Pay him fix thoufand, and deface the bond; Shall lofe a hair through my Baffanio's fault. Baff.reads. Sh Weet Baffanio, my ships have all mifearry', my creditors grow cruel, my eftate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and fince, in pay it, it is impoffible I should live, all debts are cleared etween you and me, if I might but fee you at my deat notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your lowe do an perfuade you to come, let not my letter. Por. O love, difpatch all bufinefs, 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. Enter Shylock, Solarino, Anthonio, and the Goaler. Oaler, look to him: tell not me of mercy. Shy. G This is the fool, that lent out money gratis. Goaler look to him. Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond, fpeak not against my bond: I've fworn an oath, that I will have my bond. Thou call'dft me dog, before thou hadst a cause; But But fince I am a dog beware my fangs : Shy. I'll have my bond: I will not hear thee speak : To shake the head, relent, and figh and yield Sola. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. Ant. Let him alone, Exit Shylock. 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 courfe 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 That That I fhall hardly fpare a pound of flesh Well, goaler, on; pray God, Bassanio come SCENE changes to Belmont. Exeunt. Enter Portia, Neriffa, Lorenzo, Jeffica, and Balthazar. Lor. M Adam, although I fpeak it in your prefence, You have a noble and a true conceit (21) This comes too near the praising of myself ; Therefore no more of it: here other things, Lorenzo, I commit, &c.] Thus has this paffage been writ and pointed, but abfurdly, thro' all the editions. Portia finding the reflections fhe had made came too near felf-praife, begins to chide herself for it: fays, fhe'll fay no more of that fort; but call a new fubject. The regulation I have made in the text was likewife prefcrib'd by Dr. Thirlby. The The husbandry and manage of my house, Until my lord's return. I have tow'rd heaven breath'd a fecret vow, Until her husband and my lord's return. And there we will abide. I do defire you, The which my love and fome neceffity Lor. Madam, with all my heart; I fhall obey you in all fair commands. Por. My people do already know my mind, And will acknowledge you and Jeffica In place of lord Bassanio and myself. So fare you well, 'till we fhall meet again. Lor. Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you! Jef. I wish your ladyfhip all heart's content. Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well pleas'd To wish it back on you: fare you well, Jeffica. Now, Balthazar, [Exeunt Jef. and Lor. As I have ever found thee honeft, true, So let me find thee ftill: take this fame letter, In fpeed to Padua ; fee thou render this (22) And look what notes and garments he doth give thee, Which trades to Venice: wafte no time in words, But get thee gone; I fhall be there before thee. (22) In fpeed to Mantua ;] Thus all the old copies; and thus all the modern editors implicitly after them. But 'tis evident to any diligent reader, that we must restore, as I have done, In Speed to Padua: for it was there, and not at Mantua, Bellario liv'd. So afterwards;-A meffenger, with letters from the Doctor, new come from Padua ---And again, Came you from Padua, from Bellario ?---And again, It comes from Padua, from Bellario.---Befides, Padua, not Mantua, is the place of education for the civil law in Italy. Bal. Bal. Madam, I go with all convenient speed. [Exit. Por. Come on, Neriffa; I have work in hand, That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands Before they think of us. Ner. Shall they fee us? Por. They fhall, Neriffa; but in fuch a habit, That men fhall fwear, I've difcontinued fchool Ner. Shall we turn to men? Por. Fie, what a question's that, If thou wert near a lewd interpreter ! Enter Launcelot and Jeffica. [Exeunt. Laun. Yes, truly: for, look you, the fins of the fathers are to be laid upon the children: therefore, 1 promife you, I fear you. I was always plain with you; and fo now I fpeak my agitation of the matter: there. fore be of good cheer; for truly, I think you are damn'd: there is but one hope in it that can do you any good, and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither. 2 Jes. |