1 Sela. My lord Beffanio, fince you've found Anthonio, I pray you, have in mind where we must meet. [Exeunt Solar and Sala. Anth. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano, Gra. Let me play the fool;" With mirth, and laughter, let old wrinkles come; Than my heart cool with mortifying groans. Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice If they fhould fpeak, would almoft damn thofe ears, 7 7 Which WARBURTON. 6 Let me play the fool] A- the phrafe, to play the Fool. luding to the common comparifon of human life to a ftage play. So that he defires his may be the fool's or buffoon's part, which was a conflant character in the old farces: from whence came - would almost damn thofe Ears.] Several old Editions have it dam, damme, and duunt. Some more correct Copies damn. The Author's meaning is this; That fome Which, hearing them, would call their brothers fools. Ler. Well, we will leave you then 'till dinner-time. I must be one of these fame dumb wife men; For Gratiano never lets me fpeak. Gra. Well, keep me company but two years more, Thou shalt not know the found of thine own tongue. Anth. Fare well; I'll grow a talker for this gear. Gra. Thanks, i'faith; for filence is only commendable In a neats tongue dry'd, and a maid not vendible. [Exeunt Gra. and Loren. Anth. Is that any thing now?? Baff. Gratiano peaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice: his reafons are as two grains or wheat hid in two bufhels of chaff; you fhall feek all day ere you find them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search. Anth. Well, tell me now, what lady is the fame, To whom you fwore a fecret pilgrimage, That you to-day promis'd to tell me of? Ball. 'Tis not unknown to you, Anthonio, How much I have difabled mine eftate, By fhewing fomething a more fwelling port, Anth. I pray you, good Baffanio, let me know it; Baff. In my fchool-days, when I had loft one shaft, Ifhot his fellow of the felf-fame flight The felf-fame way, with more advised watch, I Which you did fhoot the first, I do not doubt, And thankfully reft debtor for the first. Anth. You know me well; and herein fpend but time, To wind about my love with circumstance; And, out of doubt, you do me now more wrong, Than if you had-made wafte of all I have. Nor is the wide world ign'rant of her worth; Anth. Thou know'ft, that all my fortunes are at fea, Nor have I mony, nor commodity To raise a prefent fum; therefore, go forth; Try what my credit can in Venice do; That fhall be rack'd even to the uttermoft, 2-fometimes from her Eyes.] So all the Editions; but it certainly ought to be, fometime, i. e. formerly, fome time ago, at a certain time; and it appears by the fubfequent Scene, that Bafanio was at Belmont with the Marquis de Montferrat, and saw Portia in her Father's life-time. CC 4 THEOBALD. Go, Go, prefently enquire, and fo will I, S. CE NE II. Changes to BELMONT. [Exeunt. Three Cafkets are fet out, one of gold, another of Silver, and another of lead. Enter Portia and Neriffa. Por. B of this great world. Y my troth, Neriffa, my little body is weary Ner. You would be, fweet madam, if your miferies were in the fame abundance as your good fortunes are. And yet, for aught I fee, they are as fick, that furfeit with too much, as they that farve with nothing; therefore it is no mean happiness to be feated in the mean; fuperfluity comes fooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer. Por. Good fentences, and well pronounc’d. Nor. They would be better, if well follow'd. Per. If to do, were as eafie as to know what were good to do, chappels had been churches; and poor -mens cottages, Princes palaces. He is a good divine, that follows his own inftructions; I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done, than to be one of the twenty to follow my own teaching. The brain may devife laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree; fuch a hate is madnefs the youth, to fkip o'er the meshes of good counfel the cripple. But this reafoning is not in fafhion to chufe me a huf band: O me, the word, chufe! I may neither chufe whom I would, nor refufe whom I diflike; fo is the will of a living daughter curb'd by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Neriffa, that I cannot chufe one, nor refufe none? Ner, |