Riv. Why this is mending matters with a witnels! And fo you think becaufe I am not legally bound, I am under no neceffity of keeping my word! Sir Harry, laws were never made for men of honor; they want no bond but the recitude of their own fentiments; and laws are of no use but to bind the villains of fociety. Sir Har. Well! but my dear Colonel, if you have no regard for me, fhew fome little regard for your daughter. Riv. I fhew the greateft regard for my daughter by giving her to a man of honor, and I must not be infulted with any further repetition of your propofals. Sir Har. Infult you, Colonel? is the offer of my alliance an infult? Is my readinefs to make what fettlements you think proper Riv. Sir Harry I should confider the offer of a kingdom an infult, if it were to be purchased by the violation of my word. Befides tho my daughter fhall never go a beggar to the arms of her husband, I would rather fee her happy than rich, and if he has enough to provide handfomely for a young family, and fomething to fpare for the exigencies of a worthy friend, I fhall think her as affluent as if the was miftrefs of Mexico. Sir Har. Well, Colonel, I have done; But I believeRiv. Well, Sir Harry, and as our conference is done, we will, if you pleafe retire to the ladies. I fhall always be glad of our acquaintance, though I cannot receive you as a fon in law, for a union of intereft I look upon as a union of difhonor, and confider marriage for money, at best but a legal proffitution. Scene between SHYLOCK and TUBAL.* Sby. How now, Tubal ! daughter ? what news from Genoa ? Have you heard any thing of my backfliding Tub. I often came where I heard of her, but could not End her. Shy. Why, there, there, there, a` diamond gone that coft me two thousand ducats at Frankfort! The curfe never fell upon the nation till now! I never felt it before. Two thousand ducats in that and other precious jewels! I wifh * Shylock had sent Tal after his daughter, who had cloped his house. Antonio was a merchant hated by Shylock. the lay dead at my feet! No news of them! and I know not what was spent in the fearch. Lofs upon lofs. The thief gone with so much, and fo much to find the thief; and no fatisfaction, no revenge; no ill luck stirring but. what lights on my fhoulders. Tub. O yes, other men have ili luck too, Antonio, as L heard in Genoa-- Sby Interrupting him) What, has he had ill luck? Tub. Has had a hip caft away coming from Tripoli. Shy. Thank fortune? Is it true? Is it true? Tub. I fpoke with fome of the failors that efcaped from the wreck. Shy. I thank you, good Tubal. Good news! Good news! What, in Genoa, you spoke with them. Tub. Your daughther, as I heard, fpent twenty ducats in one night. Sby. You ftick a dagger in me, Tubal. I never fhall fee my gold again. Twenty Ducats in one night! Twenty ducats! O father Abraham ! Tub. There came feveral of Antonio's creditors in my company to Venice, who fay he cannot but break. Sby. I am glad on't. I'll plague him ;. I'll torture him; I am glad on't. Tub. One of them fhewed me a ring he had of your daughter for a monkey. Sby. Out upon her; you torture me, Tubal! It was my ruby. I would not have given it for as many monkies as could ftand together upon the Rialta. Tub. Antonio is certainly undone. Sby. Ay, ay, there is fome comfort in that. bal, engage an officer. Tell him to be ready: venged on Antonio :: I'll wath my hands to the hss heart's blood; Fub. SY JUBA and SYPHAX. Go, Tu 1'll be reelbows in YPHAX, I joy to meet thee thus alone. T2 Shyp. Tis not my talent to conceal my thoughts, I have not fo much of the Roman in me. Jub. Why doft thou caft out fuch ungenerous terms, Is there a nation in the wilds of Afric, Amidit our barren rocks and burning fands, Syph. Gods! where's the worth that fets this people up Above your own Numidia's taway fons ? Do they with tougher finews bend the bow ? The fiery fteed, and trains him to his hand? Jub. Thefe all are virtees of a meaner rank, Sybp. Patience, juft heavens!--Excufe an old man's What are thofe wonderous civilizing arts, This Roman polith, and this fimooth behaviour, [warmth. Jub. To strike thee dumb, turn up thy eyes to Cato! There may'st thou fee to what a godlike height, The Roman virtues lift up mortal man. While good, and juft, and anxious for his friends, Renouncing fleep and reft, and food, and ease, Sypb. Believe me, prince, there's not an African Jub. Thy prejudices, Syphax, won't difcern But, grant that others could, with equal glory, Heavens with what Atrength, what fteadiness of mind, How does he rife again a load of woes, And thank the gods that threw the weight upon him! Had not your royal father thought fo highly Jub Why doft thou call my forrows up afresh: [fuch a loft Jub. Syphax, I fhould be more than twice an orphan by Syph. Ay, there's the tie that binds you! You long to call him father. Marcia's charms Work in your heart, unfeen, and plead for Cato. No wonder you are deaf to all 1 fay. Jub. Syphax, your zeal becomes importunate; And talk at large; but learn to keep it in, When not a breath of wind flies o'er its furface. Syph. Alas! my prince, I'll guide you to your fafety. Jub. I do believe thou would'ft; but tell me how? Syph. Fly from the fate of Cæfar's foes. Jub. My father fcorn'd to do it. Syph. And therefore dy❜d. Jub. Better to die ten thoufand deaths, Than wound my honor. Syph. Rather fay your love. |