can shoe him himself: I am much afraid, my lady his mother played false with a smith. 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 deserv Ner. Then, is there the county' Palatine. Por. He doth nothing but frown; as who should say, An if you will not have me, choose: he hearsing a fair lady. merry tales, and smiles not: I fear, he will prove Por. remember him well; and I remember him the weeping philosopher when he grows old, being worthy of thy praise.-How now! what news? so full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had rather be married to a death's head with a bone in 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 fore-runner brings word, the prince, his master, will be here tocome from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco; who night. heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good Por. God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker; But, he! why, he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan's; a better bad habit of frown-be glad of his approach: if he have the condition ing than the count Palatine: he is every man in no rather he should shrive me than wive me. Come, of a saint, and the complexion of a devil, I had man: if a throstle sing, he falls straight a caper- Nerissa.-Sirrah, go before.-Whiles we shut the ing; he will fence with his own shadow: If I should marry him, I should marry twenty husbands: if he gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door. [Exeunt. would despise me, I would forgive him; for if he love me to madness, I shall never requite him. SCENE III. Venice. A public Place. BASSANIO and SHYLOCK. Ner. What say you then to Faulconbridge, the young baron of England? 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? Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him; for he borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman, and swore he would pay him again, when he was able: I think, the Frenchman became his surety, and sealed under for another. 5 Ner. How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony's nephew? Por. Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober; and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk: when he is best, he is little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast: and the worst fall that ever fell, I hope, I shall make shift to go without him. Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the right casket, you should refuse to perform your father's will, if you should refuse to accept him. Por. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee, set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary casket: for, if the devil be within, and that temptation without, I know he will choose it. I will do any thing, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a spunge. Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of these lords; they have acquainted me with their determination: which is indeed, to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more suit; unless you may be won by some other sort than your father's imposition, depending on the caskets. Shy. Three thousand ducats,--well. Enter Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. Shy. Antonio shall become bound,-well. Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, and Antonio bound. Bass. Your answer to that. Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no ;-my meaning, in saying he is a good man, is to have you understand me, that he is sufficient: yet his means are in supposition: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath, squander'd abroad: But ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats, and water-rats, waterthieves, and land-thieves; I mean, pirates; and then, there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks: The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient ;-three thousand ducats;-I think, I may take his bond. 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? Per. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, 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 II pray God grant them a fair departure. Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a soldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Mont ferrat ? Enter ANTONIO. Bass. This is signior Antonio. Shy. [Aside.] How like a fawning publican he looks! hate him for he is a Christian. But more, for that, in low simplicity, He lends out money gratis, and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice. Perhaps, in this enumeration of Portia's suitors, there may be some covert allusion to those of Queen Eliza beth. 6 i. e. the nature, disposition. So in Othello: and then of so gentle a condition! 7 'It is almost incredible what gain the Venetians re travel-ceive by the usury of the Jews, both privately and in common. For in every city the Jews keep open shops of usury, taking gages of ordinary for xv. in the hun dred by the yeare; and if at the year's end the gage be not redeemed, it is forfeit, or at least done away to a 1 This is an allusion to the Count Albertus Alasco, a Polish Palatine, who was in London in 1583. 2 A thrush; properly the missel-thrush. 3 A satire on the ignorance of young English lers in Shakspeare's time. 4 A proper man is a handsome man. 5 The Duke of Bavaria visited London, and was made a Knight of the Garter, in Shakspeare's time. Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep, This Jacob from our holy Abraham was As his wise mother wrought in his behalf,) The third possessor; ay, he was the third, Ant. And what of him? did he take interest? Shy. No, not take interest; not, as you would say, Directly interest: mark what Jacob did. Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob serv'd for; A thing not in his power to bring to pass, Ant. A goodly apple rotten at the heart; sum. Three months from twelve, then let me see ne rate. Ant. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you? Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft, 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. Why, look you, how you storm! I would be friends with you, and have your love, Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with, Supply your present wants, and take no doit Of usance for my monies, and you'll not hear me⚫ This is kind I offer. Ant. This were kindness. Shy. This kindness will I show:Go with me to a notary, seal me there Your single bond; and, in a merry sport, If you repay me not on such a day, Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken Ant. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it; Within these two months, that's a month before This bond expires, I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this bond. Shy. O father Abraham, what these Christians are; Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, 6 Fulsome,' says Mr. Douce, has, doubtless, the great disadvantage; by reason whereof the Jews are same signification with the preceding epithet rank.' It out of measure wealthy in those parts.'-Thomas's His-is true that rank has sometimes the interpretation affix torye of Italye, 1561, 4to. f. 77.ˆ ed to it of rammish in old Dictionaries, but there is also another meaning of the word which may be found in Baret's Alvearie, 1573, viz. Fruite full, ranck, battle, Lat. fertilis. This sense would also, I think, better ac cord with fulsome, if it could be shown to be a synonyme. 1 To catch, or have, on the hip, means to have at an entire advantage. The phrase seems to have originated from hunting, because, when the animal pursued is seized upon the hip, it is finally disabled from flight. 2 Wants come to the height, which admit no longer delay. & Informed. 7 Falsehood here means knavery, treachery, as truth is sometimes used for honesty. 8 Interest. 9 i. e. interest, money bred from the principal. 10 i. c. continue; to abide has both the senses of habi tation and continuance. Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's; [Exit. Ant. ACT II. [Exeunt. SCENE I. Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, His wife, who wins me by that means I told you, Even for that I thank you; And so may I, blind fortune leading me, You must take your chance; In way of marriage; therefore be advis'd.4 1 Fearful guard is a guard that is not to be trusted, "A mighty and a fearful head they are.' 2 To understand how the tawny prince, whose savage dignity is well supported, means to recommend himself by this challenge, it must be remembered that red blood is a traditionary sign of courage. 3 i. e. terrified. 4 i. e. be considerate: advised is the word opposite to rash. 5 The old copies read-Enter the Clown alone; and throughout the play this character is called the Clown at most of his entrances or exits. Por. First, forward to the temple; after dinner Mor. Good fortune then! [Cornets. Laun. Certainly my conscience will serve me to Enter old GOBBO,8 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 be gotten father! who, being more than sand-blind," high-gravel blind, knows me not:-I will try conclusions10 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 left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. Gob. By God's sonties,' 'twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with him, or no? Laun. Talk you of young master Launcelot ?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 poo man, and, God be thanked, well to live. Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we talk of young master Launcelot. Gob. Your worship's friend, and Launcelot, sir. Laun. But I pray you ergo, old man, ergo, I be seech you; Talk you of young master Launcelot? Gob. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership. them.' The poet's own authority ought to have taught Steevens better. In Much Ado about Nothing, we have 'O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with my heels. 7 For the heavens was merely a petty oath. To make the fiend conjure Launcelot to do a thing for heaven's sake is a specimen of that acute nonsense' which Bar row makes one of the species of wit, and which Shak speare was sometimes very fond of. S It has been inferred from the name of Gobbo, that Shakspeare designed this character to be represented with a hump-buck. 9 Sand-blind. Having an imperfect sight, as if there was sand in the eye, Myops.'-Holyoke's Dictio nary. 10 To try conclusions, was to put to the proof, in other words to try experiments. 6'Scorn running with thy heels.' Mr. Steevens calls Laun. Ergo, master Launcelot; talk not of mas.er Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman (according to fates and destinies, and such odd sayings, the sisters three, and such branches of learning) is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would 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. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, to serve Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and I have a desire, as my father shall | specify, Gob. His master and he (saving your worship's reverence) are scarce cater-cousins: Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, being I hope an old man, shall frutify unto Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young gen-youtleman: 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. Laun. 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, a 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. Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood. Lord worship'd might he be! what a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill-horse' has on his tail. Laun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tail grows backward; I am sure he had more hair on his tail, than I have on my face, when I last saw him. Gob. Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present; How 'gree you now? Laun. Well, well; but, for mine own part, as I have set up my rest2 to run away, so I will not rest till I have run some ground: my master's a very Jew: Give him a present! give him a halter: I 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. Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO, and other Bass. You may do so;-but let it be so hasted, Laun. To him, father. have been proposed but apparently with less probabi- 11. e. the shaft-horse, sometimes called the thill-horse. 2 Set up my rest,' i. e. determined. See note on All's Well that Ends Well, Act ii. Sc. 2. Romeo and Juliet, Act iv. Sc. 5. Where it may be remarked that Shakspeare has again quibbled upon rest. The County Paris hath set up his rest, that you shall rest but little' Gob. I have here a dish of doves, that I would bestow upon your worship; and my suit is, Laun. In very brief, the suit is impnent 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. Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day, 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 speakest it well: Go, father, with Take leave of thy old master, and inquire [To his Followers. [Exeunt. LAUNCELOT and old GоEBO. Gra. Where is your master? Gra. Signior Bassanio,- Yonder, sir, he walks. [Exit LEONARDO. Gra. I have a suit to you. Bass. Why, then you must;-But hear the Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ;- 3 i. e. ornamented. Guards were trimmings, facings, or other ornaments, such as gold and silver lace, applied upon a dress. 4 Mr. Tyrwhitt's explanation of this passage (which has much puzzled the commentators) seems the most plausible: Launcelot applauding himself for his suc cess with Bassanio, and looking into the palm of his hand, which by fortune-tellers is called the table, breaks out into the following reflection :-Well, if any man in Italy have a fairer table; which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune-i. e. a table which doth not only promise but offer to swear upon a book that I shall have good fortune. He omits the conclusion of the sentence. By what we do to-night. No, that were pity; Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest; House. Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT. Jess. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father so; Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness: But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee. And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest: Give him this letter; do it secretly, And so farewell; I would not have my father See me talk with thee. Laun. Adieu!--tears exhibit my tongue.-Most Deautiful pagan,—most sweet Jew! If a Christian did not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived: But adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu! [Exit. Jess. Farewell, good Launcelot.Alack, what heinous sin is it in me, To be asham'd to be my father's child! But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners: 0 Lorenzo, If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife; Become a Christian, and thy loving wife. [Exit. SCENE IV. The same. A Street. Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time; Disguise us at my lodging, and return All in an hour. Gra. We have not made good preparation. Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. Salan. "Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd; And better, in my mind, not undertook. Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours Laun. By your leave, sir. Lor. Whither goest thou? Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian. Lor. Hold here, take this :-tell gentle Jessica, I will not fail her ;--speak it privately; go.--Gentlemen, [Exit LAUNCELOT. Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? I am provided of a torch-bearer. Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. Salan. And so will I. Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging, some hour hence. Salar. 'Tis good we do so. [Exeunt SALAR. and SALAN. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica? Lor. I must needs tell thee all: She hath directed, How I shall take her from her father's house: What gold, and jewels, she is furnish'd with; What page's suit she hath in readiness. If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven, It will be for his gentle daughter's sake: And never dare misfortune cross her foot, Unless she do it under this excuse,--That she is issue to a faithless Jew. Come, go with me; peruse this, as thou goest Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer. [Exeunt SCENE V. The same. Before Shylock's House. Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT. Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:- Laun. Why, Jessica! Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, I could do nothing without bidding. Enter JESSICA. Jes. Call you? What is your will? Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica: There are my keys :-But wherefore, should I go? I am not bid for love; they flatter me: But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon The prodigal Christian.-Jessica, my girl, Laun. I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. Laun. And they have conspired together.-I will not say, you shall see a masque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Black-Monday last at six o'clock i'the morning, falling out that year on Ash Wednesday was four year in the afternoon. Shy. What are there masques? Hear you me, Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, Το gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces: But stop my house's ears, I mean my casements: Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter My sober house.-By Jacob's staff, I swear, I have no mind of feasting forth to-night; 7 Invited. 8 Shakspeare meant to heighten the malignity of Shy. lock's character by thus making him depart from his most settled resolve (that he will neither eat, drink, nor pray with Christians,) for the prosecution of his revenge 9 i. e. Easter-Monday. It was called Black-Monday from the severity of that day, April 4, 1360, which was so extraordinary that, of Edward the Third's soldiers, then before Paris, many died of the cold. Anciently a superstitious belief was annexed to the accident of bleed ing at the nose. |