The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you, Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. To have her love, provided that your fortune Por. Is this true, Nerissa? Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal. Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith? Gra. Yes, 'faith, my lord. Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy for a thousand ducats. Ner. What, and stake down? Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down. But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel? Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SALERIO. Bass. Lorenzo, and Salerio, welcome hither; If that the youth of my new interest here Have power to bid you welcome:-By your leave, for intermission-] Intermission is pause, intervening time, delay. I bid my very friends and countrymen, Por. So do I, my lord; They are entirely welcome. Lor. I thank your honour:-For my part, my lord, My purpose was not to have seen you here; Sale. And I have reason for it. Bass. I did, my lord, Signior Antonio I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. Will show you his estate. Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon' stranger; bid her wel come. Your hand, Salerio; What's the news from Venice? How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio? I know, he will be glad of our success; We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece. Sale. 'Would you had won the fleece that he hath lost! Por. There are some shrewd contents in yon' same paper, That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek: Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world Could turn so much the constitution Of any constant man. What, worse and worse?— With leave, Bassanio; I am half yourself, And I must freely have the half of any thing That this same paper brings you. O sweet Portia, Bass. That ever blotted paper! Gentle lady, How much I was a braggart: When I told you And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch Sale. Jes. When I was with him, I have heard him swear The paper as the body-] The expression is somewhat elliptical: "The paper as the body," means-the paper resembles the body, is as the body. To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen, Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble? Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, The best condition'd and unwearied spirit In doing courtesies; and one in whom What, no more? Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. dear. 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 cheer;] i. e. countenance. 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. Bass. Since I have your good leave to go away, I will make haste: but, till I come again, 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 me of mercy; This is the fool that lent out money gratis; Gaoler, look to him. Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond; I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond: Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more. To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield |