Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy for a thousand ducats. Ner. What! and stake down? Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down.— But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel? Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SALERIO. Bass. Lorenzo, and Salerio, welcome hither! If that the youth of my new interest here Have power to bid you welcome : By your leave, I bid my very friends and countrymen, Sweet Portia, welcome. Por. So do I, my lord: They are entirely welcome. Lor. I thank your honour: For my part, my lord, My purpose was not to have seen you here; But meeting with Salerio by the way, He did entreat me, past all saying nay, To come with him along. Sale. And I have reason for it. Bass. I did, my lord, Signior Antonio [Gives BASSANIO a letter. Ere I ope his letter, pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. Sale. Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind; Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there Will show you his estate. Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon stranger; bid her wel come. Your hand, Salerio: What's the news from Venice? How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio? I know he will be glad of our success: We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece. Sale. 'Would you had won the fleece that he hath lost! Por. There are some shrewd contents in yon same paper, That steal the colour from Bassanio s cheek; Of any constant man. What! worse and worse? Bass. O! sweet Portia, Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words That ever blotted paper. Gentle lady, When I did first impart my love to you, I freely told you, all the wealth I had Ran in my veins I was a gentleman: And then I told you true; and yet, dear lady, How much I was a braggart. When I told you Have all his ventures fail'd? What, not one hit! And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch Sale Not one, my lord Besides, it should appear, that if he had The present money to discharge the Jew, He would not take it. Never did I know A creature, that did bear the shape of man, So keen and greedy to confound a man: He plies the Duke at morning, and at night; And doth impeach the freedom of the state, If they deny him justice: twenty merchants, The Duke himself, and the magnificoes Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him; But none can drive him from the envious plea Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond. Jes. When I was with him, I have heard him swear To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen, That he would rather have Antonio's flesh, It will go hard with poor Antonio. ̧* Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble? Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, The best-condition'd and unwearied spirit In doing courtesies; and one in whom What, no more! Por. What sum owes he the Jew? And then away to Venice to your friend; You shall have gold 11 Bass. [Reads.] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since in paying it it is impossible I should live, all debts are clear'd between you and I, if I might but see you at my death: Notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter. Por. O love! despatch all business, and be gone. Bass. Since I have your good leave to go away, I will make haste; but, till I come again, No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, SCENE III. Venice. A Street. [Exeunt. - Enter SHYLOCK, SOLANIO, ANTONIO, and Jailor. Shy. Jailor, look to him: tell not me of mercy. – This is the fool that lent out money gratis:Jailor, look to him. Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond: 11 A merry countenance. For this use of cheer see A Midsum mer-Night's D-cam. Act iii. sc. 2, note 9. H I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond. Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more. I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool, To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield To Christian intercessors. Follow not; I'll have no speaking; I will have my bond. [Exit SHYLOCK. Sol. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. Let him alone: Ant. Many that have at times made moan to me; Sol. I am sure, the Duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. Ant. The Duke cannot deny the course of law, For the commodity that strangers have With us in Venice: if it be denied, "Twill much impeach the justice of the state; Since that the trade and profit of the city Consisteth of all nations.' Therefore, go: 1 For the due understanding of this passage, it should be borne mind, that Antonio was one of the citizens, while Shylock was reckoned among the strangers of the place. And since the city was benefited as much by the trade and commerce of foreigners as of natives, justice evidently required that the law should give equal advantages to them both. But to stop the course of law in behalf |