The Globe Theatre was packed from pit to loft by the greatest variety audience I had ever seen; lords, ladies, lawyers, doctors, merchants, mechanics, soldiers, sailors, and street riff-raff--all assembled to see and hear how the Jew, Shylock, was to be roasted by the greatest dramatist of the ages. Antonio in a street scene in Venice opens up the play thus: _"In sooth, I know not why I am so sad; That I am much ado to know myself."_ Salarino replies to the ship merchant: _"Your mind is tossing on the ocean; There, where your argosies, with portly sail-- Like signiors and rich burghers of the flood, Or, as it were, the pageants of the sea As they fly to traffickers with their woven wings."_ Antonio says to his friend Gratiano: _"I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano; A stage where every man must play a part, And mine a sad one."_ But the light and airy Gratiano utters this philosophic speech, which the "gentle reader" should cut out and paste in his hat: _"Let me play the Fool; With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come; And let my liver rather heat with wine, Than my heart cool with mortifying groans. Why should a man whose blood is warm within, Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster? Sleep when he wakes? and creep into the jaundice, By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio,-- I love thee, and it is my love that speaks; There are a sort of men, whose visages Do cream and mantle, like a standing pond; And do a wilful stillness entertain, With purpose to be dressed in an opinion Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit; As who should say, I am Sir Oracle, And, when I ope my lips, let no dog bark! O, my Antonio, I do know of these, That therefore only are reputed wise, For saying nothing; who I am very sure, If they should speak, would almost damn those ears Which, hearing them, would call their brothers fools!"_ Bassanio, in love with the rich heiress, Portia, tries to borrow three thousand ducats from Shylock, and Antonio, his friend, is willing to give bond for the loan. The Jew and the Christian hate each other; and Shylock vents his opinion: _"How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him, for he is a Christian; Antonio lends out money gratis and brings down-- The rate of usury here with us in Venice. If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. He hates our sacred nation; and he rails, Even there where merchants most do congregate, On me, my bargains, and my well worn thrift, Which he calls interest; cursed be my tribe If I forgive him!"_ Antonio finally asks for the three thousand ducats, and says: _"Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you?"_ Then in a speech of brave defiance, Shylock humiliates the Gentile merchant in this manner: