Portia, an Heiress of great Quality and Fortune. Neriffa, Confident to Portia. Jeffica, Daughter to Shylock. Senators of Venice, Officers, Servants to Portia, and other Attendants. SCENE partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the Seat of Portia upon the Continent. THE THE MERCHANT of VENICE. ACT I. SCENE I Enter Anthonio, Solarino, and Salanio. ANTHONIO. N footh I know not why I am fo fad: And fuch a want-wit sadness makes of me, That I have much ado to know my self. Sal. Your mind is toffing on the ocean. There where your † Argofies with portly fail, Like figniors and rich burghers on the flood, Or as it were the pageants of the fea, a Do over-peer the petty traffickers That curtfie to them, do them reverence, As they fly by them with their woven wings. The better part of my affections would b Be with my hopes aboard. I fhould be still † Argofie, a Ship, from Argo. pretty. Prying b abroad. Prying in maps for ports, and peers, and roads; Sal. My wind cooling my broth Would blow me to an ague, when I thought And not bethink me ftrait of dang'rous rocks? And now worth nothing. Shall I have the thought Is fad to think upon his merchandize. Anth. Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate Upon the fortune of this present year: Therefore my merchandize makes me not fad. Anth. Fie, fie. Sola. Not in love neither! then let's fay you're fad, Because you are not merry; 'twere as easy For you to laugh and leap, and say you're merry, Becaufe |