one side, KNIGHTS and MARTIN DEL BOSCO; on the other, FERNEZE.]            Enter, above, 200 BARABAS, with a hammer, very busy; and 
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