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.
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 favor, I extend this friendship :
If he will take it, so; if not, adieu:

And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not.

Flourish of cornets.

Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair
As any comer I have looked on yet,
For my affection.

Even for that I thank you;

ROCCO and his Train; PORTIA, NERISSA, and Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets,

other of her Attendants.

Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadowed livery of the burnished sun,
To whom I am a neighbor, and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incision for your love,

Το prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.

I tell thee, lady, this aspéct of mine

Hath feared the valiant: by my love, I swear,

The best-regarded virgins of our clime

To try my fortune. By this scimitar,
That slew the Sophi 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,
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 page;

Have loved it too. I would not change this And so may I, blind fortune leading me,

hue,

Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.

Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led

By nice directions of a maiden's eyes:
Besides, the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing:
But, if my father had not scanted me,

And hedged me by his wit, to yield myself

His wife who wins me by that means I told you,

Miss that which one unworthier may attain,

And die with grieving.

Por. First, forward to the temple: after dinner gotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, Your hazard shall be made. high-gravel blind, knows me not. I will try conclusions with him.

Gob. Master, young man, you, I pray you; ing: truth will come to light; murder cannot be which is the way to Master Jew's?

Laun. [aside]. O heavens, this is my true be- 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 your blessing. I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be.

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 mine own flesh and blood. Lord worshiped might he be! what a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill-horse has on his tail.

Laun. It would 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 art thou changed! 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 not rest till I have run some ground. My master's a very Jew: give him a present! give him a halter. I am famished 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 other
Followers.

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 live-
ries to making; and desire Gratiano to come anon
to my lodging.
[Exit a Servant.

Laun. To him, father.

Gob. God bless your worship!

Take leave of thy old master, and inquire
My lodging out. Give him a livery

[To his Followers. More guarded than his fellows: see it done. Laun. Father, in. I cannot get a service, no! I have ne'er a tongue in my head. Well (looking on his palm), 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; eleven widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in, for one man: and then to

Bass. Gramercy! Wouldst thou aught with 'scape drowning thrice; and to be in peril of my me?

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

life with the edge of a feather-bed here are simple 'scapes! Well, if Fortune be a woman, she's

Gra. Signior Bassanio.

Bass. Gratiano!

Gra. I have a suit to you.
Bass.

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.

SCENE III. The same. A Room in 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,

[Exit LEONARDO. 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,

You have obtained it.

Gra. You must not deny me: I must go with And so farewell; I would not have my

you to Belmont.

Bass. Why, then you must.
Gratiano;

See me talk with thee.

father

Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice;
Parts that become thee happily enough,
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults;

But where thou art not known, why, there they

shew

Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain

To allay with some cold drops of modesty

Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot.
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me,
To be ashamed to be my father's child!

Thy skipping spirit; lest, through thy wild be- 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.

[Exit.

Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and
SOLANIO.

Lor. Nay, we will slink away at supper-time; Disguise us at my lodging, and return,

Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night; you shall not All in an hour.

Gra. We have not made good preparation. Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.

Solan. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly or- SCENE V. The same. Before SHYLOCK's

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.

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:

Lor. Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jes- But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon

sica

I will not fail her! speak it privately; go. -
Gentlemen,

[Exit LAUNCELOT.
Will you prepare you for this masque to-night?
I am provided of a torch-bearer.

The prodigal Christian.-Jessica, my girl,
Look to my house. I am right loath 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 mas

Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. ter doth expect your reproach.
Solan. And so will I.

At Gratiano's lodging, some hour hence.

Salar. 'Tis good we do so.

[Exeunt SALARINO and SOLANIO.
Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
Lor. I must needs tell thee all. She hath di-
rected

How I shall take her from her father's house;
What gold and jewels she is furnished 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.

Shy. So do I his.

Laun. And they have conspired together,— I will not say you shall see a mask; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Black-Monday last, at six o'clock i' the morning, falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday was was four year in the afternoon.

Shy. What are there masks? Hear you me,

Jessica :

Lock up my doors: and when you hear the
drum,.

And the vile squeaking of the wry-necked fife,
Clamber not you up to the casements then,
Nor thrust your head into the public street,

Το

gaze on Christian fools with varnished 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, [Exeunt. I have no mind of feasting forth to-night: