SCENE I.
A Street in Venice.
Enter Anthonio, Salarino, and Salanio.
Anth.
In sooth, I know not why I am so sad;
It wearies me; you say, it wearies you;
-- 132 --
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born,
I am to learn:
And such a want-wit sadness makes of me,
That I have much ado to know myself.
Sal.
Your mind is tossing on the ocean;
There, where your argosies5 note
with portly sail,—
Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood,
Or as it were the pageants of the sea,—
-- 133 --
Do over-peer the petty traffickers,
That curtsy to them, do them reverence,
As they fly by them with their woven wings.
Sala.
Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth,
The better part of my affections would
Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still
Plucking the grass6 note
, to know where sits the wind;
Prying7 note in maps, for ports, and piers, and roads:
And every object, that might make me fear
Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt,
Would make me sad.
Sal.
My wind, cooling my broth,
Would blow me to an ague, when I thought
What harm a wind too great might do at sea.
I should not see the sandy hour-glass run,
But I should think of shallows, and of flats;
And see my wealthy 8 noteAndrew dock'd in sand,
Vailing her high top lower than her ribs9 note
,
-- 134 --
To kiss her burial. Should I go to church,
And see the holy edifice of stone,
And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks?
Which touching but my gentle vessel's side,
Would scatter all her spices on the stream;
Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks;
And, in a word, but even now worth this,
And now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought
To think on this; and shall I lack the thought,
That such a thing, bechanc'd, would make me sad?
But, tell not me; I know, Anthonio
Is sad to think upon his merchandize.
Anth.
Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it,
My ventures are not in one bottom trusted,
Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate
Upon the fortune of this present year:
Therefore, my merchandize makes me not sad.
Sala.
Why then you are in love.
Anth.
Fie, fie!
Sala.
Not in love neither? Then let's say, you are sad,
Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy
For you, to laugh, and leap, and say, you are merry,
Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus1 note
,
Nature hath fram'd strange fellows in her time:
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes2 note,
-- 135 --
And laugh, like parrots, at a bag-piper;
And other of such vinegar aspect,
That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile3 note,
Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.
Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Gratiano.
Sal.
Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman,
Gratiano, and Lorenzo: Fare you well;
We leave you now with better company.
Sala.
I would have staid till I had made you merry,
If worthier friends had not prevented me.
Anth.
Your worth is very dear in my regard.
I take it, your own business calls on you,
And you embrace the occasion to depart.
Sal.
Good morrow, my good lords.
Bass.
Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, when?
You grow exceeding strange; Must it be so?
Sal.
We'll make our leisures to attend on yours.
[Exeunt Sal. and Sala.
Lor.
My lord Bassanio4 note
, since you have found Anthonio,
We two will leave you; but, at dinner-time,
I pray you, have in mind where we must meet.
Bass.
I will not fail you.
-- 136 --
Gra.
You look not well, signior Anthonio;
You have too much respect upon the world:
They lose it, that do buy it with much care.
Believe me, you are marvellously chang'd.
Anth.
I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano;
A stage, where every man must play a part,
And mine a sad one.
Gra.
Let me play the Fool5 note:
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come;
And let my liver rather heat with wine,
Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.
Why should a man, whose blood is warm within,
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster?
Sleep when he wakes? and creep into the jaundice
By being peevish? I tell thee what, Anthonio,—
I love thee, and it is my love that speaks;—
There are a sort of men, whose visages
Do cream9Q0312 and mantle, like a standing pond;
And do a wilful stillness entertain,
With purpose to be drest in an opinion
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit;
As who should say, I am Sir Oracle6 note,
And when I ope my lips, let no dog bark7 note!
O, my Anthonio, I do know of these,
That therefore only are reputed wise,
For saying nothing; who, I am very sure,
If they should speak, would almost damn those ears8 note,
-- 137 --
Which, hearing them, would call their brothers, fools.
I'll tell thee more of this another time:
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 dinner9 note.
Lor.
Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time.
I must be one of these same dumb wise men,
For Gratiano never lets me speak.
Gra.
Well, keep me company but two years more,
Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue.
Anth.
Fare well: I'll grow a talker for this gear.
Gra.
Thanks, i'faith; for silence is only commendable
In a neat's tongue dry'd, and a maid not vendible.
[Exeunt Gra. and Loren.
Anth.
Is that any thing now1 note
9Q0313?
Bass.
Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing,
more than any man in all Venice: His reasons are as
two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff; you
shall seek all day ere you find them; and, when you
have them, they are not worth the search.
-- 138 --
Anth.
Well; tell me now, what lady is the same,
To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage,
That you to-day promis'd to tell me of?
Bass.
'Tis not unknown to you, Anthonio,
How much I have disabled mine estate,
By something shewing a more swelling port
Than my faint means would grant continuance:
Nor do I now make moan to be abridg'd
From such a noble rate; but my chief care
Is, to come fairly off from the great debts,
Wherein my time, something too prodigal,
Hath left me gag'd: To you, Anthonio,
I owe the most, in money, and in love;
And from your love I have a warranty
To unburthen all my plots, and purposes,
How to get clear of all the debts I owe.
Anth.
I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it;
And, if it stand, as you yourself still do,
Within the eye of honour, be assur'd,
My purse, my person, my extreamest means,
Lye all unlock'd to your occasions.
Bass.
In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft,
I shot his fellow of the self-same flight
The self-same way, with more advised watch,
To find the other forth; and by advent'ring both,
I oft found both: I urge this childhood proof,
Because what follows is pure innocence.
I owe you much; and, like a wilful youth2 note
,
-- 139 --
That which I owe is lost: but if you please
To shoot another arrow that self way
Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,
As I will watch the aim, or to find both,
Or bring your latter hazard back again,
And thankfully rest debtor for the first.
Anth.
You know me well; and herein spend but time,
To wind about my love with circumstance;
And, out of doubt, you do me now more wrong,
In making question of my uttermost,
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 am I prest unto it3 note
9Q0314: therefore, speak.
Bass.
In Belmont is a lady richly left,
And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,
Of wond'rous virtues; sometimes from her eyes4 note
I did receive fair speechless messages:
-- 140 --
Her name is Portia; nothing undervalu'd
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, Colchos' strand,
And many Jasons come in quest of her.
O my Anthonio, had 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.
Anth.
Thou know'st, that all my fortunes are 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 shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost,
To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia.
Go, presently enquire, 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.
A Room in Portia's House at Belmont.
Enter Portia and Nerissa.
Por.
By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary
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 pronounc'd.
Ner.
They would be better, if well follow'd.
-- 141 --
Por.
If to do, were as easy as to know what were
good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor
mens 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 o'er 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 9Q0315 to
chuse me a husband:—O me, the word chuse! I may
neither chuse 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 hard, Nerissa, that I
cannot chuse one, nor refuse 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 chests, of
gold, silver and lead, (whereof who chuses his meaning,
chuses 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?
Por.
I pray thee, over-name them; and as thou
nam'st them, I will describe them; and, according
to my description, level at my affection.
Ner.
First, there is the Neapolitan prince.
Por.
Ay, that's a colt5 note
, indeed, for he doth nothing
-- 142 --
but talk of his horse; and he makes it a great
appropriation to his own good parts, that he can shoe
him himself: I am much afraid my lady his mother
play'd false with a smith.
Ner.
Then, there is the county Palatine6 note.
Por.
He doth nothing but frown; as who should
say, An if you will not have me, chuse: 7 notehe hears
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 bone 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 him 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;
-- 143 --
a better bad habit of frowning than the count
Palatine: he is every man in no man: if a throstle
sing, he falls strait 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 I him: he hath neither Latin,
French, nor Italian8 note; and you will come into the
court and swear, that I have a poor pennyworth 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, he 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 lord9 note, his
neighbour?
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 surety1 note, and
seal'd under for another.
Ner.
How like you the young German2 note
, the duke
of Saxony's nephew?
-- 144 --
Por.
Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober;
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 beast:
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 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, I know he will chuse it. I will 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 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 parcel of wooers
are so very reasonable; for there is not one among
them but I dote on his very absence, and I pray God
grant them a fair departure. 9Q0316
Ner.
Do you not remember, lady, in your father's
time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a soldier, that came
hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat?
Por.
Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, so 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.
Por.
I remember him well; and I remember him
worthy of thy praise.—How now! what news? 9Q0317
-- 145 --
Enter a Servant.
Ser.
The four strangers seek for you, madam, to
take their leave: and there is a fore-runner come
from a fifth, the prince of Morocco; who brings word,
the prince, his master, will be here to-night.
Por.
If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good
heart as I can bid the other four farewel, I should be
glad of his approach: if he have the condition of a
saint, and the complexion 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.
SCENE III.
A publick Place in Venice.
Enter Bassanio and Shylock.
Shy.
Three thousand ducats,—well.
Bass.
Ay, sir, for three months.
Shy.
For three months,—well.
Bass.
For the which, as I told you, Anthonio shall
be bound.
Shy.
Anthonio shall become bound,—well.
Bass.
May you stead me? Will you pleasure me?
Shall I know your answer?
Shy.
Three thousand ducats, for three months, and
Anthonio bound.
Bass.
Your answer to that.
Shy.
Anthonio is a good man.
Bass.
Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?
Shy.
Ho, no, no, no, no;—my meaning, in saying
he is a good man, is, to have you understand me,
that he is sufficient: yet his means are in supposition:
he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another
-- 146 --
to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Rialto,
he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England,
—and other ventures he hath, squander'd abroad:
But ships are but boards, sailors but men: 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, notwithstanding,
sufficient:—three thousand ducats;—
I think, I may take his bond.
Bass.
Be assur'd, you may.
Shy.
I will be assur'd, I may; and, that I may be assur'd,
I will bethink me: May I speak with Anthonio?
Bass.
If it please you to dine with us.
Shy.
Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation
which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil
into:9Q0318 I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with
you, walk with you, and so 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 Anthonio.
Bass.
This is signior Anthonio.
Shy. [Aside.]
How like a fawning publican he looks!
I hate him for he is a christian:
But more, for that, in low simplicity,
He lends out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip3 note,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation; and he rails,
Even there where merchants most do congregate,
On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift, 9Q0320
Which he calls interest: Cursed be my tribe,
If I forgive him!
-- 147 --
Bass.
Shylock, do you hear?
Shy.
I am debating of my present store;
And, by the near guess of my memory,
I cannot instantly raise up the gross
Of full three thousand ducats: What of that?
Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,
Will furnish me: But soft; How many months
Do you desire?—Rest you fair, good signior;
[To Anth.
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 supply the ripe wants of my friend4 note,
I'll break a custom:—Is he yet possess'd,
How much you would?
Shy.
Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
Anth.
And for three months.
Shy.
I had forgot,—three months, you told me so.
Well then, your bond; and, let me see,—But hear you;
Methoughts, you said, you neither lend, nor borrow,
Upon advantage.
Anth.
I do never use it.
Shy.
When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep,—
This Jacob from our holy Abraham was
(As his wise mother wrought in his behalf)
The third possessor; ay, he was the third.
Anth.
And what of him? did he take interest?
Shy.
No, not take interest; not, as you would say,
Directly interest: mark what Jacob did.
When Laban and himself were compromis'd,
That all the eanlings5 note, which were streak'd, and py'd,
-- 148 --
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 shepherd peel'd me certain wands,
And, in the doing of the deed of kind6 note
,
He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes7 note
9Q0321;
Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time
Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive8 note
, and he was blest;
And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.
Anth.
This was a venture, sir, that Jacob serv'd for;
-- 149 --
A thing not in his power to bring to pass,
But sway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heaven.
Was this inserted to make interest good?
Or is your gold, and silver, ewes and rams?
Shy.
I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast:—
But note me, signior.
Anth.
Mark you this, Bassanio,
The devil can cite scripture for his purpose9 note
.
An evil soul, producing holy witness,
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek;
A goodly apple rotten at the heart:
O, what a goodly outside falshood hath!
Shy.
Three thousand ducats,—'tis a good round sum.
Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate.
Anth.
Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you?
Shy.
Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my monies, and my usances1 note
:
-- 150 --
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug2 note
;
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe:
You call me—misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit3 note
upon my Jewish gaberdine4 note
,
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 say,
Shylock, we would have monies; You say so;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me, as you spurn 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,
With 'bated breath, and whispering humbleness,
Say this,—Fair Sir, you spit on me on wednesday last;
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.
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 barren metal of his friend5 note
?)
-- 151 --
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.
Anth.
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 an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me. 9Q0323
Anth.
Content, in faith; I'll seal to such a bond,
And say, there is much kindness in the Jew.
Bass.
You shall not seal to such a bond for me,
I'll rather 6 notedwell in my necessity.
-- 152 --
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
Of thrice three times the value of the bond. 9Q0324
Shy.
O father Abraham, what these Christians are;
Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect
The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this;
If he should break 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, I extend this friendship:
If he will take it, so; if not, adieu;
And, for my love, I pray you, wrong me not.
Anth.
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 strait;
See to my house, left in the fearful guard7 note
-- 153 --
Of an unthrifty knave; and presently
I will be with you.
[Exit.
Anth.
Hie thee, gentle Jew.—
This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind.
Bass.
I like not fair terms8 note, and a villain's mind.
Anth.
Come on; in this there can be no dismay,
My ships come home a month before the day.
[Exeunt.
ACT II.
SCENE I.
Belmont.
Enter the Prince of Morocco, and three or four followers accordingly; with Portia, Nerissa and her train. Flourish Cornets.
Mor.
Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,
To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phœbus' fire scarce thaws the isicles,
And let us make incision for your love,
To prove whose blood is reddest, his, or mine9 note.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath fear'd the valiant1 note
; by my love, I swear,
-- 154 --
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 chusing:
But, if my father had not scanted me,
2 noteAnd hedg'd me by his will, 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 Sophy3 note
, 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,
-- 155 --
Pluck the young sucking 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 page4 note;
And so may I, blind fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain,
And die with grieving.
Por.
You must take your chance;
And either not attempt to chuse at all,
Or swear, before you chuse,—if you chuse wrong,
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage; therefore be advis'd5 note.
Mor.
Nor will not; come, bring me unto my chance.
Por.
First, forward to the temple; after dinner
Your hazard shall be made.
Mor.
Good fortune then!
[Cornets.
To make me blest, or cursed'st among men.
[Exeunt.
-- 156 --
SCENE II.
A Street in Venice.
Enter Launcelot6 note 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 conscience 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,—or rather an honest woman's
son;—for, indeed, my father did something smack,
something grow to, he had a kind of taste;—
well, my conscience says,—Launcelot, budge not; budge,
says the fiend; budge not, says my conscience: Conscience,
say I, you counsel well; fiend, say I, you
counsel well: to be rul'd by my conscience, I 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 rul'd by the fiend, who, saving
your reverence, is the devil himself: Certainly,
the Jew is the very devil incarnation; and, in my
conscience, my conscience 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, I
will run.
-- 157 --
Enter old Gobbo, his father, 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 me not:—I will try conclusions7 note
with him.
Gob.
Master young gentleman, I pray you, which
is the way to master Jew's?
Laun.
8 note
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 hand, but
turn down indirectly to the Jew's house.
Gob.
By God's sonties9 note
, 'twill be a hard way to hit.
-- 158 --
Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells
with him, dwell with him, or no?
Laun.
Talk you of young master Launcelot?—
Mark me now, [aside.] now will I raise the waters:—
Talk you of young master Launcelot?
Gob.
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 (according
to fates and destinies, and such odd sayings, 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 hovel-post, a
staff, or a prop?—Do you know me, father?
Gob.
Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman:
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,
-- 159 --
that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell
you news of your son: Give me your blessing:9Q0325 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 boy.
Laun.
Pray you, let's have no more fooling about
it, but give me you blessing; I am Launcelot, your
boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall
be1 note
.
Gob.
I cannot think, you are my son.
Laun.
I know not what I shall think of that:
but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man; and, I am sure,
Margery, your wife, is my mother.
Gob.
Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn,
if thou be Launcelot, thou art my own flesh and
blood. Lord worshipp'd might he be! what a beard
hast thou got!9Q0326 thou hast got more hair on thy chin,
than Dobbin my thill-horse 9Q0327 has on his tail2 note
.
Laun.
It should seem then, that Dobbin's tail
grows backward; I am sure, he had more hair on his
tail, than I have on my face, when I last saw him.
Gob.
Lord, how thou art chang'd! How dost thou
-- 160 --
and thy master agree? I have brought him a present;
How agree you now?
Laun.
Well, well; but, for mine own part, as I
have set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest
'till I have run some ground: My master's a very
Jew; Give him a present! give him a halter: I
am famish'd in his service; you may tell every finger
I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are
come; give me your present to one master Bassanio,
who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I serve not
him, I will run as far as God has any ground.—O
rare fortune! here comes the man;—to him, father;
for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer.
Enter Bassanio, with Leonardo, and a follower or two more.
Bass.
You may do so;—but let it be so hasted, that
supper be ready at the farthest by five of the clock:
See these letters deliver'd; put the liveries to making;
and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging.
Laun.
To him, father.
Gob.
God bless your worship!
Bass.
Gramercy; Would'st thou aught with 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 specify,—
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 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,—
-- 161 --
Gob.
I have here a dish of doves, that I would bestow
upon your worship; and my suit 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 you, 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 hath enough.
Bass.
Thou speak'st it well: Go, father, with thy son:
Take leave of thy old master, and enquire
My lodging out:—give him a livery
[To his followers.
More guarded3 note
than his fellows: see it done,
Laun.
Father, in:—I cannot get a service, no;—
I have ne'er a tongue in my head.—4 note
Well, [looking on his palm]
-- 162 --
if any man in Italy 9Q0328 have a fairer table,
which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have
-- 163 --
good fortune.—Go to, here's a simple line of life!
here's a small trifle of wives: alas, fifteen wives is
nothing; eleven widows, and nine maids, is a simple
coming-in for one man: and then, to 'scape drowning
thrice; and to be in peril of my life with the edge
of a feather-bed5 note;—here are simple 'scapes! Well,
if fortune be a woman, she's a good wench for this
geer.—Father, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew
in the twinkling of an eye.
[Exeunt Launcelot and old Gobbo.
Bass.
I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this;
These things being bought, and orderly bestow'd,
Return in haste, for I do feast to night
My best-esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go.
Leon.
My best endeavours shall be done herein.
Enter Gratiano.
Gra.
Where is your master?
Leon.
Yonder, sir, he walks.
[Exit Leonardo.
Gra.
Signior Bassanio,—
Bass.
Gratiano!
Gra.
I have a suit to you.
Bass.
You have obtain'd it.
Gra.
You must not deny me; I must go with you
to Belmont.
Bass.
Why, then you must;—But hear thee, Gratiano;
Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice;—
Parts, that become thee happily enough,
-- 164 --
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults;
But where thou art not known, why, there they shew
Something too liberal6 note;—pray thee, take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit; lest, through thy wild behaviour,
I be misconstru'd in the place I go to,
And lose my hopes.
Gra.
Signior Bassanio, hear me:
If I do not put on a sober habit,
Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely;
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes7 note
Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say, amen;
Use all the observance of civility,
Like one well studied in a sad ostent8 note
To please his grandam, never trust me more.
Bass.
Well, we shall see your bearing. 9Q0329
Gra.
Nay, but I bar to night; you shall not gage me
By what we do to-night.
Bass.
No, that were pity;
I would entreat you rather to put on
Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends
That purpose merriment: But fare you well,
I have some business.
Gra.
And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest;
But we will visit you at supper-time.
[Exeunt.
-- 165 --
SCENE III.
Shylock's house.
Enter Jessica and Launcelot.
Jes.
I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father so;
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness:
But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee.
And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest:
Give him this letter; do it secretly,
And so farewel; I would not have my father
See me talk with thee.
Laun.
Adieu!—tears exhibit my tongue.—
Most beautiful pagan,—most sweet Jew! if a Christian
did not play the knave, and get thee, I am much
deceiv'd: but, adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat
drown my manly spirit; adieu!
[Exit.
Jes.
Farewel, good Launcelot.—
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me,
To be asham'd to be my father's child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife;
Become a christian, and thy loving wife.
[Exit.
SCENE IV.
The Street.
Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio.
Lor.
Nay, we will slink away in supper-time;
Disguise us at my lodging, and return
All in an hour.
Gra.
We have not made good preparation.
-- 166 --
Sal.
We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers9 note.
Sala.
'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered;
And better, in my mind, not undertook.
Lor.
'Tis now but four a-clock; we have two hours
To furnish us:—
Enter Launcelot, with a letter.
Friend Launcelot, what's the news?
Laun.
An it shall please you to break up this1 note
, it
shall seem to signify.
Lor.
I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand;
And whiter than the paper it writ on,
Is the fair hand that writ.
Gra.
Love-news, in faith.
Laun.
By your leave, sir.
Lor.
Whither goest thou?
Laun.
Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew
to sup to night with my new master the Christian.
Lor.
Hold here, take this:—tell gentle Jessica,
I will not fail her;—Speak it privately; go.—
Gentlemen,
Will you prepare you for this masque to-night?
I am provided of a torch-bearer.
[Exit Laun.
Sal.
Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.
Sala.
And so will I.
Lor.
Meet me, and Gratiano,
At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.
Sal.
'Tis good we do so.
[Exeunt Salar. and Salan.
Gra.
Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
-- 167 --
Lor.
I must needs tell thee all: she hath directed,
How I must take her from her father's house;
What gold, and jewels, she is furnish'd with;
What page's suit she hath in readiness.
If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter's sake:
And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
Unless she do it under this excuse,—
That she is issue to a faithless Jew.
Come, go with me; peruse this, as thou goest:
Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer.
[Exeunt.
SCENE V.
Shylock's house.
Enter Shylock, and Launcelot.
Shy.
Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge,
The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:—
What, Jessica!—thou shalt not gormandize2 note
,
As thou hast done with me;—What, Jessica!—
-- 168 --
And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out;—
Why, Jessica, I say!
Laun.
Why, Jessica!
Shy.
Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.
Laun.
Your worship was wont to tell me, that I
could do nothing without bidding.
Enter Jessica.
Jes.
Call you? What is your will?
Shy.
I am bid forth to supper, Jessica;
There are my keys:—But wherefore should I go?
I am not bid for love; they flatter me:
But yet I'll go in hate3 note
, to feed upon
The prodigal Christian.—Jessica, my girl,
Look to my house:—I am right loth to go;
There is some ill a brewing towards my rest,
For I did dream of money-bags to night.
Laun.
I beseech you, sir, go; my young master
doth expect your reproach.
Shy.
So do I his.
Laun.
And they have conspired together,—I will
not say, you shall see a masque; but if you do,
4 note
then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding
-- 169 --
on black-monday last, at six o'clock i' the morning,
falling out that year on ash wednesday was
four year in the afternoon.
Shy.
What! are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica:
Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum5 note
,
And the vile squeaking6 note of the wry-neck'd fife,
Clamber not you up to the casements then,
Nor thrust your head into the publick street,
To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces:
But stop my house's ears, I mean, my casements;
Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter
My sober house.—By Jacob's staff, I swear,
I have no mind of feasting forth to night:
But I will go.—Go you before me, sirrah;
Say, I will come.
Laun.
I will go before, sir.—
Mistress, look out at window, for all this;
There will come a Christian by,
Will be worth a Jewess' eye. 9Q0330
[Exit Laun.
Shy.
What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha?
Jes.
His words were, Farewel, mistress; nothing else.
Shy.
The patch is kind enough7 note
; but a huge feeder,
-- 170 --
Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day
More than the wild cat; drones hive not with me:
Therefore I part with him; and part with him
To one that I would have him help to waste
His borrow'd purse.—Well, Jessica, go in;
Perhaps, I will return immediately;
Do, as I bid you,
Shut the doors after you: Fast bind, fast find;
A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.
[Exit.
Jes.
Farewel; and if my fortune be not crost,
I have a father, you a daughter, lost.
[Exit.
SCENE VI.
The Street.
Enter Gratiano, and Salanio, in masquerade.
Gra.
This is the pent-house, under which Lorenzo
Desir'd us to make stand.
Sal.
His hour is almost past.
Gra.
And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour,
For lovers ever run before the clock.
Sal.
O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly8 note
-- 171 --
To seal love's bonds new made, than they are wont,
To keep obliged faith unforfeited!
Gra.
That ever holds: Who riseth from a feast,
With that keen appetite that he sits down?
Where is the horse, that doth untread again
His tedious measures with the unbated fire
That he did pace them first? all things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd.
How like a younker9 note, or a prodigal,
The skarfed bark puts from her native bay,
Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind!
How like a prodigal doth she return1 note;
With over-weather'd ribs, and ragged sails, 9Q0331
Lean, rent, and beggar'd by the strumpet wind!9Q0332
-- 172 --
Enter Lorenzo.
Sal.
Here comes Lorenzo;—more of this hereafter.
Lor.
Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode;
Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait:
When you shall please to play the thieves for wives,
I'll watch as long for you then.—Approach;
Here dwells my father Jew:—Ho! who's within?
Jessica above, in boy's cloaths.
Jes.
Who are you? tell me, for more certainty,
Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue.
Lor.
Lorenzo, and thy love.
Jes.
Lorenzo, certain; and my love, indeed;
For who love I so much? and now who knows,
But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?
Lor.
Heaven, and thy thoughts, are witness that thou art.
Jes.
Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains.
I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me,
For I am much asham'd of my exchange:
But love is blind, and lovers cannot see
The pretty follies that themselves commit;
For if they could, Cupid himself would blush
To see me thus transformed to a boy.
Lor.
Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer.
Jes.
What, must I hold a candle to my shames?
They in themselves, good sooth, are too light.
Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love;
And I should be obscur'd.
Lor.
So are you, sweet,
Even in the lovely garnish of a boy.
But come at once;
For the close night doth play the run-away,
And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast.
-- 173 --
Jes.
I will make fast the doors, and gild myself
With some more ducats, and be with you straight.
[Exit, from above.
Gra.
Now, by my hood, a Gentile2 note
, and no Jew.
Lor.
Beshrew me, but I love her heartily:
For she is wise, if I can judge of her;
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true;
And true she is, as she hath prov'd herself;
And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true,
Shall she be placed in my constant soul.
Enter Jessica, below.
What, art thou come?—On, gentlemen, away;
Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.
[Exit, with Jessica &c.
Enter Anthonio.
Anth.
Who's there?
Gra.
Signior Anthonio?
Anth.
Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the rest?
'Tis nine o'clock; our friends all stay for you:—
No masque to night; the wind is come about,
Bassanio presently will go aboard:
I have sent twenty out to seek for you.
Gra.
I am glad on't; I desire no more delight,
Than to be under sail, and gone to night.
[Exeunt.
-- 174 --
SCENE VII.
Belmont.
Enter Portia, with the Prince of Morocco, and both their trains.
Por.
Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover
The several caskets to this noble prince:—
Now make your choice.
Mor.
The first, of gold, who this inscription bears;—
Who chuseth me, shall gain what many men desire.
The second, silver, which this promise carries;—
Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deserves.
This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt3 note;—
Who chuseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. &lblank;
How shall I know if I do chuse the right?
Por.
The one of them contains my picture, prince;
If you chuse that, then I am yours withal.
Mor.
Some god direct my judgment! Let me see,
I will survey the inscriptions back again:
What says this leaden casket?
Who chuseth me, must give and hazard all he hath.
Must give—For what? for lead? hazard for lead?
This casket threatens: Men, that hazard all,
Do it in hope of fair advantages:
A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross;
I'll then nor give, nor hazard, ought for lead.
What says the silver, with her virgin hue?
Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deserves.
As much as he deserves?—Pause there, Morocco,
And weigh thy value with an even hand:
If thou be'st rated by thy estimation,
Thou dost deserve enough; and yet enough
May not extend so far as to the lady;
And yet to be afeard of my deserving,
-- 175 --
Were but a weak disabling of myself.
As much as I deserve!—Why, that's the lady:
I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes,
In graces, and in qualities of breeding;
But, more than these, in love I do deserve.
What if I stray'd no farther, but chose here?—
Let's see once more this saying grav'd in gold.
Who chuseth me, shall gain what many men desire.
Why, that's the lady; all the world desires her:
From the four corners of the earth they come,
To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint.
The Hyrcanian deserts, and the vasty wilds
Of wide Arabia, are as thorough-fares now,
For princes to come view fair Portia:
The watry kingdom, whose ambitious head
Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar
To stop the foreign spirits; but they come,
As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia.
One of these three contains her heavenly picture.
I'st like, that lead contains her? 'Twere damnation,
To think so base a thought; it were too gross
To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave.
Or shall I think, in silver she's immur'd,
Being ten times undervalu'd to try'd gold?
O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem
Was set in worse than gold. They have in England
A coin, that bears the figure of an angel
Stamped in gold; but that's insculp'd upon4 note
;
But here an angel in a golden bed
Lyes all within.—Deliver me the key;
Here do I chuse, and thrive I as I may!
Por.
There, take it, prince, and if my form lye there,
Then I am yours.
[Unlocking the gold casket.
-- 176 --
Mor.
O hell! what have we here?
A carrion death, within whose empty eye
There is a written scroll? I'll read the writing.
All that glisters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold,
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms infold5 note
.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscrol'd6 note:
Fare you well; your suit is cold.
Mor.
Cold, indeed; and labour lost:
Then, farewel, heat; and, welcome, frost.—
Portia, adieu! I have too griev'd a heart
To take a tedious leave: thus losers part.
[Exit.
Por.
A gentle riddance:—Draw the curtains, go:—
Let all of his complexion chuse me so7 note.
[Exeunt.
-- 177 --
SCENE VIII.
Venice.
Enter Salarino and Salanio.
Sal.
Why man, I saw Bassanio under sail;
With him is Gratiano gone along;
And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not.
Sala.
The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the duke;
Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship.
Sal.
He came too late, the ship was under sail:
But there the duke was given to understand,
That in a gondola were seen together
Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica:
Besides, Anthonio certify'd the duke,
They were not with Bassanio in his ship.
Sala.
I never heard a passion so confus'd,
So strange, outrageous, and so variable,
As the dog Jew did utter in the streets:
My daughter!—O my ducats!—O my daughter!
Fled with a Christian?—O my Christian ducats!—
Justice! the law! my ducats, and my daughter! &lblank;
A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,
Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter!
And jewels; two stones, two rich and precious stones,
Stol'n by my daughter!—Justice! find the girl!
She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats!
Sal.
Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,
Crying,—his stones, his daughter, and his ducats.
Sala.
Let good Anthonio look he keep his day,
Or he shall pay for this.
Sal.
Marry, well remember'd:
-- 178 --
I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday8 note
;
Who told me,—in the narrow seas, that part
The French and English, there miscarried
A vessel of our country, richly fraught:
I thought upon Anthonio, when he told me;
And wish'd in silence, that it were not his.
Sala.
You were best to tell Anthonio what you hear;
Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.
Sal.
A kinder gentleman treads not the earth.
I saw Bassanio and Anthonio part:
Bassanio told him, he would make some speed
Of his return; he answer'd,—Do not so,
9 note
Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio,
But stay the very riping of the time;
And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in 1 note
your mind of love:
Be merry; and employ your chiefest thoughts
To courtship, and such fair ostents of love
As shall conveniently become you there:
-- 179 --
And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wondrous sensible
He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted.
Sala.
I think, he only loves the world for him.
I pray thee, let us go, and find him out,
And quicken his embraced heaviness2 note
With some delight or other.
Sal.
Do we so.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IX.
Belmont.
Enter Nerissa, with a Servant.
Ner.
Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight;
The prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath,
And comes to his election presently.
-- 180 --
Enter Arragon, his train; Portia, with hers. Flourish of cornets.
Por.
Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince:
If you chuse that wherein I am contain'd,
Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd;
But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.
Ar.
I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things:
First, never to unfold to any one
Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail
Of the right casket, never in my life
To woo a maid in way of marriage; lastly
If I do fail in fortune of my choice,
Immediately to leave you and be gone.
Por.
To these injunctions every one doth swear,
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
Ar.
And so have I addrest me3 note
: Fortune now
To my heart's hope!—Gold, silver, and base lead.
Who chuseth me, must give and hazard all he hath:
You shall look fairer, ere I give, or hazard.
What says the golden chest? ha! let me see:—
Who chuseth me, shall gain what many men desire.
What many men desire,—That many may be meant
Of the fool multitude, that chuse by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
Which priest not to the interior, but, like the martlet
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Even in the force4 note and road of casualty.
-- 181 --
I will not chuse what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits,
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house;
Tell me once more what title thou dost bear:
Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deserves;
And well said too; For who shall go about
To cozen fortune, and be honourable
Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume
To wear an undeserved dignity.
O, that estates, degrees, and offices,
Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour
Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover, that stand bare?
How many be commanded, that command?
How much low peasantry would then be gleaned
From the true seed of honour5 note
? and how much honour
Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times,
To be new varnish'd6 note
? Well, but to my choice:
-- 182 --
Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deserves:
I will assume desert;—Give me a key for this,
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
Por.
Too long a pause for that which you find there.
Ar.
What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot,
Presenting me a schedule? I will read it.
How much unlike art thou to Portia?
How much unlike my hopes, and my deservings?
Who chuseth me, shall have as much as he deserves.
Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?
Is that my prize? are my deserts no better?
Por.
To offend, and judge, are distinct offices,
And of opposed natures.
Ar.
What is here?
The fire seven times tried this;
Seven times try'd that judgment is,
That did never chuse amiss:
Some there be, that shadows kiss;
Such have but a shadow's bliss:
There be fools alive, I wis7 note
,
-- 183 --
Silver'd o'er; and so was this.
Take what wife you will to bed8 note,
I will ever be your head:
So be gone, sir, you are sped.
Ar.
Still more fool I shall appear
By the time I linger here:
With one fool's head I came to woo,
But I go away with two.—
Sweet, adieu! I'll keep my oath,
Patiently to bear my wroth9 note.
[Exit.
Por.
Thus hath the candle sing'd the moth.
O these deliberate fools! when they do chuse,
They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.
Ner.
The ancient saying is no heresy;—
Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
Por.
Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.
Enter a Servant.
Serv.
Where is my lady?
Por.
Here; what would my lord1 note?
Serv.
Madam, there is alighted at your gate
A young Venetian, one that comes before
To signify the approaching of his lord:
-- 184 --
From whom he bringeth sensible regreets2 note
;
To wit, besides commends, and courteous breath,
Gifts of rich value; yet I have not seen
So likely an embassador of love:
A day in April never came so sweet,
To show how costly summer was at hand,
As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.
Por.
No more, I pray thee; I am half afeard,
Thou wilt say anon, he is some kin to thee,
Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him.—
Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see
Quick Cupid's post, that comes so mannerly.
Ner.
Bassanio, lord love, if thy will it be!
[Exeunt.
ACT III.
SCENE I.
A Street in Venice.
Enter Salanio and Salarino.
Sala.
Now, what news on the Rialto?
Sal.
Why, yet it lives there uncheck'd, that Anthonio
hath a ship of rich lading wreck'd on the
narrow seas; the Goodwins, I think they call the
place; a very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the
carcases of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if
my gossip report be an honest woman of her word.
Sala.
I would she were as lying a gossip in that,
as ever knapt ginger3 note, or made her neighbours believe
she wept for the death of a third husband: But
-- 185 --
it is true,—without any slips of prolixity, or crossing
the plain high-way of talk,—that the good Anthonio,
the honest Anthonio,—O that I had a title good
enough to keep his name company!—
Sal.
Come the full stop.
Sala.
Ha,—what say'st thou?—Why the end is,
he hath lost a ship.
Sal.
I would it might prove the end of his losses!
Sala.
Let me say amen betimes, lest the devil cross
thy prayer4 note; for here he comes in the likeness of a
Jew.—
Enter Shylock.
How now, Shylock? what news among the merchants?
Shy.
You knew, none so well, none so well as you,
of my daughter's flight.
Sal.
That's certain; I, for my part, knew the taylor
that made the wings she flew withal.
Sala.
And Shylock, for his own part, knew the
bird was fledge; and then it is the complexion of
them all to leave the dam.
Shy
She is damn'd for it.
Sal.
That's certain, if the devil may be her judge.
Shy.
My own flesh and blood to rebel!
Sala.
Out upon it, old carrion! rebels it at these years?
Shy.
I say, my daughter is my flesh and blood.
Sal.
There is more difference between thy flesh
and hers, than between jet and ivory; more between
your bloods, than there is between red wine and rhenish:—But
tell us, do you hear, whether Anthonio
have had any loss at sea or no?
Shy.
There I have another bad match: a bankrupt,
-- 186 --
a prodigal1 note
, who dare scarce shew his head on
the Rialto;—a beggar, that us'd to come so smug
upon the mart;—let him look to his bond: he was
wont to call me usurer;—let him look to his bond:
he was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy;—
let him look to his bond.
Sal.
Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not
take his flesh; What's that good for?
Shy.
To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing
else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgrac'd me,
and hinder'd me of half a million; laugh'd at my losses,
mock'd at my gains, scorn'd my nation, thwarted my
bargains, cool'd my friends, heated mine enemies;
And what's his reason! I am a Jew: Hath not a
Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands; organs, dimensions,
senses, affections, passions? fed with the same food,
hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases,
heal'd by the same means, warm'd and cool'd
by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? if
you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do
we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and
if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? if we are like
you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a
Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? revenge:
If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his
sufferance be by Christian example? why, revenge.
-- 187 --
The villainy, you teach me, I will execute; and it
shall go hard, but I will better the instruction.
Enter a servant.
Serv.
Gentlemen, my master Anthonio is at his
house, and desires to speak with you both.
Sal.
We have been up and down to seek him.
Enter Tubal.
Sala.
Here comes another of the tribe; a third cannot
be match'd, unless the devil himself turn Jew.
[Exeunt Sal. and Salan.
Shy.
How now, Tubal, what news from Genoa?
hast thou found my daughter?
Tub.
I often came where I did hear of her, but
cannot find her.
Shy.
Why there, there, there, there! a diamond
gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! the
curse never fell upon our nation 'till now; I never felt
it 'till now:—two thousand ducats in that; and other
precious, precious jewels.—I would, my daughter
were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear!
'would she were hears'd at my foot, and the ducats in
her coffin! No news of them?—Why, so:—and I
know not what's spent in the search: Why, thou
loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much, and so
much to find the thief; and no satisfaction, no revenge:
nor no ill luck stirring, but what lights o'
my shoulders; no sighs, but o' my breathing; no
tears, but o' my shedding.
Tub.
Yes, other men have ill luck too; Anthonio,
as I heard in Genoa,—
Shy.
What, what, what? ill luck, ill luck?
Tub.
Hath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis.
Shy.
I thank God, I thank God:—Is it true? is it
true?
-- 188 --
Tub.
I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped
the wreck.
Shy.
I thank thee, good Tubal;—Good news
good news: ha! ha!—Where? in Genoa?
Tub.
Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard,
one night, fourscore ducats.
Shy.
Thou stick'st a dagger in me:—I shall never
see my gold again: Fourscore ducats at a sitting!
fourscore ducats!
Tub.
There came divers of Anthonio's creditors in
my company to Venice, that swear he cannot chuse
but break.
Shy.
I am glad of it; I'll plague him; I'll torture
him; I am glad of it.
Tub.
One of them shewed me a ring, that he had
of your daughter for a monkey.
Shy.
Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal:
it was my turquoise; I had it of Leah, when I was
a batchelor6 note
: I would not have given it for a wilderness
of monkies.
-- 189 --
Tub.
But Anthonio is certainly undone.
Shy.
Nay, that's true, that's very true: Go, Tubal,
fee me an officer, bespeak him a fortnight before:
I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for
were he out of Venice, I can make what merchandize
I will: Go, go, Tubal, and meet me at our
synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue,
Tubal.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
Belmont.
Enter Bassanio, Portia, Gratiano, and attendants.
The caskets are set out.
Por.
I pray you, tarry; pause a day or two,
Before you hazard; for, in chusing wrong,
I lose your company; therefore, forbear a while:
There's something tells me, (but it is not love)
I would not lose you; and you know yourself,
Hate counsels not in such a quality:
But lest you should not understand me well,
(And yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought)
I would detain you here some month or two,
Before you venture for me. I could teach you
How to chuse right, but I am then forsworn;
So will I never be: so you may miss me;
But if you do, you'll make me wish a sin,
That I had been forsworn. Beshrew your eyes,
They have o'er-look'd me, and divided me;
-- 190 --
One half of me is yours, the other half yours,—
Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours,
And so all yours: Oh! these naughty times
Put bars between the owners and their rights;
And so, though yours, not yours.—Prove it so7 note
,
Let fortune go to hell for it,—not I8 note
.
I speak too long; but 'tis to peize the time9 note
;
To eke it, and to draw it out in length,
To stay you from election.
Bass.
Let me chuse;
For, as I am, I live upon the rack.
-- 191 --
Por.
Upon the rack, Bassanio? then confess
What treason there is mingled with your love.
Bass.
None, but that ugly treason of mistrust,
Which makes me fear the enjoying of my love:
There may as well be amity and life
'Tween snow and fire, as treason and my love.
Por.
Ay, but, I fear, you speak upon the rack,
Where men enforced do speak any thing.
Bass.
Promise me life, and I'll confess the truth.
Por.
Well then, confess and live.
Bass.
Confess, and love,
Had been the very sum of my confession:
O happy torment, when my torturer
Doth teach me answers for deliverance!
But let me to my fortune and the caskets.
Por.
Away then: I am lock'd in one of them;
If you do love me, you will find me out.—
Nerissa, and the rest, stand all aloof.—
Let musick sound, while he doth make his choice;
Then, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end,
Fading in musick: that the comparison
May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream,
And wat'ry death-bed for him: He may win;
And what is musick then? then musick is
Even as the flourish when true subjects bow,
To a new-crowned monarch: such it is,
As are those dulcet sounds in break of day,
That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear,
And summon him to marriage. Now he goes,
With no less presence1 note, but with much more love,
Than young Alcides, when he did redeem
The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy
To the sea-monster: I stand for sacrifice,
The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives,
With bleared visages, come forth to view
The issue of the exploit. Go, Hercules!
-- 192 --
Live thou, I live:—With much much more dismay2 note
I view the fight, than thou that mak'st the fray.
[Musick within.
A song, whilst Bassanio comments on the caskets to himself.
Tell me, where is fancy bred,
Or in the heart, or in the head?
How begot, how nourished?
Reply3 note.
It is engender'd in the eyes,
With gazing fed; and fancy dies
In the cradle where it lies:
Let us all ring fancy's knell.
I'll begin it,—Ding dong, bell.
All.
Ding, dong, bell.
Bass.
—So may the outward shows4 note be least themselves;
The world is still deceiv'd with ornament.
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being season'd with a gracious voice5 note,
Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but some sober brow
Will bless it, and approve it with a text,
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?
-- 193 --
There is no vice so simple, but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts.
How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules, and frowning Mars;
Who, inward search'd, have livers white as milk?
And these assume but valour's excrement,
To render them redoubted. Look on beauty,
And you shall see 'tis purchas'd by weight6 note;
Which therein works a miracle in nature,
Making them lightest that wear most of it:
So are those crisped7 note
snaky golden locks,
Which make such wanton gambols with the wind,
Upon supposed fairness, often known
To be the dowry of a second head,
The scull that bred them, in the sepulchre8 note.
Thus ornament is but the guiled shore9 note
To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty1 note
; in a word,
The seeming truth which cunning times put on
To entrap the wisest. Therefore, thou gaudy gold,
Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee:
Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge
'Tween man and man: but thou, thou meager lead,
Which rather threatnest, than dost promise aught,
-- 194 --
Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence2 note
,
And here chuse I; Joy be the consequence!
Por.
How all the other passions fleet to air,
As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embrac'd despair,
And shudd'ring fear, and green-ey'd jealousy.
O love, be moderate, allay thy ecstasy,
In measure rain thy joy3 note
, scant this excess;
-- 195 --
I feel too much thy blessing, make it less,
For fear I surfeit!
[Opening the leaden casket.
Bass.
What find I here?
Fair Portia's counterfeit4 note? What demy-god
Hath come so near creation? Move these eyes?
Or whether, riding on the balls of mine,
Seem they in motion? Here are sever'd lips,
Parted with sugar breath; so sweet a bar
Should sunder such sweet friends: Here in her hairs
The painter plays the spider; and hath woven
A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men,
Faster than gnats in cobwebs: But her eyes,—
How could he see to do them? having made one,
Methinks, it should have power to steal both his,
And leave itself unfurnish'd5 note
: Yet look, how far
-- 196 --
The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow
ln underprizing it, so far this shadow
Doth limp behind the substance.—Here's the scroll,
The continent and summary of my fortune.
You that chuse not by the view,
Chance as fair, and chuse as true!
Since this fortune falls to you,
Be content, and seek no new.
If you be well pleas'd with this,
And hold your fortune for your bliss,
Turn you where your lady is,
And claim her with a loving kiss.
A gentle scroll;—Fair lady, by your leave;
[Kissing her.
I come by note, to give, and to receive.
Like one of two contending in a prize,
That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes,
Hearing applause, and universal shout
Giddy in spirit, still gazing, in a doubt
Whether those 6 notepeals of praise be his or no;
So, thrice fair lady, stand I, even so;
As doubtful whether what I see be true,
Until confirm'd, sign'd, ratify'd by you.
Por.
You see me, lord Bassanio, where I stand,
Such as I am: though, for myself alone,
I would not be ambitious in my wish,
To wish myself much better; yet, for you,
I would be trebled twenty times myself;
A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times
More rich; that to stand high in your account,
I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account: but the full sum of me
Is sum of something7 note
; which, to term in gross,
-- 197 --
Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractis'd:
Happy in this, she is not yet so old
But she may learn; and happier than this,
She is not bred so dull but she can learn;
Happiest of all, is, that her gentle spirit
Commits itself to yours to be directed,
As from her lord, her governor, her king.
Myself, and what is mine, to you, and yours
Is now converted: but now I was the lord
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now,
This house, these servants, and this same myself,
Are yours, my lord; I give them with this ring;
Which when you part from, lose, or give away,
Let it presage the ruin of your love,
And be my vantage to exclaim on you.
Bass.
Madam, you have bereft me of all words,
Only my blood speaks to you in my veins:
And there is such confusion in my powers,
As, after some oration fairly spoke
By a beloved prince, there doth appear
Among the buzzing pleased multitude;
Where every something, being blent 8 notetogether,
Turns to a wild of nothing, save of joy,
Exprest, and not exprest: But when this ring
Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence;
O, then be bold to say, Bassanio's dead.
Ner.
My lord and lady, it is now our time,
That have stood by, and seen our wishes prosper,
To cry, good joy; Good joy, my lord, and lady!
-- 198 --
Gra.
My lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady,
I wish you all the joy that you can wish;
For, I am sure, you can wish none 9 notefrom me:
And, when your honours mean to solemnize
The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you,
Even at that time I may be marry'd too.
Bass.
With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife.
Gra.
I thank your lordship; you have got me one.
My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours:
You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid;
You lov'd, I lov'd; for intermission1 note
No more pertains to me, my lord, than you.
Your fortune stood upon the casket there;
And so did mine too, as the matter falls:
For wooing here, until I sweat again;
And swearing, till my very roof was dry
With oaths of love; at last,—if promise last,—
I got a promise of this fair one here,
To have her love, provided that your fortune
Atchiev'd her mistress.
Por.
Is this true, Nerissa?
Ner.
Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal.
Bass.
And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith?
Gra.
Yes, 'faith, my lord.
Bass.
Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage.
Gra.
We'll play with them, the first boy, for a
thousand ducats.
Ner.
What, and stake down?
Gra.
No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down.—
But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel?
What, and my old Venetian friend, Salerio?
-- 199 --
Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio.
Bass.
Lorenzo, and Salerio, 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 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 seen you here;
But meeting with Salerio by the way,
He did intreat me, past all saying nay,
To come with him along.
Sale.
I did, my lord,
And I have reason for it. 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.
Sale.
Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind;
Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there
Will shew you his estate.
Gra.
Nerissa, cheer yon' stranger; bid her welcome.
Your hand, Salerio; 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.
Sale.
Would you had won the fleece that he hath lost!
Por.
There are some shrewd contents in yon' same paper,
That steals 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 freely have the half of any thing
That this same paper brings you.
-- 200 --
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, Salerio?
Have all his ventures fail'd? What, not one hit?
From Tripolis, from Mexico, and England,
From Lisbon, Barbary, and India?
And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch
Of merchant-marring rocks?
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;
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 countrymen,
That he would rather have Anthonio's flesh,
-- 201 --
Than twenty times the value of the sum
That he did owe him: and I know, my lord,
If law, authority, and power 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,
2 note
The best condition'd and 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 thorough 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
-- 202 --
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.
SCENE III.
A Street in Venice.
Enter Shylock, Salanio, Anthonio, and the Gaoler.
Shy.
Gaoler, look to him;—Tell not me of mercy;—
This is the fool that lent out money gratis;—
Goaler, look to him.
Anth.
Hear me yet, good Shylock.
Shy.
I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond;
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:
The duke shall grant me justice.—I do wonder,
Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art 3 note
so fond
To come abroad with him at his request.
Anth.
I pray thee, hear me speak.
Shy.
I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak:
I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.
I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool4 note,
-- 203 --
To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield
To christian intercessors. Follow not;
I'll have no speaking; I will have my bond.
[Exit Shylock.
Sal.
It is the most impenetrable cur,
That ever kept with men.
Anth.
Let him alone;
I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers.
He seeks my life; his reason well I know;
I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures
Many that have at times made moan to me,
Therefore he hates me.
Sola.
I am sure, the duke
Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.
Anth.
The duke cannot deny the course of law5 note,
For the commodity that strangers have
With us in Venice; if it be deny'd,
Will much impeach the justice of the state;
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Consisteth of all nations. Therefore, go:
These griefs and losses have so 'bated me,
That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh
To-morrow to my bloody creditor.—
Well, gaoler, on:—Pray God, Bassanio come
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!
[Exeunt.
-- 204 --
SCENE IV.
Belmont.
Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Balthazar.
Lor.
Madam, although I speak it in your presence,
You have a noble and a true conceit
Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly
In bearing thus the absence of your lord.
But, if you knew to whom you shew this honour,
How true a gentleman you send relief,
How dear a lover of my lord your husband,
I know, you would be prouder of the work,
Than customary bounty can enforce you.
Por.
I never did repent for doing good,
Nor shall not now: for in companions
That do converse and waste the time together,
Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love6 note
,
There must needs be a like proportion
Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit7 note
;
-- 205 --
Which makes me think, that this Anthonio,
Being the bosom lover of my lord,
Must needs be like my lord: If it be so,
How little is the cost I have bestow'd,
In purchasing the semblance of my soul
From out the state of hellish cruelty?
This comes too near the praising of myself8 note
;
Therefore, no more of it: hear other things.—
Lorenzo, I commit into your hands
The husbandry and manage of my house,
Until my lord's return: for mine own part,
I have toward heaven breath'd a secret vow,
To live in prayer and contemplation,
Only attended by Nerissa here,
Until her husband and my lord's return:
There is a monastery two miles off,
-- 206 --
And there we will abide. I do desire you,
Not to deny this imposition;
The which my love, and some necessity,
Now lays upon you.
Lor.
Madam, with all my heart;
I shall obey you in all fair commands.
Por.
My people do already know my mind,
And will acknowledge you and Jessica
In place of lord Bassanio and myself.
So fare you well, till we shall meet again.
Lor.
Fair thoughts, and happy hours attend on you!
Jes.
I wish your ladyship all heart's content.
Por.
I thank you for your wish, and am well pleas'd
To wish it back on you: fare you well, Jessica.—
[Exeunt Jessica, and Lorenzo.
Now, Balthazar,
As I have ever found thee honest, true,
So let me find thee still: Take this same letter,
And use thou all the endeavour of a man,
9 noteIn speed to Padua; see thou render this
Into my cousin's hand, doctor Bellario;
And, look, what notes and garments he doth give thee,
Bring them, I pray thee, with imagin'd speed
Unto the traject1 note, to the common ferry
Which trades to Venice:—waste no time in words,
-- 207 --
But get thee gone; I shall be there before thee.
Balth.
Madam, I go with all convenient speed.
[Exit.
Por.
Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand,
That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands
Before they think of us.
Ner.
Shall they see us?
Por.
They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit,
That they shall think we are accomplished
With what we lack. 9Q0336 I'll hold thee any wager,
When we are both apparell'd 9Q0337 like young men,
I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two,
And wear my dagger with the braver grace;
And speak, between the change of man and boy,
With a reed voice; and turn two mincing steps
Into a manly stride; and speak of frays,
Like a fine bragging youth: and tell quaint lies,
How honourable ladies sought my love,
Which I denying, they fell sick and dy'd;
I could not do with all9 note;—then I'll repent,
And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them:
And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell,
That men shall swear, I have discontinued school
Above a twelvemonth:—I have within my mind
A thousand raw tricks of these bragging jacks,
Which I will practise.
Ner.
Why, shall we turn to men?
Por.
Fie! what a question's that,
If thou wert near a lewd interpreter?
But come, I'll tell thee all my whole device
When I am in my coach, which stays for us
At the park gate; and therefore haste away,
For we must measure twenty miles to-day.
[Exeunt.
-- 208 --
SCENE V.
Enter Launcelot and Jessica.
Laun.
Yes, truly:—for, look you, the sins of the
father are to be laid upon the children; therefore, I
promise you, I fear you. 9Q0338 I was always plain with
you, and so now I speak my agitation of the matter:
Therefore be of good cheer; for, truly, I think, you
are damn'd. There is but one hope in it that can do
you any good; and that is but a kind of a bastard
hope neither.
Jes.
And what hope is that, I pray thee?
Laun.
Marry, you may partly hope that your father
got you not, that you are not the Jew's daughter.
Jes.
That were a kind of bastard hope, indeed; so
the sins of my mother shall be visited upon me.
Laun.
Truly then I fear you are damn'd both by
father and mother: thus when I shun Scylla, your
father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother3 note
: well,
you are gone both ways.
Jes.
I shall be saved by my husband;9Q0340 he hath made
me a Christian.
Laun.
Truly, the more to blame he: we were
Christians enough before; e'en as many as could
well live one by another: This making of christians
will raise the price of hogs; if we grow all to be
-- 209 --
pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on
the coals for money.
Enter Lorenzo.
Jes.
I'll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you
say; here he comes.
Lor.
I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot,
if you thus get my wife into corners.
Jes.
Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo; Launcelot
and I are out: he tells me flatly, there is no
mercy for me in heaven, because I am a Jew's daughter:
and he says, you are no good member of the
commonwealth; for, in converting Jews to Christians,
you raise the price of pork.
Lor.
I shall answer that better to the commonwealth,
than you can the getting up of the negro's
belly: the Moor is with child by you, Launcelot.
Laun.
It is much4 note
, that the Moor should be more
than reason: but if she be less than an honest woman,
she is, indeed, more than I took her for.
Lor.
How every fool can play upon the word! I
think, the best grace of wit will shortly turn into
silence; and discourse grow commendable in none
only but parrots—Go in, sirrah; bid them prepare
for dinner.
Laun.
That is done, sir; they have all stomachs.
Lor.
Goodly lord5 note, what a wit-snapper are you!
then bid them prepare dinner.
-- 210 --
Laun.
That is done too, sir; only, cover is the word.
Lor.
Will you cover then, sir?
Laun.
Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty.
Lor.
Yet more quarrelling with occasion! wilt thou
shew the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant? I pray
thee, understand a plain man in his plain meaning: go
to thy fellows; bid them cover the table, serve in
the meat, and we will come in to dinner.
Laun.
For the table, sir, it shall be serv'd in; for
the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming
in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours and conceits
shall govern.
[Exit Launcelot.
Lor.
O dear discretion, how his words are suited6 note!
The fool hath planted in his memory
An army of good words; And I do know
A many fools, that stand in better place,
Garnish'd like him, that for a tricksy word
Defy the matter. How cheer'st thou, Jessica?
And now, good sweet, say thy opinion,
How dost thou like the lord Bassanio's wife?
Jes.
Past all expressing: It is very meet,
The lord Bassanio live an upright life;
For, having such a blessing in his lady,
He finds the joys of heaven here on earth;
And, if on earth he do not mean it, it
Is reason he should never come to heaven.
Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match,
And on the wager lay two earthly women,
And Portia one, there must be something else
Pawn'd with the other; for the poor rude world
Hath not her fellow.
Lor.
Even such a husband
Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife.
-- 211 --
Jes.
Nay, but ask my opinion too of that.
Lor.
I will anon; first, let us go to dinner.
Jes.
Nay, let me praise you, while I have a stomach.
Lor.
No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk;
Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things
I shall digest it.
Jes.
Well, I'll set you forth.
[Exeunt.
ACT IV.
SCENE I.
The Senate-house in Venice.
Enter the Duke, the Senators; Anthonio, Bassanio, Gratiano, and others.
Duke.
What, is Anthonio here?
Anth.
Ready, so please your grace.
Duke.
I am sorry for thee; thou art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.
Anth.
I have heard,
Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify
His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate,
And that no lawful means can carry me
Out of his envy's reach7 note, I do oppose
My patience to his fury; and am arm'd
To suffer, with a quietness of spirit,
The very tyranny and rage of his.
-- 212 --
Duke.
Go one, and call the Jew into the court.
Sal.
He's ready at the door: he comes, my lord.
Enter Shylock.
Duke.
Make room, and let him stand before our face.—
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought,
Thou'lt shew thy mercy, and remorse, more strange
Than is thy strange apparent8 note cruelty:
And, where9 note thou now exact'st the penalty,
(Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh)
Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture,
But touch'd with human gentleness and love,
Forgive a moiety of the principal;
Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,
That have of late so huddled on his back;
1 note
Enough to press a royal merchant down,
-- 213 --
And pluck commiseration of his state
From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint,
From stubborn Turks, and Tartars, never train'd
To offices of tender courtesy.
We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.
Shy.
I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose;
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn,
To have the due and forfeit of my bond:
If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter, and your city's freedom.
You'll ask me, why I rather chuse to have
A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive
Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that2 note
:
But, say, it is my humour; Is it answer'd?
What if my house be troubled with a rat,
And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats
To have it ban'd? What, are you answer'd yet?
Some men there are, love not a gaping pig3 note
;
-- 214 --
Some, that are mad, if they behold a cat;
And others, when the bag-pipe sings i' the nose,
Cannot contain their urine; For affections4 note
,
-- 215 --
Masters of passion, sway it to the mood
Of what it likes, or loaths: Now, for your answer:
As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;
-- 216 --
5 note
Why he, a woollen bag-pipe; but of force
Must yield to such inevitable shame,
As to offend himself, being offended;
-- 217 --
So can I give no reason, nor I will not,
More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loathing,
I bear Anthonio, that I follow thus
A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd?
Bass.
This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,
To excuse the current of thy cruelty.
Shy.
I am not bound to please thee with my answers.
Bass.
Do all men kill the thing they do not love?
Shy.
Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
Bass.
Every offence is not a hate at first.
Shy.
What, would'st thou have a serpent sting thee twice?
Anth.
I pray you, think you question3 note
with the Jew:
You may as well go stand upon the beach,
And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
You may as well use question with the wolf,
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;
You may as well forbid the mountain pines
To wag their high tops, and to make no noise,
When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven;
You may as well do any thing most hard,
As seek to soften that (than which what's harder?)
His Jewish heart:—Therefore, I do beseech you,
Make no more offers, use no farther means,
But, with all brief and plain conveniency,
Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will.
Bass.
For thy three thousand ducats here is six.
Shy.
If every ducat in six thousand ducats
-- 218 --
Were in six parts, and every part a ducat,
I would not draw them, I would have my bond.
Duke.
How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring none?
Shy.
What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?
You have among you many a purchas'd slave7 note,
Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules,
You use in abject and in slavish parts,
Because you bought them:—Shall I say to you,
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?
Why sweat they under burdens? let their beds
Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates
Be season'd with such viands? you will answer,
The slaves are ours:—So do I answer you:
The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought, is mine, 9Q0343 and I will have it:
If you deny me, fie upon your law!
There is no force in the decrees of Venice:
I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?
Duke.
Upon my power, I may dismiss this court,
Unless Bellario, a learned doctor8 note
,
Whom I have sent for to determine this,
Come here to-day.
Sala.
My lord, here stays without
A messenger with letters from the doctor,
New come from Padua.
Duke.
Bring us the letters; Call the messenger.
Bass.
Good cheer, Anthonio! What, man? courage yet!
-- 219 --
The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all,
Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.
Anth.
I am a tainted wether of the flock,
Meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit
Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me:
You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio,
Than to live still, and write mine epitaph.
Enter Nerissa, dress'd like a lawyer's clerk.
Duke.
Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
Ner.
From both my lord: Bellario greets your grace.
Bass.
Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
Shy.
To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.
Gra.
9 noteNot on thy soal, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,
Thou mak'st thy knife keen: but no metal can,
No, not the hangman's ax, bear half the keenness
Of thy sharp envy1 note. Can no prayers pierce thee?
Shy.
No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.
Gra.
O, be thou damn'd, inexorable 2 notedog!
And for thy life let justice be accus'd.
Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
That souls of animals infuse themselves
Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit
Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter,
Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,
-- 220 --
And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itself in thee; for thy desires
Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd and ravenous.
Shy.
'Till thou can'st rail the seal from off my bond,
Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud:
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
To cureless ruin 9Q0344.—I stand here for law.
Duke.
This letter from Bellario doth commend
A young and learned doctor to our court:—
Where is he?
Ner.
He attendeth here hard by,
To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.
Duke.
With all my heart:—some three or four of you,
Go give him courteous conduct to this place.—
Mean time, the court shall hear Bellario's letter.
Your grace shall understand, that, at the receipt of your
letter, I am very sick: but at the instant that your messenger
came, in loving visitation was with me a young
doctor of Rome, his name is Balthasar: I acquainted him
with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Anthonio
the merchant: we turn'd o'er many books together:
he is furnish'd with my opinion; which, bettered with
his own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough
commend) comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up
your grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, let his
lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend
estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so old
an head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose
trial shall better publish his commendation.
Enter Portia, dress'd like a doctor of laws.
Duke.
You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes;
And here, I take it, is the doctor come.—
Give me your hand: Came you from old Bellario?
Por.
I did, my lord.
-- 221 --
Duke.
You are welcome: take your place.
Are you acquainted with the difference
That holds this present question in the court?
Por.
I am informed thoroughly of the cause.
Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
Duke.
Anthonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.
Por.
Is your name Shylock?
Shy.
Shylock is my name.
Por.
Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;
Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you3 note
, as you do proceed.—
You stand within his danger4 note
, do you not?
[To Anth.
Anth.
Ay, so he says.
Por.
Do you confess the bond?
Anth.
I do.
Por.
Then must the Jew be merciful.
Shy.
On what compulsion must I? tell me that.
Por.
The quality of mercy is not strain'd;
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His scepter shews the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
-- 222 --
But mercy is above this scepter'd sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then shew likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice: Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,—
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation 9Q0345: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much,
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
Shy.
My deeds upon my head!9Q0346 I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
Por.
Is he not able to discharge the money?
Bass.
Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;
Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice,
I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.
If this will not suffice, it must appear
That malice bears down truth5 note. And I beseech you,
Wrest once the law to your authority:
To do a great right, do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel devil of his will.
Por.
It must not be; there is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree established:
'Twill be recorded for a precedent;
And many an error, by the same example,
Will rush into the state: it cannot be.
Shy.
A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!—
O wise young judge, how do I honour thee!
Por.
I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
Shy.
Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
-- 223 --
Por.
Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee.
Shy.
An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven:
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
No, not for Venice.
Por.
Why, this bond is forfeit;
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Nearest the merchant's heart:—Be merciful;
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.
Shy.
When it is paid according to the tenour.—
It doth appear, you are a worthy judge;
You know the law, your exposition
Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me: I stay here on my bond.
Anth.
Most heartily I do beseech the court
To give the judgment.
Por.
Why then, thus it is.
You must prepare your bosom for his knife.
Shy.
O noble judge! O excellent young man!
Por.
For the intent and purpose of the law
Hath full relation to the penalty,
Which here appeareth due upon the bond.
Shy.
'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge!
How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
Por.
Therefore lay bare your bosom.
Shy.
Ay, his breast:
So says the bond;—Doth it not, noble judge?—
Nearest his heart, those are the very words.
Por.
It is so. Are there balance here, to weigh
The flesh?
Shy.
I have them ready.
Por.
Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,
To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.
-- 224 --
Shy.
Is it so nominated in the bond?
Por.
It is not so express'd; But what of that?
'Twere good, you do so much for charity.
Shy.
I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.
Por.
Come, merchant, have you any thing to say?
Anth.
But little; I am arm'd, and well prepar'd.—
Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein fortune shews herself more kind
Than is her custom: it is still her use,
To let the wretched man out-live his wealth,
To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow,
An age of poverty; from which lingering penance
Of such a misery doth she cut me off.
Commend me to your honourable wife:
Tell her the process of Anthonio's end,
Say, how I lov'd you, speak me fair in death;
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.
Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,
And he repents not that he pays your debt;
For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.
Bass.
Anthonio, I am married to a wife,
Which is as dear to me as life itself;
But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteem'd above thy life:
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all
Here to this devil, to deliver you.
Por.
Your wife would give you little thanks for that,
If she were by to hear you make the offer.
Gra.
I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love;
I would she were in heaven, so she could
Intreat some power to change this currish Jew.
Ner.
'Tis well you offer it behind her back;
The wish would make else an unquiet house.
Shy.
These be the Christian husbands: I have a daughter;
-- 225 --
Would, any of the stock of Barrabas
Had been her husband, rather than a Christian!9Q0347
[Aside.
We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence.
Por.
A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine;
The court awards it, and the law doth give it.
Shy.
Most rightful judge!
Por.
And you must cut this flesh from off his breast;
The law allows it, and the court awards it.
Shy.
Most learned judge!—A sentence; come, prepare.
Por.
Tarry a little;—there is something else.—
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are, a pound of flesh:
Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate
Unto the state of Venice.
Gra.
O upright judge!—Mark, Jew;—O learned judge!
Shy.
Is that the law?
Por.
Thyself shalt see the act:
For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd,
Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st.
Gra.
O learned judge!—Mark, Jew;—a learned judge!
Shy.
I take this offer then6 note;—pay the bond thrice,
And let the Christian go.
Bass.
Here is the money.
Por.
Soft;
The Jew shall have all justice;—soft!—no haste;—
He shall have nothing but the penalty.
Gra.
O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!
-- 226 --
Por.
Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh7 note
.
Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more,
But just a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more,
Or less, than a just pound,—be it but so much
As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale turn
But in the estimation of a hair,—
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.
Gra.
A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!
Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.
Por.
Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture.
Shy.
Give me my principal, and let me go.
Bass.
I have it ready for thee; here it is.
Por.
He hath refus'd it in the open court;
He shall have merely justice, and his bond.
Gra.
A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel!—
I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.
Shy.
Shall I not barely have my principal?
Por.
Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,
To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.
Shy.
Why then the devil give him good of it!
I'll stay no longer question.
Por.
Tarry, Jew;
The law hath yet another hold on you.
-- 227 --
It is enacted in the laws of Venice,—
If it be prov'd against an alien,
That by direct, or indirect attempts,
He seek the life of any citizen,
The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive,
Shall seize on half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state;
And the offender's life lies in the mercy
Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st:
For it appears by manifest proceeding,
That, indirectly, and directly too,
Thou hast contriv'd against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incur'd
The danger formerly by me rehears'd.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.
Gra.
Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang thyself:
And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
Thou hast not left the value of a cord;
Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge.
Duke.
That thou may'st see the difference of our spirit,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:
For half thy wealth, it is Anthonio's;
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
Por.
Ay, for the state; not for Anthonio.
Shy.
Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that:
You take my house, when you do take the prop
That doth sustain my house; you take my life,
When you do take the means whereby I live.
Por.
What mercy can you render him, Anthonio?
Gra.
A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake.
Anth.
So please my lord the duke, and all the court,
To quit the fine for one half of his goods;
-- 228 --
I am content8 note, so he will let me have
The other half in use,—to render it,
Upon his death, unto the gentleman,
That lately stole his daughter.
Two things provided more,—That, for this favour,
He presently become a Christian;
The other, that he do record a gift,
Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd,
Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter.
Duke.
He shall do this; or else I do recant
The pardon, that I late pronounced here.
Por.
Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say?
Shy.
I am content.
Por.
Clerk, draw a deed of gift.
Shy.
I pray you, give me leave to go from hence;
I am not well; send the deed after me,
And I will sign it.
Duke.
Get thee gone, but do it.
Gra.
In christening thou shalt have two godfathers;
Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more9 note
,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
[Exit Shylock.
Duke.
Sir, I intreat you home with me to dinner.
Por.
I humbly do desire your grace of pardon1 note
;
-- 229 --
I must away this night to Padua,
And it is meet, I presently set forth.
Duke.
I am sorry, that your leisure serves you not.
Anthonio, gratify this gentleman;
For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.
[Exit Duke, and his train.
Bass.
Most worthy gentleman, I, and my friend,
Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,
Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,
We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
Anth.
And stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore.
Por.
He is well paid, that is well satisfy'd;
And I, delivering you, am satisfy'd,
And therein do account myself well paid;
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you, know me, when we meet again;
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.
Bass.
Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further;
Take some remembrance of us, for a tribute,
Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you,
Not to deny me, and to pardon me.
Por.
You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake;
And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you:—
Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more;
And you in love shall not deny me this.
-- 230 --
Bass.
This ring, good sir,—alas, it is a trifle;
I will not shame myself to give you this.
Por.
I will have nothing else but only this;
And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.
Bass.
There's more depends on this, than on the value.
The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,
And find it out by proclamation;
Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.
Por.
I see, sir, you are liberal in offers:
You taught me first to beg; and now, methinks,
You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.
Bass.
Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;
And, when she put it on, she made me vow,
That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.
Por.
That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts.
An if your wife be not a mad woman,
And know how well I have deserv'd this ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever,
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!
[Exit with Nerissa.
Anth.
My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring;
Let his deservings, and my love withal,
Be valu'd 'gainst your wife's commandement.
Bass.
Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him,
Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou can'st,
Unto Anthonio's house:—away, make haste.
Come, you and I will thither presently;
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont: Come, Anthonio.
[Exeunt.
-- 231 --
SCENE II.
Enter Portia and Nerissa.
Par.
Enquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed,
And let him sign it; we'll away to-night,
And be a day before our husbands home:
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.
Enter Gratiano.
Gra.
Fair sir, you are well o'erta'en:
My lord Bassanio, upon more advice2 note,
Hath sent you here this ring; and doth intreat
Your company at dinner.
Por.
That cannot be:
This ring I do accept most thankfully,
And so, I pray you, tell him: Furthermore,
I pray you, shew my youth old Shylock's house.
Gra.
That will I do.
Ner.
Sir, I would speak with you:—
I'll see if I can get my husband's ring,
[To Por.
Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.
Por.
Thou may'st, I warrant: We shall have old swearing,
That they did give the rings away to men;
But we'll out-face them, and out-swear them too.
Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will tarry.
Ner.
Come, good sir, will you shew me to this house?
[Exeunt.
-- 232 --
ACT V.
SCENE I.
Belmont. A grove, or green place, before Portia's house.
Enter Lorenzo, and Jessica.
Lor.
The moon shines bright:—In such a night as this,
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees,
And they did make no noise; in such a night,
Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan wall3 note
,
And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents,
Where Cressid lay that night.
Jes.
In such a night,
Did Thisbe fearfully o'er-trip the dew;
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself,
And ran dismay'd away.
Lor.
In such a night,
Stood Dido with a willow in her hand4 note
Upon the wild sea-banks, and wav'd her love
To come again to Carthage.
Jes.
In such a night5 note
,
-- 233 --
Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs
That did renew old Æson.
Lor.
In such a night,
Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew;
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice,
As far as Belmont.
Jes.
And in such a night,
Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well;
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,
And ne'er a true one.
Lor.
And in such a night,
Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew,
Slander her love, and he forgave it her.
Jes.
I would out-night you, did no body come;
But, hark, I hear the footing of a man.
Enter a Servant.
Lor.
Who comes so fast in silence of the night?
Serv.
A friend.
Lor.
A friend? what friend? your name, I pray you, friend?
Serv.
Stephano is my name; and I bring word,
My mistress will before the break of day
Be here at Belmont: she doth stray about
By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays6 note
For happy wedlock hours.
-- 234 --
Lor.
Who comes with her?
Serv.
None, but a holy hermit, and her maid.
I pray you, is my master yet return'd?
Lor.
He is not, nor we have not heard from him.—
But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,
And ceremoniously let us prepare
Some welcome for the mistress of the house.
Enter Launcelot.
Laun.
Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola, sola!
Lor.
Who calls?
Laun.
Sola! did you see master Lorenzo, and
mistress Lorenza? sola, sola!
Lor.
Leave hollowing, man; here.
Laun.
Sola! where? where?
Lor.
Here.
Laun.
Tell him, there's a post come from my
master, with his horn full of good news; my master
will be here ere morning, sweet soul7 note
.
[Exit.
Lor.
Let's in, and there expect their coming.
And yet no matter;—Why should we go in?
My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you,
Within the house, your mistress is at hand;
And bring your musick forth into the air.—
[Exit servant.
How sweet the moon-light sleeps upon this bank!9Q0349
Here will we sit, and let the sounds of musick
Creep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night,
Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Sit, Jessica: Look, how the floor of heaven
-- 235 --
Is thick inlay'd with pattens of bright gold8 note
;
There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st,
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-ey'd cherubims.
Such harmony is in immortal souls9 note
note to sounds “Doth close it in,” which
Dr. Johnson conjectures to have been the original reading, agrees
with this explanation, and perhaps confirms it.
It may be objected that this internal harmony is not an object
of sense—but Shakespeare is not always exact in his language—
he confounds it with that external and artificial harmony which
is capable of being heard.
My interpretation is strengthened by the following passage in
the second part of Antonio and Mellida, 1602, by Marston, who
likewise supposes the harmony of immortal souls to be of the same
kind with that of the spheres:
“&lblank; Heaven's tones
“Strike not such harmony to immortal souls,
“As your accordance sweets my breast withall.”
Malone. 9Q0350
&lblank; close it in &lblank;] is the reading of the quarto.
Steevens.
;
-- 236 --
But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grosly close it in, we cannot hear it.—
Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn1 note;
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear,
And draw her home with musick.
Jes.
I am never merry, when I hear sweet musick.
[Musick.
Lor.
The reason is, your spirits are attentive:
-- 237 --
For do but note a wild and wanton herd,
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,
Fetching mad bounds, bellowing, and neighing loud,
Which is the hot condition of their blood;
If they perchance but hear a trumpet sound,
Or any air of musick touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze,
By the sweet power of musick: Therefore, the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods;
Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of rage,
But musick for the time doth change his nature:
The man that hath no musick in himself2 note
,
-- 238 --
Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus:
Let no such man be trusted.—Mark the musick.
Enter Portia, and Nerissa, at a distance.
Por.
That light we see, is burning in my hall.
How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a naughty world.
Ner.
When the moon shone, we did not see the candle.
Por.
So doth the greater glory dim the less:
A substitute shines brightly as a king,
Until a king be by; and then his state
Empties itself, as doth an inland brook
Into the main of waters. Musick! hark!
[Musick.
Ner.
It is your musick, madam, of the house.
-- 239 --
Por.
Nothing is good, I see, without respect3 note;
Methinks, it sounds much sweeter than by day.
Ner.
Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.
Por.
The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark,
When neither is attended; and, I think,
The nightingale, if she should sing by day,
When every goose is cackling, would be thought
No better a musician than the wren.
How many things by season season'd are
To their right praise, and true perfection?—
Peace! how the moon sleeps with Endymion,
And would not be awak'd!
[Musick ceases.
Lor.
That is the voice,
Or I am much deceiv'd, of Portia.
Por.
He knows me, as the blind man knows the cuckow,
By the bad voice.
Lor.
Dear lady, welcome home.
Por.
We have been praying for our husbands' welfare,
Which speed, we hope, the better for our words.
Are they return'd?
Lor.
Madam, they are not yet;
But there is come a messenger before,
To signify their coming.
Por.
Go in, Nerissa,
Give order to my servants, that they take
No note at all of our being absent hence;—
Nor you, Lorenzo; Jessica, nor you.
[A tucket sounds4 note.
Lor.
Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpet:
We are no tell-tales, madam; fear you not.
Por.
This night, methinks, is but the day-light sick,
-- 240 --
It looks a little paler; 'tis a day,
Such as the day is when the sun is hid.
Enter Bassanio, Anthonio, Gratiano, and their followers.
Bass.
We should hold day with the Antipodes,
If you would walk in absence of the sun.
Por.
Let me give light5 note
, but let me not be light;
For a light wife doth make a heavy husband,
And never be Bassanio so for me;
But, God sort all!—You are welcome home, my lord.
Bass.
I thank you, madam: give welcome to my friend.—
This is the man, this is Anthonio,
To whom I am so infinitely bound.
Por.
You should in all sense be much bound to him,
For, as I hear, he was much bound for you.
Anth.
No more than I am well acquitted of.
Por.
Sir, you are very welcome to our house:
It must appear in other ways than words,
Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy. 9Q0351
[Gratiano and Nerissa seem to talk apart.
Gra.
By yonder moon, I swear, you do me wrong;
In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk:
-- 241 --
Would he were gelt that had it, for my part,
Since you do take it, love, so much at heart.
Por.
A quarrel, ho, already? what's the matter?
Gra.
About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring
That she did give me; whose poesy was
For all the world, like cutler's poetry6 note
Upon a knife, Love me, and leave me not.
Ner.
What talk you of the poesy, or the value?
You swore to me, when I did give it you,
That you would wear it till your hour of death;
And that it should lie with you in your grave:
Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths,
You should have been respective7 note
, and have kept it.
Gave it a judge's clerk!—but well I know,
The clerk will ne'er wear hair on his face that had it.
Gra.
He will, an if he live to be a man.
Ner.
Ay, if a woman live to be a man.
Gra.
Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth8
note
,—
-- 242 --
A kind of boy; a little scrubbed boy,
No higher than thyself, the judge's clerk;
A prating boy, that begg'd it as a fee;
I could not for my heart deny it him.
Por.
You were to blame, I must be plain with you,
To part so slightly with your wife's first gift;
A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger,
And riveted with faith unto your flesh.
I gave my love a ring, and made him swear
Never to part with it; and here he stands:
I dare be sworn for him, he would not leave it,
Nor pluck it from his finger, for the wealth
That the world masters. Now, in faith, Gratiano,
You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief;
An 'twere to me, I should be mad at it.
Bass.
Why, I were best to cut my left hand off,
And swear, I lost the ring defending it.
[Aside.
-- 243 --
Gra.
My lord Bassanio gave his ring away
Unto the judge that begg'd it, and, indeed,
Deserv'd it too; and then the boy, his clerk,
That took some pains in writing, he begg'd mine:
And neither man, nor master, would take aught
But the two rings.
Por.
What ring gave you, my lord?
Not that, I hope, which you receiv'd of me.
Bass.
If I could add a lye unto a fault,
I would deny it; but you see, my finger
Hath not the ring upon it, it is gone.
Por.
Even so void is your false heart of truth.
By heaven, I will ne'er come in your bed
Until I see the ring.
Ner.
Nor I in yours,
'Till I again see mine.
Bass.
Sweet Portia,
If you did know to whom I gave the ring,
If you did know for whom I gave the ring,
And would conceive for what I gave the ring,
And how unwillingly I left the ring,
When nought would be accepted but the ring,
You would abate the strength of your displeasure.
Por.
If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honour to 9 noteretain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.
What man is there so much unreasonable,
If you had pleas'd to have defended it
With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty
To urge the thing held as a ceremony1 note
?
-- 244 --
Nerissa teaches me what to believe;
I'll die for't, but some woman had the ring.
Bass.
No, by mine honour, madam, by my soul,
No woman had it, but a civil doctor,
Who did refuse three thousand ducats of me,
And begg'd the ring; the which I did deny him,
And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away;
Even he that had held up the very life
Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady?
I was enforc'd to send it after him;
I was beset with shame and courtesy;
My honour would not let ingratitude
So much besmear it: Pardon me, good lady;
For, by these blessed candles of the night,
Had you been there, I think, you would have begg'd
The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.
Por.
Let not that doctor e'er come near my house:
Since he hath got the jewel that I lov'd,
And that which you did swear to keep for me,
I will become as liberal as you;
I'll not deny him any thing I have,
No, not my body, nor my husband's bed:
Know him I shall, I am well sure of it:
Lie not a night from home; watch me, like Argus:
If you do not, if I be left alone,
Now, by mine honour, which is yet my own,
I'll have that doctor for my bed-fellow.
Ner.
And I his clerk; therefore be well advis'd,
How you do leave me to mine own protection.
Gra.
Well, do you so: let me not take him then;
For, if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen.
Anth.
I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels.
Por.
Sir, grieve not you; You are welcome notwithstanding.
-- 245 --
Bass.
Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong;
And, in the hearing of these many friends,
I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes,
Wherein I see myself,—
Por.
Mark you but that!
In both mine eyes he doubly sees himself:
In each eye, one:—swear by your double self2 note,
And there's an oath of credit.
Bass.
Nay, but hear me:
Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear,
I never more will break an oath with thee.
Anth.
I once did lend my body for his wealth3 note;
Which, but for him that had your husband's ring,
[To Portia.
Had quite miscarry'd: I dare be bound again,
My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord
Will never more break faith advisedly.
Por.
Then you shall be his surety: Give him this;
And bid him keep it better than the other.
Anth.
Here, lord Bassanio; swear to keep this ring
Bass.
By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor
Por.
I had it of him: pardon me, Bassanio;
For by this ring the doctor lay with me.
Ner.
And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano;
For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor's clerk,
In lieu of this, last night did lie with me.
Gra.
Why, this is like the mending of high-way
In summer, where the ways are fair enough:
What! are we cuckolds, ere we have deserv'd it?
Por.
Speak not so grossly.—You are all amaz'd:
Here is a letter, read it at your leisure;
It comes from Padua, from Bellario:
There you shall find, that Portia was the doctor;
Nerissa there, her clerk: Lorenzo, here
-- 246 --
Shall witness, I set forth as soon as you,
And but even now return'd; I have not yet
Enter'd my house.—Anthonio, you are welcome;
And I have better news in store for you,
Than you expect: unseal this letter soon;
There you shall find, three of your argosies
Are richly come to harbour suddenly:
You shall not know by what strange accident
I chanced on this letter.
Anth.
I am dumb.
Bass.
Were you the doctor, and I knew you not?
Gra.
Were you the clerk, that is to make me cuckold?
Ner.
Ay; but the clerk, that never means to do it,
Unless he live until he be a man.
Bass.
Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow;
When I am absent, then lie with my wife.
Anth.
Sweet lady, you have given me life, and living;
For here I read for certain, that my ships
Are safely come to road.
Por.
How now, Lorenzo?
My clerk hath some good comforts too for you.
Ner.
Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee.—
There do I give to you, and Jessica,
From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift,
After his death, of all he dies possess'd of.
Lor.
Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way4 note
Of starved people.
Por.
It is almost morning,
And yet, I am sure, you are not satisfy'd
-- 247 --
Of these events at full: Let us go in;
And charge us there upon inter'gatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.
Gra.
Let it be so: The first inter'gatory,
That my Nerissa shall be sworn on, is,
Whether till the next night she had rather stay;
Or go to bed now, being two hours to day:
But were the day come, I should wish it dark,
That I were couching with the doctor's clerk.
Well, while I live, I'll fear no other thing
So sore, as keeping safe Nerissa's ring.
[Exeunt omnes5
