a a a a To raise a present sum: therefore go forth, Por. You know, I say nothing to him; for he underTry what my credit can in Venice do; stands not me,nor I him: he hath neither Latin, French, That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost, nor Italian; and you will come into the court and swear, To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. that I have a poor pennyworth in the English. He is a Go, presently inquire, and so will I, proper man's picture; but, alas! who can converse Where money is; and I no question make, with a dumb show? How oddly he is suited! I think, he To have it of my trust, or for my sake. [Exeunt. bought his doublet in Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany,and his behaviour every where. SCENE II. — Belmont. Aroom in Portia's house. Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighEnter Portia and Nerissa. bonr? Por. By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him; for of this great world. he borrowed a box of the ear ofihe Englishman, and Ner. You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries swore he would pay him again, when he was able: I were in the same abundance, as your good fortunes think, the Frenchman became his surety, and sealed are: and yet, for aught I see, they are as sick that under for another. surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing. Ner. How like you the young German, the duke of It is no mcan happiness, therefore, to be seated in the Saxony's nephew ? mean ; superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but Pro. Very vilely in the norning, when he is sober; competency lives longer. and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk: Ner. Your father was ever virtuous; and holy men, won by some other sort, than your father's imposition, Por. I pray thee, over-name them: and as thou Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's hither in company of the marquis of Montferrat? Ner. First, there is the Neapolitan prince. Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassauio; as I think, so was he Por. I remember him well; and I remember him Enter a Servant. saint, and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he Enter Bassanio and SHYLOCK, Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be baron of England ? bound. trary? Shy. Antonio shall become bound, — well. Shy. No, not take interest; not, as you would say, When Laban and himself were compromis'd, Should fall as Jacob's hire; the ewes, being rank, In the end of autumn turned to the rams: Shy. Antonio is a good man. And when the work of generation was Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the con- Between these woolly breeders in the act, The skilful shepherd peeld me certain wands, Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no; -my meaning in saying he And, in the doing of thedeed of kind, is a good man, is to have you understand me, that he is He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes ; sufficient: yet his means are in supposition: he hath Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's. understand moreover upon the Rialto, he hath a third This was a way to thrive, and he was blest; at Mexico, a fourth for England, -and other ventures and thrift is blessing, if men steal it not. he hath, squander'd abroad: but ships are but boards, Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob serv'd for; sailors but men: there be land-rats, and water-rats, Athing not in his power to bring to pass, water-thieves, and land-thieves ; I mean, pirates; and But sway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heaven. then, there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks: Was this inserted to make interest good? the man is, notwithstanding, sufficient;--three thou- Or is your gold and silver, ewes and rams? sand ducats ; — I think, I may take his bond. Sny. I cannot tell ; I make it breed as fast: Bass. Be assured, you may. But note me, signior. Shy. I will be assured, I may; and, that I may be as I Ant. Mark you this, Bassanio, sured, I will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio ? The devil can cite scripture for his purpose. Bass. If it please you to dine with us. An evil soul, producing holy witness, Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which is like a villain with a smiling cheek: your prophet, the Nazarite, conjured the devil into: A goodly apple rotten at the heart; I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk o, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! with you, and so following ; but I will not eat with you, Shy.Three thousand d•ıcats, 'tis a good round sum. drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate. Rialto? ---Who is he comes here? Ant. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you? Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me About my monies, and my usances: For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe: You call me-misbeliever, cut-throat dog, Helends out money gratis, and brings down And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, The rate of usance here with us in Venice. And all for use of that which is mine own. If I can catch him once upon the hip, Well then, it now appears, you need my help: I will feed fat the ancient grudge l bear him. Go to then; you come to me, and you say, He hates our sacred nation; and he rails, Shylock, we would have monies; you say so; You, that did void your rheum upon my beard, What should I say to you? Should I not say, Hath a dog money?, is it possible, Shy. I am debating of my present store; A cur can lend three thousand ducats? or And, by the near guess of my memory, Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key, I cannot instantly raise up the gross With’bated breath, and whispering humbleness, Of full three thousand ducats : what of that? Say this, Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; Will furnish me: but soft; how many months You spurn'd me such a day; another time desire ?-Rest you fair, good signior; You callod -dog ; and for these courtesies [To Antonio. I'll lend you thus much monies. Your worship was the last man in our mouths. Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, Art. Shylock, albeit I neither lend, nor borrow, To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. By taking, nor by giving of excess, If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, As to thy friends ; (for when did friendship take I'll break a custom. - Is he yet possess’d, A breed for barren metal of his friend?) But lend it rather to thine enemy; Who, if he break, thou may'st with better face Exact the penalty. Supply your present wants, and take no doit Of usance for my monies, and you'll not hear me: Ant. This were kindness. Shy. This kindness will I show:- Go with me to a notary, seal me there Do you me ܪ If you repay me not on such a day, Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, Yea, mock the lion, when he roars for prey, To win thee, lady; but, alas the while! If Hercules and Lichas play at dice Which is the better man, the greater throw May turn by fortune from the weaker hand: Sois Alcides beaten by his page; And so may I, blind fortune leading me, And die with grieving. Or swear, before you choose,-if you choose wrong, Never to speak to lady afterward Mor. Good fortune then ! Cornets. To make me bless't, or cursed'st among men.[Exeunt. SCENEI.–Venice. A street. EnterLAUNCELOT GOBBO. Laun. Certainly my conscience will serve me to run Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away: my And I will go and purse the ducats straight; conscience says,-no, take heed, honest Launcelot; See to my house, left in the fearful guard take heed, honest Gobbo; or,as aforesaid, honest of an unthrifty knave; and presently Launcelot Gobbo; do not run; scorn running with I will be with you. (Exit. thy heels! Well, the most courageous fiends bids me Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. pack; via! says the fiend; away! says the fiend, for This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. the heavens; rouse up a brave mind,says the fiend, and Bass. I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind. run. Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of Ant. Comeon ; in this there can be no dismay, my heart, says very wisely to me,-my honest friend My ships come home a month before the day. (Exeunt. Launcelot, being an honest man's son-or rather an honest woman's son ;-for,indeed, my father did someА ст II. thing smack, something grow to , he had a kind of taste ;-well, my conscience says, Launcelot, budge SCENE I.-Belmont. A room in Portia's house, not; budge, says the fiend: budge not, says my conFlourish of cornets. Enter the Prince of Morocco,and science : Conscience, says, you counsel well; fiend, say his train; Portia, Nerissa,and other of her Attend- I, you counsel well: to be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew, my master, who, (God bless Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, the mark !) is a kind of devil; and, to run away from The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun, the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who, saving To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred. your reverence, is the devil himself: certainly, the Bring me the fairest creature northward born, Jew is the very devil incarnation ; and, in my conscienWhere Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles, ce, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience, to And let us make incision for your love, offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew. The fiend To prove whose blood is reddest, his, or mine. gives the more friendly connsel: I will run, fiend; I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine my heels are at your commandment, I will run. Enter old GOBBO, with a basket. Gob. Master, young man, you, I pray you; which is father! who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel By nice direction of a maiden's eyes; blind, knows me not:- I will try conclusions with him. Besides, the lottery of my destiny Gob. Master, young gentleman, I pray you, which Bars me the right of voluntary choosing: is the way to master Jew's? But, if my father had not scanted me, Laun. Turn up on your right hand, at the next turn- ing, but, at the next turning of all, on your left; marry, Gab. By God's sonties, 'twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me, whether one Launcelot, that dwells Mor. Even for that I thank you; with him, dwell with him, or no ? Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets, Laun. Talk you of young master Launcelot? --- Mark To try my fortune. By this scimitar, me now; (aside.] now will I raise the waters: - talk That slew the Sophy, and a Persian prince, you of youmg master Launcelot? That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, – Gob. No master sir, but a poor man's son ; his father, would out-stare the sternest eyes that look, thongh I say it, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, Out-brave the heart most daring on the earth, God be thanked, well to live. a ants. a a Lase Give Jud See La son: flas But Je Ala TO BE Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we talk Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and I have a desire, as my father shall specify,--- Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Jew and, though I say it, though old man, yet, poor man, Gob. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very stall my father. of my age, my very prop. Bass. One speak for both ;--what would you? Laun. DoIlok like a cudgel, or a hovel-post, a staff, Laun. Serve you, sir. or a prop ?-Do you know me, father? Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, sir. Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young gentle- Bass. I know thee well, thou hast obtain'd thy suit : man: but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy, (God rest Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day, his soul!) alive, or dead? And hath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment, Laun. Do you not know me, father? To leave a rich Jew's service, to become Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you not. The follower of so poor a gentleman. Take leave of thy old master, and enquire More guarded than his fellows, 'See it done! doth offer to swear upon a book.--I shall have good Laun. I know not what I shallthink of that; but I am fortune; go to, here's a simple line of life! here's a Launcelot, the Jew's man; and, I am sure, Margery, small trille of wives: alas, fifteen wives is nothing; your wife, is my mother. eleven widows, and nine maids, is a simple coming-in Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, if for one man; and then, to 'scape drowning thrice; thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood. and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a featherLord worshipp'd might he be! what a beard hast thon bed;-here are simple’scapes! Well, if fortune be a got! thou hast got more on thy chin, than Dobbin my woman, she's a good wench for this gear.--Father, thill-horse has on his tail, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of Laun. It should scem, then, that Dobbin's tail grows an eye. [Exeunt Launcelot and old Gobbo. These things being bought, and orderly bestow'd, Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein. Enter Gratiano. till I have run some ground: my master's a very Gra. Where is your master ? Jew! Give him a present! give him a halter. I am Leon. Youder, sir, he walks. [Exit Leonardo. famish'd in his service; you may tell every singer I have Gra. Signior Bassanio,with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come; give Bass. Gratiano! me your present to one master Bassanio, who, indeed, Gra. I have a suit to you. gives rare new liveries ; if I serve not him, I will run as Bass. You have obtain'dit. far, as God has any ground. ---O rare fortune! here Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to comes the man ;-to him, father : for I am a Jew, if I Belmont. serve the Jew any longer. Bass. Why,then you must.---But hear thee, Gratiano; Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice;Enter Bassanio, with Leonando, and other Followers. Parts that become thee happily enough, Bass. You may do so ;—but let it be so hasted, that And in such eyes as ours appear not faults ; supper bercady at the farthest by five of the clock.See But where thču art not known, why, there they show these letters deliver’d; put the liveries to making; and Something too liberal;* pray thee, take pain desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging! To allay with some cold drops of modesty [Exit a Servant. Thy skipping spirit; lest, through thy wild behaviour, Laun. To him, father! I be misconstrued in the place I go to, And lose my hopes. If I do not put on a sober habit, Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, Vay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes to serve, Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say, amen; IA В. D a Use all the observance of civility, Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica? Lor. I must needs tell thee all : she hath directed, How I shall take her from her father's house; What gold, and jewels, sheis furnish'd with; If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven, It will be for his gentle daughter's sake: And never dare misfortune cross her foot, That she is issue to a faithless Jew. Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest : Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer. (Exeunt. SCENE V.—The same. Before Shylock's house. SCENE III.-The same. A room in Shylock's house. Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT. Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:- What, Jessica !-thou shalt not gormandize, As thou hast done with me ;-what, Jessica!- And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out:- Why, Jessica, I say! Laun. Why, Jessica ! Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, I could do nothing without bidding. Enter Jessica. Jes. Call you ? What is your will? play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived. Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica; But, adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat drown There are my keys. — But wherefore should I go? my manly spirit; adieu ! [Exit. I am not bid for love; they flatter me: But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon The prodigal Christiau. Jessica, my girl, Look to my house!—I am right loatli to go; There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, For I did dream of money-bags to-night. Laun. I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth [Exit. expect your reproach. SCENE IV.-The same. A street. Shy. So do I his. Laun. And they have conspired together,- I will not Enter Gratiano, Lokexzo, SALARINO, and SALAXIO. say, you shall see a masque; but if you do, then it Lor. Nay, we will slink away at supper-time; was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Disguise us at my lodging, and return Black-Monday last, at six o'clock i'the morning, fallAll in an hour, ng out that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year Gra. We have not made good preparation. in the afternoon. me,Jessica: And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife, Nor thrust your head into the public street, To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces; Enter LauncELOT, with a letter. But stop my house's cars, I mean my casements: Friend Launcelot, what's the news? Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter I have no mind of feasting forth to-night: Say, I will come. Laun. I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out at window, for all this; There will come a Christian by, Will be worth a Jewess' eye. (Exit Laun. Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha? snp to-night with my new master the Christian. Jes. His words were, Farewell, mistress; nothing else. Lor. Hold here, take this :-tell gentle Jessica. I will shy. The patch is kind enough; but a huge feeder, not fail her!-speak it privately; go.-Gentlemen, Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day [Exit Launcelot. More than the wild cat; drones hive not with me; Will ll you prepare you for this masque to-night? Therefore I part with him; and part with him To one, that I would have him help to waste Perhaps, I will return immediately; Do, as I bid you, Shut doors after you ; Fast bind, fast find; Exit. a : |