That therefore only are reputed wife,
For faying nothing; who, I am very fure,
If they fhould hear, would almost damn those
ears,

Which, hearing them, would call their bro-
thers fools.

I'll tell thee more of this another time:
But fish not with this melancholy bait,
For this fool gudgeon, this opinion.
Jocofe Satire on Silence.

[dible.

Silence is only commendable
In a neat's tongue dried, and a maid not ven-

Generous and difinterefled Friendship.

Ant.I pray you good Bassanio, let me knowit:
And, if it ftand, as you yourfelf ftill do,
Within the eye of honour, be affur'd
My purfe, my perfon, my extremeft means,
Lie all unlock'd to your occasions.

Baff. In my fchool-days, when I had loft one
I fhot hisfellow of the felf-fame flight [fhaft,
The felf-fame way, with more advised watch,
To find the other; and, by advent'ring both,
I oft found both: Iurge 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 shoot 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 knowmewell; and herein spend but
To wind about my love with circumftance;
And, out of doubt, you do me now more
In making queftion of my uttermoft, [wrong,
Than if you had made waste of all I have.
Then do but fay to me what I fhould do,
That in your knowledge may by me be done,
And I am prest unto it: therefore, speak.
-Thou know't that all my fortunes are at fea;
Neither have I money, nor commodity
To raise 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 queflion make
To have it of my trust, or for my fake.
A Jew's Malice.

Ba. This is fignior Anthonio.
Shyl. How like a fawning publican he looks!
I hate him, for he is a Chriftian: [Afide.

But more, for that, in low fimplicity,
He lends out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of ufance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our facred nation; and he rails
Ev'n there, where merchants moft do con-
gregate,

On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift,
Which he calls intereft. Curfed be my tribe,
If I forgive him 1

A Jew's Sanity and Hypocrify.
Shyl. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's

(heep,

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 intereft; not,as you would
Directly intereft; mark what Jacob did: [fay,
When Laban and himfelf were compromis'd,
That all the eanlings, which were streak'd
Should fall as Jacob's hire,-the ewes being
and py'd,
[rank,

In end of autumn turned to the rams:
And when the work of generation was
Between thofe woolley breeders in the act,
The fkilful thepherd peel'd me certain wands,
And, in the doing of the deed of kind,
He ftruck them up before the fulfome ewes;
Who then conceiving, did in eaning 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 steal it not.

Ant. This was a venture, Sir, that Jacob
ferv'd for:

A thing not in his power to bring to pafs,
But fway'd and fashion'd by the hand of Hea
Was this inferted to make intereft good! [ven.
Or is your gold and filver ewes and rams?

Shyl. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast:
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 fmiling cheek;
A goodly apple, rotten at the heart:
O, what a goodly outside falfehood hath !'
The Jew's Expoflulation.

Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my monies and my ufances:
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
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 say,
"Shylock,wewould have monies; you fay fo;
You,that did void your rheum upon mybeard.
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 pollible

A cur can lend three thousand ducats?"-or
Shall I bend low, and, in a bondman's key,
With 'bated breath and whisp'ring humble-
nefs,

Say this: "Fair Sir, you spit on me on Wed-
nefday last;

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

Avil

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 fhadow'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, To 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 fwear The best regarded virgins of our clime Have lov'd it too: Iwould not change this hue Except to fteal your thoughts, my gentle

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

Portia.- -Tho' for myfelf alone
I would not be ambitious in my wish,
To with myself much better; yet for you
I would be trebled twenty times myself;
A thousand times more fair, ten thousand
times more rich;

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 nothing; which, to term in grofs,
Is an unleffon'd girl, unfchool'd, unpractis'd;
Happy in this; fhe is not yet fo old
But the may learn; happier than this, in that
She is not bred fo dull but fhe 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.
Lover's Thoughts compared to the inarticulate Joys
of a Crowd. [words;
Baff Madam, you have bereft me of all
Only my blood fpeaks to you in my veins :
And there is fuch confufion in my, powers,
As, after fome oration fairly spoke

By a beloved prince, there doth appear
Among the buzzing, pleafed multitude;
Where every fomething, being blent together,
Turns to a wild of nothing, fave of joy
Exprest and not expreßt.

trouble?

Valuable Friend.

Por. Is it your dear friend that is thus in
[man,
Baff The, dearest friend to me, the kindeft
The best condition'd, and unwearied fpirit
In doing courtenes; and one in whom.
The ancient Roman honour more appears
Than any that draws breath in Italy.
Por. What fum owes he the Jew?
Baff. For me three thousand ducats.
Por What, no more?

Pay him fix thoufand, 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. [fpeak,
I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee
I'll have my bond; and therefore fpeak no

more.

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 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 fpirit;
Which makes me think that this Anthonio,
Being the bofom lover of my lord,
Muut needs be like my lord: if it be fo,
How little is the cost Í have bestow'd
In purchasing the femblance of my foul
From out the state of hellish cruelty!
This comes too near the praising fmyself;
Therefore no more of it.

A pert, 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 fpeak, between the change of man and boy,

[Ateps With a reed voice; and turn two mincing Into a manly ftride; and fpeak of frays, Like a fine bragging youth: and tell quain lies,

How honourable ladies fought my love,
Which I denying, they fell fick and died;
I could not do with all; then I'll repent,
And with, for all that, that I had not kill'd

Affectation in Words.

O dear difcretion, how his words are fuited
The fool hath planted in his memory
An army of good words; and I do know
A many fools that ftand in better place,
Garnish'd like him, that for a trickly word
Defy the matter.

Portia's Merit.
It is very meet
The lord Baffanio live an upright life;
For, having fuch a bleffing in his lady,
He finds the joys of heaven here on earth;
And, if on earth he do not mean it, it
Is reafon he fhould never come to heaven.
Why, if two gods should play fome heav'n

match,

And on the wager lay two-earthly wome
And Portia one there must be fomething

Pawn'd with the other; for the poor de

Hath not her fellow..

The Jew's Reafon for his Revenge.

Eworld

Shyl. I have pollets'd your grace of what I |

purpose;

And by our holy fabbath have 1 for
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 afk me, why I rather choofe to have
A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive
Three thoufand ducats: I'll not answer that;
But, fay, it is my humour. Is it answer'd?
What if my ho ufe be troubled with a rat,
And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats
To have it baned? What, are you answer'd
yet?

I

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:
Mafters of paflion sway 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 be, a harmlefs 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,

Govern'd awolf,who,hang'd for humanflaugh-
Into the trunks of men: thycurrifh fpirit [ter,
Even from the gallows did his fell foul fleet,
Infus'd itfelf in thee; for thy defires
And, whilft thou lay' in thyunhallow'd dam,
Are wolfish, bloody, ftarv'd, and ravenous.
Shyl. Till thou canft rail the feal from off

Thou but offend'ft thy lungs to fpeak fo loud:
my bond.
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
To cureless ruin.- I ftand here for law.

Mercy.

The quality of mercy is not ftrain'd;
It droppeth, as a gentle rain from heaven
It bleffeth him that gives, and him that takes.
Upon the place beneath. It is twice bleffed
'Tis mightiest in the mightieft; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His fceptre fhews the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above the fceptred fway.
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;

More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loath-It is an attribute to God himself;
I bear Anthonio, that I follow thus, [ing
A lofing fuit against him. Are you anfwer'd:
Unfeeling Revenge.

You may as well go ftand upon the beach,
And bid the main flood bate his ufual height;
You may as well use questions with the wolf,
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;
You may as well forbid the mountain pines
Towag their high tops, and to make no noise
When they are fretted with the gufts of
heaven;

You may as well do any thing moft hard,
As feek to foften that (than which what's
His Jewish heart.
[harder?)

Retaliation.

Duke. How shalt thou hepe for mercy rend'ring none ?

Skyl. What judgment shall I dread, doing

no wrong?

Andearthlypower doth then fhewlikeft God's,
When mercy feafons juftice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, confider this-
Should fee falvation: we do pray for mercy;
That in the course of justice, none of us
And that fame prayer doth teach us all to
The deeds of mercy.
[render

Juftice must be impartial.
I beseech 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.
Por. It must not be; there is no power in
Can alter a decree established; [Venice
'Twill be recorded for a precedent;
Will rush into the ftate: it cannot be.
And many an error, by the fame example,
Cheerful Refignation, with friendly Tenderness.
Ant. I am arm'd and well prepar’d————
Give me your hand, Baffanio; fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
Than is her cuftom.-It is still her ufe
For herein fortune fhews herself more kind
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow
An age of poverty; from which ling ring pe-
of fuch a mifery doth the cut me off. [nance
Tell her the procefs of Anthonio's end!
Commend me to your honourable wife:
Say how I lov'd you, fpeak me fair in death;
And, when the tail is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Baffanio had not once a love.
Repent not you that you fhall lofe your friend

You have among you many a purchas'd flave,
Which, like your affes, and your dogs and
You ufe in abject and in flavith parts, [mules,
Because you bought them: fhall I fay to you,
Let them be free, marry them to you heirs;
Whyfweat theyunder burthens? let their beds
Be made as foft as yours, and let their palates
Be feafon'd with fuch viands; you will anfwer,
The daves are yours. So do I anfwer you:
The pound of Aeth, 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 wolfish Spirit, an Argument for Tranfmi-And he repents not that he pays your debt.

gration.

Gra. Oh, be thou damn'd, inexorable dog!
And for thy life, let juftice be accus'd.
Thou almok mak'ft me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
That fouls of animals infufe themfelves

Ample Payment.

He is well paid that is well fatisfied. Difeription of a Moon-light Night, with fine Mufic. Lor. The moon fhines bright: in fuch a

night as this,

When the fweet wind did gently kifs the trees,
And