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 Book ,Axff )1 
 
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 THE 
 
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 I MERCHANT OF VENICE, \ 
 
 I I 
 
 I A TRAGEDY : i 
 
 iB\ ^Uu%u»tmt. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PUBLISHED &Y WELLS AND LILLY-^COURT-STEEET ; 
 A. T. GOODRICH & GO. NEW-YORK. 
 
 <> 
 
 i 
 
cffstJLlS^D «r THIS EDITIOBT, AS FAR AS TEt t-f*^ 
 LISHED lar ENGItAND. 
 
 No. 1 
 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 
 18 
 19 
 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 30 
 31 
 32 
 33 
 34 
 35 
 
 KT 
 
 vrkss 
 
 A New Way to Pay Old 
 
 Debts. 
 Rivals. 
 West Indiahi 
 Hypocrite. 
 Jealous Wife, 
 She Stoops to Conquer. 
 Richard III. 
 Beggar's Opera. 
 Wonder. 
 Duenna. 
 
 Alexander the Great. 
 Lionel and Clarissa. 
 Haralet. 
 
 Venice Preserved. 
 Is he Jealous ? * 
 Woodman's Hut. ** 
 Love in a Village. 
 Way to Keep Him. 
 Castle Spectre. 
 Maid of the Mill. 
 Clandestine Marriage. 
 Soldier's Daughter. 
 Othello. 
 
 Distressed Mother. 
 Provoked Husband. 
 Deaf and Dumb. 
 Busy Body. 
 Belle's Stratagem. 
 Romeo and Juliet. 
 Recruiting Officer. 
 Bold Stroke for a Wife. 
 Road to Ruin. 
 Beaux' 'Btratagcrn,. 
 As you Like It. 
 King Jolin. 
 
 36 Country GirL 
 
 37 Jane Shore. 
 
 38 Critic. * 
 
 39 Coriolanus. 
 
 40 Rosina. * 
 
 41 Suspicious Husband. 
 
 42 Honest Thieves. * 
 
 43 Mayor of Garratt. * 
 
 44 Merry Wives of Windsor. 
 
 45 Stranger. 
 
 46 Three Weeks after Mar- 
 
 riage. *• 
 
 47 King Lear. 
 
 48 Inconstant. 
 
 49 Shipwreck. ** 
 
 50 Rugantino. * 
 
 51 Wild Oats. 
 
 52 Rule a Wife and Have^ a 
 
 Wife. 
 
 53 Magpie. * 
 
 54 Quaker. * 
 '««55 Merchant of Venice. 
 
 56 Wheel of Fortune. 
 
 57 Rob Roy. 
 
 58 Citizen, * 
 
 59 Deserter. * 
 
 60 Miser. * 
 
 61 Guy Mannering. 
 »<62 Cynibeline. 
 
 63 Lying Valet. * 
 
 64 Twelfth Night. 
 
 65 The Confederacy. 
 
 66 Douglas. 
 
 67 Who's the Dupe. * 
 
 68 Know Your own MIikV 
 
 Those marked Ihus * are Farces or Melo-drames 
 of which <tre 20 f4.rd%i the Playa^ and Operas 25 c&its 
 
 4 
 
ik 
 
 ®V^txxvt^ ignition, 
 
 THE cLCli^ 
 
 MERCHANT OF VENICE, 
 
 A comedy; 
 2Jfi S2^fUtam ^Hafe^ijrarr. 
 
 WITH PREFATORY REMARKS. 
 
 THE ONLY EDITION EXISTING WHICH IS FAITHFULLY 
 
 MARKED WITH THE STAGE BUSINESS 
 AND STAGE DIRECTIONS, 
 
 AS IT IS PERFORMED AT THE 
 
 Wxtntxtn MogaL 
 
 By W. OXBERRY, Comedian, 
 
 BOSTON : 
 
 PUBLISHES BY WELLS AND LILLY — COURT-STREET : 
 A. T. GOODRICH & CO. — NEW-YORK. 
 
 1823. 
 

Mtmuvku. 
 
 MERCHANT OF VENICE, 
 
 J. HE Merchant of Venice has always been deservedly 
 popular from the vigour displayed in the character of Shy- 
 lock, yet it is far from being the best of Shakspeare's come- 
 dies. The main plot evidently ends with the fourt[i act, 
 and, which is worse, the underplot, though embellished 
 with all the charms of poetry, is not very interesting in its 
 incidents. The story of the caskets is too much like a 
 fairy tale ; the spectator, when transported from Venice to 
 Belmont, feels that he is no longer treading on the land of 
 reality ; he is besides too little prepared for the love of Basi- 
 sanio and Portia, to sympathize in its success or failure ; at 
 best this portion of the play appears like the beautiful 
 dream of a beautiful mind, and very little harmonizes with 
 the stern reality of the main plot, which never for a mo- 
 ment deviates from nature. All that passes at Belmont is 
 in the true spirit of poetry, but of poetry that has left the 
 earth ; its creations are as fantastic and unsubstantial as 
 the airy images that the thin clouds build up in a summer's 
 noon ; this is more particularly the case in the beginning of 
 the last act ; there is a beautiful soul-stealing melancholy 
 in the scene between Lorenzo and Jessica, but which has 
 more of Heaven than of human life about it. 
 
 The character of Shylock, the principal feature of this 
 
 comedy, has long afforded ground for contention amongst 
 
the critics. It has been on the one hand very seriously 
 argued that the Jew is an injured man, whose revenge is 
 both just and natural, while the opponents of this doctrine, 
 looking only to the terrible measure of vengeance, have 
 denounced him as a wretch, upon whom all ideas of mercy 
 are thrown away. One would suppose that this point 
 might be very easily settled, but criticism is near akin to 
 law, and loves to raise disputes, where a ground for con- 
 tention does not naturally exist. That the Jew is an in- 
 jured man is placed beyond the reach of question ; he says 
 to Antonio, — 
 
 many a time and oft 
 
 On the Rialto you have rated me 
 
 About my money and my usances. 
 
 # * # ^ * 45= 
 
 You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, 
 
 And spit upon ray Jewish gabardine, 
 
 And all for use of that which is mine own.— ./5c/ 1. sc. 2. 
 Now the merchant is so far from denying this, that he blunt- 
 ly replies, — 
 
 I am as like to call thee so again, 
 
 To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. — Idem. 
 The Jew therefore is justly entitled to call himself an in- 
 jured man ; but what is his rerenge ? The mean safe re- 
 venge of an assassin, who stabs in the back the enemy he 
 does not dare to face. Had Skylock boldly resigned his 
 own life for vengeance, the courage of the deed would hare 
 commanded respect, for such is the perverseness of human 
 nature, that it even prefers splendid vice to quiet virtue. 
 Every spectator sympathizes with King Richard, though 
 compared with him the Jew is a perfect innocent ; but ev«n 
 in a moral paint of view, the open murderer has at least 
 one virtue that the secret assassin wants — namely courage. 
 
Shylock, however, has some redeeming qualities ; he has 
 mind and that in the highest meaning of the word ; there is 
 an overwhelming energy in all his thoughts and expres- 
 sions. In the trial scene, when every heart is an enemy 
 to him, and every hand is raised against him, he never for 
 a moment blenches ; and his language throughout is as 
 glowing as his thought. 
 
 The quibbling, conceited, Launcelot, is a very happy ef- 
 fort, and such as no writer but Shakspeare could have suc- 
 ceeded in ; vanity is the leading feature of his mind, but it 
 is i«finitely diversified in its effects, and he is always so 
 good-huBBoured in his egotism, that he never loses the re- 
 gard of the spectator. His soliloquy is delightful, though 
 it is scarcely possible for any actor to realize its beauty. 
 
 It may be doubted, whether in drawing the lovely Portia, 
 the poet did not draw from his own imagination ; a Juliet 
 or an Imogine, however rare, may yet be found in life, but 
 where are we to seek for the feminine softness and strong 
 understanding of Portia? Nature is infinitely too econo- 
 mical to unite such rare qualities in a single individual; 
 nor in fact do they seem to harmonize. 
 
 Of the language, it is impossible to speak in terms of 
 adequate praise, unless V5fe could borrow the pen of Shak- 
 speare ; it is all beauty^ and no less simple than it is beauti- 
 ful ; this is more particularly the case in the fifth act : the 
 great poet seems to htye felt the deficiency of h>s plot, and 
 to have lavished in consequence all the treasures of his 
 abundant fancy in decorating the barren ground. To say 
 that he has been sviccessful would lie superfluous, for when 
 did Shakspeare task his genius to an effort without success ? 
 
Eimt of MtpvtBtntution. 
 
 The time this piece takes in representation is two hours 
 and ten minutes. The first act occupies the space of twen- 
 ty-four minutes; — the second, twenty-two; the third, 
 
 thirty -four; — the fourth, thirty; — and the fifth, twenty. — 
 The half-price commences, at nine o'clock. 
 
 Stage Directions. 
 
 By R.H. ----- is meant — . - - Right Hand. 
 
 li.H. Left Hand. 
 
 S.E. Second Entrance. 
 
 u.E. ^-- Upper Entrance. 
 
 M.D. - Middle Door. 
 
 D.F. Door in Flat. 
 
 R.H.D. - -- Right Hand Door. 
 
 L.H.D. ---- -- Left Hand Door. 
 
(toniumt. 
 
 DUKE OF VENICE.' 
 
 Ciimson velvet robe, doublet and trunks. 
 
 ANTONIO. 
 Black velvet doublet, tiiinks and cloak. 
 
 BASSANIO. 
 First dress.--Ligbt mixture Venetian dress.— Second dress.— Green vel- 
 vet do. trimmed richly with silver, hat and feathers. 
 
 SHYLOCK. 
 Black garberdeen, with crimson vest, black hat. 
 
 SOLANIO^ 
 Green Venetian dress trimmed with silver, velvet hat and feathers. 
 
 SALARINO. 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 GRATIANO. 
 Scarlet.— Ibid. 
 
 LORENZO. 
 
 Grey,— Ibid. 
 
 TUBAL. 
 Black garberdeen and hat. 
 
 LAUNCELOT. 
 First dress.— Black jacket, white sash, orange breeches and stockings, 
 —Second dress. — Brown cloth doublet, breeches and cloak, trimmed with 
 red. 
 
 GOBBO. 
 
 Drab coloured doublet, breeches and cloak, trimmed with brown. 
 
 SERVANTS. 
 Venetian livery. 
 
 SENATORS. 
 Black robes, bound with ermine, and do. capes. 
 
 SOLDIERS. 
 Scarlet doublets and trunks. 
 
 PORTIA. 
 First dress.— White satin, ti*immed with silver and spangled drapery.— 
 Second dress. — Counsellor's dress, cemplete. — Third dress.— White mus- 
 lin, trimmed with satin ribbon, white muslin drapery. 
 NERISSA, 
 First dress.— Blue sarsnet, trimmed with silver.— Second dress.— Black 
 velvet jacket, trunks and cloak, trimmed with black satin.— Third dress. 
 — White muslin. 
 
 JESSICA. 
 White satin body, and leno petticoat trimmed with silver- 
 
 LADIES. 
 Full Court dresses- 
 
Wn^rsmn Mtpvtntntt% 
 
 Duke of Venice 
 Antonio 
 Basianio - 
 Salanio • 
 Salarino - 
 Gratlano - 
 Lorenzo • 
 Shylock - • 
 Tubal - - 
 Launcelot - 
 Gobbo • • 
 Balthazar • 
 
 Poitia - 
 Nerissa 
 Jessica - 
 
 Dniry Lane^ 
 Mr. Powell. 
 Mr. Pope. 
 Mr. Rae. 
 
 • Mr. Barnard. 
 Mr. Vining, 
 
 • Mr. Penley. 
 Mr. T. Cooke. 
 
 ■ Mr. Kean. 
 Mr. Meredith. 
 Mr. OxbeiTy. 
 Mr , Butler. 
 Mr. Elliot. 
 
 Mrs. W. West. 
 
 ■ Mrs. Orger. 
 
 I Mis3 Povey. 
 
 Covent Garden, 
 Mr. Chapman. 
 Mr. Egerton. 
 Mr. B. Thornton^ 
 Mr. Treby. 
 Mr. Claremont. 
 Mr. Jones. 
 Mr. Duruset. 
 Mr. Terry. 
 Mr Atkins. 
 Mr, Simmons, 
 Mr Murray. 
 Mr. Howell. 
 
 Mrs, Fauoit. 
 Miss S. Booth. 
 Miss Matthews. 
 
THE 
 
 MERCHANT OF VENICE. 
 
 ACT I. 
 SCENE I.— ^ Street in Venice. 
 
 Enter Antonio, Salarino, and Solanio, l.h. 
 
 Ant. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad ; 
 It wearies me ; you say, it wearies you ; 
 But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, 
 What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born, 
 I am to learn ; 
 
 And such a want-wit sadness makes of me, 
 That I have much ado to know myself. 
 
 Sol. (r.h.) Your mind is tossing on the ocean ; 
 There, where your argosies (1) with portly sail, 
 
 (1) In Ricaut's Maxims of Turkish Polity, ch. xiv. it is 
 said, " those vast carracks called Argosies, which are so 
 much famed for the vastness of their burthen and bulk, 
 were corruptly so denominated from Ragosies,''' i. e. ships 
 of Ragusa, a city and territory on the gulph of Venice, tri- 
 butary to the Porte. Shakspeare has given the name of 
 Ragosine to the Pirate, in Mwsure for Measure. 
 2 
 
10 MERCHANT 
 
 Like signiors and rich burghers of the flood, 
 Do over-peer the petty traffickers, 
 That curt'sy to them, do them reverence. 
 As they fly by them with their vi^oven wings. 
 
 Sala. Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth. 
 The better part of my aflections would 
 Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still 
 Plucking the grass,(l) to know where sits the , 
 
 wind; 
 Peering in maps, for ports, and piers, and roads ; 
 And every object that might make me fear 
 Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt. 
 Would make me sad. 
 
 Sol. My wind, cooling my broth. 
 Would blow me to an ague, when I thought 
 What harm a wind too great might do at sea. 
 1 should not see the sandy hour-glass run. 
 But I should think of shallows, and of flats ; 
 And see my wealthy Andrew (2) dock'd in sand, 
 Vailing (3) her high top lower than her ribs, 
 To kiss her burial. 
 Shall I have the thought 
 
 To think on this : and shall I lack the thought, 
 That such a thing, bechanc'd, would make me 
 
 sad? 
 But, tell not me ; I know, Antonio 
 Is sad to think upon his merchandize. 
 
 (1) By holding up the grass, or any light body that will 
 bend by a gentle blast, the direction of the wind is found. 
 
 (2) The name of a Ship. 
 
 (3) Vailing, means to put off the hat, to strike sail, to 
 give sign of submission. 
 
OF VENICE. 11 
 
 Jnt. 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. 
 Sala. Why then you are in love. 
 Ant. Fie, fie ! 
 
 Sala. Not in love neither ? Then let's say, 
 you are sad, 
 Because you are not merry : and 'twere as easy 
 Foryou,to Iaugh,and leap,and say, you are merry, 
 Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed 
 
 Janus, (1) 
 Nature hath fram'd strange fellows in her time : 
 Some that will evermore peep through their 
 
 eyes, (2) 
 And laugh like parrots, at a bag-piper ; 
 And other of such vinegar aspect, 
 That they'll not show their teeth in way of 
 
 smile, (3) 
 Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable, 
 Sol. Here comes Bassanio, your mest noble 
 kinsman, 
 
 (1) Here Shakspeare shows his knowledge in the an- 
 tique. By two-headed Janus, is meant those antique bi- 
 frontine heads, which generally represent a young 3.ud 
 smiling face, together with an old and wrinkled one, being 
 of Pan and Bacchus ; of Saturn and Apollo, &c. 
 
 (2) This gives a very picturesque image of the counte- 
 nance in laughing, when the eyes appear half shut. 
 
 (3) Because such are apt enough to shew their teeth in 
 anger. 
 
12 MERCH/\NT 
 
 Gratiano, and Lorenzo : fare you well ; 
 We leave you now with better company. 
 Sala. 1 would have staid till 1 had made you 
 merry, 
 If worthier friends had not prevented me. 
 
 (Crosses to Solanie.) 
 Ant. Your worth is very dear in my regard. 
 I take it, your own business calls on you, 
 And you embrace the occasion to depart. 
 
 Enter Bassanio, Gratiano, and Lorenzo, l.h. 
 
 Sala. Good morrow, my good lords. 
 Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we 
 
 laugh ? say, when ? (Crosses to Salarino.) 
 You grow exceeding strange ; must it be so ? 
 Sol. We'll make our leisures to attend on yours. 
 [Exeunt Sol. and Sala. r.h. 
 Lor. My lord Bassanio, since you have found 
 Antonio, 
 We two will leave you ; but, at dinner time, 
 I pray you, have in mind where we must meet, 
 Bass. I will not fail you. 
 Gra. You look not well, Signior Antonio ; 
 You have too much respect upon the world : 
 They lose it, that do buy it with much care. 
 Believe me, you are marvellously chang'd. 
 Ant. I hold the world but as the world, 
 Gratiano ; 
 A stage, where every man must play a part, 
 And mine a sad one. 
 
OF VENICE. 13 
 
 Gra. Let me play the fool : (1) 
 With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come ; 
 And let my Uver rather heat with wine, 
 Than my heart cool with mortifying groans. 
 Why should a man, whose blood is warm within, 
 Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster ? 
 Sleep when he wakes ? and creep into the 
 
 jaundice 
 By being peevish ? I tell thee what, Antonio, — 
 I love thee, and it is my love that speaks ; 
 There are a sort of men, whose visages 
 Do cream (2) and mantle like a standing pond ; 
 And do a wilful stillness (3) entertain. 
 With purpose to be drest in an opinion 
 Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit ; 
 As who should say, / am Sir Oracle^ 
 And^ when I ope my lips^ let no dog bark ! (4) 
 O, my Antonio, I do know of these. 
 That therefore only are reputed wise 
 For saying nothing ; who, I am very sure, 
 If they should speak, would almost damn those 
 ears, [fools. 
 
 Which, hearing them, would call their brothers 
 I'll tell thee more of this another time j 
 But fish not with this melancholy bait, 
 
 (1) Alluding to the common comparison of human life 
 to a stage play. So that he desires his may be the fool's 
 or buffoon's part, which was a constant character in the 
 old farces; from whence came the phrase to play the fool, 
 
 (2) Alluding to the manner in which the film extends it- 
 self over milk in scalding. 
 
 (3) An obstinate silence. 
 
 (4) This seems to be a proverbial expression, 
 
 2 * 
 
14 MERCHANT 
 
 For this fool's gudgeon, this opinion.— 
 Come, good Lorenzo : — ^fare ye well, awhile — 
 
 (^Crosses to l.h.) 
 I'll end my exhortation after dinner. (1) 
 
 Lor. Well, we will leave you then till dinner- 
 time : 
 I must be one of these same dutnb wise men, 
 For Gratiano never lets me speak. 
 
 Gra Well, keep me company but two years 
 more, [tongue. 
 
 Thou shalt not know the souttd of thine own 
 
 Ant, Farewell ; I'll grow a talker for this gear. 
 
 Gra. Thanks, i'faith ; for silence is only com- 
 mendable 
 In a neat's tongu6 dried, and a maid not vendible. 
 [Exeunt Gra. and Lor, l.h. 
 
 Ant. Is that any thing now ? 
 
 Bass. Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of noth- 
 ing, more than any man in all Venice : his rea- 
 sons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bush- 
 els of chaff ; you shall seek all day ere you find 
 them ; and when you have them, they are not 
 worth the search. 
 
 Ant. Well : tell me now, what lady is this same, 
 To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage. 
 That you to day promis'd to tell me of? 
 
 Bass. 'Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, 
 How much 1 have disabled mine estate, 
 
 (1) The humour of this consists in its being an allusion 
 to the practice of the Puritan preachers of those times ; 
 who being generally very long and tedious, were often 
 forced to put off that part of their sermon called th,e exhor- 
 tation till after dinner. 
 
OF VENICE. 15 
 
 By something <shev\'ing a more swelling port(l) 
 Than my faint means would grant continuance : 
 Nor do I now make moan to be abridg''d 
 From such a noble rate ; buf my chief care 
 Is, to come fairly off from the great debts, 
 Wherein my time, somethmg too prodigal, 
 Hath left me gag'd. To you, Antonio, 
 I owe the most, in money, and in love ; 
 And from your love I have a warranty 
 To unburthen all my plots and purposes, 
 How to get clear of all the debts 1 owe. 
 
 Ant. I pray you, good Bassanio, let me 
 know it : 
 And, if it stand, as you yourself still do. 
 Within the eye of honour, be assur'd. 
 My purse, my person, my extremest means, 
 Lie all unlock'd to your occasions. [shaft, 
 
 Bass. In my school-days, when I had lost one 
 I shot his fellow of the self-same flight 
 The self-same way, with more advised watch, 
 To find the other forth ; and by advent'ringboth, 
 I oft found both : I urge this childhood proof, 
 Because what follows is pure innocence. 
 I owe you much ; and, like a wilful youth, 
 That which I owe is lost ; but if you please 
 To shoot another arrow that self way 
 Which you did shoot the first, 1 do not doubt, 
 As I will watch the aim, or to find both. 
 Or bring your latter hazard back again, 
 And thankfully rest debtor for the first. 
 
 (1) Port, in the present instance, comprehends the idea 
 of expensive equipage, and external pomp of appearance. 
 
16 MERCHANT 
 
 Ant. You know me well ; and herein spend 
 but time, 
 To wind about my love with circumstance ; 
 And, out of doubt, you do me now more wrong. 
 In making question of my uttermost, 
 Than if you had made waste of all I have : 
 Then do but say to me, what I should do, 
 That in your knowledge may by me be done, 
 And I amprest(l) unto it: therefore, speak. 
 
 Bass. In Belmont is a lady richly left, 
 And she is fair, and, fairer than that word, [eyes 
 Of wondVous virtues ; sometimes (2) from her 
 I did receive fair speechless messages ; 
 Her name i» Portia ; nothing undervalued 
 To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia. 
 Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth ; 
 For the four winds blow in from every coast 
 Renowned suitors. 
 
 O, my Antonio, had S but the means 
 To hold a rival place with one of them, 
 I have a mind presages me such thrift. 
 That 1 should questionless be fortunate. 
 
 Ant. Thou know'st, that all my fortunes are 
 at sea ; 
 Nor have I money, nor commodity 
 To raise a present sum : therefore go forth, 
 Try what my credit can in Venice do ; 
 That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost, 
 
 (1) Prest may not here signify impress'd, as into milita- 
 ry service, but ready, — Pret, Fr, 
 
 (2) In old English sometimes is synoniraous with for- 
 merly. 
 
OF VENICE. 17 
 
 To furaish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. 
 Go, presently inquire, and so will I, 
 Where money is ; and I no question make, 
 To have it of my trust, or for my sake. 
 
 [Exeunt ; Ant. l.h. Bass. r.h. 
 
 SGENE ll.—Portiah House at Belmont. 
 
 Enter Portia and ISTerissa, r.h. 
 
 Par. By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is 
 aweary of this great world. 
 
 JVer. You would be, sweet madam, if your 
 miseries were in the same abundance as your 
 good fortunes are. And yet, for aught I see, 
 they are as sick, that surfeit with too much, as 
 they that starve with nothing. It is no mean 
 happiness therefore, to be seated in the mean ; 
 superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, (1} but 
 competency lives longer 
 
 For. Good sentences, and well pronounc'd. 
 
 JVer. They would be better, if well foHow'd. 
 
 Por. If to do were as easy as to know what 
 were good to do, chapels had been churches, 
 and poor men's cottages, princes' palaces. It is 
 a good divine that follows his own instructions: 
 I can easier teach twenty what were good to 
 be done, than be one of the twenty to follow 
 mine own teaching. But this reasoning is not 
 in the fashion to choose me a husband : — O me, 
 
 (1) i. e. Superfluity sooner acquires white hairs ; be- 
 comes old. — We still say, How did he come 6^ it ?— To 
 come by it is to attain. 
 
18 MERCHANT 
 
 the word choose ! I may neither choose whom 
 I would, nor refuse whom I disHke ; so is the 
 will of a living daughter curb'd by the will of a 
 dead father :— Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I can- 
 not choose one, nor refuse none. 
 
 Ner. Your father was ever virtuous; and holy 
 men, at their death, have good inspirations; 
 therefore, the lottery that he hath devised in 
 these three chests, of gold, silver, and lead, 
 (whereof, who chooses his meaning, chooses 
 you,) will, no doubt, never be chosen by any 
 rightly, but one who you shall rightly love. 
 But what warmth is there in your affection to- 
 wards any of these princely suiiors that are al- 
 ready come? 
 
 For. I pray thee, over-name them ; and as 
 thou nam'st them, I will describe them ; and, 
 according to my description, level (1) at my af- 
 fection. 
 
 Ner. First there is the Neapolitan prince. 
 
 For. Ay, that's a colt, (2) indeed, for he doth 
 nothing but talk of his horse ; and he makes it a 
 great appropriation to his own good parts, that 
 he can shoe him himself: 1 am much afraid, my 
 lady, his mother, play'd false with a smith. 
 
 JVer. Then, there is the County (3) Palatine. 
 
 For. He doth nothing but frown ; as who 
 
 (1) Estimate. 
 
 (2) Colt is used for a witless, heady, gay youngster ; 
 whence the phrase used of an old man too juvenile, that 
 he still retains his coWs tooth, 
 
 (3) County and Count in old language were synoni- 
 mous. 
 
OF VENICE. 19 
 
 should say, " An if you will not have me, 
 choose :" he hears n^erry tales, and smiles not : 
 I fear he will prove the weeping philosopher 
 when he grows old, being 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. Heaven defiend me from 
 these two ! 
 
 JVer. How say you by the French lord, Mon- 
 sieur Le Bon ? 
 
 Por. Heaven made him, and therefore let 
 him pass for a man. 
 
 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 a iitt'e worse 
 than a man : and when he is worst, he is little 
 better than a beast : an the worst fall that ever 
 fell, I hope, 1 shall make shift to go wrthout 
 him. {Crosses to r.h.) 
 
 JVer. 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 wme on the 
 contrary casket; for, if the devil be witiiui, and 
 that temptation without, I know he will choose it. 
 
 JVer, You need not fear, lady, the having any 
 of these lords ; they have acquainted me with 
 their determinations : which is, indeed, to return 
 to their home, and to trouble you with no more 
 
20 MERCHANT 
 
 suit : unless you may be won by some other sort 
 than your father's imposition, (1) depending on 
 the caskets. 
 
 Por. If 1 live to be as old as Sibylla, (2) I will 
 die as chaste as Diana, (3) unless 1 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 1 dote on his 
 very absence, and I pray heaven grant them a 
 fair departure. 
 
 JYer. Do you not remember, lady, in your 
 father's time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a sol- 
 dier, that came hither in company of the Mar- 
 quis of Montferrat ? 
 
 Por Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I think, so 
 he was call'd. 
 
 JVer. True, madam ; he, of all the men that 
 ever my foolish eyes look'd upon, was the best 
 deserving a fair lady. 
 
 Por. I remember him well ; and I remember 
 him worthy of thy praise. 
 
 Enter Balthazar, l.h. 
 
 Por. How now ! what news ? (Crosses to l.h.) 
 Bal. The four strangers seek for you, madam, 
 
 (1) Command laid upon yoii. 
 
 (2) The Sybils were prophetesses, and lived to a great 
 age, several centuries. The most celebrated is the Cu~ 
 mcean Sybil, mentioned by Virgil, Mneid 6, who conduct- 
 ed ^neas to the infernal regions. 
 
 (3) The chastity of Diana is not unimpeached. She 
 was suspected of a» intrigue with Endymion. 
 
OF VENICE. n 
 
 to take their leave ; and there is a fore-runner 
 come from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco : who 
 bring-s word, the prince, his master, will be here 
 to-night. 
 
 For. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so 
 good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, 
 I should be glad of his approach. Come, Ne- 
 rissa.— Sirrah, go before. — Whiles we shut the 
 gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the 
 door. [Exeunt, l,h. 
 
 SCENE III.— .^ Street in Venice. 
 
 Enter Shylock and Bassanio, r.h. 
 
 Shy. Three thousand ducats,— well 
 
 Bass. Ay, sir, for three months. 
 
 Shy. For three months, — well. 
 
 Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio 
 shall be bound. 
 
 Shy. Antonio shall become bound, — well. 
 
 Bass. May you stead me ? Will you pleasure 
 me? Shall I know your answer? 
 
 Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, 
 and Antonio bound, 
 
 Bass. Your answer to that. 
 
 Sky. Antonio is a good man. 
 
 Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the 
 contrary ? 
 
 Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no ; my meaning, in say- 
 ing 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 Tripo 
 
22 MERCHANT 
 
 lis, another to the Indies; I understand moreo- 
 ver 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 
 hoards, sailors but men : there be land rats, and 
 water rats, water thieves, and land thieves ; I 
 mean pirates ; and then, there is the peril of wa- 
 ters, winds, and rocks: the man is, notwith- 
 standing, sufficient ; — three thousand ducats ; — I 
 think I may take his bond. 
 
 Bass. Be assur'd you may. 
 
 Shy. I will be assur'd, I may ; and, that I may 
 be assured, 1 will bethinlt me : may 1 speak with 
 Antonio ? 
 
 Bass. If it please you to dine with us. 
 
 Shy. Yes, to smell pork: to eat of the habita- 
 tion 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 fol- 
 lowing ; but I will not eat with you, drink with 
 you, nor pray with you. — What news on th6 
 Rialto ? — {Crosses to r.h.) 
 
 Who is he comes here ? 
 
 Bass. This is signior Antonio. [Exit.) l.h 
 
 Shy. 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, (1) 
 
 (1) This, Dr. Johnson observes, is a phrase taken from 
 Ihe practice of wrestlers ; and (he might have added) is an 
 
OF. VENICE. 2^ 
 
 I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. 
 He hates our sacred nation ; and he rails, 
 Even there where merchants most do congregate, 
 On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift, 
 Which he calls interest: Cursed be my tribe. 
 If i forgive him ! 
 
 Enter Bassanio and Antonio, l.h. 
 
 Bass. Shylock, do you hear ? 
 
 Shy. I am debating of my present store 5 
 And, by the near guess of my memory, 
 I cannot instantly raise up the gross 
 Of full three thousRud ducats : What of that? 
 Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe. 
 Will furnish me : but soft ; how many months 
 Do you desire ? — 'Rest you fair, good Signior ; 
 Your worship was the last man in our mouths. 
 
 {To Ant.) 
 
 Ant. Shylock, — (Crosses to centre.) — albeit I 
 neither lend nor borrow, 
 By taking, nor by giving of excess, 
 Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, 
 VU break a custom- Is he yet possess'd, (1) 
 How muoh you would ? (To Bass.) 
 
 Shy. Ay^ ay, three thousand ducats, 
 
 4nt. And for three months. 
 
 Shy. I had forgot, — three months you told me 
 so, (To Bass.) 
 
 allusion to the Angel's thus lajnng hold on Jacob when he 
 wrestled with him. See Gen. xxxii. 24, &c. 
 (1) Acquainted, informed. 
 
24 MERCHANT 
 
 Well then, your bond; — {To Ant.) — and, let me 
 
 see,^ — but hear you ; 
 Methoug-ht, you said, you neither lend, nor bor- 
 Upon advantag'e. [row, 
 
 Ant. I do never use it. [sheep, — 
 
 Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's 
 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 
 Directly interest ; mark what Jacob did. [say 
 When Laban and himself were compromis'd, 
 That all the eanlings (1) which were streak'd 
 Should fall as Jacob's hire, [and pied 
 
 The skilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands,(2) 
 And, in the doing of the deed of kind, 
 He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes ; 
 Who, then conceiving, did in eaningtime [cob's. 
 Fall partj-colour'd lambs, and those were Ja- 
 This was a way to thrive, and he was blest ; 
 And thrift is blesging, if men steal it not, 
 
 {Crosses to l,h.) 
 
 Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob 
 serv'd for ; 
 A thing not in his power to bring to pass, 
 But svvay'd and fashion'd by the hand of Heaven : 
 Was this inserted to make interest good ? 
 Or is your gold and silver, ewes and rams ? 
 
 Shy. I cannot tell ; I make it breed as fast, 
 
 (1) Lambs just dropt : from ean, eniti, 
 (2^ Now called a switch,. 
 
OF VENICE, 25 
 
 >Ant. {Apart to Bass) — Mark you this, Bassanio, 
 The devil can cite scripture for his purpose. 
 An evil soul, producing holy witness. 
 Is like a villain with a smiling cheek ; 
 A goodly apple rotten at the heart : 
 O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath ! (1) 
 
 Shy. (Musing.) — Three thousand ducats, — 
 'Tis a good round sum. 
 Three months from twelve, then let me see the 
 r»te. [you ? 
 
 Ant. Well^ Shylock, shall we be beholden to 
 
 Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft, 
 In the Riallo you have rated me 
 About my monies, and my usances : 
 Still have 1 borne it with a patient shrug ; 
 For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe : 
 You call me — misbeliever, cut throat dog. 
 And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, 
 And all for use of that which is mine own. 
 Well then, it now appears you need my help : 
 Go to then ; you come to me, and you say, 
 Shylock we would have monies ; You say so ; 
 You, that did void your rheum upon my beard. 
 And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur 
 Over your threshold ; monies is your suit. 
 What should I say to you ? Should I not say, 
 Hath a dog money ? Is it possible^ 
 A cur can lend three thousand ducats ? — or 
 Shall I bend low, and in a bondman s key, 
 
 (1) Falsehood^ which as truth means honesty, is taken 
 here for treachery and knavery, does not stand iov falsehood 
 in general, but for the dishonesty now operating. 
 3 * 
 
26 MERCHANT 
 
 With 'bated breath, and whispering humbleness, 
 
 Say this, — 
 
 Fair Sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last ; 
 You spurn'^d me such a day ; another time 
 You caWd me — dog ; and for these courtesies 
 ril lend you thus much monies. 
 
 Ant. i am as like to call thee so again, 
 To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. 
 If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not 
 As to thy friends; (for when did friendship take 
 A breed for barren metal (1) of his friend?) 
 But lend it rather to thine enemy; 
 Who if he break, thou may'st with better face 
 Exact the penalty. 
 
 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 hoai" 
 This is kind 1 offer. [me : 
 
 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. 
 In such a place, such sum, or sums, as arc 
 
 (1) A breed, that is interest money bred from the princi- 
 pal. By the epithet barren, the author would instruct us 
 in the argument on which the p.dvQcates against usury 
 v^ent, which is this ; that money is a barren thing, and 
 cannot, like corn and cattle, multiply itself. And to set off 
 the absurdity of this kind of usury, he put breed and bar- 
 ren in opposition* 
 
OF VENICE. 27 
 
 Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit 
 Be nominated for an equal pound 
 Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken 
 In what part of your body pleaseth me. 
 
 Ant. Content, in faith : lil seal to such a bond, 
 And say, there is much kindness in the Jew. 
 
 Bass. You shall not seal to such a bond for 
 I'd rather dwell in my necessity. [o^e, 
 
 Ant. Why, fear not, man ; 1 will not forfeit it ; 
 Withm these two months, that's a mpnth before 
 This bond expires, 1 do expect return 
 Of thrice three times the value of this bond. 
 
 {Ant. and Bas. retire up the stage.) 
 
 Shy. O father Abraham, what these Christians 
 are ; 
 Whose own hard dealing teaches them to suspect 
 The thoughts of others ! — Pray you, tell me this; 
 
 {They advance.) 
 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. 
 Is not so estimable, profitable neither, 
 As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say, 
 To buy his favour, 1 extend this friendship ; 
 If he will take it, so ; if not, adieu ; 
 And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not. 
 
 Ant. Yes, Shylock, 1 will seal unto this bond. 
 
 Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's ; 
 Give him direction for this merry bond, 
 And I will go and purse the ducats straight ; 
 See to my house, left in the fearful guard (1) 
 
 (1) Fearful guard, is a guard that is not to be trusted, 
 but gives cause of fear. To fear, was anciently to give 
 as well as feel terrors. 
 
28 MERCHANT 
 
 Of an unthrifty knave; and presently 
 I will be with you. 
 
 Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. — [Exit Shylock, r.b. 
 
 This Hebrew will turn Christian ; he grows kind. 
 
 Bass. I like not fair terms, and a villain's 
 
 mind. (1) 
 Ant. Come on ; in this there can be no dismay, 
 My ships come home a month before the day. 
 
 [Exeunt ; l.h. 
 
 END OF ACT I. 
 
 ACT 11. 
 
 SCENE I.— ^ Street in Venice. 
 
 Enter Launcelot Gobbo, from l.h.d.f. 
 
 Laun. Certainly, my conscience will serve me 
 to run from this Jew my master : The fiend is 
 at mine elbow ; and tempts me, saying to me, 
 Gobbo^ Launcelot Gobbo., good Launcelot^ or good 
 Gobbo., or good Launcelot Gobbo, iise your legs, 
 take the start., run away : My conscience says, — 
 no ; take heed., honest Launcelot ; take heed honest 
 Gobbo ; or., as aforesaid, honest Launcelot Gobbo ; 
 do not run; scorn running rvith thy heels: Well, 
 the most courageous fiend bids me pack ; via ! 
 
 (1) Kind words, good language. 
 
OF VENICE. 29 
 
 says the fiend ; away ; says the fiend, for the 
 heavens^ rouse up a brave mind,, says t!>e fiend, 
 a7id run. Well, my conscience, hanging- about 
 the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me, 
 — 7ny honest friend Lauucelot^ being an honest 
 man'' s son .^ — or rather an honest woman's son ^ 
 — fi^r, indeed, my father did something smack; 
 something grow to, he had a kind of taste ; — 
 well, my conscience says, — Laimcelot, budge not; 
 hudge^ says the fiend ; budge not^ says my con- 
 science : Conscience, say !, you counsel well ! 
 fiend, s'ay I, yon counsel well; to be ruled by 
 my conscience, T should stay with the Jew my 
 niasiter, who. Heaven bless the mark ! is a kind 
 of devil ; and, to run away from the Jew, I 
 should be rul'd by the fiend, who, saving your 
 reverence, is the devil himself: certainly, the 
 Jew is the very devil incarnation, and, in my 
 conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard 
 conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay with 
 the Jew : the fiend gives the more friendly 
 counsel ! I will run ; fiend, my heels are at your 
 commandment, I will run. 
 
 Gob. (Without^ K.H.) Master, young man, you, 
 I pray you, which is the way to master Jew's? 
 
 Laun. O heavens, this is my true begotten 
 father 1 who, being more than sand-blind, high- 
 gravel blind, knows me not :— I will try con- 
 clusions (1) with him. 
 
 (1) Try experimente. 
 
80 MERCHANT 
 
 Enter Old Goebo, r.h. (1) with a basket. 
 
 Gob. Master, young g^entleman, 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, '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 ? 
 (Aside.) Mark me now : 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 exceed- 
 ing poor man, and, Heaven be thanked, well to 
 live. 
 
 Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, 
 we talk of young Master Launcelot. 
 
 Gob. Of Launcelot, an't please your master- 
 ship. 
 
 Lmm. Ergo^ Master Launcelot ; — talk not of 
 Master Launcelot, father ; for the young gentle- 
 man (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. 
 
 (1) It may be inferred from the name of Gobbo, that 
 Shakspeare designed this character to be represented with 
 a hump-back. 
 
OF VENICE. 31 
 
 Gob. Marry, Heaven forbid ! the boy was the 
 very staff of my age, my very prop. 
 
 Lairn. Do I look hke a cudgel, or a hovel- 
 post, a staff, or a prop ? — Do you know me, 
 father ? 
 
 Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young 
 gentleman : but, 1 pray you, tell me, is my boy 
 (Heaven 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. (^Falls on his knees.) 
 Give me your blessing : truth will come to hght ; 
 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. (jRwes.)— 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. 
 
 Laun. 1 know not what I shall think of that : 
 but 1 am Launcelot, the Jew's man : and, 1 am 
 sure, Margery, your wife, is my mother. 
 
 Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed. I'll be 
 sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own 
 flesh and blood. Lord worshipped might he be ! 
 what a beard hast thou got ! tho»i hast got more 
 hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thiil-horse 
 has on his tail 
 
32 MERCHANT 
 
 Laun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tail 
 grows backward ; I am sure, he had more hair 
 on his tail, than 1 have on my face, when 1 last 
 saw him. 
 
 Gob. Lord, how art thou chang'd ! How dost 
 thou and thy master agree? I have brought 
 hifn a present. 
 
 Latin. Give him a present ! give him a halter: 
 I am famish'd in his service ; you may tell every 
 finger I have in my ribs. Father, I am glad 
 you are come ; give me your present to one 
 Master Bassaoio, who, indeed, gives rare new 
 liveries ; if 1 serve not him, I will run as far as 
 Heaven 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. 
 
 jBw^er Bassanio, with Leonardo and Stephano, r.h. 
 
 Bass. You may do so ; — See these letters de- 
 livered ; put the liveries to making : and desire 
 Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. 
 
 [Exit StephanOf r.h. 
 
 Laun. To him, father. 
 
 Gob. Heaven bless your worship ! 
 
 Bass. Gramercy ; would'st thou ought with 
 
 me 
 
 Gob. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy,-^ 
 
 Laun- Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's 
 man : that would, sir, as my father shall specify ,- 
 
 Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one 
 would say, to serve — 
 
 Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I 
 
OF VENICE. 33 
 
 serve the Jew ; and I have a desire, as my fath- 
 er shall specify, — 
 
 Gob. His master and he (saving- your worship's 
 reverence,) are scarce cater-cousins. 
 
 Laun. I'o 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 fruti- 
 rfy onto you, — 
 
 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 impertinent to 
 myself, as your worship shall know by this 
 honest old man ; and, though 1 say it, though 
 -old man, yet, poor man, my father. 
 
 Bass. One speak for both I — What would you? 
 
 iLaun. Serve you, sir. 
 
 Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, sir. 
 
 Bass. I kno-w thee well, thou hast obtain' d thy 
 suit: 
 Sbylock, thy masler, spoke with me this day, 
 And hath preferred thee ; if it be preferment, 
 To leave a rich Jew's service, to become 
 The follower of so poor a gentleman. 
 
 Laun. The old proverb is very well parted 
 between my master Sbylock and you, sir; you 
 have the grace of Heaven, sir, and he hath 
 enough. [thy son :-^ 
 
 Bass. Thou speak'st it well : go, father, with 
 Take leave of thy old master, and inquire 
 My lodging out.-Give him a livery (To Leonardo.) 
 More guarded (l)than his fellows' ; see it done. 
 (.Bass, retires up the stage with Leon.) 
 (1) More ornamented, 
 4 
 
34 MERCHANT 
 
 Laun. Father, in : — (Crosses to l.h.) I cannot 
 get a service, no; — 1 have ne'er a tongue in my 
 head. — Well, (Ijooking on his palm.) if any man 
 in Italy have a fairer table, which doth offer to 
 swear upon a book. (1) — I shall have good for- 
 tune ; go to, here's a simple Une of life ! here's 
 a small trifle of wives ; alas, fifteen wives is 
 nothing: eleven widows, and nine maids, is a 
 simple coming-in for one man : and then, to 
 'scape drowning thrice ; and to be in peril of 
 my life with the edge of a feather-bed ; (2) here 
 are simple 'scapes ! Well, if fortune be a wo- 
 man, she's a good wench, for this gear. — Father, 
 come ; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the 
 twinkling of an eye. 
 
 [Exeunt Laun. and old Gobbo, l.h.d.f. 
 Bass. (Advancing with Leon.)— I pray thee, 
 
 good Leonardo, think on this ; 
 These things being bought, and orderly be- 
 
 stow'd, 
 Return in haste, for I do feast to-night 
 My best esteem'd acquaintance ; hie thee, go^ 
 
 (1) Table is the palm of the hand extended. Launcelot 
 congratulates himself upon his dexterity and good fortune, 
 and, in the height of his rapture, inspects his hand, and 
 congratulates himself upon the felicities in his table. The 
 act of expanding his hand puts him in mind of the action 
 in which the palm is shewn, by raising it to lay it on the 
 book, in judicial attestations. JVell, says he, if any man 
 in Italy have a fairer table, that doth offer to swear upon 
 a book. — Here he stops with an abruptness very common, 
 and proceeds to particulars. 
 
 (2) A capt phrase to signify the danger of marrying. 
 
OF VENICE. 35 
 
 Enter Gratiano, r.h. 
 
 Gra. Where is your master ? 
 
 Leon. Yonder, sir, he walks. [ExiV, r,b. 
 
 Gra. Signior Bassanio. — 
 
 Bass. Gratiano ! 
 
 Gra. I have a suit to you. 
 
 Bass- You have obtainM it. 
 
 Gra. You must not deny me ; I must go with 
 you to Belmont. 
 
 Bass, Why then, you must: — but hear thee, 
 Gratiano ; 
 Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice ;- 
 Parts, that become thee happily enough, 
 And in such eyes as ours appear not faults; 
 Bui where thou art not known, why, there they 
 
 shew 
 Something too liberal ; (1) — pray thee, take pain 
 1 o allay with some cold drops of modesty 
 Thy skipping spirit ; lest, through thy wild be- 
 haviour, 
 I be misconstru''d in the place I go to. 
 And lose my hopes. 
 
 Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me : 
 If I do not put on a sober habit, 
 Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, 
 Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demure- 
 ly ; [eyes (2) 
 Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine 
 
 (1) Gross, coarse, licentious. 
 
 (2) Alluding to the manner of covering a hawk's eyes. 
 
36 MERCHANT 
 
 Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say, Amen ; 
 Use all the observance ofcvility. 
 Like one well studied m a sad ostent (1) 
 To please his grandam, never trust me more. 
 
 Bass. Well, we shall see your bearing. (2) 
 
 Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night ; you shall not 
 gage me 
 By what we do to-night. 
 
 Bass. No, that were pity ; 
 I would entreat you rather to put on 
 Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends 
 That purpose merriment : but fare you well, 
 I have some business. 
 
 Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest ; 
 But we will visit you at supper-time. 
 
 [Exeunt^ R.ir,' 
 
 SCENE l.^Shylock's House. 
 
 Enter Jessica, and Launi;e?.ot, l.h. 
 
 Jesse. I am sorry thou wilt leave ray father so ; 
 0>ir house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, 
 Didst rob it of some taste of tedionsness : 
 But fare thee wel! ; there is a ducai for thee. 
 And, Launcelot, ?oon at supper shait 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. 
 
 (1) Grave appearance ; show of staid and serious beha« 
 viour. 
 
 (2) Carriage, deportment. 
 
OF VENICE. 37 
 
 Zaun. Adieu ! — tears exhibit my tongue. — 
 Most beautiful Pagan, — most sweet Jew ! {Cros- 
 ses to R.n ) if a Christian did not play the knave, 
 and get thee, I am much deceivM : — but, adieu : 
 these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly 
 spirit ; adieu ! [Exit^ r.h. 
 
 Jess. Farewell, good Launcelot — 
 Aiack, what heinous sin is it in me, 
 To be asham'd to be my father's child ! 
 But though ! am a daughter to his blood, 
 I am not to his manners : O Lorenzo, 
 If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife ; 
 Become a Christian, and thy loving wife. 
 
 [Exit^ L.H. 
 
 SCENE III.— j3 Street in Venice. 
 
 Enter Salarino, Solanio, Gratiano, and Lorenzo, 
 
 R.H. 
 
 Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper time ; 
 Disguise us at my lodging and return 
 All in an h ur. 
 
 Gra. We have not made good preparation. 
 
 Sol. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bear- 
 ers. (1) 
 
 (1) A torch bearer seems to have been a constant appen- 
 dage on every troop of maskers ; it was anciently no de- 
 grading office. Queen Elizabeth's Gentlemen-Pensioners 
 attended her to Cambridge, and held torches while a play 
 was acted before her in the Chapel of King's College, on a 
 Sunday Evening. Henry the viiith, when he went.masked 
 to Wolsey's palace, (now Whitehall,) had sixteen torch; 
 bearers, 
 
 4 * 
 
3^ MERCHANT 
 
 Sala. 'T^is vile, unless it may be quaintly 
 ordered ; 
 And better, in my mind, not undertook. 
 
 Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock ; we have 
 two hours 
 To furnish us : — 
 
 Enter Launcelot, l,h. 
 
 Friend Launcelot, what's the news ? 
 
 Laun, An it shall please you to break up thisy 
 (1) it shall seem to signify. 
 
 (^Gives Lorenzo a Letter. — Crosses to r.h. 
 
 Lor. I known the hand : in faith, 'tis a fair 
 hand ; 
 And whiter than the paper it writ on, 
 Is the fair hand that writ. 
 
 Gra. Love news, in faith. 
 
 Laun. By your leave, sir. (^Crosses to l.h.) 
 
 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 Jes- 
 sica, 1 will not fail her ; — speak it privately, go. — 
 
 [Exit Laun. l.h. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Will you prepare you for this masque to-night ? 
 I am provided of a torch-bearer. 
 
 Sol. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. 
 
 Sala. And so will L 
 
 (1) Break up was a term in carving. 
 
OF VENICE. 39- 
 
 Lor. Meet me and Gratiano, 
 At Gratiano's lo 'gin^ some hour hence. 
 
 Sala. 'Tis good we do so. 
 
 \^Exeunt Sala. and Sol. l.h. 
 
 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.— 
 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. 
 
 [^Excun^ R.H. 
 
 SCENE IV.^Shylock's House. 
 
 Shylock, l.h. and Launcelot, r.h. discovered. 
 
 Shy. We 1, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be 
 thy judge, 
 The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio : — 
 
 What, Jessica ! thou shalt not gormandize, 
 
 As thou hast done with me ; — What, Jessica ! — 
 And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out ; — 
 Why, Jessica, I say ! 
 
 Laun. Why, Jessica ! [call 
 
 Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee 
 Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me. I 
 could do nothing without bidding. 
 
iiO MERCHANT 
 
 Enter Jessica, l.h. 
 
 Jess. Call you ? What is your will ? 
 
 Shy. lam bid forth (I) to supper, Jessica; 
 There are my keys: — but wherefore should 
 
 I go? 
 I am not bid for love ; they flatter me : 
 But yet V\\ go in hate, to feed upon 
 The prodigal Christian. — Jessica, my girl, 
 Look to my house : — I am right lotli to go ; 
 There is some ill a brewing towards my rest, 
 For I did dream of money-bags to-nsght 
 
 Laun. I beseech you, sir, iO ; my young mas- 
 ter 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 vou 
 do, then it was not for nothing that my nose 
 fell a bleeding on Black-monday (2) last, at six 
 o'clock i' the morning, falling out that year on 
 Ash Wednesday was four year in the afternoon. 
 
 (1) I am invited. 
 
 (2) Black Monday is Easier Monday, and was so called 
 on this occasion : In the 34th of Edward iii. (1360.) the 
 14th of April, and the morrow after Easter-day, King Ed- 
 ward, with his host, lay before the city of Paris, which day 
 was full of dark mist and hail, and so bitter cold. Where- 
 fore, unto this day, it hath been called the Blacke Mon- 
 day Stowe, 264, 6. 
 
 It appears from a passage in Lodge's Rosalynde, 1592^ 
 that some superstitious belief was annexed to the acci- 
 dent of bleeding at the nose ; " As he stood gazing, his nose 
 on a sudden bled^ which made him conjecture it was some 
 friend of his." 
 
OF VENICE. 41 
 
 Shy. What ! are there masques ? Hear you 
 me, Jessica : 
 Lock up my doors ; and when you hear the drum, 
 And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife, (1) 
 Clamber not you up to the casements then, 
 Nor thrust your head into the public street. 
 To gaze on Christian feols 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, 
 1 have no mind of feasting forth to-night : 
 But I will go. — Go you before me, sirrah ; 
 Say, 1 will come. 
 
 Laun. I will go before, sir. — 
 Mistress, look out at window, for all this,- 
 There will come a Christian by, 
 Will be worth a Jewess' eye. (2) [Exit.) r.h. 
 Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, 
 ha ? fing else. 
 
 Jes. His words were, Farewell mistress , noth- 
 Shy. The patch (3) is kind enough j but a 
 huge feeder. 
 Snail slow in profit, and he sleeps by day 
 More than the wild cat ; drones hive not with 
 
 me ; 
 Therefore I part with him ; and part with him 
 
 (l)It appears from hence, that tlie fifes, in Shakspeare's 
 time were formed differently from those now in use, which 
 are straight, not wry-necked. 
 
 (2) A proverbial phrase. 
 
 (3) The Fooh—Pakhe being the name of Cardinal Wol-- 
 sey's fool. 
 
42 MERCHANT 
 
 To one that I would have him help to waste 
 His borrow d piirse^ — Well, Jessica, go in ; 
 Perhaps, I wiil return iramediatel}' ; 
 Do as I bid you ; shut doors after you ; — 
 Fast bind^ fast find ; 
 
 A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. [Exit^ r.h. 
 Jes. Farewell ; and if my fortune be not crost, 
 I have a father, you a daughter, lost. 
 
 SONG. — Jessica. 
 
 Haste^ Lorenzo, hasle away^ 
 To my longing arms repair, 
 
 With impatience I shall tie ; 
 Come, and ease thy Jr3sy''s care : 
 
 Let me then, in wanton p*ay, 
 
 Sigh and gaze my soul away. [Exit, L.H. 
 
 SCENE V— ^ Street in Fef Ace— Before Shylock's 
 House. 
 
 Enter Gkatiano, Salarino. and Solanio, mas- 
 qued, L.H. 
 
 Gra. This is the pent-house, under which 
 Lorenzo 
 Desired us to make stand. (1) 
 
 Sol. His hour is almost past. 
 
 Gra And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, 
 For lovers ever run before the clock. 
 
 (1) Desir'd us stand, in ancient elliptical language, sig- 
 nifies, desired us to stand. The words, To make, are an 
 nvident interpolation, and consequently spoil the measure. 
 
OF VENICE. 43 
 
 Sala. O, ten times faster Venus' pigfeons fly 
 To seal love's bonds new made, than they are 
 
 wont 
 To keep obliged faith unforfeited! 
 
 Gra. That ever holds : — 
 
 Enter Lorenzo, masqued^ l.h. 
 
 Sala. Here comes Lorenzo: — more of this 
 hereafter. [abode ; 
 
 Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long 
 Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait : 
 When you shall please to play the thieves for 
 
 wives, 
 I'll watch as long for you then. 
 Here dwells my father Jew. 
 
 SONG.— Lorenzo. 
 
 My bli^s too long my bride denies ; 
 Apace the wasting summer Jlies : 
 JVor yet the winfry blasts I fear^ 
 Nor storms nor night shall keep me here. 
 
 What may for strength with steel compare ? 
 O, love has fetters stronger far ! 
 By bolts of steel are limbs confn'^d ; 
 But cruel love enchains the mind. 
 
 JVb longer then perplex thy breast^ 
 When thoughts torment., the first are best ; 
 ''Tis mad to go^ His death to stay.^ 
 Away^ my Jessy^ haste away. 
 
44 MERCHANT 
 
 Jessica, at the Window in Flat^ l.h. 
 
 Jess. Who are j'ou ? tell me, for more cer- 
 tainty, 
 Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue. 
 
 Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love. 
 
 Jes. Lorenzo, certain ; and my love, indeed ; 
 For who love I so much ? and now who knows. 
 But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours ? 
 
 Lor. Heaven, and thy thoughts, are witness 
 that thou art. [pains.- 
 
 Jes. Here, catch this casket ; it is worth the 
 
 Lor. But come at once ; 
 For the close night doth play the run-away, 
 And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast. 
 
 Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself 
 
 With some more ducats, and be with you straight. 
 
 [Exit., from the window. 
 
 Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile, and no 
 Jew. (1) 
 
 Lor. Beshrew me, but I love her heartily ; 
 For she is wise, if I can judge of her ; 
 And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true ; 
 And true she is, as she hath prov'd herself: 
 And therefore, like herself,^ wise, fair, and true, 
 Shall she be placed in my constant soul. 
 
 (1) A jest arising from the ambiguity of Gentile, which 
 signifies both a Heathen and one wellborn. Gratiano was 
 in a masqued habit, to which it is probable that formerly, 
 as at present, a large cape or hood was affixed. — Friar? 
 frecjuently swore by this part of their habit. 
 
OF VENICE. 45 
 
 Enter Jessica, d.f.l.h. 
 
 What, art thou come ? — On, gentlemen, away ; 
 Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. 
 
 [Exeunt, l.h 
 
 END OF ACT II. 
 
 ACT III. 
 SCENE I.— ^ Street in Venice, 
 
 Enter Salarino and Solanio, r.h. 
 
 Sol Why man, I saw Bassanio under sail j 
 With him is Gratiano gone along ; 
 And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not. 
 
 Sala. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the 
 duke ; 
 Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. 
 
 Sol. He came too late, the ship was under sail : 
 But there the Duke was given to understand, 
 That in a gondola were seen together 
 Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica : 
 Besides, Antonio certified the Duke, 
 They were not with Bassanio in his ship. 
 
 Sala. I never heard a passion so confus'd, 
 So strange, outrageous, and so variable, 
 As the dog Jew did utter in the streets : 
 My daughter ! — O my ducats I — O my daughter /— 
 5 
 
46 MERCHANT 
 
 Fled with a Christian ! — Omy Christian ducats ! — 
 Justice ! the law ! my ducats^ and my daughter ! 
 Let good Antonio look he keep his day, 
 Or he shall pay for this. 
 
 Sol. Marry, well remember'd : 
 I reason'd (1) with a Frenchman yesterday ; who 
 told me, that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading 
 wreck'd on the narrow seas ; the Goodwins, I 
 think they call the place ; a very dangerous flat, 
 and fatal, where the carcases of many a tall ship 
 lie buried, as they say, if my gossip report be an 
 honest woman of her word. 
 
 Sala. I would she were as lying a gossip in 
 that as ever knapt (2) ginger, or made her neigh- 
 bours believe she wept for the death of a third 
 husband : but it is true, that the good Antonio, 
 the honest Antonio, — O, that 1 had a title good 
 enough to keep his name company ! 
 
 Sol. Come, the full stop. 
 
 Sala. Why the end is, he hath lost a ship. 
 
 Sol. I would it might prove the end of his 
 losses ! 
 
 Sala. Let me say Amen betimes, lest the de- 
 vil cross thy prayer; for here he comes in the 
 likeness of a Jew. 
 
 Enter Shylock, l.h. 
 
 How now, Shylock ; what news among the mer- 
 chants ? 
 
 (1) I conversed. 
 
 (2) To knap is to break short. — The word occurs in the 
 Psalms. — " He knappeth the spear in sunder." 
 
OF VENICE. 47 
 
 Shy. You knew, none so well, none so well 
 as you, of my daughter's flight. 
 
 {Crosses to Centre.) 
 
 Sol. That's certain ; I, for my part, knew the 
 tailor that made the wings she flew withal. 
 
 Sala And Shylock, for his own part, knew 
 the bird was fledg'd ; and then it is the com- 
 plexion of them all to leave the dam. 
 
 Shy. She is damn'd for it. 
 
 Sol. That's certain, if the devil may be her 
 judge. 
 
 Shy. My own flesh and blood to rebel ! 
 
 Sala. But tell us, do you hear whether Anto- 
 nio have had any loss at sea or no ? 
 
 Shy. There I have another bad match : a 
 bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his 
 head on the Rialto ; — a beggar, that used to 
 come so smug upon the mart; — let him look to 
 his bond : he was wont to call me usurer ; let 
 him look to his bond : he was wont to lend mo- 
 ney for a christian courtesy : — let him look to 
 his bond. {Crosses to l h.) 
 
 Sol. Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt 
 not take his flesh ; what's that good for ? 
 
 Shy To bait fish withal : if it will feed noth- 
 ing else, it will feed my revenge. {Crosses to 
 centre.) He hath disgrac'd me, and hinderd me 
 of half a million : laugh'd at my losses, mock'd 
 at my gains, scorn'd my nation, 'thwarted ray 
 bargains, cooTd my friends, heated my ene- 
 mies ; and what's his reason ? — I am a Jew. 
 Hath not a Jew eyes ? hath not a Jew hands, 
 organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions ? 
 
48 MERCHANT 
 
 —fed with the saime food, hurt with the same 
 weapons, subject to the same diseases, heaPd 
 by the same means, warm'd and cooi'd by the 
 same winter and summer, as a Christian is ? if 
 you prick us, do we not bleed ? — if you tickle 
 us, do we not laugh ? — if you poison us, do we 
 not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not re- 
 venge ? If we are like you in the rest, we will 
 resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Chris- 
 tian, what is his humility? revenge ; if a Chris- 
 tian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be 
 by Christian example? why, revenge. — {Crosses 
 to R.H.) — rhe villainy you teach me, 1 will exe- 
 cute ! and it shall go hard, but I will better the 
 instruction. 
 
 Sala. Here comes another of the tribe : a 
 third cannot be match'd, unless the devil him- 
 self turn Jew. [Exeunt Sol and Sala. l.h. 
 
 Enter Tubal, r.h. 
 
 Shy. How, now, Tubal, what news from Ge- 
 noa ? hast thou found my daughter ? 
 
 Tub. I often came where I did hear of her, 
 but cannot find her. 
 
 Shy. Why there, there, there, there ! a dia- 
 mond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in 
 Frankfort ! The curse never fell upon our na- 
 tion till now ; I never felt it till now : — two 
 thousand ducats in that ; and other precious, 
 precious jewels. — I would, my daughter were 
 dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear ! 
 'would she were hears'd at my foot, and the dn- 
 
OF VENICE. 49 
 
 cats in her coffin ! No news of them ? — why, 
 so : — and I know not what's spent in the search : 
 why, thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with 
 so much, and so much to find the thief; and no 
 satisfaction, no revenge : nor no ill luck stir- 
 ring, but what lights o' my shoulders ; no 
 sighs, but o' my breathing : no tears, but o' my 
 shedding. 
 
 Tub. Yes, other men have ill luck too ; Anto- 
 nio, as I heard in Genoa, — 
 
 Shy. What, what, what! ill luck, ill luck? 
 
 Tub. Hath an argosy cast away, coming from 
 Tripolis. 
 
 Shy I thank God, I thank God !— Is it true ? is 
 it true ? 
 
 Tub. I spoke with some of the sailors that es- 
 caped the wreck. 
 
 Shy. I thank thee, good Tubal?— Good news, 
 good news : ha ! ha ! — Where ? in Genoa ? 
 
 Tub. Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I 
 heard, one night, fourscore ducats. 
 
 Shy. Thou stick'st a dagger in me : — I shall 
 never see my gold again : fourscore ducats at a 
 sitting! fourscore ducats! 
 
 Tub. There came divers of Antonio's credi- 
 tors in my company to Venice, that swear he 
 cannot choose but break. 
 
 Shy. I am very glad of it ; I'll plague him j 
 I'll torture him; I am glad of it. 
 
 Tub. One of them shewed me a ring, that he 
 had of your daughter for a monkey. 
 
 Shy. Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tu- 
 5* 
 
50 MERCHANT 
 
 bal : it was my torquoise ; (1) I had it of Leah, 
 when I was a bachelor : 1 would not have given 
 it for a wilderness of monkies. (^Crosses to l.h.) 
 
 Tub. But Antonio is certainly undone. 
 
 Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true : go, 
 Tubal, fee me an officer, bespeak him a fort- 
 night before : I will have the heart ofhim, if he 
 forfeit ; for were he out of Venice, 1 can make 
 what merchandize I will : go, go. Tubal, and 
 meet me at our synagogue, go, good Tubal; at 
 our synagogue, Tubal. 
 
 [Exeunt ; Shy. l.h. Tubal^ r.h. 
 
 SCENE II.— Portia's House at Belmont, 
 
 The three Caskets of gold, silver, and lead, are set 
 out. 
 
 Portia, Bassanio, l.h. Nerissa, Gratiano, r.h. 
 Singers, Musicians, Pages, and other Attend- 
 ants, discovered. 
 
 Bass. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three 
 First, never to unfold to any one [things : 
 
 Which casket 'twas 1 chose ; next, if I fail 
 Of the right casket, never in my life 
 
 (1) Torquise, or turkesse, is a precious stone found in 
 the veins of the mountains on the confines of Persia to the 
 east, subject to the Tartars. The imaginary virtues as- 
 cribed to this stone are, that it faded or brightened in its 
 colour as the health of the wearer increased or grew less : 
 it is likewise said to take away all enmity, and to recon- 
 cile man and wife. This would be an invaluable gem in 
 many married families. 
 
OF VENICE. 51 
 
 To woo a maid in way of marriage ; lastly, 
 If I do fail in fortune of my choice, 
 Immediately to leave you, and begone. 
 
 For. To these injunctions every one doth swear, 
 That comes to hazard for my worthless self 
 
 Bass. And so have I addressM me.— Fortune 
 To my heart's hope ! [now 
 
 For. I pray you, tarry ; pause a day or two 
 Before you hazard ; for, in choosing wrong, 
 I lose your company ; therefore, forbear a while : 
 There's something tells me, but it is not love, 
 I would not lose you : and you know yourself, 
 Hate counsels not in such a quality. (1) 
 I could teach you 
 
 How to choose right, but then I am forsworn; 
 So will I never be : so may you miss me : 
 But if you do, you'll make me wish a sin, 
 That I had been forsworn. 
 I speak too long : but 'tis to peize (2) the time ; 
 To eke it, and to draw it out in length. 
 To stay you from election. 
 
 Bass. Let me choose ; 
 For, as I am, 1 live upon the rack. 
 Come, let me to my fortune and the caskets. 
 
 For. Away then: I am lock'd in one of them; 
 If you do love me, you will find me out. — 
 Nerissa, and the rest, stand all aloof — 
 
 {They retire.) 
 Let music sound while he doth make his choice ; 
 
 (1) Hate would not incline me to wish you should stay. 
 
 (2) To retard, by hanging weights upon it. To peize 
 is from /jwer, Fr, to weigh. 
 
52 MERCHANT 
 
 Then, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end^ 
 Fading in music : that the comparison 
 May stand more proper, my eye shall be the 
 And wat'ry death-bed for him. [stream, 
 
 (^Miisic, is>hilst Bassanio comments on the cas* 
 kets to himself.) 
 Bass. Some good direct my judgment ! — Let 
 me see. — [rfe^ire," 
 
 " Who chooseth me., shall gain what many men 
 That may be meant 
 
 Of the fool multitude, that choose by show ; 
 The world is still deceived with ornament. 
 In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt. 
 But, being seasoned with a gracious voice,(l) 
 Obscures the show of evil ? in religion, 
 What damned error, but some sober brow 
 Will bless it, and approve(2) it with a text, 
 Hiding the grossness with fair ornament ? 
 Thus ornament is but the guiled(3) shore 
 To a most dang'rous sea ; the beauteous scarf 
 Veiling an Indian beauty. — 
 Therefore, thou gaudy gold, 
 Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee. 
 *' Who chooseth me., shall get as much as he de- 
 serves.'^'' 
 And well said too; for who shall go about 
 To cozen fortune, and be honourable 
 
 (1) Pleasing ; winning favour. 
 
 (2) Justify it. 
 
 (3) Treaciieious.— Shakspeare, in this instance as in 
 many others, confounds the participles. Gulled stands for 
 guiling. 
 
OF VENICE. 53 
 
 Without the stamp of merit ? 
 O, that estates, degrees, and offices, [nour 
 
 Were not deriv'd corruptly ! and that clear ho- 
 Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer ! 
 How many then should cover, that stand bare ? 
 How many be commanded, that command ? 
 And how much honour 
 Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times, 
 To be new varnish'd ? — '' Much as he deserves?^-" 
 I'll not assume desert. — [he hath.''^ 
 
 " Who chooseth me^ must give and hazard all 
 I'll none of thee, thou pale and common drudge 
 'Tween man and man : but thou, thou meagre 
 lead, [a'Jght, 
 
 Which rather threat'nest, than dost promise 
 Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence, 
 And here choose 1 ; Joy be the consequence ; 
 Por. How all the other passions fleet to air ! 
 
 love, be moderate, allay thy ecstacy ; 
 
 1 feel too much thy blessing ; make it less. 
 For fear I surfeit ! [I here ! 
 
 Bass. {Opening the Leaden casket.) What find 
 Fair Portia's counterfeit ?(1) Here is the scroll, 
 The continent and summary of my fortune. 
 
 (Reads) — You that choose not by the view.^ 
 
 Chance as fair., and choose as true ! 
 Since this fortune falls to you^ 
 Be content^ and seek no new. 
 
 (i) Counterfeit anciently signified a likeness. So m 
 Hamlet : — <«The counterfeit presentiment of two brothers. 
 
54 MERCHANT 
 
 If you he well pleased with this^ 
 And hold your fortune for your hlisS^ 
 Turn you where your lady is^ 
 And claim her with a loving kiss. 
 
 A gentle scroll ; — Fair lady, by your leave ; 
 I come by note, to give, and to receive ; 
 Yet doubtful whether what I say be true, 
 Until confirm'd, sign'd, ratified by you. — 
 
 (^Kissing her.') 
 
 For. You see me, Lord Bassanio, where 1 
 stand, 
 Such as 1 am : though, for myself alone, 
 1 would not be ambitious in my wish, 
 To wish myself much better; yet, for you, 
 I would be trebled twenty times myself; 
 A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times 
 More rich ; 
 
 That only to stand high on your account, 
 I might in virtues, beauties, livings,(l) friends, 
 Exceed account. But now 1 was the lord 
 Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, 
 Queen o'er myself: and even now, but now, 
 This house, these servants, and this same myself, 
 Are yours, my lord ; I give them with this ring ; 
 Which when you part from, lose, or give away. 
 Let it presage the ruin of your love. 
 And be my vantage to exclaim on you. [words, 
 
 Bass, Madam, you hav^ bereft me of all 
 Only my blood speaks to you in my veins : 
 But when this ring 
 
 (1) Riches, 
 
OF VENICE. 55 
 
 Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence ; 
 O, then be bold to say, Bassanio's dead. 
 
 JVer. My lord and lady, it is now our time, 
 That have stood by, and seen our wishes prosper, 
 To cry, good joy ! Good joy, my lord and lady ! 
 
 {Crosses to Por.^ 
 
 Gra. My lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady, 
 I wish you all the joy that you can wish ; 
 For, I am sure, you can wish none from me : 
 And, when your honours mean to solemnize 
 The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you, 
 Even at that time I may be marry'd too. 
 
 Bass. With all my heart, so thou can'st get a 
 wife. [one. 
 
 Gra. I thank your lordship ; you have got me 
 My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours : 
 You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid; 
 You lov'd, I lov'd ; for intermission (1) 
 No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. 
 Your fortune stood upon the caskets there ; 
 And so did mine too, as the matter falls : 
 For wooing here, until 1 sweat again ; 
 And swearing, till my very roof was dry 
 With oaths of love ; at last, — if promise last, — 
 I got a promise of this fair one here. 
 To have her love, provided that your fortune 
 Achieved her mistress. 
 
 For. Is this true, Nerissa ? 
 
 JVer. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal. 
 
 n) Pause, intervening time, delay. — So in Macbeth — 
 "Gentle heaven, 
 " Cut short all interjnission !" 
 
56 MERCHANT 
 
 Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith ? 
 
 Gra. Yes, 'faith, my lord. 
 
 Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in 
 your marriage. 
 
 {Bass, and Por. retire up the stage,) 
 
 Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy, for a 
 thousand ducats. 
 
 JV*er. What, and stake down ? [stake down, 
 
 Gra. No ; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and 
 But who comes here ? Lorenzo, and his infidel ? 
 What, and my old Venetian friend, Solanio ? 
 
 Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Solanio, l.h. 
 
 Bass. Lorenzo, and Solanio, welcome hither ; 
 If that the youth of my new interest here 
 Have power to bid you welcome :-by your leave, 
 I bid my very friends and countrymen, 
 Sweet Portia, welcome. 
 
 Por. So do I, my lord ; 
 They are entirely welcome. [lord. 
 
 Lor. I thank your honour : — for my part, my 
 My purpose was not to have seen you here ; 
 But meeting with Solanio by the way, 
 He did entreat me, past all saying nay, 
 To come with him along. 
 
 Sol I did my lord, 
 And I have reason for it. Signior Antonio 
 Commends him to you. 
 
 (^Gives Bassanio a letter ; all retire but Bass, 
 and Sol.) 
 
 Bass. Ere I ope his letter, 
 I pray you tell me how my good friend doth. 
 
OF VENICE. 67 
 
 SoL Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind j 
 Nor well, unless in mind : his letter there 
 Will shew you his estate. [welcome. 
 
 Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon' stranger ; bid her 
 Your hand, Solanio ; what's the news from Ve- 
 
 ■5 
 
 nice ? 
 How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio ? 
 I know he will be glad of our success ; 
 We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece. 
 SoL Would you had won the fleece that he 
 hath lost ! {They retire up the stage^ r.h.) 
 For. There are some shrewd (1) contents in 
 yon same paper, 
 That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek : 
 Some dear friend dead ; else nothing in the world 
 Could turn so much the constitution 
 Of any constant man. What, worse and worse ! — 
 With leave, Bassanio; 1 am half yourself. 
 And I must freely have the half of any thing 
 That this same paper brings you. 
 
 Bass. O sweet Portia, 
 Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words, 
 That ever blotted paper ! Gentle lady. 
 When I did first impart my love to you, 
 I freely told you, all the wealth I had 
 Ran in my veins, I was a gentleman ; 
 And then I told you true : and yet, dear lady, 
 Rating myself at nothing, you shall see 
 How much I was a braggart : when I told you 
 My state was nothing, 1 should then have told 
 you 
 
 (1) Pointed, important. 
 6 
 
68 MERCHANT 
 
 That I was worse than nothing ; for, indeed, 
 I have engag'd myself to a dear friend, 
 Engag'd my friend to his mere enemy, 
 To feed my means. Here is a letter, lady ; 
 The paper, as the body of my friend, (1) 
 And every word in it a gaping wound, 
 Issuing liie-blood. — But is it true, Solanio ? 
 
 (6'o/. advances.) 
 Have all his ventures fail'd ? What, not one hit ? 
 From Tripolis, from Mexico, and England? 
 And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch 
 Of merchant-marring rocks ? 
 
 Sol. Not one, my lord. 
 Besides, it should appear, that if he had 
 The present money to discharge the Jew, 
 He would not take it : never did I know 
 A creature, that did bear the shape of man, 
 So keen and greedy to confound a man : 
 He plies the Duke at morning and at night ; 
 And doth impeach the freedom of the state, 
 If they deny him justice ; twenty merchants, 
 The duke himself, and the magnificoes. 
 Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him ; 
 But none can drive him from the envious plea 
 Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond. 
 
 Por. Is it your dear friend that is thus in 
 trouble ? [man, 
 
 Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindest 
 The best condition'd and unweary'd spirit 
 
 (1) " The paper as the body" means the paper resem- 
 bles the body, is as the body. The expression is somewhat 
 elliptical. 
 
OF VENICE. 59 
 
 fa doing courfesies ; and one in whom 
 The ancient Roman honour more appears, 
 Than anj that draws breath in Italy. 
 
 Por. What sum owes he the Jew ? 
 
 Bass. For me, three thousand ducats. 
 
 Por. What, no more ? 
 Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond ; 
 Double six thousand, and then treble that, 
 Before a friend of this description 
 Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. 
 First, go with me to church, and call me wife ; 
 And then away to Venice to your friend ; 
 For never shall you lie by Portia's side 
 With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold 
 To pay the petty debt twenty times over : 
 When it is done, bring your true friend along : 
 My maid Nerissa, and myself, meantime. 
 Will live as maids and widows. Come, away ; 
 For you shall hence upon your wedding-day. 
 But let me hear the letter of your friend. 
 
 Bass. {Read^.) Sweet Bassanio^ my ships have 
 all miscarried^ my creditors grow cruel^ my estate 
 is very low, my head to the Jew is forfeit ; and 
 since., in paying it^ it is impossible I should live, all 
 debts are cleared between you and me. If I might 
 hut 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. 
 
 Bass. Since I have your good leave to go away, 
 I will make haste : but, 'till 1 come again. 
 No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, 
 
 No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain, 
 
 [Exeunt, r»h. 
 
60 MERCHANT 
 
 SCENE III.— -^ Street in Venice. 
 
 ' Enter Shylock, Antonio, Salarino, aiid the Gao- 
 ler^ L.H. 
 
 Shy. Gaoler, look to him ; — tell not me of 
 mercy ; — 
 This is the fool that lent out money gratis : — 
 Gaoler, look to him. 
 
 Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. 
 
 Shy. I'll have my bond ; speak not against 
 my bond ; 
 I have sworn an oath, that I will have ray bond : 
 Thou cali'd'st me dog, before thou hadst acause ; 
 But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs : 
 The Duke shall grant me justice. — I do wonder, 
 Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fond (1) 
 To come abroad with him at his request. 
 
 Ant. I pray thee, hear me speak. [speak : 
 
 Shy. I'll have my bond ; I will not hear thee 
 I'll have my bond ; and therefore speak no more. 
 I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool, (2) 
 To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield 
 To Christian intercessors. Follow not ; 
 I'll have no speaking ; I will have my bond. 
 
 [Exit. R.H. 
 
 Sala. It is the most impenetrable cur 
 That ever kept with men. 
 
 Ant. Let him alone ; 
 
 (1) Foolish. 
 
 (2) The epithet dall-eyd is bestowed on Melancholy \\\ 
 Pericles, Prince of Tyrt. 
 
OF VENICE. 61 
 
 I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers, 
 He seeks my life ; his reason well I know ; 
 I oft delivered from his forfeitures 
 Many that have at times made moan to me ; 
 Therefore he hates me. 
 
 Sala. I am sure, the Duke 
 Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. 
 
 Jnt. The Duke cannot deny the course of law ; 
 For the commodity that strangers have 
 With us in Venice, (1) if it be deny'd, 
 Wijil much impeach the justice of the state ; 
 Since that the trade and profit of the city 
 •Consisteth of all nations. Therefore, go ; 
 These griefs and losses have so 'bated me, 
 That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh 
 To-morrow to my bloody creditor. — 
 
 (^Ci-osses to L.H.) 
 Well, gaoler, on: — Pray Heav'n Bassanio come 
 To see me pay his debt, and then I care not ! 
 
 [Exeunt^ l.h. 
 
 SCENE IV. — Portia-s House at Belmont. 
 
 Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, Portia, Nerissa, a7id 
 Balthazar. 
 
 Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your pre- 
 You have a noble and a true conceit [sence, 
 
 (1) For the denial of those rights to strangers, which 
 render their abode in Venice so comraodious and agreeable 
 to them, would much impeach the justice of the state. The" 
 consequence would be, that strangers would not reside or 
 carry on traffic here, and the wealth and strength of the 
 state would be diminished. 
 
 6 * 
 
2 MERCHANT 
 
 Of god-like amity ; which appears most strongly 
 In bearing thus the absence of your lord. 
 But, if you knew to whom you shew this honour, 
 How true a gentleman you send relief 
 How dear a lover of my lord your husband ; 
 I know you would be prouder of the work, 
 Than custDmary bounty can enforce you^ 
 
 For. I never did repent me doing good, 
 Nor shall not now : 
 
 This comes too near the praising of myself; 
 Therefore, no more of it : hear other things : 
 Lorenzo, I commit into your hands 
 The husbandry and manage of my house, 
 Until my lord's return : for mine own part, 
 I have toward heaven breath'd a secret vow. 
 To live in prayer and contemplation. 
 Only attended by Nerissa here, 
 Until her husband and my lord's return : 
 There is a monastery two miles off, 
 And there we will abide. I do desire you 
 Not to deny this imposition ; (1) 
 The which my love, and some necessity, 
 Now lays upon you. 
 
 Lor. Madam, with all my heart; 
 I shall obey you in all fair commands. 
 
 Por. My people do already know my mind, 
 And will acknowledge you and Jessica 
 In place of Lord Bassanio and myself 
 So fare you well, till we shall meet again. 
 
 Lor. Fair thoughts and happy hours attend 
 pn you. 
 
 (1) Command. 
 
OF VENICE. 63 
 
 Jes. I wish your ladyship all heart's content. 
 Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well 
 pleas'd 
 To wish it back on you : fare you well, Jessica. — 
 [Exeunt Jessica and Lorenzo^ l.h. 
 Now, Balthazar, [Bal. advances^ r.h. 
 
 As I have ever found thee honest, true. 
 So let me find thee still: take this same letter, 
 And use thou all the endeavour of a man 
 In speed to Padua : see thou render this 
 Into my cousin's hand. Doctor Bellario : 
 And, look, what notes and garments he doth give 
 
 thee, 
 Bring them, I pray thee, with imagin'd speed ( 1 ) 
 Unto the tranect,(2) to the common ferry 
 Which trades to Venice : — waste no time in 
 
 words. 
 But get thee gone ; I shall be there before thee. 
 Bal. Madam, I go with all convenient speed. 
 
 \Exit., R.H. 
 Por. Come on, Nerissa ; I have work in hand 
 That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands 
 Before they think of us ? 
 Ner. Shall they see us ? 
 Por. They shall, Nerissa; 
 But come, I'll tell thee all my whole device 
 When I am in my coach, which stays for us 
 At the park gate ; and therefore haste away, 
 For we must measure twenty miles to-day. 
 
 [Exeunt^ R.H. 
 
 (1) With celerity like that of imagination. 
 
 (2) From Tranare, to swim across. Perhaps the word 
 was in common use for a ferry in the time of Shakspeare. 
 
U MERCHANT 
 
 SCENE V.-^The Garden at Belmont. 
 
 Enter Jessica and Launcelot, l.ii. 
 
 Laun. Yes, truly: for look you, the sins of the 
 father are to be laid upon the children ; there- 
 fore, I promise you, I fear you. I was always 
 plain with you, and so now I speak my agita- 
 tion of the matter: — therefore be of good cheer; 
 for, truly, I think — you are damned. There is 
 but one hope in it that can do you any good : 
 and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither. 
 
 Jes. And what hope is that, 1 pray thee ? 
 
 Laun. Marry, you may partly hope that your 
 father got you not, that you are not the Jew's 
 daughter. 
 
 Jes. That were a kind of bastard hope, in- 
 deed ; so the sins of my mother should be visit- 
 ed upon me. 
 
 Laun. Truly then, I fear you are damn'd both 
 by father and mother: thus when I shun Scylla, 
 3'our father, I fall into Charybdis, jour mother : 
 well, you are gone both ways. 
 
 Jes. I shall be saved by my husband ; (1) he 
 hath made me a Christian. 
 
 Laun. Truly, the more to blame he : we were 
 Christians enough before ; e'en as many as could 
 well live one by another. This making of 
 Christians will raise the price of hogs ; if we 
 
 (1) From St. Paul. — The unbelieving wife is sanctified 
 
 by her husband. 
 
OF VENICE. 65 
 
 grow all to be pork-eaters we shjCll not shortly 
 have a rasher on the coals for money. 
 
 Jes. I'll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you 
 say; here he comes. (^Crosses to l.h.) 
 
 Enter Lorenzo, l.h. 
 
 Lor. I shall grow jealous of you shortly, 
 Launcelot, if you thus get my wife into corners. 
 
 Jes. Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo ; 
 Launcelot and I are out: he tells me flatly, 
 there is no mercy for me in heaven, because I 
 am a Jew's daughter. 
 
 Lor. Go in, sirrah ; bid them prepare for din- 
 ner. 
 
 Laun. That is done, sir ; they have all sto- 
 machs. 
 
 Lor Goodly lord, what a wit snapper are 
 you ! then bid them prepare dinner. 
 
 Laun. 1'hat is done too, sir; only cover is the 
 word. 
 
 Lor. Will you cover then, sir? 
 
 Laun. Not so, sir, neither ; I know my duty. 
 
 Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion ! 
 wilt thou shew the whole wealth of thy wit in an 
 instant ? I pray thee, understand a plain man in 
 his plain meaning: go to thy fellows; bid them 
 cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will 
 come in to dinner. 
 
 Laun. For the table, sir, it shall be served in ; 
 for the meat, sir, it shall be covered : for your 
 coming in to dinner, sir, why let it be as hu- 
 mours and conceits shall govern. [Exit^ r.h. 
 
66 MERCHANT 
 
 Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are 
 The fool hath planted in his memory [suited! 
 An army of good words: and 1 do know 
 A many fools, that stand in better place, 
 Garnish'd Hke him, that for a tricksy word 
 Defy the matter. How cheer'st thou, Jessica ? 
 And now, good sweet, say thy opinion, 
 How dost thou like the lord Bassanio's wife ? 
 
 Jes. Past all expressing. 
 
 Lor. Even such a husband 
 Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife. 
 
 Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that. 
 
 DUET. — -Lorenzo and Jessica. 
 
 Jes. In vows of everlasting tntth. 
 
 You waste your idle hours., fond youth ; 
 But leave me once.^ and I should find^ 
 That out of sight were out of mind. 
 
 Lor. Ah., do thyself no wrong., my dear, 
 Affect no coy nor jealous fear ; 
 Each beauteous object.^ 1 might see, 
 Would but inspire a thought of thee. 
 
 Jes. 4* Lor. Thus absence warms with fercer flame ^ 
 The fine affections of the soid ; 
 As distance points with surer aim 
 The faithful needle to its darling pole, 
 [Exeunt, R.jj. 
 
 END of act III. 
 
OF VENICE. 67 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE I. — A Court of Justice in Venice. 
 
 The Duke, the Magnificoes, (Jn Centre.) Antonio, 
 Bassanio, (l.h.) Solanio, Salarino, Gratia- 
 NO, and others^ discovered., (r.h.) 
 
 Duke, What, is Antonio here ? 
 
 Jint. Ready, so please your grace. [answer 
 
 Duke. I am sorry for thee ; thou art come to 
 A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch 
 Uncapable of pity, void and empty 
 From any dram of mercy. 
 
 Jint. I have heard, 
 Your grace hath taken great pains to qualify 
 His rigorous course ;but since he stands obdurate, 
 And that no lawful means can carry me 
 Out of his envy's reach, (1) I do oppose 
 My patience to his fury ; and am arm'd 
 To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, 
 The very tyranny and rage of his. 
 
 Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court. 
 
 Sol. He's ready at the door : he comes, my lord, 
 
 Enter Shylock, r.h. 
 
 Duke. Make room, and let him stand before 
 our face. 
 Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, 
 
 (1) Envym this place means hatred or malice. 
 
 L 
 
68 MERCHANT 
 
 That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice 
 To the last hour of act ; and then, 'tis thought, 
 Thou'it show thy mercy, and remorse, more 
 
 strange 
 Than is thy strange apparent cruelty : 
 And, where thou now exact'st the penalty, 
 (Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh) 
 Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, 
 But, touch'd with human gentleness and love, 
 Forgive a moiety of the principal ; 
 Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, 
 That have of late so huddled on his back ; 
 Enough to press a royal merchant down. 
 And pluck commisseration of his state 
 From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint, 
 From stubborn Turks, and Tartars, never train'd 
 To offices of tender courtesy. 
 We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. [pose ; 
 Shy. I have possessed your grace of what I pur- 
 And by our holy sabbath have I sworn. 
 To have the due and forfeit of my bond : 
 If you deny it, let the danger light 
 Upon your charter, and your city's freedom. 
 You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have 
 A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive 
 Three thousand ducats : I'll not answer that : 
 But say, it is my humour: is it answer'd ? 
 What if my house be troubled with a rat, 
 And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats 
 To have it ban'd ; what, are you answer'd yet ? 
 Some men there are, love not a gaping pig ^ 
 Some, that are mad, if they behold a cat; 
 Now for your answer : 
 
OF VENICE. 69 
 
 As there is no firm reason to be render'd. 
 
 Why he cannot abide a gaping pig ; 
 
 Why he, a harmless necessary cat ; 
 
 So can I give no reason, nor will I not, 
 
 More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loathing, 
 
 I bear Antonio, that I follow thus 
 
 A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd ? 
 
 Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, 
 To excuse the current of thy cruelty, [answer. 
 Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my 
 Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not 
 love ? [kill ? 
 
 Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not 
 Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. 
 Shy. What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting 
 thee twice ? [the Jew : 
 
 Ant. I pray you, think you question (1) with 
 You may as well go stand upon the beach, 
 And bid the main flood bate his usual height; 
 You may as well use question with the wolf. 
 Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; 
 You may as well forbid the mountain pines 
 To wag their high tops, and to make no noise, 
 When they were fretted with the gusts of heaven ; 
 You may as well — do any thing most hard. 
 As seek to soften that (than which what's har- 
 der ?) 
 His Jewish heart :~— therefore I do beseech you. 
 Make no more offers, use no further means, 
 But, with all brief and plain conveniency, 
 Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will 
 
 (1) Converse, 
 7 
 
70 MERCHANT 
 
 Bass. For thy three thousand ducats here are 
 six. 
 
 Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats 
 Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, 
 I would not draw them, I would have my bond. 
 
 Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend'- 
 ring none ? [wrong ? 
 
 Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no 
 You have among you many a purchas'd slave, 
 Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules, 
 You use in abject and in slavish parts. 
 Because you bought them : — shall I say to you, 
 Let them be free, marry them to your heirs. 
 Why sweat they under their burdens ? let their 
 
 beds, 
 Be made as soft as yours, let their palates 
 Be season'd with such viands? you will answer, 
 The slaves are ours : — So do I answer you : 
 The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, 
 Is dearly bought, is mine, and 1 will have it : 
 If you deny me, fie upon your law ! 
 There is no force in the decrees of Venice : 
 I stand for judgment : answer; shall I have it? 
 
 Duke.Upon my power, 1 may dismiss this court^ 
 Unless Bellario, a learned doctor. 
 Whom I have sent for to determine this, 
 Come here to-day. 
 
 Sala. My lord, here stays without 
 A messenger with letters from the doctor, 
 New come from Padua. 
 
 Duke. Bring us the letters : call the messen- 
 ger. [Exit Sala, r.h.d. 
 
OF VENICE. 71 
 
 Bass. Good cheer, Antonio ! What, man ? 
 courage yet ! [all, 
 
 The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and 
 Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. 
 
 A7it. I am a tainted wether of the flock, 
 Meetest for death ; the weakest kind of fruit 
 Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me ; 
 You cannot better be employed, Bassanio, 
 Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. 
 
 Enter Solanio with Nerissa, dress'' d like a law- 
 yer''s clerk^ r.h.d. 
 
 Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario ? 
 JVer. From both, my lord : Bellario greets 
 your grace. 
 {Presents a Letter. — Shylock kneels on one 
 knee and whets his knife.) 
 Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so ear- 
 nestly ? [there. 
 Shy. To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt 
 Gra. Can no prayers pierce thee ? [make. 
 Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to 
 Gra. O, be thou damn'd, inexorable dog ! 
 And for thy life let justice be accused. 
 Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith, 
 To hold opinion with Pythagoras, 
 That souls of animals infuse themselves 
 Into the trunks of men : thy currish spirit 
 Govern'd a wolf, (1) who hang'd for human 
 slaughter, 
 
 (1) This allusion might have been caught from some 
 old translation of Pliny, who mentions a Parrhasian turned 
 
7^ MERCHANT 
 
 Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, 
 And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam, 
 Infus'd itself in thee ; for thy desires 
 Are wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous. 
 
 Shy. 'Till thou can'st rail the seal from off my 
 bond, 
 Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud : 
 Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall 
 To cureless ruin.— 1 stand here for law. 
 
 Duke, this letter from Bellariodoth commend 
 A young and learned doctor to our court : — 
 Where is he ? 
 
 JVer. He attendeth here hard by, 
 To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. 
 
 Duke. With all my heart: — some three or 
 four of you, 
 Go give him courteous conduct tO' this place. — 
 
 [Exeunt Gra. and Sala. r.h.d. 
 Meantime, the Court shall hear Beilario's letter.- 
 Reads. — Your grace shall understand, that^ at the 
 receipt of your letter, I am very sick : but in the 
 instant that your messenger came, in loving visita- 
 tion was with me a young doctor of Rome, his name is 
 Balthazer : I acquainted him with the cause in coti' 
 troversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant : 
 we turned o^er many books together ; he is furnish'' dt 
 with my opinion ; which better'' d with his own learn- 
 ing, {the greatness whereof I cannot enough com- 
 mend,') comes with him, at my importunity, to fll 
 up your grace'' s request in my stead, I beseech you^ 
 
 into a wolf, because he had eaten part of a child that had 
 been consecrated to Lycoean Jupiter. 
 
OF VENICE. 73 
 
 let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack 
 a reverent estimation ; for I never knezv so young a 
 body with so old a head. I leave him to your gra- 
 cious acceptance^ whose trial shall better publish his 
 commendation. 
 
 You hear the ]earn"'d Bellario, what he writes ; 
 And here, I take it, is the doctor come. — 
 
 Enter Portia, dressed like a Doctor of Laws, 
 SoLANio, and Gratiano, r.h.d. 
 
 (^Portia advancing to the centre of the stage, 
 bows to the court, and then approaches to- 
 wards the Duke.) 
 Give me your hand : Came you from old Bella- 
 Por. I did, my lord. [rio ? 
 
 Duke. You are welcome : take your place. 
 Are you acquainted with the difference 
 That holds this present question in the court ? 
 
 Por. I am informed thoroughly of the cause. 
 Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew 1 
 Dw^e.Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. 
 {They stand forth — Portia in the centre of the 
 stage.) 
 Por. Is your name Shylock ? 
 Shy. Shylock is my name. 
 Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow ; 
 Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law 
 Cannot impugn you (1) as you do proceed. 
 You stand within his danger, (2) do you not ? 
 
 (1) Oppose, controvert. 
 
 (2) Within liis reach or controul. 
 
 7 * 
 
74 MERCH/VNT 
 
 Ant. Ay, so he says. 
 
 For. Do you confess the bond ? 
 
 Ant. I do. 
 
 For. Then must the Jew be merciful. 
 
 Shy. On what compulsion must i ? tell me that. 
 
 For. The quahty of mercy is not strain'd ; 
 It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven, 
 Upon the place beneath : it is twice blessM ; 
 It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes : 
 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest •, it becomes 
 The throned monarch better than his crown : 
 His sceptre shews the force of temporal power. 
 The attribute to awe and majesty, 
 Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings ; 
 But mercy is above the scepter^d sway, 
 It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, 
 It is an attribute to God himself; 
 And earthly power doth then shew likest God's, 
 When mercy Reasons justice : therefore, Jew, 
 Though justice be thy plea, consider this, — 
 That, in the course of justice, none of us 
 Should see salvation : (1) we do pray for mercy j 
 And that same prayer doth teach us all to render 
 The deeds of mercy ; I have spoke thus much, 
 To mitigate the justice of thy plea ; 
 Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice 
 Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant 
 there. [law 
 
 Shy. My deeds upon my head ! (2)" I crave the 
 
 (1) Portia referring the Jew to the Christian doctrine of 
 salvation, is a little out of character. 
 
 (2) An imprecation adapted from that of the Jews to 
 Pilate : " His blood be on us and pur children." 
 
OF VENICE. 75 
 
 The penalty and forfeit of my bond. 
 
 Por. Is he not able to discharge the money ? 
 Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; 
 Yea, thrice the sum : If that will not suffice, 
 i will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, 
 On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart : 
 If this will not suffice, it must appear 
 That malice bears down truth. (1) And I be- 
 seech you, 
 Wrest once the law to your authority : 
 To do a great right, do a little wrong ; 
 And curb this cruel devil of his will. 
 
 Por. It must not be ; there is no power in 
 Can alter a decree established : [Venice 
 
 'Twill be recorded for a precedent ; 
 And many an error, by the same example, 
 Will rush into the state it cannot be. 
 
 Shy. A Daniel come to judgment ! yea, a 
 Daniel ! — 
 O wise young judge, how do I honour thee ! 
 Por. 1 pray you, let me look upon the bond. 
 Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it 
 is. [thee, 
 
 Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd 
 Shy. An oath, an oath ; I have an oath in heaven. 
 Shall I lay perjury upon my soul ? 
 No, not for Venice. 
 
 Por. Why this bond is forfeit ; 
 And lawfully by this the Jew may claim 
 A pound of flesh, to be by him cut oE 
 
 (1) Malice oppresses honesty ; a true man in old language 
 is an honest man. We now call the jmy good men and 
 true. 
 
76 MERCHANT 
 
 Nearest the merchant's heart : — Be merciful ; 
 Take thrice thy money , bid me tear the bond. 
 
 Shy. When it is paid according to the tenour.- 
 It doth appear, you are a worthy judge ; 
 Yoii know the iaw, yonr exposition 
 Ha in beei mo'^t ^ound : I charge you by the law, 
 Whereof you <^rQ a well-deserving pillar. 
 Proceed to judgment : by ray soul I swear, 
 There is no power in the tongue of man 
 To alter me : i stay here on my bond. 
 
 Jnt. Mo^t heartily I do beseech the court 
 To give the judgment. 
 
 Par. Why then, thus it is. 
 You must prepare your bosom for his knife ; — ■ 
 
 Shy. O nobie judge ! O excellent young man^ 
 
 For. For the intent and purpose of the law 
 Hath full relition to the penalty, 
 Which here appeareth due upon the bond. 
 
 Shy. ' lis very true : O wise and upright judge ! 
 How much more elder art thou than thy looks ! 
 
 Por, Therefore, lay bare your bosom. 
 
 Shy. Ay, his breast : 
 So says the bond ; — Doth it not, noble judge ? — 
 Nearest his heart; those are the very words. 
 
 Por. It is so. Are there balance here to weigh 
 The tiesh ? 
 
 Shy. I have them ready. 
 
 Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your 
 charge, 
 To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. 
 
 Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond ? 
 
 Por. It is not so expressed ; but what of that? 
 'Twere good you do so much for charity. 
 
OF VENICE. 77 
 
 Shy. I cannot find it ; 'tis not in the bond. 
 
 For. Come, merchant, have you any thing to 
 say ? [par'd. — 
 
 Ant. But Httle ; I am arm'd, and well pre- 
 tjrive me your hand, Bassanio ; fare you well ! 
 Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you ; 
 For herein fortune shows herself more kind 
 Than is her custom : it is still her use, 
 To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, 
 To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow, 
 An age of poverty ; from which lingering pen- 
 ance 
 Of such a misery doth she cut me off. 
 Commend me to your honourable wife : 
 Tell her the process of Antonio's end. 
 Say how 1 lov'd you, speak me fair in death ; 
 And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge. 
 Whether Bassanio had not once a love. 
 Repent not you that you shall lose your friend. 
 And he repents not that he pays your debt ; 
 For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough, 
 I'll pay it instanlly with all my heart. 
 
 Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife 
 "Which is as dear to me as life itself; 
 But life itself, my wife, and all the world, 
 Are not with me esteem'd above thy life : 
 I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all 
 Here to this devil, to dehver you. 
 
 Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love ; 
 I would she were in heaven, so she could 
 Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. 
 
 Shy. These be the Christian husbands : 1 have 
 a daughter ; 
 
78 MERCHANT 
 
 Would, any of the stock of Barrabas 
 Had been her husband, rather than a Christian f 
 
 (Aside.) 
 We trifle time : I pray thee, pursue sentence. 
 
 Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh 
 is thine ; 
 The court award? it, and the law doth give it. 
 
 Shy. Most rightful judge ! [breast ; 
 
 Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his 
 The law 'liovvs it, and the court awards it. 
 
 Shy. Most learned judge ! — A sentence ; come, 
 prepare. 
 
 Por. Tarry a little ; — there is something else- 
 This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; 
 The words expressly are, a pound of flesh ; 
 Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh ; 
 But, in the cutting of it, if thou dost shed 
 One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods 
 Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate 
 Unto thQ State of Venice. 
 
 Gra. O, upright judge ! — Mark, Jew ; — a 
 learned judge ! 
 
 Shy. Is that the law ? 
 
 Por. 'J'hyself shall see the act: 
 For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd 
 Thoa shait have justice, more than thou desir'st. 
 
 Gra O, learned judge I — Mark, Jew ; — a 
 learned judge I 
 
 Shy. I take this offer, then ; — pay the bond 
 And let the Christian go. [thrice, 
 
 Bass. Here is the money. 
 
 Por. Soft; [haste;— 
 
 The Jew shall have all justice! — soft! — no 
 He shall have nothing but the penalty. 
 
•OF VENICE. 79 
 
 Grcf. O Jew ! an upright judge, a learned 
 judge ! [flesh. 
 
 For. Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the 
 Shed thou no hlood ; nor cut thou less, nor more, 
 But just a pound of flesh ; if thou tak'st more, 
 Or less, than a just pound, — be it but so much 
 As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance, 
 Or the division of the twentieth part 
 Of one poor scruple ! nay, if the scale do turn 
 But in the estimation of a hair, — 
 Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. 
 
 Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew ! 
 Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. 
 
 For. Why doth the Jew pause ? take thy for- 
 feiture. 
 
 Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. 
 
 Bass. 1 have it ready for thee ; here it is. 
 
 For. He hath refus'd it in the open court ; 
 He shall have merely justice, and his bond. 
 
 Gra. A Daniel, still say I ; a second Daniel ! — 
 I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. 
 
 Shy. Shall I not barely have my principal? 
 
 For. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfei- 
 To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. [tnre. 
 
 Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it! 
 I'll stay no longer question. 
 
 For. Tarry, Jew ; 
 The law hath yet another hold on you. 
 It is enacted in the laws of Venice, — 
 If it be prov'd against an alien. 
 That by direct, or indirect attempts, 
 He seek the life of any citizen. 
 The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, 
 
80 MERCHANT 
 
 Shall seize on half his goods ; the other half 
 Comes to the privy coffer of the state ; 
 And the offender's life lies in the mercy 
 Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice. 
 In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st : 
 For it appears by manifest proceeding, 
 That, indirectly, and directly too, 
 Thou hast contrived against the very life 
 Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd 
 The danger formerly by me rehears'd. 
 Down, therefore, and beg mer^y of the Duke. 
 
 Gra. Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang 
 thyself: 
 And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, 
 Thou hast not left the value of a cord ; 
 Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's 
 charge. [our spirit, 
 
 Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of 
 I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it : 
 For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's ; 
 The other half comes to the general state, 
 Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. 
 
 For. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. (1) 
 
 Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not thatr 
 You take my house, when you do take the prop 
 That doth sustain my house : you take my life. 
 When you do take the means whereby I live. 
 
 For. Whatmercy can you render him, Antonio? 
 
 Gra. A halter gratis ; nothing else, for Heav- 
 en's sake. 
 
 (1) That is, the state's moiety may be commuted for a 
 fine, but not Antonio's. 
 
"OF VENICE. . 81 
 
 Ant. So please my lord the Duke, and all the 
 court, 
 To quit the fine for one half of his goods ; 
 I am content, so he will let me have 
 The other half in use, — to render it, 
 Upon his death, unto the gentleman 
 That lately stole his daughter. 
 Two things provided more, — that, for this favour, 
 He presently become a Christian ; 
 The other, that he do record a gift. 
 Here in the cou^t, of all he dies possess'd. 
 Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter. 
 
 Duke. He shall do this ; or else 1 do recant 
 The pardon that I late pronounced here. 
 
 For. Art thou contented, Jew ? What dost 
 
 Shy. I am content. [thou say? 
 
 For. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. [hence ; 
 
 Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from 
 I am not well ; send the deed after me, 
 And I will sign it. 
 
 Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. 
 
 Gra. In christening thou shalt have two god- 
 fathers ; [more, (1) 
 Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten 
 To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. 
 
 [Exit Shylock, r.h.d. 
 
 Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to 
 dinner. {To For.) 
 
 For. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon ; 
 I must away this night toward Padua, 
 And it is meet, I presently set forth. 
 
 (1) A jury of twelve men to condemn him to be banged. 
 8 
 
82 MERCHANT 
 
 Duke. I am sorry, that your leisure serves you 
 Antonio, gratify this gentleman, [not. 
 
 For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. 
 [Exeunt Duke, Magnificoes, and Train^R.ri.v.E. 
 
 Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend 
 Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted 
 Of grievous penalties ; in lieu whereof. 
 Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, 
 We freely cope your courteous pains withal. 
 
 Ant. And stand indebted, over and above, 
 In love and service to you evermore. 
 
 For. He is well paid that is well satisfied ; 
 And I delivering you, am satisfied, 
 And therein do account myself well paid ; 
 My mind was never yet more mercenary. 
 1 pray you, know me, when we meet again , 
 I wish you well, and so take my leave. 
 
 Bass. Dear sir, of force I attempt you further : 
 Take some rememberance of us, as a tribute, 
 Not as a fee ; grant me two things, I pray you, — « 
 Not to deny me, and to pardon me. 
 
 For. You press me far, and therefore I will 
 yield. [sake ; 
 
 Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your 
 And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you : 
 Do not draw back your hand ; I'll take no more ; 
 And you in love shall not deny me this. 
 
 Bass. This ring, good sir, — alas, it is a trifle ; 
 I will not shame myself to give you this. 
 
 For. 1 will have nothing else but only this ; 
 And now, methinks, I have a mind to it. 
 
 Bass. There's more depends on this, than on 
 the value. 
 
OF VENICE. 83 
 
 The dearest ring in Venice will I give jou, 
 And find it out by proclamation ; 
 Only for this, I pray you, pardon me. 
 
 For. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers: 
 You taught me first to beg ; and now, methinks, 
 You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd. 
 
 Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my 
 wife ; 
 And, when she put it on, she made me vow 
 That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it. 
 
 Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save 
 their gifts. 
 Ao if your wife be not a mad woman. 
 And know how well I have deserv'd this ring, 
 She would not hold out enemy for ever. 
 For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you I 
 [Exeunt Portia and JVerissa^ r.h. 
 
 Ant, My lord, Bassanio, let him have the ring ; 
 Let his deservings, and my love withal. 
 Be valu'd 'gainst your wife's commandment. 
 
 Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him, 
 Give him the ring ; and bring him, if thou can'st, 
 Unto Antonio's house : — away, make haste. — 
 
 [ExitGra. r.h. 
 Come, you and I will thither presently ; 
 And in the morning early will we both 
 Fly toward Belmont : come, Antonio. [Exeunt, l.h. 
 
 SCENE 11.—.^ Street in Venice. 
 
 Enter Portia and Nerissi, r.h. 
 
 Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him 
 this deed, 
 
S4 MERCHANT 
 
 And let him sign it ; we'll away to-night, 
 And be a day before our husbands home : 
 This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. 
 
 Enter Gratiano, r.h. 
 
 Gra. Fair sir, you are well overtaken : 
 
 (Crosses to For.) 
 My lord Bassanio, upon more advice, (t) 
 Hath sent you here this ring ; and doth entreat 
 Your company at dinner. 
 
 Por. That cannot be : 
 This ring I do accept most thankfully, 
 And so, I pray you, tell him : further more, 
 1 pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house. 
 
 (^Crosses to r.h.) 
 Gra. That will I do. 
 JVer. Sir, I would speak with you : — 
 I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, 
 Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. 
 
 (^Aside to Por.) 
 Por. Thou may'st, I warrant : we shall have 
 old swearing, 
 That they did give the rings away to men ; 
 But we'll outface them, and out-swear them too. 
 
 (^Aside to JVer.) 
 
 Away, make haste ; thou know'st where I will 
 
 tarry. [Exit., r.h. 
 
 JVer. Come, good sir, will you show me to this 
 
 house ? 
 
 END OF ACT IV. 
 
 (1) More reflection. 
 
OF VENICE. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 SCENE I. — The Avenue to Portia's House at 
 Belmont. 
 
 Lorenzo and Jessica, discovered^ seated. 
 
 Lor. The moon shines bright : — In such a 
 night as this, 
 Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew ; 
 And with an unthrift love did run from Venice, 
 As far as Belmont. 
 
 Jes. And in such a night, 
 Did joung Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well ; 
 Stealing her soul with many vows of faith. 
 And ne'er a true one. 
 
 Lor. And in such a night, 
 Did pretty Jessica, like a httle shrew, 
 Slander her love, and he forgave it her. 
 
 Jes. I would outnight you, did no body come ; 
 But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. 
 
 Enter Balthazar, l.h. 
 
 Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night ? 
 
 Bal. A iriend. [pray you, friend ? 
 
 Lor. A friend ? what friend ? your name, I 
 
 Bal. Balthazar is my name ; and I bring word. 
 My mistress will, before the break of day. 
 Be here at Belmont. 
 1 pray you, is my master yet return'd ? 
 8 * 
 
ae MERCHANT 
 
 Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from 
 him. — 
 But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, 
 And ceremoniously let us prepare 
 Some welcome for the mistress of the house. 
 
 Laun. {Within^ l.h.) Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, 
 sola, sola ! 
 
 Lor. Who calls? 
 
 Enter Launcelot, l.h. 
 
 Laun. Sola ! did you see master Lorenzo, and 
 mistress 
 Lorenzo ? sola, sola ; 
 
 Lor. Leave hollaing man ; here. 
 Laun. Sola ! where ? where ? 
 Lor. Here. 
 
 Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my 
 master, (^Crosses to r.h.) with his horn full of 
 good news ; my master will be here ere morning. 
 
 [Exit^ R.H. 
 Lor. My friend Balthazar, signify, I pray you. 
 Within the house, your mistress is at hand. 
 
 [Exit Bal. R.H, 
 
 Enter Portia and Nerissa, at a distance^ l.h.u.e. 
 
 For. That hght we see is burning in my hall. 
 How far that little candle throws his beams ! 
 So shines a good deed in a naughty world. 
 
 Lor. That is the voice, 
 Or I am much deceiv'd, of Portia. 
 
 For, He knows me, as the blind man knovrs 
 the cuckoo, 
 
OF VENICE. 87 
 
 By the bad voice. 
 
 Lor. Dear lady, welcome home. 
 
 For. We have been praying for our husbands' 
 welfare, 
 Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. 
 Are they return'd? 
 
 Lor. Madam, they are not yet ; 
 But there is come a messenger before, 
 To signify their coming. 
 
 For. Go in, Nerissa, 
 Give order to my servants, that they take 
 No note at all of our being absent hence ; — 
 Nor you, Lorenzo; Jessica, nor you. 
 
 (j3 tucket (1) sounds.) 
 
 Lor. Your husband is at hand, I hear his 
 trumpet. 
 
 Enter Bassanio, Antonio, and Gratiano, l.h. 
 
 For. You are welcome home, my lord. 
 
 Bass. I thank you, madam: give welcome 
 to my friend. — (^Gratiano andJVer. go up 
 the stage.) 
 This is the man, this is Antonio, 
 To whom I am so infinitely bound. [to him ; 
 
 For. You should in all sense be much bound 
 For, as I hear, he was much bound for you. 
 
 Ant. No more than I am well acquitted of. 
 
 For. Sir, you are very welcome to our house-: 
 It must appear in other ways than words, 
 
 (1) A flourish on a trumpet.— Tbcca^a, Ital. a flourish on 
 a trumpet. 
 
88 BIERCHANT 
 
 Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy. (1) 
 Gra. {Advancing with JVer.) By yonder mooti 
 I swear, you do me wrong ; 
 In faith I gave it to the judge's clerk : 
 Would he were hang'd that had it, for my part, 
 Since you do take it, love, so much at heart. 
 For. A quarrel, ho, already ? what's the 
 
 matter? 
 Gra. About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring 
 That she did give to me ; whose posy was 
 For all the world, like cutler's poetry (2) 
 Upon a knife, Love me, and leave me not. 
 
 JVer. What talk you of the posy, or the value ? 
 You swore to me, when 1 did give it you. 
 That you would wear it till your hour of death ; 
 And that it should lie with yon in your grave : 
 Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, 
 You should have been respective, and have 
 
 kept it. 
 Gave it a judge's clerk ! — but well I know. 
 The clerk will ne'er wear hair on his face, that 
 had it. 
 Gra. He will, an if he live to be a man. 
 JVer. Ay, if a woman live to be a man. 
 Gra. Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth, — 
 ^ ind of boy ; a httle scrubbed boy (3) 
 •^ If' 
 
 ^his verbal Goraplimentary form, made up only of 
 
 (1) % '. e. words. So in Macbeth : 
 breathj 1 "Mouth-honour, breath.'^ 
 
 'es, were formerly inscribed, by means of aqica 
 
 (2) Kni\ short sentences in distich. 
 fortis, witn , (3) Short, stunted. 
 
OF VENICE. 89 
 
 No higher than thyself, the judge's clerk ; 
 
 A prating boy, that begg'd it as a fee ; 
 
 I could not for my heart deny it him. [yoi^i 
 
 For. You were to blame, I must be plain with 
 To part so slightly with your wife's first gift; 
 A thing stuck on with oaths upon your linger, 
 And riveted so wilii faith unto your flesh. 
 I gave my love a ring, and made him swear 
 Never to part with it ; and here he stands ; 
 1 dare be sworn for him, he would not leave it. 
 Nor pluck it from his finger, for the wealth 
 That the world masters. Now, in faith, Gratiano, 
 You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief; 
 And 'twere to me, I should be mad at it. 
 
 Bass. Why, I were best to cut my left hand off, 
 And swear I lost the ring defending it. (^Aside.) 
 
 Gra. My lord Bassanio gave his ring away 
 Unto the judge that begg'd it, and, indeed, 
 Deserv'd it too ; and then the boy, his clerk, 
 That took some pains in writing, he begg'd mine : 
 And neither man, nor master, would take aught 
 But the two rings. 
 
 For. What ring gave you, my lord ? 
 Not that, I hope, which you receiv'd of me. 
 
 Bass. If 1 could add a lie unto a fault, 
 I would deny it, but you see, my finger 
 Hath not the ring upon it, — it is gone. 
 
 For. Even so void is your false heart of truth. 
 By heaven, I will ne'er come in your bed. 
 Until I see the ring. 
 
 JVer. Nor I in yours. 
 Till I again see mine, 
 
 Bass. Sweet Portia, 
 
90 MERCHANT 
 
 If you did know to whom 1 gave the ring^, 
 If you did know for whom I gave the ring, 
 And would conceive for what I gave the ring^ 
 And how unwiUingly I left the ring, 
 When naught would be accepted but the ring, 
 You would abate the strength of your displeasure. 
 
 For. If you had known the virtue of the ringy 
 Or half her worthiness that gave the ring, 
 Or your own honour (1) to retain the ring, 
 You would not then have parted with the ring. 
 What man is there so much unreasonable, 
 If you had pleas'd to have defended it 
 With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty 
 To urge the thing held as a ceremony ? (2) 
 Nerissa teaches me what to believe ; 
 ni die for't, but some woman had the ring. 
 
 Bass. No, by mine honour, madam, by ray soul, 
 No woman had it, but a civil doctor. 
 Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me, 
 And begg'd the ring ; the which I did deny him, 
 And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away ; 
 Even he that had held up the very life [lady, 
 Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet 
 I was enforced to send it after him. [begg'd 
 Had you been there, I think you would have 
 The ring of me to give the worthy doctor. 
 
 For. Let not that doctor e'er come near my 
 house : 
 
 (1) How much your honour was concerned in keeping 
 the ring. 
 
 (2) What man could have so little modesty as to press 
 the demand of a thing studiously icithheld, as considered in 
 the light of a religious obligation^ or ceremony. 
 
OF VENICE. 91 
 
 Since he hath got the jewel that I lov'd, 
 
 And that which you did swear to keep for me, 
 
 I will become as liberal as you ; 
 
 I'll not deny him any thing I have, 
 
 No, not my husband's bed : 
 
 Know him 1 shall, I am well sure of it; [gus : 
 
 Lie not a night from home ; watch me, like Ar- 
 
 If you do not, if I be left alone, 
 
 Now, by mine honour, which is yet my own, 
 
 I'll have that doctor for my bed-fellow. 
 
 JVer. And I his clerk ; therefore be well ad- 
 vis'd, 
 How you do leave me to mine own protection. 
 
 Gra. Well, do you so : let me not take him 
 then ; 
 For, if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen. 
 
 Ant. 1 am the unhappy subject of these quar- 
 rels, [notwithstanding. 
 
 Por. Sir, grieve not you^: you are welcome,^ 
 
 Bass. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong ; 
 And, in the hearing of these many friends, 
 1 swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, 
 1 never more will break an oath with thee. 
 
 Ant. I once did lend my body for his wealth, 
 AVhich, but for him that had your husband's ring, . 
 Had quite miscarried : 1 dare be bound again, 
 xMy soul upon the forfeit, that your lord 
 Will never more break faith advisedly. [this ; 
 
 Por. Then you shall be his surety ; give him: 
 And bid him keep it better than the other. 
 
 Ant. Here, Lord Bassanio : swear to keep this 
 ring- [doctor L 
 
 Bass. By heaven, — it is^the same I gave tha 
 
92 MERCHANT 
 
 Por. I had it of him : pardon me, Bassanio : 
 For, by this ring, the doctor lay with me. 
 
 JYer. And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano ; 
 For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor's clerk. 
 In lieu of this last night did lie with me. 
 
 Gra. Why, this is like the mending of high- 
 ways 
 In summer, where the ways are fair enough : 
 What ! are we cuckolds, ere we have deserv'd 
 it ? [amazM : 
 
 Por. Speak not so grossly. — You are all 
 Here is a letter, read it at your leisure ; 
 It comes from Padua, from Bellario : 
 There you shall find, that Portia was the doctor ; 
 Nerissa there, her clerk : Lorenzo here 
 Shall witness, I set forth as soon as you. 
 And but even now returned ; I have not yet 
 EnterM my house. — Antonio, you are welcome : 
 And i have better news in store for you. 
 Than you expect : unseal this letter soon ; 
 There you shall find three of your argosies 
 Are richly come to harbour suddenly : 
 You shall not know by what strange accident 
 I chanced on this letter. 
 
 Bass.Were you the doctor, and I knew you not? 
 
 Gra. Were you the clerk, that is to make me 
 cuckold? [do it, 
 
 JVer. Ay ; but the clerk, that never means to 
 Unless he live until he be a man. [low; 
 
 Bass. Sweet doctor, you shall be my bed fel- 
 When 1 am absent, then sleep with my wife. 
 
 Ant. Sweet lady, you have given me life, and 
 living; 
 
OF VENICE. 93 
 
 For here I read for certain, that my ships 
 Are safely come to road. 
 
 Por. How now, Lorenzo ? 
 My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. 
 
 JVer. Ay, and Pll give them him without a fee.- 
 
 (^Crosses to Lor.^ 
 There do I give to you, and Jessica, 
 From the rich J^w, a special deed of gift, 
 After his death, of all he dies possess'd of 
 
 Lor. Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way 
 Of starved people. 
 
 Por. It is almost morning, 
 And yet, I am sure, you are not satisfied 
 Of these events at full ; let us go in ; 
 And charge ns there upon intergatories. 
 And we will answer all things faithfully. 
 
 Gra. Let it he so : (Crosses to JYer.) the first 
 inter'gatory, 
 That my Nerissa shall be sworn on, is. 
 Whether till the next night she had rather stay 
 Or go to bed now, being two hours to day : 
 But were the day come, I should wish it dark, 
 That I were couching with the doctor's clerk. 
 Well, while I Hve, I'll fear no other thing 
 So sore, as keeping safe Nerissa's ring. 
 
U MERCHANT OF VENICE. 
 
 Disposition of the Characters Tsohen the Curtain/alls, 
 
 fe.H. 
 
 L.H« 
 
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