thing but talk of his horse; and he makes it a great appropriation to his own good parts, that he can hoe' him himself. I am much afraid, my lady, his mother, play'd falfe with a fmith. Ner. Then there is the Count Palatine. (4) Por. He doth nothing but frown, as who should fay, if you will not have me, chufe. He hears merry tales, and finiles not, I fear, he will prove the weeping philofopher when he grows old, being fo full of unmannerly fadnefs in his youth. I had rather be married to a death's head with a bone in his mouth, than to either of these. God defend me from these two! Ner. How fay you by the French Lord, Monfieur Le Boun ? Por. God made him, and therefore let him pafs for a man ;. in truth, I know, it is a fin to be a mocker; but, he! why, he hath a horfe better than the Neapolitan's ; a better bad habit of frowning than Mr. Theobald fays, he can perceive neither bumour or reasoning in this reading, and therefore alters Colt to Delt; but what ever humour er reasoning there is in the one there is in the other for the fignification is the fame in both. Hen. IV. 1ft part, Falstaff fays, What plague mean you to colt me thus? And Fletcher conftantly uses Colt for Dolt. WARBURTON. Colt is ufed for a witlefs, heady, gay youngfter, whence the phrafe, ufed of an old man too juvenile, that he ftill retains his celt's cootb. See Hen. VIII. (4) there is the Count Palatine.] I make no doubt but the Count Palatine was fome character notorious in Shakespeare's time. When Sir Epicure Mammon, in the Alchemift, is promifing Face what great things he will do for him, he fays, be fhall be a Count, and adds lily, ay, a Count Palatine. The editor of Jonfon has t. ken no notice at all of the paffage, nor obferves that the latter part of the line fhould be spoken afide, which the character of Sir Epicure would have juftified him in doing. Mr. STEEVENS. I am always inclined to believe, that Shakespeare has more allufons to particular facts and perfons than his readers commonly fuppofe. The Count here mentioned was, perhaps, Albertus a Lafco, a Polifh Palatine, who visited England in our Authour's time, was eagerly careffed, and fplendidly entertained, but running in debt, at laft ftole away, and endeavoured to repair his fortune by enchantment. the Count Palatine; he is every man in no man; if a throitle fing, he falls ftrait a capering; he will fence with his own fhadow; if I fhould marry him, I should marry twenty husbands. If he would defpife me, I would forgive him for if he love me to madness, I fhall never requite him. Ner. What fay you then to Faulconbridge, the young Baron of England? ; Por. You know, I fay nothing to him, for he understands not me, nor I him he hath neither Latin, French, nor Italian; (5) and you may come into the court and swear, that I have a poor pennyworth in the English. He is a proper man's picture, but, alas } who can converfe with a dumb fhow? how oddly he is fuited! I think, he bought his doublet in Italy, his round hofe in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour every where. Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord, (6) his neighbour ? Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him for he borrow'd a box of the ear of the Englishman, and fwore he would pay him again, when he was able. I think, the Frenchman became his furety, (7) and fealed under for another. Ner. How like you the young German, (8) the Duke of Saxony's nephew? (5) be bath neither Latin, French, no Italian ;] A Satire on the ignorance of the young. English Travellers in our Author's Lime. WARBURTON. (6) omitted in the firf folio, for fear of giving offence Scottish lord,] Scottife, which is in the quarto, was countrymen. to king James's THEOBALD. (7) I think, the Frenchman became his furety,] Alluding to the conftant affittance, or rather conftant promises of affiftance, that the French gave the Scots in their quarrels with the English. This Alli ance is here humo a fly fatirized. WARBURTON. (8) How like the young German] In Shakespeare's time the Duke of Bavaria vifited London, and was made Knight of the Garter. Perhaps in this enumeration of Portia's fuitors, there may be fome covert allufon to thole of Queen Elizabeth. Por. Very vilely in the morning when he is fober, and moft vilely in the afternoon when he is drunk when he is beft, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast. And the worst fall that ever fell, I hope, I fhall make shift to go witbout him. Ner. If he fhould offer to chufe, and chuse the right cafket, you should refufe to perform your father's will, fhould refufe to accept him. if you Por. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee, fet a deep glass of Rhenifh wine on the contrary casket; for if the devil be within, and that temptation without, I know, he will chufe it. I will do any thing, Neriffa, ere I will be marry'd to a fpunge. Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of thefe lords they have acquainted me with their determinations, which is, indeed, to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more fuit; unless you may be won by fome other fort than your father's impofiti on, depending on the caskets. Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, Iwill die as chafte as Diana, unless I be obtain'd by the manner of my father's will. I am glad, this parcel of wooers are fo reafonable for there is not one among them. but I doat on his very absence, and with them a fair departure. ; Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, a Venetian, a fcholar and a foldier, that came hither in company of the Marquifs of Montferrat 2 Por. Yes, yes, it was Baffanio; as I think, he was fo call'd. Ner. True, Madam. He, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes look'd upon, was the best deferving a fair lady. Por. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praife. How now ? what news? Enter a Servant. Serv. The four ftrangers feek for you, madam, to take their leave; and there is a fore-runner come from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings word, the Prince, his matter, will be here to night. F 5 Por. Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with fo good heart as I can bid the other four farewel, I fhould be glad of his approach; if he have the condition of a faint, and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he fhould fhrive me, than wive me. Come, Neriffa. Sirrah, go before.-While we fhut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door. [Exeunt. Shy. by T Enter Baffanio and Shylock. Hree thousand ducats?-well. Shy. For three months ?-well. Ball For the which, as I told you, Antbonio shall be bound.. 1: Shy. Anthonio fhall become bound ? —well, Baff. May you ftead me? will you pleasure me? shall I know your answer? Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months, and Anthonio bound ? ̈ Baff. Your anfwer to that. Shy Anthonio is a good man. Ba. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Shy. No, no, no, no ;-my meaning, in faying he is a good man, is to have you understand me, that he is fufficient. Yet his means are in fuppofition: he hath an Argofie bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies I. underftand moreover upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England; and other ventures he hath, fquander'd abroad. But fhips are but boards, failors but men; there be land-rats, and water-rats, land-thieves and water-thieves; I mean, pirates; and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, fufficient. Three thoufand ducats? I think, I may take his bond. Baff. Be affur'd, you may. Shy. I will be affur'd, I may; and that I may be affur'd, I will bethink me. May I speak with Anthonio? Shy. Yes, to fmell pork. I will buy with you, fell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and fo following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto ?-who is he, comes here? Enter Anthonio. Bal. This is Signior Anthonio. Shy. [Afide.] How like a fawning Publican he looks !. 1 hate him, for he is a chriftian : But more, for that in low fimplicity He lends out mony gratis, and brings down ; Ev'n there where merchants most do congregate, Baff Shylock, do you hear Shy. I am debating of my present store,. And by the near guefs of my memory, I cannot inftantly raise up the grofs Of full three thousand ducats: what of that ?? [To Anth's. Your worship was the laft man in our mouths. Anth Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow. By taking, nor by giving of excess, Yet, to fupply the ripe wants of my friend, (1) (9) catch him once upon the bip,] A phrase taken from the practice of wrestlers. (1) the ripe wants of my friend,] Ripe. wants are wants come to the height, wants that can have no longer delay. Perhaps we might read, rife wants, wants that come thick upon him I'IL |