Por. Is this true, Nerissa? Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal. Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy for a thousand ducats. Ner. What, and stake down? Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down. But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel? Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SALERIO. Bass. Lorenzo, and Salerio, welcome hither; Sweet Portia, welcome. Por. They are entirely welcome. So do I, my lord; Lor. I thank your honour :- For my part, my lord, My purpose was not to have seen you here; But meeting with Salerio by the way, He did entreat me, past all saying nay, To come with him along. Sale. And I have reason for it. Bass. I did, my lord, Signior Antonio [Gives BASSANIO a letter. Ere I ope his letter, I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. Sale. Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind; Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there Will show you his estate. Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon' stranger: bid her welcome. Your hand, Salerio; What's the news from Venice? How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio? We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece. Sale. 'Would you had won the fleece that he hath lost! Por. There are some shrewd contents in yon' same paper, That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek : Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world Of any constant man. What, worse and worse?— And I must freely have the half of any thing Bass. I have engag'd myself to a dear friend, my Engag'd friend to his mere enemy, Here is a letter, lady ; 5 The paper as the body of my friend, And every word in it a gaping wound, Issuing life-blood. But is it true, Salerio ? Have all his ventures fail'd? What, not one hit? From Lisbon, Barbary, and India? 5 The paper as the body—] The expression is somewhat elliptical: "The paper as the body," means- the paper resembles the body, is as the body. And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch Sale. Not one, my lord. Jes. When I was with him, I have heard him swear, To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen, That he would rather have Antonio's flesh, Than twenty times the value of the sum It will go hard with poor Antonio. Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble? Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, The best condition'd and unwearied spirit In doing courtesies; and one in whom The ancient Roman honour more appears, What, no more? + Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. First, go with me to church, and call me wife: +"Should lose." MALone. And then away to Venice to your friend; Bass. [reads.] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit and since, in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and I, if I might but see you at my death: notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter. Por. O love, despatch all business, and be gone. No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, + No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Venice. A Street. Enter SHYLOCK, SALANIO, ANTONIO, and Gaoler. Shy. Gaoler, look to him;-Tell not mercy; This is the fool that lent out money gratis; Gaoler, look to him. me of Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. 6 cheer;] i. e. countenance. +"Nor rest" - MALONE. Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond; I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond: Thou call'dst me dog, before thou had'st a cause: But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs : The duke shall grant me justice. — I do wonder, Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: [Exit SHYLOCK. Salan. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. Let him alone; Ant. Many that have at times made moan to me; Salan. I am sure, the duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. Ant. The duke cannot deny the course of law; For the commodity that strangers have With us in Venice, if it be denied, Will much impeach the justice of the state; Well, gaoler, on:- Pray God, Bassanio come To see me pay his debt, and then I care not! [Exeunt. 7 so fond-] i. e. so foolish. |