Bassanio.

Shylock, do you

hear?

Shylock. I am debating of my present store, And, by the near guess of my memory,

I cannot instantly raise up the gross

Of full three thousand ducats. What of that?
Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

Will furnish me.

Do you desire?

signior;

But soft! how many months

[To Antonio] Rest you fair, good

Your worship was the last man in our mouths.

60

Antonio. Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow 65

By taking nor by giving of excess,

Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,

I'll break a custom.

How much ye would?

Shylock.

Is he yet possessed

Aye, aye, three thousand ducats.

70

Antonio. And for three months.

Shylock. I had forgot; three months; you told me

This Jacob from our holy Abram was,

As his wise mother wrought in his behalf,

The third possessor; aye, he was the third

Antonio. And what of him? did he take interest?

Shylock. No, not take interest, not, as you would 80 say,

Directly interest: mark what Jacob did.

When Laban and himself were compromised

That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied
Should fall as Jacob's hire,

This was a way to thrive, and he was blest:

And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.

Antonio. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for;

A thing not in his power to bring to pass,

But swayed and fashioned by the hand of heaven.
Was this inserted to make interest good?

Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?
Shylock. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast:
But note me, signior.

Antonio.

Mark you this, Bassanio,

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.

An evil soul producing holy witness

Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,

A goodly apple rotten at the heart;

Oh, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

Shylock. Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round

sum.

.

85

90

95

Three months from twelve; then, let me see; the 100

rate

Antonio. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you?

Shylock. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft

In the Rialto you have rated me

About my moneys and my usances:

Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,

105

For suff'rance is the badge of all our tribe.

You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.

Well then, it now appears you need my help:

110

Go to, then; you come to me, and you say,
"Shylock, we would have moneys: you say so ;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard
And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold: moneys is your suit.
What should I say to you? Should I not say,
"Hath a dog money? is it possible

A cur can lend three thousand ducats?" Or
Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key,
With 'bated breath and whisp'ring humbleness,
Say this:-

"Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last;
You spurned me such a day; another time
You called me dog; and for these courtesies.
I'll lend you thus much moneys

Antonio. I am as like to call thee so again,
To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.
If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not

As to thy friends; for when did friendship take
A breed for barren metal of his friend?
But lend it rather to thine enemy,

Who, if he break, thou mayst with better face
Exact the penalty.

Shylock.

Why, look you, how you storm!
I would be friends with you and have your love,
Forget the shames that you have stained me with,
Supply your present wants and take no doit
Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me :
This is kind I offer.

Bassanio. This were kindness.
Shylock.

This kindness will I show.

Go with me to a notary, seal me there
Your single bond; and, in a merry sport,

115

120

125

130

135

140

If

you repay me not on such a day,

In such a place, such sum or sums as are
Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound.

Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.

Antonio. Content, i' faith: I'll seal to such a bond.

And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

145

Bassanio. You shall not seal to such a bond for 150

me;

I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

Antonio. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it: Within these two months, that's a month before

This bond expires, I do expect return

Of thrice three times the value of this bond.

155

Shylock. O father Abram, what these Christians are,

Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect

The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this;

If he should break his day, what should I gain
By the exaction of the forfeiture?

A pound of man's flesh taken from a man
Is not so estimable, profitable neither,

As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say,
To buy his favor, I extend this friendship:
If he will take it, so; if not, adieu;

And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not.

Give him direction for this merry bond,

Antonio. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.
Shylock. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's;

And I will go and purse the ducats straight,
See to my house, left in the fearful guard

Of an unthrifty knave, and presently

I will be with you.

160

165

170

Antonio. Hie thee, gentle Jew.

[Exit Shylock.

The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind.

Bassanio. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. 175 Antonio. Come on in this there can be no dismay; My ships come home a month before the day. [Exeunt.

ACT II

SCENE I. Belmont. A Room in PORTIA'S House.

Flourish of cornets.

Enter the PRINCE OF MOROCCO

and his train; PORTIA, NERISSA, and others attending.

Morocco. Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadowed livery of the burnished sun,
To whom I am a neighbor and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incision for your love,

To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath feared the valiant: by my love, I swear
The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have loved it too: I would not change this hue,
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
Portia. In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes:
Besides, the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing:
But if my father had not scanted me

And hedged me by his wit, to yield myself

His wife who wins me by that means I told you,
Yourself, renownèd prince, then stood as fair

INTROD. LESS. IN ENG. LIT. 18