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, 460 No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Street in Venice. Enter SHYLOCK, SALANIO, ANTHONIO, and the Gaoler, Shy. Gaoler, look to him;—Tell not me of mercy; This is the fool that lent out money gratis : Gaoler, look to him. Anth. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond; I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond : But, since I am a dog, before thou had'st a cause; beware my fangs : The duke shall grant me justice.-I do wonder, 470 Anth. I pray thee, hear me speak. -Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more. To shake the head, relent, and sigh, an yield I'll have no speaking; I will have my bond. [Exit SHYLOCK. 480 Sal. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. Anth. Let him alone; I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers. He seeks my life; his reason well I know; I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures Many that bave at times made moan to me, Sal. I am sure, the duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. Anth. The duke cannot deny the course of law, For the commodity that strangers have With us in Venice; if it be deny'd, Will much impeach the justice of the state; 491 500 SCENE IV. Belmont. Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA, and BALTHAZAR. Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your presence, Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly How dear a lover of my lord your husband, Por. I never did repent for doing good, The husbandry and manage of my house, 510 520 A Until my lord's return: for mine own part, Until her husband and my lord's return : And there we will abide. I do desire you, The which my love, and some necessity, Now lays upon you. Lor. Madam, with all my heart; I shall obey you in all fair commands. Por. My people do already know my mind, And will acknowledge you and Jessica In place of lord Bassanio and myself. So fare you well, till we shall meet again.. 530 540 Lor. Fair thoughts, and happy hours attend on you! Jes. I wish your ladyship all heart's content. Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well pleas'd To wish it back on you fare you well, Jessica.— [Exeunt JESSICA, and LORENZO. Now, Balthazar, As I have ever found thee honest, true, So let me find thee still: Take this same letter, In speed to Padua; see thou render this Into my cousin's hand, doctor Bellario; 550 And, look, what notes and garments, he doth give thee, Hiij Bring Bring then, I pray thee, with imagin'd speed Which trades to Venice :-waste no time in words, But get thee gone; I shall be there before thee. Balth. Madam, I go with all convenient speed. [Exit. Por. Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand, That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands Before they think of us. Ner. Shall they see us? 560 570 Por. They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit, That they shall think we are accomplished With what we lack. I'll hold thee any wager, When we are both apparell'd like young men, I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two, And wear my dagger with the braver grace; And speak, between the change of man and boy, With a reed voice; and turn two mincing steps Into a manly stride; and speak of frays, Like a fine bragging youth and tell quaint lies, How honourable ladies sought my love, Which I denying, they fell sick and dy'd ; I could not do with all ;--then I'll repent, And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them: And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell, That men shall swear, I have discontinued school Above a twelvemonth :-I have within my A thousand raw tricks of these bragging jacks, Which I will practise. Ner. Why, shall we turn to men? mind 580 Por. |