to cyther of thefe: God defend me from these two, Ner.How fay you by the French Lord, Mounfier le Boune? Por.God made him, and therefore let him paffe for a man, in truth I know it is a finne to be a mocker, but he, why he hath a horfe better then the Neapolitans, a better bad habite offrowning then the Count Palatine, hee is euery man in no man, ifa Traffell fing, hee fals ftraight a capting, hee will fence with his owne fhadow. If I should marry him, I fhould marry twenty husbands: if he would defpife me, I would forgiue him, for if he loue me to madneffe, I shall neuer requite him. Ner. What fay you then to Fauconbridge,the young Baron of England? Por. You know I fay nothing to him, for he vnderftands not me,nor I him; he hath neither Latine,French,nor Italian,& you will come into the Court and fweare that I haue a poore penniworth in the English: he is a proper mans picture, but alas who can conuerfe with a dumbe fhow? how odly he is futed, I think he bought his doublet in Italy, his round hofe in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behauiour euery where. Neriffa. What thinke you of the Scottish Lord his Neigh bour? Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him, for he bor rowed a boxe of the care of the Englishman,and fwore he wold pay him againe when he was able: Ithinke the Frenchman became his furety, and feald vnder for another. Ner.How like you the young Germaine, the Duke of Saxovies nephew? Por. Very vildely in the morning when he is fober, and most vilely in the afternoone when he is drunke: when he is beft, hee is a little worse then a man,and when he is worst he is little bet ter then a beaft; and the worst fall that euer fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without him., Ner.If he should offer to choose, and choose the right Cafket, you should refuse to performe your fathers wil,if you fhold refufe to accept him. For. Therfore for feare of the worst, I prethee fet a deep glaffe of of Reynish Wine on the contrary Casket, for if the diuell bee within,and that temptation without, I know he will choofe it. I will do any thing Neriffa,ere ile be married to a fpunge. Ner. You need not feare Lady, the hauing any of these Lords, they haue acquainted me with their determinations, which is indeed to returne to their home, and to trouble you with no more fute,vnleffe you may be won by fome orher fort then your fathers impofition,depending on the Caskets. Por.If I liue to be as olde as Sibilla,I will die as chafte as Diana, vnleffe I bee obtained by the manner of my fathers will: Z am glad this parcell of wooers are fo reasonable,for there is not one among them but / dote on his very abfence; & Ipray God grant them a faire departure. Ner.Do you not remember Lady in your fathers time, avenetian Scholler and a Souldior that came hither in company of the Marqueffe of Mountferrat? Portia. Yes, yes,it was Baffanio, as I thinke he was fo call'd. Ner. True Maddam, he of all the men that euer my foolish eyes lookt vpon, was the beft deferuing a faire Lady. Per. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise. How now, what newes? Enter a feruingman. Ser. The foure ftrangers feeke for you Madame, to take their leaue; and there is a fore-runner come from a fift, the Prince of Moroco, who brings word the Prince his Mafter will be heere to night. Por. If I could bid the fift welcome, with fo good a heart as I can bid the other foure farwell, fhould be glad of his approch: if he haue the condition of a Saint, and the complection of a di uell,/had rather he fhould fhriue me then wiue me.Come Ner-. riffa,firra go before: whiles we shut the gates vpon one wooer, another knocks at the doore. Enter Bafanio,with Shylocke the lew. shy.Three thousand ducats,well. Baff. I fir, for three months. Exeunt.. Shy.For three moneths,well. Baff.For the which as I told you, Anthonio fhall be bound. Shy. Anthonio fhall become bound,well, Shy.Three thousand ducats for three moneths, Baff. Your anfwere to that. Shy. Anthonio is a good man, Baff. Haue you heard any imputation to the contrary? Shy. Hono,no,no,no: my meaning in faying hee is a good man, is to haue you vnderftand me, that he is fufficient, yet his meanes are in fuppofition: he hath an Argofie bound to Tripolis,another to the Indies, I vnderstand moreouer vpon the Ryalta,he hath a third at Mexico,a fourth for England, & other ventures he hath squandred abroad,but ships are but boards, Saylers but men ; there be land rats, and water rats, water theeues, and land theeues, I meane Pyrats, and then there is the perill of waters,windes, and rockes: the man is notwithstanding fuffici ent, three thousand ducats,I thinke I may take his bond. Baff.Be affured you may. Shy.I will be affured I may: and that I may be affured, I will bethinke me, may I fpeake with Anthonio? Baf. If it please you to dine with vs. Shy. Yes,to fmell porke,to eate of the habitation which your Prophet the Nazarite coniured the diuell into: I will buy with you, fell with you, talke with you, walke with you, and fo following: but I will not eate with you,drinke with you, nor pray with you. What newes onthe Ryako, who is he comes heere? Enter Anthonio. Baff. This is figniour Anthonie. Shy. How like a fawning Publican he lookes. I hate him for he is a Chriftian: But But more,for that in lowe fimplicity I will feed fat the ancient grudge I beare him. Baff. Shylocke, do you heare. Shy.I am debating of my present store, Will furnish me; but soft,how many months Ant Shylocke, although I neither lend nor borrow, Yet to fupply the ripe wants of my friend, Shy.I,I,three thousand ducats. Ant. And for three moneths. Shy.I had forgot, three months, you told me fo. Well then, your bond: and let me fee,but heare you, Me-thought you faid, you neither lend nor borrow Vpon aduantage. Ant.I do neuer vfe it. Shy. When Iacob graz'd his Vnckle Labans sheepe, This Tacob from our holy Abram was (As his wife Mother wrought in his behalfe) Ant. And what of him,did he take intereft? Shy. Shy.No,not take intereft, not as you would fay And when the worke of generation was Ant.This was a venture fir,that Iacob fer'ud for, Ant.Marke you this Bassanio, The diuell can cite Scripture for his purpose, Shy.Three thousand ducats,tis a good round fum. In the Ryalto you haue rated me You |