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  • Title: The Merchant of Venice (Quarto 1, 1600)
  • Editor: Janelle Jenstad

  • Copyright Janelle Jenstad. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Janelle Jenstad
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Merchant of Venice (Quarto 1, 1600)

    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, what 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