Bid your

friends welcome; show a merry cheer; 1 Since you are dear bought, I will love

you

dear. But let me hear the letter of

your

friend. Bas. [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 plea

If your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter.'

Por. O love, despatch all business, and be gone.
Bas. Since I have your good leave to go away,

I will make haste : but, till I come again,
No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay,
Nor rest be interposer 'twixt us twain.

[Exeunt.

sure.

SCENE III.

Venice. A street.

Enter SHYLOCK, SALANIO, ANTONIO, and JAILER.
Shy. Jailer, look to him ; -tell not me of

mercy :
This is the fool that lent out money gratis :-
Jailer, look to him.
Ant.

Hear me yet, good Shylock.

i Countenance.

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 hadst a cause;
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs:
The duke shall grant me justice.—I do wonder,
Thou naughty jailer, that thou art so fond 1
To come abroad with him at his request.

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.
I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed 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.
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

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.
Salan.

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

Ant. The duke cannot deny the course of law;

life;

i Fooli

For the commodity that strangers have
With us in Venice, if it be denied,
Will much impeach the justice of the state;
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Consisteth of all nations. Therefore, go :
These griefs and losses have so 'bated me,
Tiat I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh
To-morrow to my bloody creditor.-
Well, jailer, on.--Pray God, Bassanio come,
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Belmont. A room in Portia's house.
Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA, and

BALTHAZAR.

Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your pre

sence,
You have a noble and a true conceit
Of godlike amity; which appears most strongly
In bearing thus the absence of

your lord. But, if

you

knew to whom you show this honor,
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,