_"Thus hath the candle singed the moth Of these deliberate fools, when they do choose, They bare their wisdom by their wit to lose."_ And Nerissa, the bright waiting maid, says: _"The ancient saying is no heresy;-- Hanging and wiving go by destiny!"_ The third act opens with a street in Venice, and friends of Antonio bemoan the reported loss of several of his ships at sea, which will cause his default and ruin, by the demands of Shylock. Salarino says to the Jew: _"Why, I am sure if he forfeit, thou wilt not Take his flesh; what's that good for?"_ Shylock now begins to gloat over his prospect of a dire vengeance upon the Christian Antonio, and replies to Salarino: _"To bait fish withal; if it will feed nothing else, It will feed my revenge! Antonio hates me because I'm a Jew; Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands; Organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, Subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, Warmed and cooled by the same summer and winter, As a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? if you poison us Do we not die? and if you wrong us shall we not revenge? The villainy you teach me, I will execute!"_ Tubal, the Hebrew friend of Shylock, says: _"But Antonio is certainly undone."_ Shylock delighted says: _"That's true, that's very true. Tubal, fee me an officer; bespeak him a fortnight before. I will have the heart of Antonio if he forfeit the bond. Go, Tubal, meet me at our synagogue."_ Portia again appears for the third time to undergo matrimonial choice. Bassanio, the particular friend of Antonio, is the real love suitor for the hand and heart of the beautiful Portia, and appears at her palace, attended by his faithful Venetian friends. He is a high-toned, but impecunious Italian gentleman, whose heart and soul are ninety per cent. larger than his pockets. Portia seems to be fascinated with Bassanio, and wishes him to remain at her home and take time in choosing the right casket, but he wants to act instanter, confessing his love. Portia says: _"Let music sound while he doth make his choice; Now he goes, With no less dignity, but with much more love Than young Alcides, when he did redeem The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy To the sea monster!"_ Bassanio, standing before the leaden casket, utters this high sounding, moral, truthful speech: