The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



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Reference: O4r - Comedies, p. 163

Left Column


The Merchant of Venice.
Actus primus. [Act 1, Scene 1] Enter Anthonio, Salarino, and Salanio. Anthonio. IN sooth I know not why I am so sad, It wearies me: you say it wearies you; But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, What stuffe 'tis made of, whereof it is borne,
[5]
I am to learne: and such a Want‑wit sadnesse makes of mee, That I haue much ado to know my selfe.
Sal. Your minde is tossing on the Ocean, There where your Argosies with portly saile Like Signiors and rich Burgers on the flood,
[10]
Or as it were the Pag ants of the sea, Do ouer‑peere the pettie Traffiquers That curtsie to them, do them reuerence As they flye by them with their wouen wings.
Salar. Beleeue me sir, had I such venture forth,
[15]
The better part of my affections, would Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still Plucking the grasse to know where sits the winde. Peering in Maps for ports, and peers, and rodes: And euery obiect that might make me feare
[20]
Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt Would make me sad.
Sal. My winde cooling my broth, Would blow me to an Ague, when I thought What harme a winde too great might doe at sea.
[25]
I should not see the sandie houre‑glasse runne, But I should thinke of shallows, and of flats, And see my wealthy Andrew docks in sand, Vailing her high top lower then her ribs To kisse her buriall; should I goe to Church
[30]
And see the holy edifice of stone, And not bethinke me straight of dangerous rocks, Which touching but my gentle Vessels side Would scatter all her spices on the streame, Enrobe the roring waters with my silkes,
[35]
And in a word, but euen now worth this, And now worth nothing. Shall I haue the thought To thinke on this, and shall I lacke the thought That such a thing bechaunc'd would make me sad? But tell not me, I know Anthonio
[40]
Is sad to thinke vpon his merchandize.
Anth. Beleeue me no, I thanke my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottome trusted, Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate

Right Column


Vpon the fortune of this present yeere:
[45]
Therefore my merchandize makes me not sad.
Sola.

Why then you are in loue.

Anth.

Fie, fie.

Sola. Not in loue neither: then let vs say you are sad Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easie
[50]
For you to laugh and leape, and say you are merry Because you are not sad. Now by two‑headed Ianus, Nature hath fram'd strange fellowes in her time: Some that will euermore peepe through their eyes, And laugh like Parrats at a bag‑piper.
[55]
And other of such vineger aspect, That they'll not shew their teeth in way of smile, Though Nestor sweare the iest be laughable.
Enter Bassanio, Lorenso, and Gratiano. Sola. Heere comes Bassanio, Your most noble Kinsman,
[60]
Gratiano, and Lorenso. Faryewell, We leaue you now with better company.
Sala. I would haue staid till I had made you merry, If worthier friends had not preuented me. Ant. Your worth is very deere in my regard.
[65]
I take it your owne busines calls on you, And you embrace th'occasion to depart.
Sal. Good morrow my good Lords. Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, (when? You grow exceeding strange: must it be so? Sal.
[70]
Wee'll make our leysures to attend on yours.
Exeunt Salarino, and Solanio. Lor. My Lord Bassanio, since you haue found Anthonio We two will leaue you, but at dinner time I pray you haue in minde where we must meete. Bass.

I will not faile you.

Grat.
[75]
You looke not well signior Anthonio, You haue too much respect vpon the world: They loose it that doe buy it with much care, Beleeue me you are maruellously chang'd.
Ant. I hold the world but as the world Gratiano,
[80]
A stage, where euery man must play a part, And mine a sad one.
Grati. Let me play the foole, With mirth and laughter let old wrinckles come, And let my Liuer rather heate with wine,
[85]
Then my heart coole with mortifying grones. Why should a man whose bloud is warme within, Sit like his Grandsire, cut in Alablaster? Sleepe when he wakes? and creep into the Iaundies By

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Actus primus. [Act 1, Scene 1] Enter Anthonio, Salarino, and Salanio. Anthonio. IN sooth I know not why I am so sad, It wearies me: you say it wearies you; But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, What stuffe 'tis made of, whereof it is borne,
[5]
I am to learne: and such a Want‑wit sadnesse makes of mee, That I haue much ado to know my selfe.
Sal. Your minde is tossing on the Ocean, There where your Argosies with portly saile Like Signiors and rich Burgers on the flood,
[10]
Or as it were the Pag ants of the sea, Do ouer‑peere the pettie Traffiquers That curtsie to them, do them reuerence As they flye by them with their wouen wings.
Salar. Beleeue me sir, had I such venture forth,
[15]
The better part of my affections, would Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still Plucking the grasse to know where sits the winde. Peering in Maps for ports, and peers, and rodes: And euery obiect that might make me feare
[20]
Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt Would make me sad.
Sal. My winde cooling my broth, Would blow me to an Ague, when I thought What harme a winde too great might doe at sea.
[25]
I should not see the sandie houre‑glasse runne, But I should thinke of shallows, and of flats, And see my wealthy Andrew docks in sand, Vailing her high top lower then her ribs To kisse her buriall; should I goe to Church
[30]
And see the holy edifice of stone, And not bethinke me straight of dangerous rocks, Which touching but my gentle Vessels side Would scatter all her spices on the streame, Enrobe the roring waters with my silkes,
[35]
And in a word, but euen now worth this, And now worth nothing. Shall I haue the thought To thinke on this, and shall I lacke the thought That such a thing bechaunc'd would make me sad? But tell not me, I know Anthonio
[40]
Is sad to thinke vpon his merchandize.
Anth. Beleeue me no, I thanke my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottome trusted, Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate Vpon the fortune of this present yeere:
[45]
Therefore my merchandize makes me not sad.
Sola.

Why then you are in loue.

Anth.

Fie, fie.

Sola. Not in loue neither: then let vs say you are sad Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easie
[50]
For you to laugh and leape, and say you are merry Because you are not sad. Now by two‑headed Ianus, Nature hath fram'd strange fellowes in her time: Some that will euermore peepe through their eyes, And laugh like Parrats at a bag‑piper.
[55]
And other of such vineger aspect, That they'll not shew their teeth in way of smile, Though Nestor sweare the iest be laughable.
Enter Bassanio, Lorenso, and Gratiano. Sola. Heere comes Bassanio, Your most noble Kinsman,
[60]
Gratiano, and Lorenso. Faryewell, We leaue you now with better company.
Sala. I would haue staid till I had made you merry, If worthier friends had not preuented me. Ant. Your worth is very deere in my regard.
[65]
I take it your owne busines calls on you, And you embrace th'occasion to depart.
Sal. Good morrow my good Lords. Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, (when? You grow exceeding strange: must it be so? Sal.
[70]
Wee'll make our leysures to attend on yours.
Exeunt Salarino, and Solanio. Lor. My Lord Bassanio, since you haue found Anthonio We two will leaue you, but at dinner time I pray you haue in minde where we must meete. Bass.

I will not faile you.

Grat.
[75]
You looke not well signior Anthonio, You haue too much respect vpon the world: They loose it that doe buy it with much care, Beleeue me you are maruellously chang'd.
Ant. I hold the world but as the world Gratiano,
[80]
A stage, where euery man must play a part, And mine a sad one.
Grati. Let me play the foole, With mirth and laughter let old wrinckles come, And let my Liuer rather heate with wine,
[85]
Then my heart coole with mortifying grones. Why should a man whose bloud is warme within, Sit like his Grandsire, cut in Alablaster? Sleepe when he wakes? and creep into the Iaundies By being peeuish? I tell thee what Anthonio,
[90]
I loue thee, and it is my loue that speakes: There are a sort of men, whose visages Do creame and mantle like a standing pond, And do a wilfull stilnesse entertaine, With purpose to be drest in an opinion
[95]
Of wisedome, grauity, profound conceit, As who should say, I am sir an Oracle, And when I ope my lips, let no dogge barke. O my Anthonio, I do know of these That therefore onely are reputed wise,
[100]
For saying nothing; when I am verie sure If they should speake, would almost dam those eares Which hearing them would call their brothers fooles: Ile tell thee more of this another time. But fish not with this melancholly baite
[105]
For this foole Gudgin, this opinion: Come good Lorenzo, faryewell a while, Ile end my exhortation after dinner.
Lor. Well, we will leaue you then till dinner time. I must be one of these same dumbe wise men,
[110]
For Gratiano neuer let's me speake.
Gra. Well, keepe me company but two yeares mo, Thou shalt not know the sound of thine owne tongue. Ant.

Far you well, Ile grow a talker for this geare.

Gra. Thankes ifaith, for silence is onely commendable
[115]
In a neats tongue dri'd, and a maid not vendible.
Exit. Ant.

It is that any thing now.

Bas.

Gratiano speakes an infinite deale of nothing,

more then any man in all Venice, his reasons are two

graines of wheate hid in two bushels of chaffe: you shall

[120]

seeke all day ere you finde them, & when you haue them

they are not worth the search.

An. Well: tel me now, what Lady is the same To whom you swore a secret Pilgrimage That you to day promis'd to tel me of? Bas.
[125]
Tis not vnknowne to you Anthonio How much I haue disabled mine estate, By something shewing a more swelling port Then my faint meanes would grant continuance: Nor do I now make mone to be abridge'd
[130]
From such a noble rate, but my cheefe care Is to come fairely off from the great debts Wherein my time something too prodigall Hath left me gag'd: to you Anthonio I owe the most in money, and in loue,
[135]
And from your loue I haue a warrantie To vnburthen all my plots and purposes, How to get cleere of all the debts I owe.
An. I pray you good Bassanio let me know it, And if it stand as you your selfe still do,
[140]
Within the eye of honour, be assur'd My purse, my person, my extreamest meanes Lye all vnlock'd to your occasions.
Bass. In my schoole dayes, when I had lost one shaft I shot his fellow of the selfesame flight
[145]
The selfesame way, with more aduised watch To finde the other forth, and by aduenturing both, I oft found both. I vrge this child‑hoode proofe, Because what followes is pure innocence. I owe you much, and like a wilfull youth,
[150]
That which I owe is lost: but if you please To shoote another arrow that selfe way Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt, As I will watch the ayme: Or to finde both, Or bring your latter hazard backe againe,
[155]
And thankfully rest debter for the first.
An. You know me well, and herein spend but time To winde about my loue with circumstance, And out of doubt you doe more wrong In making question of my vttermost
[160]
Then if you had made waste of all I haue: Then doe but say to me what I should doe That in your knowledge may by me be done, And I am prest vnto it: therefore speake.
Bass. In Belmont is a Lady richly left,
[165]
And she is faire, and fairer then that word, Of wondrous vertues, sometimes from her eyes I did receiue faire speechlesse messages: Her name is Portia, nothing vndervallewd To Cato's daughter, Brutus Portia ,
[170]
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, For the foure windes blow in from euery coast Renowned sutors, and her sunny locks Hang on her temples like a golden fleece, Which makes her seat of Belmont Cholchos strond,
[175]
And many Iasons come in quest of her. O my Anthonio, had I but the meanes To hold a riuall place with one of them, I haue a minde presages me such thrift, That I should questionlesse be fortunate.
Anth.
[180]
Thou knowst that all my fortunes are at sea, Neither haue I money, nor commodity To raise a present summe, therefore goe forth Try what my credit can in Venice doe, That shall be rackt euen to the vttermost,
[185]
To furnish thee to Belmont to faire Portia. Goe presently enquire, and so will I Where money is, and I no question make To haue it of my trust, or for my sake.
Exeunt.
 

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<div type="scene" n="1">
   <head rend="italic center">Actus primus.</head>
   <head type="supplied">[Act 1, Scene 1]</head>
   <cb n="1"/>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Anthonio, Salarino, and Salanio.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic center">Anthonio.</speaker>
      <l n="1">
         <c rend="decoratedCapital">I</c>N sooth I know not why I am so sad,</l>
      <l n="2">It wearies me: you say it wearies you;</l>
      <l n="3">But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,</l>
      <l n="4">What stuffe 'tis made of, whereof it is borne,</l>
      <l n="5">I am to learne: and such a Want‑wit sadnesse makes of
      <lb/>mee,</l>
      <l n="6">That I haue much ado to know my selfe.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-sln">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sal.</speaker>
      <l n="7">Your minde is tossing on the Ocean,</l>
      <l n="8">There where your Argosies with portly saile</l>
      <l n="9">Like Signiors and rich Burgers on the flood,</l>
      <l n="10">Or as it were the Pag<gap extent="1"
              unit="chars"
              reason="illegible"
              agent="partiallyInkedType"
              resp="#LMC"/>ants of the sea,</l>
      <l n="11">Do ouer‑peere the pettie Traffiquers</l>
      <l n="12">That curtsie to them, do them reuerence</l>
      <l n="13">As they flye by them with their wouen wings.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-slr">
      <speaker rend="italic">Salar.</speaker>
      <l n="14">Beleeue me sir, had I such venture forth,</l>
      <l n="15">The better part of my affections, would</l>
      <l n="16">Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still</l>
      <l n="17">Plucking the grasse to know where sits the winde.</l>
      <l n="18">Peering in Maps for ports, and peers, and rodes:</l>
      <l n="19">And euery obiect that might make me feare</l>
      <l n="20">Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt</l>
      <l n="21">Would make me sad.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-sln">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sal.</speaker>
      <l n="22">My winde cooling my broth,</l>
      <l n="23">Would blow me to an Ague, when I thought</l>
      <l n="24">What harme a winde too great might doe at sea.</l>
      <l n="25">I should not see the sandie houre‑glasse runne,</l>
      <l n="26">But I should thinke of shallows, and of flats,</l>
      <l n="27">And see my wealthy<hi rend="italic">Andrew</hi>docks in sand,</l>
      <l n="28">Vailing her high top lower then her ribs</l>
      <l n="29">To kisse her buriall; should I goe to Church</l>
      <l n="30">And see the holy edifice of stone,</l>
      <l n="31">And not bethinke me straight of dangerous rocks,</l>
      <l n="32">Which touching but my gentle Vessels side</l>
      <l n="33">Would scatter all her spices on the streame,</l>
      <l n="34">Enrobe the roring waters with my silkes,</l>
      <l n="35">And in a word, but euen now worth this,</l>
      <l n="36">And now worth nothing. Shall I haue the thought</l>
      <l n="37">To thinke on this, and shall I lacke the thought</l>
      <l n="38">That such a thing bechaunc'd would make me sad?</l>
      <l n="39">But tell not me, I know<hi rend="italic">Anthonio</hi>
      </l>
      <l n="40">Is sad to thinke vpon his merchandize.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic">Anth.</speaker>
      <l n="41">Beleeue me no, I thanke my fortune for it,</l>
      <l n="42">My ventures are not in one bottome trusted,</l>
      <l n="43">Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate</l>
      <cb n="2"/>
      <l n="44">Vpon the fortune of this present yeere:</l>
      <l n="45">Therefore my merchandize makes me not sad.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-sln">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sola.</speaker>
      <p n="46">Why then you are in loue.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic">Anth.</speaker>
      <p n="47">Fie, fie.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-sln">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sola.</speaker>
      <l n="48">Not in loue neither: then let vs say you are sad</l>
      <l n="49">Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easie</l>
      <l n="50">For you to laugh and leape, and say you are merry</l>
      <l n="51">Because you are not sad. Now by two‑headed<hi rend="italic">Ianus</hi>,</l>
      <l n="52">Nature hath fram'd strange fellowes in her time:</l>
      <l n="53">Some that will euermore peepe through their eyes,</l>
      <l n="54">And laugh like Parrats at a bag‑piper.</l>
      <l n="55">And other of such vineger aspect,</l>
      <l n="56">That they'll not shew their teeth in way of smile,</l>
      <l n="57">Though Nestor sweare the iest be laughable.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Bassanio, Lorenso, and Gratiano.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-mv-sln">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sola.</speaker>
      <l n="58">Heere comes<hi rend="italic">Bassanio</hi>,</l>
      <l n="59">Your most noble Kinsman,</l>
      <l n="60">
         <hi rend="italic">Gratiano</hi>, and<hi rend="italic">Lorenso</hi>. Faryewell,</l>
      <l n="61">We leaue you now with better company.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-slr">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sala.</speaker>
      <l n="62">I would haue staid till I had made you merry,</l>
      <l n="63">If worthier friends had not preuented me.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ant.</speaker>
      <l n="64">Your worth is very deere in my regard.</l>
      <l n="65">I take it your owne busines calls on you,</l>
      <l n="66">And you embrace th'occasion to depart.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-slr">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sal.</speaker>
      <l n="67">Good morrow my good Lords.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-bas">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bass.</speaker>
      <l n="68">Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say,
      <lb rend="turnover"/>
         <pc rend="turnover">(</pc>when?</l>
      <l n="69">You grow exceeding strange: must it be so?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-slr">
      <speaker rend="italic">Sal.</speaker>
      <l n="70">Wee'll make our leysures to attend on yours.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt Salarino, and Solanio.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-mv-lor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Lor.</speaker>
      <l n="71">My Lord<hi rend="italic">Bassanio</hi>, since you haue found<hi rend="italic">Anthonio</hi>
      </l>
      <l n="72">We two will leaue you, but at dinner time</l>
      <l n="73">I pray you haue in minde where we must meete.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-bas">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bass.</speaker>
      <p n="74">I will not faile you.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-gra">
      <speaker rend="italic">Grat.</speaker>
      <l n="75">You looke not well signior<hi rend="italic">Anthonio</hi>,</l>
      <l n="76">You haue too much respect vpon the world:</l>
      <l n="77">They loose it that doe buy it with much care,</l>
      <l n="78">Beleeue me you are maruellously chang'd.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ant.</speaker>
      <l n="79">I hold the world but as the world<hi rend="italic">Gratiano</hi>,</l>
      <l n="80">A stage, where euery man must play a part,</l>
      <l n="81">And mine a sad one.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-gra">
      <speaker rend="italic">Grati.</speaker>
      <l n="82">Let me play the foole,</l>
      <l n="83">With mirth and laughter let old wrinckles come,</l>
      <l n="84">And let my Liuer rather heate with wine,</l>
      <l n="85">Then my heart coole with mortifying grones.</l>
      <l n="86">Why should a man whose bloud is warme within,</l>
      <l n="87">Sit like his Grandsire, cut in Alablaster?</l>
      <l n="88">Sleepe when he wakes? and creep into the Iaundies</l>
      <pb facs="FFimg:axc0184-0.jpg" n="162"/>
      <cb n="1"/>
      <l n="89">By being peeuish? I tell thee what<hi rend="italic">Anthonio</hi>,</l>
      <l n="90">I loue thee, and it is my loue that speakes:</l>
      <l n="91">There are a sort of men, whose visages</l>
      <l n="92">Do creame and mantle like a standing pond,</l>
      <l n="93">And do a wilfull stilnesse entertaine,</l>
      <l n="94">With purpose to be drest in an opinion</l>
      <l n="95">Of wisedome, grauity, profound conceit,</l>
      <l n="96">As who should say, I am sir an Oracle,</l>
      <l n="97">And when I ope my lips, let no dogge barke.</l>
      <l n="98">O my<hi rend="italic">Anthonio</hi>, I do know of these</l>
      <l n="99">That therefore onely are reputed wise,</l>
      <l n="100">For saying nothing; when I am verie sure</l>
      <l n="101">If they should speake, would almost dam those eares</l>
      <l n="102">Which hearing them would call their brothers fooles:</l>
      <l n="103">Ile tell thee more of this another time.</l>
      <l n="104">But fish not with this melancholly baite</l>
      <l n="105">For this foole Gudgin, this opinion:</l>
      <l n="106">Come good<hi rend="italic">Lorenzo</hi>, faryewell a while,</l>
      <l n="107">Ile end my exhortation after dinner.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-lor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Lor.</speaker>
      <l n="108">Well, we will leaue you then till dinner time.</l>
      <l n="109">I must be one of these same dumbe wise men,</l>
      <l n="110">For<hi rend="italic">Gratiano</hi>neuer let's me speake.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-gra">
      <speaker rend="italic">Gra.</speaker>
      <l n="111">Well, keepe me company but two yeares mo,</l>
      <l n="112">Thou shalt not know the sound of thine owne tongue.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ant.</speaker>
      <p n="113">Far you well, Ile grow a talker for this geare.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-gra">
      <speaker rend="italic">Gra.</speaker>
      <l n="114">Thankes ifaith, for silence is onely commendable</l>
      <l n="115">In a neats tongue dri'd, and a maid not vendible.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic inline" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ant.</speaker>
      <p n="116">It is that any thing now.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-bas">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bas.</speaker>
      <p n="117">
         <hi rend="italic">Gratiano</hi>speakes an infinite deale of nothing,
      <lb n="118"/>more then any man in all Venice, his reasons are two
      <lb n="119"/>graines of wheate hid in two bushels of chaffe: you shall
      <lb n="120"/>seeke all day ere you finde them, &amp; when you haue them
      <lb n="121"/>they are not worth the search.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic">An.</speaker>
      <l n="122">Well: tel me now, what Lady is the same</l>
      <l n="123">To whom you swore a secret Pilgrimage</l>
      <l n="124">That you to day promis'd to tel me of?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-bas">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bas.</speaker>
      <l n="125">Tis not vnknowne to you<hi rend="italic">Anthonio</hi>
      </l>
      <l n="126">How much I haue disabled mine estate,</l>
      <l n="127">By something shewing a more swelling port</l>
      <l n="128">Then my faint meanes would grant continuance:</l>
      <l n="129">Nor do I now make mone to be abridge'd</l>
      <l n="130">From such a noble rate, but my cheefe care</l>
      <l n="131">Is to come fairely off from the great debts</l>
      <l n="132">Wherein my time something too prodigall</l>
      <l n="133">Hath left me gag'd: to you<hi rend="italic">Anthonio</hi>
      </l>
      <l n="134">I owe the most in money, and in loue,</l>
      <l n="135">And from your loue I haue a warrantie</l>
      <l n="136">To vnburthen all my plots and purposes,</l>
      <l n="137">How to get cleere of all the debts I owe.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic">An.</speaker>
      <l n="138">I pray you good<hi rend="italic">Bassanio</hi>let me know it,</l>
      <l n="139">And if it stand as you your selfe still do,</l>
      <l n="140">Within the eye of honour, be assur'd</l>
      <l n="141">My purse, my person, my extreamest meanes</l>
      <l n="142">Lye all vnlock'd to your occasions.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-bas">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bass.</speaker>
      <l n="143">In my schoole dayes, when I had lost one shaft</l>
      <l n="144">I shot his fellow of the selfesame flight</l>
      <l n="145">The selfesame way, with more aduised watch</l>
      <l n="146">To finde the other forth, and by aduenturing both,</l>
      <l n="147">I oft found both. I vrge this child‑hoode proofe,</l>
      <l n="148">Because what followes is pure innocence.</l>
      <l n="149">I owe you much, and like a wilfull youth,</l>
      <l n="150">That which I owe is lost: but if you please</l>
      <l n="151">To shoote another arrow that selfe way</l>
      <l n="152">Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,</l>
      <l n="153">As I will watch the ayme: Or to finde both,</l>
      <l n="154">Or bring your latter hazard backe againe,</l>
      <cb n="2"/>
      <l n="155">And thankfully rest debter for the first.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic">An.</speaker>
      <l n="156">You know me well, and herein spend but time</l>
      <l n="157">To winde about my loue with circumstance,</l>
      <l n="158">And out of doubt you doe more wrong</l>
      <l n="159">In making question of my vttermost</l>
      <l n="160">Then if you had made waste of all I haue:</l>
      <l n="161">Then doe but say to me what I should doe</l>
      <l n="162">That in your knowledge may by me be done,</l>
      <l n="163">And I am prest vnto it: therefore speake.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-bas">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bass.</speaker>
      <l n="164">In<hi rend="italic">Belmont</hi>is a Lady richly left,</l>
      <l n="165">And she is faire, and fairer then that word,</l>
      <l n="166">Of wondrous vertues, sometimes from her eyes</l>
      <l n="167">I did receiue faire speechlesse messages:</l>
      <l n="168">Her name is<hi rend="italic">Portia</hi>, nothing vndervallewd</l>
      <l n="169">To<hi rend="italic">Cato's</hi>daughter,<hi rend="italic">Brutus Portia</hi>,</l>
      <l n="170">Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth,</l>
      <l n="171">For the foure windes blow in from euery coast</l>
      <l n="172">Renowned sutors, and her sunny locks</l>
      <l n="173">Hang on her temples like a golden fleece,</l>
      <l n="174">Which makes her seat of<hi rend="italic">Belmont Cholchos</hi>strond,</l>
      <l n="175">And many<hi rend="italic">Iasons</hi>come in quest of her.</l>
      <l n="176">O my<hi rend="italic">Anthonio</hi>, had I but the meanes</l>
      <l n="177">To hold a riuall place with one of them,</l>
      <l n="178">I haue a minde presages me such thrift,</l>
      <l n="179">That I should questionlesse be fortunate.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-ant">
      <speaker rend="italic">Anth.</speaker>
      <l n="180">Thou knowst that all my fortunes are at sea,</l>
      <l n="181">Neither haue I money, nor commodity</l>
      <l n="182">To raise a present summe, therefore goe forth</l>
      <l n="183">Try what my credit can in<hi rend="italic">Venice</hi>doe,</l>
      <l n="184">That shall be rackt euen to the vttermost,</l>
      <l n="185">To furnish thee to<hi rend="italic">Belmont</hi>to faire<hi rend="italic">Portia</hi>.</l>
      <l n="186">Goe presently enquire, and so will I</l>
      <l n="187">Where money is, and I no question make</l>
      <l n="188">To haue it of my trust, or for my sake.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic inline" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>

                                
                            

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