Salarino.
Salan.
Now, what news on the Rialto?
Salar.
Why, yet it lives there unchecked, that Antonio
hath a ship of rich lading wrecked 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 note be an honest woman of
her word.
Salan.
I would she were as lying a note gossip in that as ever
knapped ginger, or made her neighbours believe she wept
for the death of a third husband. But it is true, without
any slips of prolixity, or crossing the plain highway of talk,
that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio note,—O that I
had a title good enough to keep his name company!—
Salar.
Come, the full stop.
Salan.
Ha! what sayest thou? Why, the end is, he
hath lost a ship.
Salar.
I would it might prove the end of his losses.
Salan.
Let me say ‘amen’ betimes, lest the devil cross
my note prayer, for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew.
Enter Shylock. note
How now, Shylock! what news among the merchants?
-- 321 --
Shy.
You knew note, none so well, none so well as you, of
my daughter's flight.
Salar.
That's certain: I, for my part, knew the tailor
that made the wings she flew withal.
Salan.
And Shylock, for his own part, knew the bird
was fledged note; and then it is the complexion of them all to
leave the dam.
Shy.
She is damned for it.
Salar.
That's certain, if the devil may be her judge.
Shy.
My own flesh and blood to rebel!
Salan.
Out upon it, old carrion! rebels it at these years note?
Shy.
I say, my daughter is my flesh and blood note.
Salar.
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 note. But tell us, do
you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea note or no?
Shy.
There I have another bad match: a bankrupt, a
prodigal note, who dare note scarce show his head on the Rialto; a
beggar, that was used note 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.
Salar.
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 disgraced me, and hindered
me half note a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my
gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my
friends, heated mine enemies; and what's his reason note? 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,
-- 322 --
healed by the same means note, warmed and cooled by the
same winter and summer note, 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 note. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what
should his sufferance be by Christian note example? Why, revenge. note
The villany you teach me, I will execute; and it
shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
Enter a Servant. note
Serv.
Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his house,
and desires to speak with you both.
Salar.
We have been up and down to seek him.
Enter Tubal.
Salan.
Here comes another of the tribe: a third cannot
be matched, unless the devil himself turn Jew.
[Exeunt note Salan. Salar. and Servant.
Shy.
How now, Tubal! what news from Genoa note? 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 note she were hearsed at my foot, and
-- 323 --
the ducats in her coffin! No news of them? Why, so: note—
and I know not what's note spent in the search: why, thou note 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 on note my shoulders; no sighs but
of note my breathing; no tears but of my shedding.
Tub.
Yes, other men have ill luck too: Antonio, as I
heard in note Genoa note,—
Shy.
What, what, what? note ill luck, ill luck?
Tub.
Hath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis.
Shy.
I thank God, I thank God! Is't true, is't note true?
Tub.
I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the
wreck.
Shy.
I thank thee note, good Tubal: good news, good
news! ha, ha! where note? in Genoa?
Tub.
Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, in note
one night fourscore ducats.
Shy.
Thou stickest a dagger in me: I shall never see
my gold again: fourscore ducats at a sitting! fourscore
ducats.
Tub.
There came divers of Antonio's creditors in my
company to note Venice, that swear note he cannot choose but break.
Shy.
I am very glad of it: I'll plague him; I'll torture
him: I am glad of it note.
Tub.
One of them showed 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 bachelor:
I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys.
-- 324 --
Tub.
But Antonio is certainly undone.
Shy.
Nay, that's true, that's very true. Go, Tubal note,
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 merchandise I will. Go, go note,
Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue; go, good Tubal; at
our synagogue, Tubal.
[Exeunt.
Scene II.
Belmont. A room in Portia's house.
Enter note Bassanio, Portia, Gratiano, Nerissa, and Attendants.
Por. note
I pray you, tarry: pause a day or two
Before you hazard; for, in choosing wrong,
I lose your company: therefore note forbear awhile.
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 choose right, but I am then note forsworn;
So will I never be: so may you 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;
One half of me is yours, the other half yours note,
Mine own, I would say; but if note mine, then yours,
And so all yours! O note, these naughty times
Put note bars between the owners and their rights!
-- 325 --
And so, though yours, not yours note. Prove it so note,
Let fortune go to hell for it, not I note.
I speak too long; but 'tis to peize note the time,
To eke note it note and to draw note it out note in length,
To stay you from election.
Bass.
Let me choose;
For as I am, I live upon the rack.
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 note
'Tween snow and fire, as treason and my love.
Por.
Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack,
Where men enforced do note 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 music sound while he doth make his choice;
Then note, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end,
Fading in music: that the comparison
May stand more proper note, my eye shall be the stream,
And watery death-bed for him. He may win;
And what is music then? Then music is
-- 326 --
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 presence 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!
Live thou note, I live: with much much note more dismay
I note view the fight than thou that makest the fray.
Music, note whilst note Bassanio comments on the caskets to himself.
Song.
Tell me where is note fancy bred,
Or in the heart or in the head?
How begot, how nourished?
Reply, reply note.
It is engender'd in the eye note,
With gazing fed; and fancy dies
In the cradle where it lies.
Let us all ring fancy's knell;
I'll begin it note,—Ding, dong, bell.
All.
Ding, dong, bell.
Bass.
So may the outward shows be least themselves:
The world is still deceived with ornament.
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being seasoned with a gracious voice,
Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but some sober brow
-- 327 --
Will bless it, and approve it with a text,
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?
There is no vice note so simple, but assumes
Some mark note 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 purchased by the weight;
Which therein works a miracle in nature,
Making them lightest that wear most of it:
So are those crisped snaky golden locks
Which make note such wanton gambols with the wind,
Upon supposed fairness, often known
To be the dowry of a second head,
The skull that bred them in the sepulchre.
Thus ornament is but the guiled note shore
To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty; note in a word,
The seeming truth which cunning times note put on
To entrap the wisest. Therefore note, thou gaudy gold,
Hard food note for Midas, I will none of thee;
Nor none of thee, thou pale note and common drudge
'Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre lead,
Which rather threatenest than dost promise aught,
Thy paleness note moves me more than eloquence;
And here choose I: joy be the consequence!
-- 328 --
Por. [Aside note]
How all the other passions fleet to air,
As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced despair,
And shuddering note fear, and green-eyed note jealousy!
O love, be moderate note; allay thy ecstasy;
In measure rein note thy joy; scant this excess!
I feel too much thy blessing: make it less,
For fear I surfeit note!
Bass.
What find I note here?
[Opening note the leaden casket.
Fair Portia's counterfeit! What demi-god
Hath come so near creation? Move these eyes?
Or whether note, riding on the balls of mine,
Seem they in motion? Here are sever'd lips,
Parted with sugar note 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 note 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 note unfurnish'd note. Yet look, how far
The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow
In underprizing it, so far this shadow
Doth limp behind the substance. Here's the scroll,
The continent and summary of my fortune.
[Reads]
You that choose not by the view,
Chance as fair, and choose as true!
Since this fortune falls to you,
Be content and seek no new.
-- 329 --
If you be well pleased 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;
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 note doubt
Whether those peals note 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, ratified by you.
Por.
You see me note, Lord Bassanio note, 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 note times
note
More rich;
That only note to stand high in your account,
I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account; but the full sum of me
Is sum of something, note which, to term in gross,
Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractised;
Happy in this, she is not yet so old
But she may learn; happier than note this, note
She is not bred so dull but she can learn;
Happiest of all is note that her gentle spirit
-- 330 --
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 note was the lord note
Of this fair mansion, master note of my servants,
Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now,
This house, these servants, and this same myself,
Are yours, my lord note: 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 together,
Turns to a wild of nothing, save of joy,
Express'd and not express'd. But when this ring
Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence:
O, then be bold to say Bassanio's note 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!
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 from me:
And when your honours mean to solemnize
The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you,
Even at that time I may be married too.
Bass.
With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife.
Gra.
I thank your lordship, you have note got me one.
My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours:
You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid;
-- 331 --
You loved, I loved for intermission. note
No more pertains to me, my lord, than you.
Your fortune stood upon the casket note there,
And so did mine too, as the matter falls;
For wooing here note until I sweat note again,
And swearing till my very roof note 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
Achieved her mistress.
Por.
Is this true, Nerissa?
Ner.
Madam, it is, so note you stand pleased 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 note?
noteEnter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio, a Messenger from Venice. note
Bass.
Lorenzo and Salerio note, welcome hither;
If that the youth of my new interest here
Have power to bid you welcome. By your leave,
I bid my very note friends and countrymen,
Sweet Portia, welcome.
-- 332 --
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 note by the way,
He did entreat me, past all saying nay,
To come with him along.
Saler.
I note did, my lord;
And I have reason for it. Signior Antonio
Commends him to you.
[Gives note Bassanio a letter.
Bass.
Ere I ope his letter,
I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth.
Saler.
Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind;
Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there
note
Will show you his estate.
Gra.
Nerissa, cheer yon note stranger; bid her welcome.
Your hand, Salerio: what's the news from Venice?
How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio?
I know he will be glad of our success;
We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece.
Saler.
I would note you had won the fleece that he hath lost.
Por.
There are some shrewd contents in yon note same paper,
That steals note the colour from Bassanio's note 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 note have the half of any thing
That this same paper brings you.
Bass.
O sweet Portia,
Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words
-- 333 --
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 engaged myself to a dear friend,
Engaged my friend to his mere enemy,
To feed my means. Here is note a letter, lady;
The paper as note the body of my friend,
And every word in it a gaping wound,
Issuing life-blood. But is it true, Salerio?
Have note all his ventures fail'd? What, not one hit?
From Tripolis, from Mexico, and note England,
From Lisbon, Barbary, and India?
And not one vessel scape note the dreadful touch
Of merchant-marring rocks?
Saler.
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 Antonio's flesh
Than twenty times the value of the sum
-- 334 --
That he did owe him: and I know, my lord,
If law, authority and power deny not,
It will go hard with poor Antonio.
Por.
Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble?
Bass.
The dearest friend to me, the kindest man,
The best-condition'd and note unwearied note 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 note description
Shall note lose a hair through note 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 meantime
Will live as maids and widows. Come, away!
For you shall hence upon your wedding-day:
Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer:
Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear note.
But let me hear the letter of your friend.
Bass. [reads note]
Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried,
my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew
is forfeit; and since in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all
debts are cleared between you and I note, if I might but see note you at my
-- 335 --
death. note Notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love do not
persuade you to come, let not my letter.
Por. note
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 note rest be interposer 'twixt us twain.
[Exeunt.
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
Venice. A street.
Enter Shylock, Salarino note, Antonio, and Gaoler.
Shy.
Gaoler note, look to him: tell not me of mercy;
This is the fool that lent note out money gratis:
Gaoler note, look to him.
Ant.
Hear me yet, good Shylock.
Shy.
I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond:
I have note sworn an oath that I will have my bond.
Thou call'dst note me dog before thou hadst 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 so fond
To come abroad with him at his request.
Ant.
I pray thee note, 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-eyed fool,
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.
Salar.
It is the most impenetrable cur
That ever kept with men.
Ant.
Let him alone:
-- 336 --
I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers.
He seeks my life; his reason well I know:
I oft deliver'd from note his forfeitures
Many that have at times made moan to me;
Therefore he hates me.
Salar.
I am sure the Duke
Will never grant this forfeiture to hold note.
Ant.
The Duke cannot deny the course of law: note
For the commodity that strangers have
With us in Venice, note if it note be denied,
Will note much impeach the justice of his note state;
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Consisteth of all nations. Therefore, go:
These griefs and losses have note 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.
note
Scene IV. [Footnote:
Belmont. A room in Portia's house.
Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Balthasar. note
Lor.
Madam, although I speak it in your note presence,
You have a noble and a true conceit
Of god-like note amity; which appears most note strongly
In bearing thus the absence of your lord.
But if you knew to whom you show this honour,
How true a gentleman you send relief note,
How dear a lover of my lord your husband,
-- 337 --
I know you would be prouder of the work
Than customary bounty can enforce you.
Por.
I never did repent for note doing good,
Nor note shall not now: for in companions
That do converse and waste the time together,
Whose souls do bear an equal note yoke of love,
There must be needs a like proportion
Of lineaments, of note manners and of spirit;
Which makes me think that this Antonio,
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 misery note!
This comes too near the praising of myself;
Therefore no more of it: hear other things. note
Lorenzo, I commit into your hands note
The husbandry and manage of my house
Until my lord's return: for mine own part,
I have toward heaven breathed a secret note 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;
And there will we note abide. I do desire you
Not to deny this imposition;
The which my love and some necessity
Now lays note upon you note.
Lor.
Madam, with all my heart;
I shall obey you in all fair commands.
Por.
My people do already know my mind,
-- 338 --
And will acknowledge you and Jessica
In place of Lord Bassanio and myself.
And so farewell note, 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 pleased note
To wish it back on you: fare you well note, Jessica.
[Exeunt Jessica and Lorenzo.
Now, Balthasar,
As I have ever found thee honest-true note note,
So let me find thee still. Take this same letter,
And use thou all the endeavour of a man
In speed to Padua note: 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 imagined speed
Unto the tranect note, to the common ferry
Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words note,
But get thee gone: I shall be there before thee note.
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 that note we lack. I'll hold thee any wager,
When we are both accoutred note 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
-- 339 --
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 died;
I could not do withal 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 note 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 note 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.
note
Scene V. [Footnote:
The same. A garden. note
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 ye note,
I fear note you. 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 damned. There is but
one hope in it that can do you any good; and that is but
a kind of 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.
-- 340 --
Jes.
That were a kind of bastard hope, indeed: so the
sins of my mother should be visited upon me.
Laun.
Truly then I fear you are damned both by father
and mother: thus when I shun note Scylla, your father, I fall note
into Charybdis, your mother: well, you are gone both ways.
Jes.
I shall be saved by my husband; he hath made
me a Christian.
Laun.
Truly, the more to blame he: we were Christians
enow before; e'en note 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 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. note
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 note with child by you, Launcelot.
Laun.
It is much that the Moor should be more than
reason: but if she be less note 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.
-- 341 --
Lor.
Goodly note Lord, what a wit-snapper are you! then
bid them prepare dinner.
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 note occasion! Wilt thou
show 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 served 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.
Lor.
O dear note discretion, how his words are suited 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 note thou, Jessica?
And now, good sweet, say thy opinion,
How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio's note 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, then
In note 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
-- 342 --
Hath not her fellow.
Lor.
Even such a husband
Hast thou of me as she is for a wife note note.
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 note, let it serve for table-talk;
Then, howsoe'er note thou speak'st, 'mong note other things
I shall digest note it.
Jes.
Well, I'll set you forth.
[Exeunt note.
William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].
