Gra. You look not well, signior Antonio; A stage, where every man must play a part, Gra Gra. If they should speak, would almost damn those ears, I'll tell thee more of this another time: Within the eye of honour, be assur'd, Bass. In my school-days, when I had lost one I shot his fellow of the self-same flight Ant. You know me well; and herein spend but To wind about my love with circumstance; Bass. In Belmont is a lady richly left, Lor. Well, we will leave you then till dinner-Hang on her temples like a golden fleece; time: I must be one of these same dumb wise men, Gra. Well, keep me company but two years more, Thou shalt not know the sound of thine tongue. own Ant. Farewell: I'll grow a talker for this gear. Gra. Thanks, i'faith; for silence is only commendable In a neat's tongue dried, and a maid not vendible. [Exeunt Gratiano and Lorenzo. Ant. Is that any thing now? Ant. Well; tell me now, what lady is this same Bass. "Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, Which makes her seat of Belmont, Colchos' strand, Ant. Thou know'st, that all my fortunes are at Nor have I money, nor commodity [Exeuni. A room in Portia's house. Enter Portia and Nerissa. Por. By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world. Ner. You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were in the same abundance as your good fortunes arc: And yet, for aught I see, they are as sick, that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing: It is no mean happiness therefore, to be seated in the mean; superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer. Por. Good sentences, and well pronounced. Ner. They would be better, if well followed. Por. If to do were as casy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottages, princes' palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own instructions: I can easier teach Ant. I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it; twenty what were good to be done, than be one of And, if it stand, as you yourself still do, the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain (s) Formerly. may devise laws for the blood; but a hot temper a beast: an the worst fall that ever fell, I hope, I leaps over a cold decree: such a hare is madness shall make shift to go without him. the youth, to skip o'er the meshes of good counsel Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion the right casket, you should refuse to perform your to choose me a husband:-O me, the word choose! father's will, if you should refuse to accept him. I may neither choose whom I would, nor refuse Por. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter thee, set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the concurb'd by the will of a dead father:-Is it not hard, trary casket: for, if the devil be within, and that Nerissa, that I cannot choose one, nor refuse none? temptation without, I know he will choose it. I Ner. Your father was ever virtuous; and holy will do any thing, Nerissa, ere I will be married to men, at their death, have good inspirations; there-a spunge. fore, the lottery, that he hath devised in these three Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any chests, of gold, silver, and lead, (whereof who of these lords; they have acquainted me with their chooses his meaning, chooses you,) will, no doubt, determinations: which is, indeed, to return to their never be chosen by any rightly, but one who you home, and to trouble you with no more suit; unless shall rightly love. But what warmth is there in you may be won by some other sort than your fayour affection towards any of these princely suitors ther's imposition, depending on the caskets. that are already come? Por. I pray thee, over-name them; and as thou namest them, I will describe them; and, according to my description, level at my affection. Ner. First, there is the Neapolitan prince. Por. Ay, that's a colt, indeed, for he doth nothing but talk of his horse: and he makes it a great appropriation to his own good parts, that he can shoe him himself: I am much afraid, my lady, his mother, played false with a smith. Por. If I live to be as old as Sybilla, I will die as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will: I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable; for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence, and I pray God grant them a fair departure. Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your fa. ther's time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a soldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat? Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, so was he called. Ner. True, madam; he, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon, was the best Ner. Then is there the county Palatine. Por. He does nothing but frown; as who should say, An if you will not have me, choose: he hears merry tales, and smiles not: I fear, he will prove the weeping philosopher when he grows old,eing deserving a fair lady. so full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had Por. I remember him well; and I remember rather be married to a death's head with a bone in him worthy of thy praise.-How now! what news! his mouth, than to either of these. God defend me from these two! Ner. How say you by the French lord, Monsieur Le Bon? Enter a Servant. Serv. The four strangers seek for you, madam, to take their leave: and there is a forerunner come Por. God made him, and therefore let him pass from a fifth, the prince of Morocco; who brings for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a word, the prince, his master, will be here to-night. mocker: But, he! why, he hath a horse better than Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so the Neapolitan's; a better bad habit of frowning good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I than the count Palatine: he is every man in no should be glad of his approach: if he have the man: if a throstle sing, he falls straight a caper- condition of a saint, and the complexion of a devil, ing; he will fence with his own shadow: if I should I had rather he should shrive me than wive me. marry him, I should marry twenty husbands: If Come, Nerissa.-Sirrah, go before.-Whiles we he would despise me, I would forgive him; for if shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at he love me to madness, I shall never requite him. the door. [Exeunt. Ner. What say you then to Falconbridge, the SCENE III.-Venice. A public place. Enter young baron of England? Bassanio and Shylock." Por. You know, I say nothing to him: for he understands not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latin, French, nor Italian; and you will come into the court and swear, that I have a poor penny-worth in the English. He is a proper man's picture ;| But, alas! who can converse with a dumb show? How oddly he is suited! I think he bought his doublet in Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour every where. Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighbour? Shy. Three thousand ducats,-well. Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. Shy. Antonio shall become bound,-well. Bass. May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer? Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, and Antonio bound. Bass. Your answer to that. Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him; for he borrowed a box of the ear of the English-Shy. man, and swore he would pay him again, when he was able: I think the Frenchman became his surety, and sealed under for another. Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no ;-my meaning, in say Ner. How like you the young German, the duke ing he is a good man, is to have you understand of Saxony's nephew? me, that he is sufficient: yet his means are in sup Por. Very vilely in the morning, when he is so-position: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, ber; and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is another to the Indies: I understand moreover upor drunk: when he is best, he is a little worse than a the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for man; and when he is worst, he is little better than England,and other ventures he hath, squan (3) Temper, qualities. (1) A heady, gay youngster. (2) Count. der'd abroad: But ships are but boards, sailors but And in the doing of the deed of kind,3 men: there be land-rats, and water-rats, water- He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes ; thieves, and land-thieves; I mean, pirates; and Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time then, there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks: Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's. The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient;-three This was a way to thrive, and he was blest; thousand ducats;-I think I may take his bond. And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not. Bass. Be assured you may. Shy. I will be assured I may; and, that I may be assured, I will bethink me: May I speak with Antonio? Bass. If it please you to dine with us. Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjured the devil into: I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto?-Who is he comes here? Enter Antonio. Bass. This is signior Antonio. Shy. [Aside.] How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him, for he is a Christian: But more, for that, in low simplicity, He lends out money gratis, and brings down Bass. Shylock, do you hear? Shy. I am debating of my present store; Of full three thousand ducats: What of that? Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. Ant. And for three months. Shy. I had forgot,-three months, you told me so. Well then, your bond; and, let me see, But hear you; I do never use it. Methought, you said, you neither lend, nor borrow, Ant. And what of him? did he take interest? Should fall as Jacob's hire; the ewes, being rank, (1) Wants which admit no longer delay. Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob serv'd for; A thing not in his power to bring to pass, Ant. O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! sum. Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate. A cur can lend three thousand ducats? or, Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, Shy. Ant. This were kindness. Shy. This kindness will I show:- Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken (2) Informed. (3) Nature. (4) Interest. Ant. Content, in faith: I'll seal to such a bond, Ant. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it; Of thrice three times the value of this bond. are; Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. [Exit. I That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,— And so may I, blind fortune leading me, Por. In way of marriage; therefore, be advis'd." Por. First, forward to the temple; after dinner Good fortune then! [Cornets. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Venice. A street. Enter Launcelot Gobbo. To make me bless'd'st, or cursed'st among men. Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. Bass. I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind. Ant. Come on: in this there can be no dis-run from this Jew, my master: The fiend is at mine may, My ships come home a month before the day. Laun. Certainly my conscience will serve me to elbow; and tempts me, saying to me, Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot, or good Gobbo, or [Exeunt. good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away: My conscience says,-no; take heed, honest Launcelot; take heed, honest Gobbo; or, as aforesaid, honest Launcelot Gobbo, do not run; scorn running with thy heels: Well, the most SCENE I.-Belmont. A room in Portia's house. courageous fiend bids me pack; via! says the Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince of Mo-fiend; away! says the fiend, for the heavens; rouse rocco, and his train; Portia, Nerissa, and other up a brave mind, says the fiend, and run. Well, of her attendants. ACT II. Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, And hedg'd me by his wit, to yield myself His wife, who wins me by that means I told you, Mor. Even for that I thank you; Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets, To try my fortune. By this scimitar, That slew the Sophy, and a Persian prince, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me, my honest friend Launce lot, being an honest man's son,-or rather an honest woman's son ;-for, indeed, my father did something smack, something grow to, he had a kind of taste;-well, my conscience says, Launcelol, budge not; budge, says the fiend; budge not, says my conscience: Conscience, say I, you counsel well; fiend, say I, you counsel well: to be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who (God bless the mark!) is a kind of devil; and, to run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil himself: Certainly, the Jew is the very devil incarnation; and, in my conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew: The fiend gives the more friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; 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 the way to master Jew's? Laun. [Aside.] O heavens, this is my true begotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel blind, knows me not:-I will try conclusions with him. Gob. Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to master Jew's? Laun. Turn up on your right hand, at the next turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your Enter Bassanio, with Leonardo, and other fol left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. lowers. Bass. You may do so;-but let it be so hasted, Gob. By God's sonties, 'twill be a hard way to that supper be ready at the farthest by five of the hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that clock: See these letters deliver'd; put the liveries dwells with him, dwell with him, or no? to making; and desire Gratiano to come anon to Laun. Talk you of young master Launcelot ?-my lodging. [Exit a servant. Mark me now; [aside.] now will I raise the waters-Talk you of young master Launcelot? Gob. No master, sir, but a poor man's son; his father, though I say it, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live. Laun. To him, father. Gob. God bless your worship! Bass. Gramercy; Would'st thou aught with me? Gob. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy,-Laun. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's man; that would, sir, as my father shall specify,Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one Gob. Your worship's friend, and Launcelot, sir. would say, to serve Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we talk of young master Launcelot. Laun. But I pray you ergo, old man, ergo, I be- Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve seech you; Talk you of young master Launcelot? the Jew, and I have a desire, as my father shall Gob. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership. specify, Laun. Ergo, master Launcelot; talk not of Gob. His master and he (saving your worship's master Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman (according to fates and' destinies, and such odd reverence,) are scarce cater-cousins: Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the sayings; the sisters three, and such branches of Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my learning,) is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would father, being I hope an old man, shall frutífy unto say, in plain terms, gone to heaven. Gob. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop. Laun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovel-post, a staff, or a prop?-Do you know me, father? Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman: but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy (God rest his soul!) alive, or dead? Laun. Do you not know me, father? Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you not. Lam. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me: it is a wise father that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son: Give me your blessing: truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long, man's son may; but, in the end, truth will out. Gob. Pray you, sir, stand up; I am sure, you are not Launcelot, my boy. Laun. Pray you, let's have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing; I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be. Gob. I cannot think you are my son. Laun. I know not what I shall think of that: but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man; and, I am sure, Margery, your wife, is my mother. you, Gob. I have a dish of doves, that I would bestow upon your worship; and my suit is, Laun. In very brief the suit is impertinent to myself, as your worship shall know by this honest old man; and, though I say it, though old man, yet, poor man, my father. Bass. One speak for both;-What would you? Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, sir. Laun. The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir; you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough. Bass. Thou speak'st it well: Go, father, with Take leave of thy old master, and inquire [To his followers. More guarded than his fellows': See it done. Laun. Father, in:-I cannot get a service, no ;Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, I have ne'er a tongue in my head.-Well; [lookif thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and ing on his palm.] if any man in Italy have a fairer blood. Lord worshipp'd might he be! what a beard table, which doth offer to swear upon a book.hast thou got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin, I shall have good fortune; Go to, here's a simple than Dobbin my thill-horse' has on his tail. line of life! here's a small trifle of wives: Alas, I Laun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tail fifteen wives is nothing; eleven widows, and nine grows backward; I am sure he had more hair on maids, is a simple coming-in for one man: and his tail, than I have on my face, when I last saw him. then, to 'scape drowning thrice; and to be in peril Gob. I.ord, how art thou chang'd! How dost of my life with the edge of a feather-bed ;-here thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a are simple 'scapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, present; How 'gree you now? she's a good wench for this gear.-Father, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of [Exeunt Laun, and old Gob. Bass. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this; These things being bought, and orderly bestow'd, Return in haste, for I do feast to-night My best-esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go. Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein. Enter Gratiano. Laun. Well, well; but, for my own part, as have set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest till I have rum some ground: my master's a very Jew: Give him a present! give him a halter: am famish'd in his service; you may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come; give me your present to one master Bassanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries: if I serve not him, I will run as far as God has any ground.-O rare fortune! here comes the man;to him, father; for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer. (1) Shaft-horse, (2) Ornamented. an eye. |