Jes. That were a kind of bastard hope, indeed; so the sins of my mother should be visited upon me. Laun. Truly then I fear you are damn'd both by father and mother: thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother; well, you are gone both ways. Jes. I shall be saved by my husband; he hath made me a Christian. Laun. Truly, the more to blame he: we were Christians enough before; e'en as many as could well live, one by another: This making of Christians will raise the price of hogs; if we grow all to be pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money. Enter LORENZO. Jes. I'll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you say; here he comes. Lor. I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot, if you thus get my wife into corners. Jes. Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo; Launcelot and I are out he tells me flatly, there is no mercy for me in heaven, because I am a Jew's daughter: and he says, you are no good member of the commonwealth; for, in converting Jews to Christians, you raise the price of pork. Lor. I shall answer that better to the commonwealth, than you can the getting up of the negro's belly; the Moor is with child by you, Launcelot. Laun. It is much, that the Moor should be more than reason: but if she be less than an honest woman, she is, indeed, more than I took her for. Lor. How every fool can play upon the word! I think, the best grace of wit will shortly turn into silence; and discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots.Go in, sirrah; bid them prepare for dinner. Laun. That is done, sir; they have all stomachs. Lor. Goodly lord, what a wit-snapper are you! then bid them prepare dinner. Laun. That is done, too, sir: only, cover is the word. Lor. Will you cover then, sir? Laun. Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty. Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant? I pray thee, understand a plain man in his plain meaning: go to thy fellows; bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. Laun. For the table, sir, it shall be served in; for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours and conceits shall go[Exit. LAUNCELOT. Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are suited! The fool hath planted in his memory vern. An army of good words; And I do know A many fools, that stand in better place, Jes. Past all expressing: It is very meet, The lord Bassanio live an upright life; Is reason he should never come to heaven. Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match, And Portia one, there must be something else Lor. Even such a husband Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife. Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that. Lor. I will anon; first, let us go to dinner. Jes. Nay, let me praise you, while I have a stomach. Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things Jes. Well, I'll set you forth. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.-Venice. A court of Justice. Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes; ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALARINO, SALANIO, and others. Duke. What, is Antonio here? Ant. Ready, so please your grace. Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy. Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate, Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose My patience to his fury; and am arm'd The very tyranny and rage of his. Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court. Enter SHYLOCK. Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our face.Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice To the last hour of act; and then 'tis thought, r Thou'lt show thy mercy, and remorse, more strange Than is thy strange apparent cruelty: And where thou now exact'st the penalty, (Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,) But touch'd with human gentleness and love, Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late so huddled on his back; remorse,] i. e. Pity. where-] For whereas. Enough to press a royal merchant' down, And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint, We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. Shy. I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose; Of what it likes, or loaths: Now, for your answer: t a royal merchant-] This is not a mere sounding expression. The Venetians, who were masters of the sea, gave liberty to any subject of the republic, who would fit out vessels, to make themselves masters of the isles of the Archipelago and other maritime places; and to enjoy their conquests in sovereignty: only doing homage to the republic for their several principalities. By the virtue of this licence the Sanudos, the Justiniani, the Grimaldi, the Summaripo's and others, all Venetian merchants, erected principalities in several places of the Archipelago, which their descendants enjoyed for many generations, and thereby became truly and properly royal merchants, which indeed was the title generally given them all over Europe. Hence the more eminent of our own merchants, while public spirit resided among them, were called royal merchants.-WARBURTON. Gresham was commonly dignified with the title of the royal merchant.-JOHNSON. affection,]-in the sense of sympathy, was formerly technical, and is so used by Lord Bacon, Sir K. Digby, and many others.-Farmer. As to offend, himself being offended; So can I give no reason, nor I will not, A losing suit against him. Are you answered? Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answer. Shy. What, would'st thou have a serpent sting thee twice? Ant. I pray you, think you question with the Jew: As seek to soften that (than which what's harder?) I would not draw them, I would have my bond. Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring none? Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchas'd slave," Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules, X y question-] i. e. Converse. many a purchas'd slave,] This argument, considered as used to the particular persons, seems conclusive. I see not how Venetians or Englishmen, while they practice the purchase and sale of slaves, can much enforce or demand the law of doing to others as we would that they should do to us. JOHNSON. |