PERSONS REPRESENTED. DUKE OF VENICE. PRINCE OF MOROCCO, suitors to Portia. PRINCE OF ARRAGON, ANTONIO, the Merchant of Venice. BASSANIO, his friend. SALANIO, SALARINO, GRATIANO, friends to Antonio and Bassanio. LORENZO, in love with Jessica. SHYLOCK, a Jew. TUBAL, a Jew, his friend. LAUNCELOT GOBBO, a clown, servant to Shylock. Old GOBBO, father to Launcelot. SALERIO, a messenger from Venice. LEONARDO, servant to Bassanio. BALTHAZAR, STEPHANO, servants to Portia. PORTIA, a rich heiress. NERISSA, her waiting-maid. JESSICA, daughter to Shylock. Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice, Jailer, Servants, and other Attendants. SCENE, partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the Seat of Portia, on the Continent. MERCHANT OF VENICE. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. Venice. A Street. Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. Antonio. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad; And such a want-wit sadness makes of me, Salar. Your mind is tossing on the ocean; That curt'sy to them, do them reverence, Salan. Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth, The better part of my affections would Ships of large burden. And every object, that might make me fear Salar. And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks? And now worth nothing! Shall I have the thought Is sad to think upon his merchandize. Ant. Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate Upon the fortune of this present year: Therefore, my merchandize makes me not sad. Salan. Why then you are in love. Ant. Fye, fye! Salan. Not in love neither? Then let's say, you are sad, Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy Janus, Nature hath fram'd strange fellows in her time: Some that will evermore peep through their eyes, And laugh, like parrots, at a bag-piper; And other of such vinegar aspéct, That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile, Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable. Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO. Salan. Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, Gratiano, and Lorenzo: Fare you well; We leave you now with better company. Salar. I would have staid till I had made you merry, If worthier friends had not prevented me. Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? You grow exceeding strange: Must it be so? We two will leave you: but, at dinner time, Gra. You look not well, signior Antonio; Ant. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; Gra. |