:

Ner. You would be, sweet madam, if your Por. You know I say nothing to him, for he miseries were in the same abundance as your good understands not me, nor I him he hath neither fortunes are: and yet, for aught I see, they are Latin, French, nor Italian, and you will come as sick that surfeit with too much as they that into the court and swear that I have a poor starve with nothing. It is no mean happiness pennyworth in the English. He is a proper therefore, to be seated in the mean: superfluity man's picture, but, alas! who can converse with comes sooner by white hairs, but competency a dumb-show? How oddly he is suited! I think lives longer. 10 he bought his doublet in Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour every where.

Por. Good sentences and well pronounced. Ner. They would be better if well followed. 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. The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree such a hare is madness the youth, to skip o'er the meshes of good counsel the cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband. O me, the word 'choose'! I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none? 29

:

82

Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighbour?

Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him, for he borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman, and swore he would pay him again when he was able: I think the Frenchman became his surety and sealed under for another.

Ner. How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony's nephew?

91

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 little 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 I shall make shift to go without him.

Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the right casket, you should refuse to perform your father's will, if you should refuse to accept him.

Ner. Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations; Por. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray therefore the lottery that he hath devised in thee, set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the these three chests of gold, silver, and lead, whereof contrary casket, for if the devil be within and who chooses his meaning chooses you, will, no that temptation without, I know he will choose doubt, never be chosen by any rightly but one it. I will do anything, Nerissa, ere I'll be who you shall rightly love. But what warmth is married to a sponge. there in your affection towards any of these princely suitors that are already come?

Por. I pray thee, over-name them, and as thou namest them, I will describe them; and, according to my description, level at my affection.

41

Ner. First, there is the Neapolitan prince. Por. Ay, that's a colt 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. I am much afeard my lady his mother played false with a smith.

Ner. Then is there the County Palatine. Por. He doth nothing but frown, as who should say, 'If you will not have me, choose.' He hears merry 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. God defend me from these two!

Ner. How say you by the French lord, Monsieur Le Bon ?

59

Por. God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker; but, he! why, he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan's, a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine; he is every man in no man; if a throstle sing, he falls straight a-capering; he will fence with his own shadow: if I should marry him, I should marry twenty husbands. If he would despise me, I would forgive him, for if he love me to madness, I shall never requite him.

70

Ner. What say you then to Falconbridge, the young baron of England?

106

Ner. 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 suit, unless you may be won by some other sort than your father's imposition depending on the caskets.

Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will. I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence, and I pray God grant them a fair departure.

118

Serv. The four strangers seek for you, madam, to take their leave; and there is a forerunner come from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings word the prince his master will be here to-night.

Por. 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: if he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me.

141 Will furnish me.

Come, Nerissa. Sirrah, go before.
Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another
knocks at the door.
Exeunt.!

SCENE III-Venice. A public Place.

Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK.

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.
Shy. Antonio is a good man.

10

Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary!

Shy. Oh, no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath, squandered abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats and waterrats, water-thieves and land-thieves, I mean pirates: and then there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding. sufficient. Three thousand ducats; I think I

may take his bond.

Bass. Be assured you may.

29

Shy. I will be assured I may; and, that I may be assured, I will bethink me. May I speak

with Antonio ?

Bass. If it please you to dine with us.

Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here?

Enter ANTONIO.

Bass. This is Signior Antonio.

40

But soft! how many months

Do you desire? To ANTONIO. Rest you fair, good signior;

Your worship was the last man in our mouths.

6)

Ant. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow
By taking nor by giving of excess,

Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,
I'll break a custom. Is he yet possess'd
How much ye would?

Shy.

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. Ant. And for three months.

Shy. I had forgot; three months; you told

Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's
This Jacob from our holy Abram was,
sheep -
The third possessor: ay, he was the third,-
As his wise mother wrought in is behalf,

say,

82

Ant. And what of him? did he take interest?
Shy. No; not take interest; not, as you would
Directly interest: mark what Jacob did.
That all the eanlings which were streak'd and pied
When Laban and himself were compromis'd,
Should fall as Jacob's hire, the ewes, being rank,
And, when the work of generation was
In end of autumn turned to the rams;
The skilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands,
Between these woolly breeders in the act,
And, in the doing of the deed of kind,
He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes,
Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time
This was a way to thrive, and he was blest :
Fall parti-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.
And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.

Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob serv'd
for;

A thing not in his power to bring to pass,
But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heaven.
Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?
Was this inserted to make interest good?

Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast:
But note me, signior.

Ant.
Mark you this, Bassanio,
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul, producing holy witness,

Shy. Aside. How like a fawning publican he Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,

looks!

I hate him for he is a Christian;

But more for that in low simplicity
He leads out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,
Even there where merchants most docongregate,
On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift, 51
Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe,
If I forgive him!

A goodly apple rotten at the heart.
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

100

Shy. Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum.

Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate.

Ant. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to
you?

Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances:
Still have I 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,

M

110

Ant. Come on: in this there can be no dismay, My ships come home a month before the day. Exeunt.

'Shylock, we would have moneys': you say so;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me as you spun a stranger cur
Over your threshold: moneys is your suit.
What should I say to you? Should I not say,
'Hath a dog money? Is it possible

120

A cur can lend three thousand ducats'? Or
Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key,
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 call'd me dog; and for these courtesies
I'll lend you thus much moneys'?

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

130

A breed for barren metal of his friend?
But lend it rather to thine enemy;
Who, if he break, thou my'st with better face
Exact the penalty.

Shy.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-Belmont. A Room in PORTIA'S
House.

Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of MOROCCO,
and his Followers; PORTIA, NERISSA, and
others of her Train.

10

Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,
To whom I am a neighbour and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make inci-ion for your love,
take To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath fear'd the valiant: by my love, I swear
The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue,
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes;
Besides, the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing:
But if my father had not scanted me
And hedg'd me by his wit, to yield myself
His wife who wins me by that means I told you,
Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair 20
As any comer I have look'd on yet
For my affection.

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,

140

Supply your present wants, and take no doit
Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me:
This is kind I offer.

Ant. This were kindness.
Shy.

This kindness will I show.
Go with me to a notary, seal me there
Your single bond; and, in a merry sport,
If you repay me not on such a day,
In such a place, such sum or sums as are
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, i' faith: I'll seal to such a bond,
And say there is much kindness in the Jew.
Bass. You shall not seal to such a bond for me:
I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

150

Ant. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it:
Within these two months, that's a month before
This bond expires, I do expect return

Of thrice three times the value of this bond. 160
Shy. O father Abram! what these Christians

170

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, I 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, I 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
Of an unthrifty knave, and presently
I will be with you.
Ant.

Hie thee, gentle Jew.

Exit SHYLOCK. This Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind. Bass. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.

Mor.
Even for that I thank you :
Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets
To try my fortune. By this scimitar,
That slew the Sophy, and a Persian prince
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
I would outstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,
Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win thee, lady. But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lichas play at dice
Which is the better man, the greater throw
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand:
So is Alcides beaten by his page;
And so may I, blind fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain,
And die with grieving.

30

Por.
You must take your chance;
And either not attempt to choose at all,
Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong,
Never to speak to lady afterward

41

In way of marriage: therefore be advis'd.
Mor. Nor will not: come, bring me unto my
chance.

Por. First, forward to the temple: after dinner
Your hazard shall be made.
Mor.

Good fortune then!
To make me blest or curse l'st among men.
Cornets, and exeunt.

143

Laun. To be brief, the very truth is that the
Jew, having done me wrong, doth cause me, as
my father, being, I hope, an old man, shall
frutify unto 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 I say it, though
old man, yet poor man, my father.

Bass. One speak for both. What would you?
Laun. Serve you, sir.

151

Gob. That is the very defect of the matter, sir.
Buss. I know thee well; thou hast obtain'd
thy suit:

Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,
And hath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment
To leave a rich Jew's service, to become
The follower of so poor a gentleman.

Gra.

Signior Bassanio, hear me :

200

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 demurely,
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say 'amen,'
Use all the observance of civility,
Like one well studied in a sad ostent
To please his grandam, never trust me more.
Bass. Well, we shall see your bearing.
Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night; you shall not
gage me

By what we do to-night.
Bass.

211

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.

Laun. The old proverb is very well parted
between my master Shylock and you, sir: you
have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough.
Bass. Thou speak'st it well. Go, father, with SCENE III.-The Same.
thy son.

Take leave of thy old master, and inquire
My lodging out. Give him a livery
More guarded than his fellows': see it done.

161

Laun. Father, in. I cannot get a service, no; I have ne'er a tongue in my head. Well; if any man in Italy have a fairer table which doth offer

to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune.
Go to; here's a simple line of life: here's a
small trifle of wives: alas! fifteen wives is
nothing: a 'leven 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; here are
simple 'scapes. Well, if Fortune be a woman,
she's a good wench for this gear. Father, come;
I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling
of an eye.

181

Exeunt LAUNCELOT and Old GOBBO.
Bass. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this.
These things being bought, and orderly bestow'd,
Return in haste, for I do feast to-night
My best-esteem'd acquaintance: hie thee, go.
Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein.
Enter GRATIANO.

Gra. Where is your master?
Leon.

Yonder, sir, he walks. Exit.
Gra. Signior Bassanio!
Bass. Gratiano!

Gra. I have a suit to you.
Bass.

You have obtain'd it. Gra. You must not deny me: I must go with you to Belmont.

Bass. Why, then you must. But hear thee,
Gratiano;

190

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;
But where thou art not known, why, there they
show

Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild
behaviour

I be misconstrued in the place I go to,
And lose my hopes.

Excunt.

A Room in SHYLOCK'S House.

Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT.

Jes. I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so:
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.

But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee:
And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest:
And so farewell: I would not have my father
Give him this letter; do it secretly;

See me in talk with thee.

beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew! If a Christian
Laun. Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue. Most
did not play the knave and get thee, I am much
deceived. But, adieu! these foolish drops do
somewhat drown my manly spirit: adieu !
Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot.
Alack! what heinous sin is it in me
Exit LAUNCELOT.
To be asham'd to be my father's child;
But though I am a daughter to his blood,

I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo !
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife.
Become a Christian, and thy loving wife. Exit.

SCENE IV.-The Same. A Street.
Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and
SALANIO.

Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,
Disguise us at my lodging, and return'
All in an hour.

Gra. We have not made good preparation.
Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torch-
bearers.

Salan. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd,
And better, in my mind, not undertook.
Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock: we have two
hours