The Jew of Malta · Act III · Scene I

Scene I
Enter Bellamira.46
Bellamira Since this town was besieged, my gain grows cold: The time has been, that but for one bare night, A hundred ducats have been freely given: But now against my will I must be chaste; And yet I know my beauty doth not fail. From Venice merchants, and from Padua Were wont to come rare-witted gentlemen, Scholars I mean, learned and liberal; And now, save Pilia-Borza, comes there none, And he is very seldom from my house; And here he comes.
Enter Pilia-Borza.
Pilia-Borza Hold thee, wench, there’s something for thee to spend. Shews a bag of silver.
Bellamira ’Tis silver. I disdain it.
Pilia-Borza Ay, but the Jew has gold, And I will have it, or it shall go hard.
Bellamira Tell me, how cam’st thou by this?
Pilia-Borza ’Faith, walking the back-lanes, through the gardens, I chanced to cast mine eye up to the Jew’s counting-house, where I saw some bags of money, and in the night I clambered up with my hooks, and, as I was taking my choice, I heard a rumbling in the house; so I took only this, and run my way: but here’s the Jew’s man.
Bellamira Hide the bag.
Enter Ithamore.
Pilia-Borza Look not towards him, let’s away; zoons, what a looking thou keep’st; thou’lt betray’s anon.
Exeunt Bellamira and Pilia-Borza.
Ithamore O, the sweetest face that ever I beheld! I know she is a courtesan by her attire: now would I give a hundred of the Jew’s crowns that I had such a concubine. Well, I have delivered the challenge in such sort, As meet they will, and fighting die; brave sport.
Exit.