2 SECTION XIX. BASSANIO-SHYLOCK-ANTONIO......Ibid. Shylock. THREE thousand ducats,-well. Shy. For three months,—well. Bas. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. Shy. Antonio shall become bound,-well. Bas. May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer? Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, and Antonio bound? Bas. Your answer to that. Bas. 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, water-thieves, and landthieves; I mean, pirates; and then, there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient-three thousand ducats;-I think, 1 may take his bond. Bas. Be assured you may. Shy. I will be assured, I may; and, that I may be assured, 1 will bethink me: May I speak with Antonio? Bas. If it please you to dine with us. Shy. Yes, to smell pork! 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? Bas. This is signior Antonio. [Enter 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 The rate of usance here with us in Venice. If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Even there where merchants most do congregate, Bas. Shylock, do you hear? Shy. I am debating of my present store; Of full three thousand ducats: What of that? Will furnish me: But soft-How many months Do you desire?-Rest you fair, good signior; [To Antonio. Your worship was the last man in our mouths. Ant. Shylock, albeit I never lend nor borrow, By taking, nor by giving of excess, Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. 'Tis a good round sum. Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate. Ant. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you? In the Rialto you have rated me About my monies, and my usances: Still have I borne it with a patient shrug; A cur can lend three thousand ducats?' or F Say this, 'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, Who if he break, thou may'st with better face Shy. Of usance for my monies, and you'll not hear me : Ant. Shy. This were kindness. In such a place, such sum or sums, as are Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken Ant. Content in faith; I'll seal to such a bond, And say, there is much kindness in the Jew. Bas. You shall not seal to such a bond for me, I'd rather dwell in my necessity. 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 The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this, If he should break his day, what should I gain By the exaction of the forfeiture? A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say, And, for my love, I pray you, wrong me not. And I will go and purse the ducats straight; I will be with you. Ant. [Exit. SECTION XX. SPEECH OF MARINO FALIERO.....Lord Byron. You see me here, As one of you hath said, an old, unarm'd, Defenceless man and yesterday you saw me Here at my heart the outrage-but my words, Do they know, that these dark forests, through which even the winds come not without dismal and terrifying sound, is the home of the savage, whose first prompting is to destroy, that he may rob? Do they know that disease must be the inmate of their dwellings in their untried exposure? If the savage, if disease, selects no victims, will famine stay its merciless hand? Do they know how slowly the forest yields to human industry? Do they realize how long, how lonesome, how perilous it will be, to their little group, before want can be supplied and security obtained? Can they have come, voluntarily, to encounter all these unavoidable evils? Have they given up their native land, their precious homes, their kind friends, their kindred, the comfort and the fellowship of civilized and polished life? Is this the evidence of affectionate solicitude of husbands, of anxious tenderness of parents, or the sad measure of distempered minds? Wherefore are they come? What did they suffer, what did they fear, what do they expect, or hope, that they have chosen exile HERE, and to become the watchful neighbour of the treacherous Indian! They gather themselves together, and assume the posture of humble devotion. They pour forth the sentiments of praise, of hope, of unshaken confidence. They cast themselves, their wives, their children, into the arms of that beneficent Parent, who is present in the wilderness no less than the crowded city. It is to HIM that they look for support, amidst the wants of nature, for shelter against the storm, for protection against the savage, for relief in disease. Rienzi. SECTION XVII. RIENZI―ANGELO.....Miss Mitford. FRIENDS, We are slaves! I come not here to talk. Ye know too well |