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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    Not Peer Reviewed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 comicall Historie of
    A coyne that beares the figure of an Angell
    985stampt in gold, but thats insculpt vpon:
    But heere an Angell in a golden bed
    lies all within. Deliuer me the key:
    heere doe I choose, and thriue I as I may.
    Por. There take it Prince, and if my forme lie there
    990then I am yours?
    Mor. O hell! what haue wee heare, a carrion death,
    within whose emptie eye there is a written scroule,
    Ile reade the writing.
    All that glisters is not gold,
    995Often haue you heard that told,
    Many a man his life hath sold
    But my outside to behold,
    Guilded timber doe wormes infold:
    Had you beene as wise as bold,
    1000Young in limbs, in iudgement old,
    Your aunswere had not beene inscrold,
    Fareyouwell, your sute is cold.
    Mor. Cold indeede and labour lost,
    Then farewell heate, and welcome frost:
    1005Portia adiew, I haue too greeu'd a hart
    To take a tedious leaue: thus loosers part. Exit.
    Por. A gentle riddance, draw the curtaines, go,
    Let all of his complexion choose me so. Exeunt.
    Enter Salarino and Solanio.
    1010Sal. Why man I saw Bassanio vnder sayle,
    with him is Gratiano gone along;
    and in theyr ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.
    Sola. The villaine Iew with outcries raisd the Duke,
    who went with him to search Bassanios ship.
    1015Sal. He came too late, the ship was vndersaile,
    But there the Duke was giuen to vnderstand
    that in a Gondylo were seene together
    Lorenzo and his amorous Iessica.
    Besides, Anthonio certified the Duke
    1020they were not with Bassanio in his ship.
    I