Part 6 (1/2)

_Gratiano_ A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake

_Antonio_ So please my lord the duke, and all the court, To quit the fine for one half of his goods, I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use, to render it, Upon his death, unto the gentles provided more,--that, for this favor, He presently becoift, Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd, Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter

_Duke_ He shall do this; or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here

_Portia_ Art thou contented, Jehat dost thou say?

_Shylock_ I aift

_Shylock_ I pray you, give o fron it

_Duke_ Get thee gone, but do it

_Gratiano_ In christening thou shalt have two Godfathers; Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten allows, not the font [_Exit Shylock_

_Duke_ Sir, I entreat you home with race of pardon: I ht toward Padua, And it is meet I presently set forth

_Duke_ I aratify this gentleman, For, in my mind, you are much bound to him

[_Exeunt omnes_

FOOTNOTES:

[A] As an introduction read ”The Merchant of Venice,” FOURTH READER, page 311

IV OF BOLDNESS

LORD BACON--1561-1626

_Frorammar-school text, but yet worthy a wise man's consideration: question was asked of Demosthenes, as the chief part of an orator? He answered, action: what next? action: what next again? action He said it that knew it best, and had by nature hi, that that part of an orator which is but superficial, and rather the virtue of a player, should be placed so high above those other noble parts, of invention, elocution, and the rest; nay, almost alone, as if it were all in all

But the reason is plain There is in huenerally more of the fool than of the wise; and therefore those faculties by which the foolish part of men's minds is taken, are most potent Wonderful like is the case of boldness in civil business; what first? boldness: what second and third? boldness And yet boldness is a child of ignorance and baseness, far inferior to other parts: but, nevertheless, it doth fascinate, and bind hand and foot those that are either shallow in judgreatest part; yea, and prevaileth ise men at weak times; therefore we see it hath done wonders in popular states, but with senates and princes less; and more, ever upon the first entrance of bold persons into action, than soon after; for boldness is an ill keeper of promise Surely, as there are mountebanks for the natural body, so are there reat cures, and perhaps have been lucky in two or three experirounds of science, and therefore cannot hold out Nay, you shall see a bold fellow many times do Mahomet's miracle Mahomet made the people believe that he would call a hill to him, and from the top of it offer up his prayers for the observers of his law The people asseain; and when the hill stood still, he was never a whit abashed, but said, ”If the hill will not coo to the hill” So these reat matters, and failed most shamefully, yet, if they have the perfection of boldness, they will but slight it over, and ar also boldness hath somewhat of the ridiculous: for, if absurdity be the subject of laughter, doubt you not but great boldness is seldom without some absurdity; especially it is a sport to see when a bold fellow is out of countenance, for that puts his face into a most shrunken and wooden posture, as needs it o and come--but with bold men, upon like occasion, they stand at a stay; like a stale at chess, where it is no ame cannot stir: but this last were fitter for a satire than for a serious observation This is well to be weighed, that boldness is ever blind, for it seeth not dangers and inconveniences: therefore it is ill in counsel, good in execution; so that the right use of bold persons is, that they never command in chief, but be seconds, and under the direction of others; for in counsel it is good to see dangers, and in execution not to see thereat

_He that cannot see well, let hio softly_

BACON