Gra. I thank your lordship; you have got me one. No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. Por. fortune Is this true, Nerissa? Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal. Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith? Gra. Yes, 'faith, my lord. Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy for a thousand ducats. Ner. What, and stake down? Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down. But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel? Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio. Bass. Lorenzo, and Salerio, welcome hither; If that the youth of my new interest here Have power to bid you welcome:-By your leave, 1 bid my very friends and countrymen, Sweet Portia, welcome. Por. So do I, my lord; They are entirely welcome. Lor. I thank your honour:-For my part, my lord, * Pause, delay. My purpose was not to have seen you here; Sale. And I have reason for it. Bass. I did, my lord, Signior Antonio [Gives Bassanio a letter. Ere I ope his letter, I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. Sale. Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind; Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there Will show you his estate. Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon' stranger; bid her wel come. Your hand, Salerio; What's the news from Venice? How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio? I know, he will be glad of our success; We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece. Sale. 'Would you had won the fleece that he hath lost! Por. There are some shrewd contents in yon' saine paper, That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek: Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world Could turn so much the constitution Of any constant man. What, worse and worse?- And I must freely have the half of any thing O sweet Portia, I have engag'd myself to a dear friend, And every word în it a gaping wound, And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch Sale. Jes. When I was with him, I have heard him swear, To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen, That he would rather have Antonio's flesh, Than twenty times the value of the sum It will go hard with poor Antonio. Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble? The best condition'd and unwearied spirit The chief men. Por. What sum owes he the Jew? Bass. For me, three thousand ducats. What, no more? Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. Bass. [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. No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, [Exeunt. * Face. SCENE III. Venice. A street. Enter Shylock, Salanio, Antonio, and Gaoler. Shy. Gaoler, look to him ;-Tell not me of mercy; This is the fool that lent out money gratis ; Gaoler, look to him. Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. 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 had'st a cause: But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs : The duke shall grant me justice.—I do wonder, 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. To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield [Exit Shylock. Salan. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. Ant. 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; * Foolish. |