To pay the petty debt twenty times over: 305 When it is paid, bring your true friend along. My maid Nerissa and myself meantime Will live as maids and widows. Come, away! For you shall hence upon your wedding-day: Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer: 310 Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear. But let me hear the letter of your friend. Bass. [Reads] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since in paying it, it is 315 impossible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and I, if I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter. 320 Por. O love, despatch all business, and be gone! No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. SCENE III. Venice. A street [Exeunt. Enter SHYLOCK, SALARINO, ANTONIO, and GAOLER. Shy. Gaoler, look to him: tell not me of mercy; This is the fool that lent out money gratis: Gaoler, look to him. Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond: 5 I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond. Ant. I pray thee, hear me speak. Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: 15 To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield Ant. Let him alone: 20 I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers. He seeks my life; his reason well I know: I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures Many that have at times made moan to me; Salar. I am sure the duke 25 Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. Ant. The duke cannot deny the course of law: Will much impeach the justice of his state; 35 Well, gaoler, on. Pray God, Bassanio come To see me pay his debt, and then I care not! [Exit. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Belmont. A room in PORTIA's house Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA, and BALTHASAR. Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your presence, You have a noble and a true conceit Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly In bearing thus the absence of your lord. 5 But if you knew to whom you show this honour, How true a gentleman you send relief, 10 How dear a lover of my lord your husband, Por. I never did repent for doing good, That do converse and waste the time together, Must needs be like my lord. If it be so, Only attended by Nerissa here, 30 Until her husband and my lord's return: There is a monastery two miles off; 35 And there will we abide. I do desire you The which my love and some necessity Now lays upon you. Lor. Madam, with all my heart; I shall obey you in all fair commands. Por. My people do already know my mind, And will acknowledge you and Jessica In place of Lord Bassanio and myself. 40 And so farewell, till we shall meet again. Lor. Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you! Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased 45 Now, Balthasar, [Exeunt JESSICA and LORENZO. As I have ever found thee honest-true, So let me find thee still. Take this same letter, In speed to Padua: see thou render this 50 Into my cousin's hand, Doctor Bellario; And, look, what notes and garments he doth give thee, Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words, 55 But get thee gone: I shall be there before thee. 60 Balth. Madam, I go with all convenient speed. Por. Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands Before they think of us. Ner. Shall they see us? [Exit. 70 How honourable ladies sought my love, And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them; 75 That men shall swear I have discontinued school Above a twelvemonth. I have within my But come, I'll tell thee all my whole device SCENE V. The same. A garden Enter LAUNCELOT and JESSICA. [Exeunt. Laun. Yes, truly; for, look you, the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children: therefore, I promise ye, I fear you. I was always plain with you, and so now I speak my agitation of the matter: therefore be of good 5 cheer, for truly I think you are damned. Jes. I shall be saved by my husband; he hath made me a Christian. Laun. Truly, the more to blame he: we were Christians enow before; e'en as many as could well live, one by another. 10 This making of Christians will raise the price of hogs: if we grow all to be pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money. 15 Enter LORENZO. Jes. I'll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you say: here he comes. Lor. I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot, if you thus get my wife into corners. |