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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.

The Merchant of Venice (Quarto 1, 1600)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed

the Merchant of Venice.
Portia. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I thinke so was he calld.
Ner. True maddam, hee of all the men that euer my foolish
eyes look'd vpon, was the best deseruing a faire Ladie.
295Portia. I remember him well, and I remember him worthie of
thy prayse.
How nowe, vvhat newes?
Enter a Seruingman.
Ser. The foure strangers seeke for you maddam to take theyr
300leaue: and there is a fore-runner come from a fift, the Prince of
Moroco, who brings word the Prince his Maister will be heere to
night.
Por. Yf I could bid the fift welcome with so good hart as I can
bid the other foure farewell, I should bee glad of his approch: if
305he haue the condition of a Saint, and the complexion of a deuill, I
had rather he should shriue mee then wiue mee. Come Nerrissa,
sirra goe before: whiles we shut the gate vpon one wooer, another
knocks at the doore.
Exeunt.

Enter Bassanio with Shylocke the Iew.
310Shy. Three thousand ducates, well.
Bass. I sir, for three months.
Shy. For three months, well.
Bass. For the which as I told you,
Anthonio shalbe bound.
315Shy. Anthonio shall become bound, well.
Bass. May you sted me? Will you pleasure me?
Shall I know your aunswere.
Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months,
and Anthonio bound.
320Bass. Your aunswere to that.
Shy. Anthonio is a good man.
Bass. Haue you heard any imputation to the contrary.
Shylocke. Ho no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying hee is
a good man, is to haue you vnderstand mee that hee is sufficient,
325yet his meanes are in supposition: hee hath an Argosie bound
to Tripolis, another to the Indies, I vnderstand moreouer vp-
on the Ryalta, hee hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England,
B2.
and