Itha. And bid the jeweller come hither too.
Bell. I have no husband, sweet; I'll marry thee.
Itha. Content: but we will leave this paltry land,
And sail from hence to Greece, to lovely Greece.
I'll be thy Jason, thou my golden fleece;
Where painted carpets o'er the meads are hurled,
And Bacchus' vineyards overspread the world;
Where woods and forests go in goodly green,
I'll be Adonis, thou shalt be Love's Queen.
The meads, the orchards, and the primrose-lanes,
Instead of sedge and reed, bear sugar-canes :
Thou in those groves, by Dis above,1

Shalt live with me and be my love.2

Bell. Whither will I not go with gentle Ithamore?

Re-enter PILIA-BORSA.

Itha. How now? hast thou the gold?

Pilia. Yes.

100

Itha. But came it freely? did the cow give down her milk freely?

110

Pilia. At reading of the letter, he stared and stamped and turned aside. I took him by the beard, and looked upon him thus; told him he were best to send it; then he hugged and embraced me.

Itha. Rather for fear than love.

Pilia. Then, like a Jew, he laughed and jeered, and told me he loved me for your sake, and said what a faithful servant you had been.

1 This blunder is intentionally made.

2 Marlowe's well-known lyric, The Passionate Shepherd to his Love, begins,

"Come live with me, and be my love,

And we will all the pleasures prove

That hills and valleys, dales and fields,
Woods or steepy mountains, yields."

Itha. The more villain he to keep me thus; here's goodly 'parel, is there not?

Pilia. To conclude, he gave me ten crowns.

120

[Gives the money to ITHAMORE. Itha. But ten? I'll not leave him worth a grey groat. Give me a ream1 of paper; we'll have a kingdom of gold for't.

Pilia. Write for five hundred crowns.

Itha. (writing). “Sirrah, Jew, as you love your life send me five hundred crowns, and give the bearer one hundred.”. Tell him I must have't.

Pilia. I warrant your worship shall have't.

Itha. And if he ask why I demand so much, tell him I scorn to write a line under a hundred crowns.

Pilia. You'd make a rich poet, sir. I am gone.
Itha. Take thou the money; spend it for my sake.
Bell. 'Tis not thy money, but thyself I weigh;
Thus Bellamira esteems of gold.

But thus of thee.

131

[Exit.

[Throws it aside. [Kisses him.

Itha. That kiss again! she runs division 2 of my lips.
What an eye she casts on me! It twinkles like a star.
Bell. Come, my dear love, let's in!

SCENE V. - A Room in BARABAS' House.

[Exeunt.

Enter BARABAS, reading a letter.

Bar. "

Barabas, send me three hundred crowns."

Plain Barabas! O, that wicked courtesan !

1 A play on the words realm and kingdom; realm was often written and pronounced ream.

2 A musical term. "

'Divisions for the voice are intended to be sung in one breath to one syllable. The performance of this style of music is called running a division.". Stainer and Barrett: Dict. of Musical Terms.

He was not wont to call me Barabas.

"Or else I will confess:" ay, there it goes:
But, if I get him, coupe de gorge for that.
He sent a shaggy tattered staring slave,
That when he speaks draws out his grisly beard,
And winds it twice or thrice about his ear;
Whose face has been a grindstone for men's swords ;1
His hands are hacked, some fingers cut quite off;
Who, when he speaks, grunts like a hog, and looks
Like one that is employed in catzerie 2

And crossbiting3

And I by him must send three hundred crowns!
Well, my hope is, he will not stay there still;
And when he comes: O, that he were but here !

Enter PILIA-BORSA.

Pilia. Jew, I must have more gold.

Bar. Why, want'st thou any of thy tale ?1

Pilia. No; but three hundred will not serve his turn.
Bar. Not serve his turn, sir?

10

20

Pilia. No, sir; and, therefore, I must have five hundred

more.

Bar. I'll rather

Pilia. O good words, sir, and send it you were best! see, there's his letter. [Gives letter.

Bar. Might he not as well come as send? pray bid him come and fetch it; what he writes for you, ye shall have straight.

Pilia. Ay, and the rest too, or else

Bar. (aside). I must make this villain away.

1 Cf. Arden of Feversham.

3 Swindling.

30

2 Knavery.

4 Reckoning.

Please you dine with me, sir ; most heartily poisoned.

· (aside) and you shall be

Pilia. No, God-a-mercy. Shall I have these crowns?
Bar. I cannot do it, I have lost my keys.

Pilia. O, if that be all, I can pick ope your locks.

Bar. Or climb up to my counting-house window: you know my meaning.

Pilia. I know enough, and therefore talk not to me of your counting-house. The gold! or know, Jew, it is in my power to hang thee.

Bar. (aside). I am betrayed.

'Tis not five hundred crowns that I esteem, I am not moved at that: this angers me,

That he, who knows I love him as myself,

Should write in this imperious vein. Why, sir,
You know I have no child, and unto whom

Should I leave all but unto Ithamore?

Pilia. Here's many words, but no crowns: the crowns! Bar. Commend me to him, sir, most humbly,

And unto your good mistress, as unknown.

Pilia. Speak, shall I have 'em, sir?

40

50

[Gives money.

(Aside) O, that I should part with so much gold!

Here, take 'em, fellow, with as good a will

(Aside) As I would see thee hanged; O, love stops my

breath:

Never man servant loved as I do Ithamore!

Pilia. I know it, sir.

Bar. Pray, when, sir, shall I see you at my house?
Pilia. Soon enough, to your cost, sir. Fare you well.

Bar. Nay, to thine own cost, villain, if thou com'st!

[Exit.

60

Was ever Jew tormented as I am?

To have a shag-rag knave to come, force from me
Three hundred crowns, - and then five hundred crowns!
Well, I must seek a means to rid 'em all,

And presently; for in his villainy

He will tell all he knows, and I shall die for't.

I have it :

I will in some disguise go see the slave,

And how the villain revels with my gold.

[Exit.

SCENE VI. Balcony of BELLAMIRA'S House.

Enter BELLAMIRA, ITHAMORE, and PILIA-BORSA.

Bell. I'll pledge thee, love, and therefore drink it off. Itha. Say'st thou me so? have at it; and do you hear? [Whispers.

Bell. Go to, it shall be so.

Itha. Of1 that condition I will drink it up.

Here's to thee!

Bell. Nay, I'll have all or none.

Itha. There, if thou lov'st me do not leave a drop.

Bell. Love thee! fill me three glasses.

Itha. Three and fifty dozen, I'll pledge thee.
Pilia. Knavely spoke, and like a knight-at-arms.
Itha. Hey, Rivo Castiliano!2 a man's a man!
Bell. Now to the Jew.

ΙΟ

Itha. Ha! to the Jew, and send me money he were best. Pilia. What would'st thou do if he should send thee none? Itha. Do nothing; but I know what I know; he's a murderer.

1 On.

2 Familiar refrain in drinking-songs; origin doubtful.