1623Hath all his ventures faild, what not one hit,

1624From Tripolis, from Mexico and England,

1625From Lisbon, Barbary, and India,

1626And not one vessell scape the dreadfull touch

1627Of Merchant-marring rocks?

1628Sal. Not one my Lord.

1629Besides, it should appeare, that if he had

1630The present money to discharge the Iew,

1631He would not take it: neuer did I know

1632A creature that did beare the shape of man

1633So keene and greedy to confound a man.

1634He plyes the Duke at morning and at night,

1635And doth impeach the freedome of the state

1636If they deny him iustice. Twenty Merchants,

1637The Duke himselfe, and the Magnificoes

1638Of greatest port haue all perswaded with him,

1639But none can driue him from the enuious plea

1640Of forfeiture, of iustice, and his bond.

1641Iessi. When I was with him, I haue heard him sweare

1642To Tuball and to Chus, his Countri-men,

1643That he would rather haue Anthonio's flesh,

1644Then twenty times the value of the summe

1645That he did owe him: and I know my Lord,

1646If law, authoritie, and power denie not,

1647It will goe hard with poore Anthonio.

1648Por. Is it your deere friend that is thus in trouble?

1649Bass. The deerest friend to me, the kindest man,

1650The best condition'd, and vnwearied spirit

1651In doing curtesies: and one in whom

1652The ancient Romane honour more appeares

1653Then any that drawes breath in Italie.

1654Por. What summe owes he the Iew?

1655Bass. For me three thousand ducats.

1656Por. What, no more?

1657Pay him sixe thousand, and deface the bond:

1658Double sixe thousand, and then treble that,

1659Before a friend of this description

1660Shall lose a haire through Bassano's fault.

1661First goe with me to Church, and call me wife,

1662And then away to Venice to your friend:

1663For neuer shall you lie by Portias side

1664With an vnquiet soule. You shall haue gold

1665To pay the petty debt twenty times ouer.

1666When it is payd, bring your true friend along,

1667My maid Nerrissa, and my selfe meane time

1668Will liue as maids and widdowes; come away,

1669For you shall hence vpon your wedding day:

1670Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheere,

1671Since you are deere bought, I will loue you deere.

1672But let me heare the letter of your friend.

1673 Sweet Bassanio, my ships haue all miscarried, my Credi-

1674tors grow cruell, my estate is very low, my bond to the Iew is

1675forfeit, and since in paying it, it is impossible I should liue, all

1676debts are cleerd betweene you and I, if I might see you at my

1677death: notwithstanding, vse your pleasure, if your loue doe not

1678perswade you to come, let not my letter.

1679Por. O loue! dispach all busines and be gone.

1680Bass. Since I haue your good leaue to goe away,

1681I will make hast; but till I come againe,

1682No bed shall ere be guilty of my stay,

1683Nor rest be interposer twixt vs twaine. Exeunt.

1686Iew. Iaylor, looke to him, tell not me of mercy,

1687This is the foole that lends out money gratis.

1688Iaylor, looke to him.

1689Ant. Heare me yet good Shylok.

1690Iew. Ile haue my bond, speake not against my bond,

1691I haue sworne an oath that I will haue my bond:

1692Thou call'dst me dog before thou hadst a cause,

1693But since I am a dog, beware my phangs,

1694The Duke shall grant me iustice, I do wonder

1695Thou naughty Iaylor, that thou art so fond

1696To come abroad with him at his request.

1697Ant. I pray thee heare me speake.

1698Iew. Ile haue my bond, I will not heare thee speake,

1699Ile haue my bond, and therefore speake no more.

1700Ile not be made a soft and dull ey'd foole,

1701To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yeeld

1702To Christian intercessors: follow not,

1703Ile haue no speaking, I will haue my bond. Exit Iew.

1704Sol. It is the most impenetrable curre

1705That euer kept with men.

1706Ant. Let him alone,

1707Ile follow him no more with bootlesse prayers:

1708He seekes my life, his reason well I know;

1709I oft deliuer'd from his forfeitures

1710Many that haue at times made mone to me,

1711Therefore he hates me.

1712Sol. I am sure the Duke will neuer grant

1713this forfeiture to hold.

1714An. The Duke cannot deny the course of law:

1715For the commoditie that strangers haue

1716With vs in Venice, if it be denied,

1717Will much impeach the iustice of the State,

1718Since that the trade and profit of the citty

1719Consisteth of all Nations. Therefore goe,

1720These greefes and losses haue so bated mee,

1721That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh

1722To morrow, to my bloudy Creditor.

1723Well Iaylor, on, pray God Bassanio come

1724To see me pay his debt, and then I care not. Exeunt.

1727Lor. Madam, although I speake it in your presence,

1728You haue a noble and a true conceit

1729Of god-like amity, which appeares most strongly

1730In bearing thus the absence of your Lord.

1731But if you knew to whom you shew this honour,

1732How true a Gentleman you send releefe,

1733How deere a louer of my Lord your husband,

1734I know you would be prouder of the worke

1735Then customary bounty can enforce you.

1736Por. I neuer did repent for doing good,

1737Nor shall not now: for in companions

1738That do conuerse and waste the time together,

1739Whose soules doe beare an egal yoke of loue.

1740There must be needs a like proportion

1741Of lyniaments, of manners, and of spirit;

1742Which makes me thinke that this Anthonio

1743Being the bosome louer of my Lord,

1744Must needs be like my Lord. If it be so,

1745How little is the cost I haue bestowed

1746In purchasing the semblance of my soule;

1747From out the state of hellish cruelty,

1748This comes too neere the praising of my selfe,

1749Therefore no more of it: heere other things

1750Lorenso I commit into your hands,