A Villain's fair Offers suspicious. I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind. An Apology for a black Complexion. Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun, To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred. Bring me the fairest creature northern born, Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles, And let us make incision for your love, whose blood is reddest, his or mine. prove I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine Hath fear'd the valiant; by my love, I swear The best regarded virgins of our clime Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue, Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle

Το

Bass. But hear thee, Gratiano;
Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice;
Parts that become thee happily enough,
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults:
But where thou art not known, why there
they show,

Something too liberal; pray thee take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit; lest, through thy wild
behaviour,

I be misconstrued in the place I go to,
And lose my hopes.

Gra-Signior Bassanio, hear me :
If I do not put on a sober habit,
Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look de-
inurely;

Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say Amen;
Use all the observance of civility,
Like one well studied in a sad ostent,
To please his grandam-never trust me more.
The Jew's Commands to his Daughter.

Hear you me, Jessica: [drum,
Lock up my doors; and when you hear the
And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife,
Clamber you not up to the casemen then,
Nor thrust your head into the public-street,
To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces:
But stop my house's ears:-I mean my case-

ments:

Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter
My sober house.

Shylock's Description of his Servant. Shyl. The patch is kind enough; but a huge feeder,

Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day More than the wild cat. Drones hive not with

me:

Therefore I part with him: and part with him To one, that I would have him help to waste His borrow'd purse.

Fruition more languid than Expectation.
O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly
To seal love's bonds new made, than they are
To keep obliged faith unforfeited. [wont
-Who riseth from a feast

With that keen appetite that he sits down?
Where is the horse that doth untread again
His tedious measures with the unbated fire
That he did pace them first? All things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd.
How like a younker, or a prodigal,
Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind!
The scarfed bark puts from her native bay,
How like a prodigal doth she return;
With over-weather'd ribs, and ragged sails,
Lean, rent, and beggar'd by the strumpet wind!
Portia's Suitors.

From the four corners of the earth they come
To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint.
Th' Hyrcanian deserts, and the vasty wilds
Of wide Arabia, are as thoroughfares
Now, for princes to come view fair Portia.
The wat'ry kingdom, whose ambitious head
Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar
To stop the foreign spirits; but they come,
As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia.

The Parting of Friends.

I saw Bassanio and Antonio part: Bassanio told him, he would make some speed Of his return; he answer'd, "Do not so; Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, But stay the very riping of the time: And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, Let it not enter in your mind of love. Be merry; and employ your chiefest thoughts To courtship, and such fair ostents of love As shall conveniently become you there." And even there his eye being big with tears, Turning his face, he put his hand behind him, And with affection wondrous sensible He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. False Judgement of the Many. -Fortune now, To my heart's hope!-Gold, silver, and base lead. [he hath." "Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all You shall look fairer, ere I give or hazard. What says the golden chest? ha! let me see:"Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire." [meant

What many men desire!-That many may be Of the fool multitude, that choose by show, Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach: [martlet Which pries not to the interior, but, like the

And well said too; for who shall go about
To cozen fortune and be honorable [sume
Without the stamp of merit? Let none pre-
To wear an undeserved dignity.
O, that estates, degrees, and offices [honor
Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear
Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer !
How many then should cover, that stand bare!
How many be commanded, that command!
How much low peasantry would then be
glean'd
[honor
From the true seed of honor! and how much
Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times
To be new-varnish'd!

The Deceit of Ornament or Appearances.

So may the outward shows be least them

selves.

The world is still deceiv'd with ornament.
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being season'd with a gracious voice,
Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but some sober brow
Will bless it, and approve it with a text,
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?
There is no vice so simple, but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts.
How many cowards, whose hearts are all as
false

As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars;
Who, inward search'd, have livers white as
milk!

And these assume but valor's excrement,
To render them redoubted. Look on beauty,
And you shall see 'tis purchas'd by the weight,
Which therein works a miracle in nature,
Making them lightest that wear most of it.
So are those crisped, snaky, golden locks,
Which make such wanton gambols with the

I have not seen

So likely an ambassador of love;

A day in April never came so sweet,
To show how costly summer was at hand,
As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.
Music.

Let music sound, while he doth make his

To be the dowry of a second head,
The scull that bred them in the sepulchre.
Thus ornament is but the gilded shore
To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word, [on
The seeming truth which cunning times put
T' entrap the wisest--Therefore, thou gaudy

gold,

Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee: Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge,

[lead;

Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre Which rather threat'nest than dost promise aught,

Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence, And here choose I; joy be the consequence. Joy on Success.

How all the other passions fleet to air, As doubtful thoughts, and rash embrac'd despair,

And shuddering fear, and green-eyed jealousy!
O love, be moderate, allay thy ecstasy:
In measure rein thy joy, scant this excess :
I feel too much thy blessing, make it less,
For fear I surfeit!

Portia's Picture.

What find I here? Fair Portia's counterfeit? What demi-god Hath come so near creation? Move these eyes? Or whether, riding on the balls of mine, Seem they in motion? Here are sever'd lips Parted with sugar breath; so sweet a bar [hairs Should sunder such sweet friends: Here in her The painter plays the spider; and hath woven A golden mesh t'intrap the hearts of men, Faster than gnats in cobwebs: but her eyes,How could he see to do them? Having made

Successful Lover compared to a Conqueror. Like one of two contending for a prize, That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes, Hearing applause and universal shout, Giddy in spirit, still gazing in a doubt Whether those peals of praise be his or no; So, thrice fair lady, stand I even so. An amiable Bride.

Portia. Though for myself alone
I would not be ambitious, in my wish,
To wish myself much better: yet for you
I would be trebled twenty times myself;
A thousand times more fair, ten thousand
times more rich;

That only to stand high in your account,
I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account: but the full sum of me
Is sum of nothing; which, to term in gross,
Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractis'd:
Happy in this: she is not yet so old
But she may learn; happier than this, in that
She is not bred so dull but she can learn ;
Happiest of all is, that her gentle spirit
Commits itself to yours to be direct,
As from her lord, her governor, her king.
Lover's Thoughts compared to the inarticulate
Joys of a Crowd.

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
Exprest and not exprest.

Valuable Friend.

Por. Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble?

[man,
Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindest
The best condition'd and unwearied spirit
In doing courtesies; and one in whom
The ancient Roman honor more appears
Than any that draws breath in Italy.

Por. What sum owes he the Jew?
Bass. For me three thousand ducats.
Por. What, no more?

Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond;
Double six thousand, and then treble that,
Before a friend of this description
Should lose a hair through my Bassanio's fault.
Implacable Revenge.

I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak,

I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no

How true a gentleman you send relief,
How dear a lover of my lord your husband,
I know you would be prouder of the work
Then customary bounty can enforce you.

Por. I never did repent for doing good,
Nor shall not now: for in companions
That do converse and waste the time together,
Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love,
There must be needs a like proportion
Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit;
Which makes me think that this Antonio,
Being the bosom lover of my lord,
Must needs be like my lord; if it be so,
How little is the cost I have bestow'd
In purchasing the semblance of my soul
From out the state of hellish cruelty!
This comes too near the praising of myself:
Therefore no more of it.

A pert, bragging Youth.

I'll hold thee any wager, When we are both accoutred like young men, I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two, And wear my dagger with a braver grace; And speak, between the change of man and boy,

With a reed voice and turn two mincing steps

Into a manly stride; and speak of frays,
Like a fine bragging youth: and teil quaint
lies,

How honorable ladies sought my love,
Which I denying, they fell sick and died;
I could not do with all; then I'll repent,
And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd
'em!

And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell;
That men shall swear I've discontinued school
Above a twelvemonth: I have within my
mind

A thousand raw tricks of these bragging jacks
Which I will practise.

Affectation in Words.

O dear discretion, how his words are suited!
The fool hath planted in his memory
An army of good words; and I do know
A many fools that stand in better place,
Garnish'd like him, that for a tricksy word
Defy the matter.

Portia's Merit.
It is very meet
The lord Bassanio live an upright life;
For, having such a blessing in his lady,
He finds the joys of heaven here on earth;
And, if on earth he do not mean it, it

Is reason he should never come to heaven. Why, if two gods should play some heav'nly match,

And on the wager lay two earthly women,
And Portia one-there must be something else
Pawn'd with the other; for the poor rude
world
Hath not her fellow.

The Jew's Reason for his Revenge.
Shyl. I have possess'd your grace of what I

purpose; And by our holy sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond.

If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter and your city's freedom.
You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have
A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive
Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that;
But, say, it is my humor. Is it answer'd?
What if my house be troubled with a rat,
And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats
To have it ban'd? What, are you answer'd
yet?

Some men there are, love not a gaping pig;
Some that are mad if they behold a cat;
And others, when the bag-pipe sings i' th' nose,
Cannot contain their urine for affection:
Masters of passion sway it to the mood
Of what it likes, or loathes. Now for your

answer:

As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig ;
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;
Why he, a woollen bag pipe; but of force
Must yield to such inevitable shame
As to offend, himself being offended;
So can I give no reason, nor I will not,
More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loathing
I bear Antonio, that I follow thus

A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd?

Unfeeling Revenge.

You may as well go stand upon the beach, And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use questions with the wolf, Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops, and to make no noise When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven; You may as well do any thing most hard, As seek to soften that (than which what's His Jewish heart. [harder?)

Retaliation.

Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring none?

Shyl. What judgement shall I dread, doing

no wrong?

You have among you many a purchas'd slave,
Which, like your asses, and your dogs and
You use in abject and in slavish parts, [mules,
Because you bought them: shall I say to you,
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs;
Why sweat they under burthens? let their beds
Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates
Be season'd with such viands: you will answer,
The slaves are yours. So do I answer you:
The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought, is mine, and I will have it:
If you deny me, fie upon your
law!
There is no force in the decrees of Venice:
I stand for judgement: answer: shall I have it?

Jew's wolfish Spirit, an Argument for Transmigration.

Gra. Oh, be thou damn'd, inexorable dog! And for thy life, let justice be accus'd. Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves

Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter,

Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,
And, whilst thou lay`st in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itself in thee: for thy desires
Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous.
Shyl. Till thou canst rail the seal from off

my bond,

Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud:
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will foll
To cureless ruin.--I stand here for law.
Mercy.

The quality of mercy is not strain'd;
It droppeth as a gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings :
But mercy is above the sceptred sway:
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings:
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this-
That in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

Justice must be impartial.

I beseech you,
Wrest once the laws to your authority:
To do a great right, do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel devil of his will.

Por. It must not be; there is no power in
Can alter a decree established; [Venice
'Twill be recorded for a precedent;
Will rush into the state: it cannot be.
And many an error, by the same example,
Cheerful Resignation, with friendly Tenderness.

Ant. I am arm'd and well prepar'dGive me your hand, Bassanio: fare well! you Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you; Than is her custom.-It is still her use For herein fortune shows herself more kind To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow poverty; from which ling'ring peCommend me to your honorable wife: Of such a misery doth she cut me off. [nance Tell her the process of Antonio's end! Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death : And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge, Whether Bassanio had not once a love.

An age

of

Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, And he repents not that he pays your debt. Ample Payment.

He is well paid that is well satisfied. Description of a Moon-light Night, with fine

Music.

Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan wall, And sigh'd his soul towards the Grecian tents, Where Cressid lay that night,

Jes. In such a night,

Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew ; And saw the lion's shadow ere himself, And ran away dismay'd.

Lor. In such a night,

Stood Dido, with a willow in her hand, Upon the wild sea-banks, and waft her love To come again to Carthage.

Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music
Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night
Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Sit, Jessica; look, how the floor of heav'n
Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold;
There's not the smallest orb which thou be-
But in his motion like an angel sings, [hold'st,
Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims:
Such harmony is in immortal souls;
But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.-
Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn;
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear,
And draw her home with music.

Jes. I am never merry when I hear sweet

music.

Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive:
For do but note a wild and wanton herd,
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,
Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing
loud,

Which is the hot condition of their blood;
If they perchance but hear a trumpet sound,
Or any air of music touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze
By the sweet pow'r of music. Therefore the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and
floods;

Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of rage,
But music for the time doth change his nature.
The man that hath not music in himself,
Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus:
Let no such man be trusted.

Effects of Time, Circumstances, &c. Por. How far that little candle throws his

beams!

So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Ner. When the moon shone we did not see the candle.

Por. So doth the greater glory dim the less : A substitute shines brightly as a king, Until a king be by; and then his state Empties itself, as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters. Music! hark!

Ner. It is your music, madam, of the house. Por. Nothing is good, I see, without respect; Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day. Ner. Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam. Por. The crow does sing as sweetly as the lark The nightingale, if she should sing by day, When neither is attended; and, I think, When ev'ry goose is cackling, would be thought No better a musician than the wren. How many things by season season'd are To their right praise, and true perfection! Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion, And would not be awak'd!

Moon-light Night.

This night methinks, is but the day-light It looks a little paler; 'tis a day, [sick; Such as the day is when the sun is hid. Professions needless, where Intentions are sincere.

Sir, you are very welcome to our house: It must appear in other ways than words, Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy. Elegant Compliment.

Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way Of starved people.

§ 7. MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. SHAKSPEARE. Description of Spendthrifts, who seek to better their Fortunes by rich Wives.

HE doth object, I am too great of birth; And that, my state being gall'd with my exI seek to heal it only by his wealth: [pense, Beside these, other bars he lays before meMy riots past, my wild societies; And tells me, 'tis a thing impossible I should love thee but as a property.

A valuable Woman loved for her own sake. -Wooing thee, I found thee of more value Than stamps in gold, or sums in sealed bags; And 'tis the very riches of thyself That now I aim at.

Fairies: their Rewards and Punishments. Cricket, to Windsor chimneys shalt thou leap: Where fires thou find'st unrak'd, and hearths unswept,

There pinch the maids as blue as bilberry.
Our radiant queen hates sluts and sluttery.
Go you; and where's Pede? you find a maid
That ere she sleep hath thrice her prayers said,
Rein up the organs of her fantasy;
Sleep she as sound as careless infancy;
But those that sleep, and think not on their sins,
Pinch them, arms, legs, back, shoulders, sides,
and shins.