The comicall Historie of
15731567but none can driue him from the enuious plea
15741568of forfaiture, of iu
stice, and his bond.
15751569Iessi. When I was with him, I haue heard him
sweare
15761570to
Tuball and to
Chus, his country-men,
15771571that he would rather haue
Anthonios fle
sh 15781572then twentie times the value of the
summe
15791573that he did owe him: and I know my lord,
15801574if law, authoritie, and power denie not,
15811575it will goe hard with poore
Anthonio.
15821576Por. Is it your deere friend that is thus in trouble?
15831577Bass. The deere
st friend to me, the kinde
st man,
15841578the be
st conditiond and vnwearied
spirit
15851579in dooing curte
sies: and one in whom
15861580the auncient Romaine honour more appeares
15871581then any that drawes breath in
Italie.
15881582Por. What
summe owes he the Iew?
15891583Bass. For me three thou
sand ducats.
15901584Por. What no more, pay him
six thou
sand, & deface the bond:
15911585double
sixe thou
sand, and then treble that,
15921586before a friend of this di
scription
15931587shall lo
se a haire through
Bassanios fault.
15941588Fir
st goe with me to Church, and call me wife,
15951589and then away to Venice to your friend:
15961590for neuer
shall you lie by
Portias side
15971591with an vnquiet
soule. You
shall haue gold
15981592to pay the petty debt twenty times ouer.
15991593When it is payd, bring your true friend along,
16001594my mayd
Nerrissa, and my
selfe meane time
16011595will liue as maydes and widdowes; come away,
16021596for you
shall hence vpon your wedding day:
16031597bid your freends welcome,
show a merry cheere,
16041598since you are deere bought, I will loue you deere.
16051599But let me heare the letter of your friend.
Sweet Bassanio, my ships haue all miscaried, my Creditors growe
16071601cruell, my estate is very low, my bond to the Iewe is forfaite, and since in 16081602paying it, it is impossible I should liue, all debts are cleerd betweene you and