Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SOLANIO. BASS. Lorenzo, and Solanio, welcome hither; Sweet Portia, welcome. 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; But meeting with Solanio by the way, He did entreat me, past all saying nay, To come with him along. SOLAN. And I have reason for it. BASS. I did, my lord, Signior Antonio [Gives BASSANIO a letter. Ere I ope this letter, I pray you tell me how my good friend doth. SOLAN. Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind; Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there Will show you his estate. GRA. Nerissa, cheer yon stranger; bid her welcome. Your hand, Solanio. 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. SOLAN. I 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 Of any constant man. What, worse and worse?- And I must freely have the half of anything That this same paper brings you. O sweet Portia, BASS. you When I did first impart my love to you, And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch SOLAN. Not one, my lord. JES. When I was with him, I have heard him swear To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen, That he would rather have Antonio's flesh POR. Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble? D 2 BASS. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, What, no more? Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. 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. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Venice. A Street. Enter SHYLOCK, SALARINO, ANTONIO, and Gaoler. SHY. Gaoler, look to him. Tell not me of mercy;This is the fool that lends out money gratis ; Gaoler, look to him. ANT. Hear me yet, good Shylock. SHY. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond; SHY. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: 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. SALAR. It is the most impenetrable cur That ever kept with men. ANT. Let him alone; I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers. I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures Many that have at times made moan to me; SALAR. 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, "T will much impeach the justice of the state; To-morrow to my bloody creditor. Well, gaoler, on:-Pray God, Bassanio come To see me pay his debt, and then I care not! [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA, and Balthazar. LOR. Madam, although I speak it in your presence, Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly But, if you knew to whom you show this honour, How dear a lover of my lord your husband, POR. I never did repent for doing good, That do converse and waste the time together, Must needs be like my lord: If it be so, The husbandry and manage of my house, Only attended by Nerissa here, Until her husband and my lord's return: "There is a monastery two miles off, |