JUDGE. [MERCATORE repeating after him.] Say: I, Mercatore, do utterly renounce before all the world my duty to my Prince, my honour to my parents, and my good-will to my country.— Furthermore, I protest and swear to be true to this country during life, and thereupon I forsake my Christian faith——
GERONTUS.
Stay there, most puissant judge.—Signor Mercatore, consider what you do:
Pay me the principal; as for the interest, I forgive it you.
And yet the interest is allowed amongst you Christians, as well as
in Turkey:
Therefore, respect your faith, and do not seek[222] to deceive me.
MERCATORE.
No point da interest, no point da principal.[223]
GERONTUS.
Then pay me the one half, if you will not pay me all.
MERCATORE.
No point da half, no point denier: me will be a Turk, I say.
Me be weary of my Christ's religion, and for dat me come away.
GERONTUS.
Well, seeing it is so, I would be loth to hear the people say,
it was 'long of me
Thou forsakest thy faith: wherefore I forgive thee frank and free;
Protesting before the judge and all the world never to demand penny
nor halfpenny.
MERCATORE.
O sir Gerontus, me take a your proffer, and tank you most heartily.
JUDGE.
But, Signor Mercatore, I trow, ye will be a Turk for all this.
MERCATORE.
Signor, no: not for all da good in da world me forsake a my Christ.
JUDGE.
Why, then, it is as sir Gerontus said; you did more for the greediness
of the money
Than for any zeal or goodwill you bear to Turkey.