Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; Should lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. 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 Imight 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. 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, SCENE III. Venice. A Street. [Exeunt. Enter SHYLOCK, SALANIO, ANTONIO, and Gaoler. Shy. Gaoler, look to him ;-Tell not me of mercy ;This is the fool that lends out money gratis ;Gaoler, look to him. m Icheer;] i. e. Countenance. all debts are cleared, &c.] According to the general way of printing this passage, the seeing Bassanio at his death has been made the condition of Antonio's forgiving him his debt. Such a want of generosity is inconsistent with the tenderness and nobleness of Antonio. The present punctuation was suggested by Mr. Charles Kemble. Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond; The duke shall grant me justice. I do wonder, Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: Salan. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. [Exit SHYLOCK. 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. 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. 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, Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly But, if you knew to whom you show this honour, Por. I never did repent for doing good, The husbandry and manage of my house, my lord's return: for mine own part, Only attended by Nerissa here, Until her husband and my lord's return: There is a monastery two miles off, And there we will abide. I do desire you, 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, 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 pleas'd To wish it back on you: fare you well, Jessica. Now, Balthazar, [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, Bring them, I pray thee, with imagin'd speed Unto the tranect, to the common ferry Which trades to Venice: -waste no time in words, But get thee gone; I shall be there before thee. Balth. Madam, I go with all convenient speed. [Exit. That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands, Ner. Shall they see us? Por. They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit trunect,-] This word occurs only once.-It seems to imply some place from which the public boat was accustomed to set out. There are five sluices leading from the Brenta into the Laguno of Venice, at the last of which there might be a traino or tranetto, a machine to draw the boat through the pass, and this might be rendered by some English writer tranect.-NARES. With a reed voice; and turn two mincing steps Which I denying, they fell sick and died; And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them: That men shall swear, I have discontinued school Ner. Why, shall we turn to men? Por. Fye! what a question's that, SCENE V. The same. A Garden. Enter LAUNCELOT and JESSICA. [Exeunt. 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 damn'd. There is but one hope in it that can do you any good; and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither. Jes. And what hope is that, I pray thee? Laun. Marry, you may partly hope that your father got you not, that you are not the Jew's daughter. P I could not do withal;] This phrase, which the commentators have so shamelessly misinterpreted, is, in itself perfectly innocent, and means neither more nor less than I could not help it.-See GIFFORD's Ben Jonson, vol. iii. 471. |