And then away to Venice to your friend; For you shall hence upon your wedding day: Bass. [reads.] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit: and since, in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and I, if I might but see you at my death: notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter. Por. O love, despatch all business, and be gone. No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, + No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Venice. A Street. Enter SHYLOCK, SALANIO, ANTONIO, and Gaoler. Shy. Gaoler, look to him;-Tell not mercy; This is the fool that lent out money gratis; Gaoler, look to him. me of Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. 6 cheer;] i. e. countenance. +"Nor rest" — Malone. Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond; I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond: Thou call'dst me dog, before thou had❜st a cause: But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs : The duke shall grant me justice. — I do wonder, Ant. I pray thee, hear me speak. Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more. I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool, To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield To Christian intercessors. Follow not; I'll have no speaking; I will have my bond. [Exit SHYLOCK. Salan. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. Let him alone; Ant. Many that have at times made moan to me; Salan. I am sure, the duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. Ant. The duke cannot deny the course of law; For the commodity that strangers have With us in Venice, if it be denied, Will much impeach the justice of the state; Well, gaoler, on:- Pray God, Bassanio come To see me pay his debt, and then I care not! [Exeunt. 7 —— so fond—] i. e. so foolish. SCENE IV. Belmont. A Room in PORTIA'S House. Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORenzo, Jessica, and Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your presence, You have a noble and a true conceit Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly But, if you knew to whom you show this honour, Por. I never did repent for doing good, Only attended by Nerissa here, Until her husband and my lord's return: I do desire you, And there we will abide. The which my love, and some necessity, Lor. Madam, with all my heart; I shall obey you in all fair commands. Por. My people do already know my mind, Lor. Fair thoughts, and happy hours, attend on you! Jes. I wish your ladyship all heart's content. Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well pleas'd To wish it back on you: fare you well, Jessica.[Exeunt JESSICA and LOREnzo. Now, Balthazar, As I have ever found thee honest, true, So let me find thee still: Take this same letter, In speed to Padua; see thou render this Into my cousin's hand, doctor Bellario; And, look, what notes and garments he doth give thee, Bring them, I pray thee, with imagin'd speed Unto the tranect, to the common ferry Which trades to Venice: I shall be there before thee. waste no time in words, [Exit. But get thee we'll see our husbands, Por. Come, on, Nerissa; I have work in hand, Ner. Shall they see us? Por. They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit That they shall think we are accomplished 8 Unto the tranect,] The old copies concur in this reading, which appears to be derived from tranare, and was probably a word current in the time of our author, though I can produce no example of it. STEEVENS. With what we lack. I'll hold thee any wager, That men shall swear, I have discontinued school Ner. Why, shall we turn to men? Por. Fye! what a question's that, [Exeunt. SCENE V. The same. A Garden. Enter LAUNCELOT and JESSICA. Laun. Yes, truly:- for, look you, the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children; therefore, I promise you, I fear you. I was always plain with you, and so now I speak my agitation of the matter: Therefore, 9 "Withal." MALONE. + 9 I promise you, I fear you.] I fear for you. |