The Merchant of Venice | Page 6

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
sealed 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 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 called.
NERISSA.
True, madam; he, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes

looked upon, was the best deserving a fair lady.
PORTIA.
I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy
praise.
[Enter a SERVANT.]
How now! what news?
SERVANT.
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]
SCENE 3. Venice. A public place
[Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK.]

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, squandered
abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men; there be land-rats and
water-rats, land-thieves and
water-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 assured you may.
SHYLOCK.
I will be assured 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