LAUNCELOT GOBBO, the clown, servant to Shylock. OLD GOBBO, father to Launcelot. LEONARDO, servant to Bassanio. Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice, Gaoler, Servants to Portia, and other Attendants. SCENE: Partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont,1 the seat 1"Dr. Karl Elze maintains that Belmont must have been on the banks of the Brenta; and Th. Elze narrows the locality to the neighborhood of Dolo, around which, from La Mira to Strà, on both banks of the Brenta, the magnificoes of Venice had, and still have, their palatial residences. . . Belmont must be supposed to have been not far from the high road between Padua and Fusina."-DR. FURNESS. 2 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT I SCENE I. Venice. A street Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. Ant. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad: And such a want-wit sadness makes of me, Salar. Your mind is tossing on the ocean; 15 That curtsy to them, do them reverence, As they fly by them with their woven wings. Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still Salar. My wind cooling my broth Would blow me to an ague, when I thought What harm a wind too great at sea might do. 25 I should not see the sandy hour-glass run, But I should think of shallows and of flats, And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand, Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs To kiss her burial. Should I go to church 30 And see the holy edifice of stone, And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks, And now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought That such a thing bechanced would make me sad? 40 Is sad to think upon his merchandise. Ant. Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it, 45 Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad. Ant. Fie, fie! Salar. Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad, Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy For you to laugh and leap and say you are merry, 50 Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus, And other of such vinegar aspect 55 That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile, Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable. 60 65 Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO. Salan. Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, Gratiano, and Lorenzo. Fare ye well: We leave you now with better company. Salar. I would have stay'd till I had made you merry, If worthier friends had not prevented me. Ant. Your worth is very dear in my regard. I take it, your own business calls on you Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, You grow exceeding strange: must it be so? Salar. We'll make our leisures to attend on yours. [Exeunt SALARINO and SALANIO. Lor. My Lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio, 70 We two will leave you: but at dinner-time, I pray you, have in mind where we must meet. Bass. I will not fail you. Gra. You look not well, Signior Antonio; You have too much respect upon the world: 75 They lose it that do buy it with much care: Believe me, you are marvellously changed. Ant. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; A stage where every man must play a part, And mine a sad one. Gra. Let me play the fool: Than my heart cool with mortifying groans. 85 Sleep when he wakes and creeps into the jaundice |