And, when your honours mean to solemnize Bass. With all my heart, so thou can'st get a wife. No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. To have her love, provided that your fortune Por. Is this true, Nerissa? Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal. 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. 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? What! and my old Venetian friend, Salerio? Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SALERIO. If that the youth of my new interest here By your leave Ere I ope his letter, I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. Sale. 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. I know, he will be glad of our success; We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece. Sale. 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 any thing O sweet Portia ! Bass. I have engag'd myself to a dear friend, And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch Sale. Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him, Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond. 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, Than twenty times the value of the sum If law, authority, and power deny not, It will go hard with poor Antonio. 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 Por. What sum owes he the Jew? three thousand ducats. Bass. For me, What, no more? Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. For never shall you lie by Portia's side 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 begone. 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, Nor rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. SCENE III. Venice. A Street. [Exeunt. Enter SHYLOCK, SALANIO, ANTONIO, and Jailor. Shy. Jailor, look to him: tell not me of mercy. This is the fool that lent out money gratis. Jailor, look to him. I. 401 Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. The duke shall grant me justice. — I do wonder, Ant. I pray thee, hear me speak. bond: Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak : To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield Let him alone: Ant. I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures Many that have at times made moan to me; Salan. I am sure, the duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. [Exit SHYLOCK. 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; [Exeunt. |