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. ITHA. The more villain he to keep me thus: here's goodly 'parel, is there not? PILIA. To conclude, he gave me ten crowns. [Delivers the money to Ithamore. ITHA. But ten? I'll not leave him worth a grey groat. Give me a ream 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 a hundred.-Tell him I must have't. Give me a ream of paper: we'll have a kingdom of gold for't] A quibble. Realm was frequently written ream; and frequently (as the following passages shew), even when the former spelling was given, the l was not sounded; Vpon the siluer bosome of the streame First gan faire Themis shake her amber locks, Whom all the Nimphs that waight on Neptunes realme Lodge's Scillaes Metamorphosis, &c. 1589, Sig. A 2. "How he may surest stablish his new conquerd realme, How of his glorie fardest to deriue the streame." A Herings Tayle, &c. 1598, Sig. D 3. "Learchus slew his brother for the crowne; So did Cambyses fearing much the dreame; Antiochus of infamous renowne His brother slew, to rule alone the realme." Mirour for Magistrates, p. 78, ed. 1610. 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. [Exit with the letter. ITHA. Take thou the money; spend it for my sake. BELL. "Tis not thy money, but thyself I weigh: Thus Bellamira esteems of gold; [Throws it aside. But thus of thee. [Kisses him. ITHA. That kiss again !—she runs division* of my lips. What an eye she casts on me! it twinkles like a star. [Aside. BELL. Come, my dear love, let's in and sleep to gether. ITHA. Oh, that ten thousand nights were put in one, that we might sleep seven years together afore we wake! BELL. Come, amorous wag, first banquet, and then sleep. Enter BARABAS †, reading a letter. [Exeunt. BARA. Barabas, send me three hundred crowns ;Plain Barabas! oh, that wicked courtezan! He was not wont to call me Barabas ; runs division] "A musical term [of very common occurrence]." Steevens (apud Dodsley's O. P.). † Enter Barabas] The scene certainly seems to be now the interior of Barabas's house, notwithstanding what he presently says to Pilia-Borza (p. 324), "Pray, when, sir, shall I see you at my house?" Or else I will confess ;-ay, there it goes: Whose face has been a grind-stone for men's swords; And cross-biting§; such a rogue As is the husband to a hundred whores; And I by him must send three hundred crowns. Enter PILIA-BORZA. PILIA. Jew, I must ha' more gold. Bara. Why, want'st thou any of thy tale* *? Pilia. No; but three hundred will not serve his turn. Bara. Not serve his turn, sir! Pilia. No, sir; and therefore I must have five hundred more. † totter'd]" i. e. tattered." REED (apud Dodsley's O. P.). catzerie] i. e. cheating, roguery. It is formed from catso (cazzo, see note, p. 305), which our early writers used, not only as an exclamation, but as an opprobrious term. $ cross-biting] i. e. swindling (a cant term).-Something has dropt out here. * tale] i. e. reckoning. THE JEW OF MALTA. 323 BARA. I'll rather best! see, there's his letter. [Gives letter. PILIA. Oh, good words, sir, and send it you were BARA. Might he not as well come as send? pray, bid him come and fetch it: what he writes for you†, shall have straight. you [Aside. PILIA. No, God-a-mercy. Shall I have these PILIA. Ay, and the rest too, or else BARA. I must make this villain away [Aside].— Please you dine with me, sir—and you shall be most heartily poisoned. crowns? Bara. I cannot do it; I have lost my keys. Pilia. Oh, if that be all, I can pick ope your locks. Bara. 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. Bara. I am betray'd. 'Tis not five hundred crowns that I esteem; I am not mov'd at that: this angers me, [Aside. That he, who knows I love him as myself, + what he writes for you] i. e. the hundred crowns to be given to the bearer: see p. 320. PILIA. Here's many words, but no crowns: the crowns! Bara. Commend me to him, sir, most humbly, And unto your good mistress, as unknown. Pilia. Speak, shall I have 'em, sir? Bara. Sir, here they are.— [Gives money. Oh, that I should part⁕ with so much gold!—[Aside. Here, take 'em, fellow, with as good a will As I would see thee hang'd [Aside].—Oh, love stops my breath! Never lov'd man servant as I do Ithamore. Pilia. I know it, sir. Bara. Pray, when, sir, shall I see you at my house? Pilia. Soon enough to your cost, sir. well. Fare you [Exit. Bara. Nay, to thine own cost, villain, if thou com'st! Was ever Jew tormented as I am? To have a shag-rag knave to come [and 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 villany He will tell all he knows, and I shall die for't. I will in some disguise go see the slave, * I should part] Qy." I e'er should part "? [Exit. |