And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch
Of merchant-marring rocks?

Sale. Not one, my lord.
Besides, it should appear, that if he had
The present money to discharge the Jew,
He would not take it : Never did I know
A creature, that did bear the shape of man,
So keen and greedy to 'confound a man:
He plies the duke at morning, and at night;
And doth impeach the freedom of the state,
If they deny him justice : twenty merchants,
The duke himself, and the magnificoes
Of greatest port, have all 8 persuaded with him ;
But none can drive him from the envious plea
Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond.

Jes. When I was with him, I have heard him swear,
To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen,
That he would rather have Anthonio's flesh,
Than twenty times the value of the fum
That he did owe him : and I know, my lord,
If law, authority, and power deny not,
It will

go hard with poor Anthonio. Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble?

Bal. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man,
The best condition'd and unweary'd spirit
In doing courtesies; and one in whom
The ancient Roman honour more appears,
Than any that draws breath in Italy.

Por. What sum owes he the Jew?
Baf. For me, three thousand ducats.

Por. What, no more?
Pay him fix thousand, and deface the bond :
Double fix thousand, and then treble that,

confound]-destroy.

3 persuaded 1-reasoned, argued.

Before

To pay

debt twenty

Before a friend of this description
Shall lose a hair thorough Bassanio's fault.
First,

go with me to church, and call me wife;
And then away to Venice to your friend;
For never shall you lie by Portia's fide
With an unquiet foul. You shall have gold
pay the petty

times over : When it is paid, bring your true friend along : My maid Neriffa, and myself, mean time, Will live as maids and widows. Come, away ; For you shall hence upon your wedding-day : Bid your

friends welcome, shew a merry cheer ; Since

you are dear bought, I will love you dear.-But let me hear the letter of

your

friend. *Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarry'd, 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 me, 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. O love, dispatch all business, and be gone. Baf. Since I have your good leave to go away,

I will make hafte: but, 'till I come again, No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay,

No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. [Exeunt.

Enter Sbylock, Solanio, Anthonio, and the Gaoler. Sby. Gaoler, look to him ;-Tell not me of mercy :This is the fool that lent out money gratis ;Portia probably reads the letter herself, in relief of Bassanio's distress.

Gaoler,

Goaler, look to him.

Antb. Hear me yet, good Shylock.

Sby. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond; I have sworn an oath, that I will have ту.

bond :
Thou call'ast me dog, before thou had'st a cause ;
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs :
The duke shall grant me justice.--I do wonder,
Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so 'fond
To come abroad with him at his request.

Anth. I pray thee, hear me speak.

Sby. 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-ey'd 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. Sol. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men.

Anth. Let him alone ;
I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers.
He seeks my life; his reason well I know;
I oft deliver'd from his 'forfeitures
Many that have at times made moan to me,
Therefore he hates me.

Sol. I am sure, the duke
Will never grant this forfeiture » to hold.

Anth. The duke cannot deny the course of law, * For the commodity that strangers have

i

fond )-indiscreet. * dull-ey'd ]-fympathizing, having eyes dim'd with tears of commiseration ; moping, melancholy.

forfeitures ]-impending penalties.
to hold ]-to be enforced.

For the commodity &c.]-on account of the interest of strangers in its due and regular dispensation.

With us in Venice: if it be deny'd,
'Twill much impeach the justice of the state ;
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Confisteth of all nations. Therefore, go:
These griefs and loffes have so • 'bated me,
That I shall hardly spare a pound of Aesh
To-morrow to my bloody creditor.-
Well, gaoler, on :- Pray God, Bassanio come
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not !

(Exeunt.

Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Balthazar.

Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your presence,
You have a noble and a true conceit
Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly
In bearing thus the absence of your lord,
But, if

you
knew to whom

you

shew this honour,
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,
There must needs be a like proportion
Of P lineaments, of manners, and of spirit;
Which makes me think, that this Anthonio,
Being the bosom lover of my lord, ,

'bated]-reduced, emaciated. P lineaments, 1-frame, constitution of body.

Must

Must needs be like my lord : If it be so,
How little is the cost I have bestow'd,
In purchasing the semblance of my soul
From out the state of hellish cruelty ?
This comes too near the praising of myself;
Therefore, no more of it: hear other things.-
Lorenzo, I commit into your hands
The husbandry and manage of my house,
Until my lord's return : for mine own part,
I have toward heaven breath'd a secret vow,
To live in prayer and contemplation,
Only attended by Nerissa here,
Until her husband and my lord's return :
There is a monastery two miles off,
And there we will abide. I do desire you,
Not to deny this imposition ;
The which my love, and some necessity,
Now lays upon you.

Lor. Madam, with all my heart;
I shall obey you in all fair commands.

Por. My people do already know my mind,
And will acknowledge you and Jessica
In place of lord Bassanio and myself.
So fare you well, till we shall meet again.

Lor. Fair thoughts, and happy hours attend on you!
Jef. I wish your ladyship all heart's content.

Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well pleas'd To wish it back on you : fare you well, Jessica.

[Exeunt Jelica, and Lorenzo. Now Balthazar, As I have ever found thee honest, true, So let me find thee still : Take this same letter, And use thou all the endeavour of a man,

4 of my foul]-of him that is to me as my own soul.

In