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In such a place, such sum, or sums,
Express'd in the condition, let the for
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and t
In what part of your body pleaseth m
Anth. Content, in faith; I'll seal t

bond,

And say, there is much kindness in th Bass. You shall not seal to such a l

me;

I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

Anth. Why, fear not, man; I v forfeit it;

Within these two months, that's a mont This bond expires, I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of the Shy. O father Abraham, what these

tians are;

Whose own hard dealing teaches them s

N

9

-body pleaseth me.] Folio-it pleas

I

dwell in my necessity,] To dwell s this place to mean the same as to continue. I has both the senses of habitation and contin

2

J.

-teaches them suspect] The omissio sign of the infinitive is not unusual in the English poets; and, at this day, we are even i to ascribe to that mode of expression, a cer tiquated elegance. For the sake of obviating

The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me

this;

If he should break his day, what should I gain
By the exaction of the forfeiture?

A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man,
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.
Anth. 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 strait ; See to my house, left in the fearful guard3 Of an unthrifty knave; and presently

I will be with you.

[Exit.

Anth.

concord found in the older copies, dealings "teaches," the line is read in this manner, by sundry modern editors

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Whose own hard dealings teach them to suspect."

E.

3left in the fearful guard] 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. JOHNSON.

So, in our author's Tempest;

"He's gentle, and not fearful.”

And in the first part of Henry IV.

"A mighty and a fearful head they are.'

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HEATH.

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Anth.

Hie thee, gentle J

This Hebrew will turn Christian; h

kind.

Bass. I like not fair terms,4 and a

mind.

Anth. Come on; in this there can

dismay;

My ships come home a month before th

[

4 I like not fair terms,] Kind words, g guage.

JOHNSON.

SCENE IV.*

Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.

Flourish of cornets.

Enter the Prince of Morocco, and his train; Portia, Nerissa, and others of her attendants.

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

* SCENE IV. In the preceding editions, Scene 1, of Act II.-This I suppose to be the day succeeding that in which the foregoing scene was concluded. In the second of this Act, a servant informs the lady that a messenger brings word, "the prince his master will be here to night." In that now before us, Portia, upon Morochius's expressing his earnestness to try his destiny, says, -after dinner

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"Your hazard shall be made." It may, therefore, be presumed that she speaks not on the very same day on which he arrived: It is probable, however, from the impatience which he here discovers that he was not inclined to admit of any unnecessary delay. E.

'The old stage direction is, " Enter Morochus a "tawnie Moore, all in white, and three or foure "followers accordingly, with Portia, Nerissa, and "their traine," &c. STEEVENS.

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And let us make incision for your love To prove whose blood is reddest, his, o I tell thee, lady, this aspéct of mine Hath fear'd the valiant ;3 by my love, The best-regarded virgins of our clime Have lov'd it too: I would not change t Except to steal your thoughts, my

queen.

2 To prove whose blood is reddest, his or m understand how the tawney prince, whos dignity is very well supported, means to re himself by this challenge, it must be rem that red blood is a traditionary sign of coura Macbeth calls one of his frighted soldier liver'd boy; again, in this play, cowards a have livers as white as milk; and an effemi timorous man is termed a milksop. JOHNSO

It is customary in the East for lovers to t violence of their passion by cutting them the sight of their mistresses. See Habits d pl. 43; and Picart's Religious Ceremonies, HARRIS. p. 111.

3 Hath fear'd the valiant ;] Fear'd for ma So in The Taming the Shrew, Act i. Scene Tush, tush, fear boys with bugs. And in Antony and Cleopatra, Act ii. Scen "Thou canst not fear us Pompey with t I

To fear is often used by our old writer sense. So, Ben Jonson, in Every man in his "Make him a warrant, (he shall not go ;) | "the knave." So, in King Henry IV. Pa

"For Warwick was a bug that fear'd u

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