No, I will not.

Why not?

No matter why. You have caught me, but catch my friends yourself If you do want them.

Will you choose three men Here in the palace, then, as witnesses?

I have a witness, stronger than your three, Already present, woman of false gods.

Do not misname the person of your Queen. You will lose all by rudeness. You have heard That our great Queen demands to bargain with you, But means no harm to you, nor to your friends.

Thank you, Ashobal. (_Then to_ NABOTH) May we now proceed?

I have not yet agreed to treat with you.

You waste our time. Speak. Will you treat or not?

Before I treat, what do you offer for it?

What is its yearly value?

Madam, that may have been the yearly yield In its best seasons, but it is not now. It is no vineyard now, great Queen; the vines Were routed up by Syrians in the siege.

So? Did you know of this, Ashobal?

No.

Not know of it?

Not when I bargained for it.

Yet knew it now, and never mentioned it? Would let me bargain for a vineless vineyard As though it gave full vintage.

O good Madam, You asked its yearly value, not its worth.

That shall be proved. Naboth, I did not know That this your vineyard had been rooted up.

That damned idolater, your husband, knew it. He said that as it was not now a vineyard, He could plant herbs there.

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