The Jew of Malta.
Hence comes it, that a strong built Citadell
Commands much more then letters can import:
Which maxime had Phaleris observ'd,
H'had never bellowed in a brasen Bull
Of great ones envy; o'th poore petty wites,
Let me be envy'd and not pittied!
But whither am I bound, I come not, I,
To reade a lecture here in Britaine,
But to present the Tragedy of a Jew,
Who smiles to see how full his bags are cramb'd
Which mony was not got without my meanes.
I crave but this, Grace him as he deserves,
And let him not be entertain'd the worse
Because he favours me.
Enter Barabas in his Counting-house,
with heapes of gold before him.
Jew,
So that of thus much that returne was made:
And of the third part of the Persian ships,
There was the venture summ'd and satisfied.
As for those Samintes, and the men of Vzz,
That bought my Spanish Oyles, and Wines of Greece,
Here have I purst their paltry silverbings.
Fye; what a trouble tis to count this trash.
Well fare the Arabians, who so richly pay,
The things they traffique for with wedge of gold,
Whereof a man may easily in a day
Tell that which may maintaine him all his life.
The needy groome that never fingred groat,
Would make a miracle of thus much coyne:
But he whose steele-bard coffers are cramb'd full,
And all his life time hath bin tired,
Wearying his fingers ends with telling it,
Would in his age be loath to labour so,
And for a pound to sweat himselfe to death:
Give me the Merchants of the Indian Mynes,
That trade in mettall of the purest mould;
The wealth Moore, that in the Easterne rockes
Without
