Shylock's House.

Enter Shylock and Launcelot. Shy

JELL, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy

judge,
The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio.
What, Jeffica! — thou shalt not gormandize,
As thou hast done with me what, Jessica!
And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out.
Why, Jesica! I say.

Laun. Why, Jessica! I say.
Shy. Who bids thee call ? I did not bid thee call.

Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, that I could do nothing without bidding.

Enter Jessica.
Jef. Call you ? what is your will?

Shy. I am bid forth to fupper. Jeffica;
There are my keys : but wherefore should I go?
I am not bid for love; they flatter me:
But yet I'll go in hare, to feed upon
The prodigal christian. Jessica, my girl,
Look to my house ; I am right loth to go;
There is some ill a brewing towards my reft,
For I did dream of money-bags to night.

Laun. I beseech you, Sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach.

Shy. So do I his.

Laun. And they have conspired together, I will not say, you shall see a masque ; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on black Monday last, at fix a clock i'th' morning, falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year in the afternoon.

Shy.

But stop my

Shy. What! are there masques ? hear you me,

Jessica.
Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum,
And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife.
Clamber not you up to the casements then,
Nor thrust your head in the public street,
To gaze on christian fools with varnish'd faces :
houfe's ears ;

I
mean, my

casements;
Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter
My fober house. By Jacob's staff, I swear,
I have no mind of feasting forth to night:
But I will go; go you

before

me,

firrah: Say, I will come.

Laun. I will go before, Sir.
Mistress, look out at window, for all this;
There will come a christian by,
Will be worth a Jewefs' eye.

[Exit Laun. Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's off-spring, ha? Jef. His words were, farewel, mistress; nothing else.

Shy. The paich is kind enough, but a huge feeder: Snail-llow in profit, but he sleeps by day More than the wild cat; drones hive not with me, Therefore I part with him; and part with him To one, That I would have him help to waste His borrow'd purse. Well, Jesica, go in; Perhaps, I will return immediately; Do, as I bid you. Shut the doors after you ; fast bind, fast find; A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. [Exit.

Jef. Farewel; and if my fortune be not crost, I have a father, you a daughter, loft. [Exit.

S CE NE VII.

The STREET. Enter Gratiano and Salanio in masquerade. Gra. 'HIS is the pent-house, under which Lorenzo desired us to make a stand.

Sal.

Sal. His hour is almoft paft.

Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour,
For lovers ever run before the clock.

Sal. O, ten times faster Venus' Widgeons fly
To seal love's bonds new made, than they are wont
To keep obliged faith unforfeited !

Gra. That ever holds. Who riseth from a feast,
With that keen appetite that he fits down?
Where is the horse, that doth untread again
His tedious measures with th' unbated fire,
That he did pace them first? all things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd.
How like a younker, or a prodigal,
The skarfed bark puts from her native bay,
Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind !
How like the prodigal doth she return,
With over-weather'd ribs and ragged fails,
Lean, rent, and beggar'd by the strumpet wind!

1

Enter Lorenzo.
Sal. Here comes Lorenzo: more of this hereafter.
Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long

abode;
Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait ;
When you shall please to play the thieves for wives,
I'll watch as long for you then; come, approach ;
Here dwells my father Jew. Hoa, who's within ?

Jessica above, in boy's clothes,
Jes. Who are you? tell me for more certainty,
Albeit I'll fwear, that I do know your tongue.

Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love.

Jef. Lorenzo certain, and my love, indeed ;
For who love I so much ? and now who knows,
But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours ?
Lór. Heav'n and thy thoughts are witness, that

thou art.
Jef. Here catch this casket, it is worth the pains.

BOK

I'm glad, 'tis night, you do not look on me ;
For I am much alham'd of my exchange ;
But love is blind, and lovers cannot see
The pretty follies that themselves commit;
For if they could, Cupid himself would blush
To see me thus transformed to a boy.

Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer.

Jef. What must I hold a candle to my shames ?
They in themselves, goodsooth, are too, too, light.
Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love,
And I should be obscur’d.

Lor. So are you; sweet,
Ev’n in the lovely garnish of a boy.
But come at once
For the close night doth play the run-away,
And we are staid for at Bassanio's feaft.

Jef. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself
With some more ducats, and be with

you

strait.

[Exit from above. Gra. Now by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew.

Lor. Beshrew me, but I love her heartily;
For she is wise, if I can judge of her;
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true;
And true she is, as she hath prov'd herself;
And therefore like herself, wise, fair, and truc,
Shall she be placed in my constant soul.

Enter Jessica, to them.
What, art thou come? on, gentlemen, away;
Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. (Exit.

Enter Anthonio.
Anth. Who's there?
Gra. Signior Anthonio,

Anth. Fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest?
'Tis nine o'clock, our friends all stay for you;
No masque to night; the wind is come about,

Baf

Basanio presently will go aboard;
I have sent twenty out to seck for you.

Gra. I'm glad on't; I desire no more delight Than to be under fail, and gone to night. (Exeunt.

Enter Portia with Morochius, and both their trains. Por. O, draw aside the curtains, and discover

. Now make your choice. [Three caskets are discover'd.

Mor. The first of gold, which this inscription bears, Who chuseth me, shall gain what many men defre. The second silver, which this promise carries, Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, Who chuseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. How shall I know, if I do chuse the right?

Por. The one of them contains my picture, Prince; If you chuse that, then I am yours withal.

Mor. Some God direct my judgment! let me see, I will survey th' inscriptions back again; What says this leaden casket? Who chuseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. Muft give, for what? for lead ? hazard for lead ? This casket threatens. Men, that hazard all, Do it in hope of fair advantages : A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross ; I'll then not give, nor hazard, aught for lead. What says the filver, with her virgin hue? Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. As much as he deserves ? pause there, Morochius; And weigh thy value with an even hand. If thou beft rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough; and yet enough May not extend so far as to the lady;

And