Achiev'd her mistress. Por. Is this true, Nerissa? Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal. Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith? Gra. Yes, 'faith, my lord. Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy for a thousand ducats. Ner. What, and stake down ?— Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down? But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel ? Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio. Bass. Lorenzo, and Salerio, welcome hither; If that the youth of my new interest here Have power to bid you welcome :-By your leave, I bid my very friends and countrymen, Sweet Portia, welcome. Por. They are entirely welcome. So do I, my lord ; Lor. I thank your honour :-For my part, my lord, My purpose was not to have seen you here; He did entreat me, past all saying nay, To come with him along. Sale. And I have reason for it. I did, my lord, Commends him to you. [Gives Bassanio a letter. Bass, Ere I ope his letter, I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. Will show you his estate. Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon' stranger; bid her wel come. Your hand, Salerio; what's the news from Venice? How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio ? Sale. 'Would you had won the fleece that he hath lost! Por. There are some shrewd contents in yon' same paper, That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek: Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world Could turn so much the constitution Of any constant man. What, worse and worse ?- And I must freely have the half of any thing Bass. How much I was a braggart: When I told you And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch Sale. Not one, my lord. Besides, it should appear, that if he had F A creature, that did bear the shape of man, Jes. When I was with him, I have heard him swear, To Tubal, and to Chus, his countrymen, That he would rather have Antonio's flesh, It will go hard with poor Antonio. Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble? Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, The best condition'd and unwearied spirit In doing courtesies; and one in whom What, no more? Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. *The chief men. Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer*: Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear.But let me hear the letter of your friend. 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. 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, No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. 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 lent out money gratis ;- 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: The duke shall grant me justice.-I do wonder, Ant. I pray thee, hear me speak. Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak-: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more. + Foolish. * Face. I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool, Ant. Let him alone, I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers, 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; Will much impeach the justice of the state; 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 god-like amity; which appears most strongly In bearing thus the absence of your lord. But, if you knew to whom you show this honour, |