It will go hard with poor Antonio.

PORTIA (to Bassanio)

Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble?

BASSANIO

The dearest friend to me, the kindest man,

The best-conditioned 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 thorough 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. 310

Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear.

But let me hear the letter of your friend.

⌈BASSANIO⌉ (reads) ‘Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit, and since in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and I if I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use your pleasure. If your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter.’

PORTIA

O, love! Dispatch all business, and be gone.

BASSANIO

Since I have your good leave to go away

I will make haste, but till I come again

No bed shall e‘er be guilty of my stay

Nor rest be interposer ’twixt us twain. Exeunt

3.3 Enter Shylock the Jew, Solanio, Antonio, and the jailer

SHYLOCK

Jailer, look to him. Tell not me of mercy.

This is the fool that lent out money gratis.

Jailer, look to him.

ANTONIO Hear me yet, good Shylock.

SHYLOCK

I’ll have my bond. Speak not against my bond.

I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.

Thou called’st me dog before thou hadst a cause,

But since I am a dog, beware my fangs.

The Duke shall grant me justice. I do wonder,

Thou naughty jailer, that thou art so fond

To come abroad with him at his request.

ANTONIO I pray thee hear me speak.

SHYLOCK

I’ll have my bond. I will not hear thee speak.

I’ll have my bond, and therefore speak no more.

I’ll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool

To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield

To Christian intercessors. Follow not.

I’ll have no speaking. I will have my bond. Exit

SOLANIO

It is the most impenetrable cur

That ever kept with men.

ANTONIO Let him alone.

I’ll follow him no more with bootless prayers.

He seeks my life. His reason well I know:

I oft delivered from his forfeitures

Many that have at times made moan to me.

Therefore he hates me.

SOLANIO I am sure the Duke

Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.

ANTONIO

The Duke cannot deny the course of law,

For the commodity that strangers have

With us in Venice, if it be denied,

Will much impeach the justice of the state,

Since that the trade and profit of the city

Consisteth of all nations. Therefore go.

These griefs and losses have so bated me

That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh

Tomorrow to my bloody creditor.

Well, jailer, on. Pray God Bassanio come

To see me pay his debt, and then I care not. Exeunt

3.4 Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Balthasar, a man of Portia’s

LORENZO (to Portia)

Madam, although I speak it in your presence,

You have a noble and a true conceit

Of godlike amity, which appears most strongly

In bearing thus the absence of your lord.

But if you knew to whom you show this honour,

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.

PORTIA

I never did repent for doing good,

Nor shall not now; for in companions

That do converse and waste the time together,

Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love,

There must be needs a like proportion

Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit,

Which makes me think that this Antonio,

Being the bosom lover of my lord,

Must needs be like my lord. If it be so,

How little is the cost I have bestowed

In purchasing the semblance of my soul

From out the state of hellish cruelty.

This comes too near the praising of myself,

Therefore no more of it. Hear other things:

Lorenzo, I commit into your hands

The husbandry and manage of my house

Until my lord’s return. For mine own part,

I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow

To live in prayer and contemplation,