Muf. A very malapert cur, I can tell him that; I do not like his fawning—­You must be taught your distance, sirrah. [Strikes him.

Joh. Hold, hold.  He has deserved it, I confess; but, for once, let his ignorance plead his pardon; we must not discourage a beginner.  Your reverence has taught us charity, even to birds and beasts:—­here, you filthy brute, you, take this little alms to buy you plasters.
                                        [Gives him a piece of money.

Ant. Money, and a love-pinch in the inside of my palm into the bargain. [Aside.

  Enter a Servant.

Serv. Sir, my lord Benducar is coming to wait on you, and is already at the palace gate.

Muf. Come in, Johayma; regulate the rest of my wives and concubines, and leave the fellow to his work.

Joh. How stupidly he stares about him, like a calf new come into the world!  I shall teach you, sirrah, to know your business a little better.  This way, you awkward rascal; here lies the arbour; must I be shewing you eternally? [Turning him about.

Muf. Come away, minion; you shall shew him nothing.

Joh. I’ll but bring him into the arbour, where a rose-tree and a myrtle-tree are just falling for want of a prop; if they were bound together, they would help to keep up one another.  He’s a raw gardener, and ’tis but charity to teach him.

Muf. No more deeds of charity to-day; come in, or I shall think you a little better disposed than I could wish you.

Joh. Well, go before, I will follow my pastor.

Muf. So you may cast a sheep’s eye behind you? in before me;—­and you, sauciness, mind your pruning-knife, or I may chance to use it for you. [Exeunt Mufti and JOHAYMA.

Ant. [Alone.] Thank you for that, but I am in no such haste to be made a mussulman.  For his wedlock, for all her haughtiness, I find her coming.  How far a Christian should resist, I partly know; but how far a lewd young Christian can resist, is another question.  She’s tolerable, and I am a poor stranger, far from better friends, and in a bodily necessity.  Now have I a strange temptation to try what other females are belonging to this family:  I am not far from the women’s apartment, I am sure; and if these birds are within distance, here’s that will chuckle them together. [Pulls out his Flute.] If there be variety of Moors’ flesh in this holy market, ’twere madness to lay out all my money upon the first bargain. [He plays.  A Grate opens, and MORAYMA, the Mufti’s Daughter, appears at it.]—­Ay, there’s an apparition!  This is a morsel worthy of a Mufti; this is the relishing bit in secret; this is the mystery of his Alcoran, that must be reserved from the knowledge of the prophane vulgar; this is his holiday devotion.—­See, she beckons too. [She beckons to him.