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The Merchant of Venice


 
 Actus primus.
 
 Enter Anthonio, Salarino, and Salanio.
 
   Anthonio. In sooth I know not why I am so sad,
 It wearies me: you say it wearies you;
 But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
 What stuffe 'tis made of, whereof it is borne,
 I am to learne: and such a Want-wit sadnesse makes of
 mee,
 That I haue much ado to know my selfe
 
    Sal. Your minde is tossing on the Ocean,
 There where your Argosies with portly saile
 Like Signiors and rich Burgers on the flood,
 Or as it were the Pageants of the sea,
 Do ouer-peere the pettie Traffiquers
 That curtsie to them, do them reuerence
 As they flye by them with their wouen wings
 
    Salar. Beleeue me sir, had I such venture forth,
 The better part of my affections, would
 Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still
 Plucking the grasse to know where sits the winde,
 Peering in Maps for ports, and peers, and rodes:
 And euery obiect that might make me feare
 Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt
 Would make me sad
 
    Sal. My winde cooling my broth,
 Would blow me to an Ague, when I thought
 What harme a winde too great might doe at sea.
 I should not see the sandie houre-glasse runne,
 But I should thinke of shallows, and of flats,
 And see my wealthy Andrew docks in sand,
 Vailing her high top lower then her ribs
 To kisse her buriall; should I goe to Church
 And see the holy edifice of stone,
 And not bethinke me straight of dangerous rocks,
 Which touching but my gentle Vessels side
 Would scatter all her spices on the streame,
 Enrobe the roring waters with my silkes,
 And in a word, but euen now worth this,
 And now worth nothing. Shall I haue the thought
 To thinke on this, and shall I lacke the thought
 That such a thing bechaunc'd would make me sad?
 But tell me, I know Anthonio
 Is sad to thinke vpon his merchandize
 
    Anth. Beleeue me no, I thanke my fortune for it,
 My ventures are not in one bottome trusted,
 Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate
 Vpon the fortune of this present yeere:
 Therefore my merchandize makes me not sad
 
    Sola. Why then you are in loue
 
    Anth. Fie, fie
 
    Sola. Not in loue neither: then let vs say you are sad
 Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easie
 For you to laugh and leape, and say you are merry
 Because you are not sad. Now by two-headed Ianus,
 Nature hath fram'd strange fellowes in her time:
 Some that will euermore peepe through their eyes,
 And laugh like Parrats at a bag-piper.
 And other of such vineger aspect,
 That they'll not shew their teeth in way of smile,
 Though Nestor sweare the iest be laughable.
 Enter Bassanio, Lorenso, and Gratiano.
 
   Sola. Heere comes Bassanio,
 Your most noble Kinsman,
 Gratiano, and Lorenso. Faryewell,
 We leaue you now with better company
 
    Sala. I would haue staid till I had made you merry,
 If worthier friends had not preuented me
 
    Ant. Your worth is very deere in my regard.
 I take it your owne busines calls on you,
 And you embrace th' occasion to depart
 
    Sal. Good morrow my good Lords
 
    Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, when?
 You grow exceeding strange: must it be so?
   Sal. Wee'll make our leysures to attend on yours.
 
 Exeunt. Salarino, and Solanio.
 
   Lor. My Lord Bassanio, since you haue found Anthonio
 We two will leaue you, but at dinner time
 I pray you haue in minde where we must meete
 
    Bass. I will not faile you
 
    Grat. You looke not well signior Anthonio,
 You haue too much respect vpon the world:
 They loose it that doe buy it with much care,
 Beleeue me you are maruellously chang'd
 
    Ant. I hold the world but as the world Gratiano,
 A stage, where euery man must play a part,
 And mine a sad one
 
    Grati. Let me play the foole,
 With mirth and laughter let old wrinckles come,
 And let my Liuer rather heate with wine,
 Then my heart coole with mortifying grones.
 Why should a man whose bloud is warme within,
 Sit like his Grandsire, cut in Alablaster?
 Sleepe when he wakes? and creep into the Iaundies
 By being peeuish? I tell thee what Anthonio,
 I loue thee, and it is my loue that speakes:
 There are a sort of men, whose visages
 Do creame and mantle like a standing pond,
 And do a wilfull stilnesse entertaine,
 With purpose to be drest in an opinion
 Of wisedome, grauity, profound conceit,
 As who should say, I am sir an Oracle,
 And when I ope my lips, let no dogge barke.
 O my Anthonio, I do know of these
 That therefore onely are reputed wise,
 For saying nothing; when I am verie sure
 If they should speake, would almost dam those eares
 Which hearing them would call their brothers fooles:
 Ile tell thee more of this another time.
 But fish not with this melancholly baite
 For this foole Gudgin, this opinion:
 Come good Lorenzo, faryewell a while,
 Ile end my exhortation after dinner
 
    Lor. Well, we will leaue you then till dinner time.
 I must be one of these same dumbe wise men.
 For Gratiano neuer let's me speake
 
    Gra. Well, keepe me company but two yeares mo,
 Thou shalt not know the sound of thine owne tongue
 
    Ant. Far you well, Ile grow a talker for this geare
 
    Gra. Thankes ifaith, for silence is onely commendable
 In a neats tongue dri'd, and a maid not vendible.
 Enter.
 
   Ant. It is that any thing now
 
    Bas. Gratiano speakes an infinite deale of nothing,
 more then any man in all Venice, his reasons are two
 graines of wheate hid in two bushels of chaffe: you shall
 seeke all day ere you finde them, & when you haue them
 they are not worth the search
 
    An. Well: tel me now, what Lady is the same
 To whom you swore a secret Pilgrimage
 That you to day promis'd to tel me of?
   Bas. Tis not vnknowne to you Anthonio
 How much I haue disabled mine estate,
 By something shewing a more swelling port
 Then my faint meanes would grant continuance:
 Nor do I now make mone to be abridg'd
 From such a noble rate, but my cheefe care
 Is to come fairely off from the great debts
 Wherein my time something too prodigall
 Hath left me gag'd: to you Anthonio
 I owe the most in money, and in loue,
 And from your loue I haue a warrantie
 To vnburthen all my plots and purposes,
 How to get cleere of all the debts I owe
 
    An. I pray you good Bassanio let me know it,
 And if it stand as you your selfe still do,
 Within the eye of honour, be assur'd
 My purse, my person, my extreamest meanes
 Lye all vnlock'd to your occasions
 
    Bass. In my schoole dayes, when I had lost one shaft
 I shot his fellow of the selfesame flight
 The selfesame way, with more aduised watch
 To finde the other forth, and by aduenturing both,
 I oft found both. I vrge this child-hoode proofe,
 Because what followes is pure innocence.
 I owe you much, and like a wilfull youth,
 That which I owe is lost: but if you please
 To shoote another arrow that selfe way
 Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,
 As I will watch the ayme: Or to finde both,
 Or bring your latter hazard backe againe,
 And thankfully rest debter for the first
 
    An. You know me well, and herein spend but time
 To winde about my loue with circumstance,
 And out of doubt you doe more wrong
 In making question of my vttermost
 Then if you had made waste of all I haue:
 Then doe but say to me what I should doe
 That in your knowledge may by me be done,
 And I am prest vnto it: therefore speake
 
    Bass. In Belmont is a Lady richly left,
 And she is faire, and fairer then that word,
 Of wondrous vertues, sometimes from her eyes
 I did receiue faire speechlesse messages:
 Her name is Portia, nothing vndervallewd
 To Cato's daughter, Brutus Portia,
 Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth,
 For the four windes blow in from euery coast
 Renowned sutors, and her sunny locks
 Hang on her temples like a golden fleece,
 Which makes her seat of Belmont Cholchos strond,
 And many Iasons come in quest of her.
 O my Anthonio, had I but the meanes
 To hold a riuall place with one of them,
 I haue a minde presages me such thrift,
 That I should questionlesse be fortunate
 
    Anth. Thou knowst that all my fortunes are at sea,
 Neither haue I money, nor commodity
 To raise a present summe, therefore goe forth
 Try what my credit can in Venice doe,
 That shall be rackt euen to the vttermost,
 To furnish thee to Belmont to faire Portia.
 Goe presently enquire, and so will I
 Where money is, and I no question make
 To haue it of my trust, or for my sake.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Portia with her waiting woman Nerissa.
 
   Portia. By my troth Nerrissa, my little body is a wearie
 of this great world
 
    Ner. You would be sweet Madam, if your miseries
 were in the same abundance as your good fortunes are:
 and yet for ought I see, they are as sicke that surfet with
 too much, as they that starue with nothing; it is no smal
 happinesse therefore to bee seated in the meane, superfluitie
 comes sooner by white haires, but competencie
 liues longer
 
    Portia. Good sentences, and well pronounc'd
 
    Ner. They would be better if well followed
 
    Portia. If to doe were as easie as to know what were
 good to doe, Chappels had beene Churches, and poore
 mens cottages Princes Pallaces: it is a good Diuine that
 followes his owne instructions; I can easier teach twentie
 what were good to be done, then be one of the twentie
 to follow mine owne teaching: the braine may deuise
 lawes for the blood, but a hot temper leapes ore a
 colde decree, such a hare is madnesse the youth, to skip
 ore the meshes of good counsaile the cripple; but this
 reason is not in fashion to choose me a husband: O mee,
 the word choose, I may neither choose whom I would,
 nor refuse whom I dislike, so is the wil of a liuing daughter
 curb'd by the will of a dead father: it is not hard Nerrissa,
 that I cannot choose one, nor refuse none
 
    Ner. Your father was euer vertuous, and holy men
 at their death haue good inspirations, therefore the lotterie
 that hee hath deuised in these three chests of gold,
 siluer, and leade, whereof who chooses his meaning,
 chooses you, wil no doubt neuer be chosen by any rightly,
 but one who you shall rightly loue: but what warmth
 is there in your affection towards any of these Princely
 suters that are already come?
   Por. I pray thee ouer-name them, and as thou namest
 them, I will describe them, and according to my description
 leuell at my affection
 
    Ner. First there is the Neopolitane Prince
 
    Por. I that's a colt indeede, for he doth nothing but
 talke of his horse, and hee makes it a great appropriation
 to his owne good parts that he can shoo him himselfe:
 I am much afraid my Ladie his mother plaid false
 with a Smyth
 
    Ner. Than is there the Countie Palentine
 
    Por. He doth nothing but frowne (as who should
 say, and you will not haue me, choose: he heares merrie
 tales and smiles not, I feare hee will proue the weeping
 Phylosopher when he growes old, being so full of vnmannerly
 sadnesse in his youth.) I had rather to be married
 to a deaths head with a bone in his mouth, then to either
 of these: God defend me from these two
 
    Ner. How say you by the French Lord, Mounsier
 Le Boune?
   Por. God made him, and therefore let him passe for a
 man, in truth I know it is a sinne to be a mocker, but he,
 why he hath a horse better then the Neopolitans, a better
 bad habite of frowning then the Count Palentine, he
 is euery man in no man, if a Trassell sing, he fals straight
 a capring, he will fence with his owne shadow. If I should
 marry him, I should marry twentie husbands: if hee
 would despise me, I would forgiue him, for if he loue me
 to madnesse, I should neuer requite him
 
    Ner. What say you then to Fauconbridge, the yong
 Baron of England?
   Por. You know I say nothing to him, for hee vnderstands
 not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latine, French,
 nor Italian, and you will come into the Court & sweare
 that I haue a poore pennie-worth in the English: hee is a
 proper mans picture, but alas who can conuerse with a
 dumbe show? how odly he is suited, I thinke he bought
 his doublet in Italie, his round hose in France, his bonnet
 in Germanie, and his behauiour euery where
 
    Ner. What thinke you of the other Lord his neighbour?
   Por. That he hath a neighbourly charitie in him, for
 he borrowed a boxe of the eare of the Englishman, and
 swore he would pay him againe when hee was able: I
 thinke the Frenchman became his suretie, and seald vnder
 for another
 
    Ner. How like you the yong Germaine, the Duke of
 Saxonies Nephew?
   Por. Very vildely in the morning when hee is sober,
 and most vildely in the afternoone when hee is drunke:
 when he is best, he is a little worse then a man, and when
 he is worst, he is little better then a beast: and the worst
 fall that euer fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without
 him
 
    Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the right
 Casket, you should refuse to performe your Fathers will,
 if you should refuse to accept him
 
    Por. Therefore for feare of the worst, I pray thee set
 a deepe glasse of Reinish-wine on the contrary Casket,
 for if the diuell be within, and that temptation without,
 I know he will choose it. I will doe any thing Nerrissa
 ere I will be married to a spunge
 
    Ner. You neede not feare Lady the hauing any of
 these Lords, they haue acquainted me with their determinations,
 which is indeede to returne to their home,
 and to trouble you with no more suite, vnlesse you may
 be won by some other sort then your Fathers imposition,
 depending on the Caskets
 
    Por. If I liue to be as olde as Sibilla, I will dye as
 chaste as Diana: vnlesse I be obtained by the manner
 of my Fathers will: I am glad this parcell of wooers
 are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but
 I doate on his verie absence: and I wish them a faire departure
 
    Ner. Doe you not remember Ladie in your Fathers
 time, a Venecian, a Scholler and a Souldior that
 came hither in companie of the Marquesse of Mountferrat?
   Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I thinke, so was hee
 call'd
 
    Ner. True Madam, hee of all the men that euer my
 foolish eyes look'd vpon, was the best deseruing a faire
 Lady
 
    Por. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy
 of thy praise.
 Enter a Seruingman.
 
   Ser. The four Strangers seeke you Madam to take
 their leaue: and there is a fore-runner come from a fift,
 the Prince of Moroco, who brings word the Prince his
 Maister will be here to night
 
    Por. If I could bid the fift welcome with so good
 heart as I can bid the other foure farewell, I should be
 glad of his approach: if he haue the condition of a Saint,
 and the complexion of a diuell, I had rather hee should
 shriue me then wiue me. Come Nerrissa, sirra go before;
 whiles wee shut the gate vpon one wooer, another
 knocks at the doore.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Bassanio with Shylocke the Iew.
 
   Shy. Three thousand ducates, well
 
    Bass. I sir, for three months
 
    Shy. For three months, well
 
    Bass. For the which, as I told you,
 Anthonio shall be bound
 
    Shy. Anthonio shall become bound, well
 
    Bass. May you sted me? Will you pleasure me?
 Shall I know your answere
 
    Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months,
 and Anthonio bound
 
    Bass. Your answere to that
 
    Shy. Anthonio is a good man
 
    Bass. Haue you heard any imputation to the contrary
 
    Shy. Ho no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying he is a
 good man, is to haue you vnderstand me that he is sufficient,
 yet his meanes are in supposition: he hath an Argosie
 bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies, I vnderstand
 moreouer vpon the Ryalta, he hath a third at Mexico,
 a fourth for England, and other ventures hee hath
 squandred abroad, but ships are but boords, Saylers but
 men, there be land rats, and water rats, water theeues,
 and land theeues, I meane Pyrats, and then there is the
 perrill of waters, windes, and rocks: the man is not withstanding
 sufficient, three thousand ducats, I thinke I may
 take his bond
 
    Bas. Be assured you may
 
    Iew. I will be assured I may: and that I may be assured,
 I will bethinke mee, may I speake with Anthonio?
   Bass. If it please you to dine with vs
 
    Iew. Yes, to smell porke, to eate of the habitation
 which your Prophet the Nazarite coniured the diuell
 into: I will buy with you, sell with you, talke with
 you, walke with you, and so following: but I will
 not eate with you, drinke with you, nor pray with you.
 What newes on the Ryalta, who is he comes here?
 Enter Anthonio.
 
   Bass. This is signior Anthonio
 
    Iew. How like a fawning publican he lookes.
 I hate him for he is a Christian:
 But more, for that in low simplicitie
 He lends out money gratis, and brings downe
 The rate of vsance here with vs in Venice.
 If I can catch him once vpon the hip,
 I will feede fat the ancient grudge I beare him.
 He hates our sacred Nation, and he railes
 Euen there where Merchants most doe congregate
 On me, my bargaines, and my well-worne thrift,
 Which he cals interrest: Cursed by my Trybe
 If I forgiue him
 
    Bass. Shylock, doe you heare
 
    Shy. I am debating of my present store,
 And by the neere gesse of my memorie
 I cannot instantly raise vp the grosse
 Of full three thousand ducats: what of that?
 Tuball a wealthy Hebrew of my Tribe
 Will furnish me: but soft, how many months
 Doe you desire? Rest you faire good signior,
 Your worship was the last man in our mouthes
 
    Ant. Shylocke, albeit I neither lend nor borrow
 By taking, nor by giuing of excesse,
 Yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend,
 Ile breake a custome: is he yet possest
 How much he would?
   Shy. I, I, three thousand ducats
 
    Ant. And for three months
 
    Shy. I had forgot, three months, you told me so.
 Well then, your bond: and let me see, but heare you,
 Me thoughts you said, you neither lend nor borrow
 Vpon aduantage
 
    Ant. I doe neuer vse it
 
    Shy. When Iacob graz'd his vncle Labans sheepe,
 This Iacob from our holy Abram was
 (As his wise mother wrought in his behalfe)
 The third possesser; I, he was the third
 
    Ant. And what of him, did he take interrest?
   Shy. No, not take interest, not as you would say
 Directly interest, marke what Iacob did,
 When Laban and himselfe were compremyz'd
 That all the eanelings which were streakt and pied
 Should fall as Iacobs hier, the Ewes being rancke,
 In end of Autumne turned to the Rammes,
 And when the worke of generation was
 Betweene these woolly breeders in the act,
 The skilfull shepheard pil'd me certaine wands,
 And in the dooing of the deede of kinde,
 He stucke them vp before the fulsome Ewes,
 Who then conceauing, did in eaning time
 Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Iacobs.
 This was a way to thriue, and he was blest:
 And thrift is blessing if men steale it not
 
    Ant. This was a venture sir that Iacob seru'd for,
 A thing not in his power to bring to passe,
 But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heauen.
 Was this inserted to make interrest good?
 Or is your gold and siluer Ewes and Rams?
   Shy. I cannot tell, I make it breede as fast,
 But note me signior
 
    Ant. Marke you this Bassanio,
 The diuell can cite Scripture for his purpose,
 An euill soule producing holy witnesse,
 Is like a villaine with a smiling cheeke,
 A goodly apple rotten at the heart.
 O what a goodly outside falsehood hath
 
    Shy. Three thousand ducats, 'tis a good round sum.
 Three months from twelue, then let me see the rate
 
    Ant. Well Shylocke, shall we be beholding to you?
   Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft
 In the Ryalto you haue rated me
 About my monies and my vsances:
 Still haue I borne it with a patient shrug,
 (For suffrance is the badge of all our Tribe.)
 You call me misbeleeuer, cut-throate dog,
 And spet vpon my Iewish gaberdine,
 And all for vse of that which is mine owne.
 Well then, it now appeares you neede my helpe:
 Goe to then, you come to me, and you say,
 Shylocke, we would haue moneyes, you say so:
 You that did voide your rume vpon my beard,
 And foote me as you spurne a stranger curre
 Ouer your threshold, moneyes is your suite.
 What should I say to you? Should I not say,
 Hath a dog money? Is it possible
 A curre should lend three thousand ducats? or
 Shall I bend low, and in a bond-mans key
 With bated breath, and whispring humblenesse,
 Say this: Faire sir, you spet on me on Wednesday last;
 You spurn'd me such a day; another time
 You cald me dog: and for these curtesies
 Ile lend you thus much moneyes
 
    Ant. I am as like to call thee so againe,
 To spet on thee againe, to spurne thee too.
 If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not
 As to thy friends, for when did friendship take
 A breede of barraine mettall of his friend?
 But lend it rather to thine enemie,
 Who if he breake, thou maist with better face
 Exact the penalties
 
    Shy. Why looke you how you storme,
 I would be friends with you, and haue your loue,
 Forget the shames that you haue staind me with,
 Supplie your present wants, and take no doite
 Of vsance for my moneyes, and youle not heare me,
 This is kinde I offer
 
    Bass. This were kindnesse
 
    Shy. This kindnesse will I showe,
 Goe with me to a Notarie, seale me there
 Your single bond, and in a merrie sport
 If you repaie me not on such a day,
 In such a place, such sum or sums as are
 Exprest in the condition, let the forfeite
 Be nominated for an equall pound
 Of your faire flesh, to be cut off and taken
 In what part of your bodie it pleaseth me
 
    Ant. Content infaith, Ile seale to such a bond,
 And say there is much kindnesse in the Iew
 
    Bass. You shall not seale to such a bond for me,
 Ile rather dwell in my necessitie
 
    Ant. Why feare not man, I will not forfaite it,
 Within these two months, that's a month before
 This bond expires, I doe expect returne
 Of thrice three times the valew of this bond
 
    Shy. O father Abram, what these Christians are,
 Whose owne hard dealings teaches them suspect
 The thoughts of others: Praie you tell me this,
 If he should breake his daie, what should I gaine
 By the exaction of the forfeiture?
 A pound of mans flesh taken from a man,
 Is not so estimable, profitable neither
 As flesh of Muttons, Beefes, or Goates, I say
 To buy his fauour, I extend this friendship,
 If he will take it, so: if not adiew,
 And for my loue I praie you wrong me not
 
    Ant. Yes Shylocke, I will seale vnto this bond
 
    Shy. Then meete me forthwith at the Notaries,
 Giue him direction for this merrie bond,
 And I will goe and purse the ducats straite.
 See to my house left in the fearefull gard
 Of an vnthriftie knaue: and presentlie
 Ile be with you.
 Enter.
 
   Ant. Hie thee gentle Iew. This Hebrew will turne
 Christian, he growes kinde
 
    Bass. I like not faire tearmes, and a villaines minde
 
    Ant. Come on, in this there can be no dismaie,
 My Shippes come home a month before the daie.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 
 Actus Secundus.
 
 Enter Morochus a tawnie Moore all in white, and three or foure
 followers
 accordingly, with Portia, Nerrissa, and their traine. Flo. Cornets.
 
   Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion,
 The shadowed liuerie of the burnisht sunne,
 To whom I am a neighbour, and neere bred.
 Bring me the fairest creature North-ward borne,
 Where Phoebus fire scarce thawes the ysicles,
 And let vs make incision for your loue,
 To proue whose blood is reddest, his or mine.
 I tell thee Ladie this aspect of mine
 Hath feard the valiant, (by my loue I sweare)
 The best regarded Virgins of our Clyme
 Haue lou'd it to: I would not change this hue,
 Except to steale your thoughts my gentle Queene
 
    Por. In tearmes of choise I am not solie led
 By nice direction of a maidens eies:
 Besides, the lottrie of my destenie
 Bars me the right of voluntarie choosing:
 But if my Father had not scanted me,
 And hedg'd me by his wit to yeelde my selfe
 His wife, who wins me by that meanes I told you,
 Your selfe (renowned Prince) than stood as faire
 As any commer I haue look'd on yet
 For my affection
 
    Mor. Euen for that I thanke you,
 Therefore I pray you leade me to the Caskets
 To trie my fortune: By this Symitare
 That slew the Sophie, and a Persian Prince
 That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
 I would ore-stare the sternest eies that looke:
 Out-braue the heart most daring on the earth:
 Plucke the yong sucking Cubs from the she Beare,
 Yea, mocke the Lion when he rores for pray
 To win the Ladie. But alas, the while
 If Hercules and Lychas plaie at dice
 Which is the better man, the greater throw
 May turne by fortune from the weaker hand:
 So is Alcides beaten by his rage,
 And so may I, blinde fortune leading me
 Misse that which one vnworthier may attaine,
 And die with grieuing
 
    Port. You must take your chance,
 And either not attempt to choose at all,
 Or sweare before you choose, if you choose wrong
 Neuer to speake to Ladie afterward
 In way of marriage, therefore be aduis'd
 
    Mor. Nor will not, come bring me vnto my chance
 
    Por. First forward to the temple, after dinner
 Your hazard shall be made
 
    Mor. Good fortune then,
 
 Cornets.
 
 To make me blest or cursed'st among men.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter the Clowne alone.
 
   Clo. Certainely, my conscience will serue me to run
 from this Iew my Maister: the fiend is at mine elbow,
 and tempts me, saying to me, Iobbe, Launcelet Iobbe, good
 Launcelet, or good Iobbe, or good Launcelet Iobbe, vse
 your legs, take the start, run awaie: my conscience saies
 no; take heede honest Launcelet, take heed honest Iobbe,
 or as afore-said honest Launcelet Iobbe, doe not runne,
 scorne running with thy heeles; well, the most coragious
 fiend bids me packe, fia saies the fiend, away saies
 the fiend, for the heauens rouse vp a braue minde saies
 the fiend, and run; well, my conscience hanging about
 the necke of my heart, saies verie wisely to me: my honest
 friend Launcelet, being an honest mans sonne, or rather
 an honest womans sonne, for indeede my Father did
 something smack, something grow too; he had a kinde of
 taste; wel, my conscience saies Lancelet bouge not, bouge
 saies the fiend, bouge not saies my conscience, conscience
 say I you counsaile well, fiend say I you counsaile well,
 to be rul'd by my conscience I should stay with the Iew
 my Maister, (who God blesse the marke) is a kinde of diuell;
 and to run away from the Iew I should be ruled by
 the fiend, who sauing your reuerence is the diuell himselfe:
 certainely the Iew is the verie diuell incarnation,
 and in my conscience, my conscience is a kinde of hard
 conscience, to offer to counsaile me to stay with the Iew;
 the fiend giues the more friendly counsaile: I will runne
 fiend, my heeles are at your commandement, I will
 runne.
 Enter old Gobbe with a Basket.
 
   Gob. Maister yong-man, you I praie you, which is the
 waie to Maister Iewes?
   Lan. O heauens, this is my true begotten Father, who
 being more then sand-blinde, high grauel blinde, knows
 me not, I will trie confusions with him
 
    Gob. Maister yong Gentleman, I praie you which is
 the waie to Maister Iewes
 
    Laun. Turne vpon your right hand at the next turning,
 but at the next turning of all on your left; marrie
 at the verie next turning, turne of no hand, but turn down
 indirectlie to the Iewes house
 
    Gob. Be Gods sonties 'twill be a hard waie to hit, can
 you tell me whether one Launcelet that dwels with him
 dwell with him or no
 
    Laun. Talke you of yong Master Launcelet, marke
 me now, now will I raise the waters; talke you of yong
 Maister Launcelet?
   Gob. No Maister sir, but a poore mans sonne, his Father
 though I say't is an honest exceeding poore man,
 and God be thanked well to liue
 
    Lan. Well, let his Father be what a will, wee talke of
 yong Maister Launcelet
 
    Gob. Your worships friend and Launcelet
 
    Laun. But I praie you ergo old man, ergo I beseech you,
 talke you of yong Maister Launcelet
 
    Gob. Of Launcelet, ant please your maistership
 
    Lan. Ergo Maister Lancelet, talke not of maister Lancelet
 Father, for the yong gentleman according to fates and
 destinies, and such odde sayings, the sisters three, & such
 branches of learning, is indeede deceased, or as you
 would say in plaine tearmes, gone to heauen
 
    Gob. Marrie God forbid, the boy was the verie staffe
 of my age, my verie prop
 
    Lau. Do I look like a cudgell or a houell-post, a staffe
 or a prop: doe you know me Father
 
    Gob. Alacke the day, I know you not yong Gentleman,
 but I praie you tell me, is my boy God rest his soule
 aliue or dead
 
    Lan. Doe you not know me Father
 
    Gob. Alacke sir I am sand blinde, I know you not
 
    Lan. Nay, indeede if you had your eies you might
 faile of the knowing me: it is a wise Father that knowes
 his owne childe. Well, old man, I will tell you newes of
 your son, giue me your blessing, truth will come to light,
 murder cannot be hid long, a mans sonne may, but in the
 end truth will out
 
    Gob. Praie you sir stand vp, I am sure you are not
 Lancelet my boy
 
    Lan. Praie you let's haue no more fooling about
 it, but giue mee your blessing: I am Lancelet your
 boy that was, your sonne that is, your childe that
 shall be
 
    Gob. I cannot thinke you are my sonne
 
    Lan. I know not what I shall thinke of that: but I am
 Lancelet the Iewes man, and I am sure Margerie your wife
 is my mother
 
    Gob. Her name is Margerie indeede, Ile be sworne if
 thou be Lancelet, thou art mine owne flesh and blood:
 Lord worshipt might he be, what a beard hast thou got;
 thou hast got more haire on thy chin, then Dobbin my
 philhorse has on his taile
 
    Lan. It should seeme then that Dobbins taile
 growes backeward. I am sure he had more haire of his
 taile then I haue of my face when I last saw him
 
    Gob. Lord how art thou chang'd: how doost thou
 and thy Master agree, I haue brought him a present; how
 gree you now?
   Lan. Well, well, but for mine owne part, as I haue set
 vp my rest to run awaie, so I will not rest till I haue run
 some ground; my Maister's a verie Iew, giue him a present,
 giue him a halter, I am famisht in his seruice. You
 may tell euerie finger I haue with my ribs: Father I am
 glad you are come, giue me your present to one Maister
 Bassanio, who indeede giues rare new Liuories, if I serue
 not him, I will run as far as God has anie ground. O rare
 fortune, here comes the man, to him Father, for I am a
 Iew if I serue the Iew anie longer.
 Enter Bassanio with a follower or two.
 
   Bass. You may doe so, but let it be so hasted that
 supper be readie at the farthest by fiue of the clocke:
 see these Letters deliuered, put the Liueries to making,
 and desire Gratiano to come anone to my lodging
 
    Lan. To him Father
 
    Gob. God blesse your worship
 
    Bass. Gramercie, would'st thou ought with me
 
    Gob. Here's my sonne sir, a poore boy
 
    Lan. Not a poore boy sir, but the rich Iewes man that
 would sir as my Father shall specifie
 
    Gob. He hath a great infection sir, as one would say
 to serue
 
    Lan. Indeede the short and the long is, I serue the
 Iew, and haue a desire as my Father shall specifie
 
    Gob. His Maister and he (sauing your worships reuerence)
 are scarce catercosins
 
    Lan. To be briefe, the verie truth is, that the Iew
 hauing done me wrong, doth cause me as my Father being
 I hope an old man shall frutifie vnto you
 
    Gob. I haue here a dish of Doues that I would bestow
 vpon your worship, and my suite is
 
    Lan. In verie briefe, the suite is impertinent to my
 selfe, as your worship shall know by this honest old man,
 and though I say it, though old man, yet poore man my
 Father
 
    Bass. One speake for both, what would you?
   Lan. Serue you sir
 
    Gob. That is the verie defect of the matter sir
 
    Bass. I know thee well, thou hast obtain'd thy suite,
 Shylocke thy Maister spoke with me this daie,
 And hath prefer'd thee, if it be preferment
 To leaue a rich Iewes seruice, to become
 The follower of so poore a Gentleman
 
    Clo. The old prouerbe is verie well parted betweene
 my Maister Shylocke and you sir, you haue the grace of
 God sir, and he hath enough
 
    Bass. Thou speak'st well; go Father with thy Son,
 Take leaue of thy old Maister, and enquire
 My lodging out, giue him a Liuerie
 More garded then his fellowes: see it done
 
    Clo. Father in, I cannot get a seruice, no, I haue nere
 a tongue in my head, well: if anie man in Italie haue a
 fairer table which doth offer to sweare vpon a booke, I
 shall haue good fortune; goe too, here's a simple line
 of life, here's a small trifle of wiues, alas, fifteene wiues
 is nothing, a leuen widdowes and nine maides is a simple
 comming in for one man, and then to scape drowning
 thrice, and to be in perill of my life with the edge
 of a featherbed, here are simple scapes: well, if Fortune
 be a woman, she's a good wench for this gere: Father
 come, Ile take my leaue of the Iew in the twinkling.
 
 Exit Clowne.
 
   Bass. I praie thee good Leonardo thinke on this,
 These things being bought and orderly bestowed
 Returne in haste, for I doe feast to night
 My best esteemd acquaintance, hie thee goe
 
    Leon. my best endeuors shall be done herein.
 
 Exit Le.
 
 Enter Gratiano.
 
   Gra. Where's your Maister
 
    Leon. Yonder sir he walkes
 
    Gra. Signior Bassanio
 
    Bas. Gratiano
 
    Gra. I haue a sute to you
 
    Bass. You haue obtain'd it
 
    Gra. You must not denie me, I must goe with you to
 Belmont
 
    Bass. Why then you must: but heare thee Gratiano,
 Thou art to wilde, to rude, and bold of voyce,
 Parts that become thee happily enough,
 And in such eyes as ours appeare not faults;
 But where they are not knowne, why there they show
 Something too liberall, pray thee take paine
 To allay with some cold drops of modestie
 Thy skipping spirit, least through thy wilde behauiour
 I be misconsterd in the place I goe to,
 And loose my hopes
 
    Gra. Signor Bassanio, heare me,
 If I doe not put on a sober habite,
 Talke with respect, and sweare but now and than,
 Weare prayer bookes in my pocket, looke demurely,
 Nay more, while grace is saying hood mine eyes
 Thus with my hat, and sigh and say Amen:
 Vse all the obseruance of ciuillitie
 Like one well studied in a sad ostent
 To please his Grandam, neuer trust me more
 
    Bas. Well, we shall see your bearing
 
    Gra. Nay but I barre to night, you shall not gage me
 By what we doe to night
 
    Bas. No that were pittie,
 I would intreate you rather to put on
 Your boldest suite of mirth, for we haue friends
 That purpose merriment: but far you well,
 I haue some businesse
 
    Gra. And I must to Lorenso and the rest,
 But we will visite you at supper time.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Iessica and the Clowne.
 
   Ies. I am sorry thou wilt leaue my Father so,
 Our house is hell, and thou a merrie diuell
 Did'st rob it of some taste of tediousnesse;
 But far thee well, there is a ducat for thee,
 And Lancelet, soone at supper shalt thou see
 Lorenzo, who is thy new Maisters guest,
 Giue him this Letter, doe it secretly,
 And so farewell: I would not haue my Father
 see me talke with thee
 
    Clo. Adue, teares exhibit my tongue, most beautifull
 Pagan, most sweete Iew, if a Christian doe not play the
 knaue and get thee, I am much deceiued; but adue, these
 foolish drops doe somewhat drowne my manly spirit:
 adue.
 Enter.
 
   Ies. Farewell good Lancelet.
 Alacke, what hainous sinne is it in me
 To be ashamed to be my Fathers childe,
 But though I am a daughter to his blood,
 I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo,
 If thou keepe promise I shall end this strife,
 Become a Christian, and thy louing wife.
 Enter.
 
 Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio.
 
   Lor. Nay, we will slinke away in supper time,
 Disguise vs at my lodging, and returne all in an houre
 
    Gra. We haue not made good preparation
 
    Sal. We haue not spoke vs yet of Torch-bearers
 
    Sol. 'Tis vile vnlesse it may be quaintly ordered,
 And better in my minde not vndertooke
 
    Lor. 'Tis now but foure of clock, we haue two houres
 To furnish vs; friend Lancelet what's the newes.
 Enter Lancelet with a Letter.
 
   Lan. And it shall please you to breake vp this, shall it
 seeme to signifie
 
    Lor. I know the hand, in faith 'tis a faire hand
 And whiter then the paper it writ on,
 Is the faire hand that writ
 
    Gra. Loue newes in faith
 
    Lan. By your leaue sir
 
    Lor. Whither goest thou?
   Lan. Marry sir to bid my old Master the Iew to sup
 to night with my new Master the Christian
 
    Lor. Hold here, take this, tell gentle Iessica
 I will not faile her, speake it priuately:
 Go Gentlemen, will you prepare you for this Maske to
 night,
 I am prouided of a Torch-bearer.
 
 Exit. Clowne
 
    Sal. I marry, ile be gone about it strait
 
    Sol. And so will I
 
    Lor. Meete me and Gratiano at Gratianos lodging
 Some houre hence
 
    Sal. 'Tis good we do so.
 Enter.
 
   Gra. Was not that Letter from faire Iessica?
   Lor. I must needes tell thee all, she hath directed
 How I shall take her from her Fathers house,
 What gold and iewels she is furnisht with,
 What Pages suite she hath in readinesse:
 If ere the Iew her Father come to heauen,
 It will be for his gentle daughters sake;
 And neuer dare misfortune crosse her foote,
 Vnlesse she doe it vnder this excuse,
 That she is issue to a faithlesse Iew:
 Come goe with me, pervse this as thou goest,
 Faire Iessica shall be my Torch-bearer.
 Enter.
 
 Enter Iew, and his man that was the Clowne.
 
   Iew. Well, thou shall see, thy eyes shall be thy iudge,
 The difference of old Shylocke and Bassanio;
 What Iessica, thou shalt not gurmandize
 As thou hast done with me: what Iessica?
 And sleepe, and snore, and rend apparrell out.
 Why Iessica I say
 
    Clo. Why Iessica
 
    Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call
 
    Clo. Your worship was wont to tell me
 I could doe nothing without bidding.
 Enter Iessica.
 
   Ies. Call you? what is your will?
   Shy. I am bid forth to supper Iessica,
 There are my Keyes: but wherefore should I go?
 I am not bid for loue, they flatter me,
 But yet Ile goe in hate, to feede vpon
 The prodigall Christian. Iessica my girle,
 Looke to my house, I am right loath to goe,
 There is some ill a bruing towards my rest,
 For I did dreame of money bags to night
 
    Clo. I beseech you sir goe, my yong Master
 Doth expect your reproach
 
    Shy. So doe I his
 
    Clo. And they haue conspired together, I will not say
 you shall see a Maske, but if you doe, then it was not for
 nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on blacke monday
 last, at six a clocke ith morning, falling out that yeere on
 ashwensday was foure yeere in th' afternoone
 
    Shy. What are their maskes? heare you me Iessica,
 Lock vp my doores, and when you heare the drum
 And the vile squealing of the wry-neckt Fife,
 Clamber not you vp to the casements then,
 Nor thrust your head into the publique streete
 To gaze on Christian fooles with varnisht faces:
 But stop my houses eares, I meane my casements,
 Let not the sound of shallow fopperie enter
 My sober house. By Iacobs staffe I sweare,
 I haue no minde of feasting forth to night:
 But I will goe: goe you before me sirra,
 Say I will come
 
    Clo. I will goe before sir,
 Mistris looke out at window for all this;
 There will come a Christian by,
 Will be worth a Iewes eye
 
    Shy. What saies that foole of Hagars off-spring?
 ha
 
    Ies. His words were farewell mistris, nothing else
 
    Shy. The patch is kinde enough, but a huge feeder:
 Snaile-slow in profit, but he sleepes by day
 More then the wilde-cat: drones hiue not with me,
 Therefore I part with him, and part with him
 To one that I would haue him helpe to waste
 His borrowed purse. Well Iessica goe in,
 Perhaps I will returne immediately;
 Doe as I bid you, shut dores after you, fast binde, fast
 finde,
 A prouerbe neuer stale in thriftie minde.
 Enter.
 
   Ies. Farewell, and if my fortune be not crost,
 I haue a Father, you a daughter lost.
 Enter.
 
 Enter the Maskers, Gratiano and Salino.
 
   Gra. This is the penthouse vnder which Lorenzo
 Desired vs to make a stand
 
    Sal. His houre is almost past
 
    Gra. And it is meruaile he out-dwels his houre,
 For louers euer run before the clocke
 
    Sal. O ten times faster Venus Pidgions flye
 To steale loues bonds new made, then they are wont
 To keepe obliged faith vnforfaited
 
    Gra. That euer holds, who riseth from a feast
 With that keene appetite that he sits downe?
 Where is the horse that doth vntread againe
 His tedious measures with the vnbated fire,
 That he did pace them first: all things that are,
 Are with more spirit chased then enioy'd.
 How like a yonger or a prodigall
 The skarfed barke puts from her natiue bay,
 Hudg'd and embraced by the strumpet winde:
 How like a prodigall doth she returne
 With ouer-wither'd ribs and ragged sailes,
 Leane, rent, and begger'd by the strumpet winde?
 Enter Lorenzo.
 
   Salino. Heere comes Lorenzo, more of this hereafter
 
    Lor. Sweete friends, your patience for my long abode,
 Not I, but my affaires haue made you wait;
 When you shall please to play the theeues for wiues
 Ile watch as long for you then: approach
 Here dwels my father Iew. Hoa, who's within?
 
 Iessica aboue.
 
   Iess. Who are you? tell me for more certainty,
 Albeit Ile sweare that I do know your tongue
 
    Lor. Lorenzo, and thy Loue
 
    Ies. Lorenzo certaine, and my loue indeed,
 For who loue I so much? and now who knowes
 But you Lorenzo, whether I am yours?
   Lor. Heauen and thy thoughts are witness that thou
 art
 
    Ies. Heere, catch this casket, it is worth the paines,
 I am glad 'tis night, you do not looke on me,
 For I am much asham'd of my exchange:
 But loue is blinde, and louers cannot see
 The pretty follies that themselues commit,
 For if they could, Cupid himselfe would blush
 To see me thus transformed to a boy
 
    Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer
 
    Ies. What, must I hold a Candle to my shames?
 They in themselues goodsooth are too too light.
 Why, 'tis an office of discouery Loue,
 And I should be obscur'd
 
    Lor. So you are sweet,
 Euen in the louely garnish of a boy: but come at once,
 For the close night doth play the run-away,
 And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast
 
    Ies. I will make fast the doores and guild my selfe
 With some more ducats, and be with you straight
 
    Gra. Now by my hood, a gentle, and no Iew
 
    Lor. Beshrew me but I loue her heartily.
 For she is wise, if I can iudge of her.
 And faire she is, if that mine eyes be true,
 And true she is, as she hath prou'd her selfe:
 And therefore like her selfe, wise, faire, and true,
 Shall she be placed in my constant soule.
 Enter Iessica.
 
 What, art thou come? on gentlemen, away,
 Our masking mates by this time for vs stay.
 Enter.
 
 Enter Anthonio.
 
   Ant. Who's there?
   Gra. Signior Anthonio?
   Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest?
 'Tis nine a clocke, our friends all stay for you,
 No maske to night, the winde is come about,
 Bassanio presently will goe aboord,
 I haue sent twenty out to seeke for you
 
    Gra. I am glad on't, I desire no more delight
 Then to be vnder saile, and gone to night.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Portia with Morrocho, and both their traines.
 
   Por. Goe, draw aside the curtaines, and discouer
 The seuerall Caskets to this noble Prince:
 Now make your choyse
 
    Mor. The first of gold, who this inscription beares,
 Who chooseth me, shall gaine what men desire.
 The second siluer, which this promise carries,
 Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserues.
 This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt,
 Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath.
 How shall I know if I doe choose the right?
 How shall I know if I doe choose the right
 
    Por. The one of them containes my picture Prince,
 If you choose that, then I am yours withall
 
    Mor. Some God direct my iudgement, let me see,
 I will suruay the inscriptions, backe againe:
 What saies this leaden casket?
 Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath.
 Must giue, for what? for lead, hazard for lead?
 This casket threatens men that hazard all
 Doe it in hope of faire aduantages:
 A golden minde stoopes not to showes of drosse,
 Ile then nor giue nor hazard ought for lead.
 What saies the Siluer with her virgin hue?
 Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserues.
 As much as he deserues; pause there Morocho,
 And weigh thy value with an euen hand,
 If thou beest rated by thy estimation
 Thou doost deserue enough, and yet enough
 May not extend so farre as to the Ladie:
 And yet to be afeard of my deseruing,
 Were but a weake disabling of my selfe.
 As much as I deserue, why that's the Lady.
 I doe in birth deserue her, and in fortunes,
 In graces, and in qualities of breeding:
 But more then these, in loue I doe deserue.
 What if I strai'd no farther, but chose here?
 Let's see once more this saying grau'd in gold.
 Who chooseth me shall gaine what many men desire:
 Why that's the Lady, all the world desires her:
 From the foure corners of the earth they come
 To kisse this shrine, this mortall breathing Saint.
 The Hircanion deserts, and the vaste wildes
 Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now
 For Princes to come view faire Portia.
 The waterie Kingdome, whose ambitious head
 Spets in the face of heauen, is no barre
 To stop the forraine spirits, but they come
 As ore a brooke to see faire Portia.
 One of these three containes her heauenly picture.
 Is't like that Lead containes her? 'twere damnation
 To thinke so base a thought, it were too grose
 To rib her searecloath in the obscure graue:
 Or shall I thinke in Siluer she's immur'd
 Being ten times vndervalued to tride gold;
 O sinfull thought, neuer so rich a Iem
 Was set in worse then gold! They haue in England
 A coyne that beares the figure of an Angell
 Stampt in gold, but that's insculpt vpon:
 But here an Angell in a golden bed
 Lies all within. Deliuer me the key:
 Here doe I choose, and thriue I as I may
 
    Por. There take it Prince, and if my forme lye there
 Then I am yours
 
    Mor. O hell! what haue we here, a carrion death,
 Within whose emptie eye there is a written scroule;
 Ile reade the writing.
 All that glisters is not gold,
 Often haue you heard that told;
 Many a man his life hath sold
 But my outside to behold;
 Guilded timber doe wormes infold:
 Had you beene as wise as bold,
 Yong in limbs, in iudgement old,
 Your answere had not beene inscrold,
 Fareyouwell, your suite is cold,
   Mor. Cold indeede, and labour lost,
 Then farewell heate, and welcome frost:
 Portia adew, I haue too grieu'd a heart
 To take a tedious leaue: thus loosers part.
 Enter.
 
   Por. A gentle riddance: draw the curtaines, go:
 Let all of his complexion choose me so.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Salarino and Solanio.
 
   Flo. Cornets
 
    Sal. Why man I saw Bassanio vnder sayle;
 With him is Gratiano gone along;
 And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not
 
    Sol. The villaine Iew with outcries raisd the Duke.
 Who went with him to search Bassanios ship
 
    Sal. He comes too late, the ship was vndersaile;
 But there the Duke was giuen to vnderstand
 That in a Gondilo were seene together
 Lorenzo and his amorous Iessica.
 Besides, Anthonio certified the Duke
 They were not with Bassanio in his ship
 
    Sol. I neuer heard a passion so confusd,
 So strange, outragious, and so variable,
 As the dogge Iew did vtter in the streets;
 My daughter, O my ducats, O my daughter,
 Fled with a Christian, O my Christian ducats!
 Iustice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter;
 A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,
 Of double ducats, stolne from me by my daughter,
 And iewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones,
 Stolne by my daughter: iustice, finde the girle,
 She hath the stones vpon her, and the ducats
 
    Sal. Why all the boyes in Venice follow him,
 Crying his stones, his daughter, and his ducats
 
    Sol. Let good Anthonio looke he keepe his day
 Or he shall pay for this
 
    Sal. Marry well remembred,
 I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday,
 Who told me, in the narrow seas that part
 The French and English, there miscaried
 A vessell of our countrey richly fraught:
 I thought vpon Anthonio when he told me,
 And wisht in silence that it were not his
 
    Sol. You were best to tell Anthonio what you heare.
 Yet doe not suddainely, for it may grieue him
 
    Sal. A kinder Gentleman treads not the earth,
 I saw Bassanio and Anthonio part,
 Bassanio told him he would make some speede
 Of his returne: he answered, doe not so,
 Slubber not businesse for my sake Bassanio,
 But stay the very riping of the time,
 And for the Iewes bond which he hath of me,
 Let it not enter in your minde of loue:
 Be merry, and imploy your chiefest thoughts
 To courtship, and such faire ostents of loue
 As shall conueniently become you there;
 And euen there his eye being big with teares,
 Turning his face, he put his hand behinde him,
 And with affection wondrous sencible
 He wrung Bassanios hand, and so they parted
 
    Sol. I thinke he onely loues the world for him,
 I pray thee let vs goe and finde him out
 And quicken his embraced heauinesse
 With some delight or other
 
    Sal. Doe we so.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Nerrissa and a Seruiture.
 
   Ner. Quick, quick I pray thee, draw the curtain strait,
 The Prince of Arragon hath tane his oath,
 And comes to his election presently.
 Enter Arragon, his traine, and Portia. Flor. Cornets.
 
   Por. Behold, there stand the caskets noble Prince,
 If you choose that wherein I am contain'd,
 Straight shall our nuptiall rights be solemniz'd:
 But if thou faile, without more speech my Lord,
 You must be gone from hence immediately
 
    Ar. I am enioynd by oath to obserue three things;
 First, neuer to vnfold to any one
 Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I faile
 Of the right casket, neuer in my life
 To wooe a maide in way of marriage:
 Lastly, if I doe faile in fortune of my choyse,
 Immediately to leaue you, and be gone
 
    Por. To these iniunctions euery one doth sweare
 That comes to hazard for my worthlesse selfe
 
    Ar. And so haue I addrest me, fortune now
 To my hearts hope: gold, siluer, and base lead.
 Who chooseth me must giue and hazard all he hath.
 You shall looke fairer ere I giue or hazard.
 What saies the golden chest, ha, let me see.
 Who chooseth me, shall gaine what many men desire:
 What many men desire, that many may be meant
 By the foole multitude that choose by show,
 Not learning more then the fond eye doth teach,
 Which pries not to th' interior, but like the Martlet
 Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
 Euen in the force and rode of casualtie.
 I will not choose what many men desire,
 Because I will not iumpe with common spirits,
 And ranke me with the barbarous multitudes.
 Why then to thee thou Siluer treasure house,
 Tell me once more, what title thou doost beare;
 Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserues:
 And well said too; for who shall goe about
 To cosen Fortune, and be honourable
 Without the stampe of merrit, let none presume
 To weare an vndeserued dignitie:
 O that estates, degrees, and offices,
 Were not deriu'd corruptly, and that cleare honour
 Were purchast by the merrit of the wearer;
 How many then should couer that stand bare?
 How many be commanded that command?
 How much low pleasantry would then be gleaned
 From the true seede of honor? And how much honor
 Pickt from the chaffe and ruine of the times,
 To be new varnisht: Well, but to my choise.
 Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserues.
 I will assume desert; giue me a key for this,
 And instantly vnlocke my fortunes here
 
    Por. Too long a pause for that which you finde there
 
    Ar. What's here, the portrait of a blinking idiot
 Presenting me a scedule, I will reade it:
 How much vnlike art thou to Portia?
 How much vnlike my hopes and my deseruings?
 Who chooseth me, shall haue as much as he deserues.
 Did I deserue no more then a fooles head,
 Is that my prize, are my deserts no better?
   Por. To offend and iudge are distinct offices,
 And of opposed natures
 
    Ar. What is here?
 The fier seauen times tried this,
 Seauen times tried that iudgement is,
 That did neuer choose amis,
 Some there be that shadowes kisse,
 Such haue but a shadowes blisse:
 There be fooles aliue Iwis
 Siluer'd o're, and so was this:
 Take what wife you will to bed,
 I will euer be your head:
 So be gone, you are sped
 
    Ar. Still more foole I shall appeare
 By the time I linger here,
 With one fooles head I came to woo,
 But I goe away with two.
 Sweet adue, Ile keepe my oath,
 Patiently to beare my wroath
 
    Por. Thus hath the candle sing'd the moath:
 O these deliberate fooles when they doe choose,
 They haue the wisdome by their wit to loose
 
    Ner. The ancient saying is no heresie,
 Hanging and wiuing goes by destinie
 
    Por. Come draw the curtaine Nerrissa.
 Enter Messenger.
 
   Mes. Where is my Lady?
   Por. Here, what would my Lord?
   Mes. Madam, there is a-lighted at your gate
 A yong Venetian, one that comes before
 To signifie th' approaching of his Lord,
 From whom he bringeth sensible regreets;
 To wit (besides commends and curteous breath)
 Gifts of rich value; yet I haue not seene
 So likely an Embassador of loue.
 A day in Aprill neuer came so sweete
 To show how costly Sommer was at hand,
 As this fore-spurrer comes before his Lord
 
    Por. No more I pray thee, I am halfe a-feard
 Thou wilt say anone he is some kin to thee,
 Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him:
 Come, come Nerryssa, for I long to see
 Quicke Cupids Post, that comes so mannerly
 
    Ner. Bassanio Lord, loue if thy will it be.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 
 Actus Tertius.
 
 Enter Solanio and Salarino.
 
   Sol. Now, what newes on the Ryalto?
   Sal. Why yet it liues there vncheckt, that Anthonio
 hath a ship of rich lading wrackt on the narrow Seas; the
 Goodwins I thinke they call the place, a very dangerous
 flat, and fatall, where the carcasses of many a tall ship, lye
 buried, as they say, if my gossips report be an honest woman
 of her word
 
    Sol. I would she were as lying a gossip in that, as euer
 knapt Ginger, or made her neighbours beleeue she wept
 for the death of a third husband: but it is true, without
 any slips of prolixity, or crossing the plaine high-way of
 talke, that the good Anthonio, the honest Anthonio; o that
 I had a title good enough to keepe his name company!
   Sal. Come, the full stop
 
    Sol. Ha, what sayest thou, why the end is, he hath lost
 a ship
 
    Sal. I would it might proue the end of his losses
 
    Sol. Let me say Amen betimes, least the diuell crosse
 my praier, for here he comes in the likenes of a Iew. How
 now Shylocke, what newes among the Merchants?
 Enter Shylocke.
 
   Shy. You knew none so well, none so well as you, of
 my daughters flight
 
    Sal. That's certaine, I for my part knew the Tailor
 that made the wings she flew withall
 
    Sol. And Shylocke for his owne part knew the bird was
 fledg'd, and then it is the complexion of them al to leaue
 the dam
 
    Shy. She is damn'd for it
 
    Sal. That's certaine, if the diuell may be her Iudge
 
    Shy. My owne flesh and blood to rebell
 
    Sol. Out vpon it old carrion, rebels it at these yeeres
 
    Shy. I say my daughter is my flesh and bloud
 
    Sal. There is more difference betweene thy flesh and
 hers, then betweene Iet and Iuorie, more betweene your
 bloods, then there is betweene red wine and rennish: but
 tell vs, doe you heare whether Anthonio haue had anie
 losse at sea or no?
   Shy. There I haue another bad match, a bankrout, a
 prodigall, who dare scarce shew his head on the Ryalto,
 a begger that was vsd to come so smug vpon the Mart:
 let him look to his bond, he was wont to call me Vsurer,
 let him looke to his bond, he was wont to lend money
 for a Christian curtsie, let him looke to his bond
 
    Sal. Why I am sure if he forfaite, thou wilt not take
 his flesh, what's that good for?
   Shy. To baite fish withall, if it will feede nothing
 else, it will feede my reuenge; he hath disgrac'd me, and
 hindred me halfe a million, laught at my losses, mockt at
 my gaines, scorned my Nation, thwarted my bargaines,
 cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and what's the
 reason? I am a Iewe: Hath not a Iew eyes? hath not a
 Iew hands, organs, dementions, sences, affections, passions,
 fed with the same foode, hurt with the same weapons,
 subiect to the same diseases, healed by the same
 meanes, warmed and cooled by the same Winter and
 Sommer as a Christian is: if you pricke vs doe we not
 bleede? if you tickle vs, doe we not laugh? if you poison
 vs doe we not die? and if you wrong vs shall we not reuenge?
 if we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you
 in that. If a Iew wrong a Christian, what is his humility,
 reuenge? If a Christian wrong a Iew, what should his sufferance
 be by Christian example, why reuenge? The villanie
 you teach me I will execute, and it shall goe hard
 but I will better the instruction.
 Enter a man from Anthonio.
 
 Gentlemen, my maister Anthonio is at his house, and
 desires to speake with you both
 
    Sal. We haue beene vp and downe to seeke him.
 Enter Tuball.
 
   Sol. Here comes another of the Tribe, a third cannot
 be matcht, vnlesse the diuell himselfe turne Iew.
 
 Exeunt. Gentlemen
 
    Shy. How now Tuball, what newes from Genowa? hast
 thou found my daughter?
   Tub. I often came where I did heare of her, but cannot
 finde her
 
    Shy. Why there, there, there, there, a diamond gone
 cost me two thousand ducats in Franckford, the curse neuer
 fell vpon our Nation till now, I neuer felt it till now,
 two thousand ducats in that, and other precious, precious
 iewels: I would my daughter were dead at my foot,
 and the iewels in her eare: would she were hearst at my
 foote, and the duckets in her coffin: no newes of them,
 why so? and I know not how much is spent in the search:
 why thou losse vpon losse, the theefe gone with so
 much, and so much to finde the theefe, and no satisfaction,
 no reuenge, nor no ill luck stirring but what lights
 a my shoulders, no sighes but a my breathing, no teares
 but a my shedding
 
    Tub. Yes, other men haue ill lucke too, Anthonio as I
 heard in Genowa?
   Shy. What, what, what, ill lucke, ill lucke
 
    Tub. Hath an Argosie cast away comming from Tripolis
 
    Shy. I thanke God, I thanke God, is it true, is it true?
   Tub. I spoke with some of the Saylers that escaped
 the wracke
 
    Shy. I thanke thee good Tuball, good newes, good
 newes: ha, ha, here in Genowa
 
    Tub. Your daughter spent in Genowa, as I heard, one
 night fourescore ducats
 
    Shy. Thou stick'st a dagger in me, I shall neuer see my
 gold againe, fourescore ducats at a sitting, fourescore ducats
 
    Tub. There came diuers of Anthonios creditors in my
 company to Venice, that sweare hee cannot choose but
 breake
 
    Shy. I am very glad of it, ile plague him, ile torture
 him, I am glad of it,
   Tub. One of them shewed me a ring that hee had of
 your daughter for a Monkie
 
    Shy. Out vpon her, thou torturest me Tuball, it was
 my Turkies, I had it of Leah when I was a Batcheler: I
 would not haue giuen it for a wildernesse of Monkies
 
    Tub. But Anthonio is certainely vndone
 
    Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true, goe Tuball, see
 me an Officer, bespeake him a fortnight before, I will
 haue the heart of him if he forfeit, for were he out of Venice,
 I can make what merchandize I will: goe Tuball,
 and meete me at our Sinagogue, goe good Tuball, at our
 Sinagogue Tuball.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Bassanio, Portia, Gratiano, and all their traine.
 
   Por. I pray you tarrie, pause a day or two
 Before you hazard, for in choosing wrong
 I loose your companie; therefore forbeare a while,
 There's something tels me (but it is not loue)
 I would not loose you, and you know your selfe,
 Hate counsailes not in such a quallitie;
 But least you should not vnderstand me well,
 And yet a maiden hath no tongue, but thought,
 I would detaine you here some month or two
 Before you venture for me. I could teach you
 How to choose right, but then I am forsworne,
 So will I neuer be, so may you misse me,
 But if you doe, youle make me wish a sinne,
 That I had beene forsworne: Beshrow your eyes,
 They haue ore-lookt me and deuided me,
 One halfe of me is yours, the other halfe yours,
 Mine owne I would say: but of mine then yours,
 And so all yours; O these naughtie times
 Puts bars betweene the owners and their rights.
 And so though yours, not yours (proue it so)
 Let Fortune goe to hell for it, not I.
 I speake too long, but 'tis to peize the time,
 To ich it, and to draw it out in length,
 To stay you from election
 
    Bass. Let me choose,
 For as I am, I liue vpon the racke
 
    Por. Vpon the racke Bassanio, then confesse
 What treason there is mingled with your loue
 
    Bass. None but that vglie treason of mistrust.
 Which makes me feare the enioying of my loue:
 There may as well be amitie and life,
 'Tweene snow and fire, as treason and my loue
 
    Por. I, but I feare you speake vpon the racke,
 Where men enforced doth speake any thing
 
    Bass. Promise me life, and ile confesse the truth
 
    Por. Well then, confesse and liue
 
    Bass. Confesse and loue
 Had beene the verie sum of my confession:
 O happie torment, when my torturer
 Doth teach me answers for deliuerance:
 But let me to my fortune and the caskets
 
    Por. Away then, I am lockt in one of them,
 If you doe loue me, you will finde me out.
 Nerryssa and the rest, stand all aloofe,
 Let musicke sound while he doth make his choise,
 Then if he loose he makes a Swan-like end,
 Fading in musique. That the comparison
 May stand more proper, my eye shall be the streame
 And watrie death-bed for him: he may win,
 And what is musique than? Than musique is
 Euen as the flourish, when true subiects bowe
 To a new crowned Monarch: Such it is,
 As are those dulcet sounds in breake of day,
 That creepe into the dreaming bride-groomes eare,
 And summon him to marriage. Now he goes
 With no lesse presence, but with much more loue
 Then yong Alcides, when he did redeeme
 The virgine tribute, paied by howling Troy
 To the Sea-monster: I stand for sacrifice,
 The rest aloofe are the Dardanian wiues:
 With bleared visages come forth to view
 The issue of th' exploit: Goe Hercules,
 Liue thou, I liue with much more dismay
 I view the sight, then thou that mak'st the fray.
 
 Here Musicke. A Song the whilst Bassanio comments on the
 Caskets to
 himselfe.
 
 Tell me where is fancie bred,
 Or in the heart, or in the head:
 How begot, how nourished. Replie, replie.
 It is engendred in the eyes,
 With gazing fed, and Fancie dies,
 In the cradle where it lies:
 Let vs all ring Fancies knell.
 Ile begin it.
 Ding, dong, bell
 
    All. Ding, dong, bell
 
    Bass. So may the outward showes be least themselues
 The world is still deceiu'd with ornament.
 In Law, what Plea so tainted and corrupt,
 But being season'd with a gracious voice,
 Obscures the show of euill? In Religion,
 What damned error, but some sober brow
 Will blesse it, and approue it with a text,
 Hiding the grosenesse with faire ornament:
 There is no voice so simple, but assumes
 Some marke of vertue on his outward parts;
 How manie cowards, whose hearts are all as false
 As stayers of sand, weare yet vpon their chins
 The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars,
 Who inward searcht, haue lyuers white as milke,
 And these assume but valors excrement,
 To render them redoubted. Looke on beautie,
 And you shall see 'tis purchast by the weight,
 Which therein workes a miracle in nature,
 Making them lightest that weare most of it:
 So are those crisped snakie golden locks
 Which makes such wanton gambols with the winde
 Vpon supposed fairenesse, often knowne
 To be the dowrie of a second head,
 The scull that bred them in the Sepulcher.
 Thus ornament is but the guiled shore
 To a most dangerous sea: the beautious scarfe
 Vailing an Indian beautie; In a word,
 The seeming truth which cunning times put on
 To intrap the wisest. Therefore then thou gaudie gold,
 Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee,
 Nor none of thee thou pale and common drudge
 'Tweene man and man: but thou, thou meager lead
 Which rather threatnest then dost promise ought,
 Thy palenesse moues me more then eloquence,
 And here choose I, ioy be the consequence
 
    Por. How all the other passions fleet to ayre,
 As doubtfull thoughts, and rash imbrac'd despaire:
 And shuddring feare, and greene-eyed iealousie.
 O loue be moderate, allay thy extasie,
 In measure raine thy ioy, scant this excesse,
 I feele too much thy blessing, make it lesse,
 For feare I surfeit
 
    Bas. What finde I here?
 Faire Portias counterfeit. What demie God
 Hath come so neere creation? moue these eies?
 Or whether riding on the bals of mine
 Seeme they in motion? Here are seuer'd lips
 Parted with suger breath, so sweet a barre
 Should sunder such sweet friends: here in her haires
 The Painter plaies the Spider, and hath wouen
 A golden mesh t' intrap the hearts of men
 Faster then gnats in cobwebs: but her eies,
 How could he see to doe them? hauing made one,
 Me thinkes it should haue power to steale both his
 And leaue it selfe vnfurnisht: Yet looke how farre
 The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow
 In vnderprising it, so farre this shadow
 Doth limpe behinde the substance. Here's the scroule,
 The continent, and summarie of my fortune.
 You that choose not by the view
 Chance as faire, and choose as true:
 Since this fortune fals to you,
 Be content, and seeke no new.
 If you be well pleasd with this,
 And hold your fortune for your blisse,
 Turne you where your Lady is,
 And claime her with a louing kisse
 
    Bass. A gentle scroule: Faire Lady, by your leaue,
 I come by note to giue, and to receiue,
 Like one of two contending in a prize
 That thinks he hath done well in peoples eies:
 Hearing applause and vniuersall shout,
 Giddie in spirit, still gazing in a doubt
 Whether those peales of praise be his or no.
 So thrice faire Lady stand I euen so,
 As doubtfull whether what I see be true,
 Vntill confirm'd, sign'd, ratified by you
 
    Por. You see my Lord Bassiano where I stand,
 Such as I am; though for my selfe alone
 I would not be ambitious in my wish,
 To wish my selfe much better, yet for you,
 I would be trebled twenty times my selfe,
 A thousand times more faire, ten thousand times
 More rich, that onely to stand high in your account,
 I might in vertues, beauties, liuings, friends,
 Exceed account: but the full summe of me
 Is sum of nothing: which to terme in grosse,
 Is an vnlessoned girle, vnschool'd, vnpractiz'd,
 Happy in this, she is not yet so old
 But she may learne: happier then this,
 Shee is not bred so dull but she can learne;
 Happiest of all, is that her gentle spirit
 Commits it selfe to yours to be directed,
 As from her Lord, her Gouernour, her King.
 My selfe, and what is mine, to you and yours
 Is now conuerted. But now I was the Lord
 Of this faire mansion, master of my seruants,
 Queene ore my selfe: and euen now, but now,
 This house, these seruants, and this same my selfe
 Are yours, my Lord, I giue them with this ring,
 Which when you part from, loose, or giue away,
 Let it presage the ruine of your loue,
 And be my vantage to exclaime on you
 
    Bass. Maddam, you haue bereft me of all words,
 Onely my bloud speakes to you in my vaines,
 And there is such confusion in my powers,
 As after some oration fairely spoke
 By a beloued Prince, there doth appeare
 Among the buzzing pleased multitude,
 Where euery something being blent together,
 Turnes to a wilde of nothing, saue of ioy
 Exprest, and not exprest: but when this ring
 Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence,
 O then be bold to say Bassanio's dead
 
    Ner. My Lord and Lady, it is now our time
 That haue stood by and seene our wishes prosper,
 To cry good ioy, good ioy my Lord and Lady
 
    Gra. My Lord Bassanio, and my gentle Lady,
 I wish you all the ioy that you can wish:
 For I am sure you can wish none from me:
 And when your Honours meane to solemnize
 The bargaine of your faith: I doe beseech you
 Euen at that time I may be married too
 
    Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife
 
    Gra. I thanke your Lordship, you haue got me one.
 My eyes my Lord can looke as swift as yours:
 You saw the mistres, I beheld the maid:
 You lou'd, I lou'd for intermission,
 No more pertaines to me my Lord then you;
 Your fortune stood vpon the caskets there,
 And so did mine too, as the matter falls:
 For wooing heere vntill I swet againe,
 And swearing till my very rough was dry
 With oathes of loue, at last, if promise last,
 I got a promise of this faire one heere
 To haue her loue: prouided that your fortune
 Atchieu'd her mistresse
 
    Por. Is this true Nerrissa?
   Ner. Madam it is so, so you stand pleas'd withall
 
    Bass. And doe you Gratiano meane good faith?
   Gra. Yes faith my Lord
 
    Bass. Our feast shall be much honored in your marriage
 
    Gra. Weele play with them the first boy for a thousand
 ducats
 
    Ner. What and stake downe?
   Gra. No, we shal nere win at that sport, and stake
 downe.
 But who comes heere? Lorenzo and his Infidell?
 What and my old Venetian friend Salerio?
 Enter Lorenzo, Iessica, and Salerio.
 
   Bas. Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hether,
 If that the youth of my new interest heere
 Haue power to bid you welcome: by your leaue
 I bid my verie friends and Countrimen
 Sweet Portia welcome
 
    Por. So do I my Lord, they are intirely welcome
 
    Lor. I thanke your honor; for my part my Lord,
 My purpose was not to haue seene you heere,
 But meeting with Salerio by the way,
 He did intreate mee past all saying nay
 To come with him along
 
    Sal. I did my Lord,
 And I haue reason for it, Signior Anthonio
 Commends him to you
 
    Bass. Ere I ope his Letter
 I pray you tell me how my good friend doth
 
    Sal. Not sicke my Lord, vnlesse it be in minde,
 Nor wel, vnlesse in minde: his Letter there
 Wil shew you his estate.
 
 Opens the Letter.
 
   Gra. Nerrissa, cheere yond stranger, bid her welcom.
 Your hand Salerio, what's the newes from Venice?
 How doth that royal Merchant good Anthonio;
 I know he will be glad of our successe,
 We are the Iasons, we haue won the fleece
 
    Sal. I would you had won the fleece that hee hath
 lost
 
    Por. There are some shrewd contents in yond same
 Paper,
 That steales the colour from Bassianos cheeke,
 Some deere friend dead, else nothing in the world
 Could turne so much the constitution
 Of any constant man. What, worse and worse?
 With leaue Bassanio I am halfe your selfe,
 And I must freely haue the halfe of any thing
 That this same paper brings you
 
    Bass. O sweet Portia,
 Heere are a few of the vnpleasant'st words
 That euer blotted paper. Gentle Ladie
 When I did first impart my loue to you,
 I freely told you all the wealth I had
 Ran in my vaines: I was a Gentleman,
 And then I told you true: and yet deere Ladie,
 Rating my selfe at nothing, you shall see
 How much I was a Braggart, when I told you
 My state was nothing, I should then haue told you
 That I was worse then nothing: for indeede
 I haue ingag'd my selfe to a deere friend,
 Ingag'd my friend to his meere enemie
 To feede my meanes. Heere is a Letter Ladie,
 The paper as the bodie of my friend,
 And euerie word in it a gaping wound
 Issuing life blood. But is it true Salerio,
 Hath all his ventures faild, what not one hit,
 From Tripolis, from Mexico and England,
 From Lisbon, Barbary, and India,
 And not one vessell scape the dreadfull touch
 Of Merchant-marring rocks?
   Sal. Not one my Lord.
 Besides, it should appeare, that if he had
 The present money to discharge the Iew,
 He would not take it: neuer did I know
 A creature that did beare the shape of man
 So keene and greedy to confound a man.
 He plyes the Duke at morning and at night,
 And doth impeach the freedome of the state
 If they deny him iustice. Twenty Merchants,
 The Duke himselfe, and the Magnificoes
 Of greatest port haue all perswaded with him,
 But none can driue him from the enuious plea
 Of forfeiture, of iustice, and his bond
 
    Iessi. When I was with him, I haue heard him sweare
 To Tuball and to Chus, his Countri-men,
 That he would rather haue Anthonio's flesh,
 Then twenty times the value of the summe
 That he did owe him: and I know my Lord,
 If law, authoritie, and power denie not,
 It will goe hard with poore Anthonio
 
    Por. Is it your deere friend that is thus in trouble?
   Bass. The deerest friend to me, the kindest man,
 The best condition'd, and vnwearied spirit
 In doing curtesies: and one in whom
 The ancient Romane honour more appeares
 Then any that drawes breath in Italie
 
    Por. What summe owes he the Iew?
   Bass. For me three thousand ducats
 
    Por. What, no more?
 Pay him sixe thousand, and deface the bond:
 Double sixe thousand, and then treble that,
 Before a friend of this description
 Shall lose a haire through Bassanio's fault.
 First goe with me to Church, and call me wife,
 And then away to Venice to your friend:
 For neuer shall you lie by Portias side
 With an vnquiet soule. You shall haue gold
 To pay the petty debt twenty times ouer.
 When it is payd, bring your true friend along,
 My maid Nerrissa, and my selfe meane time
 Will liue as maids and widdowes; come away,
 For you shall hence vpon your wedding day:
 Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheere,
 Since you are deere bought, I will loue you deere.
 But let me heare the letter of your friend.
 Sweet Bassanio, my ships haue all miscarried, my Creditors
 grow cruell, my estate is very low, my bond to the Iew is
 forfeit, and since in paying it, it is impossible I should liue, all
 debts are cleerd between you and I, if I might see you at my
 death: notwithstanding, vse your pleasure, if your loue doe not
 perswade you to come, let not my letter
 
    Por. O loue! dispach all busines and be gone
 
    Bass. Since I haue your good leaue to goe away,
 I will make hast; but till I come againe,
 No bed shall ere be guilty of my stay,
 Nor rest be interposer twixt vs twaine.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter the Iew, and Solanio, and Anthonio, and the Iaylor.
 
   Iew. Iaylor, looke to him, tell not me of mercy,
 This is the foole that lends out money gratis.
 Iaylor, looke to him
 
    Ant. Heare me yet good Shylok
 
    Iew. Ile haue my bond, speake not against my bond,
 I haue sworne an oath that I will haue my bond:
 Thou call'dst me dog before thou hadst a cause,
 But since I am a dog, beware my phangs,
 The Duke shall grant me iustice, I do wonder
 Thou naughty Iaylor, that thou art so fond
 To come abroad with him at his request
 
    Ant. I pray thee heare me speake
 
    Iew. Ile haue my bond, I will not heare thee speake,
 Ile haue my bond, and therefore speake no more,
 Ile not be made a soft and dull ey'd foole,
 To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yeeld
 To Christian intercessors: follow not,
 Ile haue no speaking, I will haue my bond.
 
 Exit Iew.
 
   Sol. It is the most impenetrable curre
 That euer kept with men
 
    Ant. Let him alone,
 Ile follow him no more with bootlesse prayers:
 He seekes my life, his reason well I know;
 I oft deliuer'd from his forfeitures
 Many that haue at times made mone to me,
 Therefore he hates me
 
    Sol. I am sure the Duke will neuer grant
 this forfeiture to hold
 
    An. The Duke cannot deny the course of law:
 For the commoditie that strangers haue
 With vs in Venice, if it be denied,
 Will much impeach the iustice of the State,
 Since that the trade and profit of the citty
 Consisteth of all Nations. Therefore goe,
 These greefes and losses haue so bated mee,
 That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh
 To morrow, to my bloudy Creditor.
 Well Iaylor, on, pray God Bassanio come
 To see me pay his debt, and then I care not.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Portia, Nerrissa, Lorenzo, Iessica, and a man of Portias.
 
   Lor. Madam, although I speake it in your presence,
 You haue a noble and a true conceit
 Of god-like amity, which appeares most strongly
 In bearing thus the absence of your Lord.
 But if you knew to whom you shew this honour,
 How true a Gentleman you send releefe,
 How deere a louer of my Lord your husband,
 I know you would be prouder of the worke
 Then customary bounty can enforce you
 
    Por. I neuer did repent for doing good,
 Nor shall not now: for in companions
 That do conuerse and waste the time together,
 Whose soules doe beare an egal yoke of loue.
 There must be needs a like proportion
 Of lyniaments, of manners, and of spirit;
 Which makes me thinke that this Anthonio
 Being the bosome louer of my Lord,
 Must needs be like my Lord. If it be so,
 How little is the cost I haue bestowed
 In purchasing the semblance of my soule;
 From out the state of hellish cruelty,
 This comes too neere the praising of my selfe,
 Therefore no more of it: heere other things
 Lorenso I commit into your hands,
 The husbandry and mannage of my house,
 Vntill my Lords returne; for mine owne part
 I haue toward heauen breath'd a secret vow,
 To liue in prayer and contemplation,
 Onely attended by Nerrissa heere,
 Vntill her husband and my Lords returne:
 There is a monastery too miles off,
 And there we will abide. I doe desire you
 Not to denie this imposition,
 The which my loue and some necessity
 Now layes vpon you
 
    Lorens. Madame, with all my heart,
 I shall obey you in all faire commands
 
    Por. My people doe already know my minde,
 And will acknowledge you and Iessica
 In place of Lord Bassanio and my selfe.
 So far you well till we shall meete againe
 
    Lor. Faire thoughts & happy houres attend on you
 
    Iessi. I wish your Ladiship all hearts content
 
    Por. I thanke you for your wish, and am well pleas'd
 To wish it backe on you: faryouwell Iessica.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Now Balthaser, as I haue euer found thee honest true,
 So let me finde thee still: take this same letter,
 And vse thou all the indeauor of a man,
 In speed to Mantua, see thou render this
 Into my cosins hand, Doctor Belario,
 And looke what notes and garments he doth giue thee,
 Bring them I pray thee with imagin'd speed
 Vnto the Tranect, to the common Ferrie
 Which trades to Venice; waste no time in words,
 But get thee gone, I shall be there before thee
 
    Balth. Madam, I goe with all conuenient speed
 
    Por. Come on Nerissa, I haue worke in hand
 That you yet know not of; wee'll see our husbands
 Before they thinke of vs?
   Nerrissa. Shall they see vs?
   Portia. They shall Nerrissa: but in such a habit,
 That they shall thinke we are accomplished
 With that we lacke; Ile hold thee any wager
 When we are both accoutered like yong men,
 Ile proue the prettier fellow of the two,
 And weare my dagger with the brauer grace,
 And speake betweene the change of man and boy,
 With a reede voyce, and turne two minsing steps
 Into a manly stride; and speake of frayes
 Like a fine bragging youth: and tell quaint lyes
 How honourable Ladies sought my loue,
 Which I denying, they fell sicke and died.
 I could not doe withall: then Ile repent,
 And wish for all that, that I had not kil'd them;
 And twentie of these punie lies Ile tell,
 That men shall sweare I haue discontinued schoole
 Aboue a twelue moneth: I haue within my minde
 A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Iacks,
 Which I will practise
 
    Nerris. Why, shall wee turne to men?
   Portia. Fie, what a questions that?
 If thou wert nere a lewd interpreter:
 But come, Ile tell thee all my whole deuice
 When I am in my coach, which stayes for vs
 At the Parke gate; and therefore haste away,
 For we must measure twentie miles to day.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Clowne and Iessica.
 
   Clown. Yes truly; for looke you, the sinnes of the Father
 are to be laid vpon the children, therefore I promise
 you, I feare you, I was alwaies plaine with you, and so
 now I speake my agitation of the matter: therfore be of
 good cheere, for truly I thinke you are damn'd, there is
 but one hope in it that can doe you anie good, and that is
 but a kinde of bastard hope neither
 
    Iessica. And what hope is that I pray thee?
   Clow. Marrie you may partlie hope that your father
 got you not, that you are not the Iewes daughter
 
    Ies. That were a kinde of bastard hope indeed, so the
 sins of my mother should be visited vpon me
 
    Clow. Truly then I feare you are damned both by father
 and mother: thus when I shun Scilla your father, I
 fall into Charibdis your mother; well, you are gone both
 waies
 
    Ies. I shall be sau'd by my husband, he hath made me
 a Christian
 
    Clow. Truly the more to blame he, we were Christians
 enow before, e'ne as many as could wel liue one by another:
 this making of Christians will raise the price of
 Hogs, if wee grow all to be porke-eaters, wee shall not
 shortlie haue a rasher on the coales for money.
 Enter Lorenzo.
 
   Ies. Ile tell my husband Lancelet what you say, heere
 he comes
 
    Loren. I shall grow iealous of you shortly Lancelet,
 if you thus get my wife into corners?
   Ies. Nay, you need not feare vs Lorenzo, Launcelet
 and I are out, he tells me flatly there is no mercy for mee
 in heauen, because I am a Iewes daughter: and hee saies
 you are no good member of the common wealth, for
 in conuerting Iewes to Christians, you raise the price
 of Porke
 
    Loren. I shall answere that better to the Commonwealth,
 than you can the getting vp of the Negroes bellie:
 the Moore is with childe by you Launcelet?
   Clow. It is much that the Moore should be more then
 reason: but if she be lesse then an honest woman, shee is
 indeed more then I tooke her for
 
    Loren. How euerie foole can play vpon the word, I
 thinke the best grace of witte will shortly turne into silence,
 and discourse grow commendable in none onely
 but Parrats: goe in sirra, bid them prepare for dinner?
   Clow. That is done sir, they haue all stomacks?
   Loren. Goodly Lord, what a witte-snapper are you,
 then bid them prepare dinner
 
    Clow. That is done to sir, onely couer is the word
 
    Loren. Will you couer than sir?
   Clow. Not so sir neither, I know my dutie
 
    Loren. Yet more quarreling with occasion, wilt thou
 shew the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant; I pray
 thee vnderstand a plaine man in his plaine meaning: goe
 to thy fellowes, bid them couer the table, serue in the
 meat, and we will come in to dinner
 
    Clow. For the table sir, it shall be seru'd in, for the
 meat sir, it shall bee couered, for your comming in to
 dinner sir, why let it be as humors and conceits shall gouerne.
 
 Exit Clowne.
 
   Lor. O deare discretion, how his words are suted,
 The foole hath planted in his memory
 An Armie of good words, and I doe know
 A many fooles that stand in better place,
 Garnisht like him, that for a tricksie word
 Defie the matter: how cheer'st thou Iessica,
 And now good sweet say thy opinion,
 How dost thou like the Lord Bassiano's wife?
   Iessi. Past all expressing, it is very meete
 The Lord Bassanio liue an vpright life
 For hauing such a blessing in his Lady,
 He findes the ioyes of heauen heere on earth,
 And if on earth he doe not meane it, it
 Is reason he should neuer come to heauen?
 Why, if two gods should play some heauenly match,
 And on the wager lay two earthly women,
 And Portia one: there must be something else
 Paund with the other, for the poore rude world
 Hath not her fellow
 
    Loren. Euen such a husband
 Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife
 
    Ies. Nay, but aske my opinion to of that?
   Lor. I will anone, first let vs goe to dinner?
   Ies. Nay, let me praise you while I haue a stomacke?
   Lor. No pray thee, let it serue for table talke,
 Then how som ere thou speakst 'mong other things,
 I shall digest it?
   Iessi. Well, Ile set you forth.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 
 Actus Quartus.
 
 Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Anthonio, Bassanio, and
 Gratiano
 
    Duke. What, is Anthonio heere?
   Ant. Ready, so please your grace?
   Duke. I am sorry for thee, thou art come to answere
 A stonie aduersary, an inhumane wretch,
 Vncapable of pitty, voyd, and empty
 From any dram of mercie
 
    Ant. I haue heard
 Your Grace hath tane great paines to qualifie
 His rigorous course: but since he stands obdurate,
 And that no lawful meanes can carrie me
 Out of his enuies reach, I do oppose
 My patience to his fury, and am arm'd
 To suffer with a quietnesse of spirit,
 The very tiranny and rage of his
 
    Du. Go one and cal the Iew into the Court
 
    Sal. He is ready at the doore, he comes my Lord.
 Enter Shylocke.
 
   Du. Make roome, and let him stand before our face.
 Shylocke the world thinkes, and I thinke so to
 That thou but leadest this fashion of thy mallice
 To the last houre of act, and then 'tis thought
 Thou'lt shew thy mercy and remorse more strange,
 Than is thy strange apparant cruelty;
 And where thou now exact'st the penalty,
 Which is a pound of this poore Merchants flesh,
 Thou wilt not onely loose the forfeiture,
 But touch'd with humane gentlenesse and loue:
 Forgiue a moytie of the principall,
 Glancing an eye of pitty on his losses
 That haue of late so hudled on his backe,
 Enow to presse a royall Merchant downe;
 And plucke commiseration of his state
 From brassie bosomes, and rough hearts of flints,
 From stubborne Turkes and Tarters neuer traind
 To offices of tender curtesie,
 We all expect a gentle answer Iew?
   Iew. I haue possest your grace of what I purpose,
 And by our holy Sabbath haue I sworne
 To haue the due and forfeit of my bond.
 If you denie it, let the danger light
 Vpon your Charter, and your Cities freedome.
 You'l aske me why I rather choose to haue
 A weight of carrion flesh, then to receiue
 Three thousand Ducats? Ile not answer that:
 But say it is my humor; Is it answered?
 What if my house be troubled with a Rat,
 And I be pleas'd to giue ten thousand Ducates
 To haue it bain'd? What, are you answer'd yet?
 Some men there are loue not a gaping Pigge:
 Some that are mad, if they behold a Cat:
 And others, when the bag-pipe sings i'th nose,
 Cannot containe their Vrine for affection.
 Masters of passion swayes it to the moode
 Of what it likes or loaths, now for your answer:
 As there is no firme reason to be rendred
 Why he cannot abide a gaping Pigge?
 Why he a harmlesse necessarie Cat?
 Why he a woollen bag-pipe: but of force
 Must yeeld to such ineuitable shame,
 As to offend himselfe being offended:
 So can I giue no reason, nor I will not,
 More then a lodg'd hate, and a certaine loathing
 I beare Anthonio, that I follow thus
 A loosing suite against him? Are you answered?
   Bass. This is no answer thou vnfeeling man,
 To excuse the currant of thy cruelty
 
    Iew. I am not bound to please thee with my answer
 
    Bass. Do all men kil the things they do not loue?
   Iew. Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
   Bass. Euerie offence is not a hate at first
 
    Iew. What wouldst thou haue a Serpent sting thee
 twice?
   Ant. I pray you thinke you question with the Iew:
 You may as well go stand vpon the beach,
 And bid the maine flood baite his vsuall height,
 Or euen as well vse question with the Wolfe,
 The Ewe bleate for the Lambe:
 You may as well forbid the Mountaine Pines
 To wagge their high tops, and to make no noise
 When they are fretted with the gusts of heauen:
 You may as well do any thing most hard,
 As seeke to soften that, then which what harder?
 His Iewish heart. Therefore I do beseech you
 Make no more offers, vse no farther meanes,
 But with all briefe and plaine conueniencie
 Let me haue iudgement, and the Iew his will
 
    Bas. For thy three thousand Ducates heere is six
 
    Iew. If euerie Ducat in sixe thousand Ducates
 Were in sixe parts, and euery part a Ducate,
 I would not draw them, I would haue my bond?
   Du. How shalt thou hope for mercie, rendring none?
   Iew. What iudgement shall I dread doing no wrong?
 You haue among you many a purchast slaue,
 Which like your Asses, and your Dogs and Mules,
 You vse in abiect and in slauish parts,
 Because you bought them. Shall I say to you,
 Let them be free, marrie them to your heires?
 Why sweate they vnder burthens? Let their beds
 Be made as soft as yours: and let their pallats
 Be season'd with such Viands: you will answer
 The slaues are ours. So do I answer you.
 The pound of flesh which I demand of him
 Is deerely bought, 'tis mine, and I will haue it.
 If you deny me; fie vpon your Law,
 There is no force in the decrees of Venice;
 I stand for iudgement, answer, Shall I haue it?
   Du. Vpon my power I may dismisse this Court,
 Vnlesse Bellario a learned Doctor,
 Whom I haue sent for to determine this,
 Come heere to day
 
    Sal. My Lord, heere stayes without
 A Messenger with Letters from the Doctor,
 New come from Padua
 
    Du. Bring vs the Letters, Call the Messengers
 
    Bass. Good cheere Anthonio. What man, corage yet:
 The Iew shall haue my flesh, blood, bones, and all,
 Ere thou shalt loose for me one drop of blood
 
    Ant. I am a tainted Weather of the flocke,
 Meetest for death, the weakest kinde of fruite
 Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me;
 You cannot better be employ'd Bassanio,
 Then to liue still, and write mine Epitaph.
 Enter Nerrissa.
 
   Du. Came you from Padua from Bellario?
   Ner. From both.
 My Lord Bellario greets your Grace
 
    Bas. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
   Iew. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrout there
 
    Gra. Not on thy soale: but on thy soule harsh Iew
 Thou mak'st thy knife keene: but no mettall can,
 No, not the hangmans Axe beare halfe the keennesse
 Of thy sharpe enuy. Can no prayers pierce thee?
   Iew. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make
 
    Gra. O be thou damn'd, inexecrable dogge,
 And for thy life let iustice be accus'd:
 Thou almost mak'st me wauer in my faith;
 To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
 That soules of Animals infuse themselues
 Into the trunkes of men. Thy currish spirit
 Gouern'd a Wolfe, who hang'd for humane slaughter,
 Euen from the gallowes did his fell soule fleet;
 And whil'st thou layest in thy vnhallowed dam,
 Infus'd it selfe in thee: For thy desires
 Are Woluish, bloody, steru'd, and rauenous
 
    Iew. Till thou canst raile the seale from off my bond
 Thou but offend'st thy Lungs to speake so loud:
 Repaire thy wit good youth, or it will fall
 To endlesse ruine. I stand heere for Law
 
    Du. This Letter from Bellario doth commend
 A yong and Learned Doctor in our Court;
 Where is he?
   Ner. He attendeth heere hard by
 To know your answer, whether you'l admit him
 
    Du. With all my heart. Some three or four of you
 Go giue him curteous conduct to this place,
 Meane time the Court shall heare Bellarioes Letter.
 Your Grace shall vnderstand, that at the receite of your
 Letter I am very sicke: but in the instant that your messenger
 came, in louing visitation, was with me a yong Doctor
 of Rome, his name is Balthasar: I acquainted him with
 the cause in Controuersie, betweene the Iew and Anthonio
 the Merchant: We turn'd ore many Bookes together: hee is
 furnished with my opinion, which bettred with his owne learning,
 the greatnesse whereof I cannot enough commend, comes
 with him at my importunity, to fill vp your Graces request in
 my sted. I beseech you, let his lacke of years be no impediment
 to let him lacke a reuerend estimation: for I neuer knewe so
 yong a body, with so old a head. I leaue him to your gracious
 acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.
 Enter Portia for Balthazar.
 
   Duke. You heare the learn'd Bellario what he writes,
 And heere (I take it) is the Doctor come.
 Giue me your hand: Came you from old Bellario?
   Por. I did my Lord
 
    Du. You are welcome: take your place;
 Are you acquainted with the difference
 That holds this present question in the Court
 
    Por. I am enformed throughly of the cause.
 Which is the Merchant heere? and which the Iew?
   Du. Anthonio and old Shylocke, both stand forth
 
    Por. Is your name Shylocke?
   Iew. Shylocke is my name
 
    Por. Of a strange nature is the sute you follow,
 Yet in such rule, that the Venetian Law
 Cannot impugne you as you do proceed.
 You stand within his danger, do you not?
   Ant. I, so he sayes
 
    Por. Do you confesse the bond?
   Ant. I do
 
    Por. Then must the Iew be mercifull
 
    Iew. On what compulsion must I ? Tell me that
 
    Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
 It droppeth as the gentle raine from heauen
 Vpon the place beneath. It is twice blest,
 It blesseth him that giues, and him that takes,
 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes
 The throned Monarch better then his Crowne.
 His Scepter shewes the force of temporall power,
 The attribute to awe and Maiestie,
 Wherein doth sit the dread and feare of Kings:
 But mercy is aboue this sceptred sway,
 It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings,
 It is an attribute to God himselfe;
 And earthly power doth then shew likest Gods
 When mercie seasons Iustice. Therefore Iew,
 Though Iustice be thy plea, consider this,
 That in the course of Iustice, none of vs
 Should see saluation: we do pray for mercie,
 And that same prayer, doth teach vs all to render
 The deeds of mercie. I haue spoke thus much
 To mittigate the iustice of thy plea:
 Which if thou follow, this strict course of Venice
 Must needes giue sentence 'gainst the Merchant there
 
    Shy. My deeds vpon my head, I craue the Law,
 The penaltie and forfeite of my bond
 
    Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?
   Bas. Yes, heere I tender it for him in the Court,
 Yea, twice the summe, if that will not suffice,
 I will be bound to pay it ten times ore,
 On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart:
 If this will not suffice, it must appeare
 That malice beares downe truth. And I beseech you
 Wrest once the Law to your authority.
 To do a great right, do a little wrong,
 And curbe this cruell diuell of his will
 
    Por. It must not be, there is no power in Venice
 Can alter a decree established:
 'Twill be recorded for a President,
 And many an error by the same example,
 Will rush into the state: It cannot be
 
    Iew. A Daniel come to iudgement, yea a Daniel.
 O wise young Iudge, how do I honour thee
 
    Por. I pray you let me looke vpon the bond
 
    Iew. Heere 'tis most reuerend Doctor, heere it is
 
    Por. Shylocke, there's thrice thy monie offered thee
 
    Shy. An oath, an oath, I haue an oath in heauen:
 Shall I lay periurie vpon my soule?
 No not for Venice
 
    Por. Why this bond is forfeit,
 And lawfully by this the Iew may claime
 A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
 Neerest the Merchants heart; be mercifull,
 Take thrice thy money, bid me teare the bond
 
    Iew. When it is paid according to the tenure.
 It doth appeare you are a worthy Iudge:
 You know the Law, your exposition
 Hath beene most sound. I charge you by the Law,
 Whereof you are a well-deseruing pillar,
 Proceede to iudgement: By my soule I sweare,
 There is no power in the tongue of man
 To alter me: I stay heere on my bond
 
    An. Most heartily I do beseech the Court
 To giue the iudgement
 
    Por. Why then thus it is:
 You must prepare your bosome for his knife
 
    Iew. O noble Iudge, O excellent yong man
 
    Por. For the intent and purpose of the Law
 Hath full relation to the penaltie,
 Which heere appeareth due vpon the bond
 
    Iew. 'Tis verie true: O wise and vpright Iudge,
 How much more elder art thou then thy lookes?
   Por. Therefore lay bare your bosome
 
    Iew. I, his brest,
 So sayes the bond, doth it not noble Iudge?
 Neerest his heart, those are the very words
 
    Por. It is so: Are there ballance heere to weigh the
 flesh?
   Iew. I haue them ready
 
    Por. Haue by some Surgeon Shylock on your charge
 To stop his wounds, least he should bleede to death
 
    Iew. It is not nominated in the bond?
   Por. It is not so exprest: but what of that?
 'Twere good you do so much for charitie
 
    Iew. I cannot finde it, 'tis not in the bond
 
    Por. Come Merchant, haue you any thing to say?
   Ant. But little: I am arm'd and well prepar'd.
 Giue me your hand Bassanio, fare you well.
 Greeue not that I am falne to this for you:
 For heerein fortune shewes her selfe more kinde
 Then is her custome. It is still her vse
 To let the wretched man out-liue his wealth,
 To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow
 An age of pouerty. From which lingring penance
 Of such miserie, doth she cut me off:
 Commend me to your honourable Wife,
 Tell her the processe of Anthonio's end:
 Say how I lou'd you; speake me faire in death:
 And when the tale is told, bid her be iudge,
 Whether Bassanio had not once a Loue:
 Repent not you that you shall loose your friend,
 And he repents not that he payes your debt.
 For if the Iew do cut but deepe enough,
 Ile pay it instantly, with all my heart
 
    Bas. Anthonio, I am married to a wife,
 Which is as deere to me as life it selfe,
 But life it selfe, my wife, and all the world,
 Are not with me esteem'd aboue thy life.
 I would loose all, I sacrifice them all
 Heere to this deuill, to deliuer you
 
    Por. Your wife would giue you little thanks for that
 If she were by to heare you make the offer
 
    Gra. I haue a wife whom I protest I loue,
 I would she were in heauen, so she could
 Intreat some power to change this currish Iew
 
    Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behinde her backe,
 The wish would make else an vnquiet house
 
    Iew. These be the Christian husbands: I haue a daughter
 Would any of the stocke of Barrabas
 Had beene her husband, rather then a Christian.
 We trifle time, I pray thee pursue sentence
 
    Por. A pound of that same marchants flesh is thine,
 The Court awards it, and the law doth giue it
 
    Iew. Most rightfull Iudge
 
    Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast,
 The Law allowes it, and the Court awards it
 
    Iew. Most learned Iudge, a sentence, come prepare
 
    Por. Tarry a little, there is something else,
 This bond doth giue thee heere no iot of bloud,
 The words expresly are a pound of flesh:
 Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh,
 But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
 One drop of Christian bloud, thy lands and goods
 Are by the Lawes of Venice confiscate
 Vnto the state of Venice
 
    Gra. O vpright Iudge,
 Marke Iew, o learned Iudge
 
    Shy. Is that the law?
   Por. Thy selfe shalt see the Act:
 For as thou vrgest iustice, be assur'd
 Thou shalt haue iustice more then thou desirest
 
    Gra. O learned Iudge, mark Iew, a learned Iudge
 
    Iew. I take this offer then, pay the bond thrice,
 And let the Christian goe
 
    Bass. Heere is the money
 
    Por. Soft, the Iew shall haue all iustice, soft, no haste,
 He shall haue nothing but the penalty
 
    Gra. O Iew, an vpright Iudge, a learned Iudge
 
    Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh,
 Shed thou no bloud, nor cut thou lesse nor more
 But iust a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more
 Or lesse then a iust pound, be it so much
 As makes it light or heauy in the substance,
 Or the deuision of the twentieth part
 Of one poore scruple, nay if the scale doe turne
 But in the estimation of a hayre,
 Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate
 
    Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel Iew,
 Now infidell I haue thee on the hip
 
    Por. Why doth the Iew pause, take thy forfeiture
 
    Shy. Giue me my principall, and let me goe
 
    Bass. I haue it ready for thee, heere it is
 
    Por. He hath refus'd it in the open Court,
 He shall haue meerly iustice and his bond
 
    Gra. A Daniel still say I, a second Daniel,
 I thanke thee Iew for teaching me that word
 
    Shy. Shall I not haue barely my principall?
   Por. Thou shalt haue nothing but the forfeiture,
 To be taken so at thy perill Iew
 
    Shy. Why then the Deuill giue him good of it:
 Ile stay no longer question
 
    Por. Tarry Iew,
 The Law hath yet another hold on you.
 It is enacted in the Lawes of Venice,
 If it be proued against an Alien,
 That by direct, or indirect attempts
 He seeke the life of any Citizen,
 The party gainst the which he doth contriue,
 Shall seaze one halfe his goods, the other halfe
 Comes to the priuie coffer of the State,
 And the offenders life lies in the mercy
 Of the Duke onely, gainst all other voice.
 In which predicament I say thou standst:
 For it appeares by manifest proceeding,
 That indirectly, and directly to,
 Thou hast contriu'd against the very life
 Of the defendant: and thou hast incur'd
 The danger formerly by me rehearst.
 Downe therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke
 
    Gra. Beg that thou maist haue leaue to hang thy selfe,
 And yet thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
 Thou hast not left the value of a cord,
 Therefore thou must be hang'd at the states charge
 
    Duk. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit,
 I pardon thee thy life before thou aske it:
 For halfe thy wealth, it is Anthonio's
 The other halfe comes to the generall state,
 Which humblenesse may driue vnto a fine
 
    Por. I for the state, not for Anthonio
 
    Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that,
 You take my house, when you do take the prop
 That doth sustaine my house: you take my life
 When you doe take the meanes whereby I liue
 
    Por. What mercy can you render him Anthonio?
   Gra. A halter gratis, nothing else for Gods sake
 
    Ant. So please my Lord the Duke, and all the Court
 To quit the fine for one halfe of his goods,
 I am content: so he will let me haue
 The other halfe in vse, to render it
 Vpon his death, vnto the Gentleman
 That lately stole his daughter.
 Two things prouided more, that for this fauour
 He presently become a Christian:
 The other, that he doe record a gift
 Heere in the Court of all he dies possest
 Vnto his sonne Lorenzo, and his daughter
 
    Duk. He shall doe this, or else I doe recant
 The pardon that I late pronounced heere
 
    Por. Art thou contented Iew? what dost thou say?
   Shy. I am content
 
    Por. Clarke, draw a deed of gift
 
    Shy. I pray you giue me leaue to goe from hence,
 I am not well, send the deed after me,
 And I will signe it
 
    Duke. Get thee gone, but doe it
 
    Gra. In christning thou shalt haue two godfathers,
 Had I been iudge, thou shouldst haue had ten more,
 To bring thee to the gallowes, not to the font.
 Enter.
 
   Du. Sir I intreat you with me home to dinner
 
    Por. I humbly doe desire your Grace of pardon,
 I must away this night toward Padua,
 And it is meete I presently set forth
 
    Duk. I am sorry that your leysure serues you not:
 Anthonio, gratifie this gentleman,
 For in my minde you are much bound to him.
 
 Exit Duke and his traine.
 
   Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend
 Haue by your wisedome beene this day acquitted
 Of greeuous penalties, in lieu whereof,
 Three thousand Ducats due vnto the Iew
 We freely cope your curteous paines withall
 
    An. And stand indebted ouer and aboue
 In loue and seruice to you euermore
 
    Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied,
 And I deliuering you, am satisfied,
 And therein doe account my selfe well paid,
 My minde was neuer yet more mercinarie.
 I pray you know me when we meete againe,
 I wish you well, and so I take my leaue
 
    Bass. Deare sir, of force I must attempt you further,
 Take some remembrance of vs as a tribute,
 Not as fee: grant me two things, I pray you
 Not to denie me, and to pardon me
 
    Por. You presse mee farre, and therefore I will yeeld,
 Giue me your gloues, Ile weare them for your sake,
 And for your loue Ile take this ring from you,
 Doe not draw backe your hand, ile take no more,
 And you in loue shall not deny me this?
   Bass. This ring good sir, alas it is a trifle,
 I will not shame my selfe to giue you this
 
    Por. I wil haue nothing else but onely this,
 And now methinkes I haue a minde to it
 
    Bas. There's more depends on this then on the valew,
 The dearest ring in Venice will I giue you,
 And finde it out by proclamation,
 Onely for this I pray you pardon me
 
    Por. I see sir you are liberall in offers,
 You taught me first to beg, and now me thinkes
 You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd
 
    Bas. Good sir, this ring was giuen me by my wife,
 And when she put it on, she made me vow
 That I should neither sell, nor giue, nor lose it
 
    Por. That scuse serues many men to saue their gifts,
 And if your wife be not a mad woman,
 And know how well I haue deseru'd this ring,
 Shee would not hold out enemy for euer
 For giuing it to me: well, peace be with you.
 
 Exeunt.
 
   Ant. My L[ord]. Bassanio, let him haue the ring,
 Let his deseruings and my loue withall
 Be valued against your wiues commandement
 
    Bass. Goe Gratiano, run and ouer-take him,
 Giue him the ring, and bring him if thou canst
 Vnto Anthonios house, away, make haste.
 
 Exit Grati.
 
 Come, you and I will thither presently,
 And in the morning early will we both
 Flie toward Belmont, come Anthonio.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 Enter Portia and Nerrissa.
 
   Por. Enquire the Iewes house out, giue him this deed,
 And let him signe it, wee'll away to night,
 And be a day before our husbands home:
 This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.
 Enter Gratiano.
 
   Gra. Faire sir, you are well ore-tane:
 My L[ord]. Bassanio vpon more aduice,
 Hath sent you heere this ring, and doth intreat
 Your company at dinner
 
    Por. That cannot be;
 His ring I doe accept most thankfully,
 And so I pray you tell him: furthermore,
 I pray you shew my youth old Shylockes house
 
    Gra. That will I doe
 
    Ner. Sir, I would speake with you:
 Ile see if I can get my husbands ring
 Which I did make him sweare to keepe for euer
 
    Por. Thou maist I warrant, we shal haue old swearing
 That they did giue the rings away to men;
 But weele out-face them, and out-sweare them to:
 Away, make haste, thou know'st where I will tarry
 
    Ner. Come good sir, will you shew me to this house.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 
 Actus Quintus.
 
 Enter Lorenzo and Iessica.
 
   Lor. The moone shines bright. In such a night as this,
 When the sweet winde did gently kisse the trees,
 And they did make no noyse, in such a night
 Troylus me thinkes mounted the Troian walls,
 And sigh'd his soule toward the Grecian tents
 Where Cressed lay that night
 
    Ies. In such a night
 Did Thisbie fearefully ore-trip the dewe,
 And saw the Lyons shadow ere himselfe,
 And ranne dismayed away
 
    Loren. In such a night
 Stood Dido with a Willow in her hand
 Vpon the wilde sea bankes, and waft her Loue
 To come againe to Carthage
 
    Ies. In such a night
 Medea gathered the inchanted hearbs
 That did renew old Eson
 
    Loren. In such a night
 Did Iessica steale from the wealthy Iewe,
 And with an Vnthrift Loue did runne from Venice,
 As farre as Belmont
 
    Ies. In such a night
 Did young Lorenzo sweare he lou'd her well,
 Stealing her soule with many vowes of faith,
 And nere a true one
 
    Loren. In such a night
 Did pretty Iessica (like a little shrow)
 Slander her Loue, and he forgaue it her
 
    Iessi. I would out-night you did no body come:
 But harke, I heare the footing of a man.
 Enter Messenger.
 
   Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night?
   Mes. A friend
 
    Loren. A friend, what friend? your name I pray you friend?
   Mes. Stephano is my name, and I bring word
 My Mistresse will before the breake of day
 Be heere at Belmont, she doth stray about
 By holy crosses where she kneeles and prayes
 For happy wedlocke houres
 
    Loren. Who comes with her?
   Mes. None but a holy Hermit and her maid:
 I pray you is my Master yet return'd?
   Loren. He is not, nor we haue not heard from him,
 But goe we in I pray thee Iessica,
 And ceremoniously let vs prepare
 Some welcome for the Mistresse of the house,
 Enter Clowne.
 
   Clo. Sola, sola: wo ha ho, sola, sola
 
    Loren. Who calls?
   Clo. Sola, did you see M[aster]. Lorenzo, & M[aster]. Lorenzo,
 sola,
   Lor. Leaue hollowing man, heere
 
    Clo. Sola, where, where?
   Lor. Heere?
   Clo. Tel him ther's a Post come from my Master, with
 his horne full of good newes, my Master will be here ere
 morning sweete soule
 
    Loren. Let's in, and there expect their comming.
 And yet no matter: why should we goe in?
 My friend Stephen, signifie pray you
 Within the house, your Mistresse is at hand,
 And bring your musique foorth into the ayre.
 How sweet the moone-light sleepes vpon this banke,
 Heere will we sit, and let the sounds of musicke
 Creepe in our eares soft stilnes, and the night
 Become the tutches of sweet harmonie:
 Sit Iessica, looke how the floore of heauen
 Is thicke inlayed with pattens of bright gold,
 There's not the smallest orbe which thou beholdst
 But in his motion like an Angell sings,
 Still quiring to the young eyed Cherubins;
 Such harmonie is in immortall soules,
 But whilst this muddy vesture of decay
 Doth grosly close in it, we cannot heare it:
 Come hoe, and wake Diana with a hymne,
 With sweetest tutches pearce your Mistresse eare,
 And draw her home with musicke
 
    Iessi. I am neuer merry when I heare sweet musique.
 
 Play musicke.
 
   Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentiue:
 For doe but note a wilde and wanton heard
 Or race of youthful and vnhandled colts,
 Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,
 Which is the hot condition of their bloud,
 If they but heare perchance a trumpet sound,
 Or any ayre of musicke touch their eares,
 You shall perceiue them make a mutuall stand,
 Their sauage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze,
 By the sweet power of musicke: therefore the Poet
 Did faine that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods.
 Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage,
 But musicke for time doth change his nature,
 The man that hath no musicke in himselfe,
 Nor is not moued with concord of sweet sounds,
 Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoyles,
 The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
 And his affections darke as Erobus,
 Let no such man be trusted: marke the musicke.
 Enter Portia and Nerrissa.
 
   Por. That light we see is burning in my hall:
 How farre that little candell throwes his beames,
 So shines a good deed in a naughty world
 
    Ner. When the moone shone we did not see the candle?
   Por. So doth the greater glory dim the lesse,
 A substitute shines brightly as a King
 Vntill a King be by, and then his state
 Empties it selfe, as doth an inland brooke
 Into the maine of waters: musique, harke.
 
 Musicke.
 
   Ner. It is your musicke Madame of the house
 
    Por. Nothing is good I see without respect,
 Methinkes it sounds much sweeter then by day?
   Ner. Silence bestowes that vertue on it Madam
 
    Por. The Crow doth sing as sweetly as the Larke
 When neither is attended: and I thinke
 The Nightingale if she should sing by day
 When euery Goose is cackling, would be thought
 No better a Musitian then the Wren?
 How many things by season, season'd are
 To their right praise, and true perfection:
 Peace, how the Moone sleepes with Endimion,
 And would not be awak'd.
 
 Musicke ceases.
 
   Lor. That is the voice,
 Or I am much deceiu'd of Portia
 
    Por. He knowes me as the blinde man knowes the
 Cuckow by the bad voice?
   Lor. Deere Lady welcome home?
   Por. We haue bene praying for our husbands welfare
 Which speed we hope the better for our words,
 Are they return'd?
   Lor. Madam, they are not yet:
 But there is come a Messenger before
 To signifie their comming
 
    Por. Go in Nerrissa,
 Giue order to my seruants, that they take
 No note at all of our being absent hence,
 Nor you Lorenzo, Iessica nor you.
 
 A Tucket sounds.
 
   Lor. Your husband is at hand, I heare his Trumpet,
 We are no tell-tales Madam, feare you not
 
    Por. This night methinkes is but the daylight sicke,
 It lookes a little paler, 'tis a day,
 Such as the day is, when the Sun is hid.
 Enter Bassanio, Anthonio, Gratiano, and their Followers.
 
   Bas. We should hold day with the Antipodes,
 If you would walke in absence of the sunne
 
    Por. Let me giue light, but let me not be light,
 For a light wife doth make a heauie husband,
 And neuer be Bassanio so for me,
 But God sort all: you are welcome home my Lord
 
    Bass. I thanke you Madam, giue welcom to my friend
 This is the man, this is Anthonio,
 To whom I am so infinitely bound
 
    Por. You should in all sence be much bound to him,
 For as I heare he was much bound for you
 
    Anth. No more then I am wel acquitted of
 
    Por. Sir, you are verie welcome to our house:
 It must appeare in other waies then words,
 Therefore I scant this breathing curtesie
 
    Gra. By yonder Moone I sweare you do me wrong,
 Infaith I gaue it to the Iudges Clearke,
 Would he were gelt that had it for my part,
 Since you do take it Loue so much at hart
 
    Por. A quarrel hoe alreadie, what's the matter?
   Gra. About a hoope of Gold, a paltry Ring
 That she did giue me, whose Poesie was
 For all the world like Cutlers Poetry
 Vpon a knife; Loue mee, and leaue mee not
 
    Ner. What talke you of the Poesie or the valew:
 You swore to me when I did giue it you,
 That you would weare it til the houre of death,
 And that it should lye with you in your graue,
 Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths,
 You should haue beene respectiue and haue kept it.
 Gaue it a Iudges Clearke: but wel I know
 The Clearke wil nere weare haire on's face that had it
 
    Gra. He wil, and if he liue to be a man
 
    Nerrissa. I, if a Woman liue to be a man
 
    Gra. Now by this hand I gaue it to a youth,
 A kinde of boy, a little scrubbed boy,
 No higher then thy selfe, the Iudges Clearke,
 A prating boy that begg'd it as a Fee,
 I could not for my heart deny it him
 
    Por. You were too blame, I must be plaine with you,
 To part so slightly with your wiues first gift,
 A thing stucke on with oathes vpon your finger,
 And so riueted with faith vnto your flesh.
 I gaue my Loue a Ring, and made him sweare
 Neuer to part with it, and heere he stands:
 I dare be sworne for him, he would not leaue it,
 Nor plucke it from his finger, for the wealth
 That the world masters. Now in faith Gratiano,
 You giue your wife too vnkinde a cause of greefe,
 And 'twere to me I should be mad at it
 
    Bass. Why I were best to cut my left hand off,
 And sweare I lost the Ring defending it
 
    Gra. My Lord Bassanio gaue his Ring away
 Vnto the Iudge that beg'd it, and indeede
 Deseru'd it too: and then the Boy his Clearke
 That tooke some paines in writing, he begg'd mine,
 And neyther man nor master would take ought
 But the two Rings
 
    Por. What Ring gaue you my Lord?
 Not that I hope which you receiu'd of me
 
    Bass. If I could adde a lie vnto a fault,
 I would deny it: but you see my finger
 Hath not the Ring vpon it, it is gone
 
    Por. Euen so voide is your false heart of truth.
 By heauen I wil nere come in your bed
 Vntil I see the Ring
 
    Ner. Nor I in yours, til I againe see mine
 
    Bass. Sweet Portia,
 If you did know to whom I gaue the Ring,
 If you did know for whom I gaue the Ring,
 And would conceiue for what I gaue the Ring,
 And how vnwillingly I left the Ring,
 When nought would be accepted but the Ring,
 You would abate the strength of your displeasure?
   Por. If you had knowne the vertue of the Ring,
 Or halfe her worthinesse that gaue the Ring,
 Or your owne honour to containe the Ring,
 You would not then haue parted with the Ring:
 What man is there so much vnreasonable,
 If you had pleas'd to haue defended it
 With any termes of Zeale: wanted the modestie
 To vrge the thing held as a ceremonie:
 Nerrissa teaches me what to beleeue,
 Ile die for't, but some Woman had the Ring?
   Bass. No by mine honor Madam, by my soule
 No Woman had it, but a ciuill Doctor,
 Which did refuse three thousand Ducates of me,
 And beg'd the Ring; the which I did denie him,
 And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away:
 Euen he that had held vp the verie life
 Of my deere friend. What should I say sweete Lady?
 I was inforc'd to send it after him,
 I was beset with shame and curtesie,
 My honor would not let ingratitude
 So much besmeare it. Pardon me good Lady,
 And by these blessed Candles of the night,
 Had you bene there, I thinke you would haue beg'd
 The Ring of me, to giue the worthie Doctor?
   Por. Let not that Doctor ere come neere my house,
 Since he hath got the iewell that I loued,
 And that which you did sweare to keepe for me,
 I will become as liberall as you,
 Ile not deny him any thing I haue,
 No, not my body, nor my husbands bed:
 Know him I shall, I am well sure of it.
 Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argos,
 If you doe not, if I be left alone,
 Now by mine honour which is yet mine owne,
 Ile haue the Doctor for my bedfellow
 
    Nerrissa. And I his Clarke: therefore be well aduis'd
 How you doe leaue me to mine owne protection
 
    Gra. Well, doe you so: let not me take him then,
 For if I doe, ile mar the yong Clarks pen
 
    Ant. I am th' vnhappy subiect of these quarrels
 
    Por. Sir, grieue not you,
 You are welcome notwithstanding
 
    Bas. Portia, forgiue me this enforced wrong,
 And in the hearing of these manie friends
 I sweare to thee, euen by thine owne faire eyes
 Wherein I see my selfe
 
    Por. Marke you but that?
 In both my eyes he doubly sees himselfe:
 In each eye one, sweare by your double selfe,
 And there's an oath of credit
 
    Bas. Nay, but heare me.
 Pardon this fault, and by my soule I sweare
 I neuer more will breake an oath with thee
 
    Anth. I once did lend my bodie for thy wealth,
 Which but for him that had your husbands ring
 Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound againe,
 My soule vpon the forfeit, that your Lord
 Will neuer more breake faith aduisedlie
 
    Por. Then you shall be his suretie: giue him this,
 And bid him keepe it better then the other
 
    Ant. Heere Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring
 
    Bass. By heauen it is the same I gaue the Doctor
 
    Por. I had it of him: pardon Bassanio,
 For by this ring the Doctor lay with me
 
    Ner. And pardon me my gentle Gratiano,
 For that same scrubbed boy the Doctors Clarke
 In liew of this, last night did lye with me
 
    Gra. Why this is like the mending of high waies
 In Sommer, where the waies are faire enough:
 What, are we Cuckolds ere we haue deseru'd it
 
    Por. Speake not so grossely, you are all amaz'd;
 Heere is a letter, reade it at your leysure,
 It comes from Padua from Bellario,
 There you shall finde that Portia was the Doctor,
 Nerrissa there her Clarke. Lorenzo heere
 Shall witnesse I set forth as soone as you,
 And but eu'n now return'd: I haue not yet
 Entred my house. Anthonio you are welcome,
 And I haue better newes in store for you
 Then you expect: vnseale this letter soone,
 There you shall finde three of your Argosies
 Are richly come to harbour sodainlie.
 You shall not know by what strange accident
 I chanced on this letter
 
    Antho. I am dumbe
 
    Bass. Were you the Doctor, and I knew you not?
   Gra. Were you the Clark that is to make me cuckold
 
    Ner. I, but the Clark that neuer meanes to doe it,
 Vnlesse he liue vntill he be a man
 
    Bass. (Sweet Doctor) you shall be my bedfellow,
 When I am absent, then lie with my wife
 
    An. (Sweet Ladie) you haue giuen me life & liuing;
 For heere I reade for certaine that my ships
 Are safelie come to Rode
 
    Por. How now Lorenzo?
 My Clarke hath some good comforts to for you
 
    Ner. I, and Ile giue them him without a fee.
 There doe I giue to you and Iessica
 From the rich Iewe, a speciall deed of gift
 After his death, of all he dies possess'd of
 
    Loren. Faire Ladies you drop Manna in the way
 Of starued people
 
    Por. It is almost morning,
 And yet I am sure you are not satisfied
 Of these euents at full. Let vs goe in,
 And charge vs there vpon intergatories,
 And we will answer all things faithfully
 
    Gra. Let it be so, the first intergatory
 That my Nerrissa shall be sworne on, is,
 Whether till the next night she had rather stay,
 Or goe to bed, now being two houres to day,
 But were the day come, I should wish it darke,
 Till I were couching with the Doctors Clarke.
 Well, while I liue, Ile feare no other thing
 So sore, as keeping safe Nerrissas ring.
 
 Exeunt.
 
 FINIS. The Merchant of Venice.
 
 

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