I bid my very friends and country-men, (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 feen you here; But meeting with Salanio by the way, He did intreat me, past all faying nay, Sal. I did, my lord, And I have reafon for't; Signior Anthonio Commends him to you. Baff. Ere I ope his letter, [Gives Baffanio a letter. I pray you tell me how my good friend doth. Baffanio opens the letter. We are the Jafons, we have won the fleece. paper, Sal. Would you had won the fleece, that he hath loft! Of any conftant man. What, worse and worse! Ba. O fweet Portia ! Here are a few of the unpleasant'ft words, My you, My ftate was nothing, I fhould then have told And not one veffel 'fcap'd the dreadful touch Sal. Not one, my lord. Besides, it should appear, that if he had Jef. When I was with him, I have heard him fwear, To Tubal and to Chus his country-men, That he would rather have Anthonio's flesh, Than twenty times the value of the fum That he did owe him; and I know, my lord, It will go hard with poor Anthonio. Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble ♪ Baff. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, The best condition'd and unweary'd spirit In doing courtefies; and one in whom The ancient Roman honour more appears, Than any that draws breath in Italy Por Por. What fum owes he the Jew? Pay him fix thousand and deface the bond; Shall lose a hair through my Bassanio's fault. Baff. reads. Weet Baffanio, my ships have all miscarry'd, my creditors grow cruel, my eftate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and fince, in paying it, it is impoffible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and me, if I might but fee you at my death; not-withftanding, ufe your pleasure: if your love do not perfuade you to come, let not my letter. Por. O love! dispatch all business, and be gone. No bed fhall e'er be guilty of my ftay; Shy. No rest be interpofer 'twixt us twain. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to a Street in Venice. Enter Shylock, Solarino, Anthonio, and the Goaler. Galer, look to him; tellent memory This is the fool, that lent out money gratis. Goaler, look to him. Anth. Anth. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond; fpeak not against my I've fworn an oath, that I will have my bond: Thou call'dft me dog, before thou hadst a caufe; But fince I am a dog, beware my fangs : The Duke fhall grant me juftice. I do wonder, bond: Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee fpeak: I'll have my bond; and therefore fpeak no more: I'll not be made a foft and dull-ey'd fool, To shake the head, relent, and high and yield To chriftian interceffors. Follow not; I'll have no fpeaking; I will have my bond. Sola. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. Anth. Let him alone, [Exit Shylock. I'll follow him no more with bootlefs pray'rs Many, that have at times made moan to me; Sola. I am fure, the Duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. Anth. The Duke cannot deny the courfe of law; For the commodity that ftrangers have With us in Venice, if it be deny'd, Will much impeach the juftice of the state; Well, goaler, on; pray God, Bassanio come To fee me pay his debt, and then I care not! [Exeunt. SCENE SCENE changes to BEL MONT. Enter Portia, Neriffa, Lorenzo, Jeffica, and Balthazar. Lor. Adam, although I fpeak it in your prefence, Of God-like amity; which appears moft ftrongly Muft needs be like my lord. If it be fo, This comes too near the praifing of myself; (13) The husbandry and manage of my houfe, (13) This comes too near the praifing of myself; Therefore no more of it: here other things, Lorenzo, I commit, &c.] Thus has this Paffage been writ and pointed, but abfurdly, through all the Editions. Portia finding the reflections she had made came too near Self-praife, begins to chide herself for it: fays, She'll fay no more of that fort; but call a new Subject. The Regulation I have made in the Text was likewife prefcrib'd by Dr. Thirlby. To |