I 164 never knew so young a body with so old a head.
DUKE
With all my heart.—Some three or four of you 150
Go give him courteous conduct to this place. 151
< Attendants exit. >
Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter. 152
< He reads. >
Your Grace shall understand that, at the receipt of 153
your letter, I am very sick, but in the instant that your 154
messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a 155
young doctor of Rome. His name is Balthazar. I 156
acquainted him with the cause in controversy between 157
the Jew and Antonio the merchant. We turned o’er 158
many books together. He is furnished with my opin-159
ion , which, bettered with his own learning (the great-160
ness whereof I cannot enough commend), comes with 161
him at my importunity to fill up your Grace’s request 162
in my stead . I beseech you let his lack of years be no 163
impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation , for I 164
never knew so young a body with so old a head. I 165
leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial 166
shall better publish his commendation. 167
You hear the learnèd Bellario what he writes . 168
Enter Portia for Balthazar, < disguised as a doctor of laws, with Attendants. >
And here I take it is the doctor come.—169
Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario? 170
[Act 4 Scene 1]
Footnotes
151 . give . . . conduct: i.e., courteously conduct him
153 . the receipt: i.e., the moment of receiving
156 . doctor: i.e., doctor of laws
158 . turned o’er: searched
159 . furnished: provided
159 –60. opinion: judgment
162 . fill up: fulfill
163 . stead: place; lack of years: youth
164 . let him lack: cause him to lack; reverend estimation: high esteem
166 . trial: performance when put to the test
167 . publish: make known
168 . You hear . . . writes: i.e., you hear what the learnèd Bellario writes
