Let fortune go to bell for it.--Dot I'.. | Bass. -Somaythe outward shows be least themI speak too long; but 'tis to peize’ the time; The world is still deceiv'd with ornanient. [selves ; To eke it, and to draw it out in length, In law what plea so tainted and corrupt, To stay you from election. But, being season'd with a gracious voice, Bass. Let me chuse; 15 JObscures the show of evil? In religion, For as I am, I live upon the rack. What damned error, but some sober brow Por. Upon the rack, Bassanio? then confess Will bless it, and approve it with a text, What treason there is mingled with your love. Hiding the grossness with fair ornament? Bliss. None, but that ugly treason of mistrust, There is no vice so simple, but assumes Which makes me fear the enjoying of my love: 110 Come mark of virtue on its outward parts. There may as well be amity and life How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false 'Tween snow and fire, as treason and my love. As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins Por. Ay, but I fear, you speak upon the rack, The beards of Hercules, and frowning Mars; Where men epforced do speak any thing. Who, inward search’d, have livers white as milk!. Bass. Promise me life and I'll confess the truth. 15 And these assume but valour's excrement, Por. Well then, confess and live. To render them redoubted. Look on beauty, Bass. Confess, and love, And you shall see 'tis purchas'd by the weight; Had been the very sum of my confession: Which therein works a miracle in nature, O happy torment, when my torturer Making them lightest that wear most of it: Doth teach me answers for deliverance! 120 So are those crisped* snaky golden locks, But let me to my fortune and the caskets. 1 Which make such wanton gambols with the wind, Por. Away then: I am lock'd in one of thein; Upon supposed fairness, often known If you do love me, you will hnd me out. To be the dowry of a second bead, Nerissa, and the rest, stand all aloof. The skuil that bred them in the sepulchre. Let musick sound, while he doth make his choice: 25 Thus ornament is but the guiled "shore Then, if he lose, he makes a 'swan-like end, To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf Fading in musick: that the comparison |Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word, Maystand more proper, my eyeshall bethestream, The seeming truth which cunning times put on And wat'ry death-bed for him: He may win: To entrap the wisest. Therefore, thou gaudy gold, And what is musick then ? then musick is 130/Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee: Even as the flourish when true subjects bow Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge Toa new.crowned monarch: such it is, (Tween inan and man: but thou, thou meager lead, As are those dulcet sounds in break of day, Which rather threat 'nest, than dost promise aught, That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear, | Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence, And suinmon him to marriage. Now he goes, 35 And here chuse I; Joy be the consequence ! With no less presence', but with inuch more love, Por. Jlow all the other passions fleet to air, . Than young Alcides, when he did redeem As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embrac'd despair, The virgin-tribute paid by howling Troy And shudd'ring fear, and green-ey'd jealousy! To the sea-monster: I stand for sacrifice, TO love, be moderate, allay thy ecstasy, The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives, 40 In measure rain thy joy, scant this excess; With bleared visages, come forth to view I feel too much thy blessing, make it less, The issue of the exploit. Go, Hercules! For fear I surfeit! [Opening the leaden casket.. Live thou, I live:- With much inuch more dismay Bass. What find I here? I view the fight, than thou that mak’st the fray. Fair Portia's counterfeito? What demy-god [Musick within. 45 Hath come so near creation Move these eyes? A Song, whilst Bassanio comments on the cuskets! Or whether, riding on the balls of mine, .. to himselt: Seem they in motion? Here are sever'd lips, Parted with sugar breath; so sweet a barr Should sundersuchsweet friends: Here in her hairs 150 The painter plays the spider; and hath woven Reply. It is engender'd in the eyes, A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men, Faster than gnats in cobwebs : But her eyes, How could he see to do them? Having made one, Methinks, it should have power to steal both his, · I'll begin it, Ding, dong, bell. 155 And leave itself unfurnish'd: Yet look, how far All. Ding, dong, bell. T The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow The author of the Revisal of Shakspeare's text assigns the following meaning to this difficult passage : “ If the worst I fear should happen, and it should prove in the event, that I, who am “ jastly yours by the free donation I have made you of myself, should yet not be yours in consequence “ of an unlucky choice, let fortune go to hell for robbing you of your just due, not I for violating “ my oath.” To peixe comes from peser, I'r. which signifies to retard. Meaning, with no less dignity of mici. *i.e. curled.bi.e. the treacherous shore. Counterfeit here means a likeness, a resemblance. Un, In underprizing it, so far this shadow (scroll,l , Gra. My lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady, And, when your honours mean to solemnize Even at that tinie I may be marry'd too. | Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. If you be well pleas'd with this, Gra.I thank your lordship; you have got meone. Jio You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid; You lov'd, I lov'd; for intermission? [Kissing her. Your fortune stood upon the casket there; I come by note, to give, and to receive. And so did mine too, as the matter falls: Like one of two contending in a prize, 115 For wooing here, until I sweat again; That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes, And swearing, till my very roof was dry Hearing applause, and universal shout, With oaths of love ; at last,-if promise last, Giddy in spirit, still gazing, in a doubt I got a promise of this fair one here, Whether those peals of praise be his or no; To have her love, provided that your fortune So, thrice fair lady, stand I, even so; 120 Atchiev'd her mistress. As doubtful whether what I see be true, Por. Is this true, Nerissa? Until confirm'd, sign’d, ratify'd by you. Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withPor. You see me, lord Bassanio, where I stand, Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith? Such as I am: though, for myself alone, Gra. Yes, 'faith, my lord. [marriage. I would not be ambitious in my wish, 125] Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your To wish myself much better; yet, for you, Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy for a I would be trebled twenty times myself; thousand ducats. A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times U Ner. What, and stake down? More rich; that to stand high in your account, | Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends, 30 stake down. Exceed account: but the full sum of me . But who comes here? Lorenzo, and bis infidel? Is sum of something; which, to term in gross, What, and my old Venetian friend, Salerio? Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractis'd: Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerin. Happy in this, she is not yet so old Bass. Lorenzo, and Salerio, welcome hither ; But she may learn; and happier than this, 135 If that the youth of my new interest here She is not bred so dull but she can learn; Havepowerto bid you welcome:-By your leave, Happiest of all, is, that her gentle spirit I bid iny very friends, and countrymen, Commits itself to yours to be directed, Sweet Portia, welcome. As from her lord, her governor, her king. Por. So do I, my lord; Myself, and what is mine, to you, and yours 140 They are entirely welcome. flord, Is now converted: but now I was the lord | Lor. I thank your honour :-For my part, my. Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, My purpose was not to have seen you here; Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now, But ineeting with Salerio by the way, This house, these servants, and this same myself, He did intreat me, past all saying nay, Are yours, my lord; I give them with this ring; 45 To come with him along. Which when you part from, lose, or give away, 1 Sale. I did, my lord, Let it presage the ruin of your love, And I have reason for it. Signior Anthonio And be my vantage to exclaim on you. Commends him to you. [Gives Bassunio a letter, Buss. Madam, you have bereft me of all words, Bass. Ere I ope his letter, Only my blood speaks to you in my veins : 150 I pray you tell me how my good friend doth. And there is such confusion in my powers, Sale. Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind! As, after sonie oration fairly spoke Nor well, unless in mind : his letter there By a beloved prince, there doth appear Will shew you his estate. [come, Among the buzzing pleased multitude; Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon'stranger; bid her welWhere every something, being blent' together, 155 Yourhand, Salerio; What's the news from Venice? Turns to a wild of nothing, save of joy, How doth that royal merchant, good Anthonio? Exprest, and not exprest: But when this ring I know he will be glad of our success; Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence; We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece, [lost! 0, then be bold to say, Bassanio's dead. Sale. Would you had won the fleece that he hath Ner. My lord and lady, it is now our time, 60 Por. There are some shrewd contents in yon same That have stood by, and seen our wishes prosper, That steals the colour of Bassanio's cheek: (paper, To cry, good joy; Good joy, my lord and lady! Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world : That is, blended. Intermission here means pause, delay, . : P 2 Could Could turn so much the constitution With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold Of any constant man. What, worse and worse? To pay the petty debt twenty times over: With leave, Bassanio; I ain half yourself, When it is paid, bring your true friend along: And I must freely have the half of any thing My maid Nerissa, and myself, mean time, That this same paper brings you. 15|Will live as maids and widows. Come, away ; Bass. O sweet Portia, For you shall hence upon your wedding-day: Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words, Bid your friends welcome, shew a merry cheer; That ever blotted paper! Gentle lady, Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear.When I did first impart my love to you, But let ine hear the letter of your friend. I freely told you, all the wealib I had 110 Bass. [Reads.] “ Sweet Bassanio, my ships have Ran in my veins, I was a gentleman ; “all miscarry'd, my creditors grow cruel, my And then I told you true: and yet, dear lady, por estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; Rating myself at nothing, you shll see " and since, in paying it, it is impossible I should How much I was a braggart: When I told you " live, all debts are cleared between you and me, My state was nothing, I should then have told yon 15“ if I might but see you at my death: notwithThat I was worse than nothing; for, indeed, po standing, use your pleasure: if your love do I have engag'd myself to a dear friend, jo not persuade you to come, let not my letter." Engag'd my friend to his meer enemy, | Por. O love, dispatch all business, and be gone. To feed my means. Ilere is a letter, lady ; Buss. Since I have your good leave to go away, The paper as the body of my friend, I will make haste: but, 'till I come again, And every word in it a gaping wound, 1 No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, Issuing life-blood. But it is true, Salerio ? I No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain, (Exeunt. Have all his ventures fail'd? What, not one hit: ! SCENE 111. From Tripolis, from Mexico, and England, A Street in Venice. From Lisbon, Barbary, and India ? 25 Enter Shylock, Salanio. Anthonio, and the And not one vessel 'scape the dreadsul touch Gaoler. Of merchant-marring rocks? 1 | Shy. Gaoler, look to him ;- Tell not me of Sale. Not one, my lord. mercy; Besides, it should appear, that if he had This is the fool that lent out money gratis ;The present money to discharge the Jew, 30 Gaoler, look to him. He would not take it: Never did I know Anth. Hear me yet, good Shylock. [bond; A creature, that did bear the shape of man, Shy. I'll have my bond ; speak not against my So keen and greedy to confound a man: I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond: He plies the duke at morning, and at night; Thou call’dst me dog, before thou had'st a cause; And doth impeach the freedom of the state, 35 But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs : If they deny him justice: twenty merchants, The duke shall grant me justice.-1 do wonder, 'T'he duke himself, and the magnificoes Thou vaughty gaoler, that thou art so fond', . Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him; 1 To come abroad with him at his request. But none can drive him from the envious plea Anth. I pray thee, hear me speak. [speak: Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond. "Iswear, 40 Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee Jes. When I was with him, I have heard him I'll have my bord; and therefore speak no more, To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen, I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool', That he would rather have Anthonio's tesh,' I To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield Than twenty times the value of the sum To christian intercessors. Follow not ; That he did owe him: and I know, my lord, 451'll have no speaking ; I will have my bond. If law, authority, and power deny not, [Exit Shylock It will go hard with poor Anthonio. [ble | Sul. It is the most impenetrable cur, Por. Is it your dear friend that is thus in trou. That ever kept with men. Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindestman, Anth. Let him alone; He seeks my life; his reason well I know; Many that have at times made moan to me, Por. What sum owes he the Jew? Therefore he hates me. Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. [law; With us in Venice, if it be deny'd, Shall lose a hair thorough Bassanio's fault. 60 Will much impeach the justice of the state; First, go with me to chuch, and call me wise; Since that the trade and profit of the city And then away to Venice to your friend; Consisteth of all nations. Therefore go: For never shall you lie by Portia's side Į These griefs and losses Irave so 'bated me, 'i. e. so foolish. ? Meaning, melancholy fool. That Men That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh 1 In speed to Paclua ; see thou render this Into my cousin's hand, doctor Bellario; [thies Well, gaoler, on:-Pray Goul, Bassanio come And, look, what notes and garments he doth give To see ine pay his debt, and then I care not! Bring thein, I pray thee, with imagin'd speed, [Ereunt. 5 lnto the traject, to the common ferry (words, Ś CENE IV. Which trades to Venice:-waste ro time in But get thee gone ; I shall be there before thee. Belmont. Bulth. Madam, I go with all convenient speed. Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Erit. Baliluzar. 10 Por. Come on, Nerissa; I have work in liand, Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your presence, That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands You have a noble and a true conceit Before they think of ns. Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly | Ner. Shali they see us? In bearing thus the absence of your lord. Por. They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit, But, if you knew to whom you shew this lionour, 115 That they shall think we are accomplished Ilow true a gentleman you send relief, With what we lack. I'll hold thee any wager, llow ciear a lover of my lord your husband, Mhen we are both apparell'd like young men, I know, you would be prouder of the work, P'll prove the prettier fellow of the two, Than customary bounty can enforce you. And wear my dagger with the braver grace; Por. I never did repent for doing good, 201.Ind sprak between the change of man and boy, Nor shall not now: for in companions With a reed voice; and turn two mincing steps That do converse and waste the time together, Into a inamly stride; and speak of frays, Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love, Like a line bragging youth; and tell quaint lies, There must needs be a like proportion How honourable ladies sought my love, Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit; 25 Which I denving, they fell sick and dy'd; . Which makes me think, that this Anthonio, I could not do' with all ;-then I'll repent, Being the bosom lover of my lo d, And wishi, for all that, that I had not kill'd them: Must needs be like my lord: li it be so, and twenty of these puny lies I'll tell, How little is the cost I have bestow'd, That men shall swear I have discontinued school in purchasing the semblance of my soul 130 .lbove a twelvemonth:--I have within my mind From out the state of hellish cruelly? A thousand raw tricks of these bragging jacks, Por. Fie! what a question's that, At the park gate; and therefore haste away, For we must measure twenty miles to-day. [Er. l'ntil her husband and my lord's return: SCENE V. Enter Launcelot and sessica. Luun. Yes, truly:--for, look you, the sins of The which my love, and some necessity, the father are to be laid upon the children; thereNow lays upon you. 145 fore, I promise you, I fear you. I was always Lor. Madam, with all my heart; plain with you, and so now I speak my agitation I shall obey you in all fair commands. of the maiier: Therefore be of good cheer; for, Por. My people do already know my mind, truly, I think, you are damn'd. There is but one And will achiowledge you and Jessica bope in itibat can do you any good; and that is In place of lord Bassanio and myself. 50 but a kind of bastard hope neither. So save you well, till we shall meet again. [vou ! Jes. And what hope is that, I pray thee? Lor. fair thoughts and happy hours attend on | L:un. Marry, you may partly hope that your 55 Jes. That ilpre a kind of bastard hope, in-. To wisli it back on you: fare you well, Jessica | Ideed; so the sins of my mother shall be visited [Excunt Jessica and Lorenzo. upon me. Now, Balthazar, Lain. Truly then I fear you are damu'd both. As I have ever found thee honest, true, i by father and mother: thus when I shun Scylla, So let me find thee stiil: Take this same letter, 150 your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother; And use thou all the endeavour of a man, | well, you are gone both ways, Jes. I shall be saved by my husband; he hath Ithou shew the whole wealth of thy wit in an inmade me a Christian. stant ? I pray thee, understand a plain man in his Laun. Truly, the more to blame he: we were plain meaning: go to thy fellows; bid them cover Christians enough before; e'en as many as could the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in well live one by another : This making of Chris- 5 to dinner. tians will raise the price of hogs; if we grow all Laun. For the table, sir, it shall be serv'd in ; to be pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have al for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your rasher on the coals for inoney. coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours Enter Lorenzo. and conceit shall govern. [Exit Laun. Jes. I'll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you 10 Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are suitsay; here he comes.. The fool hath planted in his memory [ed! Lor. I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Laun- An army of good words: And I do know celot, if you thus get my wife into corners. A many fools, that stand in better place, Jes. Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo; Garnish'd like him, that for a tricksy word Launcelot and I are out: he tells me flatly, there 15 Defy the matter. How cheer'st thou, Jessica ? is no mercy for me in heaven, because I am a And now, good sweet, say thy opinion, Jew's daughter; and he says, you are no good mem- How dost thou like the lord Bassanio's wife? ber of the commonwealth; for in converting Jews Jes. Past all expressing: it is very meet, to Christians, you raise the price of pork. The lord Bassanio live an upright life; Lor. I shall answer that better to the common-20/For, having such a blessing in his lady, wealth, than you can the getting up of the negro's! He finds the joys of heaven here on earth: belly: the Moor is with child by you, Launcelot. And, if on earth he do not mean it, it Laun. It is much, that the Moor should be more Is reason he should never come to heaven. than reason: but if she be less than an honest wo- Why,iftwo gods should play some heavenlyınatcli, man, she is, indeed, more than I took her for. 125 And on the wager lay two earthly women, Lor. How every fool can play upon the word! And Portia one, there must be something else . I think the best grace of wit will shortly turn into Pawn’d with the other; for the poor rude world silence; and discourse grow commendable in nonel Hath not her fellow. only but parrots.-Go in, sirrah; bid them pre- Lor. Even such a husband pare for dinner. [machs. 30 Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife. Laun. That is done, sir; they have all sto Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that. Lor. Goodly lord, what a wit-snapper are you! Lor. I will anon; first let us go to dinner, then bid them prepare dinner. Jes. Nay, let me praise you, while I have a Laun. That is done too, sir; only, cover is the stomach. word. 35 Lor. No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk; Lor, Will you cover then, sir? | Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things Laun. Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty. I shall digest it. Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion; wilt! | Jes. Well, I'll set you forth. [Exeunt. SCE N E 1. - I To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, The very tyranny and rage of his. Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court, Enter the Duke, the Senators; Anthonio, Bassa Sal. He's ready at the door: he comes, my lord. nio, Gratiano, and others. 50 Enter Shylock. . Duke. W HAT, is Anthonio here? Duke. Make room, and let him stand before Anth." Ready, so please your grace. [swer our face. Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come to an- Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch That thou but leail'st this fashion of thy malice Uncapable of pity, void and einpty 155To the last huur of act; and then, 'tis thought, From any dram of mercy. Thou'lt shew thy mercy,and remorse more strange Anth. I have heard, Than is thy strange apparent cruelty: Your grace bath ta'en great pains to qualify And, where thou now exact'st the penalty, His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate, (Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh) And that no lawful means can carry me 160 Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture, Out of his envy's reach', I do oppose But, touch'd with human gentleness and love, My patience to his fury; and am arm'd I Forgive a moiety of the principal; ! Ency in this place means hatred or malice ? Where for wherease |