Than if you had made waste of all I have:
Then do but say to me what I should do,
That in your knowledge may by me be done,
And I am press'd unto it: therefore, speak,
Buss. In Belmont is a lady richly left,

And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,
Of wondrons virtues, sometimes from her eyes
I did receive fair speechless messages:

Her name is Portia ; nothing undervalued

To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia.

Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth:
For the four winds blow in from every coast
Renowned suitors: and her sunny locks
Hang on her temples like a golden fleece;
Which makes her seat of Belmont, Colches'
strand,

And many Jasons come in quest of her.
O my Antonio, bad I but the means
To hold a rival place with one of them,

I have a mind presages me such thrift,
That I should questionless be fortunate.

nothing but talk of bis horse; and he makes it a great appropriation to his good parts, that he can shoe him himself; I am much afraid, iny lady his mother played false with a smith.

Ner. Then, is there the county Palatine. Por. He doth nothing but frown; as who should say, An if you will not have me, choose: he bears merry tales, and smiles not: I fear he will prove the weeping philosopher when he grows old, being so full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had rather be married to a death's head with a boue in his mouth, than to either of these. God defend me from these two.

Ner. How say you by the French lord, Monsieur Le Bon ?

Por. God made him, and therefore let bim pass for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker; But, he! why, he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan's; a better bad habit of frowning than the count Palatine: he is every

Ant. Thou know'st, that all my fortunes are man in no man: if a throstle sing, he falls

at sea;

Nor have I money, nor commodity

To raise a present sum: therefore go forth,
Try what my credit can in Venice do;
That sh I be rack'd even to the uttermost,
To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia.
Go, presently inquire, and so will I,
Where money is; and I no question make,
To have it of my trust, or for my sake.

[Exeunt.
SCENE II.-Belmont.--A Room in PORTIA's

House.

Enter PORTIA and NERISSA.
Por. By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is
a-weary of this great world.

Ner. You would be, sweet madam, if your
miseries were in the same abundance as your
good fortunes are: And yet for aught I see,
they are as sick, that surfeit with too much, as
they that starve with nothing: It is no mean
happiness therefore, to be seated in the mean;
superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but
competency lives longer.

Por. Good sentences, and well pronounced. Ner. They would be better, if well followed. 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 divine that follows his own instructions; I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain may devise laws for the blood; but a hot temper leaps over a cold decree such a hare is madness the youth, to skip o'er the meshes of good counsel the cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband :-0 me, the word choose! I may neither choose whom I would, nor refuse whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curb'd by the will of a dead father:-Is it not bard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one, nor refuse none?

Ner. Your father was ever virtuous; and holy men, at their death, bave good inspirations; therefore the lottery that he hath devised in these three chests, of gold, silver, and lead, (whereof who chooses his meaning. chooses you,) will, no doubt, never be chosen by any rightly, but one who you shall rightly love. But what warmth is there in your affection towards any of these princely suitors that are already come?

straight a capering: he will fence with his own shadow: if I should marry him, I should marry twenty husbands: If he would despise me, I would forgive him; for if he love me to madness, I shall never requite him.

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

Por. You know, I say nothing to him; for he understands not me, nor 1 him: be 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 picture; But, alas! who can converse with a dumb show? How oddly he is suited! I think, be bought his doublet in Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour every where.

Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighbour?

Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him; for he borrowed 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 surety, and sealed 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 sober; and most vilely in the afternoon, when be is drunk: when he is best, he is little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast; au the worst fall † that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without him.

Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the right casket, you should refuse to perform your father's will, if you should refuse to accept him.

Por. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary casket: for, if the devil be within, and that temptation without, 1 know he will choose it. I will do any thing, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a sponge.

Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of these lords; they have acquainted me with their determination: 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 Por. I pray thee overname them; and as parcel of wooers are so reasonable; for there is thon namest them, I will describe them; and, not one among them but I dote on his very according to my description, level at my affec-absence, and I pray God grant them a fair de

tion.

Ner. First, there is the Neapolitan prince.

parture.

Ner. Do you not remember, tady, in your Por. Ay, that's a colt ; indeed, for he doth father's time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a sol

dier, that came hither in company of the mar-Even there where merchants most do conne quis of Montferrat?

Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good a heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should be glad of his approach: if he'll break a custom :-Is be yet possess'd,t bave the condition of a saint, and the com- How much you would? plexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me, than wive me. Come, Nerissa.-Sirrah, go before. Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door. [Exeunt.

Well then, it now appears, you need my help;
Go to then you come to me, and you say,
Shylock, we would have monies: You say so;
You, that did void your rheun upon my beard,
And foot me, as you spura a stranger cur
Over your threshold; monies is your suit.
What should I say to you? Should I not say,
Hath a dog money? is it possible,

A cur can lend three thousand ducats? or,
Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key,

ACT II.

SCENE 1.-Belmont.-A Room in PORTIA'S

House.

Flourish of Cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF MOROCCO and his Train; PORTIA, NERISSA, and other of her Attendants.

Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,

With 'bated breath, and whispering humble-To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.

You spurn'd me such a day; another time
You call'd me-dog; and for these courtesies
I'll lend you thus much monies.

Ant. I am as like to call thee so again,
To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.
If thou wilt lend this money, lead it not

As to hy friends; (for when did friendship
take)

A breed for barren 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 storm!

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 usance for my monies, and you'll not hear

me:

This is kind I offer.

Ant. This were kindness.

Shy. This kindness will I show :-
Go with me to a notary, seal me there
Your single bond; and, in a merry sport,
If you repay me not on such a day,

In such a place, such sum or sums as are
Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for au equal pound

Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.

Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,
Aud let us make incision for your love,
To prove whose blood is reddest, his, or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath fear'd the valiant; by my love, I swear
The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue,
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes:
Besides the lottery of my destiny

Bars me the right of voluntary choosing:
But, if my father bad not scanted me,
And hedg'd ine by his wit, to yield myself
His wife, who wins me by that means I told you,
Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair,
As any comer I have look'd on yet,
For my affection.

Mor. Even for that I thank you :
Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets,
To try my fortune. By this scimitar,-
That slew the Sophy, and a Persian prince,
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,-
I would out-stare the sternest eyes that look,
Out-brave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young suckling cubs from the she

bear,

Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win thee, lady: But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lichas play at dice

Which is the better man, the greater throw

May turn by fortune from the weaker hand:
So is Alcides beaten by his page;
And so may 1, blind fortune leading me,

Ant. Content, in faith; I'll seal to such a Miss that which one unworthier may attain,

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.

Aut. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it; Within these two months, that's a month before This bond expires, 1 do expect return

Of thrice three times the value of this bond.

Shy. O father Abrabam, what these Christians
are;

Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect
The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this;
If he should breaks his day, what should I gain
By the exaction of the forfeiture?

A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man,
Is not so estimable, profitable neither,
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say,
To buy his favour, 1 extend this friendship:
If he will take it, so; if not, adieu;
And, for my love, I pray you, wrong me not.
Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this

bond.

Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's;
Give him direction for this merry bond,
And I will go and purse the ducats straight;
See to my house, left in the fearful guard
Of an unthrifty knave; and presently
I will be with you.

And die with grieving.

Enter LAUNCELOT GOBBO. Laun. Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew, my master: The fiend is at mine elbow: and tempts me, saying to me, Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot, or good Gobbo, or good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away: My couscience says,-no; take heed, honest Launcelot; take heed, honest Gobbo; or, as aforesaid, honest Launcelot Gobbo; do not run; scorn running with thy heels: Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack; via! says the fiend; away! says the fiend, for the heavens; rouse up a brave mind, says the fiend, and run. Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me, my honest friend Launcelot, being an honest man's son, Ant. Come on in this there can be no dis--or rather an honest woman's son ;-for, indeed, inay, my father did something snack, something grow

[Eait.

Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. This Hebrew will turu Christian; he grows kind.

Bass. I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind.

My ships come home a month before the day.
[Exeunt.

• Red blood is a traditionary sign of love affrighted.

Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: 11 be sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mite ov flesh and blood. Lord worshipp'd night be bef what a beard hast thou got ! thou hast got mere hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill-berse has on his tail.

to, he had a kind of taste; well, my conscience, but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man; and, I an savs, Launcelot, budge not; budge, says the sure, Margery, your wife, is my mother. fiend; budge not, says my conscience: Conscience, says I, you counsel well; fiend, says I, you counsel well: to be ruled by my conscience, 1 should stay with the Jew my master, who, (God bless the mark!) is a kind of devil; and to run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil himself; Certainly, the Jew is the very devil incarnation; and, in my conscience, my con science is but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew: The fiend gives the more friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; my heels are at your commandment, will run.

Enter old Goano, with a Basket. Gob. Master, young man, you, I pray you; which is the way to master Jew's ?

Laun. {Aside.] O heavens, this is my true begotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel blind, knows ine not:-1 will try couclusions with him.

Gob. Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to master Jew's!

Laun. Turn up on your right hand, at the next turning, but at the next turning of all, on your left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no band, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house.

Gob. By God's sonties, 'twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with him, or no? Laun. Talk you of young master Launcelot 1-Mark me now; [aside.] now will I raise the waters :-Talk you of young master Launcelot !

Glo. No master, Sir, but a poor man's son; his father, though I say it, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live.

Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we talk of young master Launcelot.

Gob. Your worship's friend, and Launcelot, Sir.

Laun. But I pray you ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech you; Talk you of young master Launcelot?

Gob. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership.

Laun. Ergo, master Launcelot; talk not of master Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman (acccording to fates and destinies, and such odd saying, the sisters three, and such branches of learning,) is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would say, in plain terms, gone to heaven.

Gob. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop.

Laun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovelpost, a staff, or a prop?-Do you know me, father?

Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young pentleman: but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy, (God rest his soul !) alive, or dead?

Laun. Do you not know me, father?
Gob. Alack, Sir, I am sand-blind, I know you

not.

Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me: it is a wise father, that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son: Give me your blessing truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long, a man's son may; but, in the end, truth will out.

Gob. Pray you, Sir, stand up; I am sure, you are not Launcelot, my hoy.

Laun. Pray you, let's have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing; I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be.

Laun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tall grows backward; I am sure he had more bair on his tail, than I have on my face, when I last saw him.

Gob. Lord, how art thon changed! How dast thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present; How 'gree you now !

Leun. Well, well; but, for mine own part, as I have set up my rest to rnu away, so I will not rest till I have run some ground: my master`i a very Jew: Give him a present! give him a hatter: I am famish'd in his service; you may reli every finger I have with my ribs. Father, 1 az glad you are come: give me your present to one master Bassanio, who, indeed, gives care now liveries: if I serve not hini, I will run as far as God has any ground.-O rare fortune! here comes the man ;-to him, father; for I am a Jes i I serve the Jew any longer.

Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO, and ether

Fellowers.

me?

Gob. Here's my son, Sir, a poor boy,—— Laun. Not a poor boy, Sir, but the rich Jew's man; that would, Sir, as my father shall spe cify,

Gob. He hath a great infection, Sir, as one would say, to serve――

Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and I have a desire, as my father shall specify

Gob. His master and he, (saving your worship's reverence,) are scarce cater-cousins:

Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Jew, having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, being I hope an old man, shall frutify unto you,——

Gob. I have here a dish of doves, that I would bestow upon your worship; and my self is,-

Laun. In very brief, the suit is impertinent to myself, as your worship shall know by this honest old man; and, though I say it, though old man, yet, poor man, my father.

Bass. One speak for both:-What would you?

Laun. Serve yon, Sir.

Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, Sir.
Bass. I know thee well, thou hast obtain ́d thy

suit:

Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day,
And hath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment,
To leave a rich Jew's service, to become
The follower of so poor a gentleman.

Laun. The old proverb is very well parted
between my master Shylock and you, Sir; you
have the grace of God, Sir, and he bath enough.
Bass. Thou speak'st it well: Go, father, with
thy son :-
Take leave of thy old master, and inquire
My lodging out:-Give him a livery

To his Followers, More guarded + than his fellows': See it done, Laun. Father, in:-1 cannot get a service, Gob. I cannot think, you are my son. no;- have ne'er & tongue in my head.-well; Laun. I know not what I shall think of that: || Looking on his palm.} if any man in Italy have

a fairer table, which doth offer to swear upon Laun. Adieul-tears exhibit my tongue.a book,-1 shall have good fortune; Go to, here's Most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew! If a a simple line of life! here's a small trifle of Christian do not play the knave, and get thee, wives: Alas! fifteen wives is nothing; eleven I am much deceived: But, adieu! these foolish widows, and nine maids, is a simple coming-in drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit; for one man: and then, to 'scape drowning adien! [Exit. thrice; and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed ;-here are simple 'scapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, she's a good wench for this gear.-Father, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye.