That I was worse than nothing. For, indeed, And not one veffel 'fcap'd the dreadful touch Sal. Not one, my lord. Befides, it fhould appear, that if he had Jef. When I was with him, I have heard him swear, To Tubal and to Chus his country-men, That he would rather have Anthonio's fleth, Than twenty times the value of the fum It will go hard with poor Anthonio. Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble? 8 The beft condition'd AND unweary'd fpirit In doing courtefies; --] To be read and pointed thus, In In doing courtefies; and one in whom Por. What Sum owes he the Jew? Pay him fix thousand and deface the bond; Shall lofe a hair through my Bassanio's fault. Baff. reads. SWEET Baffanio, my ships have all mifcarry'd, my creditors grow cruel, my eftate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and fince, in paying it, it is impoffible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and me, if I might but fee you at my death; notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love do not perfuade you to come, let not my letter. Por. O love! dispatch all Business, and be gone. No bed fhall e'er be guilty of my stay; L 4 [Exeunt. SCENE Changes to a Street in Venice. Enter Shylock, Solarino, Anthonio, and the Goaler. Oaler, look to him: tell not me of mercy. Sky. Goa This is the fool, that lent out mony gratis. Goaler, look to him. Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond; fpeak not against my bond: Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee fpeak: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more; I'll not be made a foft and dull-ey'd fool, To shake the head, relent, and figh and yield I'll have no speaking; I will have my bond. [Exit Shylock. Sola. It is the most impenetrable cur, That ever kept with men. Ant. Let him alone, I'll follow him no more with bootless pray❜rs: I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures Many, that have at times made moan to me; Sola. I am fure, the Duke Will never grant this Forfeiture to hold. Ant. 9 The Duke cannot deny the course of law; For 9 The Duke cannot deny, &c-] As the reafon here given feems a little perplexed, it may be proper to explain it. If, fays he, the For the commodity that strangers have Will much impeach the juftice of the ftate; Well, goaler, on; pray God, Bassanio come To fee me pay his debt, and then I care not! [Exeunt. Enter Portia, Neriffa, Lorenzo, Jeffica, and Balthazar. Lor.MAdam, although I speak it in your prefence, You have a noble and a true conceit Of God-like amity; which appears most strongly Por. I never did repent of doing good, the Duke ftop the course of law it will be attended with this inconvenience, that ftranger merchants, by whom the wealth and power of this city is fupported, will cry out of injuftice. For the known ftated law being their guide and fecurity, they will never bear to have the current of it ftoped on any pretence of equity whatsoever. Of • Of lineaments of manners, and of fpirit; felf; The husbandry and manage of my house, For mine own part, I have tow'rd heaven breath'd a fecret vow, you, Untill her husband and my Lord's return. Lor. Madam, with all my heart; I fhall obey you in all fair commands. Por. My people do already know my mind, And will acknowledge you and Jeffica In place of lord Baffanio and my felf. So fare you well, 'till we fhall meet again. Lor. Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you! Jef. I wish your ladyship all heart's content. 1 Of lineaments, of manners, &c.-] The wrong pointing has made this fine fentiment nonfenfe. As implying that friendship could not only make a fimilitude of manners, but of faces. The true fenfe is, lineaments of manners, i. e. form of the manners, which, fays the speaker, muft need be proportionate. [ (a) Hear. Dr. Thirlby, -Vulg. here. ] |