s 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 success,
And now at length am grown your governor,
Yourselves shall see it shall not be forgot;
For, as a friend not known but in distress,
I'll rear up Malta, now remediless.

FERNEZE. Will Barabas recover Malta's loss?
Will Barabas be good to Christians?

BARABAS. What wilt thou give me, governor, to procure
A dissolution of the slavish bands
Wherein the Turk hath yok'd your land and you?
What will you give me if I render you
The life of Calymath, surprise his men,
And in an out-house of the city shut
His soldiers, till I have consum'd 'em all with fire?
What will you give him that procureth this?

FERNEZE. Do but bring this to pass which thou pretendest,
Deal truly with us as thou intimatest,
And I will send amongst the citizens,
And by my letters privately procure
Great sums of money for thy recompense:
Nay, more, do this, and live thou governor still.

BARABAS. Nay, do thou this, Ferneze, and be free:
Governor, I enlarge thee; live with me;
Go walk about the city, see thy friends:
Tush, send not letters to 'em; go thyself,
And let me see what money thou canst make:
Here is my hand that I'll set Malta free;
And thus we cast [194] it: to a solemn feast
I will invite young Selim Calymath,
Where be thou present, only to perform
One stratagem that I'll impart to thee,
Wherein no danger shall betide thy life,
And I will warrant Malta free for ever.

FERNEZE. Here is my hand; believe me, Barabas,
I will be there, and do as thou desirest.
When is the time?

BARABAS. Governor, presently;
For Calymath, when he hath view'd the town,
Will take his leave, and sail toward Ottoman.

FERNEZE. Then will I, Barabas, about this coin,
And bring it with me to thee in the evening.

BARABAS. Do so; but fail not: now farewell, Ferneze:--
[Exit FERNEZE.]
And thus far roundly goes the business:
Thus, loving neither, will I live with both,
M