can shoe him him self: I am much afraid, my lady his mother played false with a smith. Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, so was he called. Ner. True, madam; he, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deserv Ner. Then, is there the county' Palatine. Por. He doth nothing but frown; as who should say, An if you will not have me, choose: he hearsing a fair lady. merry tales, and smiles not: I fear, he will prove the weeping philosopher when he grows old, being so full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had rather be married to a death's head with a bone in his mouth, than to either of these. God defend me from these two! Ner. How say you by the French lord, Monsieur Le Bon ? pass Por. I remember him well; and I remember him worthy of thy praise.-How now! what news? Enter a Servant. Serv. The four strangers seek 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 tonight. Por. God made him, and therefore let him for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good mocker; But, he! why, he hath a horse better be glad of his approach: if he have the condition than the Neapolitan's; a better bad habit of frown- of a saint, and the complexion of a devil, I had ing than the count Palatine: he is every man in no rather he should shrive me than wive me. Come, man: if a throstle2 sing, he falls straight a caper-Nerissa.-Sirrah, go before.-Whiles we shut the ing; he will fence with his own shadow: If I should marry him, I should marry twenty husbands: if he gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door. would despise me, I would forgive him; for if he love me to madness, I shall never requite him. Ner. What say you then to Faulconbridge, the young baron of England? Por. You know, I say notning to him; for he understands not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latin, French, nor Italian ;3 and you will come into the court and swear, that I have a poor penny-worth in the English. He is a proper man's4 picture; But, alas! who can converse with a dumb show? How oddly he is suited! I think, he bought his doublet in Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour every where. Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighbour? Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him; for he borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman, and swore he would pay him again, when he was able: I think, the Frenchman became his surety, and sealed under for another. Ner. How like you the young German," the Duke of Saxony's nephew? Por. Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober; and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk: when he is best, he is little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast: and the worst fall that ever fell, I hope, I shall make shift to go without him. Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the right casket, you should refuse to perform your father's will, if you should refuse to accept him. Por. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee, set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary casket: for, if the devil be within, and that tempta'ion without, I know he will choose it. I will do any thing, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a spunge. Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of these lords; they have acquainted me with their determination: which is indeed, to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more suit; unless you may be won by some other sort than your father's imposition, depending on the caskets. ་ [Exeunt. SCENE III. Venice. A public Place. Enter Shy. Three thousand ducats,--well. Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. Shy. Antonio shall become bound,-well. Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, and Antonio bound. Bass. Your answer to that. Shy. Antonio is a good man. Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the con trary? me, sup ing he is a good man, is to have you understand Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no ;-my meaning, in saythat he is sufficient: yet his means are in position: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath, squander'd abroad: But ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats, and water-rats, waterthieves, and land-thieves; I mean, pirates; and The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient ;-three then, there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks: thousand ducats ;-I think, I may take his bond. Bass. Be assured you may. Shy. I will be assured I may; and that I be assured, I will bethink me: May I speak with may Antonio? Bass. If it please you to dine with us. Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation vil into: I will buy with you, sell with you, talk which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjured the dewith you, walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto ?-Who is he comes here? Per. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will; I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable; for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence, and II pray God grant them a fair departure. Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a soldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Mont ferrat? 1 This is an allusion to the Count Albertus Alasco, a Polish Palatine, who was in London in 1583. 2 A thrush; properly the missel-thrush. 3 A satire on the ignorance of young English travel lers in Shakspeare's time. 4 A proper man is a handsome man. 5 The Duke of Bavaria visited London, and was made a Knight of the Garter, in Shakspeare's time. Enter ANTONIO. Bass. This is signior Antonio. Shy. [Aside.] How like a fawning publican he looks! hate him for he is a Christian. But more, for that, in low simplicity, He lends out money gratis, and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice. Perhaps, in this enumeration of Portia's suitors, there may be some covert allusion to those of Queen Eliza beth. 6 i. e. the nature, disposition. So in Othello: and then of so gentle a condition!' 7It is almost incredible what gain the Venetians re (ceive by the usury of the Jews, both privately and in common. For in every city the Jews keep open shops arody t'e jeare; and if at the year's end the gage be of vʊury, taking gages of ordinary for xv. in the hun it› „drer d, it is forfeit, or at least done away to a If I can catch him once upon the hip,1 I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Bass. Shylock, do you hear? Shy. I am debating of my present store; Of full three thousand ducats: What of that? Methought, you said, you noither lend nor borrow, Ant. I do never use it. Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep, This Jacob from our holy Abraham was As his wise mother wrought in his behalf,) The third possessor; ay, he was the third. Ant. And what of him? did he take interest? Shy. No, not take interest; not, as you would say, Directly interest: mark what Jacob did. When Laban and himself were compromis'd, He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes; Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob serv'd for; A thing not in his power to bring to pass, Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast: Ant. Is like a villain with a smiling cheek; A goodly apple rotten at the heart sum. Three months from twelve, then let me see une rate. 8 Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft, Well then, it now appears, you need my help. A cur can lend three thousand ducats? or Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, Ant. you This were kindness. Shy. This kindness will I show: Go with me to a notary, seal me there Your single bond; and, in a merry sport, If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum, or sums, as are Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound storm Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me. Ant. Content, in faith; I'll seal to such a bond And there is much kindness in the Jew. say, Bass. You shall not seal to such a bond for nie, | I'll rather dwell1o in my necessity. Ant. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it Within these two months, that's a month before This bond expires, I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this bond. Shy. O father Abraham, what these Christians are; Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, 6 Fulsome,' says Mr. Douce, 'has, doubtless, the great_disadvantage; by reason whereof the Jews are same signification with the preceding epithet rank. I out of measure wealthy in those parts.'-Thomas's His-is true that rank has sometimes the interpretation affix torye of Italye, 1561, 4to. f. 77. ed to it of rammish in old Dictionaries, but there is als another meaning of the word which may be found ir Bare's Alvearie, 1573, viz. Fruitefull, ranck, battle; Lat fertilis. This sense would also, I think, better ac cord with fulsome, if it could be shown to be a syno nyme. 1 To catch, or have, on the hip, means to have at an entire advantage. The phrase seems to have originated from hunting, because, when the animal pursued is Beized upon the hip, it is finally disabled from flight. 2 Wants come to the height, which admit no longer delay. 3 Informed. 4 Young lambs just dropt, or ean'd. This word is usually spelt yean, but the Saxon etymologym nda ean. It is applied particularly to ewes. 5 i. e. of nature. Falsehood here means knavery, treachery, as trut. is sometimes used for honesty. [Exit. Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's; Give him direction for this merry bond, And I will go and purse the ducats straight; See to my house, left in the fearful1 guard Of an unthrifty knave; and presently I will be with you. Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. Bass. I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind. Ant. Come on: in this there can be no dismay, My ships come home a month before the day. ACT II. [Exeunt. Laun. Certainly my conscience will serve me to | run from this Jew, my master: The fiend is at mine elbow; and tempts me, saying to me, Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot, or good Gobbo, or good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away: My conscience says,-no; take heed, honest Launcelot; take heed, honest Gobbo; or, as aforesaid, honest Launcelot Gobbo; do not run ; scorn run SCENE I. Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.ning with thy heels: Well, the most courageous Flourish of Cornets.-Enter the Prince of Morocco, and his Train; PORTIA, NERISSA, and other of her Attendants. Mòr. Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun, To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred. Bring me the fairest creature northward born, Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles, And let us make incision2 for your love, To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine. I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine Hath fear'd3 the valiant; by my love, I swear, The best-regarded virgins of our clime Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue, Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led By nice direction of a maiden's eyes: Besides, the lottery of my destiny Bars me the right of voluntary choosing: But, if my father had not scanted me, And hedg'd me by his wit, to yield myself His wife, who wins me by that means I told you, Mor. And so may I, blind fortune leading me, wrong, Por. You must take your chance; And either not attempt to choose at all, Or swear, before you choose,-if you choose Never to speak to lady afterward In way of marriage; therefore be advis'd.4 Mor. Nor will not; come, bring me unto my chance. fiend bids me pack; via! says the fiend; away! says the fiend, for the heavens; rouse up a brave mind, says the fiend, and run. Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me, my honest friend Launcelot, being an honest man's son, or rather an honest woman's son; ' for, indeed, my father did something smack, something grow to, he had a kind of taste;-well, my conscience says, Launcelot, budge not; budge, says the fiend; budge not, says my conscience: Conscience, say I, you counsel well; fiend, say I, you counsel well: to be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who, (God bless the mark!) is a kind of devil; and, to run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil himself: Certainly, the Jew is the very devil incarnation and, in my conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew: The fiend gives the more friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; my heels are at your commandment, I will run. Enter old GOBB0,8 with a Basket. ; Gob. Master, young man, you, I pray you; which is the way to master Jew's? Laun. [Aside.] O heavens, this is my true begotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel blind, knows me not:-I will try conclusions10 with him. Gob. Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to master Jew's? Laun. Turn up on your right hand, at the next turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. Gob. By God's sonties,' 'twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with him, or no? Laun. Talk you of young master Launcelot ?Mark me now; [aside.] now will I raise the waters :-Talk you of young master Launcelot ? Gob. No master, sir, but a poor man's son: his father, though I say it, is an honest exceeding poo man, and, God be thanked, well to live. Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we talk of young master Launcelot. Gob. Your worship's friend, and Launcelot, sir. Laun. But I pray you ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech you; Talk you of young master Launcelot? Gob. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership. them.' The poet's own authority ought to have taught Steevens better. In Much Ado about Nothing, we have 'O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with my heels • 7 For the heavens was merely a petty oath. To make the fiend conjure Launcelot to do a thing for heaven's sake is a specimen of that acute nonsense' which Bar row makes one of the species of wit, and which Shak speare was sometimes very fond of. 8 It has been inferred from the name of Gobbo, that Shakspeare designed this character to be represented with a hump-buck. 9' Sand-blind. Having an imperfect sight, as if there was sand in the eye, Myops. Holyoke's Dictio nary. 10 To try conclusions, was to put to the proof, in other words to try experiments. 11 God's sonties was probably a corruption of God's saints, in old language saunctes: sante and sanctity Laun. Ergo, master Launcelot; talk not of maser Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman (according to fates and destinies, and such odd sayings, the sisters three, and such branches of learning) is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would say, in plain in plain terms, gone to heaven. Got. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop. Laun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovel-post, a staff, or a prop?-Do you know me, father? Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman: but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy (God rest his soul!) alive, or dead? Laun. Do you not know me, father? Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you not. Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me: it is a wise father, that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son: Give me your blessing: truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long, a man's son may; but, in the end, truth will out. Gob. Pray you, sir, stand up; I am sure, you are not Launcelot, my boy. Laun. Pray you, let's have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing; I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be. Gob. I cannot think you are my son. Laun. I know not what I shall think of that: but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man; and, I am sure, Margery, your wife, is my mother. Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood. Lord worship'd might he be! what a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill-horse1 has on his tail. Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, to serve Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and I have a desire, as my father shali specify. Gob. His master and he (saving your worship's reverence) are scarce cater-cousins: Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, being I hope an old man, shall frutify unto you, Gob. I have here a dish of doves, that I would bestow upon your worship; and my suit is, Laun. In very brief, the suit is impenent to myself, as your worship shall know by this honest old man; and, though I say it, though old man, yet poor man, my father. Bass. One speak for both ;-What would you? Laun. Serve you, sir. Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, sir. Bass. I know thee well, thou hast obtain'd thy suit: Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day, Laun. The old proverb is very well parted be tween my master Shylock and you, sir; you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough. Bass. Thou speakest it well: Go, father, with thy son: Take leave of thy old master, and inquire [To his Followers. More guarded3 than his feilows: See it done. Laun. Father, in :-I cannot get a service, no ;I have ne'er a tongue in my head.-Well; [LookLaun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tailing on his palm.] if any man in Italy have a fairer grows backward; I am sure he had more hair on his tail, than I have on my face, when I last saw him. Gob. Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present; How 'gree you now? Laun. Well, well; but, for mine own part, as I have set up my rest2 to run away, so I will not rest till I have run some ground: my master's a very Jew: Give him a present! give him a halter: I am famish'd in his service; you may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come; give me your present to one master Bassanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I serve not him, I will run as far as God has any ground. -O rare fortune! here comes the man ;-to him, father; for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer. Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO, and other Bass. You may do so;-but let it be so hasted, that supper be ready at the farthest by five of the clock: See these letters delivered; put the liveries to making; and desire Gratiano to come anon to my_lodging. [Exit a Servant. Laun. To him, father. Gob. God bless your worship! Bass. Gramercy; Would'st thou aught with me? Gob. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy, Laun. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's man; that would, sir, as my father shall specify, have been proposed but apparently with less probability. Oaths of this kind are not unfrequent among our ancient writers. To avoid the crime of profane swearing, they sought to disguise the words by abbreviations, which ultimately lost even their similarity to the original phrase. 1 i. e. the shaft-horse, sometimes called the thill-horse. 2Set up my rest,' i. e. determined. See note on All's Well that Ends Well, Act ii. Sc. 2. Romeo and Juliet, Act iv. Sc. 5. Where it may be remarked that Shakspeare has again quibbled upon rest. "The County Paris hath set up his rest, that you shall rest but little table;4 which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune. Go to, here's a simple line of life! here's a small trifle of wives: Alas, fifteen wives is nothing; eleven widows, and nine maids, is a simple coming-in for one man: and then, to 'scape drowning thrice; and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed :-here are simple 'scapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, she's a good wench for this gear.-Father, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. [Exeunt LAUNCELOT and old Gовво. Gra. Where is your master? Gra. Signior Bassanio, Gra. I have a suit to you. Yonder, sir, he walks. [Exit LEONARDO. You have obtain❜d it. I must with you go Gra. You must not deny me to Belmont. ; Bass. Why, then you must ;-But hear thes Gratiano; Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ;Parts, that become thee happily enough, 3 i. e. ornamented. Guards were trimmings, facings, or other ornaments, such as gold and silver lace, applied upon a dress. 4 Mr. Tyrwhitt's explanation of this passage (which has much puzzled the commentators) seems the most plausible: Launcelot applauding himself for his suc cess with Bassanio, and looking into the palm of his hand, which by fortune-tellers is called the table, breaks out into the following reflection :out into the following reflection: Well, if any man in Italy have a fairer table; which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune'-i. e. a table which doth not only promise but offer to swear upon a book that I shall have good fortune. He omits the con clusion of the sentence. |