Portia. What sum owes he the Jew? Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; What, no more? Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. Bassanio. [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 clear'd between you and 1,2 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." Portia. O love, dispatch all business, and be gone! 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. 1 Countenance. [Exeunt. 2 "Between you and I," a grammatical irregularity often found in the literature of the Elizabethan age. SCENE III. Venice. A Street. Enter SHYLOCK, SALARINO, ANTONIO, and Gaoler. Shylock. Gaoler, look to him: tell not me of mercy; This is the fool that lent out money gratis: Gaoler, look to him. Antonio. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shylock. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond: Antonio. I pray thee, hear me speak. Shylock. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more. I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield I'll have no speaking: I will have my bond. 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; Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. Antonio. The duke cannot deny the course of law: For the commodity that strangers have [Exit. With us in Venice, if it be denied, Will much impeach the justice of his state; [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Belmont. A Room in PORTIA'S House. Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, Lorenzo, Jessica, and BALTHASAR. Of godlike amity; which appears most strongly But if you knew to whom you show this honor, Portia. I never did repent for doing good, That do converse and waste3 the time together, 1 "For the commodity," etc. "To refuse to strangers their privileges will be an imputation on the state's justice, since it is to the strangers that the city owes its trade." Shylock was not a citizen of Venice. 2 Conception. 3 "Waste" means here simply "spend," not spend uselessly." How little is the cost I have bestow'd my I have toward heaven breath'd a secret vow To live in prayer and contemplation, Until her husband and my lord's return: There is a monastery two miles off; And there will we abide. I do desire you Not to deny this imposition; The which my love and some necessity Now lays upon you. Lorenzo. Madam, with all my heart; I shall obey you in all fair commands. Portia. My people do already know my mind, And will acknowledge you and Jessica In place of Lord Bassanio and myself. And so farewell, till we shall meet again. Lorenzo. Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you! Portia. I thank you for your wish, and am well pleas'd Now, Balthasar, [Exeunt Jessica and Lorenzo. As I have ever found thee honest-true, So let me find thee still. Take this same letter, In speed to Padua: see thou render this Into my cousin's hand, Doctor Bellario; And, look, what notes and garments he doth give thee, Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words, Portia. They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit, Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint 2 lies, Which I denying, they fell sick and died; And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them; But come, I'll tell thee all my whole device It may 1 There is no other instance of the use of this word. for "traject." The ferries in Venice were called traghetti. [Exit. [Exeunt. be a misprint 2 Fanciful. |