The Merchant of Venice


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But tell not me; I know, Antonio  
Is sad to think upon his merchandise.  
ANTONIO  
Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it,  
My ventures are not in one bottom trusted,  
Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate  
Upon the fortune of this present year:  
Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad.  
SALARINO  
Why, then you are in love.  
ANTONIO  
Fie, fie!  
SALARINO  
Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad,  
Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy  
For you to laugh and leap and say you are merry,  
Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus,  
Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time:  
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes  
And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper,  
And other of such vinegar aspect  
That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile,  
Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.  
Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO  
SALANIO  
Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman,  
Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well:  
We leave you now with better company.  
SALARINO  
I would have stay'd till I had made you merry,  
If worthier friends had not prevented me.  
ANTONIO  
Your worth is very dear in my regard.  
I take it, your own business calls on you  
And you embrace the occasion to depart.  
SALARINO  
Good morrow, my good lords.  
BASSANIO  
Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, when?  
You grow exceeding strange: must it be so?  
SALARINO  
We'll make our leisures to attend on yours.  
Exeunt Salarino and Salanio  
LORENZO  


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