Double fix thousand, and then treble that,
Before a friend of this defcription

Shall lofe a hair through my Baffanio's fault.
First go with me to church, and call me wife,
And then away to Venice to your friend:
For never fhall you lie by Portia's fide
With an unquiet foul. You shall have gold
To pay the petty debt twenty times over.
When it is paid, bring your true friend along.
My maid Neriffa and my felf mean time
Will live as maids and widows: come away,
For you fhall hence upon your wedding day, a
But let me hear the letter of your friend.

Ball. reads. Sweet Baffanio, my ships have all miscarry'd, my creditors grow cruel, my eftate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and fince in paying it it is impoffible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and me, if I might but fee you at my death; notwithStanding ufe your pleasure: if your love do not perfuade you to come, let not my letter.

Por. O love! difpatch all business, and be gone.
Ball. Since I have your good leave to go away,
I will make hafte; but 'till I come again,

No bed fhall e'er be guilty of my ftay,

Nor reft be interpofer 'twixt us twain.

(a) your wedding-day.

Bid your friends welcome, fhew a merry cheer;
Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear.
But let me hear, &c.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

VENICE.

Enter Shylock, Solarino, Anthonio, and the Goaler.

Shy. GOaler, look to him: tell not me of mercy.

This is the fool that lent out mony gratis.

Goaler, look to him.

Anth. Hear me yet, good Shylock.

Shy. I'll have my bond; fpeak not against my bond: I've fworn an oath that I will have my bond. Thou call'dft me dog before thou hadít a cause; But fince I am a dog, beware my fangs: The Duke fhall grant me juftice. I do wonder, Thou naughty goaler, that thou art fo fond To come abroad with him at his request. Anth. I pray thee, hear me fpeak.

Shy. I'll have my bond: I will not hear thee fpeak: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more; I'll not be made a foft and dull-ey'd fool, To shake the head, relent, and figh and yield To chriftian interceffors. Follow not;

I'll have no fpeaking; I will have my bond.

Sola. It is the most impenetrable cur

That ever kept with men.

Anth. Let him alone,

[Exit Shylock.

I'll follow him no more with bootlefs pray'rs:
He feeks my life; his reafon 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 fure the Duke

Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.

Anth. The Duke cannot deny the courfe of law;

For the commodity that ftrangers have

With

With us in Venice, if it be deny'd,
Will much impeach the juftice of the state,
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Confifteth of all nations. Therefore go,
These griefs and loffes have fo 'bated me,
That I fhall hardly fpare a pound of flesh
To-morrow to my bloody creditor.

Well, goaler, on; pray God, Ballanio come
To fee me pay his debt, and then I care not! [Exeunt.

SCENE V.

BELMONT.

Enter Portia, Neriffa, Lorenzo, Jeffica, and Balthazar. Lor. MAdam, although I speak it in your prefence,

have a noble and a true conceit
Of God-like amity, which appears strongly
In bearing thus the abfence of your lord.
But if you knew to whom you fhew this honour,
How true a gentleman you fend relief to,
How dear a lover of my lord your husband,
I know you would be prouder of the work,
Than cuftomary bounty can enforce you.

Por. I never did repent of doing good,
And shall not now; for in companions
That do converse and waste the time together,
Whofe fouls do bear an equal yoke of love,
There must be needs a like proportion
Of lineaments, of manners, and of fpirit;
Which makes me think that this Anthonio,
Being the bofom-lover of my lord,
Muft needs be like my lord. If it be fo,
How little is the coft I have bestowed
In purchasing the semblance of my foul
From out the state of hellish cruelty!
D 4

This

This comes too near the praifing of my felf;
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 tow'rd heaven breath'd a fecret vow,
To live in prayer and contemplation,
Only attended by Neriffa here,

Until her husband and my lord's return.
There is a monaftery two miles off,
And there we will abide. I do defire
Not to deny this impofition,

The which my love and fome necessity
Now 'lay upon you.

2

Lor. Madam, with all my heart;

I fhall obey you in all fair commands.

you

Por. My people do already know my mind, And will acknowledge you and Jeffica

In place of lord Baffanio and my felf.

So fare you well 'till we fhall meet again.

Lor. Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you! Jef. I wish your ladyfhip all heart's content.

Por. I thank you for your wifh, and am well pleas'd To wish it back on you: fare you well,

Now, Balthazar,

effica.

[Exe. Jef. and Lor.

As I have ever found thee honeft, true,
So let me find thee ftill: take this fame letter,
And use thou all th' endeavour of a man,

3

In fpeed to 'Padua`; fee thou render this

Into my coufin'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 Traject, to the common ferry

Which trades to Venice: wafte no time in words,

1 here other things,

But

old edit. Theob. emend.

Lorenzo, I commit... old edit. Theob. emend.
3 Mantua;

2 lays

But get thee gone; I fhall be there before thee.

Bal. 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 fee us?

Por. They fhall, Neriffa; but in fuch a habit,
That they fhall think we are accomplished
With what we lack. I'll hold thee any wager,
When we are both apparell'd 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 fteps
Into a manly ftride, and speak of frays
Like a fine bragging youth; and tell quaint lies,
How honourable ladies fought my love,
Which I denying, they fell fick and dy'd,
I could not do with all: then I'll repent,
And wifh, for all that, that I had not kill'd them.
And twenty of thefe puny lies I'll tell;

That men fhall fwear I've difcontinued fchool
Above a twelve-month. I have in my mind
A thousand raw tricks of these bragging jacks,
Which I will practise.

Ner. Shall we turn to men?

Por. Fie, what a queftion'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 hafte away,
For we must measure twenty miles to-day.

SCENE VI.

Enter Launcelot and Jeffica.

[Exeunt.

Laun. Yes, truly: for look you, the fins of the father are to be laid upon the children; therefore I promise

you,