Enter the Prince of Morocco, and three or four followers accordingly; with Portia, Neriffa, and ber train. Flourish Cornets.

Mor. MISLIKE me not for my complexion,

fun,

Never to speak to lady afterward

In way of marriage; therefore be advised.
Mor. Nor will not; come, bring me unto my
chance.

Por. First, forward to the temple; after dinner
Your hazard shall be made.
Mor. Good fortune then!

[Cornets. [Exeunt,

The fhadow'd livery of the burnish'd To make me bleft, or curfed'ft among men.

To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus' fire fcarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incifion for your love,

To prove whofe blood is reddeft, his, or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this afpect of mine

Hath fear'd 2 the valiant; by my love, I fwear,
The best regarded virgins of our clime

Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue,
Except to fteal your thoughts, my gentle queen.

Por. In terms of choice I am not folely led
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes:
Befides, the lottery of my deftiny
Bars me the right of voluntary chufing:
But, if my father had not fcanted me,
And hedg'd me by his will, to yield myself

His wife, who wins me by that means I told you,
Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair,
As any comer I have look'd on yet,
For my affection.

Mor. Even for that I thank you;
Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets,
To try my fortune. By this fcimitar,--
That flew the Sophy, and a Perfian prince,
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,-
1 would out-ftare the fterneft eyes that look,
Out-brave the heart moft daring on the earth,
Pluck the young fucking cubs from the fhe-bear,
Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win thee, lady: But, alas the while!
If Hercules, and Lichas, play at dice
Which is the better man, the greater throw
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand:
So is Alcides beaten by his page;
And fo may 1, blind Fortune leading me,
Mifs that which one unworthier may attain,
And die with grieving.

Por. You must take your chance;
And either not attempt to chufe at all,

Laun. Certainly, my confcience will ferve me to run from this Jew my mafter: The fiend is at mine elbow, and tempts me, faying to me," Gobbo, "Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot, or good Gob"bo, or good Launcelot Gobho, ufc your legs, "take the start, run away."--My confcience fays,-" No; take heed, honeft Launcelot; take "heed, honeft Gobbo; or," as forefaid, "honeft "Launcelot Gobbo; do not ru; fcom running

"with thy heels." Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack: "Via!" fays the fiend; "away!" fays the fiend, "for the heavens ;" "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 honest "friend Launcelot, being an honeft man's fon,"or rather an honest woman's fon;-for, indeed, my father did fomething (mack, something grow to, he had a kind of taite ;-well, my confcience fays," Launcelot, budge not." "Budge," fays

the fiend. "Budge not," fays my confcience.”—
Confcience, fay 1, you counfel well. Fiend, fay I,
you counfel well. To be rul'd by my confcience, I
thould ftay 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 rul'd by the fiend,
who, faving your reverence, is the devil himfelf.
Certainly, the Jew is the very devil incarnation;
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
counfel. I will run, fiend; my heels are at your
commandment, I will run.

Enter old Gobbo, his father, with a basket.
Gob. Mafter, young man, you, I pray you;

Or fwear, before you chufe,—if you chufe wrong, which is the way to maiter Jew's?

Fearful guard means a guard that is not to be trusted, but gives caufe of fear. Probably Shakspeare wrote fear'd,

2 i. c. terrify'd.

Laun

Laun. [afide.] O heavens, this is my true-begot-ja beard haft thou got! Thou haft got more hair ten father! who, being more than fand-blind, on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill-horse 2 has on high-gravel blind, knows me not:-I will try con- his tail. clufions with him.

Laun. It fhould feem then, that Dobbin's tail. Gob. Mafter young gentleman, I pray you, grows backward; I am fure he had more hair on which is the way to mafter Jew's? This tail, than I have on my face, when I laft faw him.

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. Gb. 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

Gob. Lord, how thou art chang'd! How doft thou and thy mafter agree? I have brought him a present; How agree you now?

Laun. Well, well; but for mine own part, as I have fet up my reft to run away, fo I will not reft till I have run fome ground: My mafter's a

Lan. Talk you of young matter Launcelot ?—very Jew; give him a prefent! give him a hålter: Mark me now, [afide.] now will I raife the water:-Talk you of young mafter Launcelot ?

Gob. No mafter, fir, but a poor man's fon; his father, though I fay it, is an honeft exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live.

I am famith'd in his fervice; you may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come; give me your prefent to one mafter Baffanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I ferve not him, I will run as far as God has

Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we any ground.-O rare fortune! here comes the talk of young mafter Launcelot.

Geb. Your worthip's friend, and Launcelot, fir. Laun. But I pray you eŋgɔ, old man, ergo, I befeech you; Talk you of young mafter Laun

celot ?

man;—to him, father; for I am a Jew, if I ferve the Jew any longer.

Enter Baffanio, with Leonardo, and a follower or

tavo more.

Baff. You may do fo;-but let it be fo hafted,

Gob. Of Launcelot, an' pleate your maftership, that fupper be ready at the fartheft by five of the Laun. Ergo, mafter Launcelot, talk not of mat-clock. See thefe ietters deliver'd; put the liveries ter Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman to making; and defire Gratiano to come anon to (according to fates and deftinies, and fuch odd fay-my lodging.

ings, the fifters three, and fuch branches of learning) is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would fay, in plain terms, gone to heaven.

Gob. Marry, God forbid the boy was the very faff of my age, my very prop.

Latun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovel-poft, a ftatf, or a prop ?--Do you know me, father?

Gb. Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman: but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy (God reft his foul !) alive, or dead?

Laun. Do you not know me, father?
Geb. Alack, fir, I am fand-blind, I know you

not.

Laun. To him, father.

Gob. God blefs your worship!

Baff. Gramercy; Would't thou aught with me?
Gob. Here's my fon, fir, a poor boy,-

Laun. Not a poor boy, fir, but the rich Jew's man; that would, fir, as my father shall specify,Gub. He hath a great infection, fir, as one would say, to serve———

Laun. Indeed, the fhort and the long is, I ferve the Jew, and have a defire, as my father shall fpecify,

Gob. His mafter and he (faving your worship's reverence) are scarce cater-coufins :

Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the might fail of the knowing me: it is a wife father Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will father, being I hope an old man, fhall frutify unto tell you news of your fon : Give me your bletting; you,truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long, a man's fon may; but, in the end, truth will

out.

Gob. Pray you, fir, ftand up; I am fure, you are not Launcelot, my boy.

Laun. Pray you, let's have no more fooling about it, but give me your blefling; I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your fon that is, your child that thall be.

Geb. I cannot think, you are my fon.

Laun. I know not what I fhall think of that:

but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man; and, I am fine, Margery, your wife, is my mother.

Grb. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be fworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art my own flesh and blood. Lord worthipp'd might he be! what

That is, I will try experiments with him.

Gob. I have here a difh of doves, that I would beftow upon your worthip; and my suit is,

Laun. In very brief, the fuit is impertinent to myself, as your worship fhall know by this honeft old man; and though I fay it, though old man, yet poor man, my father.

Baff. One speak for both;-What would you?
Laun. Serve you, fir.

Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, fir.
Baff. I know thee well, thou haft obtain'd thy

fuit :

Shylock, thy mafter, spoke with me this day,
And hath preferr'd thee; if it be preferment,
To leave a rich Jew's fervice to become
The follower of so poor a gentleman.

Laun. The old proverb is very well parted be

2 Thill, or fill, means the fhafts of a cart or waggon.

tween

tween my mafter Shylock and you, fir; you have the grace of God, fir, and he hath enough.

Ball. No, that were pity;

I would entreat you rather to put on

Bal. Thou speak'ft it well: Go, father, with Your boldest fuit of mirth, for we have friends

thy fon:

Take leave of thy old mafter, and enquire
My lodging out :-give him a livery

[To his followers. More guarded than his fellows: fee it done.

ril of

my

That purpofe merriment: But fare you well,
I have fome business.

Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the reft;
But we will vifit you at fupper-time.

SCE NE III.
Shylock's boufe.

Enter Jelica and Launcelot.

[Excunt,

But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee.

Laun. Father, in :-I cannot get a fervice, no;— I have ne'er a tongue in my head.- -Well, [looking on his palm if any man in Italy have a fairer sable2, which doth offer to swear upon a book, I hall have good fortune.-Go to, here's a fimple Our houfe is hell, and thou, a merry devil, Jef. I am forry, thou wilt leave my father fo; Line of life! here's a small trifle of wives: alas, fif-Didft rob it of fome tafte of tedioufnefs : teen wives is nothing; eleven widows, and nine maids, is a fimple coming-in for one man: and And, Launcelot, foon at fupper ihalt thou fee then, to 'fcape drowning thrice; and to be in pe-Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest : life with the edge of a feather-bed 3;-Give him this letter; do it fecretly, here are fimple 'fcapes! Well, if fortune be a wo- And fo farewell; I would not have my father man, the's a good wench for this geer.-Father, See me talk with thee. come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. Bal. I pray thec, good Leonardo, think on this; Thele things being bought, and orderly bestow'd, Return in hafte, for I do feast to-night My beft-cfteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go. Leon. My beft endeavours fhall be done herein.

[Exeunt Launcelot and old Gobbo.

Enter Gratiano.

Gra. Where's your master?

Lean. Yonder, fir, he walks.

[Exit Leonardo.

Ga. I have a fuit to you.

Gra. Signior Baffanio,

Baff, Gratiano!

Baff. You have obtain'd it.

Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to Belmont.

Laun. Adieu!-tears exhibit my tongue.Chriftian did not play the knave, and get thee, I Moft beautiful pagan,-most sweet Jew! if a

am much deceiv'd: but, adieu! these foolish drops
do fomewhat drown my manly fpirit; adieu!

Alack, what heinous fin is it in me,
Jef. Farewel, good Launcelot.→→

To be afham'd to be my father's child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners: 0 Lorenzo,
If thou keep promife, I fhall end this ftrife;
Become a chriftian, and thy loving wife.

Baff. Why, then you must;-But hear thee, Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarim, and Salanis.

Gratiano:

Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ;-
Parts, that become thee happily enough,
And in fuch eyes as ours appear not faults:
But where thou art not known,why, there they fhew
Something too liberal 4;-pray thee, take pain
To allay with fome cold drops of modefty [viour,
Thy skipping fpirit; left, through thy wild beha-
1 be mifconftru'd in the place I go to,

And lofe my hopes.

Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me :
If I do not put on a fober habit,

Talk with refpect, and fwear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely;
Nay, more, while grace is faying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and figh, and fay, amen;
Ufe all the obfervance of civility,
Like one well studied in a fad oftent 5
To please his grandam, never trust me more.
Buff. Well, we fhall fee your bearing.
Ga. Nay, but I bar to-night; you fhall not gage
By what we do to-night.

[me

Lor. Nay, we will flink away in fupper-time;
Difguife us at my lodging, and return
All in an hour.

Gra. We have not made good preparation.
Sal. We have not fpoke us yet of torch-bearers,
Sala. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered;
And better, in my mind, not undertook. [hours
Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have tw◄
To furnish us :-

Enter Launcelot with a letter.
Friend Launcelot, what's the news?

Laun. An it fhall please you to break up this 6, it fhall feem to fignify.

Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand;
And whiter than the paper it writ on,
Is the fair hand that writ.

Gra. Love-news, in faith.
Laun. By your leave, fir.

Lor. Whither goeft thou?

Laun. Marry, fir, to bid my old mafter the Jew to fup to-night with my new mafter the Chriftian.

That is, more ornamented. 2 The chiromantic term for the lines of the hand. 3 A cant phrafe to fignify the danger of marrying. 4 That is, too grofs, licentious. pearance. To break up was a term in carving.

5 That is, grave ap

Lor

Lør. Hold here, take this :-tell gentle Jeffica,
I will not fail her ;-Speak it privately; go.—
Gentlemen,

Will you prepare you for this mask to-night?
I am provided of a torch-bearer.

[Exit Laun. Sal. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it ftraight. Sala. And fo will I.

Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano,

At Gratiano's lodging fome hour hence.

Sal. 'Tis good we do fo. [Exe. Salar, and Salan.
Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jettica?

And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife,
Clamber not you up to the cafements then,
Nor thruft your head into the public street,
To gaze on Christian fools with varnith'd faces:
But ftop my houfe's ears, I mean, my cafements;
Let not the found of fhallow foppery enter
My fober houfe.-By Jacob's ftaff, I swear,
I have no mind of feafting forth to-night:
But I will go.-Go you before me, firrah;
Say, I will come.

Laun. I will go before, fir.

Lor. I must needs tell thee all: the hath di-Miftrefs, look out at window, for all this;

J. Farewel; and if my fortune be not croft,

[Exit.

Enter Shylock, and Launcelot.

Shy. Well, thou fhalt fee, thy eyes fhall be thy I have a father, you a daughter, loft.

judge,

The difference of old Shylock and Baffanio :--
What, Jeffica!—thou shalt not gormandize,
As thou haft done with me ;-What, Jeffica!-
And fleep and fnore, and rend apparel out ;--
Why, Jetlica, I say !

Laun. Why, Jellica!

Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Laun. Your worthip was wont to tell me, that I could do nothing without bidding.

Enter Fellica.

Jef. Call you? what is your will?

Shy. I am bid forth to fupper, Jellica;

Defir'd us to make ftand.

Sal. His hour is almoft paft.

Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour,
For lovers ever run before the clock.

Sal. O, ten times fafter Venus' pigeons fly
To feal love's bonds new made, than they are wont

There are my keys :-But wherefore thould I go? To keep obliged faith unforfeited !

I am not bid for love; they flatter me:
But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon
The prodigal chriftian.-Jeffica, my girl,
Look to my houfe :-I am right loth to go;
There is fome ill a-brewing towards my reft,
For I did dream of money-bags to-night.
Laun. I befeech you, fir, go; my young mafter
doth expect your reproach.
Sby. So do I his.

Laun. And they have confpired together, will not fay, you shall fee a mafque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nofe fell a-bleeding on Black-Monday laft, at fix o'clock i' the morning, falling out that year on Ath-Wednefday was four year in the afternoon.

Shy. What are there maiques? Hear you me,
Jetfica:

Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum,

Gra. That ever holds: Who rifeth from a feaft
With that keen appetite that he fits down?
Where is the horie, that doth untread again
His tedious meatures with the unbated fire
That he did pace them firft? All things that are,
Are with more spirit chafed than enjoy'd.
How like a younker, or a prodigal,
The fkarfed bark puts from her native bay,
Hugg'd and embraced by the ftrumpet wind!
How like a prodigal doth she return;
With over-weather'd ribs, and ragged fails,
Lean, rent, and beggar'd by the ftrumpet wind!

Enter Lorenzo.

Sal. Here comes Lorenzo :-more of this here-
after.
[abode;

Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long
Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait :
When you shall pleafe to play the thieves for wives,

1 Black-Monday, according to Stowe, means Eafter-Monday, and was fo called from Edward III. having loft a part of his army, then belieging París, by cold on that day, which was alfo remark ably dark and mitty. a i. e. the fool.

I'll watch as long for you then.-Approach;
Here dwells my father Jew: Ho! who's within?
Jeffica above, in boy's cloaths.

fef. Who are you? tell me, for more certainty,
Albeit I'll fwear that I do know your tongue.
Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love.

Jef. Lorenzo, certain; and my love indeed;
For who love I fo much? and now who knows,
But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?
Lor. Heaven, and thy thoughts, are witness
that thou art.

[pains.
Jef. Here, catch this cafket; it is worth the
I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me,
For I am much afham'd of my exchange:
But love is blind, and lovers cannot fee
The pretty follies that themselves commit;
For if they could, Cupid himfelf would blush
To fee me thus transformed to a boy.

Lor. Defcend, for you must be my torch-bearer.
Jef. What, muft I hold a candle to my thames?
They in themfelves, good footh, are too too light.
Why, 'tis an office of difcovery, love;
And I fhould be obscur'd.

Lor. So are you, fweet,

Even in the lovely garnish of a boy.

But come at once:

For the clofe night doth play the run-away,
And we are ftaid for at Baffenio's feat.

ff. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With fome more ducats, and be with you ftraight. [Exit, from above. Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew. Lor. Befhrew me, but I love her heartily:

For the is wife, if I can judge of her;
And fair fhe is, if that mine eyes be true;
And true she is, as the hath prov'd herfelf;
And therefore, like herself, wife,,fair, and true,
Shall she be placed in my constant foul.
Enter feffica, below.
What, art thou come ?-On, gentlemen, away;
Our mafquing mates by this time for us ftay.
[Exit with Jafica,
Enter Anthonio.

1

Anth, Who's there?
Gra. Signior Anthonio?
Anth. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the rest?
'Tis nine o'clock; our friends all ftay for you :—
No mafque to-night; the wind is come about,
Baffanio presently will go aboard :

I have fent twenty out to feek for you.

Gra. I am glad on 't; I defire no more delight, Than to be under fail, and gone to-night. [Exeunt.

Enter Portia, with the Prince of Morocco, and both

their trains.

Por. Go, draw afide the curtains, and difcover
The feveral caskets to this noble prince :-
Now make your choice.

1. Who chufeth me, fhall gain what many men defire.' The fecond, filver, which this promife carries ;"Who chufeth me, fhall get as much as he deferves." This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt ;-"Who chufeth me, muft give and hazard all he "hath.-"

[bears; Mor. The first, of gold, who this infcription

How fhall I know if I do chufe the right?

Por. The one of them contains my picture, prince;
If you chufe that, then I am yours withal.

Mor. Some god direct my judgment ! Let me fee,
I will furvey the infcriptions back again :
What fays this leaden casket?

"Who chufeth me, muft give and hazard all he
"hath."
lead?
Muft give-For what? for lead? hazard for
This cafket threatens: Men, that hazard all,
Do it in hope of fair advantages:

A golden mind stoops not to fhows of drofs;
I'll then nor give, nor hazard aught for lead.
What fays the filver, with her virgin hue ?
"Who chufeth me, fhall get as much as he deferves."
As much as he deferves ?-Paufe there, Morocco,
And weigh thy value with an even hand :
If thou be'ft rated by thy estimation,
Thou doft deferve enough; and yet enough
May not extend fo far as to the lady;
And yet to be afeard of my deferving,
Were but a weak difabling of myself.
As much as I deferve!—Why, that's the lady ;
I do in birth deferve her, and in fortunes,
In graces, and in qualities of breeding;
But, more than thefe, in love I do deferve.
What if I ftray'd no farther, but chofe here ?—
Let's fee once more this faying grav'd in gold.
Who chufeth me, hall gain what many mea defire."
Why, that's the lady; all the world defires her:
From the four corners of the earth they come,
To kifs this fhrine, this mortal breathing faint.
The Hyrcanian deferts, and the vafty wilds
Of wide Arabia, are as thorough-fares now,
For princes to come view fair Portia :
The watry kingdom, whose ambitious head
Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar
To top the foreign fpirits; but they come,
As o'er a brook, to fee fair Portia.
One of these three contains her heavenly picture.
Is't like, that lead contains her? 'Twere damna-
tion,

To think fo bafe a thought; it were too grofs
To rib her cerecloth in the obfcure grave.
Or fhall I think, in filver the's immured,
Being ten times undervalu'd to try'd gold?
O finful thought! Never fo rich a gem
Was fet in worse than gold. They have in England
A coin, that bears the figure of an angel
Stamped in gold; but that's infculp'd 2 upon;
But here an angel in a golden bed
Lyes all within.-Deliver me the key;
Here do I chufe, and thrive I as I may! [there,
Por. There, take it, prince, and if my form lye
Then I am yours.
[Unlocking the gold cafket.

1 Our author here quibbles upon Gentile, which figrifies one that is well børn, as well as a heathen.

2 i. c. engraved upon.

Mor.