Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

Within the eye of honour, be affur'd,

And, in a word, but even now worth this,
And now worth nothing Shall I have the thought | My purfe, my perfon, my extremeft means,

[fad

To think of this? and thall I lack the thought
That fuch a thing, bechanc'd, would make me
But, tell not me; I know, Anthonio
Is fad to think upon his merchandize.
Ant. Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it,
My ventures are not in one bottom trusted,
Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate
Upon the fortune of this prefent year:
Therefore, my merchandize makes me not sad.
Sal. Why then you are in love.
Ast. Fie, fie!

Sal. Not in love neither? Then let us fay you are fad,

merry,

Because you are not merry and 't were as cafy
For you to laugh, and leap, and say you are
[Janus,
Because you are not fad. Now, by two-headed
Nature hath fram'd ftrange fellows in her time:
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes,
And laugh like parrots at a bagpiper;
And others of fiich vinegar afpect,
That they'll not fhew their teeth in way of fmile,
Though Neftor fwear the jest be laughable.
The Imprudence of fetting too great a Value upon
the World.

You have too much refpect upon the world; They lofe it that do buy it with much care.

The true Value of the World.

I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; A ftage, where every man muft play his part; And mine a fad one!

Cheerfulness and affected Gravity contrafted.
Let me play the fool:

With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come;
And let my liver rather heat with wine,
Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.
Why should a man, whofe blood is warm within.
Sit like his grandfire cut in alabaster?
Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice
By being peevish I tell thee what, Anthonio,
I love thee, and it is my love that speaks;
There are a fort of men, whofe vifages
Do cream and mantle like a ftanding pond;
And do a wilful ftillness entertain,
With purpose to be dieft in an opinion
Of wildom, gravity, profound conceit;
As who fhould fay, "I am Sir Oracle,
And when I ope iny lips let no dog bark.
0, my Anthonio, I do know of thofe,
That therefore only are reputed wife,
For laying nothing; who, I am very fure,
If they fhould hear, would almoft damn thofe ears,
Which, hearing them, would call their brothers
I'll tell thee more of this another time: [fools.
But fifh not with this melancholy bait,
For this fool gudgeon, this opinion.

Jocofe Satire on Silence.
Silence is only commendable

In a neat's tongue dried, and a maid not vendible.
Generous and difinterefted Friendfi ip.
Ant. I pray you, good Baffanio, let me kawit:
And, if it stand, as you yourself still də,

Lie all unlock'd to your occafions.

[fhaft,

Baff. In my fchool-days, when I had loft one I fhot his fellow of the felf-fame flight The felf-fame way, with more advised watch, To find the other; and, by advent'ring both, I oft found both: I urge this childhood proof, Because what follows is pure innocence. I owe you much; and, like a wilful youth, That which I owe is loft: but if you please To fhoot another arrow that felf way Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,As I will watch the aim,-or to find both, Or bring your latter hazard back again, And thankfully reft debtor for the firft. [time, Ant. You know me well; and herein spend but To wind about my love with circumftance; And, out of doubt, you do me now more wrong, In making queftion of my uttermoft, Than if you had made wafte of all I have. Then do but fay to me what I should do, That in your knowledge may by me be done, And I am preft unto it: therefore, fpeak.

[ocr errors]

-Thou know'ft that all my fortunes are at fea; Neither have I money, nor commodity To raife a prefent fum: therefore go forth, Try what my credit can in Venice do; That fhall be rack'd, even to the uttermoft, To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. Go, prefently enquire, and fo will I, Where money is; and I no queftion make To have it of my trust, or for my fake. A Jew's Malice.

Baf. This is fignior Anthonio.

Shyl. How like a fawning publican he looks!
But more, for that, in low fimplicity,
I hate him, for he is a Chriftian: [Afile.
The rate of ufance here with us in Venice.
He lends out money gratis, and brings down
If I can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge L-bear him.
He hates our facred nation; and he rails
Ev'n there, where merchants most do congregate,
On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift,
Which he calls intereft. Curfed be my tribe,
If I forgive him!

A Jew's Sanity and Hypocrify. Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep,

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 interest?
Shyl. No, not take interest; not. as you would fay,
Directly intereft; mark what Jacob did.
When Laban and himfelf were compromis'd
That all the eanlings, which were treak'd and py'd,
Should fall as Jacob's hire,-the ewes, being rauk,
in end of autumn turned to the rains:

And when the work of generation was
Between those woolly breeders in the act,

The

The fkilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands,
And, in the doing of the deed of kind,
He fuck them up before the fulfome ewes;
Who, then conceiving, did in earing time
Fall party-colour'd lambs, and thofe were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive, and he was bleft;
And thrift is blefling, if men fteal it not.

Ant. This was aventure,Sir,that Jacobferv'd for;
A thing not in his power to bring to pafs,
But fivay'd and fathion'd by the hand of Heaven.
Was this inferted to make interest good?
Or is your gold and filver ewes and rams?
Shyl. I cannot tell; I make it breed as faft:
But note me, fignior.

Ant. Mark you this, Baffanio,
The devil can cite fcripture for his purpose.
An evil foul producing holy witnefs
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek;
A goodly apple, rotten at the heart:
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath !
The Jew's Expoftulation.
Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my monies, and my ufanees :
Still have I borne it with a patient fhrug,
For fufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me mifbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And fpit upon my Jewish gabardine,
And all for ufe of that which is my own.
Well then, it now appears you need my help :-
Go to then-you come to me, and you fay,
Shylock, we would have monies;"you fay fo;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me as you fpurn a ftranger-cur
Over your threshold:- Monies is your fuit.-
What should I fay to you?-Should I not fay,
"Hath a dog money Is it poffible

A cur can lend three thousand ducats?"--or
Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key,
With 'bated breath and whip ring humblenefs,
Say this,"Fair Sir, you fpit on me on Wed-
nefday laft;

You fpurn'd me fuch a day; another time
You call'd me dog; and for thefe courte fiss
I'll lend you thus much monies?"

A Villain's fair Offers fufpicious.
I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind.
An Apology for a black Complexion.
Miflike me not for my complexion,
The thadow'd livery of the burnish'd fun,
To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northern born,
Where Phoebus' fire fcarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incifion for your love,
Το prove
whofe blood is reddeft, his or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this afpect of mine
Hath fear'd the valiant: by my love, I swear
The best regarded virgins of our clime
Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue
Except to fteal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
Merit no Match for the Caprice of Fortune.
--Lead me to the caskets,
To try my fortune. By this feymitar,

[ocr errors]

That flew the fophy, and a Perfian prince,
That won three fields of fultan Solyman,→→
I would o'erftare the fterneft eyes that look,
Out-brave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young fucking cubs from the fhe-bear,
Yea mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win thee, lady: But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lychas play at dice
Which is the better man, the greater throw
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand:
So is Alcides beaten by his page;
And fo may I, blind fortune leading me,
Mifs that which one unworthier may attain,
And die with grieving.

Gravity affumed.

Baff -But hear thee, Gratiano;
Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ;
Parts that become thee happily enough,

And in fuch eyes as ours appear not faults;
But where thou art not known, why,there they fhew
Something too liberal; pray thee, take pain
To allay with fome cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping fpirit; left, through thý wild beha-
I be mifconftrued in the place I go to,
[viour,
And lofe my hopes.

Gra. Signior Baffanio, hear me.
If I do not put on a fober habit,

Talk with refpect, and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely;
Nay more, while grace is faying, hold mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and figh, and fay Amen;
Ufe all the obfervance of civility,
Like one well ftudied in a fad oftent
To pleafe his grandam-never trust me more.

The Jew's Commands to his Daughter.
Hear you me, Jellica:
Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum,
And the vile fqueaking of the wry-neck'd fife,
Clamber not you up to the cafements then,
Nor thruft your head into the public street,
To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces:
But ftop my houfe's ears;-I mean my cafe-

ments:

Let not the found of fhallow foppery enter
My fober house.

Shylock's Defeription of his Servant.
Shyl. The patch is kind enough; but a huge
feeder,

Snail-flow in profit, and he fleeps by day
More than the wild cat. Drones hive not with me:
Therefore I part with him; and part with him
To one, that I would have him help to waste
His borrow'd purie.

Fruition more languid than Expectation.
O, ten times fafter Venus' pigeons fly
To feal love's bonds new made, than they are wont
To keep obliged faith unforfeited.

Who rifeth from a feaft

With that keen appetite that he fits down?
Where is the horfe that doth untread again

His tedious measures with the unbated fire
That he did pace them firft? All things that are,
Are with more fpirit chased than enjoy'd.

How like a younker, or a prodigal,
The scarfed bark puts from her native bay,
Hugg'd and embraced by the ftrumpet-wind!
How like a prodigal doth the return;
With over-weather'd ribs, and ragged fails,
Lean, rent, and beggar'd by the ftrumpet-wind!
Portia's Suitors.

From the four corners of the earth they come
To kifs this fhrine, this mortal breathing faint.
Th' Hyrcanian deferts, and the vafty wilds
Of wide Arabia, are as thorough-fares
Now, for princes to come view fair Portia.
The wat'ry kingdom, whose ambitious head
Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar
To ftop the foreign spirits; but they come,
As o'er a brook, to fee fair Portia.

The Parting of Friends.

I faw Baffanio and Anthonio part:
Bafanio told him, he would make some speed
Of his return: he answered," Do not fo;
Slubber not business for my fake, Bassanio,
But ftay the very riping of the time;
And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in your mind of love.

Be merry; and employ your chiefeft thoughts
To courtship, and fuch fair oftents of love
As fhall conveniently become you there."
And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wondrous fenfible

He wrung Baffanio's hand, and fo they parted.
Falfe Judgment of the Many.

Fortune now,

To my heart's hope!-Gold, filver, and bafe {hath."

lead.

"Who chooseth me, muft give and hazard all he
You shall look fairer, ere I give or hazard.
What fays the golden cheft? ha! let me fee :-
"Who chooseth me, fhall gain what many men
defire."
[meant

What many men defire!-That many may be
Of the fool multitude, that choose by fhow,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach:
Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet,
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Even in the force and road of cafualty.
I will not choose what many men defire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits,
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.

Honour ought to be conferred on Merit only. Why then to thee, thou filver treasure-houfe; Tell me once more what title thou doft bear : "Who choofeth me, fhall get as much as he deferves."

And well faid too; for who fhall go about
To cozen fortune, and be honourable
Without the ftamp of merit? Let none prefume
To wear an undeserved dignity.
O, that eftates, degrees and offices,
Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour
Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover, that stand bare !
How many be commanded, that command!
How much low peafantry would then be glean'd

[blocks in formation]

So likely an ambaffador of love;
A day in April never came fo fweet,
To fhew how coftly fummer was at hand,
As this fore-fpurrer comes before his lord.
Mufic.

Let mufic found,while he doth make his choice!
Then, if he lofe, he makes a fwan-like end,
Fading in mufic.-That the comparifon
May ftand more proper, my eye fhall be the ftream
And watry death-bed for him: he may win ;
And what is mufic then? Then mufic is,
Even as the flourish, when true fubjects bow
To a new-crowned monarch: fuch it is
As are thofe dulcet founds in break of day,
That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear,
And fummon him to marriage.

-Now he goes

With no lefs prefence, but with much more love,
Than young Alcides, when he did redeem
The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy
To the fea-monfter: I ftand for facrifice;
The reft aloof are the Dardanian wives,
With bleared vifages, come forth to view
The iffue of the exploit.

A Song. On Fancy.

[blocks in formation]

It is engender'd in the eyes;
With gazing fed; and fancy dies
In the cradle where it lies:

Let us all ring fancy's knell;
I'll begin it,-Ding dong, bell.
The Deceit of Ornament or Appearances.
So may the outward fhows be leaft themselves.
The world is ftill deceiv'd with ornament.
In law, what plea fo tainted and corrupt,
But, being feafon'd with a gracious voice,
Obfcures the fhow of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but fome fober brow
Will blefs it, and approve it with a text,
Hiding the groffnefs with fair ornament?
There is no vice fo fimple, but affumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts.
How many cowards, whofe hearts are all as falfe
As ftairs of fand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules, and frowning Mars;
Who, inward fearch'd, have livers white as milk!
And thefe affume but valour's excrement,
To render them redoubted. Look on beauty,
And you fhall fee, 'tis purchas'd by the weight;
Which therein works a miracle in nature,
Making them lighteft that wear moft of it.
So are thofe crifped, fnaky, golden locks,
Which make fuch wanton gambols with the wind
Upon fuppofed fairness, often known

To be the dowry of a fecond head,
The fcull that bred them, in the fepulchre.
Thus ornament is but the guiled fhore
To a moft dangerous fea; the beauteous fcarf
Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word,
The feeming truth which cunning times put on
T'entrap the wifeft-Therefore, thou gaudy gold,|
Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee:
Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge
'Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre lead,
Which rather threat neft than doft promife aught,
Thy plainnefs moves me more than cloquence,
And here choose I; joy be the confequence!
Joy on Success.

How all the other paffions fleet to air,
As doubtful thoughts, and rafh embrac'd defpair,
And fhuddering fear, and green-eyed jealoufy!
O love, be moderate, allay thy ecitaly,
In meafure rein thy joy, fcant this excefs;
I feel too much thy bleffing, make it lefs,
For fear 1 furfeit!

Portia's Picture.

eyes?

What find I here? Fair Portia's counterfeit? What demi-god Hath come fo near creation Move these Or whether, riding on the balls of mine, Seem they in motion? Here are fever'd lips Parted with fugar breath; so sweet a bar Should funder fuch fweet friends: Here in her hairs The painter plays the fpider; and hath woven A g iden mesh t' intrap the hearts of men, Fafter than gnats in cobwebs : but her eyes,How could he fee to do them? Having made one, Methinks it should have power to fteal both his, And leave itfelf unfurnished.

Successful Lover compared to a Conqueror. Like one of two contending in a prize, That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes, Hearing applaufe and univerfal fhout, Giddy in fpirit, ftill gazing in a doubr Whether thofe peals of praife be his or no; So, thrice fair lady, ftand I, even fo. An amiable Bride.

Portia. Tho' for myself alone

I would not be ambitious in my wifh,
To with myself much better; yet for you
I would be trebled twenty times myself; [rich;
A thousand times more fair,ten thousand timesmore
That only to ftand high in your account,
I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account: but the full fum of me
is fum of fomething; which, to term in grofs,'
Is an unleffon'd girl, unfchool'd, unpractis'd:
Happy in this, the is not yet fo old

But the may learn; happier than this, in that
She is not bred fo dull but the can learn ;
Happiest of all is, that her gentle fpirit
Commits itfelf to yours to be directed,
As from her lord, her governor, her king.
Lovers' Thoughts compared to the inarticulate
Joys of a Crowd.

Ba. Madam, you have bereft me of all words; Goly my blood fpeaks to you in my veins: . And there is fuch confufion in my powers,

[blocks in formation]

Por. Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble:

Baff. The dearest friend to me, the kindefi man,
The beft condition'd, and unwearied spirit
In doing courtefies; and one in whom
The ancient Roman honour more appears,
Than any that draws breath in Italy.
Per. What fum owes he the Jew?
Baf. For me, three thousand ducats.
Por. What, no more?

Pay him fix thousand, and deface the bond;
Double fix thoufand, and then treble that,
Before a friend of this defcription

Should lofe a hair thro' my Baffanio's fault.
Implacable Revenge.

I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee fpeak,
I'll have my bond; and therefore fpeak no more.
I'll not be made a foft and dull-eyed fool
To shake the head, relent, and figh and yield
To chriftian interceffors.

Generous Friendship.

Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your preYou have a noble and a true conceit [fence, Of godlike amity: which appears most strongly In bearing thus the abfence of your lord. But, if you knew to whom you thew this honour, How true a gentleman you fend relief, How dear a lover of my lord your husband, I know you would be prouder of the work Than cuftomary bounty can enforce you.

Por. I never did repent for doing good, Nor fhall not now: for in companions That do converfe and waste the time together, Whofe fouls do bear an equal yoke of love, There must be needs a like proportion Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit; Which makes me think that this Anthonio, Being the bofom lover of my lord, Mut needs be like my lord: if it be fo, How little is the coft I have bestow'd, In purchasing the femblance of my foui From out the itate of hellish cruelty! This comes too near the praising of myself Therefore no more of it.

A port, bragging Youth

I'll hold thee any wager, When we are both accoutred like young men, I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two, And wear my dagger with a braver grace; And speak, between the change of man and boy, With a reed voice; and turn two mincing steps Into a manly ftride; and freak of fravs, Lake a fine bragging youth: and tell quaint lies, How honourable ladies fought my love, Which I denying, they fell lick and died; I could not do with all, then I'll repezt, And with, for all that, that I had not kill'd them!

And

[blocks in formation]

Portia's Merit.

It is very meet

The lord Baffanio live an upright life;
For, having fuch a bleiling in his lady,
He finds the joys of heaven here on earth;
And, if on earth he do not mean it, it
Is realon he fhould never come to heaven.

Why, iftwo gods fhould play fome heavenly match,
And on the wager lay two earthly women,

And Portia one-there must be fomething elfe Pawn'd with the other; for the poor rude world Hath not her fellow.

The Jero's Reafon for bis Revenge. Shyl. I have poffefs'd your grace of what purpofe;

And by our holy fabbath have I fworn, To have the due and forfeit of my bond. If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter, and your city's freedom. You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have A weight of carrion tleh, than to receive Three thoufand ducats: I'll not answer that; But, fay, it is my humour. Is it anfwer'd? What if my houfe be troubled with a rat, And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats To have it baned? What, are you anfwer'd yet? Some men there are, love not a gaping pig; Some that are mad if they behold a cat; And others, when the bag-pipe fings i' th' nofe, Cannot contain their urine for affection: Matters of pallion fway it to the mood Of what it likes, or loaths. Now, for your anfwer: As there is no firm reafon to be render'd, Why he cannot abide a gaping pig; Why he, a harmlets neceffary cat ; Why he, a woollen bag-pipe; but of force Muft yield to fuch inevitable fhame As to offend, himself being offended; So can I give no reafon, nor I will not, More than a lodg'd hate and a certain loathing I bear Anthonio, that I follow thus

A lofing fuit against him. Are you answer'd ?

[blocks in formation]

As feek to foften that (than which what's harder?) His Jewith heart. cart. Retaliation.

Duke. How fhalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring

none ?

Shyl. What judgment fhall I dread, doing no

wrong?

You have among you many a purchas'd slave,
Which, like your affes, and your dogs, and mules,
You ufe in abject and in flavish parts,

Because you bought them: shall I fay to you,
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs;
Why fweat they under burthens? let their beds,
Be made as foft as yours, and let their palates
Be feafon'd with fuch viands; you will answer,
The flaves are yours. So do I answer you:
The pound of Hesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought, is mine, and I will have it:
If you deny me, fie upon your law!
There is no force in the decrees of Venice :
I ftand for judgment: anfwer; fhall I have it?
Jew's wolfifh Spirit, an Argument for Tranf.
migration.

Gra. Oh, be thou damnn'd, inexorable dog!
And for thy life, let juftice be accus'd.
Thou almoft mak'ft me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,

That fouls of animals infufe themfelves
Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit
Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human flaughte
Even from the gallows did his fell foul fleet,
And, whilft thou lay'sft in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itfelf in thee; for thy defires
Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous.

Shyl. Till thou canft rail the feal from off m bond,

Thou but offend't thy lungs to fpeak fo loud:
To curelefs ruin.-
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
-I ftand here for law.
Mercy.

The quality of mercy is not strain'd;
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice bleffed;
It bleffeth bim that gives, and him that takes.
'Tis mightieft in the mightieft; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His fceptre fhews the force of temporal pow'r,
The attribute to awe and majefty,
Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above the fceptred fway.
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute to God himfelt;
And earthly pow'r doth then fhew likeft God's,
When mercy feafons juftice. Therefore, Jew,
Though juftice be thy plea, confider this
That, in the courfe of justice, none of us
Should fee falvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that fame prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

Juftice must be impartial.
I befeech you,
Wreft once the laws to your authority:
To do a great right, do a little wrong;

And curb this cruel devil of his will.

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinua »