will do any thing, Neriffa, ere I will be married to a fponge.

Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of these lords; they have acquainted me with their determination: which is, indeed, to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more fuit; unless you may be won by fome other fort than your father's impofition, depending on the caskets.

Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chafte as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will. I am glad this parcel of wooers are so very reasonable; for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence, and I wish them a fair departure.

Ner. Do not you remember, lady, in your father's time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a foldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat?

Por. Yes, yes, it was Baffanio; as I think, fo he was called.

Ner. True, madam; he, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deferving a fair lady.

Por. I remember him well; and I remember him worthy of thy praise.

Enter

Enter BALTHAZAR.

Por. How now! what news?

Bal. The four strangers feek for you, madam, to take their leave: and there is a fore-runner come from a fifth, the prince of Morocco; who brings word, the prince, his mafter, will be here to-night.

Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with fo good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I fhould be glad of his approach. Come, Neriffa.Sirrah, go before.-While we fhut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Before the Rialto.

Enter SHYLOCK and BASSANIO.

Shy. Three thoufand ducats!-well,

Bass. Ay, fir, for three months.

Shy. For three months!-well.

Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio fhall be bound.

Shy. Antonio fhall become bound!-well.

Bass. May you ftead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?

Shy.

Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, and Antonio bound!

Bass. Your answer to that.

Sky. Antonio is a good man.

Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no;-my meaning, in faying he is a good man, is to have is to have you understand me, that he is fufficient; yet his means are in fuppofition he hath an argofy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Rialto, he hath a third to Mexico, a fourth for England,-and other ventures he hath fquandered abroad. But ships are but boards, failors

but men: there be land rats, and water rats, water thieves, and land thieves; I mean pirates ;-and then, there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, fufficient.-Three thousand ducats!-I think, I may take his bond.

Bass. Be affured, you may.

may

Shy. I will be affured, I may; and, that I be affured, I will be think me.-May I speak with Antonio ?

Bass. If it please you to dine with us.

Shy. Yes, to fmell pork! to eat of the habitation, which your prophet conjured the devil into!

into! I will buy with you, fell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and fo following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto ?-Who is he comes here?

Enter ANTONIO.

Bal. This is fignor Antonio.

Shy. [Afide.] How like a fawning publican he looks!

I hate him, for he is a Chriftian :

But more, for that, in low fimplicity,

He lends out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of ufance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our facred nation; and he rails,
Ev'n there where merchants moft do congregate,
On me, my bargains, and my well won thrift,
Which he calls intereft.-Curfed be my tribe,
If I forgive him!

Bass. Shylock!-do you hear?

Shy. I am debating of my present store: And, by the near guess of my memory,

I cannot inftantly raise up the grofs

Of full three thousand ducats: What of that?
Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

Will furnith me: But foft; How many months Do you defire-Reft you fair, good fignor; Your Worship was the laft man in our mouths.

By taking, or by giving of excess,
Yet, to fupply the ripe wants of my
friend,
I'll break a cuftom. Is he yet poffefs'd,
How much you would ?

Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

Ant. And for three months.

Shy. I had forgot,-three months, you told me fo.

Well then, your bond; and, let me fee, But

hear you;

Methought, you faid, you neither lend, nor borrow, Upon advantage.

Ant. I do never ufe it.

Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's

fheep,

This Jacob from our holy Abraham was
(As his wife mother wrought in his behalf,)
The third poffeffor; ay, he was the third.

Ant. And what of him? did he take intereft?

Shy. No, not take intereft; not, as you would

fay,

D

Directly