The Merchant of Venice
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1:10:08
There are some shrewd contents
in yond same paper,

1:10:11
that do steal the colour
from Bassanio"s cheek.

1:10:14
Some dear friend dead, else nothing
in the world could turn the constitution

1:10:19
of any constant man.
1:10:21
What, worse and worse!
1:10:29
With leave, Bassanio,
1:10:31
I am half yourself
1:10:34
and I must freely have half of anything
that this same letter brings you.

1:10:38
O sweet Portia,
1:10:40
they are a few of the unpleasantest words
that ever blotted paper.

1:10:48
Gentle lady,
1:10:52
when I did first impart my love to you,
1:10:56
I freely told you
all the wealth I had ran in my veins -

1:10:59
I was a gentleman and then I told you true.
1:11:02
And yet, dear lady,
1:11:05
rating myself at nothing,
1:11:09
you shall see how much I was a braggart.
1:11:12
When I told you my estate was nothing,
1:11:17
I should have told you
I was worse than nothing,

1:11:19
for, indeed, I have engaged myself
to a dear friend,

1:11:24
who engaged my dear friend
to his mere enemy

1:11:29
to feed my means.
1:11:32
Here is a letter, lady.
The paper is the body of my friend

1:11:37
and every word in it a gaping wound
issuing life-blood.

1:11:40
But is it true, Salerio? What,
all his ventures failed? What, not one hit?

1:11:46
From Tripolis, from Mexico, from England?
1:11:49
Not one, my lord.
1:11:51
Besides it appears that if he had
the present money to discharge the Jew,

1:11:54
he would not take it.
1:11:57
He plies the duke at morning and at night
and doth impeach the freedom of the state


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