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merry tales and smiles not。 I fear he will prove the weeping philosopher
when he grows old； being so full of unmannerly sadness in his youth。 I had
rather be married to a death's…head with a bone in his mouth than to either
of these。 God defend me from these two！ NERISSA。 How say you by the
French lord； Monsieur Le Bon？ PORTIA。 God made him； and therefore let
him pass for a man。 In truth； I know it is a sin to be a mocker； but he… why；
he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan's； a better bad habit of frowning
than the Count Palatine； he is every man in no man。 If a throstle sing he
falls straight a…cap'ring； he will fence with his own shadow； if I should
marry him； I should marry twenty husbands。 If he would despise me； I
would forgive him； for if he love me to madness； I shall never requite him。
NERISSA。 What say you then to Falconbridge； the young baron of
England？ PORTIA。 You know I say nothing to him； for he understands not
me； nor I him： he hath neither Latin； French； nor Italian； and you will
come into the court and swear that I have a poor pennyworth in the
English。 He is a proper man's picture； but alas； who can converse with a
dumb…show？ How oddly he is suited！ I think he bought his doublet in Italy；
his round hose in France； his bonnet in Germany； and his behaviour
everywhere。 NERISSA。 What think you of the Scottish lord； his neighbour？
PORTIA。 That he hath a neighbourly charity in him； for he borrowed a
box of the ear of the Englishman； and swore he would pay him again when
he was able； I think the Frenchman became his surety； and seal'd under for
another。 NERISSA。 How like you the young German； the Duke of
Saxony's nephew？ PORTIA。 Very vilely in the morning when he is sober；
and most vilely in the afternoon when he is drunk。 When he is best； he is a
little worse than a man； and when he is worst； he is little better than a beast。
An the worst fall that ever fell； I hope I shall make shift to go without him。
NERISSA。 If he should offer to choose； and choose the right casket； you
should refuse to perform your father's will； if you should refuse to accept
him。 PORTIA。 Therefore； for fear of the worst； I pray thee set a deep glass
of Rhenish wine on the contrary casket； for if the devil be within and that
temptation without； I know he will choose it。 I will do anything； Nerissa；
ere I will be married to a sponge。 NERISSA。 You need not fear； lady； the
having any of these lords； they have acquainted me with their
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
determinations； which is indeed to return to their home； and to trouble you
with no more suit； unless you may be won by some other sort than your
father's imposition； depending on the caskets。 PORTIA。 If I live to be as
old as Sibylla； I will die as chaste as Diana； unless I be obtained by the
manner of my father's will。 I am glad this parcel of wooers are so
reasonable； for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence；
and I pray God grant them a fair departure。 NERISSA。 Do you not
remember； lady； in your father's time； a Venetian； a scholar and a soldier；
that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat？ PORTIA。 Yes；
yes； it was Bassanio； as I think； so was he call'd。 NERISSA。 True； madam；
he； of all the men that ever my foolish eyes look'd upon； was the best
deserving a fair lady。 PORTIA。 I remember him well； and I remember him
worthy of thy praise。
Enter a SERVINGMAN
How now！ what news？ SERVINGMAN。 The four strangers seek for
you； madam； to take their leave； and there is a forerunner come from a
fifth； the Prince of Morocco； who brings word the Prince his master will
be here to…night。 PORTIA。 If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good
heart as I can bid the other four farewell； I should be glad of his approach；
if he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil； I had
rather he should shrive me than wive me。 Come； Nerissa。 Sirrah； go before。
Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer； another knocks at the door。
Exeunt
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
SCENE III。 Venice。 A public place
Enter BASSANIO With SHYLOCK the Jew
SHYLOCK。 Three thousand ducats… well。 BASSANIO。 Ay； sir； for
three months。 SHYLOCK。 For three months… well。 BASSANIO。 For the
which； as I told you； Antonio shall be bound。 SHYLOCK。 Antonio shall
become bound… well。 BASSANIO。 May you stead me？ Will you pleasure
me？ Shall I know your answer？ SHYLOCK。 Three thousand ducats for
three months； and Antonio bound。 BASSANIO。 Your answer to that。
SHYLOCK。 Antonio is a good man。 BASSANIO。 Have you heard any
imputation to the contrary？ SHYLOCK。 Ho； no； no； no； no； my meaning
in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is
sufficient； yet his means are in supposition： he hath an argosy bound to
Tripolis； another to the Indies； I understand； moreover； upon the Rialto； he
hath a third at Mexico； a fourth for England… and other ventures he hath；
squand'red abroad。 But ships are but boards； sailors but men； there be
land…rats and water…rats； water…thieves and land…thieves… I mean pirates；
and then there is the peril of waters； winds； and rocks。 The man is；
notwithstanding； sufficient。 Three thousand ducats… I think I may take his
bond。 BASSANIO。 Be assur'd you may。 SHYLOCK。 I will be assur'd I
may； and； that I may be assured； I will bethink me。 May I speak with
Antonio？ BASSANIO。 If it please you to dine with us。 SHYLOCK。 Yes；
to smell pork； to eat of the habitation which your prophet； the Nazarite；
conjured the devil into！ I will buy with you； sell with you； talk with you；
walk with you； and so following； but I will not eat with you； drink with
you； nor pray with you。 What news on the Rialto？ Who is he comes here？
Enter ANTONIO
BASSANIO。 This is Signior Antonio。 SHYLOCK。 ＇Aside＇ How like
a fawning publican he looks！ I hate him for he is a Christian； But more for
that in low simplicity He lends out money gratis； and brings down The rate
of usance here with us in Venice。 If I can catch him once upon the hip； I
will feed fat the