ABINOAH [_Overhearing._] I’ll beat you more, and he’ll question The scratchiness of your whining; or, may be, Thence may be born deep argument With reasons from philosophy, That this blow, taking longer, yet was but one, Or perhaps two; or that you felt this one— Arguing from the difference in your whine— Exactly, or not, like the other. MINSTREL You labour hard to give pain. ABINOAH [_Still beating._] My pain is ... not ... to labour so. MINSTREL What is this greybeard worth to you now, All his dried-up blood crumbled to dust? [_Motions_ ABINOAH _to desist, but not in time to prevent the old man fainting into the hands of the_ YOUNG HEBREW.] ABINOAH Harper, are you envious of the old fool? Go! Hug the rat who stole your last crumbs, And gnawed the hole in your life which made time wonder Who it was saved labour for him the next score of years. We allowed them life for their labour—they haggled. Food they must have, and (god of laughter!) even ease; But mud and lice and Jews are very busy Breeding plagues in ease. [_The Minstrel pulls his beard and robe off._] ABINOAH Moses! MOSES You drunken rascal! ABINOAH A drunken rascal! Isis, hear the Prince! Drunken with duty, and he calls me rascal. MOSES You may think it your duty to get drunk; But get yourself bronze claws before You would be impudent. ABINOAH When a man’s drunk he’ll kiss a horse or king, He’s so affectionate. Under your words There is strong wine to make me drunk; you think, The lines of all your face say, “Her father, Koelue’s father.” MOSES This is too droll and extraordinary. I dreamt I was a prince—a queer droll dream Where a certain slave of mine, a thing, a toad, Shifting his belly, showed a diamond Where he had lain; and a blind dumb messenger Bore syllabled messages soaked right through with glee: I paid the toad, the blind man; afterwards They spread a stench and snarling. O, droll dream! I think you merely mean to flatter me, You subtle knave, that, more than prince, I’m _man_ And worth to listen to your bawdy breath. ABINOAH Yet my breath was worth your mixing with. MOSES A boy at college flattered so by a girl Will give her what she asks for. ABINOAH Osiris! Burning Osiris! Of thee desirable, for thee, her hair.... [_He looks inanely at_ MOSES, _saying to himself_.] Prince Imra vowed his honey-hives and vineyards: Isis, to let a Jew have her for nothing! [_He sings under his breath._]