No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. To have her love, provided that your fortune Por. Is this true, Nerissa? Ner. Madam, it is, fo you ftand pleas'd withal. Baff. Our feaft fhall be much honour'd in your marriage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy for a thousand ducats. Ner. What, and ftake down? Gra. No,we shall ne'er win at that sport, and ftake down. But who comes here? Lorenzo and his infidel? What, and my old Venetian friend, Salanio? Enter Lorenzo, Jeffica, and Salanio. Baff. Lorenzo and Salanio, welcome hither; (Sweet Portia) welcome. Por. So do I, my lord; they are intirely welcome. My purpose was not to have feen you here; But meeting with Salanio by the way, He did intreat me, past all faying nay, To come with him along. gales hold their fong for fifteen days and nights together, without intermiffion'. Our author ufes this word again in his Lear: Deliver'd letters fpight of intermission, Which prefently they read. i. e. in fpight of any paule, or delay. Sometimes, without intermiffion, is, without ceflation : as in the Greek, αδιαλείπτως, απάντως, So in As you like it; And I did laugh, fans intermission. An hour by his dial. Sal. Sal. I did, my lord, And I have reason for't; Signior Anthonio Baf. Ere I ope his letter, [Gives Baffanio a letter. I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. [Bafanio opens the letter. Gra. Neriffa cheeryond firanger: Bid her welcome. (19) Your hand, Salanio; what's the news from Venice? How doth that royal merchant good Anthonio? I know he will be glad of our fuccefs: We are the Jafons, we have won the fleece. Sal. Would, you had won the fleece, that he hath loft! Por.There are fome fhrewd contents in yond fame paper, That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek: Some dear friend dead; elfe nothing in the world Of any constant man. What, worfe and worse! With leave, Bassanio, I am half yourself,. Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words, How much I was a braggart: when I told you, (19) Neriffa, cheer yond firanger:] The poet has fhewn a fingular art here, in his conduct with relation to Jeffica. As the audience were already appriz'd of her ftory, the opening it here to Portia would have been a fuperfluous repetition. Nor could it be done properly, while a letter of fuch hafte and confequence was to be deliver'd: and on which the main action of the play depended. Fica is therefore, artfully, complimented in dumb fhew; and no fpeech made to her, because the fcere is drawn out to a great length by more important business. I have engag'd myself to a dear friend, And not one veffel 'fcap'd the dreadful touch Sal. Not one, my lord. Befides, it fhould appear, that if he had Jef. When I was with him, I have heard him fwear, To Tuball and to Chus his country-men, That he would rather have Anthonio's flesh, Than twenty times the value of the fum That he did owe him; and I know, my lord, It will go hard with poor Anthonio. Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble? Baff. The dearest friend to me, the kindeft man, The best condition'd and unweary'd spirit In doing courtefies; and one in whom Pay him fix thousand, and deface the bond; Shall lofe a hair through my Baffanio's fault. For never fhall you lie by Portia's fide You fhall have gold Baff.reads. S Weet Baffanio, my ships have all mifcarry'd, my creditors grow cruel, my eftate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and fince, in paying it, it is impoffible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and me, if I might but fee you at my death; notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love do not perfuade you to come, let not my letter. Por. O love! dispatch all business, and be gone. No bed fhall e'er be guilty of my stay; No reft be interpofer 'twixt us twain. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to a Street in Venice. Shy. Enter Shylock, Solarino, Anthonio, and the Goaler. Oaler, look to him: tell not me of mercy. This is the fool, that lent out money gratis. Goaler look to him. G Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond, fpeak not against my bond: I've sworn an oath, that I will have my bond. Thou call'dit me dog, before thou hadst a cause; But But fince I am a dog, beware my fangs: Ant. I pray thee, hear me fpeak. Shy. I'll have my bond: I will not hear thee speak: To shake the head, relent, and figh and yield [Exit Shylock. Sola. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. Ant. Let him alone, I'll follow him no more with bootlefs pray'rs : Many, that have at times made moan to me; Sola. I am fure, the Duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. Ant. The Duke cannot deny the course of law; (20) For the commodity that ftrangers have With us in Venice, if it be deny'd, Will much impeach the juftice of the ftate; (20) The Duke cannot deny] As this fentence feems a little perplex'd and obfcure, it may not be amifs to give it a fhort explanation. The 'Duke cannot deny the courfe of law, (fays Anthonio;) for if its courfe be denied, the privilege that ftrangers have, being violated, will cry ' out against the injuftice'. This is very much to the purpofe; for he does not fay, that the juftice of the state could indeed be impeach'd by ftopping the course of law in his cafe: For, indeed, it was the utmoft juftice to stop it here: But that ftrangers would accuse it of injuftice. This fhews the true temper of the fate of Venice, and of all other trading ftates; which will always more fear an inconvenience than an injuftice. The jealoufy that foreign merchants may entertain of injuftice, being always more carefully guarded against, than injuftice itfelf. Mr. Warburton. 'That |