Ner. How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony's nephew? Por. Very vilely in the morning when he is fober, and moft vilely in the afternoon when he is drunk ; when he is beft, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worít, he is little better than a béaft; and the worst fall that ever fell, I hope, I fhall make shift to go without him. Ner. If he should offer to chufe, and chuse the right casket, you fhould refufe to perform your father's will, if you should refuse to accept him. Por. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee, fet a deep glafs of Rhenifh wine on the contrary cafket; for if the devil be within, and that temptation without, I know, he will chuse it. I will do any thing, Neriffa, ere I will be marry'd to a fpunge. Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of these lords: they have acquainted me with their determinations, which is, indeed, to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more fuit; unless you may be won by fome other fort than your father's impofition, depending on the caskets. Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chafte as Diana, unless I be obtain'd by the manner of my father's will: I am glad, this parcel of wooers are fo reasonable; for there is not one among them but I doat on his very absence, and wish them a fair departure. Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, a Venetian, a scholar and a foldier, that came hither in company of the Marquifs of Mountferrat? Por. Yes, yes, it was Baffanio, as I think, he was fo call'd. Doubt, a very pleafing one to the Audiences, when this Play was first brought on. To make the Frenchman, jointly with the Scot, take a Box on the Ear at the Englishman's hands, is very humourously, and fatirically, alluding to the conftant Affiftance the French always used to give the Scots in their Quarrels with the English, both in and before our Author's Time: and in which Alliance, they generally came by the worst of it. Mr. Warburton. Ner, Ner. True, madam; he, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes look'd upon, was the best deserving a fair lady. Por. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praife. How now? what news? Enter a Servant. Ser. The four ftrangers feek for you, madam, to take their leave; and there is a fore-runner come from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings word the Prince, his master, will be here to night. Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with fo good heart as I can bid the other four farewel, I fhould be glad of his approach; if he have the condition of a faint, and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he fhould fhrive me, than wive me. Come, Neriffa. Sirrah, go before; while we fhut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door. [Exeunt. SCENE, a publick Place in VENICE. Enter Baffanio and Shylock. "Hree thousand ducats? well. Shy. TH Baff. Ay, Sir, for three months. Shy. For three months? well. Bal. For the which, as I told you, Anthonio fhall be bound. Shy. Anthonio fhall become bound? well. Baff. May you ftead me? will you pleasure me? fhall I know your answer? Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months, and Anthonio bound? Bass. Your answer to that. Shy. Anthonio is a good man. Baff. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Shy. No, no, no, no; my meaning, in saying he is a good man, is to have you understand me, that he is fufficient: yet his means are in fuppofition: he hath an an Argofie bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Ryalto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England; and other ventures he hath, fquander'd abroad. But hips are but boards, failers but men; there be land-rats, and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves; I mean, pirates; and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, fufficient; three thousand ducats? I think, I may take his bond. Baff. Be affur'd, you may. Shy. I will be affur'd, I may, and that I may be affur'd, I will bethink me; may I fpeak with Anthonio? Baff. If it please you to dine with us. Shy. Yes, to fmell pork; to eat of the habitation, which your prophet the Nazarite conjur'd the devil into? I will buy with you, fell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and fo following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Ryalto?who is he, comes here? Enter Anthonio. Baff. This is Signior Anthonio. Shy. [Afide.] How like a fawning Publican he looks! I hate him, for he is a chriftian: But more, for that in low fimplicity He lends out mony gratis, and brings down I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Ev'n there where merchants moft do congregate, If I forgive him! Baff. Shylock, do you hear? Shy. I am debating of my prefent ftore, And by the near guefs of my memory, I cannot inftantly raife up the grofs Of full three thousand ducats: what of that? Will furnish me, but foft, how many months [to Anth. Your worship was the last man in our mouths. Anth. Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow By taking, nor by giving of excess, Yet, to fupply the ripe wants of my friend, I'll break a cuftom. How much you would? Is he yet poffeft, Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. Anth. And for three months. Shy. I had forgot, three months, you told me fo; Well then, your bond; and let me fee, 'but hear you, Methought, you faid, you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage. Anth. I do never use it. Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's fheep, Anth. And what of him? did he take intereft? When Laban and himself were compromis'd, That all the yeanlings, which were streak'd and pied, In th' end of autumn turned to the rams; Anth. This was a venture, Sir, that Jacob ferv'd for; Was Was this inferted to make int'reft good? Anth. Mark you this, Baffanio? The devil can cite fcripture for his purpose.- O, what a goodly outfide falfhood hath! Shy. Three thousand ducats! 'tis a good round fúm. Still have I born it with a patient fhrug; And all for use of that, which is my own. A cur can lend three thousand ducats? or Anth. I am as like to call thee fo again, A |