ow'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
'Ti