By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio-
I love thee, and it is my love that speaks-
There are a sort of men whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond,
90 And do a wilful stillness entertain,
With purpose to be dress'd in an opinion
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit,
As who should say "I am Sir Oracle,
And when I ope my lips let no dog bark!"
95 O my Antonio, I do know of these
That therefore only are reputed wise

For saying nothing, when, I am very sure,

If they should speak, would almost damn those ears Which, hearing them, would call their brothers fools. 100 I'll tell thee more of this another time:

105

110

But fish not, with this melancholy bait,
For this fool gudgeon, this opinion.
Come, good Lorenzo. Fare ye well awhile:
I'll end my exhortation after dinner.

Lor. Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time:
I must be one of these same dumb wise men,

For Gratiano never lets me speak.

Gra. Well, keep me company but two years moe, Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue. Ant. Farewell: I'll grow a talker for this gear. Gra. Thanks, i' faith, for silence is only commendable In a neat's tongue dried and a maid not vendible.

[Exeunt GRATIANO and LORENZO.

Ant. Is that any thing now?
Bass. Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more
His reasons are as two grains

115 than any man in all Venice.

of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search.

Ant. Well, tell me now what lady is the same

120 To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage,
That you to-day promised to tell me of?

Bass. "Tis not unknown to you, Antonio,
How much I have disabled mine estate,
By something showing a more swelling port
125 Than my faint means would grant continuance :
Nor do I now make moan to be abridged
From such a noble rate; but my chief care
Is to come fairly off from the great debts
Wherein my time something too prodigal
130 Hath left me gaged. To you, Antonio,
I owe the most, in money and in love,
And from your love I have a warranty
To unburden all my plots and purposes
How to get clear of all the debts I owe.

135

140

Ant. I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it; And if it stand, as you yourself still do,

Within the eye of honour, be assured,

My purse, my person, my extremest means,

Lie all unlock'd to your occasions.

Bass. In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft, I shot his fellow of the self-same flight

The self-same way with more advised watch,

To find the other forth, and by adventuring both
I oft found both: I urge this childhood proof,

145 Because what follows is pure

innocence.

I owe you much, and, like a wilful youth,
That which I owe is lost; but if you please
To shoot another arrow that self way

Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,

150 As I will watch the aim, or to find both Or bring your latter hazard back again And thankfully rest debtor for the first.

Ant. You know me well, and herein spend but time To wind about my love with circumstance;

155 And out of doubt you do me now more wrong
In making question of my uttermost .

Than if you
Then do but say to me what I should do
That in your knowledge may by me be done,
160 And I am prest unto it: therefore, speak.

had made waste of all I have:

Bass. In Belmont is a lady richly left;
And she is fair and, fairer than that word,
Of wondrous virtues: sometimes from her eyes
I did receive fair speechless messages:
165 Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued

To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia :

Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth,
For the four winds blow in from every coast
Renowned suitors, and her sunny locks
170 Hang on her temples like a golden fleece;
Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strand,
And many Jasons come in quest of her.
O my Antonio, had I but the means
To hold a rival place with one of them,

175 I have a mind presages me such thrift,

That I should questionless be fortunate!

Ant. Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea; Neither have I money nor commodity

To raise a present sum: therefore go forth; 180 Try what my credit can in Venice do:

That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost,
To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia.
Go, presently inquire, and so will I,
Where money is, and I no question make
185 To have it of my trust or for my sake.

[Exeunt.