A friend? One person only do I see--
A man, quite old, who hobbles with a staff.

_Gratiano_ He is the one I mean. Now look again
And try to recognize his face, his beard.

_Portia_ Why, is it not old Shylock? Sure it is.
And met most opportunely, on my word.
Now, dear Gratiano, with this icy heart
We must needs waste a score or two of words.

_Gratiano_ To make him help his daughter Jessica?

_Portia_ That is the task.

_Gratiano_ Too much for Hercules.

(_Enter Shylock._)

_Portia_ A moment, Shylock, of your precious time.
You must remember meeting me before.

_Shylock_ Remember, nay then, how could I forget
The noble judge who spoke so clean and fair
And took away on quibbles all I owned.

_Portia_ Not all, good Shylock, half of it remained.

_Shylock_ Oh, true, I thank you for the half you left.
I thank that kindly merchant, him that begged
The Duke to quite remit the City's fine
Which never would have done him any good--
I thank him for accepting what was all
He could have claimed, the half of my estate.

_Portia_ In trust----

_Shylock_ I know. In trust until I die.
And trust Antonio to eat it up.
Is it not known that when he takes a risk
Of more than common danger and doth lose,
He makes a record that he did invest
A part of my belongings in the venture?
Belike by now there's not a ducat left.
For that however I have naught but joy
Because it means that she who was my daughter
And that Lorenzo who's her paramour
Will, when I die, inherit penury.

_Gratiano_ But if Antonio's trust should disappear
They still would come by all you leave yourself;
'Twas thus the Duke decreed.

_Shylock_ I know a thing
Or two that I could tell and make the face
Of son Lorenzo somewhat longer grow.

_Gratiano_ Faith, often did Lorenzo say to us
"The Jew will find a way to cheat me yet."

_Shylock_ To cheat him out of what? The gold he earned
By robbing me, debauching my--my child?

_Portia_ Nay, let us