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 reasonable, for there is not one among them but I dote on his very [120 absence, and I pray God grant them a fair departure.

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?

126

Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, - as I think, he was so 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.

131

Por. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise.

Shy. Antonio 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 Antonio bound.

10

Bass. Your answer to that. Shy. Antonio is a good man. Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

Chy. Ho, no, no, no, no! My meaning in [15 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 to the Indies; I understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other [20 ventures he hath, squand'red 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 [25 man is, notwithstanding, sufficient. Three thousand ducats: I think I may take his bond.

Bass. Be assured you may.

Shy. I will be assured I may; and, that I [30 may be assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio?

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." I will buy with you, sell [35 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 ANTONIO.

Bass. This is Signior Antonio.

40

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 45
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,
Even there where merchants most do congre-

By taking nor by giving of excess,

Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, I'll break a custom. Is he yet possess'd How much ye would?

Shy.

65

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

Ant. And for three months.

Shy. I had forgot; three months; you told

Ant. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you?

110

Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me About my moneys and my usances. Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe. You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, And all for use of that which is mine own. Well then, it now appears you need my help. 115 Go to, then! You come to me, and you say, Shylock, we would have moneys;

80

you say

120

You, that did void your rheum upon my beard
And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold; moneys is your suit.
What should I say to you? Should I not say,
"Hath a dog money? Is it possible

124

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 spat 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 moneys

130

Shy.

140

me.

145

150

165

Ant. 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 this bond. 100 Shy. O father Abram, what these Christians

are,

165

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,
I
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats.
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.
Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.
Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the no-
tary's;

For my affection.

21

25

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 Sophy and a Persian prince
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
I would outstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-
bear,

Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey, 30
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 page;

And so may I, blind fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain,
And die with grieving.

35

Por. You must take your chance, And either not attempt to choose at all, Or swear before you choose, if you choose

wrong

Never to speak to lady afterward

In way of marriage; therefore be advis'd.

40

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! 45 To make me blest or cursed'st among men. [Cornets, and exeunt.

[SCENE II. Venice. A street.] Enter the Clown [LAUNCELOT] alone. 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 !" [10

66

66

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 [15 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. [20 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 [25 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 [31 counsel. I will run, fiend; my heels are at your commandment; I will run.

Enter Old GOBBO, with a basket. Gob. Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way to master Jew's?

35

Laun. [Aside.] O heavens! this is my truebegotten father, who, being more than sandblind, high-gravel blind, knows me not. I will try confusions with him.

Gob. Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to master Jew's?

41

Laun. 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.

46

Gob. By God's sonties, 't will be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with him or no?

Laun. Talk you of young Master Launcelot? [Aside.] Mark me now; now will I raise [50 the waters. Talk you of young Master Launcelot?

Gob. No master, sir, but a poor man's son. His father, though I say 't, is an honest exceeding poor man and, God be thanked, well to live.

104

Laun. [Aside.] 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?

75

father? Laun. Do you not know me, 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 that knows his own child. Well, [80 old man, I will tell you news of your son. Give me your blessing; truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long; a man's son may, but in the end truth will out.

85

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 your blessing. I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be.

91

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.

95

Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed. I'll be sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood. Lord worshipp'd might he be! what a beard hast thou got! Thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my fillhorse has on his tail.

101

Laun. It should seem, then, that Dobbin's tail grows backward. I am sure he had more hair of his tail than I have of my face when I last saw him.

105

Gob. Lord, how art thou chang'd! How dost thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present. How 'gree you now?

Laun. Well, well: but, for mine own part, as I have set up my rest to run away, so I will [110 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 [115 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 other] followers.

120

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 delivered; put the liveries to making, and desire Gratiano to come [Exit one of his men. 125 anon to my lodging. Laun. To him, father. Gob. God bless your worship!

Bass. Gramercy! wouldst thou aught with

me?

Gob. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy,

thy son.

161

Take leave of thy old master, and inquire My lodging out. Give him a livery More guarded than his fellows'; see it done. 184 Laun. Father, in. I cannot get a service, no; I have ne'er a tongue in my head. [Looks on his palm.] Well, if any man in Italy have a fairer table, which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune. Go to, here's a simple line of life! Here's a small trifle of wives! Alas, fifteen wives is nothing! [170 Eleven widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in for one man. And then to escape drowning thrice, and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed; here are simple scapes. Well, if Fortune be a woman, she's a good wench for this gear. Father, come; I'll take [175 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.

129

Gra. I have a suit to you. Bass.

Lor.

25

Meet me and Gratiano At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence. Salar. 'Tis good we do so.

[Exeunt [Salar. and Salan.]. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica ? Lor. I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed

How I shall 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.

30

35

40

[Exeunt.

[SCENE V. The same. Before Shylock's house.] Enter the Jew [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 gormandise,