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And there is such confusion in my powers As； after some oration fairly
spoke By a beloved prince； there doth appear Among the buzzing pleased
multitude； Where every something； being blent together； Turns to a wild of
nothing； save of joy Express'd and not express'd。 But when this ring Parts
from this finger； then parts life from hence； O； then be bold to say
Bassanio's dead！ NERISSA。 My lord and lady； it is now our time That
have stood by and seen our wishes prosper To cry 'Good joy。' Good joy；
my lord and lady！ GRATIANO。 My Lord Bassanio； and my gentle lady； I
wish you all the joy that you can wish； For I am sure you can wish none
from me； And； when your honours mean to solemnize The bargain of your
faith； I do beseech you Even at that time I may be married too。
BASSANIO。 With all my heart； so thou canst get a wife。 GRATIANO。 I
thank your lordship； you have got me one。 My eyes； my lord； can look as
swift as yours： You saw the mistress； I beheld the maid； You lov'd； I lov'd；
for intermission No more pertains to me； my lord； than you。 Your fortune
stood upon the caskets there； And so did mine too； as the matter falls； For
wooing here until I sweat again； And swearing till my very roof was dry
With oaths of love； at last… if promise last… I got a promise of this fair one
here To have her love； provided that your fortune Achiev'd her mistress。
PORTIA。 Is this true； Nerissa？ NERISSA。 Madam； it is； so you stand
pleas'd withal。 BASSANIO。 And do you； Gratiano； mean good faith？
GRATIANO。 Yes； faith； my lord。 BASSANIO。 Our feast shall be much
honoured in your marriage。 GRATIANO。 We'll play with them： the first
boy for a thousand ducats。 NERISSA。 What； and stake down？
GRATIANO。 No； we shall ne'er win at that sport； and stake down… But
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
who comes here？ Lorenzo and his infidel？ What； and my old Venetian
friend； Salerio！
Enter LORENZO； JESSICA； and SALERIO； a messenger from
Venice
BASSANIO。 Lorenzo and Salerio； welcome hither； If that the youth
of my new int'rest here Have power to bid you welcome。 By your leave； I
bid my very friends and countrymen； Sweet Portia； welcome。 PORTIA。 So
do I； my lord； They are entirely welcome。 LORENZO。 I thank your
honour。 For my part； my lord； My purpose was not to have seen you here；
But meeting with Salerio by the way； He did entreat me； past all saying
nay； To come with him along。 SALERIO。 I did； my lord； And I have
reason for it。 Signior Antonio Commends him to you。 ＇Gives BASSANIO
a letter＇ BASSANIO。 Ere I ope his letter； I pray you tell me how my good
friend doth。 SALERIO。 Not sick； my lord； unless it be in mind； Nor well；
unless in mind； his letter there Will show you his estate。 ＇BASSANIO
opens the letter＇ GRATIANO。 Nerissa； cheer yond stranger； bid her
welcome。 Your hand； Salerio。 What's the news from Venice？ How doth
that royal merchant； good Antonio？ I know he will be glad of our success：
We are the Jasons； we have won the fleece。 SALERIO。 I would you had
won the fleece that he hath lost。 PORTIA。 There are some shrewd contents
in yond same paper That steals the colour from Bassanio's cheek： Some
dear friend dead； else nothing in the world Could turn so much the
constitution Of any constant man。 What； worse and worse！ With leave；
Bassanio： I am half yourself； And I must freely have the half of anything
That this same paper brings you。 BASSANIO。 O sweet Portia； Here are a
few of the unpleasant'st words That ever blotted paper！ Gentle lady； When
I did first impart my love to you； I freely told you all the wealth I had Ran
in my veins… I was a gentleman； And then I told you true。 And yet； dear
lady； Rating myself at nothing； you shall see How much I was a braggart。
When I told you My state was nothing； I should then have told you That I
was worse than nothing； for indeed I have engag'd myself to a dear friend；
Engag'd my friend to his mere enemy； To feed my means。 Here is a letter；
lady； The paper as the body of my friend； And every word in it a gaping
wound Issuing life…blood。 But is it true； Salerio？ Hath all his ventures
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
fail'd？ What； not one hit？ From Tripolis； from Mexico； and England； From
Lisbon； Barbary； and India； And not one vessel scape the dreadful touch
Of merchant…marring rocks？ SALERIO。 Not one； my lord。 Besides； it
should appear that； if he had The present money to discharge the Jew； He
would not take it。 Never did I know A creature that did bear the shape of
man So keen and greedy to confound a man。 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。 JESSICA。 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。 PORTIA。
Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble？ BASSANIO。 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 honour more
appears Than any that draws breath in Italy。 PORTIA。 What sum owes he
the Jew？ BASSANIO。 For me； three thousand ducats。 PORTIA。 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 meantime 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 l