Anth. This was a venture, Sir, that Jacob serv'd for; A thing not in his power to bring to pass, But fway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heav'n. Anth. Mark you this, Baffanio? The devil can cite fcripture for his purpose. O, what a goodly outfide's falfehood hath! Shy. Three thousand ducats! 'tis a good round fum. Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate. Anth. Well, Shylock, fhall we be beholden to you? Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft In the Ryalto you have rated me, About my monies and my ufances. Still have I borne it with a patient shrug; A cur can lend three thousand ducats? Or, Anth. I am as like to call thee fo again, A As to thy friend, (for when did friendship take * But lend it rather to thine enemy; Who, if he break, thou may'st with better face Shy. Why, how you ftorm? I would be friends with you, and have your love; Anth. This were kindness. Shy. This kindness will I fhow; Go with me to a notary, feal me there In fuch a place, fuch fum, or fums, as are Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken Baff. You fhall not feal to fuch a bond for me, Anth. 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! A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I fay, Breed of metal, meaning money at ufury, money that breeds more. The old editions (two of them) bave it, A bribe of barren metal, And And for my love, I pray you, wrong me not. Anth Yes, Shylock, I will feal unto this bond. And I will go and purse the ducats ftrait; Anth. Hie thee gentle Jew. [Exit. This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. Enter Morochius, a Tarny-Moor, all in white; and three or four followers accordingly; with Portia, Neriffa, and her train. Flourish cornets. Iflike me not for my complexion, Mor. M The fhadow'd livery of the burnish'd fun, Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue, His wife, who wins me by that means I told you; H As As any comer I have look'd on yet, For my affection. Mor. Ev'n for that I thank you; Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the cafkets And fo may I, blind fortune leading me, Por. You must take your chance, In way of marriage; therefore be advis'd. wrong, Mor. Nor will not; therefore bring me to my chance. Por. First, forward to the temple; after dinner Your hazard fhall be made. Mor Good fortune then, [Gornets. To make me blefs'd, or curfed'ft among men! [Exeunt. SCENE II. Changes to Venice. Enter Launcelot alone. Laun. Certainly my confcience will ferve me to run from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine elbow, and tempts me, faying to me, Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot, or good Gobbo, or good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away. My confcience fays, No; take heed, honeft Launcelot; take heed, honeft Gobbo; or, as aforefaid, honest Latincelet Gobbo, do not run; fcorn running with thy heels. heels. Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack; Via! fays the fiend; Away! fays the fiend; for the heav'ns roufe up a brave mind, fays the fiend, and run. Well, my confcience, hanging about the neck of my heart, fays very wifely to me, My honeft friend Launcelot, being an honeft man's fon, or rather an honest woman's fon (for indeed my father did fomething fmack, fomething grow to; he had a kind of tafte;) well, my conícience fays, Budge not; Budge, fays the fiend; Budge not, fays my confcience; Confcience, fay I, you counsel ill; Fiend, fay I you counfel ill. To be rul'd by my confcience, I fhould stay with the Jew my mafter, who, God blefs the mark, is a kind of devil; and to run away from the Jew, I fhould be ruled by the fiend, who, faving your reverence, is the devil himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnal; and in my confcience, my confcience is but a kind of hard confcience, to offer to counfel me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly counI will run, fiend, my heels are at your commandment, I will run. fel; Enter old Gobbo, with a basket. Gob. Mafter young man, you, I pray you, which is · the way to Mafter Jew's? Laun. O heav'ns, this is my true-begotten father, who being more than fand-blind, high-gravel-blind, knows me not; I will try confufions with him. Gob. Master young Gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to Maiter 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 houfe. Gob. By God's fonties, '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 Mafter Launcelot? (mark me now, now will I raife the waters); talk you of young Mafter Launcelot? · Gob. No, Mafter, Sir, but a poor man's fon. His father, H 2 2 |