Senators of Venice, Officers, Failer, Servants, and other Attendants.
SCENE, partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the Seat of Portia,

ACT

I Ships, so named from Ragusa. 2 The name of the ship. 3 To vail, means to put off the hat, to Arike fail, to give sign of fubmiffion.

03

Sala. Not in love neither? Then let's say, you That therefore only are reputed wife,

Fór saying nothing; who, I am very fure, [ears,
If they should speak, would almost damn thofe
Which, hearing them, would call their brothers
I'll tell thee more of this another time: [fools2.
But fish not with this melancholy bait,
For this fool's gudgeon, this opinion.-
Come, good Lorenzo:-Fare ye well, a while;
I'll end my exhortation after dinner 3.

1 This alludes to the common comparifon of human life to a stage-play. So that he defires his may be the fool's or buffoon's part, which was a conftant character in the old farces; from whence came the phrafe, to floy the fool. 2 Our author's meaning is, that fome people are thought wife whilft they keep filence; who, when they open their mouths, are fuch stupid praters, that the hearers cannot help calling them fools, and fo incur the judgment denounced in the gospel. 3 The humour of this confifts in its being an allusion to the practice of the puritan preachers of those times; who being generally very long and tedious, were often forced to put off that part of their fermon called the exhortation, till after dinner.

blood; but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree : fuch a hare is madness the youth, to skip o'er the meshes of good counsel the cripple. But this reafoning is not in the fashion to chufe me a husband: -O me, the word chuse! I may neither chuse whom I would, nor refuse whom I diflike; so is the will of a living daughter curb'd by the will of a dead father:-Is it not hard, Neriffa, that I cannot chuse one, nor refute none?

Ner. Your father was ever virtuous; and holy men, at their death, have good inspirations; therefore, the lottery, that he hath devised in these three chefts, of gold, filver, and lead, (whereof who chufes his meaning, chuses you) will, no doubt, never be chofen by any rightly, but one who you thall rightly love. But what warmth is there in your affection

Than if you had made warte of all I have:
1 hen do but fay to me what I should do,
That in your knowledge may by me be done,
And am I preft unto it: therefore fpeak.
Baff. In Belmont is a lady richly left,
And the is fair, and, fairer than that word,
Of wondrous virtues: fometimes 2 from her eyes towards any of these princely fuitors that are al-

ready come?

4

Por. I pray thee, over-name them; and, as thou nam'ft them, I will defcribe them; and, according to my defcription, level at my affection.

Ner. Then, there is the County Palatine.

I did receive fair speechless metsages:

Hang on her temples like a golden fleece;

Which makes her feat of Belmont, Colchos' ftrand, appropriation to his own good parts, that he can

And many Jasons come in queft of her.
O my Anthonio, had I but the means

Ner. First, there is the Neapolitan prince.

Por. Ay, that's a colt 3, indeed, for he doth nothing but talk of his horse, and he makes it a great

shoe him himself: I am much afraid my lady his mother play'd falfe with a smith.

To hold a rival place with one of them,
I have a mind prefages me fuch thrift,
That I should questionlets be fortunate.

Nor have I money, nor commodity

11.

Por. He doth nothing but frown; as, who should fay, An if you will not have me, chufe: he hears

Anth. Thou know'it, that all my fortunes are at fea; merry tales, and smiles not: I fear, he will prove

SCENE

A Room in Portia's House at Belmont.
Enter Portia and Neriffa.

Por. By my troth, Neriffa, my little body is aweary of this great world.

Ner. You would be, sweet madam, if your miferies were in the fame abundance as your good fortunes are: And yet, for aught I fee, they are as fick, that furfeit with too much, as they that ftarve with nothing: It is no mean happiness therefore, to be seated in the mean; fuperfluity comes fooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer.

the weeping philosopher when he grows old, being fo full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had rather be married to a death's-head with a bone in his mouth, than to either of these. God defend me from these two!

Ner. How fay you by the French lord, Monfieur Le Bon?

Por. God made him, and therefore let him pafs for a man. In truth, I know it is a fin to be a mocker; But, he! why, he hath a horfe better than the Neapolitan's; a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine: he is every man in no man: if a throftle fing, he falls ftrait a-capering; he will fence with his own thadow: if I should marry him, I should marry twenty husbands: If he would defpise me, I would forgive him; for if he love me to mad ness, I shall never requite him.

Ner. What fay you then to Faulconbridge, the young baron of England?

Por. You know, I fay nothing to him; for he understands not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latin, French, nor Italian; and you will come into the court and swear, that I have a poor penny. worth in the English. He is a proper man's pic ture; But, alas! who can converfe with a dumb show? How oddly he is fuited! I think, he

Por. Good fentences, and well pronounc'd. Ner. They would be better, if well follow'd. Por. If to do, were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottages, princes' palaces. It is a good bought his doublet in Italy, his round hofe in divine, that follows his own instructions. I can France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour eafier teach twenty what were good to be done, every-where. than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain may devise laws for the neighbour?

Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord, his

That is, ready to do it. 2 Sometimes here means formerly. 3 i. e. a thoughtless, giddy, gay youngster.

Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him; for he borrow'd a box of the ear of the Englishman, and swore he would pay him again, when he was able: I think, the Frenchman became his furety, and feal'd under for another.

Ner. How like you the young German, the duke of Saxony's nephew?

Por. Very vilely in the morning, when he is fober; and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk: when he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beaft: an the worst fall that ever fell, I hope, I shall make shift to go without him.

Ner. If he should offer to chuse, and chuse the right casket, you should refuse to perform your fa

Sby. For three months, well.

Baff. For the which, as I told you, Anthonio shall be bound.

Shy. Anthonio shall become bound, -well.

Baff. May you stead me? Will you pleafure me? Shall I know your answer?

Shy. Three thoufand ducats, for three months, and Anthonio bound.

Baff. Your answer to that.

Sby. Anthonio is a good man.

Baff. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no; -my meaning, in faying he is a good man, is, to have you understand me, that he is fufficient: yet his means are in fupther's will, if you should refuse to accept him. pofition: he hath an argofy bound to Tripolis, anoPor. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee, ther to the Indies; I understand moreover upon fet a deep glass of Rhenith wine on the contrary the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for casket; for, if the devil be within, and that tempt- England, and other ventures he hath, squander'd ation without, I know he will chuse it. I will abroad: But ships are but boards, failors but men: do any thing, Nerissa, ere I will be marry'd to a spunge.

Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of these lords; they have acquainted me with their determinations: which is, indeed, to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more fuit; unless you may be won by fome other fort than your father's impofition, depending on the cafkets.

Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chafte as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will: I am glad this parcel of wooers are so very reafonable; for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence, and I pray God grant them a fair departure.

Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a foldier, that came hither in company of the marquis of Montferrat?

Por. Yes, yes, it was Baffanio; as I think, fo he

was call'd.

Ner. True, madam; he, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes look'd upon, was the best deserving a fair lady.

there be land-rats, and water-rats, water-thieves, and land-thieves; I mean, pirates; and then, there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks: The man is, notwithitanding, fufficient:-three thoufand ducats;-I think, I may take his bond.

[affur'd,

Baff. Be affur'd, you may.
Shy. I will be affur'd, I may; and, that I may be
I will bethink me: May I fpeak with Anthonio?
Baff. If it please you to dine with us.

Shy. Yes, to fmell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into: I will buy with you, fell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and fo 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 Antbonio.

Baff. This is fignior Anthonio.

Sby. [Afide.] How like a fawning publican he looks!
I hate him for he is a Chriftian:
But more, for that, in low fimplicity,

He lends out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
Por. I remember him well; and I remember him If I can catch him once upon the hip1,
worthy of thy praise.-How now! what news? I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our facred nation; and he rails,

Enter a Servant.

Ser. The four strangers feek for you, madam, to Even there where merchants most do congregate, take their leave: and there is a fore-runner come On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift, from a fifth, the prince of Moracco; who brings Which he calls interest: Curfed be my tribe, word, the prince, his master, will be here to-night. If I forgive him!

Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with fo Baff. Shylock, do you hear?

good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I Shy. I am debating of my present store; should be glad of his approach: if he have the And, by the near guess of my memory, condition of a faint, and the complexion of a devil, I cannot inftantly raise up the grofs I had rather he should shrive me than wive me. Of full three thousand ducats: What of that? Come, Neriffa. Sirrah, go before. - Whiles we Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at Will furnish me: Btit foft; How many months the door. [Exeunt. Do you defire?-Rest you fair, good fignior;

SCENE III.
A publick Place in Venice.
Enter Baffanio and Stylock.

Shy. Three thousand ducats, well.
Beff. Ay, fir, for three months.

[To Antbonio.

Your worship was the last man in our mouths.
Anth. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow,
By taking, nor by giving of excess,
Yet, to fupply the ripe wants of my friend,

This is a phrase taken from the practice of wrestlers.

:

I'll break a custom:-Is he yet poffefs'd,
How much you would ?

Sby. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
Anth. And for three months.

Shy. I had forgot three months, you told me fo.

You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me, as you fpurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold; monies is your fuit.
What should I say to you? Should I not fay,
"Hath a dog money? Is it poffible

Well then, your bond; and, let me fee, But "A cur can lend three thousand ducats?" or

hear you;
Methoughts, you faid, you neither lend, nor bor-
Upon advantage.

Anth. I do never ufe it.

[row, Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key,
With 'bated breath, and whispering humblenefs,
Say this," Fair fir, you fpit on me on Wednesday
"laft;

Sby. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's theep,

This Jacob from our holy Abraham was
(As his wife mother wrought in his behalf)
The third poffetfor; ay, he was the third.

Antb. And what of him? did he take interest
Shy. No, not take interest; not, as you would
fay,

Directly interest: mark what Jacob did.
When Laban and himself were compromis'd,

That all the eanlings, which were streak'd, and

py'd,

Should fall as Jacob's hire, the ewes, being rank,
In the end of autumn turned to the rams:
And when the work of generation was
Between these woolly breeders in the act,
The skilful fhepherd peel'd me certain wands,
And, in the doing of the deed of kind 2,
He stuck them up before the fuliome 3 ewes;
Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time
Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive, and he was bleft;
And thrift is blesling, if men steal it not.

[for;

Anth. This was a venture, fir, that Jacob ferv'd
A thing not in his power to bring to pafs,
But fway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heaven.
Was this inferted to make intereft good?
Or is your gold and filver, erves and rams?

Sby. I cannot tell; I make it breed as faft :-
But note me, fignior,

rate.

"You fpurn'd me fuch a day; another time
"You call'd me-dog; and for these courtefies
"I'll lend vou thus much monies."

Anth. I am as like to call thee so again,
To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.
If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not
As to thy friends; (for when did friendship take
A breed of barien metal of his friend?)
But lend it rather to thine enemy;
Who if he break, thou may'st with better face
Exact the penalty.

Shy. Why, look you, how you ftorm!
I would be friends with you, and have your love,
Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with,
Supply your present wants, and take no doit

Of ufance for my monies, and you 'll not hear me,
This is kind I offer.

Anth. This were kindnefs.

Shy. This kindness will I show :

Go with me to a notary, feal me there
Your fingle bond; and, in a merry sport,
If you repay me not on fuch a day,
In fuch a place, fuch fum, or fuis, as are
Exprefs'd in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In winat part of your body pleaseth me.

Anth. Content, in faith; I'll feal to fuch a bond,
And fay, there is much kindness in the Jew.

Baff. You shall not feal to fuch a bond for me, I'll rather dwell 7 in my neceffity.

-Anth. 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

Anth. Mark you this, Baffanio.
The devil can cite fcripture for his purpose.
An evil foul, producing holy witness,
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek;
A goodly apple rotten at the heart:
O, what a goodly outside falfhood hath!
[fum. Of thrice three times the value of the bond.
Sby. Three thousand ducats, 'tis a good round
Sby. O father Abraham, what these Chriftians are
Three months from twelve, then let me fee the Whose own hard dealings teaches them fufpect
[you? The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this;
Anth. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to If he should break his day, what should I gain
Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my monies, and my usances 4:
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug;
For fufferance is the badge of all our tribe:
You call me-misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And fpit upon my Jewish gaberdine 5,

By the exaction of the forfeiture ?
A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man,
Is not fo eftimable, profitable neither,
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I fay,
To buy his favour, I extend this friendship;
If he will take it, fo; if not, adieu;
And, for my love, I pray you, wrong me not,
Anth. Yes, Shylock, I will feal unto this bond.
Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's;
Give him direction for this merry bond,

And all for use of that which is mine own.
Well then, it now appears, you need my help:
Go to then: you come to me, and you fay,
"Shylock, we would have monies;" You say fo; And I will go and purfse the ducats ftrait;

i. e. lambs just dropt. 2 i. e. of nature. 3 Meaning, lafcivious, obscene. 4 Ufe and usance were both words formerly employed for usury. 5 Agaberdine means a coarse frock. That is, intereft money bred from the principal. 7 To dwell, here seems to mean the fame as to continue.

See