Volume II Part 22 (2/2)

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._

_Bar._ And, if you like them, drink your fill and die: 10 For so I live, perish may all the world.

Now Selim Calymath return me word That thou wilt come, and I am satisfied.

Now, sirrah, what, will he come?

_Enter_ Messenger.

_Mess._ He will; and has commanded all his men To come ash.o.r.e, and march through Malta streets, That thou mayest feast them in thy citadel.

_Bar._ Then now are all things as my wish would have 'em, There wanteth nothing but the Governor's pelf, And see, he brings it. 20

_Enter_ Governor.

Now, Governor, the sum.

_Gov._ With free consent, a hundred thousand pounds.

_Bar._ Pounds say'st thou, Governor? well, since it is no more, I'll satisfy myself with that; nay, keep it still, For if I keep not promise, trust not me.

And, Governor, now take my policy: First, for his army, they are sent before, Entered the monastery, and underneath In several places are field-pieces pitched, Bombards, whole barrels full of gunpowder, 30 That on the sudden shall dissever it, And batter all the stones about their ears, Whence none can possibly escape alive: Now as for Calymath and his consorts, Here have I made a dainty gallery, The floor whereof, this cable being cut, Doth fall asunder; so that it doth sink Into a deep pit past recovery.

Here, hold that knife, and when thou seest he comes, And with his ba.s.soes shall be blithely set, 40 A warning-piece shall be shot off from the tower, To give thee knowledge when to cut the cord And fire the house; say, will not this be brave?

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