The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 2 (of 3)Marlowe, Christopher
General
The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 2 (of 3)
Marlowe, Christopher
English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Mess._ 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.
_Caly._ To banquet with him in his citadel? 20
I fear me, messenger, to feast my train
Within a town of war so lately pillaged,
Will be too costly and too troublesome:
Yet would I gladly visit Barabas,
For well has Barabas deserved of us.
_Mess._ 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 valued but indifferently,
The price thereof will serve to entertain 30
Selim and all his soldiers for a month;
Therefore he humbly would entreat your highness
Not to depart till he has feasted you.
_Caly._ I cannot feast my men in Malta walls,
Except he place his tables in the streets.
_Mess._ Know, Selim, that there is a monastery
Which standeth as an outhouse to the town:
There will he banquet them, but thee at home,
With all thy bassoes and brave followers.
_Caly._ Well, tell the Governor we grant his suit, 40
We'll in this summer evening feast with him.
_Mess._ I shall, my lord. [_Exit._
_Caly._ And now, bold bassoes, let us to our tents,
And meditate how we may grace us best
To solemise our Governor's great feast.
[_Exeunt._
SCENE IV.
_Enter_[152] Governor, Knights, _and_ DEL BOSCO.
_Gov._ 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 that bears the linstock,[153] kindled thus;
Then issue out and come to rescue me,
For happily I shall be in distress,
Or you released of this servitude.
_Knight._ Rather than thus to live as Turkish thralls
What will we not adventure?
_Gov._ On then, begone.
_Knight_. Farewell, grave Governor! [_Exeunt._ 11
SCENE V.
_Enter,_[154] _above,_ BARABAS, _with a hammer, very busy;
and_ Carpenters.
_Bar._ How stand the cords? How hang these hinges? fast?
Are all the cranes and pulleys sure?
_First Carp._[155] All fast.
_Bar._ Leave nothing loose, all levelled to my mind.
Why now I see that you have art indeed.
There, carpenters, divide that gold amongst you:
Go swill in bowls of sack and muscadine!
Down to the cellar, taste of all my wines.
_Carp._ We shall, my lord, and thank you. [_Exeunt._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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