THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. This Play is justly placed among the most perfect of Shakspeare's compositions. The master-piece of character, as exhibited in Shylock the Jew, would alone entitle it to this classification, The double plot of this Drama was borrowed by Shakspeare from traditionary stories current in his time. The Jews at that period were a despised and persecuted race; the Poet has lent himself to the prejudices entertained by Christians against Jews, and yet he has made Shylock appear as the champion and avenger of an oppressed people, rather than the sordid contemptible character, then thought to be the distinctive qualification of “God's ancient people." ANTONIO, the Merchant of Venice. BASSANIO, his friend. SALANIO, SALARINO, GRATIANO, friends to Antonio and Bassanio. LORENZO, in love with Jessica. SHYLOCK, a Jew. TUBAL, a Jew, his friend. LAUNCELOT GOBBO, a clown, servant to Shylock Old GOBBO, father to Launcelot. SALERIO, a messenger from Venice. LEONARDO, servant to Bassanio. BALTHAZAR, STEPHANO, servants to Portia. PORTIA, a rich heiress. NERISSA, her waiting-maid. JESSICA, daughter to Shylock. Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice, Gaoler, Servants, and other Attendants. SCENE,-partly at VENICE, and partly at BELMONT, the Seat of Portia, on the Continent. ACT I. SCENE I.-Venice. A Street. Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, and SALANIC And such a want-wit sadness makes of me, Salar. Your mind is tossing on the ocean; That curt'sy to them, do them reverence, As they fly by them with their woven wings. Salan. Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth, The better part of my affections would Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still Salar. And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks? And now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought Is sad to think upon his merchandise. Ant. Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate Upon the fortune of this present year: Therefore, my merchandise makes me not sad. Ant. Fye, fye! Salan. Not in love neither? Then let's say, you are sad, Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy For you to laugh, and leap, and say, you are merry, Because you are not sad. Now, by the two-headed Janus, Some that will evermore peep through their eyes, That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile, Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and Gratiano. Salan. Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, Gratiano, and Lorenzo: Fare you well; We leave you now with better company. Salar. I would have staid till I had made you merry If worthier friends had not prevented me. 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. Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? Say, when? Salar. We'll make our leisures to attend on yours. [Exeunt SALARINO, and SALANIQ 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. Gra. You look not well, signior Antonio; Ant. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; Gra. Let me play the Fool: With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come. Sleep when he wakes? and creep into the jaundice Do cream and mantle, like a standing pond; If they should speak, would almost damn those ears, But fish not, with this melancholy bait, Lor. Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time. Gra. Well, keep me company but two years more, Ant. Is that any thing now? [Exeunt GRATIANO, and LORENZO. Bass. Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice: His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels 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 I have disabled mine estate, Ant. I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it, My purse, my person, my extremest means, Bass. In my school-days, when I had lost one shaf The self-same way, with more advised watch, And thankfully rest debtor for the first. 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: Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth; Which makes her seat of Belmont, Colchos' strand, O my Antonio, had I but the means Ant. Thou know'st, that all my fortunes are at sea; To raise a present sum: therefore go forth, Excura. |