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American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
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The Merchant of Venice (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
The Merchant of Venice.
163
225chooses you, wil no doubt neuer be chosen by any right-
ly, but one who you shall rightly loue: but what warmth
is there in your affection towards any of these Princely
suters that are already come?
Por. I pray thee ouer-name them, and as thou namest
230them, I will describe them, and according to my descrip-
tion leuell at my affection.
Ner. First there is the Neopolitane Prince.
Por. I that's a colt indeede, for he doth nothing but
talke of his horse, and hee makes it a great appropria-
235tion to his owne good parts that he can shoo him him-
selfe: I am much afraid my Ladie his mother plaid false
with a Smyth.
Ner. Than is there the Countie Palentine.
Por. He doth nothing but frowne (as who should
240say, and you will not haue me, choose: he heares merrie
tales and smiles not, I feare hee will proue the weeping
Phylosopher when he growes old, being so full of vn-
mannerly sadnesse in his youth.) I had rather to be marri-
ed to a deaths head with a bone in his mouth, then to ei-
245ther of these: God defend me from these two.
Ner. How say you by the French Lord, Mounsier
Le Boune?
Pro. God made him, and therefore let him passe for a
man, in truth I know it is a sinne to be a mocker, but he,
250why he hath a horse better then the Neopolitans, a bet-
ter bad habite of frowning then the Count Palentine, he
is euery man in no man, if a Trassell sing, he fals straight
a capring, he will fence with his own shadow. If I should
marry him, I should marry twentie husbands: if hee
255would despise me, I would forgiue him, for if he loue me
to madnesse, I should neuer requite him.
Ner. What say you then to Fauconbridge, the yong
Baron of England?
Por. You know I say nothing to him, for hee vnder-
260stands not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latine, French,
nor Italian, and you will come into the Court & sweare
that I haue a poore pennie-worth in the English: hee is a
proper mans picture, but alas who can conuerse with a
dumbe show? how odly he is suited, I thinke he bought
265his doublet in Italie, his round hose in France, his bonnet
in Germanie, and his behauiour euery where.
Ner. What thinke you of the other Lord his neigh-
bour?
Por. That he hath a neighbourly charitie in him, for
270he borrowed a boxe of the eare of the Englishman, and
swore he would pay him againe when hee was able: I
thinke the Frenchman became his suretie, and seald vnder
for another.
Ner. How like you the yong Germaine, the Duke of
275Saxonies Nephew?
Por. Very vildely in the morning when hee is sober,
and most vildely in the afternoone when hee is drunke:
when he is best, he is a little worse then a man, and when
he is worst, he is little better then a beast: and the worst
280fall that euer fell, I hope I shall make shift to goe with-
out him.
Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the right
Casket, you should refuse to performe your Fathers will,
if you should refuse to accept him.
285Por. Therefore for feare of the worst, I pray thee set
a deepe glasse of Reinish-wine on the contrary Casket,
for if the diuell be within, and that temptation without,
I know he will choose it. I will doe any thing Nerrissa
ere I will be married to a spunge.
290Ner. You neede not feare Lady the hauing any of
these Lords, they haue acquainted me with their deter-
minations, which is indeede to returne to their home,
and to trouble you with no more suite, vnlesse you may
be won by some other sort then your Fathers impositi-
295on, depending on the Caskets.
Por. If I liue to be as olde as Sibilla, I will dye as
chaste as Diana: vnlesse I be obtained by the manner
of my Fathers will: I am glad this parcell of wooers
are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but
300I doate on his verie absence: and I wish them a faire de-
parture.
Ner. Doe you not remember Ladie in your Fa-
thers time, a Venecian, a Scholler and a Souldior that
came hither in companie of the Marquesse of Mount-
305ferrat?
Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I thinke, so was hee
call'd.
Ner. True Madam, hee of all the men that euer my
foolish eyes look'd vpon, was the best deseruing a faire
310Lady.
Por. I remember him well, and I remember him wor-
thy of thy praise.

Enter a Seruingman.

Ser. The foure Strangers seeke you Madam to take
315their leaue: and there is a fore-runner come from a fift,
the Prince of Moroco, who brings word the Prince his
Maister will be here to night.
Por. If I could bid the fift welcome with so good
heart as I can bid the other foure farewell, I should be
320glad of his approach: if he haue the condition of a Saint,
and the complexion of a diuell, I had rather hee should
shriue me then wiue me. Come Nerrissa, sirra go before;
whiles wee shut the gate vpon one wooer, another
knocks at the doore.
Exeunt.

325
Enter Bassanio with Shylocke the Iew.

Shy. Three thousand ducates, well.
Bass. I sir, for three months.
Shy. For three months, well.
Bass. For the which, as I told you,
330Anthonio shall be bound.
Shy. Anthonio shall become bound, well.
Bass. May you sted me? Will you pleasure me?
Shall I know your answere.
Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months,
335and Anthonio bound.
Bass. Your answere to that.
Shy. Anthonio is a good man.
Bass. Haue you heard any imputation to the con-
trary.
340Shy. Ho no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying he is a
good man, is to haue you vnderstand me that he is suffi-
cient, yet his meanes are in supposition: he hath an Argo-
sie bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies, I vnder-
stand moreouer vpon the Ryalta, he hath a third at Mexi-
345co, a fourth for England, and other ventures hee hath
squandred abroad, but ships are but boords, Saylers but
men, there be land rats, and water rats, water theeues,
and land theeues, I meane Pyrats, and then there is the
perrill of waters, windes, and rocks: the man is notwith-
350standing sufficient, three thousand ducats, I thinke I may
take his bond.
Bas. Be assured you may.
Iew. I