Antonio says to his friend Gratiano: "I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; A stage where every man must play a part, And mine a sad one." But the light and airy Gratiano utters this philosophic speech, which the "gentle reader" should cut out and paste in his hat: "Let me play the Fool; With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come; ears Which, hearing them, would call their brothers fools!" Bassanio, in love with the rich heiress, Portia, tries to borrow three thousand ducats from Shylock, and Antonio, his friend, is willing to give bond for the loan. The Jew and the Christian hate each other; and Shylock vents his opinion: "How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him, for he is a Christian; Antonio lends out money gratis and brings down— Even there where merchants most do congregate, Antonio finally asks for the three thousand ducats, and says: "Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you?” Then in a speech of brave defiance, Shylock humiliates the Gentile merchant in this manner: "Signior Antonio, many a time and oft And all for use of that which is mine own. A cur can lend three thousand ducats? Or Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; Antonio, not any way abashed at the scolding of the money lender, says: "I am as like to call thee dog again, And spit on thee again, to spurn thee, too!" Shylock then agrees to lend the three thousand ducats if Antonio will give bond and penalty to pay the money back with interest in three months. Shylock says: "Let the forfeit of the bond Be nominated for an equal pound Of your fair flesh, to be cut off, and taken The second act opens with Portia in her grand home at "Belmont," awaiting suitors for her wealth, beauty and brains. Her father dying, left three locked chests, gold, silver, and lead, one of them containing the picture of Portia; and the fortunate suitor who picked out that rich casket, was to be the husband of the brilliant Portia. The Prince of Morocco and Prince of Arragon, with Bassanio, were the suitors. Portia says to Morocco: "In terms of choice I am not solely led Bars me the right of voluntary choosing." Launcelot, the foolish serving man for Shylock, says to old Gobbo, his blind father: "Do you not know me, father?" Gobbo replies: "Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you not." Launcelot makes this wise statement: "Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, It is a wise father that knows his own child!” Shylock discharges Launcelot, and Jessica, the beautiful daughter of the money lender, parts with him regretfully-she gives him a secret letter to deliver to her Christian lover, Lorenzo, and then says: "Farewell, good Launcelot― Alack, what heinous sin it is in me This beautiful Jewess forswears her birth and religion for infatuated love, and throws to the winds all duty and honor as a daughter; a renegade of matchless quality, stealing her father's money and jewels to elope with the fascinating Christian Lorenzo. The Hebrew race has not produced many Jessicas; and the morality taught by Shakspere of a daughter "fooling her father" is base and rotten in principle. Shylock says to his daughter: "Well, Jessica, go in to the house, Perhaps I will return immediately; Shut doors after you; fast bind, fast find, Then at the turn of his back the beautiful fraud Jessica says: "Farewell, and if my fortune be not crost, |