Than is thy ftrange apparent cruelty. And, where thou now exact'ft the penalty, From braffy bofoms, and rough hearts of flint; We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. Shy. I have poffefs'd your Grace of what I purpose. And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn, To have the due and forfeit of my bond. If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter, and your city's freedom! You'll ask me, why I rather chufe to have A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive Three thousand ducats? I'll not anfwer that. But fay, it is my humour; is it answer'd? What if my house be troubled with a rat, And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats To have it baned? what, are you answer'd yet? Some men there are, love not a gaping pig; Some, that are mad, if they behold a cat; And others, when the bag-pipe fings i' th' nofe, Cannot contain their urine for affection. (15) (15) Cannot contain their Urine for Affection. Mafterless paffion fways it to the Mood Masterless of what it likes, or loaths.] Masterless Paffion was first Mr. Rowe's Reading, (on what Authority, I am at a Lofs to know;) which Mr. Pope has fince copied. And tho' I have not difturb'd the Text, yet, I must observe, I don't know what Word there is to which this Relative [it, in the 2d Line] is to be referr'd. The ingenious Dr. Thirlby, therefore, would thus adjust the Passage. VOL. II. G Cannot your Masterlefs paffion fways it to the mood. answer: A lofing fuit against him. Are you answer'd? Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my anfwer. Baff. Do all men kill the thing they do not love? Shy. What, would'ft thou have a ferpent fting thee twice? Ant. I pray you, think, you question with a Jew. You may as well go ftand upon the beach, And bid the main flood 'bate his ufual height. You may as well use question with the wolf, Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb. You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops, and to make no noise, Cannot contain their Urine; for Affection, * Master of Passion, sways it &c. * Or, Mistress. And then it is govern'd of Passion: and the 2 old Quarte's and Folio's read. Mafters of Paffion, &c. It may be objected, that Affection and Paffion are Synonomous Terms, and mean the fame Thing. I agree, they do at this time. But I obferve, the Writers of our Author's Age made a fort of Diftin&tion: confidering the One as the Cause, the Other as the Effect. And then, in this place, Affection wili ftand for that Sympathy or Antipathy of Soul, by which we are provok'd to fhew a Liking or Disgust in the Working of our Pafions. When When they are fretted with the gufts of heav'n. As feek to soften that, (than which what's harder!) I would not draw them, I would have my bond. none? Shy. What judgment fhall I dread, doing no wrong? Because you bought them. Shall I fay to you, There is no force in the decrees of Venice: Whom I have fent for to determine this, Come here to day. Sal. My lord, here ftays, without, A meffenger with letters from the Doctor, Duke. Bring us the letters, call the meffenger. Baff. Good cheer, Anthonio; what, man, courage yet: The Jew fhall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, G 2 Ant Ant. I am a tainted weather of the flock, Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit Drops earlieft to the ground, and fo let me. You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live ftill, and write mine epitaph. Enter Neriffa, drefs'd like a Lawyer's Clerk. Baff. Why dost thou whet thy knife fo earnestly? Thou mak'ft thy knife keen; for no metal can, And for thy life let justice be accus'ḍ! That fouls of animals infufe themselves Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human flaughter, (16) From both my Lord Bellario greets your Grace.] Thus the two old Folio's, and Mr. Pope in his Quarto, had inaccurately pointed this Paffage, by which a Doctor of Laws was at once rais'd to the Dignity of the Peerage. (17) Not on thy Soale, but on thy Soul, harsh Jew.] I was obliged, from the Authority of the old Folio's, to restore this Conceit, and Jingle upon two Words alike in Sound, but differing in Senfe. Gratiano thus rates the Jew; "Tho' thou "thinkeft, that thou art whetting thy Knife on the Scale of thy Shoe, yet it is upon thy Soul, thy immortal Part, that "thou do'ft it, thou inexorable Man!" There is no room to doubt, but this was our Author's Antithefis; as it is fo ufual with him to play on Words in this manner: and That from the Mouth of his most serious Characters. cr Ev'n from the gallows did his fell foul fleet, Are wolfish, bloody, ftarv'd, and ravenous. Shy. 'Till thou canst rail the feal from off my bond, Thou but offend'ft thy lungs to speak fo loud. Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To curelefs ruin. I ftand here for law. A Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend young and learned doctor to our Court. Where is he? Ner. He attendeth here hard by To know your anfwer, whether you'll admit him. YOUR YOUR Grace shall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very fick but at the infiant that your messenger came, in loving vifitation was with me a young Doctor of Rome, his Name is Balthafar: I acquainted him with the cause in controverfie between the Jew and Anthonio the merchant. We turn'd o'er many books together: he is furnished with my opinion, which, bettered with his own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend,) comes with him at my importunity, to fill up your Grace's requeft in my ftead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment, to let him lack a reverend eftimation: For I never knew so young a body with fo old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whofe trial fhall better publish his com mendation. Enter Portia, dress'd like a Doctor of Laws. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes, And here, I take it, is the Doctor come: Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario? Por. I did, my lord. Duke. You're welcome: take your place. G 3 Are |