is it not hard, Neriffa, that I cannot chufe one, nor refuse none ? Ner. Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good infpirations; therefore the lottery that he hath devifed in these three chefts of gold, filver, and lead (whereof who chufes his meaning, chufes you) will no doubt never be chofen by any rightly, but one whom you fhall rightly love. But what warmth is there in your affection towards any of these princely fuitors that are already come? Por. I pray thee over-name them, and as thou nam't them I will defcribe them, and according to my defcription level at my affection. Ner. First there is the Neapolitan Prince. Por. Ay, that's a dolt indeed, for he doth nothing but talk of his horfe, and he makes it a great appropriation to his own good parts that he can fhoe him himself: I am much afraid my lady his mother play'd falfe with a smith. Ner. Then there is the Count Palatine. Por. He doth nothing but frown, as who fhould fay, if you will not have me, chufe: he hears merry tales, and fmiles not; I fear he will prove the weeping Philofopher when he grows old, being fo full of unmannerly fadness in his youth. I had rather be married to a death's head with a bone in his mouth, than to either of these. me from these two. God defend Ner. How fay you by the French Lord, Monfieur Le Boun! Por. God made him, and therefore let him pafs for a man; in truth I know it is a fin to be a mocker; but he ! why he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan's, a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine, he is every man in no man; if a throftle fing, he falls ftrait a capering; he will fence with his own fhadow; if I fhould marry him, I should marry twenty husbands. defpife me, I would forgive him, for if he love me to madness, ifhould never requite him. If he would Ner. What fay you then to Faulconbridge, the young Baron of England? Por. You know I fay nothing to him, for he under S3 Rands ftands not me, nor I him; he hath neither Latin, French, nor Italian, and you may come into the court and fwear, that I have a poor penny-worth in the English. He is a proper man's picture, but alas! who can converse with a dumb fhow? how odly he is fuited! I think he bought his doublet in Italy, his round hofe in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour every where. Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord his neighbour? Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him, for he borrow'd a box of the ear of the English-man, and fwore he would pay him again when he was able. I think the French-man became his furety, and fealed under for another. Ner. How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony's nephew? Por. Very vilely in the morning when he is fober, and moft vilely in the afternoon when he is drunk; when he is beft, he is a little worse than a man, and when he is worst, he is little better than a beaft; and, the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I fhall make fhift to go without him. Ner. If he should offer to chufe, and chufe the right cafket, you should refufe to perform your father's will, if you should refufe to accept him. Por. Therefore for fear of the worst, I pray thee fet a deep glafs of Rhenifh wine on the contrary cafket, for if the devil be within, and that temptation without, I know he will chufe it. I will do any thing Nerija, ere I will be marry'd to a fpunge. Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of these lords: they have acquainted me with their determinations, which is indeed to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more fuit, unless you may be won by fome other fort than your father's impofition, depending on the caskets. Por. If I live to be as old as Sibilla, I will die as chafte as Diana, unless I be obtain'd by the manner of my father's will: I am glad this parcel of wooers are fo reafonable, for there is not one among them but I doat on his very abfence, and wish them a fair departure. Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, I a Venetian, a scholar and a foldier, that came hither in company of the Marquifs of Mountferrat? Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I think, he was fo called. Ner. True, madam; he of all the men that ever my foolish eyes look'd upon, was the best deserving a fair lady. Por. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praife. How now? what news? Enter a Servant. Ser. The four strangers feek for you, madam, to take their leave; and there is a fore-runner come from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings word the Prince his mafter will be here to-night. Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with fo good a heart as I can bid the other four farewel, I fhould be glad of his approach; if he have the condition of a faint, and the complexion of a deyil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me. Come Neriffa. Sirrah go before; while we hut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Venice. Enter Baffanio and Shylock. Shy. Three thousand ducats? well. Baff. Ay Sir, for three months. Shy. For three months? well. Baff. For the which, as I told you, Anthonio fhall be bound. Shy. Anthonio fhall become bound well. Baff. May you ftead me? will you pleasure me? fhall I know your answer? Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antbonio bound? Baff. Your anfwer to that. Shy. Antbonio is a good man. Ba. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Sby. No, no, no, no; my meaning in faying he is a good man, is to have you understand me, that he is fufficient: yet his means are in fuppofition: he hath an Argofie bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Ryalto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth fourth for England, and other ventures he hath fquander'a abroad. But ships are but boards, failers but men; there be land-rats, and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves, I mean pyrates; and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. The man is notwithstanding fufficient three thousand ducats? I think I may take his bond. Baff. Be affur'd you may. Shy. I will be affur'd I may; and that I may be affur'd, I will bethink me; may I fpeak with Anthonio ? Ball. If it please you to dine with us. Shy. Yes, to fmell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjur'd the devil into? I will buy with you, fell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and fo following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Ryalto; who is he comes here ? Enter Anthonio. Baff. This is Signior Anthonio. Shy. [Afide.] How like a fawning Publican he looks! I hate him, for he is a chriftian: But more, for that in low fimplicity He lends out mony gratis, and brings down I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Ev'n there where merchants most do congregate, Baff. Shylock, do you hear? Shy. I am debating of my prefent ftore, Of full three thousand ducats: what of that? [To Anth. By By taking, nor by giving of excess, Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. Anth. And for three months. Shy. I had forgot, three months, he told me so; Well then your bond: and let me fee, but hear you, Methought you faid, you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage. Anth. I do never ufe it. Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep, Anth. And what of him? did he take intereft ? And thrift is bleffing, if men fteal it not. Anth. This was a venture, Sir, that Jacob serv'd for ; A thing not in his pow'r to bring to pass, But fway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heaven. Was this inferted to make int'reft good? Or is your gold and filver ewes and rams? Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as faft ; But note me, Signior. Antb. Mark you this, Baffanio? The devil can cite fcripture for his purpose. An |