SCENE II.

_House of_ Master BURNISH, _the jeweller_.

_Enter_ Master BURNISH[62] _and_ LIONEL. Master MULLIGRUB, _with a standing cup in his hand, and an obligation[63] in the other_. COCLEDEMOY _stands at the other door, disguised like a French pedlar, and overhears them_.

_Mul._ I am not at this time furnish'd; but there's my bond for your plate.

_Bur._ Your bill had been sufficient: y'are a good[64] man. A standing cup parcel-gilt[65] of thirty-two ounces, eleven pounds seven shillings, the first of July. Good plate--good man--good day--good all.

_Mul._ 'Tis my hard fortune; I will hang the knave. No, first he shall half rot in fetters in the dungeon--his conscience made despairful. I'll hire a knave o' purpose--shall assure him he is damn'd; and after see him with mine own eyes, hang'd without singing any psalm. Lord, that he has but one neck! 12

_Bur._ You are too tyrannous;--you'll use me no further?

_Mul._ No, sir; lend me your servant, only to carry the plate home. I have occasion of an hour's absence.

_Bur._ With easy consent, sir.--Haste and be careful.

[_Exit_ BURNISH.

_Mul._ Be very careful, I pray thee,--to my wife's own hands.

_Lio._ Secure yourself, sir. 20

_Mul._ To her own hand!

_Lio._ Fear not, I have delivered greater things than this to a woman's own hand.

_Coc._ Mounsier, please you to buy a fine delicate ball, sweet ball--a camphor ball?

_Mul._ Prithee, away!

[_Exit_ LIONEL.

_Coc._ Wun'[66] a ball to scour--a scouring ball--a ball to be shaved!

_Mul._ For the love of God! talk not of shaving. I have been shaved--mischief and a thousand devils seize him!--I have been shaved! 31

[_Exit_ MULLIGRUB.

_Coc._ The fox grows fat when he is cursed--I'll shave ye smoother yet. Turd on a tile stone! my lips have a kind of rheum at this bole. I'll have't--I'll gargalise my throat with this vintner, and when I have done with him, spit him out. I'll shark! Conscience does not repine. Were I to bite an honest gentleman, a poor grogaran poet, or a penurious parson that had but ten pigs' tails in a twelvemonth, and, for want of learning, had but one good stool in a fortnight, I were damn'd beyond the works of supererogation; but to wring the withers of my gouty-barm'd spiggod-frigging jumbler of elements, Mulligrub, I hold it as lawful as sheep-shearing, taking eggs from hens, caudles from asses, or butter'd shrimps from horses--they make no use of them, were not provided for them. And, therefore, worshipful Cocledemoy, hang toasts! On, in grace and virtue to proceed, only beware, beware degrees. There be rounds in a ladder, and knots in a halter; ware carts, hang toasts, the common council has decreed it! I must draw a lot for the great goblet. 51

[_Exit._

[62] Old eds. "Garnish."

[63] Bond.

[64] Mulligrub is _good_ as Antonio was _good_ in Shylock's eyes:--"My meaning in saying he is a _good_ man is to have you understand that he is sufficient."

[65] Partly gilt,--with part of the work gilt and part left ungilded.

[66] _i.e._, want.--Old eds. "One."