292288Portia. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I thinke so was he calld.

293289Ner. True maddam, hee of all the men that euer my foolish

294290eyes look'd vpon, was the best deseruing a faire Ladie.

295291Portia. I remember him well, and I remember him worthie of

296292 thy prayse.

297293How nowe, what newes?

299295Ser. The foure strangers seeke for you maddam to take theyr

300296leaue: and there is a fore-runner come from a fift, the Prince of

301297Moroco, who brings word the Prince his Maister will be heere to

302298night.

303299Por. Yf I could bid the fift welcome with so good hart as I can

304300bid the other foure farewell, I should bee glad of his approch: if

305301he haue the condition of a Saint, and the complexion of a deuill, I

306302had rather he should shriue mee then wiue mee. Come Nerrissa,

307303sirra goe before: whiles we shut the gate vpon one wooer, another

308304knocks at the doore. Exeunt.

310306Shy. Three thousand ducates, well.

311307Bass. I sir, for three months.

312308Shy. For three months, well.

313309Bass. For the which as I told you,

314310 Anthonio shalbe bound.

315311Shy. Anthonio shall become bound, well.

316312Bass. May you sted me? Will you pleasure me?

317313 Shall I know your aunswere.

318314Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months,

319315 and Anthonio bound.

320316Bass. Your aunswere to that.

321317Shy. Anthonio is a good man.

322318Bass. Haue you heard any imputation to the contrary.

323319Shylocke. Ho no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying hee is

324320a good man, is to haue you vnderstand mee that hee is sufficient,

325321yet his meanes are in supposition: hee hath an Argosie bound

326322to Tripolis, another to the Indies, I vnderstand moreouer vp-

327323on the Ryalta, hee hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England,

B2. and