Enter a Servant. 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 Salan. Salar. and Servant. 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; Antonio, as I heard in Genoa, Shy. What, what, what? ill luck, ill luck? Tripolis. Shy. I thank God, I thank God:-Is it true? is it true? 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 Antonio's creditors in my company to Venice, that swear 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. 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 monkies. Tub. But Antonio 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 merchandise I will; Go, go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Belmont. A room in Portia's But lest you should not understand me well (1) A precious stone. But if you do, you'll make me wish a sin I speak too long; but 'tis to peizel the time; 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 "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. If Por. Away then: I am lock'd in one of them; 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, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end, Fading in music: 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 music then? then music is (1) Delay. Even as the flourish when true subjects bow SONG. 1. Tell me, where is fancy2 bred, Reply. 2. It is engender'd in the eyes, Let us all ring fancy's knell; Bass. So may the outward shows be least them selves; The world is still deceiv'd with ornament. (1) Dignity of mien. (2) Love. There is no vice so simple, but assumes To be the dowry of a second head, The scull that bred them in the sepulchre. To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf The seeming truth which cunning times put on Por. How all the other passions fleet to air, Bass. What find I here? Fair Portia's counterfeit ?3 What demi-god (1) Curled. (2) Treacherous. (3) Likeness, portrait. |