Dramatis Perfonæ. DUKE of Venice. Morochius a Moorish Prince, Suitors to Portia. Anthonio, the Merchant of Venice. Baffanio, his Friend, in love with Portia. ཕ Solarino, Friends to Anthonio and Baffanio. Lorenzo, in love with Jeffica. Shylock, a Jew. Tubal, a Jew, his Friend. Launcelot, a Clown, Servant to the Jew. Balthazar, Servants to Portia. Stephano, } Portia, an Heiress of great Quality and Fortune. Neria, Confident to Portia. Jeffica, Daughter to Shylock. Senators of Venice, Officers, Jailor, Servants, and other Attendants. SCENE, partly at Venice; and partly at Belment, the Seat of Portia upon the Continent.. THE I АСТ A C T I. SCENE, a Street in Venice. Enter Antonio, Solarino, and Salanio, ANTHONIO. N footh, I know not why I am fo fad: It wearies me; you fay, it wearies you; And fuch a want-wit fadness makes of me, Sal. Your mind is toffing on the ocean; That curtfie to them, do them reverence, The better part of my affections would Be Be with my hopes abroad. I fhould be still Sal. My wind, cooling my broth, And not bethink me strait of dang❜rous rocks? Anth. Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate Upon the fortune of this prefent year: Therefore, my merchandize makes me not fad. Anth. Fie, fie! Sola. Not in love neither! then let's fay, you're fad, Because you are not merry; and 'twere as eafy For you to laugh and leap, and fay, you're merry, Because you are not fad. Now by two-headed Janus, Nature hath fram'd ftrange fellows in her time: Some that will evermore peep through their eyes, And laugh, like parrots, at a bag-piper; And others of fuch vinegar afpect, That That they'll not show their teeth in way of fmile, Enter Baffanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano. Sal. Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman ; Graciano and Lorenzo: fare ye well; We leave ye now with better company. Sola. I would have staid 'till I had made you merry, If worthier friends had not prevented me. Anth. Your worth is very dear in my regard; Sal. Good-morrow, my good lords. Baff. Good Signiors both, when fhall we laugh fay, when? You grow exceeding strange; muft it be fo? Sal. We'll make our leifure to attend on yours. I pray you, have in mind where we must meet. [Exeunt Solar. and Sala. Anth. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano, A ftage, where every man must play his part, And mine a fad one. Gra. Let me play the fool; With mirth, and laughter, let old wrinkles come Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice. With purpose to be dreft in an opinion For faying nothing; who, I'm very fure, If they fhould fpeak, would almost damn thofe ears, (1) But fish not with this melancholy bait, Lor. Well, we will leave you then 'till dinner-time. Gra. Well, keep me company but two years more, Thou shalt not know the found of thine own tongue. Anth. Fare well; I'll grow a talker for this gear. Gra. Thanks, i'faith; for filence is only commendable In a neat's tongue dry'd, and a maid not vendible. [Exeunt Gra. and Loren. Anth. Is that any thing now? Baff. Gratiano fpeaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice: his reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two Bushels of chaff; you shall (1) would almost damn thofe ears,] Several old editions have it, dam, damme, and daunt. Some more correct copies, damn. The author's meaning is this; That fome people are thought wife, whilft they keep filence; who, when they open their mouths, are fuch ftupid praters, that their hearers cannot help calling them Fools, and fo incur the judgment denounc'd in the Gospel. The allufion is to St. Matthew, Ch. v. ver. 22. And whosoever shall fay to his brother, Raca, fhall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall fay, thou Fool, all be in danger of Hell-fire. I had regulated and explain'd this paffage in my SHAKESPEARE reflor'd; as alfo fhewn, how frequent it is with our author to allude to texts and history of Scripture. Mr. Pope, in his last edition, has vouchfafed to borrow the correction and explanation. I ought to take notice, the ingenious Dr. Thirlby concurr'd in our author's meaning, without knowing what I had done on the paffage. feek |