The Case is Altered/Act III Scene V

SCENE V.

Enter Jaques with his gold, and a scuttle full of horse-dung.

Jaq. He's gone: I knew it; this is our hot lover.

I will believe them, I: they may come in

Like simple wooers, and be arrant thieves,

And I not know them. 'Tis not to be told

What servile villainies men will do for gold.

O it began to have a huge strong smell,

With lying so long together in a place;

I'll give it vent, it shall ha' shift enough;

And if the devil, that envies all goodness,

Have told them of my gold, and where I kept it,

I'll set his burning nose once more a work,

To smell where I remov'd it. Here it is;

I'll hide, and cover it with this horse-dung.

Who will suppose that such a precious nest

Is crown'd with such a dunghill excrement?

In, my dear life, sleep sweetly, my dear child,

"Scarce lawfully begotten, but yet gotten,

"And that's enough." Rot all hands that come near thee,

Except mine own. Burn out all eyes that see thee,

Except mine own. All thoughts of thee be poison

To their enamour'd hearts, except mine own.

I'll take no leave, sweet prince, great emperor,

But see thee every minute: king of kings,

I'll not be rude to thee, and turn my back

In going from thee, but go backward out,

With my face toward thee, with humble courtesies.

None is within, none overlooks my wall;

To have gold, and to have it safe, is all.

[Exit.]