GRATIANO, LORENZO, in love with Jessica. SHYLOCK, a Jew. TUBAL, a Jew, his Friend. LAUNCELOT GOBBо, a Clown, Servant to Shylock. OLD GOBBO, Father to Launcelot. SALERIO, a Messenger from Venice. LEONARDO, Servant to Bassanio. BALTHAZAR, Servants to Portia STEPHANO, PORTIA, a rich Heiress. NERISSA, her Waiting-maid. JESSICA, Daughter to Shylock. Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice, Jailer, Servants, and other Attendants. SCENE, partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the Seat of Portia, on the Continent. 1 This enumeration of the Dramatis Persona is by Mr. Rowe. MERCHANT OF VENICE. ACT I. SCENE I. Venice. A Street. Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. Ant. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad. And such a want-wit sadness makes of me, Salar. Your mind is tossing on the ocean; That court'sy to them, do them reverence, Salan. Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth, The better part of my affections would The word 1 Argosies are large ships either for merchandise or war. has been supposed to be derived from the classical ship Argo, as a vessel eminently famous; and this seems the more probable from Argis being used for a ship in low Latin. Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt, 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, Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad. Ant. Fie, fie! 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 not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus, Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time; And other of such vinegar aspéct, 1 To vail is to lower, to let fall; from the French, avaler. 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. Bass. Good seigniors both, when shall we laugh? You grow exceeding strange. Must it be so? 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, seignior Antonio. You have too much respect upon the world. They lose it, that do buy it with much care. Believe me, you are marvellously changed. Ant. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; A stage, where every man must play a part, And mine a sad one. Gra. Let me play the fool. With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come; Than my Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio,— Do cream and mantle, like a standing pond; With purpose to be dressed in an opinion If they should speak, would almost damn those ears, But fish not, with this melancholy bait, Come, good Lorenzo.-Fare ye well, awhile; Lor. Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time. Gra. Well, keep me company but two years more, Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue. Ant. Farewell. I'll grow a talker for this gear.1 Gra. Thanks, i'faith; for silence is only commendable In a neat's tongue dried, and a maid not vendible. [Exeunt GRA. and LOR. Ant. Is that any thing now? 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 1 Gear usually signifies matter, subject, or business in general. It is here, perhaps, a colloquial expression of no very determined import. It occurs again in this play, Act ii. Sc. 2: “If Fortune be a woman, she's a good wench for this gear." |