Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; Should lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. For 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. No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, Nor rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Venice. A Street. Enter SHYLOCK, SALANIO, ANTONIO, and Jailer. Shy. Jailer, look to him.-Tell not me of mercy;This is the fool that lends out money gratis. Jailer, look to him. Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond; I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond. Thou call'dst me dog, before thou hadst a cause : Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak ; To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield [Exit SHYLOCK. Salan. It is the most impenetrable cur That ever kept with men. Ant. Many that have at times made moan to me; Salan. 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, Will much impeach the justice of the state; Well, jailer, 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, You have a noble and a true conceit Of godlike amity; which appears most strongly The husbandry and manage of my house, I have toward Heaven breathed a secret vow, To live in prayer and contemplation, Only attended by Nerissa here, Until her husband and my lord's return. And there we will abide. I do desire you Not to deny this imposition; 1 The word lineaments was used with great laxity by our ancient writers. 2 This term was anciently synonymous with friend. The which my love, and some necessity, Now lays upon you. Lor. Madam, with all my heart I shall obey you in all fair commands. Por. My people do already know my mind, And will acknowledge you and Jessica, In place of lord Bassanio and myself. So fare you well, till we shall meet again. Lor. Fair thoughts, and happy hours, attend on you. Jes. I wish your ladyship all heart's content. Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased To wish it back on you; fare you well, Jessica.[Exeunt JESSICA and LORENZO. Now, Balthazar, 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, [Exit. Por. Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand That you yet know not of. We'll see our husbands, Before they think of us. Ner. Shall they see us? Por. They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit, 1 i. e. with the celerity of imagination. 2 This word can only be illustrated at present by conjecture. It evidently implies the name of a place where the passage-boat set out, and is in some way derived from "tranare (Ital.), to pass or swim over: perhaps, therefore, tranetto signified a little fording place or ferry, and hence the English word tranect; but no other instance of its use has yet occurred. וויו prove the prettier fellow of the two, That men shall swear, I have discontinued school Ner. Why, shall we turn to men? Por. Fie; what a question's that, If thou wert near a lewd interpreter ? But come, I'll tell thee all my whole device When I am in my coach, which stays for us At the park gate; and therefore haste away, For we must measure twenty miles to-day. [Exeunt. SCENE V. The same. A Garden. Enter LAUNCELOT and JESSICA. Laun. Yes, truly; for, look you, the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children; therefore, I promise you, I fear you.' I was always plain with you, and so now I speak my agitation of the matter. Therefore, be of good cheer; for, truly, I think, you are damned. There is but one hope in it that can do you any good; and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither. 1 “I could not help it.” 2 So in K. Richard III., "The king is sickly, weak, and melancholy, And his physicians fear him mightily." |