Enter a Merchant.
Merch. Barabas, thy ships are safe, Riding in Malta Road: and all the merchants50 With other merchandise are safe arrived, And have sent me to know whether yourself Will come and custom [15] them.
Bar. The ships are safe thou say'st, and richly fraught.
Merch. They are.
Bar. Why then go bid them come ashore, And bring with them their bills of entry: I hope our credit in the custom-house Will serve as well as I were present there. Go send 'em threescore camels, thirty mules,60 And twenty waggons to bring up the ware. But art thou master in a ship of mine, And is thy credit not enough for that?
Merch. The very custom barely comes to more Than many merchants of the town are worth, And therefore far exceeds my credit, sir.
Bar. Go tell 'em the Jew of Malta sent thee, man: Tush! who amongst 'em knows not Barabas?
Merch. I go.
Bar. So then, there's somewhat come.70 Sirrah, which of my ships art thou master of?
Merch. Of the Speranza, sir.