have acquainted me with their determinations: which is, indeed, to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more suit; unless, you may be won by some other sort than your father's imposition, depending on the caskets. Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will: I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable; for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence, and I pray Heaven grant them a fair departure. Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a soldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat? Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, so was he called. Ner. True, madam; he, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deserving a fair lady. Por. I remember him well; and I remember him worthy of thy praise. How now! what news! Enter a Servant. Serv. The four strangers seek for you, madam, to take their leave: and there is a fore-runner come from a fifth, the prince of Morocco; who brings word, the prince, his master, will be here to-night. Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should be glad of his approach. Come, Nerissa. Sirrah, go before.-Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Venice. A public Place. Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK. Shy. Three thousand ducats,—well. Bass. Ay, sir, for three months. Shy. For three months,—well. Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. Shy. Antonio shall become bound,-well. Bass. May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer? Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, and Antonio bound. Bass. Your answer to that. Shy. Antonio is a good man. Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no ;-my meaning, in saying he is a good man, is to have you understand me, that he is sufficient: yet his means are in supposition: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England,and other ventures he hath, squander'd abroad; But ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats, and water-rats, water-thieves, and land thieves; I mean, pirates; and then, there is the peril of water, winds, and rocks: The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient ;-three thousand ducats ;-I think, I may take his bond. Bass. Be assured you may. Shy. I will be assured, I may; and, that I may be assured, I will bethink me: May I speak with Antonio ? Bass. If it please you, dine with us. Shy. Yes, to smell pork; I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following: but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto? -Who is he comes here? Enter ANTONIO. Bass. This is signior Antonio. Shy. [Aside.] How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him, for he is a Christian : But more, for that, in low simplicity, He lends out money gratis, and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice. If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Bass. Shylock, do you hear? Shy. I am debating of my present store : Of full three thousand ducats: What of that? Ant. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow, Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, Shy. [TO ANTONIO. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. Ant. And for three months. Shy. I had forgot,-three months, you told me so. Ant. I do never use it. Shy. Three thousand ducats-'tis a good round sum, Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate. Ant. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you? In the Rialto you have rated me About my monies, and my usances: A cur can lend three thousand ducats? or Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last : Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, As to thy friends; (for when did friendship take Who, if he break, thou may'st with better face Why, look you, how you storm! Shy. Of usance for my monies, and you'll not hear me: Ant. This were kindness. This kindness will I show:-- Go with me to a notary, seal me there In such a place, such sum, or sums, as are Ant. Content, in faith; I'll seal to such a bond, And say, there is much kindness in the Jew. Bass. You shall not seal to such a bond for me, I'll rather dwell in my necessity. Ant. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it. Within these two months, that's a month before This bond expires, I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this bond. Shy. O father Abraham, what these Christians are, A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, I will be with you. Hie thee, gentle Jew. Ant. ACT II. [Exit. [Exeunt. Bassanio obtains the loan of three thousand ducats from Shylock, on the merchant's bond, with the penalty of the pound of flesh," as the forfeit for non-payment. He then prepares for making proposals for Portia's hand, but previous to his departure he invites his friends to an entertainment:-Shylock is also one of the invited guests. Launcelot, a former domestic of the Jew's, has entered into the service of Bassanio, and is made the messenger between Lorenzo and Jessica, who have planned an clopement, while Shylock is engaged at Bassanio's feast. SCENE V.-The same. Before Shylock's House. Enter SHYLOCK, and LAUNCELOT. Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out ;— Why, Jessica, I say! Laun. Why, Jessica! Shy. Who bids thee call? I did not bid thee call. Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, I could do nothing without bidding. Enter JESSICA. Jes. Call you? What is your will? Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica; There are my keys :-But wherefore should I go But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon The prodigal Christian.-Jessica, my girl, ? Laun. I beseech you, sir, go on; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. Laun. And they have conspired together, I will not say, you shall see a masque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Black-Monday last, at six o'clock i' the morning, falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday, was four year in the afternoon. Shy. What are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica : Laun. I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out at window, for all this; There will come a Christian by, Will be worth a Jewess' eye. [Aside. [Exit LAUN. Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha? More than the wild cat; drones hive not with me; |