_Itha._ I never knew a man take his death so patiently as this friar; he was ready to leap off ere the halter was about his neck; and when the hangman had put on his hempen tippet, he made such haste to his prayers, as if he had had another cure to serve; well, go whither he will, I'll be none of his followers in haste: And, now I think on't, going to the execution, a fellow met me with a muschatoes[120] like a raven's wing, and a dagger with a hilt like a warming-pan, and he gave me a letter from one Madam Bellamira, saluting me in such sort as if he had meant to make clean my boots with his lips; the effect was, that I should come to her house. I wonder what the reason is; it may be she sees more in me than I can find in myself: for she writes further, that she loves me ever since she saw me, and who would not requite such love? Here's her house, and here she comes, and now would I were gone; I am not worthy to look upon her. 41 _Pilia._ This is the gentleman you writ to. _Itha._ Gentleman! he flouts me; what gentry can be in a poor Turk of tenpence?[121] I'll be gone. [_Aside._ _Bell._ Is't not a sweet-faced youth, Pilia? _Itha._ Again, "sweet youth;" [_Aside_]--did not you, sir, bring the sweet youth a letter? _Pilia._ I did, sir, and from this gentlewoman, who, as myself, and the rest of the family, stand or fall at your service. 50 _Bell._ Though woman's modesty should hale me back, I can withhold no longer; welcome, sweet love. _Itha._ Now am I clean, or rather foully out of the way. [_Aside._ _Bell._ Whither so soon? _Itha._ I'll go steal some money from my master to make me handsome [_Aside_]: Pray pardon me, I must go and see a ship discharged. _Bell._ Canst thou be so unkind to leave me thus? _Pilia._ And ye did but know how she loves you, sir. _Itha._ Nay, I care not how much she loves me. Sweet Bellamira, would I had my master's wealth for thy sake. _Pilia._ And you can have it, sir, an if you please. 62 _Itha._ If 'twere above ground I could and would have it; but he hides and buries it up, as partridges do their eggs, under the earth. _Pilia._ And is't not possible to find it out? _Itha._ By no means possible. _Bell._ What shall we do with this base villain then? [_Aside to_ PILIA-BORSA. _Pilia._ Let me alone; do you but speak him fair: [_Aside to her._ But [sir] you know some secrets of the Jew, 70 Which, if they were revealed, would do him harm.