History of the Mer-

chant of Venice.
With the extreme cruelty of Shylocke
the Iew towards the faide Merchant,in cuc-
ting a iust pound of his flesh. And the obtaining

of Portia, by the choyscof

shree Caskets.

The Comical History of the

Merchant of Venice.

Enter Ambonie, Salaryno, and Salanio.

Nthonio. Insooth I know not why I am so fad,
Ic wcaries me, you say it wearies you;
But how I caughe ic, found it, or came by it,
What stuffe tis

made off, whereof it is borne, I am to learne : & such a want-wit sadnes makes of me, That I haue much adoe to know my felfe.

Salarino. Your minde is toffing on the Ocean,
There where your Argosies with portlý sayle,
Like Signiors and rich Burgars on the flood,
Or as it were the Pageants of the sea,
Doe ouer-peere the petty traffiquers
That cursie to them, do them reuerence
As they fie by them with their wouen wings.

Salanio. Belecuc me fir, had I such venture foorth,
The better part of my affctions would
Be with my hopos abroad. I should be ftill
Plucking the graffe,to know where fits the winde,
Piering in Maps, for Ports, for Peeres and Rodes;
And

cuery obiect that might make me feare . Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt Would make me fad.

Salar.

Sao My wiode cooling my broels
Would blow me to an Agus, whéd I thought
Whatharínc a winde too great to fez, might do.
I hould not see the sandy ho trt-glasse runné,
But I should thioke of (hallowes, and of Aalst
Audsee my wealthy Andiew dockes in funci,
Veyling her high cop lower chen her sibs,
Io kite her bieriall. Should I goto Clundis,
And see the holy cdifice of stone,
And not bethinke me Araight of dangerou roches,
Which touching but ny gencle vessels fide,
Would scatrer all the spices on the stredine,
Enrobe the roaring waters with my filkes ;
Asd in a word, but quen now worth this,
And now worth nothing? Shall I baue she thougtia
To thinke on this, and shall I lacke che thoughts
That such a thing be-chanc'd would make me fada
But cell not me, I know Anibonia
Is fad to thinke vpon his merchandize.

Anıb. Beleeue ime no: I thanke my fortunas forier
ofy ventures are not in one bottome trusted,
Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate
Vpon the fortune of this poslënt ycare:
Therefore my merchandizo makcs mc mot fad.

Salar. Then y'are in loue,
Anth. Fic,fic.

S.xler. Noc in loue neither & Then les vs say you are sad,
Ticcause you are not merry : and 'twere as calie
For you to laugh and lcape, and say you are merry,
Because you are not sad. Now by cwo-headed Sarwa
Nature hach Grani'd ftrange fellowes in her zimes
Some that will euctmore peeps through their cies;
And laugh like Parçats a a bag-piper.
And other of such vinegar afpe&t,
That they'l not shew their teeth in way of smile,
Theagh Veitor sweare the ieft bclaughable.