Array MyBooks Classics - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Illustrated edition (37 plays, 160 sonnets and 5 Poetry Books With Active Table of Contents)

He plies the Duke at morning and at night,

And doth impeach the freedom of the state,

If they deny him justice. Twenty merchants,

The Duke himself, and the magnificoes

Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him,

But none can drive him from the envious plea

Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond.

Jes.

When I was with him I have heard him swear

To Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen,

That he would rather have Antonio’s flesh

Than twenty times the value of the sum

That he did owe him; and I know, my lord,

If law, authority, and power deny not,

It will go hard with poor Antonio.

Por.

Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble?

Bass.

The dearest friend to me, the kindest man,

The best-condition’d and unwearied spirit

In doing courtesies, and one in whom

The ancient Roman honor more appears

Than any that draws breath in Italy.

Por.

What sum owes he the Jew?

Bass.

For me, three thousand ducats.

Por.

What, no more?

Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond;

Double six thousand, and then treble that,

Before a friend of this description

Shall lose a hair through Bassanio’s fault.

First go with me to church and call me wife,

And then away to Venice to your friend;

For never shall you lie by Portia’s side

With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold

To pay the petty debt twenty times over.

When it is paid, bring your true friend along.

My maid Nerissa and myself mean time

Will live as maids and widows. Come away!

For you shall hence upon your wedding-day.

Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer—

Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear.

But let me hear the letter of your friend.

[Bass. (Reads.) ] “Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are clear’d between you and I, if I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use your pleasure; if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter.”

Por.

O love! dispatch all business and be gone.

Bass.

Since I have your good leave to go away,

I will make haste; but till I come again,

No bed shall e’er be guilty of my stay,

Nor rest be interposer ’twixt us twain.

Exeunt.

¶

Richard Westall , p. — George Noble , e.

Enter [Shylock] the Jew and [Solanio] and Antonio and the Jailer.

Shy.

Jailer, look to him, tell not me of mercy.

This is the fool that lent out money gratis.

Jailer, look to him.

Ant.

Hear me yet, good Shylock.

Shy.

I’ll have my bond, speak not against my bond,

I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.

Thou call’dst me dog before thou hadst a cause,

But since I am a dog, beware my fangs.

The Duke shall grant me justice. I do wonder,

Thou naughty jailer, that thou art so fond

To come abroad with him at his request.

Ant.

I pray thee hear me speak.

Shy.

I’ll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak.

I’ll have my bond, and therefore speak no more.

I’ll not be made a soft and dull-ey’d fool

To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield

To Christian intercessors. Follow not,

I’ll have no speaking, I will have my bond.

Exit Jew.

Sol.

It is the most impenetrable cur

That ever kept with men.

Ant.

Let him alone,

I’ll follow him no more with bootless prayers.

He seeks my life; his reason well I know:

I oft deliver’d from his forfeitures

Many that have at times made moan to me;

Therefore he hates me.

[Sol.]

I am sure the Duke

Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.

Ant.

The Duke cannot deny the course of law;

For the commodity that strangers have

With us in Venice, if it be denied,

Will much impeach the justice of the state,

Since that the trade and profit of the city

Consisteth of all nations. Therefore go.

These griefs and losses have so bated me

That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh

To-morrow to my bloody creditor.

Well, jailer, on. Pray God Bassanio come

To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!

Exeunt.

¶

Richard Westall , p. — James Parker , e.

Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and [Balthazar,] a man of Portia’s.

Lor.

Madam, although I speak it in your presence,

You have a noble and a true conceit

Of godlike amity, which appears most strongly

In bearing thus the absence of your lord.

But if you knew to whom you show this honor,

How true a gentleman you send relief,

How dear a lover of my lord your husband,

I know you would be prouder of the work

Than customary bounty can enforce you.

Por.

I never did repent for doing good,

Nor shall not now: for in companions

That do converse and waste the time together,

Whose souls do bear an egall yoke of love,

There must be needs a like proportion

Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit;

Which makes me think that this Antonio,

Being the bosom lover of my lord,

Must needs be like my lord. If it be so,

How little is the cost I have bestowed

In purchasing the semblance of my soul,

From out the state of hellish cruelty.

This comes too near the praising of myself,

Therefore no more of it. [Hear] other things:

Lorenzo, I commit into your hands

The husbandry and manage of my house

Until my lord’s return. For mine own part,

I have toward heaven breath’d a secret vow

To live in prayer and contemplation,

Only attended by Nerissa here,

Until her husband and my lord’s return.

There is a monast’ry two miles off,

And there we will abide. I do desire you

Not to deny this imposition,

The which my love and some necessity

Now lays upon you.

Lor.

Madam, with all my heart,

I shall obey you in all fair commands.

Por.

My people do already know my mind,

And will acknowledge you and Jessica

In place of Lord Bassanio and myself.

So fare you well till we shall meet again.

Lor.

Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you!

Jes.

I wish your ladyship all heart’s content.

Por.

I thank you for your wish, and am well pleas’d

To wish it back on you. Fare you well, Jessica.

Exeunt [Jessica and Lorenzo].

Now, Balthazar,

As I have ever found thee honest-true,

So let me find thee still. Take this same letter,

And use thou all th’ endeavor of a man

In speed to [Padua]. See thou render this

Into my [cousin’s] hands, Doctor Bellario,

And look what notes and garments he doth give thee,