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: O6r - Comedies, p. 167

Left Column


The Merchant of Venice. Bass.
[470]
You shall not seale to such a bond for me, Ile rather dwell in my necessitie.
Ant. Why feare not man, I will not forfaite it, Within these two months, that's a month before This bond expires, I doe expect returne
[475]
Of thrice three times the valew of this bond.
Shy. O father Abram, what these Christians are, Whose owne hard dealings teaches them suspect The thoughts of others: Praie you tell me this, If he should breake his daie, what should I gaine
[480]
By the exaction of the forfeiture? A pound of mans flesh taken from a man, Is not so estimable, profitable neither As flesh of Muttons, Beefes, or Goates, I say To buy his fauour, I extend this friendship,
[485]
If he will take it, so: if not adiew, And for my loue I praie you wrong me not.
Ant.

Yes Shylocke, I will seale vnto this bond.

Shy. Then meete me forthwith at the Notaries, Giue him direction for this merrie bond,
[490]
And I will goe and purse the ducats straite. See to my house left in the fearefull gard Of an vnthriftie knaue: and presentlie Ile be with you.
Exit. Ant.

Hie thee gentle Iew. This Hebrew will turne

[495]

Christian, he growes kinde.

Bass. I like not faire tearmes, and a villaines minde. Ant. Come on, in this there can be no dismaie, My Shippes come home a month before the daie. Exeunt.
Actus Secundus. [Act 2, Scene 1] Enter Morochus a tawnie Moore all in white, and three or foure followers accordingly, with Portia, Nerrissa, and their traine. Flo. Cornets. Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion,
[500]
The shadowed liuerie of the burnisht sunne, To whom I am a neighbour, and neere bred. Bring me the fairest creature North‑ward borne, Where Phoebus fire scarce thawes the ysicles, And let vs make incision for your loue,
[505]
To proue whose blood is reddest, his or mine. I tell thee Ladie this aspect of mine Hath feard the valiant, (by my loue I sweare) The best regarded Virgins of our Clyme Haue lou'd it to: I would not change this hue,
[510]
Except to steale your thoughts my gentle Queene.
Por. In tearmes of choise I am not solie led By nice direction of a maidens eies: Besides, the lottrie of my destenie Bars me the right of voluntarie choosing:
[515]
But if my Father had not scanted me, And hedg'd me by his wit to yeelde my selfe His wife, who wins me by that meanes I told you, Your selfe (renowned Prince) than stood as faire As any commer I haue look'd on yet
[520]
For my affection.
Mor. Euen for that I thanke you, Therefore I pray you leade me to the Caskets To trie my fortune: By this Symitare

Right Column


That slew the Sophie, and a Persian Prince
[525]
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, I would ore‑stare the sternest eies that looke: Out‑braue the heart most daring on the earth: Plucke the yong sucking Cubs from the she Beare, Yea, mocke the Lion when he rores for pray
[530]
To win the Ladie. But alas, the while If Hercules and Lychas plaie at dice Which is the better man, the greater throw May turne by fortune from the weaker hand: So is Alcides beaten by his rage,
[535]
And so may I, blinde fortune leading me Misse that which one vnworthier may attaine, And die with grieuing.
Port. You must take your chance, And either not attempt to choose at all,
[540]
Or sweare before you choose, if you choose wrong Neuer to speake to Ladie afterward In way of marriage, therefore be aduis'd.
Mor. Nor will not, come bring me vnto my chance. Por. First forward to the temple, after dinner
[545]
Your hazard shall be made.
Mor. Good fortune then, Cornets. To make me blest or cursed'st among men. Exeunt.
[Act 2, Scene 2] Enter the Clowne alone. Clo.

Certainely, my conscience will serue me to run

from this Iew my Maister: the fiend is at mine elbow,

[550]

and tempts me, saying to me, Iobbe, Launcelet Iobbe , good

Launcelet, or good Iobbe, or good Launcelet Iobbe, vse

your legs, take the start, run awaie: my conscience saies

no; take heede honest Launcelet, take heed honest Iobbe,

or as afore‑said honest Launcelet Iobbe, doe not runne,

[555]

scorne running with thy heeles; well, the most coragi­

ous fiend bids me packe, fia saies the fiend, away saies

the fiend, for the heauens rouse vp a braue minde saies

the fiend, and run; well, my conscience hanging about

the necke of my heart, saies verie wisely to me: my ho­

[560]

nest friend Launcelet, being an honest mans sonne, or ra­

ther an honest womans sonne, for indeede my Father did

something smack, something grow too; he had a kinde of

taste; wel, my conscience saies Lancelet bouge not, bouge

saies the siend fiend , bouge not saies my conscience, conscience

[565]

say I you counsaile well, fiend say I you counsaile well,

to be rul'd by my conscience I should stay with the Iew

my Maister, (who God blesse the marke) is a kinde of di­

uell; and to run away from the Iew I should be ruled by

the fiend, who sauing your reuerence is the diuell him­

[570]

selfe: certainely the Iew is the verie diuell incarnation,

and in my conscience, my conscience is a kinde of hard

conscience, to offer to counsaile me to stay with the Iew;

the fiend giues the more friendly counsaile: I will runne

fiend, my heeles are at your commandement, I will

[575]

runne.

Enter old Gobbo with a Basket. Gob.

Maister yong‑man, you I praie you, which is the

waie to Maister Iewes?

Lan.

O heauens, this is my true begotten Father, who

being more then sand‑blinde, high grauel blinde, knows

[580]

me not, I will trie confusions with him.

Gob.

Maister yong Gentleman, I praie you which is

the waie to Maister Iewes.

Laun.

Turne vpon your right hand at the next tur­ ning

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Actus Secundus. [Act 2, Scene 1] Enter Morochus a tawnie Moore all in white, and three or foure followers accordingly, with Portia, Nerrissa, and their traine. Flo. Cornets. Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion,
[500]
The shadowed liuerie of the burnisht sunne, To whom I am a neighbour, and neere bred. Bring me the fairest creature North‑ward borne, Where Phoebus fire scarce thawes the ysicles, And let vs make incision for your loue,
[505]
To proue whose blood is reddest, his or mine. I tell thee Ladie this aspect of mine Hath feard the valiant, (by my loue I sweare) The best regarded Virgins of our Clyme Haue lou'd it to: I would not change this hue,
[510]
Except to steale your thoughts my gentle Queene.
Por. In tearmes of choise I am not solie led By nice direction of a maidens eies: Besides, the lottrie of my destenie Bars me the right of voluntarie choosing:
[515]
But if my Father had not scanted me, And hedg'd me by his wit to yeelde my selfe His wife, who wins me by that meanes I told you, Your selfe (renowned Prince) than stood as faire As any commer I haue look'd on yet
[520]
For my affection.
Mor. Euen for that I thanke you, Therefore I pray you leade me to the Caskets To trie my fortune: By this Symitare That slew the Sophie, and a Persian Prince
[525]
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, I would ore‑stare the sternest eies that looke: Out‑braue the heart most daring on the earth: Plucke the yong sucking Cubs from the she Beare, Yea, mocke the Lion when he rores for pray
[530]
To win the Ladie. But alas, the while If Hercules and Lychas plaie at dice Which is the better man, the greater throw May turne by fortune from the weaker hand: So is Alcides beaten by his rage,
[535]
And so may I, blinde fortune leading me Misse that which one vnworthier may attaine, And die with grieuing.
Port. You must take your chance, And either not attempt to choose at all,
[540]
Or sweare before you choose, if you choose wrong Neuer to speake to Ladie afterward In way of marriage, therefore be aduis'd.
Mor. Nor will not, come bring me vnto my chance. Por. First forward to the temple, after dinner
[545]
Your hazard shall be made.
Mor. Good fortune then, Cornets. To make me blest or cursed'st among men. Exeunt.
 

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<div type="scene" n="1" rend="notPresent">
   <head rend="italic center">Actus Secundus.</head>
   <head type="supplied">[Act 2, Scene 1]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Morochus a tawnie Moore all in white, and three or
      <lb/>foure followers accordingly, with Portia,
      <lb/>Nerrissa, and their traine.</stage>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="business">Flo. Cornets.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-mv-mor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mor.</speaker>
      <l n="499">Mislike me not for my complexion,</l>
      <l n="500">The shadowed liuerie of the burnisht sunne,</l>
      <l n="501">To whom I am a neighbour, and neere bred.</l>
      <l n="502">Bring me the fairest creature North‑ward borne,</l>
      <l n="503">Where<hi rend="italic">Phoebus</hi>fire scarce thawes the ysicles,</l>
      <l n="504">And let vs make incision for your loue,</l>
      <l n="505">To proue whose blood is reddest, his or mine.</l>
      <l n="506">I tell thee Ladie this aspect of mine</l>
      <l n="507">Hath feard the valiant, (by my loue I sweare)</l>
      <l n="508">The best regarded Virgins of our Clyme</l>
      <l n="509">Haue lou'd it to: I would not change this hue,</l>
      <l n="510">Except to steale your thoughts my gentle Queene.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-por">
      <speaker rend="italic">Por.</speaker>
      <l n="511">In tearmes of choise I am not solie led</l>
      <l n="512">By nice direction of a maidens eies:</l>
      <l n="513">Besides, the lottrie of my destenie</l>
      <l n="514">Bars me the right of voluntarie choosing:</l>
      <l n="515">But if my Father had not scanted me,</l>
      <l n="516">And hedg'd me by his wit to yeelde my selfe</l>
      <l n="517">His wife, who wins me by that meanes I told you,</l>
      <l n="518">Your selfe (renowned Prince) than stood as faire</l>
      <l n="519">As any commer I haue look'd on yet</l>
      <l n="520">For my affection.</l>
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   <sp who="#F-mv-mor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mor.</speaker>
      <l n="521">Euen for that I thanke you,</l>
      <l n="522">Therefore I pray you leade me to the Caskets</l>
      <l n="523">To trie my fortune: By this Symitare</l>
      <cb n="2"/>
      <l n="524">That slew the Sophie, and a Persian Prince</l>
      <l n="525">That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,</l>
      <l n="526">I would ore‑stare the sternest eies that looke:</l>
      <l n="527">Out‑braue the heart most daring on the earth:</l>
      <l n="528">Plucke the yong sucking Cubs from the she Beare,</l>
      <l n="529">Yea, mocke the Lion when he rores for pray</l>
      <l n="530">To win the Ladie. But alas, the while</l>
      <l n="531">If<hi rend="italic">Hercules</hi>and<hi rend="italic">Lychas</hi>plaie at dice</l>
      <l n="532">Which is the better man, the greater throw</l>
      <l n="533">May turne by fortune from the weaker hand:</l>
      <l n="534">So is<hi rend="italic">Alcides</hi>beaten by his rage,</l>
      <l n="535">And so may I, blinde fortune leading me</l>
      <l n="536">Misse that which one vnworthier may attaine,</l>
      <l n="537">And die with grieuing.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-por">
      <speaker rend="italic">Port.</speaker>
      <l n="538">You must take your chance,</l>
      <l n="539">And either not attempt to choose at all,</l>
      <l n="540">Or sweare before you choose, if you choose wrong</l>
      <l n="541">Neuer to speake to Ladie afterward</l>
      <l n="542">In way of marriage, therefore be aduis'd.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-mor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mor.</speaker>
      <l n="543">Nor will not, come bring me vnto my chance.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-por">
      <speaker rend="italic">Por.</speaker>
      <l n="544">First forward to the temple, after dinner</l>
      <l n="545">Your hazard shall be made.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-mor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mor.</speaker>
      <l n="546">Good fortune then,</l>
      <stage rend="italic inline" type="business">Cornets.</stage>
      <l n="547">To make me blest or cursed'st among men.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic inline" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>

                                
                            

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