Enter Shylock. Shy. You knew (none fo well, none fo well as you) of my daughter's flight. Sal. That's certain; I, for my part, knew the taylor that made the wings fhe flew withal. Sola. And Shylock, for his own part, knew the bird was fledg'd, and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the dam. Shy. She is damn'd for it. Sal. That's certain, if the devil may be her judge. Sela. Out upon it, old carrion, rebels it at thefe years? Sal. There is more difference between thy flesh and hers, than between jet and ivory; more between your bloods, than there is between red wine and rhenish: but tell us, do you hear, whether Anthonio have had any lofs at fea or no? * Shy. There I have another bad match; a bankrupt, for a prodigal, who dares fcarce fhew his head on the Ryalto; a beggar, that us'd to come so smug upon the mart! let him look to his bond; he was wont to call me ufurer; let him look to his bond; he was wont to lend money for a christian courtesy; let him look to his bond. Sal. Why, I am fure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh what's that good for? A bankrupt, a prodigal.] This is spoke of Anthonio. But why a Prodigal? his Friend Bassanio indeed had been too liberal; and with this Name the Jew honours him when he is going to sup with him. -I'll go in hate to feed upon The prodigal Chriftian But Anthonio was a plain, reserved, parfimonious Merchant, be af fured therefore we fhould read, - A Bankrupt for a Prodigal, i. e. he is become a Bankrupt by supplying the Extravagancies of his Friend Baffanio. Shy. Shy. To bait fish withal. If it will feed nothing elfe, it will feed my revenge; he hath disgrac'd me, and hinder'd me of half a million, laught at my loffes, mockt at my gains, fcorn'd my nation, thwarted my bargains, cool'd my friends, heated mine enemies ; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimenfions, fenfes, affections, paffions? fed with the fame food, hurt with the fame weapons, fubject to the fame diseases, heal'd by the fame means, warm'd and cool'd by the fame winter and fummer, as a christian is? if you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, fhall we not revenge? if we are like you in the reft, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a chriftian wrong a Jew, what fhould his fufferance be by chriftian example? why, Revenge. The Villany, you teach me, I will execute; and it fhall go hard, but I will better the inftruction. Enter a Servant from Anthonio. Serv. Gentlemen, my mafter Anthonio is at his houfe, and defires to fpeak with you both. Sal. We have been up and down to seek him. Enter Tubal. . Sola. Here comes another of the tribe; a third can not be match'd unless the devil himself turn Jew. [Exeunt Sala. and Solar. Shy. How now, Tubal, what news from Genoa? haft thou found my daughter? Tub. I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her. Shy. Why there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, coft me two thoufand ducats in Frankfort! the curse never fell upon our nation 'till now, I never felt L 2 it it 'till now; two thousand ducats in that, and other precious, precious jewels! I would, my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear; O, would she were hers'd at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin. No news of them; why, fo! and I know not what's spent in the scarch: why, thou lofs upon lofs! the thief gone with fo much, and fo much to find the thief; and no fatisfaction, no revenge, nor no ill luck ftirring, but what lights o' my fhoulders; no fighs but o' my breathing, no tears but o' my fhedding. Tub. Yes, other men have ill luck too; Anthonio, as I heard in Genoa Shy. What, what, what? ill luck, ill luck? Shy. I thank God, I thank God; is it true? is it true? Tub. I spoke with some of the failors that escaped the wreck. Shy. I thank thee, good Tubal; good news, good news; ha, ha, where? in Genoa? Tub. Your daughter ifpent in Genoa, as I heard, one night, fourfcore ducats. Shy. Thou ftick'ft a dagger in me; I shall never fee my gold again; fourfcore ducats at a fitting, fourfcore ducats! Tub. There came divers of Anthonio's creditors in my company to Venice, that fwear he cannot chuse but break. Shy. I am glad of it, I'll plague him, I'll torture him; I am glad of it. Tub. One of them fhew'd me a ring, that he had of your daughter for a monkey. Shy. Qut upon her! thou torturest me, Tubal; it was my Turquoife, I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor; I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkies. Tub. . Tub. But Anthonio is certainly undone. Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true; go fee me an officer, befpeak him a fortnight before. I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for were he out of Venice, I can make what merchandize I will: go, go, Tubal, and meet me at our fynagogue; go, good Tubal; at our fynagogue, Tubal. [Exeunt. Enter Baffanio, Portia, Gratiano, and Attendants. Por. The Cafkets are fet out. Pray you, tarry; pause a day or two, Before you hazard; for in chufing wrong But left you fhould not understand me well, I fpeak too long, but 'tis to piece the time, L3 Baff Baff. Let me chufe: For as I am, I live upon the rack. Por. Upon the rack, Baffanio? then confefs, What treafon there is mingled with your love. Baff. None, but that ugly treafon of miftruft, Which makes me fear th' enjoying of my love: There may as well be amity and life "Tween fnow and fire, as treafon and my love. Por. Ay, but, I fear, you speak upon the rack; Where men enforced do speak any thing. Baff. Promise me life, and I'll confefs the truth. Had been the very fum of my confeffion.. If Por. Away then! I am lockt in one of them; you do love me, you will find me out. Neriffa, and the reft, ftand all aloof, Let mufic found, while he doth make his choice; |