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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    Not Peer Reviewed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
    2455Por. Goe in Nerrissa.
    Giue order to my seruants, that they take
    no note at all of our being absent hence,
    nor you Lorenzo, Iessica nor you.
    Loren. Your husband is at hand, I heare his trumpet,
    2460we are no tell-tales Madame, feare you not.
    Por. This night me thinks is but the day light sicke,
    it lookes a little paler, tis a day,
    such as the day is when the sunne is hid.
    Enter Bassanio, Anthonio, Gratiano, and their
    2465 followers.
    Bass. We should hold day with the Antipodes,
    if you would walke in absence of the sunne.
    Por. Let me giue light, but let me not be light,
    for a light wife doth make a heauie husband,
    2470and neuer be Bassanio so for me,
    but God sort all: you are welcome home my Lord.
    Bass. I thank you Madam, giue welcome to my friend,
    this is the man, this is Anthonio,
    to whom I am so infinitely bound.
    2475Por. You should in all sence be much bound to him,
    for as I heare he was much bound for you.
    Anth. No more then I am well acquitted of.
    Por. Sir, you are very welcome to our house:
    it must appeare in other wayes then words,
    2480therefore I scant this breathing curtesie.
    Gra. By yonder moone I sweare you doe me wrong,
    infaith I gaue it to the Iudges Clarke,
    would he were gelt that had it for my part,
    since you doe take it Loue so much at hart.
    2485Por. A quarrell hoe already, what's the matter?
    Grati. About a hoope of gold, a paltry ring
    that she did giue me, whose posie was
    for all the world like Cutlers poetry
    vpon a knife, Loue me, and leaue me not.
    2490Ner. What talke you of the posie or the valew:
    You swore to me when I did giue you,
    that