Even there where merchants most do congregate,

On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift,
45 Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe,
If I forgive him !
Bass.

Shylock, do you hear ?
Shy. I am debating of my present store,
And, by the near guess of my memory,

I cannot instantly raise up the gross
50 Of full three thousand ducats. What of that?

Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,
Will furnish me. But soft! how many months
Do you desire ? [To Ant.] Rest you fair, good signior;

Your worship was the last man in our mouths. 55 Ant. Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow

By taking nor by giving of excess,
Yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend,
I'll break a custom. Is he yet possess’d
How much

ye

would ? Shy.

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. 60 Ant. And for three months.

Shy. I had forgot; three months; you told me so. Well then, your bond; and let me see; but hear you; Methought you said you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage. Ant.

I do never use it. 65 Shy. When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep

This Jacob from our holy Abram was,
As his wise mother wrought in his behalf,
The third possessor; ay, he was the third

Ant. And what of him ? did he take interest? 70 Shy. No, not take interest, not, as you would say,

Directly interest: mark what Jacob did.
When Laban and himself were compromised
That all the eanlings which were streak’d and pied
Should fall as Jacob's hire,

75 The skilful shepherd peeld me certain wands,

And stuck them up before the fulsome ewes,
Who then conceiving did in eaning time
Fall parti-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.

This was a way to thrive, and he was blest : 80 And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.

Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for; A thing not in his power to bring to pass, But sway'd and fashion’d by the hand of heaven.

Was this inserted to make interest good ? 85 Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?

Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast;
But note me, signior.
Ant.

Mark you this, Bassanio,
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.

An evil soul producing holy witness
90 Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,

A goodly apple rotten at the heart:
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

Shy. Three thousand ducats; ’tis a good round sum. Three months from twelve; then, let me see; the rate

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

Shy. 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, 100 For sufferance 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:
105 Go to, then ; you come to me, and you say,
“Shylock, we would have moneys:" you say so;

: You, that did void

upon my beard And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur

95

Over

your threshold: : moneys is your suit.
110 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 whispering humbleness, 115 Say this:

“Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last;
You spurn’d me such a day; another time
You call'd me dog ; and for these courtesies
I'll lend
you thus much moneys

" ? 120

Ant. 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 ? 125 But lend it rather to thine enemy,

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

Why, look you, how you storm!
I would be friends with you and have your love,

Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with, 130 Supply your present wants and take no doit

Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me:
This is kind I offer.

Bass. This were kindness.
Shy.

This kindness will I show, Go with me to a notary, seal me there 135 Your single bond; and, in a merry sport,

If you repay me not on such a day,
In such a place, such sum or sums as are
Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit

Be nominated for an equal pound
140 Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken

In what part of your body pleaseth me.

I say,

Ant. Content, i' faith : I'll seal to such a bond, And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

Bass. You shall not seal to such a bond for me: 145 I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

Ant. 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. 150 Shy. 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?
155 A pound of man's flesh taken from a man

Is not so estimable, profitable neither,
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats.
To buy his favour, I extend this friendship:

If he will take it, so; if not, adieu :
160 And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not.

I
Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.

Shy. Then meet me forth with at the notary's ; Give him direction for this merry bond,

And I will go and purse the ducats straight, 165 See to my house, left in the fearful guard

Of an unthrifty knave, and presently
I will be with you.

Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. [Exit SHYLOCK. The Hebrew will turn Christian : he grows kind. 170

Bass. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.

Ant. 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.

swear

Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,
To whom I am a neighbour and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
5 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 feard the valiant: by my love, I 10 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.

Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes;
15 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, 20 Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair

As any comer I have look’d on yet
For my

affection.
Mor.

Even for that I thank you: Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets

To try my fortune. By this scimitar 25 That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince