Bass.
Lorenzo and Salanio, welcome hither;
If that the youth of my new Interest here
Have power to bid you welcome. By your leave,
I bid my very friends and country-men,

Sweet Portia, welcome.

Por.
So do I, my lord; they are intirely welcome.

Lor.
I thank your honour. For my part, my lord,
My purpose was not to have seen you here;
But meeting with Salanio by the way,
He did intreat me, past all saying nay,
To come with him along.

Sal.
I did, my lord,
And I have reason for't. Signior Anthonio
Commends him to you. [Gives Bassanio a letter.

Bass.
Ere I ope his letter,
I pray you tell me how my good friend doth.

Sal.
Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind;
Nor well, unless in mind; his letter there
Will shew you his estate. [Bassanio opens a letter.

Gra.
Nerissa, cheer yond stranger: Bid her welcome.
Your hand, Salanio; what's the news from Venice?
How doth that royal merchant, good Anthonio?
I know, he will be glad of our Success:
We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece.

Sal.
Would you had won the fleece, that he hath lost!

Por.
There are some shrewd Contents in yond same paper,
That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek:
Some dear Friend dead; else nothing in the world
Could turn so much the constitution
Of any constant man. What, worse and worse!
With leave, Bassanio, I am half yourself,
And I must have the half of any thing
That this same Paper brings you.

Bass.
O sweet Portia!
Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words,
That ever blotted paper. Gentle lady,
When I did first impart my love to you,
I freely told you, all the wealth I had
Ran in my veins, I was a gentleman;
And then I told you true. And yet, dear lady,

Rating myself at nothing, you shall see
How much I was a braggart: when I told you,
My state was nothing, I should then have told you,
That I was worse than nothing. For, indeed,
I have engag'd myself to a dear Friend,
Engag'd my Friend to his meer enemy,
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, Salanio?
Have all his ventures fail'd? what not one hit?
From Tripolis, from Mexico, from England,
From Lisbon, Barbary, and India?
And not one vessel 'scap'd the dreadful touch
Of merchant-marring rocks?

Sal.
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;
But none can drive him from the envious plea
Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond.

Jes.
When I was with him, I have heard him swear,
To Tubal and to Chus his country-men,
That he would rather have Anthonio's flesh,
Than twenty times the value of the sum
That he did owe him; and I know, my lord,
If law, authority, and pow'r deny not,
It will go hard with poor Anthonio.

Por.
Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble?

Bass.
The dearest friend to me; the kindest Man;

^{4 note}

The best condition'd—an unweary'd spirit
In doing courtesies; and one in whom
The ancient Roman honour more appears,
Than any that draws breath in Italy.

Por.
What Sum owes he the Jew?

Bass.
For me, three thousand ducats.

Por.
What, no more?
Pay him six thousand and deface the bond;
Double six thousand, and then treble that,
Before a friend of this description
Shall lose a hair through my Bassanio's fault.
First, go with me to church, and call me wife,
And then away to Venice to your friend:
For never shall you lie by Portia's side
With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold
To pay the petty debt twenty times over.
When it is paid, bring your true friend along;
My maid Nerissa and myself, mean time,
Will live as maids and widows. Come—away!
For you shall hence upon your wedding-day.
Bid your friends welcome, shew 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 miscarry'd, 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 me, 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! dispatch 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;
  No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. [Exeunt.

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