I freely told you, all the wealth I had How much I was a braggart: When I told you To feed my means. Here is a letter, lady; The paper as the body of my friend, And every word in it a gaping wound, Issuing life-blood.-But is it true, Salerio? Have all his ventures fail'd? What, not one hit? And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch SALE. Not one, my lord. Besides, it should appear, that if he had The present money to discharge the Jew, He would not take it: Never did I know A creature, that did bear the shape of man, So keen and greedy to confound a man: He plies the duke at morning, and at night: And doth impeach the freedom of the state, If they deny him justice: twenty merchants, The duke himself, and the magnificoes Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him; 3 The paper as the body -] I believe, the author wrote-is the body. The two words are frequently confounded in the old copies. So, in the first quarto edition of this play, Act IV.: "Is dearly bought, as mine," &c. instead of—is mine. MALONE. The expression is somewhat elliptical: "The paper as the body," means-the paper resembles the body, is as the body. STEEVENS. But none can drive him from the envious plea JES. When I was with him, I have heard him swear, To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen, That he would rather have Antonio's flesh, It will go hard with poor Antonio. POR. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble ? BASS. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, The best condition'd and unwearied spirit In doing courtesies; and one in whom The ancient Roman honour more appears, Than any that draws breath in Italy. What, no more? POR. What sum owes he the Jew? 4 Should lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. * So folio, and quarto, H.; shall, quarto, R. 4 Should lose a HAIR.] Hair is here used as a dissyllable. MALONE. Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer; Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear.But let me hear the letter of your friend. BASS. [Reads.] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and I, if I might but see you at my death: notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter. POR. O love, despatch all business, and be gone. BASS. Since I have your good leave to go away, I will make haste: but, till I come again, No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, Nor* rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. SCENE III. Venice. A Street. [Exeunt. Enter SHYLOCK, SALANIO, ANTONIO, and Gaoler. SHY. Gaoler, look to him;-Tell not me of mercy ; This is the fool that lent* out money gratis ;- ANT. Hear me yet, good Shylock. SHY. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond; * So folio and quarto, H.; quarto, R. no. † So quartos; folio, lends. cheer;] i. e. countenance. Night's Dream, Act V. Sc. I. : So, in A Midsummer "That liv'd, that lov'd, that lik'd, that look'd, with cheer." See note on that passage. STEEVENS. 6- and I,] This inaccuracy, I believe, was our author's. Mr. Pope reads and me. MALONE. I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond: Thou call'dst me dog, before thou had'st a cause: But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs : SHY. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more. [Exit SHYLOCK. SALAN. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. ANT. Many that have at times made moan to me; SALAN. I am sure, the duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. 7 ANT. The duke cannot deny the course of law; SO FOND] i. e. so foolish. So, in the old comedy of Mother Bombie, 1594, by Lyly: "that the youth seeing her fair cheeks, may be enamoured before they hear her fond speech." STEEVENS. 8 DULL-EY'D fool,] This epithet dull-ey'd is bestowed on melancholy, in Pericles, Prince of Tyre. STEEVENS. 9 The duke cannot deny, &c.] As the reason here given seems a little perplex'd, it may be proper to explain it. If, says he, the duke stop the course of law, it will be attended with this inconvenience, that stranger merchants, by whom the wealth and power of this city is supported, will cry out of injustice. For the known stated law being their guide and security, they will never For the commodity that strangers have Will much impeach the justice of the state; SCENE IV. Belmont. A Room in PORTIA'S House. Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA, and BALTHAZAR. LOR. Madam, although I speak it in your pre sence, You have a noble and a true conceit Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly But, if you knew to whom you show this honour, How dear a lover of my lord your husband, * Quarto R, his. bear to have the current of it stopped on any pretence of equity whatsoever. WARBURTON. For the COMMODITY that strangers have With us in Venice, if it be denied, &c.] i. e. for the denial of those rights to strangers, which render their abode at Venice so commodious and agreeable to them, would much impeach the justice of the state. The consequence would be, that strangers would not reside or carry on traffick here; and the wealth and strength of the state would be diminished. In The Historye of Italye, by W. Thomas, quarto, 1567, there is a section On the libertee of straungers at Venice. MALONE. |