Hearing applause, and universal shout, Por. You see me, lord Bassanio, where I stand, A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times That only to stand high on your account, I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends, But she may learn; happier than this, And be my vantage to exclaim on you. 17 The folio reads, 'Is sum of nothing,' which may probably be the true reading, as it is Portia's intention, in this speech, to undervalue herself. Bass. Madam, you have bereft me of all words, Only my blood speaks to you in my veins : 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. Ner. 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! Gra. 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. 18 : Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. To have her love, provided that your fortune 1 18 That is, none away from me; none that I shall lose, if you gain it. 19 Pause, delay. Por. Is this true, Nerissa? Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal. Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith? Gra. Yes, 'faith, my lord. Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy for a thousand ducats. Ner. What, and stake down? Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down. But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel? my Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SALERIO. Bass. Lorenzo, and Salerio, welcome hither? If that the youth of my new interest here Have power to bid you welcome:-By your leave, I bid my very friends and countrymen, Sweet Portia, welcome. Por. They are entirely welcome. So do I, my lord; Lor. 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, To come with him along. Sale. And I have reason for it. I did, my lord, Signior Antonio Commends him to you. [Gives BASSANIO a letter. Bass. Ere I ope his letter, I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon stranger; bid her wel come. Your hand, Salerio; What's the news from Venice? That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek: Of any constant 20 man. What, worse and worse?With leave, Bassanio; I am half yourself, And I must freely have the half of any thing That this same paper brings you. Bass. 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 That I was worse than nothing: for, indeed, I have engag'd myself to a dear friend, Engag'd friend to his mere enemy, my To feed my means. Here is a letter, lady; you Have all his ventures fail'd? What, not one hit? 20 It should be remembered that stedfast, sad, grave, sober, were ancient synonymes of constant. And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch Sale. 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. Jes. 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. Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble? Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, The best condition'd and unwearied spirit In doing courtesies; and one in whom Por. What sum owes he the Jew? Bass. For me, three thousand ducats. What, no more? Por. Should lose a hair 21 through Bassanio's fault. |