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قراءة كتاب The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 2 (of 3)
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اللغة: English
The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 2 (of 3)
الصفحة رقم: 1
THE JEW OF MALTA.
THE PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT COURT.
Gracious and Great, that we so boldly dare, ('Mongst other plays that now in fashion are) To present this, writ many years agone, And in that age thought second unto none, We humbly crave your pardon: We pursue The story of a rich and famous Jew Who lived in Malta: you shall find him still, In all his projects, a sound Machiavill; And that's his character. He that hath past So many censures, is now come at last To have your princely ears: grace you him; then You crown the action, and renown the pen.
EPILOGUE.
It is our fear (dread sovereign) we have bin Too tedious; neither can't be less than sin To wrong your princely patience: If we have, (Thus low dejected) we your pardon crave: And if aught here offend your ear or sight, We only act and speak what others write.
THE PROLOGUE TO THE STAGE.
AT THE COCK-PIT.
We know not how our play may pass this stage, But by the best of poets [2] in that age The Malta Jew had being, and was made; And he, then by the best of actors [3] played; In Hero and Leander, one did gain A lasting memory: in Tamburlaine, This Jew, with others many, th' other wan The attribute of peerless, being a man Whom we may rank with (doing no one wrong) Proteus for shapes, and Roscius for a tongue, So could he speak, so vary; nor is't hate To merit, in him [4] who doth personate Our Jew this day; nor is it his ambition To exceed or equal, being of condition More modest: this is all that he intends, (And that too, at the urgence of some friends) To prove his best, and, if none here gainsay it, The part he hath studied, and intends to play it.
EPILOGUE.
In graving, with Pygmalion to contend; Or painting, with Apelles; doubtless the end Must be disgrace: our actor did not so, He only aimed to go, but not out-go. Nor think that this day any prize [5] was played; Here were no bets at all, no wagers laid; [6] All the ambition that his mind doth swell, Is but to hear from you (by me), 'twas well.
PERSONS REPRESENTED.
Ferneze, Governor of Malta.
Selim Calymath, Son of the Grand Seignior.
Don Lodowick, the Governor's Son, in love with
Abigail.
Don Mathias, also in love with her.
Martin del Bosco, Vice-Admiral of Spain.
Barabas, the Jew of Malta.
Ithamore, Barabas' slave.
Barnardine, a Friar
Jacomo, a Friar
Pilia-Borsa, a Bully.
Two Merchants.
Three Jews.
Bassoes, Knights, Officers, Reader, Messengers,
Slaves, and Carpenters.
Katharine, mother of Don Matthias
.
Abigail, the Jew's Daughter.
Abbess.
Two Nuns.
Bellamira, a Courtesan.
Machiavel, the Prologue.
Scene—Malta.
THE JEW OF MALTA.
Enter Machiavel.
Machiavel. Albeit the world thinks Machiavel is dead, Yet was his soul but flown beyond the Alps; And now the Guise [7] is dead, is come from France, To view this land, and frolic with his friends. To some perhaps my name is odious, But such as love me guard me from their tongues; And let them know that I am Machiavel, And weigh not men, and therefore not men's words. Admired I am of those that hate me most. Though some speak openly against my books,10 Yet they will read me, and thereby attain To Peter's chair: and when they cast me off, Are poisoned by my climbing followers. I count religion but a childish toy, And hold there is no sin but ignorance. Birds of the air will tell of murders past! I am ashamed to