_Bas_. In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft I shot his fellow of the self-same flight The self-same way, with more advised watch To find the other forth; and by adventuring both I oft found both. I urge this childhood proof, Because what follows is pure innocence. I owe you much; and, like a wasteful youth, That which I owe is lost: but if you please To shoot another arrow that self way Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt, As I will watch the aim, or to find both, Or bring your latter hazard back again, And thankfully rest debtor for the first. _Ant_. You know me well; and herein spend but time, To wind about my love with circumstance; Then do but say to me what I should do, That in your knowledge may by me be done, And I am prest unto it:[15] therefore speak. _Bas_. In Belmont is a lady richly left, And she is fair, and, fairer than that word, Of wond'rous virtues. Sometimes[16] from her eyes I did receive fair speechless messages: Her name is Portia; nothing undervalued To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia. Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth; For the four winds blow in from every coast Renowned suitors. O, my Antonio! had I but the means To hold a rival place with one of them, I have a mind presages me such thrift, That I should questionless be fortunate. _Ant_. Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea; Neither have I money, nor commodity To raise a present sum: therefore go forth, Try what my credit can in Venice do; That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost, To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. Go, presently inquire, and so will I, Where money is; and I no question make, To have it of my trust, or for my sake. [_Exeunt_. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 1: This procession is copied from a print in the British Museum, by Josse Amman, who died in 1591.] [Footnote 2: _--argosies_; A name given, in our author's time, to ships of great burthen. The name is supposed by some to be derived from the classical ship, Argo, as a vessel eminently famous.] [Footnote 3: _Plucking the_; By holding up the grass, or any light body that will bend by a gentle blast, the direction of the wind is found.] [Footnote 4: _--my wealthy Andrew_; The name of the ship.] [Footnote 5: Vailing _her high-top_; To _vail_ is "_to lower_," or "_let fall_."] [Footnote 6: _Let me play the fool_; Alluding to the common comparison of human life to a stage-play. So that he desires his may be the fool's or buffoon's part, which was a constant character in the old farces; from whence came the phrase, _to play the fool_.--WARBURTON.] [Footnote 7: _--whose visages do_ cream; The poet here alludes to the manner in which the film extends itself over milk in scalding; and he had the same appearance in his eye when writing a foregoing line: "_With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come_."--HENLEY.] [Footnote 8: _--a wilful stillness entertain,; Id est_, an obstinate silence.]