SCENE, partly at Venice; and partly at Belmont, the feat of Portia upon the continent. Anth. A C T I. SCENE I. Aftreet in Venice. Enter Anthonio, Solarino, and Salanio. N footh, I know not why I am so fad. IN It wearies me; you fay, it wearies you. And fuch a want-wit fadnefs makes of me, Sal. Your mind is toffing on the ocean; That curtly to them, do them reverence, Sola. Believe me, Sir, had I fuch venture forth, Be with my hopes abroad. I fhould be ftill Sal. My wind, cooling my broth, Would blow me to an ague, when I thought And not bethink me ftrait of dang'rous rocks; Is fad to think upon his merchandize. Anth. 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 fad. Anth. Fie, fie! Sola. Not in love neither! then let's fay, you're fad, Because you are not merry; and 'twere as easy For you to laugh and leap, and fay, you're merry, Because you are not fad. Now, by two-headed Janus, "Nature hath fram'd ftrange fellows in her time : "Some that will evermore peep through their eyes, VOL. II. G "And laugh, like parrots, at a bag-piper; "And others of fuch vinegar-afpect, "That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile, "Though Neftor fwear the jeft be laughable. Enter Baffanio, Lorenzo, and Gratiano. Sal. Here comes Baffanio, your most noble kinfman, Gratiano and Lorenzo: fare ye well ; We leave ye now with better company. Sola. I would have ftaid till I had made you merry, If worthier friends had not prevented me. Anth. Your worth is very dear in my regard: Baff. Good Signiors both, when shall we laugh? You grow exceeding ftrange; must it be fo? Sal. We'll make our leifures to attend on yours. We two will leave you; but at dinner-time, I pray you have in mind where we must meet. Ba. I will not fail you. [Exeunt Solar. and Sala. Gra. You look not well, Signior Anthonio; You have too much refpect upon the world : They lofe it, that do buy it with much care. Believe me, you are marvellously chang'd. Anth. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano, A ftage, where every man muft play his part, And mine's a fad one. Gra. Let me play the fool; With mirth, and laughter, let old wrinkles come; 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 standing pond; "And do a wilful ftillness entertain, "With purpose to be drefs'd in an opinion But fifh not with this melancholy bait, Lor. Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time. Gra. Well, keep me company but two years more, Thou shalt not know the found of thine own tongue. Anth. Farewel; I'll grow a talker for this gear. Gra. Thanks, i' faith; for filence is only commend able In a neat's tongue dry'd, and a maid not vendible. [Exeunt Gra, and Loren.' : Anth. Is that any thing now? Baf. Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice his reafons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bufhels of chaff; you fhall feek all day ere you find them; and when you have them, they are not worth the fearch. Anth. Well; tell me now, what lady is the fame, To whom you fwore a fecret pilgrimage, That you to-day promis'd to tell me of? Baff. 'Tis not unknown to you, Anthonio, How much I have difabled mine eftate, Than my faint means would grant continuance ; Is to come fairly off from the great debts, Alluding to what is faid in the gospel, that whosoever fall fay to bis brother, Thou fool, fhall be in danger of hell-fire. Wherein my time, fomething too prodigal, Anth. I pray you, good Baffanio, let me know it: Baff. In my fchool-days, when I had loft one shaft, The felf-fame way, with more advised watch, I owe you much, and, like a witless youth, Or bring your latter hazard back again, And thankfully reft debtor for the firft. Anth. You know me well; and herein spend but time, To wind about my love with circumstance; 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. |