ShaMeVF11 1Actus primus. 2Enter Anthonio, Salarino, and Salanio. 3Anthonio. 4In sooth I know not why I am so sad, 5It wearies me: you say it wearies you; 6But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, 7What stuffe 'tis made of, whereof it is borne, 8I am to learne: and such a Want-wit sadnesse makes of 9mee, 10That I haue much ado to know my selfe. 11Sal. Your minde is tossing on the Ocean, 12There where your Argosies with portly saile 13Like Signiors and rich Burgers on the flood, 14Or as it were the Pageants of the sea, 15Do ouer-peere the pettie Traffiquers 16That curtsie to them, do them reuerence 17As they flye by them with their wouen wings. 18Salar. Beleeue me sir, had I such venture forth, 19The better part of my affections, would 20Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still 21Plucking the grasse to know where sits the winde, 22Peering in Maps for ports, and peers, and rodes: 23And euery obiect that might make me feare 24Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt 25Would make me sad. 26Sal. My winde cooling my broth, 27Would blow me to an Ague, when I thought 28What harme a winde too great might doe at sea. 29I should not see the sandie houre-glasse runne, 30But I should thinke of shallows, and of flats, 31And see my wealthy Andrew docks in sand, 32Vailing her high top lower then her ribs 33To kisse her buriall; should I goe to Church 34And see the holy edifice of stone, 35And not bethinke me straight of dangerous rocks, 36Which touching but my gentle Vessels side 37Would scatter all her spices on the streame, 38Enrobe the roring waters with my silkes, 39And in a word, but euen now worth this, 40And now worth nothing. Shall I haue the thought 41To thinke on this, and shall I lacke the thought 42That such a thing bechaunc'd would make me sad? 43But tell me, I know Anthonio 44Is sad to thinke vpon his merchandize. 45Anth. Beleeue me no, I thanke my fortune for it, 46My ventures are not in one bottome trusted, 47Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate 48Vpon the fortune of this present yeere: 49Therefore my merchandize makes me not sad. 50Sola. Why then you are in loue. 51Anth. Fie, fie. 52Sola. Not in loue neither: then let vs say you are sad 53Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easie 54For you to laugh and leape, and say you are merry 55Because you are not sad. Now by two-headed Ianus, 56Nature hath fram'd strange fellowes in her time: 57Some that will euermore peepe through their eyes, 58And laugh like Parrats at a bag-piper. 59And other of such vineger aspect, 60That they'll not shew their teeth in way of smile, 61Though Nestor sweare the iest be laughable. 62Enter Bassanio, Lorenso, and Gratiano. 63Sola. Heere comes Bassanio, 64Your most noble Kinsman, 65Gratiano, and Lorenso. Faryewell, 66We leaue you now with better company. 67Sala. I would haue staid till I had made you merry, 68If worthier friends had not preuented me. 69Ant. Your worth is very deere in my regard. 70I take it your owne busines calls on you, 71And you embrace th' occasion to depart. 72Sal. Good morrow my good Lords. 73Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, when? 74You grow exceeding strange: must it be so? 75Sal. Wee'll make our leysures to attend on yours. 76Exeunt Salarino, and Solanio. 77Lor. My Lord Bassanio, since you haue found Anthonio 78We two will leaue you, but at dinner time 79I pray you haue in minde where we must meete. 80Bass. I will not faile you. 81Grat. You looke not well signior Anthonio, 82You haue too much respect vpon the world: 83They loose it that doe buy it with much care, 84Beleeue me you are maruellously chang'd. 85Ant. I hold the world but as the world Gratiano, 86A stage, where euery man must play a part, 87And mine a sad one. 88Grati. Let me play the foole, 89With mirth and laughter let old wrinckles come, 90And let my Liuer rather heate with wine, 91Then my heart coole with mortifying grones. 92Why should a man whose bloud is warme within, 93Sit like his Grandsire, cut in Alablaster? 94Sleepe when he wakes? and creep into the Iaundies

95By being peeuish? I tell thee what Anthonio, 96I loue thee, and it is my loue that speakes: 97There are a sort of men, whose visages 98Do creame and mantle like a standing pond, 99And do a wilfull stilnesse entertaine, 100With purpose to be drest in an opinion 101Of wisedome, grauity, profound conceit, 102As who should say, I am sir an Oracle, 103And when I ope my lips, let no dogge barke. 104O my Anthonio, I do know of these 105That therefore onely are reputed wise, 106For saying nothing; when I am verie sure 107If they should speake, would almost dam those eares 108Which hearing them would call their brothers fooles: 109Ile tell thee more of this another time. 110But fish not with this melancholly baite 111For this foole Gudgin, this opinion: 112Come good Lorenzo, faryewell a while, 113Ile end my exhortation after dinner. 114Lor. Well, we will leaue you then till dinner time. 115I must be one of these same dumbe wise men. 116For Gratiano neuer let's me speake. 117Gra. Well, keepe me company but two yeares mo, 118Thou shalt not know the sound of thine owne tongue. 119Ant. Far you well, Ile grow a talker for this geare. 120Gra. Thankes ifaith, for silence is onely commendable 121In a neats tongue dri'd, and a maid not vendible. Exit. 122Ant. It is that any thing now. 123Bas. Gratiano speakes an infinite deale of nothing, 124more then any man in all Venice, his reasons are two 125graines of wheate hid in two bushels of chaffe: you shall 126seeke all day ere you finde them, & when you haue them 127they are not worth the search. 128An. Well: tel me now, what Lady is the same 129To whom you swore a secret Pilgrimage 130That you to day promis'd to tel me of? 131Bas. Tis not vnknowne to you Anthonio 132How much I haue disabled mine estate, 133By something shewing a more swelling port 134Then my faint meanes would grant continuance: 135Nor do I now make mone to be abridg'd 136From such a noble rate, but my cheefe care 137Is to come fairely off from the great debts 138Wherein my time something too prodigall 139Hath left me gag'd: to you Anthonio 140I owe the most in money, and in loue, 141And from your loue I haue a warrantie 142To vnburthen all my plots and purposes, 143How to get cleere of all the debts I owe. 144An. I pray you good Bassanio let me know it, 145And if it stand as you your selfe still do, 146Within the eye of honour, be assur'd 147My purse, my person, my extreamest meanes 148Lye all vnlock'd to your occasions. 149Bass. In my schoole dayes, when I had lost one shaft 150I shot his fellow of the selfesame flight 151The selfesame way, with more aduised watch 152To finde the other forth, and by aduenturing both, 153I oft found both. I vrge this child-hoode proofe, 154Because what followes is pure innocence. 155I owe you much, and like a wilfull youth, 156That which I owe is lost: but if you please 157To shoote another arrow that selfe way 158Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt, 159As I will watch the ayme: Or to finde both, 160Or bring your latter hazard backe againe, 161And thankfully rest debter for the first. 162An. You know me well, and herein spend but time 163To winde about my loue with circumstance, 164And out of doubt you doe more wrong 165In making question of my vttermost 166Then if you had made waste of all I haue: 167Then doe but say to me what I should doe 168That in your knowledge may by me be done, 169And I am prest vnto it: therefore speake. 170Bass. In Belmont is a Lady richly left, 171And she is faire, and fairer then that word, 172Of wondrous vertues, sometimes from her eyes 173I did receiue faire speechlesse messages: 174Her name is Portia, nothing vndervallewd 175To Cato's daughter, Brutus Portia, 176Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, 177For the four windes blow in from euery coast 178Renowned sutors, and her sunny locks 179Hang on her temples like a golden fleece, 180Which makes her seat of Belmont Cholchos strond, 181And many Iasons come in quest of her. 182O my Anthonio, had I but the meanes 183To hold a riuall place with one of them, 184I haue a minde presages me such thrift, 185That I should questionlesse be fortunate. 186Anth. Thou knowst that all my fortunes are at sea, 187Neither haue I money, nor commodity 188To raise a present summe, therefore goe forth 189Try what my credit can in Venice doe, 190That shall be rackt euen to the vttermost, 191To furnish thee to Belmont to faire Portia. 192Goe presently enquire, and so will I 193Where money is, and I no question make 194To haue it of my trust, or for my sake. Exeunt. 195Enter Portia with her waiting woman Nerissa. 196Portia. By my troth Nerrissa, my little body is a wea-rie 197of this great world. 198Ner. You would be sweet Madam, if your miseries 199were in the same abundance as your good fortunes are: 200and yet for ought I see, they are as sicke that surfet with 201too much, as they that starue with nothing; it is no smal 202happinesse therefore to bee seated in the meane, super-fluitie 203comes sooner by white haires, but competencie 204liues longer. 205Portia. Good sentences, and well pronounc'd. 206Ner. They would be better if well followed. 207Portia. If to doe were as easie as to know what were 208good to doe, Chappels had beene Churches, and poore 209mens cottages Princes Pallaces: it is a good Diuine that 210followes his owne instructions; I can easier teach twen-tie 211what were good to be done, then be one of the twen-tie 212to follow mine owne teaching: the braine may de-uise 213lawes for the blood, but a hot temper leapes ore a 214colde decree, such a hare is madnesse the youth, to skip 215ore the meshes of good counsaile the cripple; but this 216reason is not in fashion to choose me a husband: O mee, 217the word choose, I may neither choose whom I would, 218nor refuse whom I dislike, so is the wil of a liuing daugh-ter 219curb'd by the will of a dead father: it is not hard Ner-rissa, 220that I cannot choose one, nor refuse none. 221Ner. Your father was euer vertuous, and holy men 222at their death haue good inspirations, therefore the lot-terie 223that hee hath deuised in these three chests of gold, 224siluer, and leade, whereof who chooses his meaning,

225chooses you, wil no doubt neuer be chosen by any right-ly, 226but one who you shall rightly loue: but what warmth 227is there in your affection towards any of these Princely 228suters that are already come? 229Por. I pray thee ouer-name them, and as thou namest 230them, I will describe them, and according to my descrip-tion 231leuell at my affection. 232Ner. First there is the Neopolitane Prince. 233Por. I that's a colt indeede, for he doth nothing but 234talke of his horse, and hee makes it a great appropria-tion 235to his owne good parts that he can shoo him him-selfe: 236I am much afraid my Ladie his mother plaid false 237with a Smyth. 238Ner. Than is there the Countie Palentine. 239Por. He doth nothing but frowne (as who should 240say, and you will not haue me, choose: he heares merrie 241tales and smiles not, I feare hee will proue the weeping 242Phylosopher when he growes old, being so full of vn-mannerly 243sadnesse in his youth.) I had rather to be marri-ed 244to a deaths head with a bone in his mouth, then to ei-ther 245of these: God defend me from these two. 246Ner. How say you by the French Lord, Mounsier 247Le Boune? 248Por. God made him, and therefore let him passe for a 249man, in truth I know it is a sinne to be a mocker, but he, 250why he hath a horse better then the Neopolitans, a bet-ter 251bad habite of frowning then the Count Palentine, he 252is euery man in no man, if a Trassell sing, he fals straight 253a capring, he will fence with his owne shadow. If I should 254marry him, I should marry twentie husbands: if hee 255would despise me, I would forgiue him, for if he loue me 256to madnesse, I should neuer requite him. 257Ner. What say you then to Fauconbridge, the yong 258Baron of England? 259Por. You know I say nothing to him, for hee vnder-stands 260not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latine, French, 261nor Italian, and you will come into the Court & sweare 262that I haue a poore pennie-worth in the English: hee is a 263proper mans picture, but alas who can conuerse with a 264dumbe show? how odly he is suited, I thinke he bought 265his doublet in Italie, his round hose in France, his bonnet 266in Germanie, and his behauiour euery where. 267Ner. What thinke you of the other Lord his neigh-bour? 268_ 269Por. That he hath a neighbourly charitie in him, for 270he borrowed a boxe of the eare of the Englishman, and 271swore he would pay him againe when hee was able: I 272thinke the Frenchman became his suretie, and seald vnder 273for another. 274Ner. How like you the yong Germaine, the Duke of 275Saxonies Nephew? 276Por. Very vildely in the morning when hee is sober, 277and most vildely in the afternoone when hee is drunke: 278when he is best, he is a little worse then a man, and when 279he is worst, he is little better then a beast: and the worst 280fall that euer fell, I hope I shall make shift to go with-out 281him. 282Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the right 283Casket, you should refuse to performe your Fathers will, 284if you should refuse to accept him. 285Por. Therefore for feare of the worst, I pray thee set 286a deepe glasse of Reinish-wine on the contrary Casket, 287for if the diuell be within, and that temptation without, 288I know he will choose it. I will doe any thing Nerrissa 289ere I will be married to a spunge. 290Ner. You neede not feare Lady the hauing any of 291these Lords, they haue acquainted me with their deter-minations, 292which is indeede to returne to their home, 293and to trouble you with no more suite, vnlesse you may 294be won by some other sort then your Fathers impositi-on, 295depending on the Caskets. 296Por. If I liue to be as olde as Sibilla, I will dye as 297chaste as Diana: vnlesse I be obtained by the manner 298of my Fathers will: I am glad this parcell of wooers 299are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but 300I doate on his verie absence: and I wish them a faire de-parture. 301_ 302Ner. Doe you not remember Ladie in your Fa-thers 303time, a Venecian, a Scholler and a Souldior that 304came hither in companie of the Marquesse of Mount-ferrat? 305_ 306Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I thinke, so was hee 307call'd. 308Ner. True Madam, hee of all the men that euer my 309foolish eyes look'd vpon, was the best deseruing a faire 310Lady. 311Por. I remember him well, and I remember him wor-thy 312of thy praise. 313Enter a Seruingman. 314Ser. The four Strangers seeke you Madam to take 315their leaue: and there is a fore-runner come from a fift, 316the Prince of Moroco, who brings word the Prince his 317Maister will be here to night. 318Por. If I could bid the fift welcome with so good 319heart as I can bid the other foure farewell, I should be 320glad of his approach: if he haue the condition of a Saint, 321and the complexion of a diuell, I had rather hee should 322shriue me then wiue me. Come Nerrissa, sirra go before; 323whiles wee shut the gate vpon one wooer, another 324knocks at the doore. Exeunt. 325Enter Bassanio with Shylocke the Iew. 326Shy. Three thousand ducates, well. 327Bass. I sir, for three months. 328Shy. For three months, well. 329Bass. For the which, as I told you, 330 Anthonio shall be bound. 331Shy. Anthonio shall become bound, well. 332Bass. May you sted me? Will you pleasure me? 333Shall I know your answere. 334Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months, 335and Anthonio bound. 336Bass. Your answere to that. 337Shy. Anthonio is a good man. 338Bass. Haue you heard any imputation to the con-trary. 339_ 340Shy. Ho no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying he is a 341good man, is to haue you vnderstand me that he is suffi-cient, 342yet his meanes are in supposition: he hath an Argo-sie 343bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies, I vnder-stand 344moreouer vpon the Ryalta, he hath a third at Mexi-co, 345a fourth for England, and other ventures hee hath 346squandred abroad, but ships are but boords, Saylers but 347men, there be land rats, and water rats, water theeues, 348and land theeues, I meane Pyrats, and then there is the 349perrill of waters, windes, and rocks: the man is not with-standing 350sufficient, three thousand ducats, I thinke I may 351take his bond. 352Bas. Be assured you may.

353Iew. I will be assured I may: and that I may be assu-red, 354I will bethinke mee, may I speake with Antho-nio? 355_ 356Bass. If it please you to dine with vs. 357Iew. Yes, to smell porke, to eate of the habitation 358which your Prophet the Nazarite coniured the diuell 359into: I will buy with you, sell with you, talke with 360you, walke with you, and so following: but I will 361not eate with you, drinke with you, nor pray with you. 362What newes on the Ryalta, who is he comes here? 363Enter Anthonio. 364Bass. This is signior Anthonio. 365Iew. How like a fawning publican he lookes. 366I hate him for he is a Christian: 367But more, for that in low simplicitie 368He lends out money gratis, and brings downe 369The rate of vsance here with vs in Venice. 370If I can catch him once vpon the hip, 371I will feede fat the ancient grudge I beare him. 372He hates our sacred Nation, and he railes 373Euen there where Merchants most doe congregate 374On me, my bargaines, and my well-worne thrift, 375Which he cals interrest: Cursed by my Trybe 376If I forgiue him. 377Bass. Shylock, doe you heare. 378Shy. I am debating of my present store, 379And by the neere gesse of my memorie 380I cannot instantly raise vp the grosse 381Of full three thousand ducats: what of that? 382Tuball a wealthy Hebrew of my Tribe 383Will furnish me: but soft, how many months 384Doe you desire? Rest you faire good signior, 385Your worship was the last man in our mouthes. 386Ant. Shylocke, albeit I neither lend nor borrow 387By taking, nor by giuing of excesse, 388Yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend, 389Ile breake a custome: is he yet possest 390How much he would? 391Shy. I, I, three thousand ducats. 392Ant. And for three months. 393Shy. I had forgot, three months, you told me so. 394Well then, your bond: and let me see, but heare you, 395Me thoughts you said, you neither lend nor borrow 396Vpon aduantage. 397Ant. I doe neuer vse it. 398Shy. When Iacob graz'd his vncle Labans sheepe, 399This Iacob from our holy Abram was 400(As his wise mother wrought in his behalfe) 401The third possesser; I, he was the third. 402Ant. And what of him, did he take interrest? 403Shy. No, not take interest, not as you would say 404Directly interest, marke what Iacob did, 405When Laban and himselfe were compremyz'd 406That all the eanelings which were streakt and pied 407Should fall as Iacobs hier, the Ewes being rancke, 408In end of Autumne turned to the Rammes, 409And when the worke of generation was 410Betweene these woolly breeders in the act, 411The skilfull shepheard pil'd me certaine wands, 412And in the dooing of the deede of kinde, 413He stucke them vp before the fulsome Ewes, 414Who then conceauing, did in eaning time 415Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Iacobs. 416This was a way to thriue, and he was blest: 417And thrift is blessing if men steale it not. 418Ant. This was a venture sir that Iacob seru'd for, 419A thing not in his power to bring to passe, 420But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heauen. 421Was this inserted to make interrest good? 422Or is your gold and siluer Ewes and Rams? 423Shy. I cannot tell, I make it breede as fast, 424But note me signior. 425Ant. Marke you this Bassanio, 426The diuell can cite Scripture for his purpose, 427An euill soule producing holy witnesse, 428Is like a villaine with a smiling cheeke, 429A goodly apple rotten at the heart. 430O what a goodly outside falsehood hath. 431Shy. Three thousand ducats, 'tis a good round sum. 432Three months from twelue, then let me see the rate. 433Ant. Well Shylocke, shall we be beholding to you? 434Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft 435In the Ryalto you haue rated me 436About my monies and my vsances: 437Still haue I borne it with a patient shrug, 438(For suffrance is the badge of all our Tribe.) 439You call me misbeleeuer, cut-throate dog, 440And spet vpon my Iewish gaberdine, 441And all for vse of that which is mine owne. 442Well then, it now appeares you neede my helpe: 443Goe to then, you come to me, and you say, 444 Shylocke, we would haue moneyes, you say so: 445You that did voide your rume vpon my beard, 446And foote me as you spurne a stranger curre 447Ouer your threshold, moneyes is your suite. 448What should I say to you? Should I not say, 449Hath a dog money? Is it possible 450A curre should lend three thousand ducats? or 451Shall I bend low, and in a bond-mans key 452With bated breath, and whispring humblenesse, 453Say this: Faire sir, you spet on me on Wednesday last; 454You spurn'd me such a day; another time 455You cald me dog: and for these curtesies 456Ile lend you thus much moneyes. 457Ant. I am as like to call thee so againe, 458To spet on thee againe, to spurne thee too. 459If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not 460As to thy friends, for when did friendship take 461A breede of barraine mettall of his friend? 462But lend it rather to thine enemie, 463Who if he breake, thou maist with better face 464Exact the penalties. 465Shy. Why looke you how you storme, 466I would be friends with you, and haue your loue, 467Forget the shames that you haue staind me with, 468Supplie your present wants, and take no doite 469Of vsance for my moneyes, and youle not heare me, 470This is kinde I offer. 471Bass. This were kindnesse. 472Shy. This kindnesse will I showe, 473Goe with me to a Notarie, seale me there 474Your single bond, and in a merrie sport 475If you repaie me not on such a day, 476In such a place, such sum or sums as are 477Exprest in the condition, let the forfeite 478Be nominated for an equall pound 479Of your faire flesh, to be cut off and taken 480In what part of your bodie it pleaseth me. 481Ant. Content infaith, Ile seale to such a bond, 482And say there is much kindnesse in the Iew.

483Bass. You shall not seale to such a bond for me, 484Ile rather dwell in my necessitie. 485Ant. Why feare not man, I will not forfaite it, 486Within these two months, that's a month before 487This bond expires, I doe expect returne 488Of thrice three times the valew of this bond. 489Shy. O father Abram, what these Christians are, 490Whose owne hard dealings teaches them suspect 491The thoughts of others: Praie you tell me this, 492If he should breake his daie, what should I gaine 493By the exaction of the forfeiture? 494A pound of mans flesh taken from a man, 495Is not so estimable, profitable neither 496As flesh of Muttons, Beefes, or Goates, I say 497To buy his fauour, I extend this friendship, 498If he will take it, so: if not adiew, 499And for my loue I praie you wrong me not. 500Ant. Yes Shylocke, I will seale vnto this bond. 501Shy. Then meete me forthwith at the Notaries, 502Giue him direction for this merrie bond, 503And I will goe and purse the ducats straite. 504See to my house left in the fearefull gard 505Of an vnthriftie knaue: and presentlie 506Ile be with you. Exit. 507Ant. Hie thee gentle Iew. This Hebrew will turne 508Christian, he growes kinde. 509Bass. I like not faire tearmes, and a villaines minde. 510Ant. Come on, in this there can be no dismaie, 511My Shippes come home a month before the daie. 512Exeunt. ShaMeVF22 513Actus Secundus. 514Enter Morochus a tawnie Moore all in white, and three or 515foure followers accordingly, with Portia, 516Nerrissa, and their traine. 517Flo. Cornets.> 518Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, 519The shadowed liuerie of the burnisht sunne, 520To whom I am a neighbour, and neere bred. 521Bring me the fairest creature North-ward borne, 522Where Phoebus fire scarce thawes the ysicles, 523And let vs make incision for your loue, 524To proue whose blood is reddest, his or mine. 525I tell thee Ladie this aspect of mine 526Hath feard the valiant, (by my loue I sweare) 527The best regarded Virgins of our Clyme 528Haue lou'd it to: I would not change this hue, 529Except to steale your thoughts my gentle Queene. 530Por. In tearmes of choise I am not solie led 531By nice direction of a maidens eies: 532Besides, the lottrie of my destenie 533Bars me the right of voluntarie choosing: 534But if my Father had not scanted me, 535And hedg'd me by his wit to yeelde my selfe 536His wife, who wins me by that meanes I told you, 537Your selfe (renowned Prince) than stood as faire 538As any commer I haue look'd on yet 539For my affection. 540Mor. Euen for that I thanke you, 541Therefore I pray you leade me to the Caskets 542To trie my fortune: By this Symitare 543That slew the Sophie, and a Persian Prince 544That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, 545I would ore-stare the sternest eies that looke: 546Out-braue the heart most daring on the earth: 547Plucke the yong sucking Cubs from the she Beare, 548Yea, mocke the Lion when he rores for pray 549To win the Ladie. But alas, the while 550If Hercules and Lychas plaie at dice 551Which is the better man, the greater throw 552May turne by fortune from the weaker hand: 553So is Alcides beaten by his rage, 554And so may I, blinde fortune leading me 555Misse that which one vnworthier may attaine, 556And die with grieuing. 557Port. You must take your chance, 558And either not attempt to choose at all, 559Or sweare before you choose, if you choose wrong 560Neuer to speake to Ladie afterward 561In way of marriage, therefore be aduis'd. 562Mor. Nor will not, come bring me vnto my chance. 563Por. First forward to the temple, after dinner 564Your hazard shall be made. 565Mor.> Good fortune then, Cornets. 566To make me blest or cursed'st among men. Exeunt. 567Enter the Clowne alone. 568Clo. Certainely, my conscience will serue me to run 569from this Iew my Maister: the fiend is at mine elbow, 570and tempts me, saying to me, Iobbe, Launcelet Iobbe, good 571Launcelet, or good Iobbe, or good Launcelet Iobbe, vse 572your legs, take the start, run awaie: my conscience saies 573no; take heede honest Launcelet, take heed honest Iobbe, 574or as afore-said honest Launcelet Iobbe, doe not runne, 575scorne running with thy heeles; well, the most coragi-ous 576fiend bids me packe, fia saies the fiend, away saies 577the fiend, for the heauens rouse vp a braue minde saies 578the fiend, and run; well, my conscience hanging about 579the necke of my heart, saies verie wisely to me: my ho-nest 580friend Launcelet, being an honest mans sonne, or ra-ther 581an honest womans sonne, for indeede my Father did 582something smack, something grow too; he had a kinde of 583taste; wel, my conscience saies Lancelet bouge not, bouge 584saies the fiend, bouge not saies my conscience, conscience 585say I you counsaile well, fiend say I you counsaile well, 586to be rul'd by my conscience I should stay with the Iew 587my Maister, (who God blesse the marke) is a kinde of di-uell; 588and to run away from the Iew I should be ruled by 589the fiend, who sauing your reuerence is the diuell him-selfe: 590certainely the Iew is the verie diuell incarnation, 591and in my conscience, my conscience is a kinde of hard 592conscience, to offer to counsaile me to stay with the Iew; 593the fiend giues the more friendly counsaile: I will runne 594fiend, my heeles are at your commandement, I will 595runne. 596Enter old Gobbe with a Basket. 597Gob. Maister yong-man, you I praie you, which is the 598waie to Maister Iewes? 599Lan. O heauens, this is my true begotten Father, who 600being more then sand-blinde, high grauel blinde, knows 601me not, I will trie confusions with him. 602Gob. Maister yong Gentleman, I praie you which is 603the waie to Maister Iewes. 604Laun. Turne vpon your right hand at the next tur-ning,

605but at the next turning of all on your left; marrie 606at the verie next turning, turne of no hand, but turn down 607indirectlie to the Iewes house. 608Gob. Be Gods sonties 'twill be a hard waie to hit, can 609you tell me whether one Launcelet that dwels with him 610dwell with him or no. 611Laun. Talke you of yong Master Launcelet, marke 612me now, now will I raise the waters; talke you of yong 613Maister Launcelet? 614Gob. No Maister sir, but a poore mans sonne, his Fa-ther 615though I say't is an honest exceeding poore man, 616and God be thanked well to liue. 617Lan. Well, let his Father be what a will, wee talke of 618yong Maister Launcelet. 619Gob. Your worships friend and Launcelet. 620Laun. But I praie you ergo old man, ergo I beseech you, 621talke you of yong Maister Launcelet. 622Gob. Of Launcelet, ant please your maistership. 623Lan. Ergo Maister Lancelet, talke not of maister Lance-let 624Father, for the yong gentleman according to fates and 625destinies, and such odde sayings, the sisters three, & such 626branches of learning, is indeede deceased, or as you 627would say in plaine tearmes, gone to heauen. 628Gob. Marrie God forbid, the boy was the verie staffe 629of my age, my verie prop. 630Lau. Do I look like a cudgell or a houell-post, a staffe 631or a prop: doe you know me Father. 632Gob. Alacke the day, I know you not yong Gentle-man, 633but I praie you tell me, is my boy God rest his soule 634aliue or dead. 635Lan. Doe you not know me Father. 636Gob. Alacke sir I am sand blinde, I know you not. 637Lan. Nay, indeede if you had your eies you might 638faile of the knowing me: it is a wise Father that knowes 639his owne childe. Well, old man, I will tell you newes of 640your son, giue me your blessing, truth will come to light, 641murder cannot be hid long, a mans sonne may, but in the 642end truth will out. 643Gob. Praie you sir stand vp, I am sure you are not 644Lancelet my boy. 645Lan. Praie you let's haue no more fooling about 646it, but giue mee your blessing: I am Lancelet your 647boy that was, your sonne that is, your childe that 648shall be. 649Gob. I cannot thinke you are my sonne. 650Lan. I know not what I shall thinke of that: but I am 651 Lancelet the Iewes man, and I am sure Margerie your wife 652is my mother. 653Gob. Her name is Margerie indeede, Ile be sworne if 654thou be Lancelet, thou art mine owne flesh and blood: 655Lord worshipt might he be, what a beard hast thou got; 656thou hast got more haire on thy chin, then Dobbin my 657philhorse has on his taile. 658Lan. It should seeme then that Dobbins taile 659growes backeward. I am sure he had more haire of his 660taile then I haue of my face when I last saw him. 661Gob. Lord how art thou chang'd: how doost thou 662and thy Master agree, I haue brought him a present; how 663gree you now? 664Lan. Well, well, but for mine owne part, as I haue set 665vp my rest to run awaie, so I will not rest till I haue run 666some ground; my Maister's a verie Iew, giue him a pres-ent, 667giue him a halter, I am famisht in his seruice. You 668may tell euerie finger I haue with my ribs: Father I am 669glad you are come, giue me your present to one Maister 670Bassanio, who indeede giues rare new Liuories, if I serue 671not him, I will run as far as God has anie ground. O rare 672fortune, here comes the man, to him Father, for I am a 673 Iew if I serue the Iew anie longer. 674Enter Bassanio with a follower or two. 675Bass. You may doe so, but let it be so hasted that 676supper be readie at the farthest by fiue of the clocke: 677see these Letters deliuered, put the Liueries to mak-ing, 678and desire Gratiano to come anone to my lodg-ing. 679_ 680Lan. To him Father. 681Gob. God blesse your worship. 682Bass. Gramercie, would'st thou ought with me. 683Gob. Here's my sonne sir, a poore boy. 684Lan. Not a poore boy sir, but the rich Iewes man that 685would sir as my Father shall specifie. 686Gob. He hath a great infection sir, as one would say 687to serue. 688Lan. Indeede the short and the long is, I serue the 689 Iew, and haue a desire as my Father shall specifie. 690Gob. His Maister and he (sauing your worships reue-rence) 691are scarce catercosins. 692Lan. To be briefe, the verie truth is, that the Iew 693hauing done me wrong, doth cause me as my Father be-ing 694I hope an old man shall frutifie vnto you. 695Gob. I haue here a dish of Doues that I would bestow 696vpon your worship, and my suite is. 697Lan. In verie briefe, the suite is impertinent to my 698selfe, as your worship shall know by this honest old man, 699and though I say it, though old man, yet poore man my 700Father. 701Bass. One speake for both, what would you? 702Lan. Serue you sir. 703Gob. That is the verie defect of the matter sir. 704Bass. I know thee well, thou hast obtain'd thy suite, 705 Shylocke thy Maister spoke with me this daie, 706And hath prefer'd thee, if it be preferment 707To leaue a rich Iewes seruice, to become 708The follower of so poore a Gentleman. 709Clo. The old prouerbe is verie well parted betweene 710my Maister Shylocke and you sir, you haue the grace of 711God sir, and he hath enough. 712Bass. Thou speak'st well; go Father with thy Son, 713Take leaue of thy old Maister, and enquire 714My lodging out, giue him a Liuerie 715More garded then his fellowes: see it done. 716Clo. Father in, I cannot get a seruice, no, I haue nere 717a tongue in my head, well: if anie man in Italie haue a 718fairer table which doth offer to sweare vpon a booke, I 719shall haue good fortune; goe too, here's a simple line 720of life, here's a small trifle of wiues, alas, fifteene wiues 721is nothing, a leuen widdowes and nine maides is a sim-ple 722comming in for one man, and then to scape drow-ning 723thrice, and to be in perill of my life with the edge 724of a featherbed, here are simple scapes: well, if Fortune 725be a woman, she's a good wench for this gere: Father 726come, Ile take my leaue of the Iew in the twinkling. 727Exit Clowne. 728Bass. I praie thee good Leonardo thinke on this, 729These things being bought and orderly bestowed 730Returne in haste, for I doe feast to night 731My best esteemd acquaintance, hie thee goe. 732Leon.> my best endeuors shall be done herein. Exit Le. 733Enter Gratiano. 734Gra. Where's your Maister.

735Leon. Yonder sir he walkes. 736Gra. Signior Bassanio. 737Bas. Gratiano. 738Gra. I haue a sute to you. 739Bass. You haue obtain'd it. 740Gra. You must not denie me, I must goe with you to 741Belmont. 742Bass. Why then you must: but heare thee Gratiano, 743Thou art to wilde, to rude, and bold of voyce, 744Parts that become thee happily enough, 745And in such eyes as ours appeare not faults; 746But where they are not knowne, why there they show 747Something too liberall, pray thee take paine 748To allay with some cold drops of modestie 749Thy skipping spirit, least through thy wilde behauiour 750I be misconsterd in the place I goe to, 751And loose my hopes. 752Gra. Signor Bassanio, heare me, 753If I doe not put on a sober habite, 754Talke with respect, and sweare but now and than, 755Weare prayer bookes in my pocket, looke demurely, 756Nay more, while grace is saying hood mine eyes 757Thus with my hat, and sigh and say Amen: 758Vse all the obseruance of ciuillitie 759Like one well studied in a sad ostent 760To please his Grandam, neuer trust me more. 761Bas. Well, we shall see your bearing. 762Gra. Nay but I barre to night, you shall not gage me 763By what we doe to night. 764Bas. No that were pittie, 765I would intreate you rather to put on 766Your boldest suite of mirth, for we haue friends 767That purpose merriment: but far you well, 768I haue some businesse. 769Gra. And I must to Lorenso and the rest, 770But we will visite you at supper time. Exeunt. 771Enter Iessica and the Clowne. 772Ies. I am sorry thou wilt leaue my Father so, 773Our house is hell, and thou a merrie diuell 774Did'st rob it of some taste of tediousnesse; 775But far thee well, there is a ducat for thee, 776And Lancelet, soone at supper shalt thou see 777Lorenzo, who is thy new Maisters guest, 778Giue him this Letter, doe it secretly, 779And so farewell: I would not haue my Father 780see me talke with thee. 781Clo. Adue, teares exhibit my tongue, most beautifull 782Pagan, most sweete Iew, if a Christian doe not play the 783knaue and get thee, I am much deceiued; but adue, these 784foolish drops doe somewhat drowne my manly spirit: 785adue. Exit. 786Ies. Farewell good Lancelet. 787Alacke, what hainous sinne is it in me 788To be ashamed to be my Fathers childe, 789But though I am a daughter to his blood, 790I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo, 791If thou keepe promise I shall end this strife, 792Become a Christian, and thy louing wife. Exit. 793Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio. 794Lor. Nay, we will slinke away in supper time, 795Disguise vs at my lodging, and returne all in an houre. 796Gra. We haue not made good preparation. 797Sal. We haue not spoke vs yet of Torch-bearers. 798Sol. 'Tis vile vnlesse it may be quaintly ordered, 799And better in my minde not vndertooke. 800Lor. 'Tis now but foure of clock, we haue two houres 801To furnish vs; friend Lancelet what's the newes. 802Enter Lancelet with a Letter. 803Lan. And it shall please you to breake vp this, shall it 804seeme to signifie. 805Lor. I know the hand, in faith 'tis a faire hand 806And whiter then the paper it writ on, 807Is the faire hand that writ. 808Gra. Loue newes in faith. 809Lan. By your leaue sir. 810Lor. Whither goest thou? 811Lan. Marry sir to bid my old Master the Iew to sup 812to night with my new Master the Christian. 813Lor. Hold here, take this, tell gentle Iessica 814I will not faile her, speake it priuately: 815Go Gentlemen, will you prepare you for this Maske to 816night, 817I am prouided of a Torch-bearer. Exit. Clowne. 818Sal. I marry, ile be gone about it strait. 819Sol. And so will I. 820Lor. Meete me and Gratiano at Gratianos lodging 821Some houre hence. 822Sal.> 'Tis good we do so. Exit. 823Gra. Was not that Letter from faire Iessica? 824Lor. I must needes tell thee all, she hath directed 825How I shall take her from her Fathers house, 826What gold and iewels she is furnisht with, 827What Pages suite she hath in readinesse: 828If ere the Iew her Father come to heauen, 829It will be for his gentle daughters sake; 830And neuer dare misfortune crosse her foote, 831Vnlesse she doe it vnder this excuse, 832That she is issue to a faithlesse Iew: 833Come goe with me, pervse this as thou goest, 834Faire Iessica shall be my Torch-bearer. Exit. 835Enter Iew, and his man that was the Clowne. 836Iew. Well, thou shall see, thy eyes shall be thy iudge, 837The difference of old Shylocke and Bassanio; 838What Iessica, thou shalt not gurmandize 839As thou hast done with me: what Iessica? 840And sleepe, and snore, and rend apparrell out. 841Why Iessica I say. 842Clo. Why Iessica. 843Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. 844Clo. Your worship was wont to tell me 845I could doe nothing without bidding. 846Enter Iessica. 847Ies. Call you? what is your will? 848Shy. I am bid forth to supper Iessica, 849There are my Keyes: but wherefore should I go? 850I am not bid for loue, they flatter me, 851But yet Ile goe in hate, to feede vpon 852The prodigall Christian. Iessica my girle, 853Looke to my house, I am right loath to goe, 854There is some ill a bruing towards my rest, 855For I did dreame of money bags to night. 856Clo. I beseech you sir goe, my yong Master 857Doth expect your reproach. 858Shy. So doe I his. 859Clo. And they haue conspired together, I will not say 860you shall see a Maske, but if you doe, then it was not for 861nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on blacke monday

862last, at six a clocke ith morning, falling out that yeere on 863ashwensday was foure yeere in th' afternoone. 864Shy. What are their maskes? heare you me Iessica, 865Lock vp my doores, and when you heare the drum 866And the vile squealing of the wry-neckt Fife, 867Clamber not you vp to the casements then, 868Nor thrust your head into the publique streete 869To gaze on Christian fooles with varnisht faces: 870But stop my houses eares, I meane my casements, 871Let not the sound of shallow fopperie enter 872My sober house. By Iacobs staffe I sweare, 873I haue no minde of feasting forth to night: 874But I will goe: goe you before me sirra, 875Say I will come. 876Clo. I will goe before sir, 877Mistris looke out at window for all this; 878There will come a Christian by, 879Will be worth a Iewes eye. 880Shy. What saies that foole of Hagars off-spring? 881ha. 882Ies. His words were farewell mistris, nothing else. 883Shy. The patch is kinde enough, but a huge feeder: 884Snaile-slow in profit, but he sleepes by day 885More then the wilde-cat: drones hiue not with me, 886Therefore I part with him, and part with him 887To one that I would haue him helpe to waste 888His borrowed purse. Well Iessica goe in, 889Perhaps I will returne immediately; 890Doe as I bid you, shut dores after you, fast binde, fast 891finde, 892A prouerbe neuer stale in thriftie minde. Exit. 893Ies. Farewell, and if my fortune be not crost, 894I haue a Father, you a daughter lost. Exit. 895Enter the Maskers, Gratiano and Salino. 896Gra. This is the penthouse vnder which Lorenzo 897Desired vs to make a stand. 898Sal. His houre is almost past. 899Gra. And it is meruaile he out-dwels his houre, 900For louers euer run before the clocke. 901Sal. O ten times faster Venus Pidgions flye 902To steale loues bonds new made, then they are wont 903To keepe obliged faith vnforfaited. 904Gra. That euer holds, who riseth from a feast 905With that keene appetite that he sits downe? 906Where is the horse that doth vntread againe 907His tedious measures with the vnbated fire, 908That he did pace them first: all things that are, 909Are with more spirit chased then enioy'd. 910How like a yonger or a prodigall 911The skarfed barke puts from her natiue bay, 912Hudg'd and embraced by the strumpet winde: 913How like a prodigall doth she returne 914With ouer-wither'd ribs and ragged sailes, 915Leane, rent, and begger'd by the strumpet winde? 916Enter Lorenzo. 917Salino. Heere comes Lorenzo, more of this here-after. 918_ 919Lor. Sweete friends, your patience for my long a-bode, 920_ 921Not I, but my affaires haue made you wait; 922When you shall please to play the theeues for wiues 923Ile watch as long for you then: approach 924Here dwels my father Iew. Hoa, who's within? 925 Iessica aboue. 926Iess. Who are you? tell me for more certainty, 927Albeit Ile sweare that I do know your tongue. 928Lor. Lorenzo, and thy Loue. 929Ies. Lorenzo certaine, and my loue indeed, 930For who loue I so much? and now who knowes 931But you Lorenzo, whether I am yours? 932Lor. Heauen and thy thoughts are witness that thou 933art. 934Ies. Heere, catch this casket, it is worth the paines, 935I am glad 'tis night, you do not looke on me, 936For I am much asham'd of my exchange: 937But loue is blinde, and louers cannot see 938The pretty follies that themselues commit, 939For if they could, Cupid himselfe would blush 940To see me thus transformed to a boy. 941Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. 942Ies. What, must I hold a Candle to my shames? 943They in themselues goodsooth are too too light. 944Why, 'tis an office of discouery Loue, 945And I should be obscur'd. 946Lor. So you are sweet, 947Euen in the louely garnish of a boy: but come at once, 948For the close night doth play the run-away, 949And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast. 950Ies. I will make fast the doores and guild my selfe 951With some more ducats, and be with you straight. 952Gra. Now by my hood, a gentle, and no Iew. 953Lor. Beshrew me but I loue her heartily. 954For she is wise, if I can iudge of her. 955And faire she is, if that mine eyes be true, 956And true she is, as she hath prou'd her selfe: 957And therefore like her selfe, wise, faire, and true, 958Shall she be placed in my constant soule. 959Enter Iessica. 960What, art thou come? on gentlemen, away, 961Our masking mates by this time for vs stay. Exit. 962Enter Anthonio. 963Ant. Who's there? 964Gra. Signior Anthonio? 965Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest? 966'Tis nine a clocke, our friends all stay for you, 967No maske to night, the winde is come about, 968 Bassanio presently will goe aboord, 969I haue sent twenty out to seeke for you. 970Gra. I am glad on't, I desire no more delight 971Then to be vnder saile, and gone to night. Exeunt. 972Enter Portia with Morrocho, and both their traines. 973Por. Goe, draw aside the curtaines, and discouer 974The seuerall Caskets to this noble Prince: 975Now make your choyse. 976Mor. The first of gold, who this inscription beares, 977Who chooseth me, shall gaine what men desire. 978The second siluer, which this promise carries, 979Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserues. 980This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, 981Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath. 982How shall I know if I doe choose the right?

983How shall I know if I doe choose the right. 984Por. The one of them containes my picture Prince, 985If you choose that, then I am yours withall. 986Mor. Some God direct my iudgement, let me see, 987I will suruay the inscriptions, backe againe: 988What saies this leaden casket? 989Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath. 990Must giue, for what? for lead, hazard for lead? 991This casket threatens men that hazard all 992Doe it in hope of faire aduantages: 993A golden minde stoopes not to showes of drosse, 994Ile then nor giue nor hazard ought for lead. 995What saies the Siluer with her virgin hue? 996Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserues. 997As much as he deserues; pause there Morocho, 998And weigh thy value with an euen hand, 999If thou beest rated by thy estimation 1000Thou doost deserue enough, and yet enough 1001May not extend so farre as to the Ladie: 1002And yet to be afeard of my deseruing, 1003Were but a weake disabling of my selfe. 1004As much as I deserue, why that's the Lady. 1005I doe in birth deserue her, and in fortunes, 1006In graces, and in qualities of breeding: 1007But more then these, in loue I doe deserue. 1008What if I strai'd no farther, but chose here? 1009Let's see once more this saying grau'd in gold. 1010Who chooseth me shall gaine what many men desire: 1011Why that's the Lady, all the world desires her: 1012From the foure corners of the earth they come 1013To kisse this shrine, this mortall breathing Saint. 1014The Hircanion deserts, and the vaste wildes 1015Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now 1016For Princes to come view faire Portia. 1017The waterie Kingdome, whose ambitious head 1018Spets in the face of heauen, is no barre 1019To stop the forraine spirits, but they come 1020As ore a brooke to see faire Portia. 1021One of these three containes her heauenly picture. 1022Is't like that Lead containes her? 'twere damnation 1023To thinke so base a thought, it were too grose 1024To rib her searecloath in the obscure graue: 1025Or shall I thinke in Siluer she's immur'd 1026Being ten times vndervalued to tride gold; 1027O sinfull thought, neuer so rich a Iem 1028Was set in worse then gold! They haue in England 1029A coyne that beares the figure of an Angell 1030Stampt in gold, but that's insculpt vpon: 1031But here an Angell in a golden bed 1032Lies all within. Deliuer me the key: 1033Here doe I choose, and thriue I as I may. 1034Por. There take it Prince, and if my forme lye there 1035Then I am yours. 1036Mor. O hell! what haue we here, a carrion death, 1037Within whose emptie eye there is a written scroule; 1038Ile reade the writing. 1039All that glisters is not gold, 1040Often haue you heard that told; 1041Many a man his life hath sold 1042But my outside to behold; 1043Guilded timber doe wormes infold: 1044Had you beene as wise as bold, 1045Yong in limbs, in iudgement old, 1046Your answere had not beene inscrold, 1047Fareyouwell, your suite is cold, 1048Mor. Cold indeede, and labour lost, 1049Then farewell heate, and welcome frost: 1050 Portia adew, I haue too grieu'd a heart 1051To take a tedious leaue: thus loosers part. Exit. 1052Por. A gentle riddance: draw the curtaines, go: 1053Let all of his complexion choose me so. Exeunt. 1054Enter Salarino and Solanio. 1055Flo. Cornets. 1056Sal. Why man I saw Bassanio vnder sayle; 1057With him is Gratiano gone along; 1058And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not. 1059Sol. The villaine Iew with outcries raisd the Duke. 1060Who went with him to search Bassanios ship. 1061Sal. He comes too late, the ship was vndersaile; 1062But there the Duke was giuen to vnderstand 1063That in a Gondilo were seene together 1064Lorenzo and his amorous Iessica. 1065Besides, Anthonio certified the Duke 1066They were not with Bassanio in his ship. 1067Sol. I neuer heard a passion so confusd, 1068So strange, outragious, and so variable, 1069As the dogge Iew did vtter in the streets; 1070My daughter, O my ducats, O my daughter, 1071Fled with a Christian, O my Christian ducats! 1072Iustice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter; 1073A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats, 1074Of double ducats, stolne from me by my daughter, 1075And iewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones, 1076Stolne by my daughter: iustice, finde the girle, 1077She hath the stones vpon her, and the ducats. 1078Sal. Why all the boyes in Venice follow him, 1079Crying his stones, his daughter, and his ducats. 1080Sol. Let good Anthonio looke he keepe his day 1081Or he shall pay for this. 1082Sal. Marry well remembred, 1083I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday, 1084Who told me, in the narrow seas that part 1085The French and English, there miscaried 1086A vessell of our countrey richly fraught: 1087I thought vpon Anthonio when he told me, 1088And wisht in silence that it were not his. 1089Sol. You were best to tell Anthonio what you heare. 1090Yet doe not suddainely, for it may grieue him. 1091Sal. A kinder Gentleman treads not the earth, 1092I saw Bassanio and Anthonio part, 1093Bassanio told him he would make some speede 1094Of his returne: he answered, doe not so, 1095Slubber not businesse for my sake Bassanio, 1096But stay the very riping of the time, 1097And for the Iewes bond which he hath of me, 1098Let it not enter in your minde of loue: 1099Be merry, and imploy your chiefest thoughts 1100To courtship, and such faire ostents of loue 1101As shall conueniently become you there; 1102And euen there his eye being big with teares, 1103Turning his face, he put his hand behinde him, 1104And with affection wondrous sencible 1105He wrung Bassanios hand, and so they parted. 1106Sol. I thinke he onely loues the world for him, 1107I pray thee let vs goe and finde him out 1108And quicken his embraced heauinesse 1109With some delight or other. 1110Sal.> Doe we so. Exeunt. 1111Enter Nerrissa and a Seruiture. 1112Ner. Quick, quick I pray thee, draw the curtain strait,

1113The Prince of Arragon hath tane his oath, 1114And comes to his election presently. 1115Enter Arragon, his traine, and Portia. 1116Flor. Cornets.> 1117Por. Behold, there stand the caskets noble Prince, 1118If you choose that wherein I am contain'd, 1119Straight shall our nuptiall rights be solemniz'd: 1120But if thou faile, without more speech my Lord, 1121You must be gone from hence immediately. 1122Ar. I am enioynd by oath to obserue three things; 1123First, neuer to vnfold to any one 1124Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I faile 1125Of the right casket, neuer in my life 1126To wooe a maide in way of marriage: 1127Lastly, if I doe faile in fortune of my choyse, 1128Immediately to leaue you, and be gone. 1129Por. To these iniunctions euery one doth sweare 1130That comes to hazard for my worthlesse selfe. 1131Ar. And so haue I addrest me, fortune now 1132To my hearts hope: gold, siluer, and base lead. 1133Who chooseth me must giue and hazard all he hath. 1134You shall looke fairer ere I giue or hazard. 1135What saies the golden chest, ha, let me see. 1136Who chooseth me, shall gaine what many men desire: 1137What many men desire, that many may be meant 1138By the foole multitude that choose by show, 1139Not learning more then the fond eye doth teach, 1140Which pries not to th' interior, but like the Martlet 1141Builds in the weather on the outward wall, 1142Euen in the force and rode of casualtie. 1143I will not choose what many men desire, 1144Because I will not iumpe with common spirits, 1145And ranke me with the barbarous multitudes. 1146Why then to thee thou Siluer treasure house, 1147Tell me once more, what title thou doost beare; 1148Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserues: 1149And well said too; for who shall goe about 1150To cosen Fortune, and be honourable 1151Without the stampe of merrit, let none presume 1152To weare an vndeserued dignitie: 1153O that estates, degrees, and offices, 1154Were not deriu'd corruptly, and that cleare honour 1155Were purchast by the merrit of the wearer; 1156How many then should couer that stand bare? 1157How many be commanded that command? 1158How much low pleasantry would then be gleaned 1159From the true seede of honor? And how much honor 1160Pickt from the chaffe and ruine of the times, 1161To be new varnisht: Well, but to my choise. 1162Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserues. 1163I will assume desert; giue me a key for this, 1164And instantly vnlocke my fortunes here. 1165Por. Too long a pause for that which you finde there. 1166Ar. What's here, the portrait of a blinking idiot 1167Presenting me a scedule, I will reade it: 1168How much vnlike art thou to Portia? 1169How much vnlike my hopes and my deseruings? 1170Who chooseth me, shall haue as much as he deserues. 1171Did I deserue no more then a fooles head, 1172Is that my prize, are my deserts no better? 1173Por. To offend and iudge are distinct offices, 1174And of opposed natures. 1175Ar. What is here? 1176The fier seauen times tried this, 1177Seauen times tried that iudgement is, 1178That did neuer choose amis, 1179Some there be that shadowes kisse, 1180Such haue but a shadowes blisse: 1181There be fooles aliue Iwis 1182Siluer'd o're, and so was this: 1183Take what wife you will to bed, 1184I will euer be your head: 1185So be gone, you are sped. 1186Ar. Still more foole I shall appeare 1187By the time I linger here, 1188With one fooles head I came to woo, 1189But I goe away with two. 1190Sweet adue, Ile keepe my oath, 1191Patiently to beare my wroath. 1192Por. Thus hath the candle sing'd the moath: 1193O these deliberate fooles when they doe choose, 1194They haue the wisdome by their wit to loose. 1195Ner. The ancient saying is no heresie, 1196Hanging and wiuing goes by destinie. 1197Por. Come draw the curtaine Nerrissa. 1198Enter Messenger. 1199Mes. Where is my Lady? 1200Por. Here, what would my Lord? 1201Mes. Madam, there is a-lighted at your gate 1202A yong Venetian, one that comes before 1203To signifie th' approaching of his Lord, 1204From whom he bringeth sensible regreets; 1205To wit (besides commends and curteous breath) 1206Gifts of rich value; yet I haue not seene 1207So likely an Embassador of loue. 1208A day in Aprill neuer came so sweete 1209To show how costly Sommer was at hand, 1210As this fore-spurrer comes before his Lord. 1211Por. No more I pray thee, I am halfe a-feard 1212Thou wilt say anone he is some kin to thee, 1213Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him: 1214Come, come Nerryssa, for I long to see 1215Quicke Cupids Post, that comes so mannerly. 1216Ner.> Bassanio Lord, loue if thy will it be. Exeunt. ShaMeVF33 1217Actus Tertius. 1218Enter Solanio and Salarino. 1219Sol. Now, what newes on the Ryalto? 1220Sal. Why yet it liues there vncheckt, that Anthonio 1221hath a ship of rich lading wrackt on the narrow Seas; the 1222Goodwins I thinke they call the place, a very dangerous 1223flat, and fatall, where the carcasses of many a tall ship, lye 1224buried, as they say, if my gossips report be an honest wo-man 1225of her word. 1226Sol. I would she were as lying a gossip in that, as euer 1227knapt Ginger, or made her neighbours beleeue she wept 1228for the death of a third husband: but it is true, without 1229any slips of prolixity, or crossing the plaine high-way of 1230talke, that the good Anthonio, the honest Anthonio; o that 1231I had a title good enough to keepe his name company! 1232Sal. Come, the full stop. 1233Sol. Ha, what sayest thou, why the end is, he hath lost 1234a ship.

1235Sal. I would it might proue the end of his losses. 1236Sol. Let me say Amen betimes, least the diuell crosse 1237my praier, for here he comes in the likenes of a Iew. How 1238now Shylocke, what newes among the Merchants? 1239Enter Shylocke. 1240Shy. You knew none so well, none so well as you, of 1241my daughters flight. 1242Sal. That's certaine, I for my part knew the Tailor 1243that made the wings she flew withall. 1244Sol. And Shylocke for his owne part knew the bird was 1245fledg'd, and then it is the complexion of them al to leaue 1246the dam. 1247Shy. She is damn'd for it. 1248Sal. That's certaine, if the diuell may be her Iudge. 1249Shy. My owne flesh and blood to rebell. 1250Sol. Out vpon it old carrion, rebels it at these yeeres. 1251Shy. I say my daughter is my flesh and bloud. 1252Sal. There is more difference betweene thy flesh and 1253hers, then betweene Iet and Iuorie, more betweene your 1254bloods, then there is betweene red wine and rennish: but 1255tell vs, doe you heare whether Anthonio haue had anie 1256losse at sea or no? 1257Shy. There I haue another bad match, a bankrout, a 1258prodigall, who dare scarce shew his head on the Ryalto, 1259a begger that was vsd to come so smug vpon the Mart: 1260let him look to his bond, he was wont to call me Vsurer, 1261let him looke to his bond, he was wont to lend money 1262for a Christian curtsie, let him looke to his bond. 1263Sal. Why I am sure if he forfaite, thou wilt not take 1264his flesh, what's that good for? 1265Shy. To baite fish withall, if it will feede nothing 1266else, it will feede my reuenge; he hath disgrac'd me, and 1267hindred me halfe a million, laught at my losses, mockt at 1268my gaines, scorned my Nation, thwarted my bargaines, 1269cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and what's the 1270reason? I am a Iewe: Hath not a Iew eyes? hath not a 1271 Iew hands, organs, dementions, sences, affections, passi-ons, 1272fed with the same foode, hurt with the same wea-pons, 1273subiect to the same diseases, healed by the same 1274meanes, warmed and cooled by the same Winter and 1275Sommer as a Christian is: if you pricke vs doe we not 1276bleede? if you tickle vs, doe we not laugh? if you poison 1277vs doe we not die? and if you wrong vs shall we not re-uenge? 1278if we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you 1279in that. If a Iew wrong a Christian, what is his humility, 1280reuenge? If a Christian wrong a Iew, what should his suf-ferance 1281be by Christian example, why reuenge? The vil-lanie 1282you teach me I will execute, and it shall goe hard 1283but I will better the instruction. 1284Enter a man from Anthonio. 1285Gentlemen, my maister Anthonio is at his house, and 1286desires to speake with you both. 1287Sal. We haue beene vp and downe to seeke him. 1288Enter Tuball. 1289Sol. Here comes another of the Tribe, a third cannot 1290be matcht, vnlesse the diuell himselfe turne Iew. 1291Exeunt Gentlemen. 1292Shy. How now Tuball, what newes from Genowa? hast 1293thou found my daughter? 1294Tub. I often came where I did heare of her, but can-not 1295finde her. 1296Shy. Why there, there, there, there, a diamond gone 1297cost me two thousand ducats in Franckford, the curse ne-uer 1298fell vpon our Nation till now, I neuer felt it till now, 1299two thousand ducats in that, and other precious, preci-ous 1300iewels: I would my daughter were dead at my foot, 1301and the iewels in her eare: would she were hearst at my 1302foote, and the duckets in her coffin: no newes of them, 1303why so? and I know not how much is spent in the search: 1304why thou losse vpon losse, the theefe gone with so 1305much, and so much to finde the theefe, and no satisfa-ction, 1306no reuenge, nor no ill luck stirring but what lights 1307a my shoulders, no sighes but a my breathing, no teares 1308but a my shedding. 1309Tub. Yes, other men haue ill lucke too, Anthonio as I 1310heard in Genowa? 1311Shy. What, what, what, ill lucke, ill lucke. 1312Tub. Hath an Argosie cast away comming from Tri-polis. 1313_ 1314Shy. I thanke God, I thanke God, is it true, is it true? 1315Tub. I spoke with some of the Saylers that escaped 1316the wracke. 1317Shy. I thanke thee good Tuball, good newes, good 1318newes: ha, ha, here in Genowa. 1319Tub. Your daughter spent in Genowa, as I heard, one 1320night fourescore ducats. 1321Shy. Thou stick'st a dagger in me, I shall neuer see my 1322gold againe, fourescore ducats at a sitting, fourescore du-cats. 1323_ 1324Tub. There came diuers of Anthonios creditors in my 1325company to Venice, that sweare hee cannot choose but 1326breake. 1327Shy. I am very glad of it, ile plague him, ile torture 1328him, I am glad of it, 1329Tub. One of them shewed me a ring that hee had of 1330your daughter for a Monkie. 1331Shy. Out vpon her, thou torturest me Tuball, it was 1332my Turkies, I had it of Leah when I was a Batcheler: I 1333would not haue giuen it for a wildernesse of Monkies. 1334Tub. But Anthonio is certainely vndone. 1335Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true, goe Tuball, see 1336me an Officer, bespeake him a fortnight before, I will 1337haue the heart of him if he forfeit, for were he out of Ve-nice, 1338I can make what merchandize I will: goe Tuball, 1339and meete me at our Sinagogue, goe good Tuball, at our 1340Sinagogue Tuball. Exeunt. 1341Enter Bassanio, Portia, Gratiano, and all their traine. 1342Por. I pray you tarrie, pause a day or two 1343Before you hazard, for in choosing wrong 1344I loose your companie; therefore forbeare a while, 1345There's something tels me (but it is not loue) 1346I would not loose you, and you know your selfe, 1347Hate counsailes not in such a quallitie; 1348But least you should not vnderstand me well, 1349And yet a maiden hath no tongue, but thought, 1350I would detaine you here some month or two 1351Before you venture for me. I could teach you 1352How to choose right, but then I am forsworne, 1353So will I neuer be, so may you misse me, 1354But if you doe, youle make me wish a sinne, 1355That I had beene forsworne: Beshrow your eyes, 1356They haue ore-lookt me and deuided me, 1357One halfe of me is yours, the other halfe yours, 1358Mine owne I would say: but of mine then yours, 1359And so all yours; O these naughtie times 1360Puts bars betweene the owners and their rights. 1361And so though yours, not yours (proue it so) 1362Let Fortune goe to hell for it, not I. 1363I speake too long, but 'tis to peize the time, 1364To ich it, and to draw it out in length, 1365To stay you from election.

1366Bass. Let me choose, 1367For as I am, I liue vpon the racke. 1368Por. Vpon the racke Bassanio, then confesse 1369What treason there is mingled with your loue. 1370Bass. None but that vglie treason of mistrust. 1371Which makes me feare the enioying of my loue: 1372There may as well be amitie and life, 1373'Tweene snow and fire, as treason and my loue. 1374Por. I, but I feare you speake vpon the racke, 1375Where men enforced doth speake any thing. 1376Bass. Promise me life, and ile confesse the truth. 1377Por. Well then, confesse and liue. 1378Bass. Confesse and loue 1379Had beene the verie sum of my confession: 1380O happie torment, when my torturer 1381Doth teach me answers for deliuerance: 1382But let me to my fortune and the caskets. 1383Por. Away then, I am lockt in one of them, 1384If you doe loue me, you will finde me out. 1385 Nerryssa and the rest, stand all aloofe, 1386Let musicke sound while he doth make his choise, 1387Then if he loose he makes a Swan-like end, 1388Fading in musique. That the comparison 1389May stand more proper, my eye shall be the streame 1390And watrie death-bed for him: he may win, 1391And what is musique than? Than musique is 1392Euen as the flourish, when true subiects bowe 1393To a new crowned Monarch: Such it is, 1394As are those dulcet sounds in breake of day, 1395That creepe into the dreaming bride-groomes eare, 1396And summon him to marriage. Now he goes 1397With no lesse presence, but with much more loue 1398Then yong Alcides, when he did redeeme 1399The virgine tribute, paied by howling Troy 1400To the Sea-monster: I stand for sacrifice, 1401The rest aloofe are the Dardanian wiues: 1402With bleared visages come forth to view 1403The issue of th' exploit: Goe Hercules, 1404Liue thou, I liue with much more dismay 1405I view the sight, then thou that mak'st the fray. 1406Here Musicke. 1407A Song the whilst Bassanio comments on the 1408Caskets to himselfe.> 1409Tell me where is fancie bred, 1410Or in the heart, or in the head: 1411How begot, how nourished. Replie, replie. 1412It is engendred in the eyes, 1413With gazing fed, and Fancie dies, 1414In the cradle where it lies: 1415Let vs all ring Fancies knell. 1416Ile begin it. 1417Ding, dong, bell. 1418All. Ding, dong, bell. 1419Bass. So may the outward showes be least themselues 1420The world is still deceiu'd with ornament. 1421In Law, what Plea so tainted and corrupt, 1422But being season'd with a gracious voice, 1423Obscures the show of euill? In Religion, 1424What damned error, but some sober brow 1425Will blesse it, and approue it with a text, 1426Hiding the grosenesse with faire ornament: 1427There is no voice so simple, but assumes 1428Some marke of vertue on his outward parts; 1429How manie cowards, whose hearts are all as false 1430As stayers of sand, weare yet vpon their chins 1431The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars, 1432Who inward searcht, haue lyuers white as milke, 1433And these assume but valors excrement, 1434To render them redoubted. Looke on beautie, 1435And you shall see 'tis purchast by the weight, 1436Which therein workes a miracle in nature, 1437Making them lightest that weare most of it: 1438So are those crisped snakie golden locks 1439Which makes such wanton gambols with the winde 1440Vpon supposed fairenesse, often knowne 1441To be the dowrie of a second head, 1442The scull that bred them in the Sepulcher. 1443Thus ornament is but the guiled shore 1444To a most dangerous sea: the beautious scarfe 1445Vailing an Indian beautie; In a word, 1446The seeming truth which cunning times put on 1447To intrap the wisest. Therefore then thou gaudie gold, 1448Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee, 1449Nor none of thee thou pale and common drudge 1450'Tweene man and man: but thou, thou meager lead 1451Which rather threatnest then dost promise ought, 1452Thy palenesse moues me more then eloquence, 1453And here choose I, ioy be the consequence. 1454Por. How all the other passions fleet to ayre, 1455As doubtfull thoughts, and rash imbrac'd despaire: 1456And shuddring feare, and greene-eyed iealousie. 1457O loue be moderate, allay thy extasie, 1458In measure raine thy ioy, scant this excesse, 1459I feele too much thy blessing, make it lesse, 1460For feare I surfeit. 1461Bas. What finde I here? 1462Faire Portias counterfeit. What demie God 1463Hath come so neere creation? moue these eies? 1464Or whether riding on the bals of mine 1465Seeme they in motion? Here are seuer'd lips 1466Parted with suger breath, so sweet a barre 1467Should sunder such sweet friends: here in her haires 1468The Painter plaies the Spider, and hath wouen 1469A golden mesh t' intrap the hearts of men 1470Faster then gnats in cobwebs: but her eies, 1471How could he see to doe them? hauing made one, 1472Me thinkes it should haue power to steale both his 1473And leaue it selfe vnfurnisht: Yet looke how farre 1474The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow 1475In vnderprising it, so farre this shadow 1476Doth limpe behinde the substance. Here's the scroule, 1477The continent, and summarie of my fortune. 1478You that choose not by the view 1479Chance as faire, and choose as true: 1480Since this fortune fals to you, 1481Be content, and seeke no new. 1482If you be well pleasd with this, 1483And hold your fortune for your blisse, 1484Turne you where your Lady is, 1485And claime her with a louing kisse. 1486Bass. A gentle scroule: Faire Lady, by your leaue, 1487I come by note to giue, and to receiue, 1488Like one of two contending in a prize 1489That thinks he hath done well in peoples eies: 1490Hearing applause and vniuersall shout, 1491Giddie in spirit, still gazing in a doubt 1492Whether those peales of praise be his or no.

1493So thrice faire Lady stand I euen so, 1494As doubtfull whether what I see be true, 1495Vntill confirm'd, sign'd, ratified by you. 1496Por. You see my Lord Bassiano where I stand, 1497Such as I am; though for my selfe alone 1498I would not be ambitious in my wish, 1499To wish my selfe much better, yet for you, 1500I would be trebled twenty times my selfe, 1501A thousand times more faire, ten thousand times 1502More rich, that onely to stand high in your account, 1503I might in vertues, beauties, liuings, friends, 1504Exceed account: but the full summe of me 1505Is sum of nothing: which to terme in grosse, 1506Is an vnlessoned girle, vnschool'd, vnpractiz'd, 1507Happy in this, she is not yet so old 1508But she may learne: happier then this, 1509Shee is not bred so dull but she can learne; 1510Happiest of all, is that her gentle spirit 1511Commits it selfe to yours to be directed, 1512As from her Lord, her Gouernour, her King. 1513My selfe, and what is mine, to you and yours 1514Is now conuerted. But now I was the Lord 1515Of this faire mansion, master of my seruants, 1516Queene ore my selfe: and euen now, but now, 1517This house, these seruants, and this same my selfe 1518Are yours, my Lord, I giue them with this ring, 1519Which when you part from, loose, or giue away, 1520Let it presage the ruine of your loue, 1521And be my vantage to exclaime on you. 1522Bass. Maddam, you haue bereft me of all words, 1523Onely my bloud speakes to you in my vaines, 1524And there is such confusion in my powers, 1525As after some oration fairely spoke 1526By a beloued Prince, there doth appeare 1527Among the buzzing pleased multitude, 1528Where euery something being blent together, 1529Turnes to a wilde of nothing, saue of ioy 1530Exprest, and not exprest: but when this ring 1531Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence, 1532O then be bold to say Bassanio's dead. 1533Ner. My Lord and Lady, it is now our time 1534That haue stood by and seene our wishes prosper, 1535To cry good ioy, good ioy my Lord and Lady. 1536Gra. My Lord Bassanio, and my gentle Lady, 1537I wish you all the ioy that you can wish: 1538For I am sure you can wish none from me: 1539And when your Honours meane to solemnize 1540The bargaine of your faith: I doe beseech you 1541Euen at that time I may be married too. 1542Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. 1543Gra. I thanke your Lordship, you haue got me one. 1544My eyes my Lord can looke as swift as yours: 1545You saw the mistres, I beheld the maid: 1546You lou'd, I lou'd for intermission, 1547No more pertaines to me my Lord then you; 1548Your fortune stood vpon the caskets there, 1549And so did mine too, as the matter falls: 1550For wooing heere vntill I swet againe, 1551And swearing till my very rough was dry 1552With oathes of loue, at last, if promise last, 1553I got a promise of this faire one heere 1554To haue her loue: prouided that your fortune 1555Atchieu'd her mistresse. 1556Por. Is this true Nerrissa? 1557Ner. Madam it is so, so you stand pleas'd withall. 1558Bass. And doe you Gratiano meane good faith? 1559Gra. Yes faith my Lord. 1560Bass. Our feast shall be much honored in your mar-riage. 1561_ 1562Gra. Weele play with them the first boy for a thou-sand 1563ducats. 1564Ner. What and stake downe? 1565Gra. No, we shal nere win at that sport, and stake 1566downe. 1567But who comes heere? Lorenzo and his Infidell? 1568What and my old Venetian friend Salerio? 1569Enter Lorenzo, Iessica, and Salerio. 1570Bas. Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hether, 1571If that the youth of my new interest heere 1572Haue power to bid you welcome: by your leaue 1573I bid my verie friends and Countrimen 1574Sweet Portia welcome. 1575Por. So do I my Lord, they are intirely welcome. 1576Lor. I thanke your honor; for my part my Lord, 1577My purpose was not to haue seene you heere, 1578But meeting with Salerio by the way, 1579He did intreate mee past all saying nay 1580To come with him along. 1581Sal. I did my Lord, 1582And I haue reason for it, Signior Anthonio 1583Commends him to you. 1584Bass. Ere I ope his Letter 1585I pray you tell me how my good friend doth. 1586Sal. Not sicke my Lord, vnlesse it be in minde, 1587Nor wel, vnlesse in minde: his Letter there 1588Wil shew you his estate. 1589Opens the Letter. 1590Gra. Nerrissa, cheere yond stranger, bid her welcom. 1591Your hand Salerio, what's the newes from Venice? 1592How doth that royal Merchant good Anthonio; 1593I know he will be glad of our successe, 1594We are the Iasons, we haue won the fleece. 1595Sal. I would you had won the fleece that hee hath 1596lost. 1597Por. There are some shrewd contents in yond same 1598Paper, 1599That steales the colour from Bassianos cheeke, 1600Some deere friend dead, else nothing in the world 1601Could turne so much the constitution 1602Of any constant man. What, worse and worse? 1603With leaue Bassanio I am halfe your selfe, 1604And I must freely haue the halfe of any thing 1605That this same paper brings you. 1606Bass. O sweet Portia, 1607Heere are a few of the vnpleasant'st words 1608That euer blotted paper. Gentle Ladie 1609When I did first impart my loue to you, 1610I freely told you all the wealth I had 1611Ran in my vaines: I was a Gentleman, 1612And then I told you true: and yet deere Ladie, 1613Rating my selfe at nothing, you shall see 1614How much I was a Braggart, when I told you 1615My state was nothing, I should then haue told you 1616That I was worse then nothing: for indeede 1617I haue ingag'd my selfe to a deere friend, 1618Ingag'd my friend to his meere enemie 1619To feede my meanes. Heere is a Letter Ladie, 1620The paper as the bodie of my friend, 1621And euerie word in it a gaping wound 1622Issuing life blood. But is it true Salerio,

1623Hath all his ventures faild, what not one hit, 1624From Tripolis, from Mexico and England, 1625From Lisbon, Barbary, and India, 1626And not one vessell scape the dreadfull touch 1627Of Merchant-marring rocks? 1628Sal. Not one my Lord. 1629Besides, it should appeare, that if he had 1630The present money to discharge the Iew, 1631He would not take it: neuer did I know 1632A creature that did beare the shape of man 1633So keene and greedy to confound a man. 1634He plyes the Duke at morning and at night, 1635And doth impeach the freedome of the state 1636If they deny him iustice. Twenty Merchants, 1637The Duke himselfe, and the Magnificoes 1638Of greatest port haue all perswaded with him, 1639But none can driue him from the enuious plea 1640Of forfeiture, of iustice, and his bond. 1641Iessi. When I was with him, I haue heard him sweare 1642To Tuball and to Chus, his Countri-men, 1643That he would rather haue Anthonio's flesh, 1644Then twenty times the value of the summe 1645That he did owe him: and I know my Lord, 1646If law, authoritie, and power denie not, 1647It will goe hard with poore Anthonio. 1648Por. Is it your deere friend that is thus in trouble? 1649Bass. The deerest friend to me, the kindest man, 1650The best condition'd, and vnwearied spirit 1651In doing curtesies: and one in whom 1652The ancient Romane honour more appeares 1653Then any that drawes breath in Italie. 1654Por. What summe owes he the Iew? 1655Bass. For me three thousand ducats. 1656Por. What, no more? 1657Pay him sixe thousand, and deface the bond: 1658Double sixe thousand, and then treble that, 1659Before a friend of this description 1660Shall lose a haire through Bassanio's fault. 1661First goe with me to Church, and call me wife, 1662And then away to Venice to your friend: 1663For neuer shall you lie by Portias side 1664With an vnquiet soule. You shall haue gold 1665To pay the petty debt twenty times ouer. 1666When it is payd, bring your true friend along, 1667My maid Nerrissa, and my selfe meane time 1668Will liue as maids and widdowes; come away, 1669For you shall hence vpon your wedding day: 1670Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheere, 1671Since you are deere bought, I will loue you deere. 1672But let me heare the letter of your friend. 1673Sweet Bassanio, my ships haue all miscarried, my Credi-tors 1674grow cruell, my estate is very low, my bond to the Iew is 1675forfeit, and since in paying it, it is impossible I should liue, all 1676debts are cleerd between you and I, if I might see you at my 1677death: notwithstanding, vse your pleasure, if your loue doe not 1678perswade you to come, let not my letter. 1679Por. O loue! dispach all busines and be gone. 1680Bass. Since I haue your good leaue to goe away, 1681I will make hast; but till I come againe, 1682No bed shall ere be guilty of my stay, 1683Nor rest be interposer twixt vs twaine. Exeunt. 1684Enter the Iew, and Solanio, and Anthonio, 1685and the Iaylor.> 1686Iew. Iaylor, looke to him, tell not me of mercy, 1687This is the foole that lends out money gratis. 1688Iaylor, looke to him. 1689Ant. Heare me yet good Shylok. 1690Iew. Ile haue my bond, speake not against my bond, 1691I haue sworne an oath that I will haue my bond: 1692Thou call'dst me dog before thou hadst a cause, 1693But since I am a dog, beware my phangs, 1694The Duke shall grant me iustice, I do wonder 1695Thou naughty Iaylor, that thou art so fond 1696To come abroad with him at his request. 1697Ant. I pray thee heare me speake. 1698Iew. Ile haue my bond, I will not heare thee speake, 1699Ile haue my bond, and therefore speake no more, 1700Ile not be made a soft and dull ey'd foole, 1701To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yeeld 1702To Christian intercessors: follow not, 1703Ile haue no speaking, I will haue my bond. Exit Iew. 1704Sol. It is the most impenetrable curre 1705That euer kept with men. 1706Ant. Let him alone, 1707Ile follow him no more with bootlesse prayers: 1708He seekes my life, his reason well I know; 1709I oft deliuer'd from his forfeitures 1710Many that haue at times made mone to me, 1711Therefore he hates me. 1712Sol. I am sure the Duke will neuer grant 1713this forfeiture to hold. 1714An. The Duke cannot deny the course of law: 1715For the commoditie that strangers haue 1716With vs in Venice, if it be denied, 1717Will much impeach the iustice of the State, 1718Since that the trade and profit of the citty 1719Consisteth of all Nations. Therefore goe, 1720These greefes and losses haue so bated mee, 1721That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh 1722To morrow, to my bloudy Creditor. 1723Well Iaylor, on, pray God Bassanio come 1724To see me pay his debt, and then I care not. Exeunt. 1725Enter Portia, Nerrissa, Lorenzo, Iessica, and a man of 1726Portias.> 1727Lor. Madam, although I speake it in your presence, 1728You haue a noble and a true conceit 1729Of god-like amity, which appeares most strongly 1730In bearing thus the absence of your Lord. 1731But if you knew to whom you shew this honour, 1732How true a Gentleman you send releefe, 1733How deere a louer of my Lord your husband, 1734I know you would be prouder of the worke 1735Then customary bounty can enforce you. 1736Por. I neuer did repent for doing good, 1737Nor shall not now: for in companions 1738That do conuerse and waste the time together, 1739Whose soules doe beare an egal yoke of loue. 1740There must be needs a like proportion 1741Of lyniaments, of manners, and of spirit; 1742Which makes me thinke that this Anthonio 1743Being the bosome louer of my Lord, 1744Must needs be like my Lord. If it be so, 1745How little is the cost I haue bestowed 1746In purchasing the semblance of my soule; 1747From out the state of hellish cruelty, 1748This comes too neere the praising of my selfe, 1749Therefore no more of it: heere other things 1750 Lorenso I commit into your hands,

1751The husbandry and mannage of my house, 1752Vntill my Lords returne; for mine owne part 1753I haue toward heauen breath'd a secret vow, 1754To liue in prayer and contemplation, 1755Onely attended by Nerrissa heere, 1756Vntill her husband and my Lords returne: 1757There is a monastery too miles off, 1758And there we will abide. I doe desire you 1759Not to denie this imposition, 1760The which my loue and some necessity 1761Now layes vpon you. 1762Lorens. Madame, with all my heart, 1763I shall obey you in all faire commands. 1764Por. My people doe already know my minde, 1765And will acknowledge you and Iessica 1766In place of Lord Bassanio and my selfe. 1767So far you well till we shall meete againe. 1768Lor. Faire thoughts & happy houres attend on you. 1769Iessi. I wish your Ladiship all hearts content. 1770Por. I thanke you for your wish, and am well pleas'd 1771To wish it backe on you: faryouwell Iessica. Exeunt. 1772Now Balthaser, as I haue euer found thee honest true, 1773So let me finde thee still: take this same letter, 1774And vse thou all the indeauor of a man, 1775In speed to Mantua, see thou render this 1776Into my cosins hand, Doctor Belario, 1777And looke what notes and garments he doth giue thee, 1778Bring them I pray thee with imagin'd speed 1779Vnto the Tranect, to the common Ferrie 1780Which trades to Venice; waste no time in words, 1781But get thee gone, I shall be there before thee. 1782Balth. Madam, I goe with all conuenient speed. 1783Por. Come on Nerissa, I haue worke in hand 1784That you yet know not of; wee'll see our husbands 1785Before they thinke of vs? 1786Nerrissa. Shall they see vs? 1787Portia. They shall Nerrissa: but in such a habit, 1788That they shall thinke we are accomplished 1789With that we lacke; Ile hold thee any wager 1790When we are both accoutered like yong men, 1791Ile proue the prettier fellow of the two, 1792And weare my dagger with the brauer grace, 1793And speake betweene the change of man and boy, 1794With a reede voyce, and turne two minsing steps 1795Into a manly stride; and speake of frayes 1796Like a fine bragging youth: and tell quaint lyes 1797How honourable Ladies sought my loue, 1798Which I denying, they fell sicke and died. 1799I could not doe withall: then Ile repent, 1800And wish for all that, that I had not kil'd them; 1801And twentie of these punie lies Ile tell, 1802That men shall sweare I haue discontinued schoole 1803Aboue a twelue moneth: I haue within my minde 1804A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Iacks, 1805Which I will practise. 1806Nerris. Why, shall wee turne to men? 1807Portia. Fie, what a questions that? 1808If thou wert nere a lewd interpreter: 1809But come, Ile tell thee all my whole deuice 1810When I am in my coach, which stayes for vs 1811At the Parke gate; and therefore haste away, 1812For we must measure twentie miles to day. Exeunt. 1813Enter Clowne and Iessica. 1814Clown. Yes truly; for looke you, the sinnes of the Fa-ther 1815are to be laid vpon the children, therefore I promise 1816you, I feare you, I was alwaies plaine with you, and so 1817now I speake my agitation of the matter: therfore be of 1818good cheere, for truly I thinke you are damn'd, there is 1819but one hope in it that can doe you anie good, and that is 1820but a kinde of bastard hope neither. 1821Iessica. And what hope is that I pray thee? 1822Clow. Marrie you may partlie hope that your father 1823got you not, that you are not the Iewes daughter. 1824Ies. That were a kinde of bastard hope indeed, so the 1825sins of my mother should be visited vpon me. 1826Clow. Truly then I feare you are damned both by fa-ther 1827and mother: thus when I shun Scilla your father, I 1828fall into Charibdis your mother; well, you are gone both 1829waies. 1830Ies. I shall be sau'd by my husband, he hath made me 1831a Christian. 1832Clow. Truly the more to blame he, we were Christi-ans 1833enow before, e'ne as many as could wel liue one by a-nother: 1834this making of Christians will raise the price of 1835Hogs, if wee grow all to be porke-eaters, wee shall not 1836shortlie haue a rasher on the coales for money. 1837Enter Lorenzo. 1838Ies. Ile tell my husband Lancelet what you say, heere 1839he comes. 1840Loren. I shall grow iealous of you shortly Lancelet, 1841if you thus get my wife into corners? 1842Ies. Nay, you need not feare vs Lorenzo, Launcelet 1843and I are out, he tells me flatly there is no mercy for mee 1844in heauen, because I am a Iewes daughter: and hee saies 1845you are no good member of the common wealth, for 1846in conuerting Iewes to Christians, you raise the price 1847of Porke. 1848Loren. I shall answere that better to the Common-wealth, 1849than you can the getting vp of the Negroes bel-lie: 1850the Moore is with childe by you Launcelet? 1851Clow. It is much that the Moore should be more then 1852reason: but if she be lesse then an honest woman, shee is 1853indeed more then I tooke her for. 1854Loren. How euerie foole can play vpon the word, I 1855thinke the best grace of witte will shortly turne into si-lence, 1856and discourse grow commendable in none onely 1857but Parrats: goe in sirra, bid them prepare for dinner? 1858Clow. That is done sir, they haue all stomacks? 1859Loren. Goodly Lord, what a witte-snapper are you, 1860then bid them prepare dinner. 1861Clow. That is done to sir, onely couer is the word. 1862Loren. Will you couer than sir? 1863Clow. Not so sir neither, I know my dutie. 1864Loren. Yet more quarreling with occasion, wilt thou 1865shew the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant; I pray 1866thee vnderstand a plaine man in his plaine meaning: goe 1867to thy fellowes, bid them couer the table, serue in the 1868meat, and we will come in to dinner. 1869Clow. For the table sir, it shall be seru'd in, for the 1870meat sir, it shall bee couered, for your comming in to 1871dinner sir, why let it be as humors and conceits shall go-uerne. 1872Exit Clowne. 1873Lor. O deare discretion, how his words are suted, 1874The foole hath planted in his memory 1875An Armie of good words, and I doe know 1876A many fooles that stand in better place, 1877Garnisht like him, that for a tricksie word 1878Defie the matter: how cheer'st thou Iessica, 1879And now good sweet say thy opinion,

1880How dost thou like the Lord Bassiano's wife? 1881Iessi. Past all expressing, it is very meete 1882The Lord Bassanio liue an vpright life 1883For hauing such a blessing in his Lady, 1884He findes the ioyes of heauen heere on earth, 1885And if on earth he doe not meane it, it 1886Is reason he should neuer come to heauen? 1887Why, if two gods should play some heauenly match, 1888And on the wager lay two earthly women, 1889And Portia one: there must be something else 1890Paund with the other, for the poore rude world 1891Hath not her fellow. 1892Loren. Euen such a husband 1893Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife. 1894Ies. Nay, but aske my opinion to of that? 1895Lor. I will anone, first let vs goe to dinner? 1896Ies. Nay, let me praise you while I haue a stomacke? 1897Lor. No pray thee, let it serue for table talke, 1898Then how som ere thou speakst 'mong other things, 1899I shall digest it? 1900Iessi.> Well, Ile set you forth. Exeunt. ShaMeVF44 1901Actus Quartus. 1902Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Anthonio, Bassanio, and 1903Gratiano.> 1904Duke. What, is Anthonio heere? 1905Ant. Ready, so please your grace? 1906Duke. I am sorry for thee, thou art come to answere 1907A stonie aduersary, an inhumane wretch, 1908Vncapable of pitty, voyd, and empty 1909From any dram of mercie. 1910Ant. I haue heard 1911Your Grace hath tane great paines to qualifie 1912His rigorous course: but since he stands obdurate, 1913And that no lawful meanes can carrie me 1914Out of his enuies reach, I do oppose 1915My patience to his fury, and am arm'd 1916To suffer with a quietnesse of spirit, 1917The very tiranny and rage of his. 1918Du. Go one and cal the Iew into the Court. 1919Sal. He is ready at the doore, he comes my Lord. 1920Enter Shylocke. 1921Du. Make roome, and let him stand before our face. 1922 Shylocke the world thinkes, and I thinke so to 1923That thou but leadest this fashion of thy mallice 1924To the last houre of act, and then 'tis thought 1925Thou'lt shew thy mercy and remorse more strange, 1926Than is thy strange apparant cruelty; 1927And where thou now exact'st the penalty, 1928Which is a pound of this poore Merchants flesh, 1929Thou wilt not onely loose the forfeiture, 1930But touch'd with humane gentlenesse and loue: 1931Forgiue a moytie of the principall, 1932Glancing an eye of pitty on his losses 1933That haue of late so hudled on his backe, 1934Enow to presse a royall Merchant downe; 1935And plucke commiseration of his state 1936From brassie bosomes, and rough hearts of flints, 1937From stubborne Turkes and Tarters neuer traind 1938To offices of tender curtesie, 1939We all expect a gentle answer Iew? 1940Iew. I haue possest your grace of what I purpose, 1941And by our holy Sabbath haue I sworne 1942To haue the due and forfeit of my bond. 1943If you denie it, let the danger light 1944Vpon your Charter, and your Cities freedome. 1945You'l aske me why I rather choose to haue 1946A weight of carrion flesh, then to receiue 1947Three thousand Ducats? Ile not answer that: 1948But say it is my humor; Is it answered? 1949What if my house be troubled with a Rat, 1950And I be pleas'd to giue ten thousand Ducates 1951To haue it bain'd? What, are you answer'd yet? 1952Some men there are loue not a gaping Pigge: 1953Some that are mad, if they behold a Cat: 1954And others, when the bag-pipe sings i'th nose, 1955Cannot containe their Vrine for affection. 1956Masters of passion swayes it to the moode 1957Of what it likes or loaths, now for your answer: 1958As there is no firme reason to be rendred 1959Why he cannot abide a gaping Pigge? 1960Why he a harmlesse necessarie Cat? 1961Why he a woollen bag-pipe: but of force 1962Must yeeld to such ineuitable shame, 1963As to offend himselfe being offended: 1964So can I giue no reason, nor I will not, 1965More then a lodg'd hate, and a certaine loathing 1966I beare Anthonio, that I follow thus 1967A loosing suite against him? Are you answered? 1968Bass. This is no answer thou vnfeeling man, 1969To excuse the currant of thy cruelty. 1970Iew. I am not bound to please thee with my answer. 1971Bass. Do all men kil the things they do not loue? 1972Iew. Hates any man the thing he would not kill? 1973Bass. Euerie offence is not a hate at first. 1974Iew. What wouldst thou haue a Serpent sting thee 1975twice? 1976Ant. I pray you thinke you question with the Iew: 1977You may as well go stand vpon the beach, 1978And bid the maine flood baite his vsuall height, 1979Or euen as well vse question with the Wolfe, 1980The Ewe bleate for the Lambe: 1981You may as well forbid the Mountaine Pines 1982To wagge their high tops, and to make no noise 1983When they are fretted with the gusts of heauen: 1984You may as well do any thing most hard, 1985As seeke to soften that, then which what harder? 1986His Iewish heart. Therefore I do beseech you 1987Make no more offers, vse no farther meanes, 1988But with all briefe and plaine conueniencie 1989Let me haue iudgement, and the Iew his will. 1990Bas. For thy three thousand Ducates heere is six. 1991Iew. If euerie Ducat in sixe thousand Ducates 1992Were in sixe parts, and euery part a Ducate, 1993I would not draw them, I would haue my bond? 1994Du. How shalt thou hope for mercie, rendring none? 1995Iew. What iudgement shall I dread doing no wrong? 1996You haue among you many a purchast slaue, 1997Which like your Asses, and your Dogs and Mules, 1998You vse in abiect and in slauish parts, 1999Because you bought them. Shall I say to you, 2000Let them be free, marrie them to your heires? 2001Why sweate they vnder burthens? Let their beds 2002Be made as soft as yours: and let their pallats 2003Be season'd with such Viands: you will answer

2004The slaues are ours. So do I answer you. 2005The pound of flesh which I demand of him 2006Is deerely bought, 'tis mine, and I will haue it. 2007If you deny me; fie vpon your Law, 2008There is no force in the decrees of Venice; 2009I stand for iudgement, answer, Shall I haue it? 2010Du. Vpon my power I may dismisse this Court, 2011Vnlesse Bellario a learned Doctor, 2012Whom I haue sent for to determine this, 2013Come heere to day. 2014Sal. My Lord, heere stayes without 2015A Messenger with Letters from the Doctor, 2016New come from Padua. 2017Du. Bring vs the Letters, Call the Messengers. 2018Bass. Good cheere Anthonio. What man, corage yet: 2019The Iew shall haue my flesh, blood, bones, and all, 2020Ere thou shalt loose for me one drop of blood. 2021Ant. I am a tainted Weather of the flocke, 2022Meetest for death, the weakest kinde of fruite 2023Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me; 2024You cannot better be employ'd Bassanio, 2025Then to liue still, and write mine Epitaph. 2026Enter Nerrissa. 2027Du. Came you from Padua from Bellario? 2028Ner. From both. 2029My Lord Bellario greets your Grace. 2030Bas. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? 2031Iew. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrout there. 2032Gra. Not on thy soale: but on thy soule harsh Iew 2033Thou mak'st thy knife keene: but no mettall can, 2034No, not the hangmans Axe beare halfe the keennesse 2035Of thy sharpe enuy. Can no prayers pierce thee? 2036Iew. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. 2037Gra. O be thou damn'd, inexecrable dogge, 2038And for thy life let iustice be accus'd: 2039Thou almost mak'st me wauer in my faith; 2040To hold opinion with Pythagoras, 2041That soules of Animals infuse themselues 2042Into the trunkes of men. Thy currish spirit 2043Gouern'd a Wolfe, who hang'd for humane slaughter, 2044Euen from the gallowes did his fell soule fleet; 2045And whil'st thou layest in thy vnhallowed dam, 2046Infus'd it selfe in thee: For thy desires 2047Are Woluish, bloody, steru'd, and rauenous. 2048Iew. Till thou canst raile the seale from off my bond 2049Thou but offend'st thy Lungs to speake so loud: 2050Repaire thy wit good youth, or it will fall 2051To endlesse ruine. I stand heere for Law. 2052Du. This Letter from Bellario doth commend 2053A yong and Learned Doctor in our Court; 2054Where is he? 2055Ner. He attendeth heere hard by 2056To know your answer, whether you'l admit him. 2057Du. With all my heart. Some three or four of you 2058Go giue him curteous conduct to this place, 2059Meane time the Court shall heare Bellarioes Letter. 2060Your Grace shall vnderstand, that at the receite of your 2061Letter I am very sicke: but in the instant that your mes-senger 2062came, in louing visitation, was with me a yong Do-ctor 2063of Rome, his name is Balthasar: I acquainted him with 2064the cause in Controuersie, betweene the Iew and Anthonio 2065the Merchant: We turn'd ore many Bookes together: hee is 2066furnished with my opinion, which bettred with his owne lear-ning, 2067the greatnesse whereof I cannot enough commend, comes 2068with him at my importunity, to fill vp your Graces request in 2069my sted. I beseech you, let his lacke of years be no impediment 2070to let him lacke a reuerend estimation: for I neuer knewe so 2071yong a body, with so old a head. I leaue him to your gracious 2072acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation. 2073Enter Portia for Balthazar. 2074Duke. You heare the learn'd Bellario what he writes, 2075And heere (I take it) is the Doctor come. 2076Giue me your hand: Came you from old Bellario? 2077Por. I did my Lord. 2078Du. You are welcome: take your place; 2079Are you acquainted with the difference 2080That holds this present question in the Court. 2081Por. I am enformed throughly of the cause. 2082Which is the Merchant heere? and which the Iew? 2083Du. Anthonio and old Shylocke, both stand forth. 2084Por. Is your name Shylocke? 2085Iew. Shylocke is my name. 2086Por. Of a strange nature is the sute you follow, 2087Yet in such rule, that the Venetian Law 2088Cannot impugne you as you do proceed. 2089You stand within his danger, do you not? 2090Ant. I, so he sayes. 2091Por. Do you confesse the bond? 2092Ant. I do. 2093Por. Then must the Iew be mercifull. 2094Iew. On what compulsion must I ? Tell me that. 2095Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd, 2096It droppeth as the gentle raine from heauen 2097Vpon the place beneath. It is twice blest, 2098It blesseth him that giues, and him that takes, 2099'Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes 2100The throned Monarch better then his Crowne. 2101His Scepter shewes the force of temporall power, 2102The attribute to awe and Maiestie, 2103Wherein doth sit the dread and feare of Kings: 2104But mercy is aboue this sceptred sway, 2105It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings, 2106It is an attribute to God himselfe; 2107And earthly power doth then shew likest Gods 2108When mercie seasons Iustice. Therefore Iew, 2109Though Iustice be thy plea, consider this, 2110That in the course of Iustice, none of vs 2111Should see saluation: we do pray for mercie, 2112And that same prayer, doth teach vs all to render 2113The deeds of mercie. I haue spoke thus much 2114To mittigate the iustice of thy plea: 2115Which if thou follow, this strict course of Venice 2116Must needes giue sentence 'gainst the Merchant there. 2117Shy. My deeds vpon my head, I craue the Law, 2118The penaltie and forfeite of my bond. 2119Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? 2120Bas. Yes, heere I tender it for him in the Court, 2121Yea, twice the summe, if that will not suffice, 2122I will be bound to pay it ten times ore, 2123On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: 2124If this will not suffice, it must appeare 2125That malice beares downe truth. And I beseech you 2126Wrest once the Law to your authority. 2127To do a great right, do a little wrong, 2128And curbe this cruell diuell of his will. 2129Por. It must not be, there is no power in Venice 2130Can alter a decree established: 2131'Twill be recorded for a President,

2132And many an error by the same example, 2133Will rush into the state: It cannot be. 2134Iew. A Daniel come to iudgement, yea a Daniel. 2135O wise young Iudge, how do I honour thee. 2136Por. I pray you let me looke vpon the bond. 2137Iew. Heere 'tis most reuerend Doctor, heere it is. 2138Por. Shylocke, there's thrice thy monie offered thee. 2139Shy. An oath, an oath, I haue an oath in heauen: 2140Shall I lay periurie vpon my soule? 2141No not for Venice. 2142Por. Why this bond is forfeit, 2143And lawfully by this the Iew may claime 2144A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off 2145Neerest the Merchants heart; be mercifull, 2146Take thrice thy money, bid me teare the bond. 2147Iew. When it is paid according to the tenure. 2148It doth appeare you are a worthy Iudge: 2149You know the Law, your exposition 2150Hath beene most sound. I charge you by the Law, 2151Whereof you are a well-deseruing pillar, 2152Proceede to iudgement: By my soule I sweare, 2153There is no power in the tongue of man 2154To alter me: I stay heere on my bond. 2155An. Most heartily I do beseech the Court 2156To giue the iudgement. 2157Por. Why then thus it is: 2158You must prepare your bosome for his knife. 2159Iew. O noble Iudge, O excellent yong man. 2160Por. For the intent and purpose of the Law 2161Hath full relation to the penaltie, 2162Which heere appeareth due vpon the bond. 2163Iew. 'Tis verie true: O wise and vpright Iudge, 2164How much more elder art thou then thy lookes? 2165Por. Therefore lay bare your bosome. 2166Iew. I, his brest, 2167So sayes the bond, doth it not noble Iudge? 2168Neerest his heart, those are the very words. 2169Por. It is so: Are there ballance heere to weigh the 2170flesh? 2171Iew. I haue them ready. 2172Por. Haue by some Surgeon Shylock on your charge 2173To stop his wounds, least he should bleede to death. 2174Iew. It is not nominated in the bond? 2175Por. It is not so exprest: but what of that? 2176'Twere good you do so much for charitie. 2177Iew. I cannot finde it, 'tis not in the bond. 2178Por. Come Merchant, haue you any thing to say? 2179Ant. But little: I am arm'd and well prepar'd. 2180Giue me your hand Bassanio, fare you well. 2181Greeue not that I am falne to this for you: 2182For heerein fortune shewes her selfe more kinde 2183Then is her custome. It is still her vse 2184To let the wretched man out-liue his wealth, 2185To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow 2186An age of pouerty. From which lingring penance 2187Of such miserie, doth she cut me off: 2188Commend me to your honourable Wife, 2189Tell her the processe of Anthonio's end: 2190Say how I lou'd you; speake me faire in death: 2191And when the tale is told, bid her be iudge, 2192Whether Bassanio had not once a Loue: 2193Repent not you that you shall loose your friend, 2194And he repents not that he payes your debt. 2195For if the Iew do cut but deepe enough, 2196Ile pay it instantly, with all my heart. 2197Bas. Anthonio, I am married to a wife, 2198Which is as deere to me as life it selfe, 2199But life it selfe, my wife, and all the world, 2200Are not with me esteem'd aboue thy life. 2201I would loose all, I sacrifice them all 2202Heere to this deuill, to deliuer you. 2203Por. Your wife would giue you little thanks for that 2204If she were by to heare you make the offer. 2205Gra. I haue a wife whom I protest I loue, 2206I would she were in heauen, so she could 2207Intreat some power to change this currish Iew. 2208Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behinde her backe, 2209The wish would make else an vnquiet house. 2210Iew. These be the Christian husbands: I haue a daughter 2211Would any of the stocke of Barrabas 2212Had beene her husband, rather then a Christian. 2213We trifle time, I pray thee pursue sentence. 2214Por. A pound of that same marchants flesh is thine, 2215The Court awards it, and the law doth giue it. 2216Iew. Most rightfull Iudge. 2217Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast, 2218The Law allowes it, and the Court awards it. 2219Iew. Most learned Iudge, a sentence, come prepare. 2220Por. Tarry a little, there is something else, 2221This bond doth giue thee heere no iot of bloud, 2222The words expresly are a pound of flesh: 2223Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh, 2224But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed 2225One drop of Christian bloud, thy lands and goods 2226Are by the Lawes of Venice confiscate 2227Vnto the state of Venice. 2228Gra. O vpright Iudge, 2229Marke Iew, o learned Iudge. 2230Shy. Is that the law? 2231Por. Thy selfe shalt see the Act: 2232For as thou vrgest iustice, be assur'd 2233Thou shalt haue iustice more then thou desirest. 2234Gra. O learned Iudge, mark Iew, a learned Iudge. 2235Iew. I take this offer then, pay the bond thrice, 2236And let the Christian goe. 2237Bass. Heere is the money. 2238Por. Soft, the Iew shall haue all iustice, soft, no haste, 2239He shall haue nothing but the penalty. 2240Gra. O Iew, an vpright Iudge, a learned Iudge. 2241Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh, 2242Shed thou no bloud, nor cut thou lesse nor more 2243But iust a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more 2244Or lesse then a iust pound, be it so much 2245As makes it light or heauy in the substance, 2246Or the deuision of the twentieth part 2247Of one poore scruple, nay if the scale doe turne 2248But in the estimation of a hayre, 2249Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. 2250Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel Iew, 2251Now infidell I haue thee on the hip. 2252Por. Why doth the Iew pause, take thy forfeiture. 2253Shy. Giue me my principall, and let me goe. 2254Bass. I haue it ready for thee, heere it is. 2255Por. He hath refus'd it in the open Court, 2256He shall haue meerly iustice and his bond. 2257Gra. A Daniel still say I, a second Daniel, 2258I thanke thee Iew for teaching me that word. 2259Shy. Shall I not haue barely my principall? 2260Por. Thou shalt haue nothing but the forfeiture, 2261To be taken so at thy perill Iew. 2262Shy. Why then the Deuill giue him good of it: 2263Ile stay no longer question.

2264Por. Tarry Iew, 2265The Law hath yet another hold on you. 2266It is enacted in the Lawes of Venice, 2267If it be proued against an Alien, 2268That by direct, or indirect attempts 2269He seeke the life of any Citizen, 2270The party gainst the which he doth contriue, 2271Shall seaze one halfe his goods, the other halfe 2272Comes to the priuie coffer of the State, 2273And the offenders life lies in the mercy 2274Of the Duke onely, gainst all other voice. 2275In which predicament I say thou standst: 2276For it appeares by manifest proceeding, 2277That indirectly, and directly to, 2278Thou hast contriu'd against the very life 2279Of the defendant: and thou hast incur'd 2280The danger formerly by me rehearst. 2281Downe therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. 2282Gra. Beg that thou maist haue leaue to hang thy selfe, 2283And yet thy wealth being forfeit to the state, 2284Thou hast not left the value of a cord, 2285Therefore thou must be hang'd at the states charge. 2286Duk. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, 2287I pardon thee thy life before thou aske it: 2288For halfe thy wealth, it is Anthonio's 2289The other halfe comes to the generall state, 2290Which humblenesse may driue vnto a fine. 2291Por. I for the state, not for Anthonio. 2292Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that, 2293You take my house, when you do take the prop 2294That doth sustaine my house: you take my life 2295When you doe take the meanes whereby I liue. 2296Por. What mercy can you render him Anthonio? 2297Gra. A halter gratis, nothing else for Gods sake. 2298Ant. So please my Lord the Duke, and all the Court 2299To quit the fine for one halfe of his goods, 2300I am content: so he will let me haue 2301The other halfe in vse, to render it 2302Vpon his death, vnto the Gentleman 2303That lately stole his daughter. 2304Two things prouided more, that for this fauour 2305He presently become a Christian: 2306The other, that he doe record a gift 2307Heere in the Court of all he dies possest 2308Vnto his sonne Lorenzo, and his daughter. 2309Duk. He shall doe this, or else I doe recant 2310The pardon that I late pronounced heere. 2311Por. Art thou contented Iew? what dost thou say? 2312Shy. I am content. 2313Por. Clarke, draw a deed of gift. 2314Shy. I pray you giue me leaue to goe from hence, 2315I am not well, send the deed after me, 2316And I will signe it. 2317Duke. Get thee gone, but doe it. 2318Gra. In christning thou shalt haue two godfathers, 2319Had I been iudge, thou shouldst haue had ten more, 2320To bring thee to the gallowes, not to the font. Exit. 2321Du. Sir I intreat you with me home to dinner. 2322Por. I humbly doe desire your Grace of pardon, 2323I must away this night toward Padua, 2324And it is meete I presently set forth. 2325Duk. I am sorry that your leysure serues you not: 2326 Anthonio, gratifie this gentleman, 2327For in my minde you are much bound to him. 2328Exit Duke and his traine. 2329Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend 2330Haue by your wisedome beene this day acquitted 2331Of greeuous penalties, in lieu whereof, 2332Three thousand Ducats due vnto the Iew 2333We freely cope your curteous paines withall. 2334An. And stand indebted ouer and aboue 2335In loue and seruice to you euermore. 2336Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied, 2337And I deliuering you, am satisfied, 2338And therein doe account my selfe well paid, 2339My minde was neuer yet more mercinarie. 2340I pray you know me when we meete againe, 2341I wish you well, and so I take my leaue. 2342Bass. Deare sir, of force I must attempt you further, 2343Take some remembrance of vs as a tribute, 2344Not as fee: grant me two things, I pray you 2345Not to denie me, and to pardon me. 2346Por. You presse mee farre, and therefore I will yeeld, 2347Giue me your gloues, Ile weare them for your sake, 2348And for your loue Ile take this ring from you, 2349Doe not draw backe your hand, ile take no more, 2350And you in loue shall not deny me this? 2351Bass. This ring good sir, alas it is a trifle, 2352I will not shame my selfe to giue you this. 2353Por. I wil haue nothing else but onely this, 2354And now methinkes I haue a minde to it. 2355Bas. There's more depends on this then on the valew, 2356The dearest ring in Venice will I giue you, 2357And finde it out by proclamation, 2358Onely for this I pray you pardon me. 2359Por. I see sir you are liberall in offers, 2360You taught me first to beg, and now me thinkes 2361You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd. 2362Bas. Good sir, this ring was giuen me by my wife, 2363And when she put it on, she made me vow 2364That I should neither sell, nor giue, nor lose it. 2365Por. That scuse serues many men to saue their gifts, 2366And if your wife be not a mad woman, 2367And know how well I haue deseru'd this ring, 2368Shee would not hold out enemy for euer 2369For giuing it to me: well, peace be with you. Exeunt. 2370Ant. My L[ord]. Bassanio, let him haue the ring, 2371Let his deseruings and my loue withall 2372Be valued against your wiues commandement. 2373Bass. Goe Gratiano, run and ouer-take him, 2374Giue him the ring, and bring him if thou canst 2375Vnto Anthonios house, away, make haste. Exit Grati. 2376Come, you and I will thither presently, 2377And in the morning early will we both 2378Flie toward Belmont, come Anthonio. Exeunt. 2379Enter Portia and Nerrissa. 2380Por. Enquire the Iewes house out, giue him this deed, 2381And let him signe it, wee'll away to night, 2382And be a day before our husbands home: 2383This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. 2384Enter Gratiano. 2385Gra. Faire sir, you are well ore-tane: 2386My L[ord]. Bassanio vpon more aduice, 2387Hath sent you heere this ring, and doth intreat 2388Your company at dinner. 2389Por. That cannot be; 2390His ring I doe accept most thankfully, 2391And so I pray you tell him: furthermore, 2392I pray you shew my youth old Shylockes house. 2393Gra. That will I doe. 2394Ner. Sir, I would speake with you:

2395Ile see if I can get my husbands ring 2396Which I did make him sweare to keepe for euer. 2397Por. Thou maist I warrant, we shal haue old swearing 2398That they did giue the rings away to men; 2399But weele out-face them, and out-sweare them to: 2400Away, make haste, thou know'st where I will tarry. 2401Ner. Come good sir, will you shew me to this house. 2402Exeunt. ShaMeVF55 2403Actus Quintus. 2404Enter Lorenzo and Iessica. 2405Lor. The moone shines bright. In such a night as this, 2406When the sweet winde did gently kisse the trees, 2407And they did make no noyse, in such a night 2408Troylus me thinkes mounted the Troian walls, 2409And sigh'd his soule toward the Grecian tents 2410Where Cressed lay that night. 2411Ies. In such a night 2412Did Thisbie fearefully ore-trip the dewe, 2413And saw the Lyons shadow ere himselfe, 2414And ranne dismayed away. 2415Loren. In such a night 2416Stood Dido with a Willow in her hand 2417Vpon the wilde sea bankes, and waft her Loue 2418To come againe to Carthage. 2419Ies. In such a night 2420Medea gathered the inchanted hearbs 2421That did renew old Eson. 2422Loren. In such a night 2423Did Iessica steale from the wealthy Iewe, 2424And with an Vnthrift Loue did runne from Venice, 2425As farre as Belmont. 2426Ies. In such a night 2427Did young Lorenzo sweare he lou'd her well, 2428Stealing her soule with many vowes of faith, 2429And nere a true one. 2430Loren. In such a night 2431Did pretty Iessica (like a little shrow) 2432Slander her Loue, and he forgaue it her. 2433Iessi. I would out-night you did no body come: 2434But harke, I heare the footing of a man. 2435Enter Messenger. 2436Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? 2437Mes. A friend. 2438Loren. A friend, what friend? your name I pray you friend? 2439Mes. Stephano is my name, and I bring word 2440My Mistresse will before the breake of day 2441Be heere at Belmont, she doth stray about 2442By holy crosses where she kneeles and prayes 2443For happy wedlocke houres. 2444Loren. Who comes with her? 2445Mes. None but a holy Hermit and her maid: 2446I pray you is my Master yet return'd? 2447Loren. He is not, nor we haue not heard from him, 2448But goe we in I pray thee Iessica, 2449And ceremoniously let vs prepare 2450Some welcome for the Mistresse of the house, 2451Enter Clowne. 2452Clo. Sola, sola: wo ha ho, sola, sola. 2453Loren. Who calls? 2454Clo. Sola, did you see M[aster]. Lorenzo, & M[aster]. Lorenzo, sola, 2455Lor. Leaue hollowing man, heere. 2456Clo. Sola, where, where? 2457Lor. Heere? 2458Clo. Tel him ther's a Post come from my Master, with 2459his horne full of good newes, my Master will be here ere 2460morning sweete soule. 2461Loren. Let's in, and there expect their comming. 2462And yet no matter: why should we goe in? 2463My friend Stephen, signifie pray you 2464Within the house, your Mistresse is at hand, 2465And bring your musique foorth into the ayre. 2466How sweet the moone-light sleepes vpon this banke, 2467Heere will we sit, and let the sounds of musicke 2468Creepe in our eares soft stilnes, and the night 2469Become the tutches of sweet harmonie: 2470Sit Iessica, looke how the floore of heauen 2471Is thicke inlayed with pattens of bright gold, 2472There's not the smallest orbe which thou beholdst 2473But in his motion like an Angell sings, 2474Still quiring to the young eyed Cherubins; 2475Such harmonie is in immortall soules, 2476But whilst this muddy vesture of decay 2477Doth grosly close in it, we cannot heare it: 2478Come hoe, and wake Diana with a hymne, 2479With sweetest tutches pearce your Mistresse eare, 2480And draw her home with musicke. 2481Iessi. I am neuer merry when I heare sweet musique. 2482Play musicke. 2483Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentiue: 2484For doe but note a wilde and wanton heard 2485Or race of youthful and vnhandled colts, 2486Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, 2487Which is the hot condition of their bloud, 2488If they but heare perchance a trumpet sound, 2489Or any ayre of musicke touch their eares, 2490You shall perceiue them make a mutuall stand, 2491Their sauage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze, 2492By the sweet power of musicke: therefore the Poet 2493Did faine that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods. 2494Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage, 2495But musicke for time doth change his nature, 2496The man that hath no musicke in himselfe, 2497Nor is not moued with concord of sweet sounds, 2498Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoyles, 2499The motions of his spirit are dull as night, 2500And his affections darke as Erobus, 2501Let no such man be trusted: marke the musicke. 2502Enter Portia and Nerrissa. 2503Por. That light we see is burning in my hall: 2504How farre that little candell throwes his beames, 2505So shines a good deed in a naughty world. 2506Ner. When the moone shone we did not see the candle? 2507Por. So doth the greater glory dim the lesse, 2508A substitute shines brightly as a King 2509Vntill a King be by, and then his state 2510Empties it selfe, as doth an inland brooke 2511Into the maine of waters: musique, harke. Musicke. 2512Ner. It is your musicke Madame of the house. 2513Por. Nothing is good I see without respect, 2514Methinkes it sounds much sweeter then by day? 2515Ner. Silence bestowes that vertue on it Madam. 2516Por. The Crow doth sing as sweetly as the Larke

2517When neither is attended: and I thinke 2518The Nightingale if she should sing by day 2519When euery Goose is cackling, would be thought 2520No better a Musitian then the Wren? 2521How many things by season, season'd are 2522To their right praise, and true perfection: 2523Peace, how the Moone sleepes with Endimion, 2524And would not be awak'd. 2525Musicke ceases. 2526Lor. That is the voice, 2527Or I am much deceiu'd of Portia. 2528Por. He knowes me as the blinde man knowes the 2529Cuckow by the bad voice? 2530Lor. Deere Lady welcome home? 2531Por. We haue bene praying for our husbands welfare 2532Which speed we hope the better for our words, 2533Are they return'd? 2534Lor. Madam, they are not yet: 2535But there is come a Messenger before 2536To signifie their comming. 2537Por. Go in Nerrissa, 2538Giue order to my seruants, that they take 2539No note at all of our being absent hence, 2540Nor you Lorenzo, Iessica nor you. 2541A Tucket sounds. 2542Lor. Your husband is at hand, I heare his Trumpet, 2543We are no tell-tales Madam, feare you not. 2544Por. This night methinkes is but the daylight sicke, 2545It lookes a little paler, 'tis a day, 2546Such as the day is, when the Sun is hid. 2547Enter Bassanio, Anthonio, Gratiano, and their 2548Followers.> 2549Bas. We should hold day with the Antipodes, 2550If you would walke in absence of the sunne. 2551Por. Let me giue light, but let me not be light, 2552For a light wife doth make a heauie husband, 2553And neuer be Bassanio so for me, 2554But God sort all: you are welcome home my Lord. 2555Bass. I thanke you Madam, giue welcom to my friend 2556This is the man, this is Anthonio, 2557To whom I am so infinitely bound. 2558Por. You should in all sence be much bound to him, 2559For as I heare he was much bound for you. 2560Anth. No more then I am wel acquitted of. 2561Por. Sir, you are verie welcome to our house: 2562It must appeare in other waies then words, 2563Therefore I scant this breathing curtesie. 2564Gra. By yonder Moone I sweare you do me wrong, 2565Infaith I gaue it to the Iudges Clearke, 2566Would he were gelt that had it for my part, 2567Since you do take it Loue so much at hart. 2568Por. A quarrel hoe alreadie, what's the matter? 2569Gra. About a hoope of Gold, a paltry Ring 2570That she did giue me, whose Poesie was 2571For all the world like Cutlers Poetry 2572Vpon a knife; Loue mee, and leaue mee not. 2573Ner. What talke you of the Poesie or the valew: 2574You swore to me when I did giue it you, 2575That you would weare it til the houre of death, 2576And that it should lye with you in your graue, 2577Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, 2578You should haue beene respectiue and haue kept it. 2579Gaue it a Iudges Clearke: but wel I know 2580The Clearke wil nere weare haire on's face that had it. 2581Gra. He wil, and if he liue to be a man. 2582Nerrissa. I, if a Woman liue to be a man. 2583Gra. Now by this hand I gaue it to a youth, 2584A kinde of boy, a little scrubbed boy, 2585No higher then thy selfe, the Iudges Clearke, 2586A prating boy that begg'd it as a Fee, 2587I could not for my heart deny it him. 2588Por. You were too blame, I must be plaine with you, 2589To part so slightly with your wiues first gift, 2590A thing stucke on with oathes vpon your finger, 2591And so riueted with faith vnto your flesh. 2592I gaue my Loue a Ring, and made him sweare 2593Neuer to part with it, and heere he stands: 2594I dare be sworne for him, he would not leaue it, 2595Nor plucke it from his finger, for the wealth 2596That the world masters. Now in faith Gratiano, 2597You giue your wife too vnkinde a cause of greefe, 2598And 'twere to me I should be mad at it. 2599Bass. Why I were best to cut my left hand off, 2600And sweare I lost the Ring defending it. 2601Gra. My Lord Bassanio gaue his Ring away 2602Vnto the Iudge that beg'd it, and indeede 2603Deseru'd it too: and then the Boy his Clearke 2604That tooke some paines in writing, he begg'd mine, 2605And neyther man nor master would take ought 2606But the two Rings. 2607Por. What Ring gaue you my Lord? 2608Not that I hope which you receiu'd of me. 2609Bass. If I could adde a lie vnto a fault, 2610I would deny it: but you see my finger 2611Hath not the Ring vpon it, it is gone. 2612Por. Euen so voide is your false heart of truth. 2613By heauen I wil nere come in your bed 2614Vntil I see the Ring. 2615Ner. Nor I in yours, til I againe see mine. 2616Bass. Sweet Portia, 2617If you did know to whom I gaue the Ring, 2618If you did know for whom I gaue the Ring, 2619And would conceiue for what I gaue the Ring, 2620And how vnwillingly I left the Ring, 2621When nought would be accepted but the Ring, 2622You would abate the strength of your displeasure? 2623Por. If you had knowne the vertue of the Ring, 2624Or halfe her worthinesse that gaue the Ring, 2625Or your owne honour to containe the Ring, 2626You would not then haue parted with the Ring: 2627What man is there so much vnreasonable, 2628If you had pleas'd to haue defended it 2629With any termes of Zeale: wanted the modestie 2630To vrge the thing held as a ceremonie: 2631 Nerrissa teaches me what to beleeue, 2632Ile die for't, but some Woman had the Ring? 2633Bass. No by mine honor Madam, by my soule 2634No Woman had it, but a ciuill Doctor, 2635Which did refuse three thousand Ducates of me, 2636And beg'd the Ring; the which I did denie him, 2637And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away: 2638Euen he that had held vp the verie life 2639Of my deere friend. What should I say sweete Lady? 2640I was inforc'd to send it after him, 2641I was beset with shame and curtesie, 2642My honor would not let ingratitude 2643So much besmeare it. Pardon me good Lady, 2644And by these blessed Candles of the night, 2645Had you bene there, I thinke you would haue beg'd 2646The Ring of me, to giue the worthie Doctor?

2647Por. Let not that Doctor ere come neere my house, 2648Since he hath got the iewell that I loued, 2649And that which you did sweare to keepe for me, 2650I will become as liberall as you, 2651Ile not deny him any thing I haue, 2652No, not my body, nor my husbands bed: 2653Know him I shall, I am well sure of it. 2654Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argos, 2655If you doe not, if I be left alone, 2656Now by mine honour which is yet mine owne, 2657Ile haue the Doctor for my bedfellow. 2658Nerrissa. And I his Clarke: therefore be well aduis'd 2659How you doe leaue me to mine owne protection. 2660Gra. Well, doe you so: let not me take him then, 2661For if I doe, ile mar the yong Clarks pen. 2662Ant. I am th' vnhappy subiect of these quarrels. 2663Por. Sir, grieue not you, 2664You are welcome notwithstanding. 2665Bas. Portia, forgiue me this enforced wrong, 2666And in the hearing of these manie friends 2667I sweare to thee, euen by thine owne faire eyes 2668Wherein I see my selfe. 2669Por. Marke you but that? 2670In both my eyes he doubly sees himselfe: 2671In each eye one, sweare by your double selfe, 2672And there's an oath of credit. 2673Bas. Nay, but heare me. 2674Pardon this fault, and by my soule I sweare 2675I neuer more will breake an oath with thee. 2676Anth. I once did lend my bodie for thy wealth, 2677Which but for him that had your husbands ring 2678Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound againe, 2679My soule vpon the forfeit, that your Lord 2680Will neuer more breake faith aduisedlie. 2681Por. Then you shall be his suretie: giue him this, 2682And bid him keepe it better then the other. 2683Ant. Heere Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring. 2684Bass. By heauen it is the same I gaue the Doctor. 2685Por. I had it of him: pardon Bassanio, 2686For by this ring the Doctor lay with me. 2687Ner. And pardon me my gentle Gratiano, 2688For that same scrubbed boy the Doctors Clarke 2689In liew of this, last night did lye with me. 2690Gra. Why this is like the mending of high waies 2691In Sommer, where the waies are faire enough: 2692What, are we Cuckolds ere we haue deseru'd it. 2693Por. Speake not so grossely, you are all amaz'd; 2694Heere is a letter, reade it at your leysure, 2695It comes from Padua from Bellario, 2696There you shall finde that Portia was the Doctor, 2697 Nerrissa there her Clarke. Lorenzo heere 2698Shall witnesse I set forth as soone as you, 2699And but eu'n now return'd: I haue not yet 2700Entred my house. Anthonio you are welcome, 2701And I haue better newes in store for you 2702Then you expect: vnseale this letter soone, 2703There you shall finde three of your Argosies 2704Are richly come to harbour sodainlie. 2705You shall not know by what strange accident 2706I chanced on this letter. 2707Antho. I am dumbe. 2708Bass. Were you the Doctor, and I knew you not? 2709Gra. Were you the Clark that is to make me cuckold. 2710Ner. I, but the Clark that neuer meanes to doe it, 2711Vnlesse he liue vntill he be a man. 2712Bass. (Sweet Doctor) you shall be my bedfellow, 2713When I am absent, then lie with my wife. 2714An. (Sweet Ladie) you haue giuen me life & liuing; 2715For heere I reade for certaine that my ships 2716Are safelie come to Rode. 2717Por. How now Lorenzo? 2718My Clarke hath some good comforts to for you. 2719Ner. I, and Ile giue them him without a fee. 2720There doe I giue to you and Iessica 2721From the rich Iewe, a speciall deed of gift 2722After his death, of all he dies possess'd of. 2723Loren. Faire Ladies you drop Manna in the way 2724Of starued people. 2725Por. It is almost morning, 2726And yet I am sure you are not satisfied 2727Of these euents at full. Let vs goe in, 2728And charge vs there vpon intergatories, 2729And we will answer all things faithfully. 2730Gra. Let it be so, the first intergatory 2731That my Nerrissa shall be sworne on, is, 2732Whether till the next night she had rather stay, 2733Or goe to bed, now being two houres to day, 2734But were the day come, I should wish it darke, 2735Till I were couching with the Doctors Clarke. 2736Well, while I liue, Ile feare no other thing 2737So sore, as keeping safe Nerrissas ring. 2738Exeunt. 2739FINIS. 2740The Merchant of Venice.>