cheer;

1

Bid friends welcome; show a merry
your
Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear.-
But let me hear the letter of your friend.

Bas. [reads.] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since, in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and I, if I might but 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.
Bas. Since I have your good leave to go away,
I will make haste but, till I come again,,

No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay,

Nor rest be interposer 'twixt us twain.

[Exeunt.

Enter

SCENE III.

Venice. A street.

SHYLOCK, SALANIO, ANTONIO, and JAILER.

Shy. Jailer, look to him;- -tell not me of

mercy:

This is the fool that lent out money gratis :—

Jailer, look to him.

Ant.

Hear me yet, good Shylock.

1 Countenance.

Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my

bond:

I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond:
Thou call'dst me dog, before thou hadst a cause;
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs :
The duke shall grant me justice.—I do wonder,
Thou naughty jailer, that thou art so fond 1
To come abroad with him at his request.
Ant. I pray thee, hear me speak.

Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak:

I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.
I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool,

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 Shylock. Salan. It is the most impenetrable cur,

That ever kept with men.

Ant.

Let him alone :

his reason well I know:

I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers.

He seeks my life;

I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures

Many that have at times made moan to me;
Therefore he hates me.

Salan.

I am sure, the duke

Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.

Ant. The duke cannot deny the course of law;

1 Foolish.

For the commodity that strangers have
With us in Venice, if it be denied,

Will 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.-
Well, jailer, on.-Pray God, Bassanio come,
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Belmont. A room in Portia's house.

Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA, and

BALTHAZAR.

Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your pre

sence,

You have a noble and a true conceit

Of godlike amity; which appears most strongly
In bearing thus the absence of your lord.
But, if you knew to whom you show this honor,
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 customary bounty can enforce you.

Por. I never did repent for doing good,
Nor shall not now: for in companions
That do converse and waste the time together,
Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love,