Act 3 — [Scene I.][523]
Reading edition
[Scene I.][523]
Enter [Bellamira,] a Courtesan.
Bell. Since this town was besieg’d, 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.5 From Venice merchants, and from Padua Were wont to come rare-witted gentlemen, Scholars I mean, learned and liberal; And now, save Pilia-Borsa, comes there none, And he is very seldom from my house;10 And here he comes.
Enter Pilia-Borsa.
Pilia. Hold thee, wench, there’s something for thee to spend.
[Shews a bag of silver.]
Bell. ’T is silver. I disdain it.
Pilia. Ay, but the Jew has gold,15 And I will have it, or it shall go hard.
Court. Tell me, how cam’st thou by this?
Pilia. Faith, walking the back-lanes, through the gardens, I chanc’d to cast mine eye up to the Jew’s counting-house, where I saw some 20 bags of money, and in the night I clamber’d 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. 25
Enter Ithamore.
Bell. Hide the bag.
Pilia. Look not towards him, let’s away. Zoons, what a looking thou keep’st; thou’lt betray ’s anon.
[Exeunt Bellamira and Pilia-Borsa.]
Itha. O the sweetest face that ever I beheld! I know she is a courtesan by her attire. Now 30 would I give a hundred of the Jew’s crowns that I had such a concubine.
Well, I have deliver’d the challenge in such sort, As meet they will, and fighting die; brave sport! Exit.