1st Sailor. No, no, you have it.

2d Sailor. Here!

Coun. What horrible plot is this?

1st Sailor. No more, lady, or we shall make you dumb for ever. (They bind her eyes.)

Coun. Whither are you carrying me?

2d Sailor. You'll know that soon enough!

Coun. 'Tis towards the sea.

1st Sailor. Peace, I say!

Coun. Heav'n protect me!

2d Sailor. You shall have a protector soon. (They put her into a boat.) Push away, comrade; I'll look

after the lady.

[Exeunt.

Scene, Nicolino's Cottage.

MARTHA, and Balthazar following her.

Bal. Why will you not listen to me, Mrs. Martha? Mar. Fye for shame! To have the conscience to talk love to me, and yet forbid your daughter to marry my brother, because, forsooth, he's a christian.

Bal. Yesh-but I do not offer to marry you. It is matrimony makes the sin. There is no harm in a jew loving a christian, but to marry her, oh! that ish the abomination.

CC

AIR 5th.

I.

When a jew meets a fair christian creature,
Young and plump with a delicate skin,
To love is the first law of nature,
But to marry-oh! that is the sin.
For once in my life

I was blest with a wife,

And so dearly we loved, so like sister and brother,
I swore when she died I would ne'er have another.

II.

But grieving I've heard is a folly

While there's ought to give joy left behind,
So no longer I'll be melancholy,

She is easy-and I am resign'd.

What joy did I feel,

When the bells rang a peal,

At our wedding, and when for her death they were tolling,

I thought in the sound there was something consoling.

Well, what do you say to my song, don't you think there is argument and reason in it? (NICOLINO singing without.) Hey, why is'nt that Nicolino? What the devil brings him home so early? Remember this

visit was to him in the way of business. You understand me.

NICOLINO enters.

Nic. Hah! Master Balthazar, you here? The very man I wanted to light upon.

Bal. That ish fortunate, for I was on the look out

for you.

Nic. Indeed! What this visit was intended for me?

Bal. Oh yesh! It was intended for you.

Nic. What you call'd when you did'nt expect to find me at home? Well, that's fashionable however! You were'nt, I see, content to leave your card.

Bal. Oh, no! I had too much politeness for that. Nic. Here, girl, go and hang them to dry, and get my dinner; I've a little business with my friend Balthazar and must be private. [Exit MARTHA.

Bal. Business with me, and what ish dat? Have you picked up any old china, or rings, or trinkets?

Nic. Why yes, I have picked up a bit of a trinket. What think you of that, master Jew? (Shewing a Diamond Necklace.) What think you of that? I thought it would make your eye sparkle.

Bal. Bless me! let me see it. Diamonds as I

live. (Aside.) How did you get this?

Nic. How? Why, caught it in my net.

Bal. Pho! pho! caught the moon in your net. Nic. Why, so I have, very often for that matter, but I never could bring it ashore. I tell you I caught it in my net! D'ye think I lie? Real diamonds, master Balthazar.

Bal. Real diamonds, Ha, ha, ha!-of the very first water. (Aside.) Real diamonds? Ha, ha, ha! dat ish very good! dat ish very pleasant! Real diamonds? Well dat ish very good!

Nic. What are they?

Bal. Real diamonds! Ha, ha, ha! I wonder you don't call them sapphires or topazes, or onyx's, or rubies, or emeralds. Real diamonds, well, dat ish very good! dat ish very pleasant indeed!

Nic. Well, but what are they?

Bal. Chrystal, rock chrystal, very pretty rock chrystals. Real diamonds, Ha, ha, ha!

Nic. Well, I thought they couldn't be diamonds! they are set in gold however?..

Bal. Oh yesh, they are certainly set in gold; I might deceive you in that particular, but I scorn to impose upon my friend.

Nic. Well, what d'ye bid?

Bal. Me? Oh, I've no mind to purchase. I must have it at any price. (Aside.) The gold to be sure is worth a trifle, but as for the stones, I wouldn't

pick them up in the street. Besides, I am so unlucky in all my bargains with you. The last oyster pearls I bought of you I was a great loser by; but you are my friend, and I don't mind if I do sometimes make a losing bargain with my friends.

Nic. That's fair; for your friends, I believe, make a great many losing bargains with you.

Bal. Ha, ha, ha! You will have your joke, you will have your joke, I see. I must have the necklace tho'.

Nic. At one word, you shall have it for twenty ducats.

Bal. Dat is too much, upon my conscience it is too much. It is worth a thousand at least. (Aside). Times are very hard! Provisions very dear! I gave yesterday a florin a pound for mutton; then the weather is so fine, the sea is so smooth, and they build their ships so damn'd tight, there has been only one boat overset for this month past, and that was whilst I was at synagogue. And as for a shipwreck, mercy on me! there hasn't been a shipwreck these twelve months.

Nic. What, at your old tricks, friend Balthazar ? Come, come, shall I have the money?

Bal. Well, 'tis a hard price upon my shoul! a very hard price! Yet you know I don't like to haggle with my friends. Twenty ducats! what will become