Ner. Madam, it is, fo you stand pleas'd withal. Baff. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy, for a thoufand ducats. Ner. What, and stake down? Gra. No; we fhall ne'er win at that fport, and ftake down. But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel? Enter Lorenzo, Jeffica, and Salerio. Baff. Lorenzo, and Salerio, welcome hither; power to bid you welcome :-By your leave, I bid my very friends, and countrymen, Sweet Portia, welcome. Por. So do I, my lord; They are entirely welcome. Lor. I thank your honour :-For my part, my lord, My purpose was not to have feen you here; But meeting with Salerio by the way, He did intreat me, past all faying nay, To come with him along. Sale. I did, my lord, And I have reafon for it. Signior Anthonio Commends him to you. Baff. Ere I ope his letter, I [Gives Baffanio a letter. pray you tell me how my good friend doth. Sale. Not fick, my lord, unless it be in mind; Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there Will fhew you his estate. 6 • unless in mind:]-in its compofed frame. Gra. Gra. Neriffa, cheer yon'ftranger; bid her welcome. We are the Jafons, we have won the fleece. Sale. Would you had won the fleece that he hath loft! Por. There are fome fhrewd contents in yon' fame paper, That fteals the colour from Baffanio's cheek: Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world Of any conftant man. What, worfe and worfe?— Baff. O fweet Portia, Here are a few of the unpleasant'ft words, How much I was a braggart: When I told you Have all his ventures fail'd? What, not one hit? And And not one veffel 'fcape the dreadful touch Sale. Not one, my lord. Befides, it fhould appear, that if he had Of greatest port, have all perfuaded with him; Jef. When I was with him, I have heard him fwear, To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen, That he would rather have Anthonio's flesh, Than twenty times the value of the fum It will go hard with poor Anthonio. Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble? In doing courtefies; and one in whom Pay him fix thousand, and deface the bond; Double fix thousand, and then treble that, f 1 confound]-deftroy. perfuaded-reafoned, argued. Before Before a friend of this defcription Shall lose a hair thorough Baffanio's fault. For never shall you lie by Portia's fide b Sweet Baffanio, my ships have all mifcarry'd, my creditors grow cruel, my eftate is very low, my bond to the few is forfeit; and fince, in paying it, it is impoffible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and me, if I might but see you at my death: notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love do not perfuade you to come, let not my letter. O love, dispatch all business, and be gone. No bed fhall e'er be guilty of my stay, [Excunt. Enter Shylock, Solanio, Anthonio, and the Gaoler. Shy. Gaoler, look to him ;-Tell not me of mercy ;— This is the fool that lent out money gratis ;— Portia probably reads the letter herself, in relief of Baffanio's diftress. Gaoler, Goaler, look to him. Anth. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond; fpeak not against my bond; I have fworn an oath, that I will have my bond: Thou call'dft me dog, before thou had'st a cause But, fince I am a dog, beware my fangs : The duke fhall grant me juftice.-I do wonder, Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art fo' fond To come abroad with him at his request. Anth. I pray thee, hear me fpeak. Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: I'll have my bond; and therefore fpeak no more. I'll not be made a foft and dull-ey'd fool, k To shake the head, relent, and figh, and yield I'll have no speaking; I will have my bond. Sol. It is the moft impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. Anth. Let him alone; [Exit Shylock, I'll follow him no more with bootlefs prayers. I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures Many that have at times made moan to me, Sol. I am fure, the duke Will never grant this forfeiture " to hold. Anth. The duke cannot deny the course of law, For the commodity that strangers have fond]-indifcreet. dull-ey'd]-fympathizing, having eyes dim'd with tears of commiferation; moping, melancholy. forfeitures]-impending penalties. to hold]-to be enforced. For the commodity &c.]-on account of the interest of strangers in its due and regular difpenfation. |