Jes. Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo; Launcelot and I are out; he tells me flatly, there is no mercy for me in heav'n, because I am a Jew's daughter; and he says, you are no good member of the common-wealth; for in converting Jews to Christians, you raise the price of pork.

Lor. I shall answer that better to the commonwealth, than you can the getting up of the negro's belly. The Moor is with child by you Launcelot.

Laun. It is much, that the Moor should be more than reason: but if she be less than an honest woman, she is indeed more than I took her for.

Lor. How every fool can play upon the word! Go in, sirrah; and bid them prepare for dinner.

Laun. That is done, sir; they have all stomachs. Lor. Good lord, what a wit-snapper are you! then bid them prepare dinner.

Laun. That is done too, sir; only cover is the word.

Lor. Will you cover then, sir?

Laun. Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty. Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt thou shew the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant? I pray thee understand a plain man in his plain meaning. Go to thy fellows, bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner.

Laun. For the table, sir, it shall be served in ;

for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours

and conceits shall govern.

[Exit Laun. Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are

The fool hath planted in his memory
An army of good words.

of good words. And I do know

[suited;

A-many fools that stand in better place,
Garnish'd like him, that for a tricksy word
Defy the matter. How far'st thou, Jessica?
And now, good sweet, say thy opinion,
How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio's wife?
Jes. Past all expressing. It is very meet
The lord Bassanio live an upright life;
For, having such a blessing in his lady,
He finds the joys of heaven here on earth;
And if on earth he do not merit it,

In reason, he should never come to heav'n.
Why, if two gods should play some heav'nly match,
And on the wager lay two earthly women,

And Portia one, there must be something else
Pawn'd with the other; for the poor rude world
Hath not her fellow.

Lor. Even such a husband

Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife.

Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that.
Lor. I will, anon: first let us go to dinner.
Jes. Nay, let me praise you, while I have a stomach.

Lor. No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk, Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st 'mong other things I shall digest it.

Jes. Well, I'll set forth.

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

Enter the DUKE, the Senators, ANTHONIO, BAS

SANIO, and GRATIANO,

Duke. What, is Anthonio here? (58)

Anth. Ready, so please your grace.

[answer

Duke. I'm sorry for thee. Thou art come to

A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch,

Uncapable of pity, void and empty

From any dram of mercy.

Anth. I have heard

Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify

His rig'rous course; but since he stands obdurate,
And that no lawful means can carry me
Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose
My patience to his fury; and am arm'd
To suffer, with a quietness of spirit,
The very tyranny and rage of his.

(58) Anthonio is in fact near the person of the duke, as above designated.

Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court. Sal. He's ready at the door; he comes, my lord.

Enter SHYLOCK.

Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, [face. That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice, To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought, Thou❜lt shew thy mercy and remorse more strange, Than is thy strange apparent cruelty.

And, where thou now exact'st the penalty,
Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,
Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture,

But, touch'd with human gentleness and love,
Forgive a moiety of the principal;

Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,

That have of late so huddled on his back,
Enough to press a royal merchant down:
And pluck commiseration of his statę,

From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint,
From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train'd
To offices of tender courtesy.

We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

Shy. I have possess'd yourgrace of what I purpose, And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn 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 flesh, than to receive
Three thousand ducats? I'll not answer that;
But say, it is my humour: Is it answer'd?
What if my house be troubled with a rat,
And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats,
To have it baned? What, are you answer'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 sings i' th' nose,
Cannot contain their urine; for affection,
Masterless passion, sways it to the mood

Of what it likes or loaths. Now, for your answer,
As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig ;
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;
Why he, a swollen bagpipe! but of force
Must yield to such inevitable shame,
As to offend, himself being offended ;
So can I give no reason, nor I will not,
More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loathing,
I bear Anthonio, that I follow thus

A losing suit against him. Are you answered?

Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, T'excuse the current of thy cruelty. [answer. Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my Bass. Do all men kill the thing they do not love? Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill?