Of full three thousand ducats: what of that? Yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend, Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. 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. Shy. Three thousand ducats—'tis a good round sum, Still have I borne it with a patient shrug; Shylock, we would have monies:" you say so; A cur can lend three thousand ducats?" Or "Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, Who, if he break, thou mayst with better face Shy. Why, look you how you storm! I would be friends with you, and have your love, Of usance for my monies; and you'll not hear me. Ant. This were kindness. Shy. This kindness will I show:— Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken And say, there is much kindness in the Jew. Bass. You shall not seal to such a bond for me. I'd 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. Shy. O father Abraham! what these Christians are, Whose own hard dealings teach them to 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? Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. And I will go and purse the ducats straight: Of an unthrifty knave; and presently I will be with you. Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. [Exit Shylock. This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. V.-SHYLOCK JUSTIFYING HIS REVENGE. (SHAKSPERE.) IF it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and hindered me of half a million! laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated my enemies! And what's his reason? I am a Jew! Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands? organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Is he not fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same summer and winter, as a Christian is? If you stab us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that! If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge! The villany you teach me I will execute; and it shall go hard, but I will better the instruction. VI.-ANTONY AND VENTIDIUS. Vent. Are you Antony? (DRYDEN.) I'm liker what I was, than you to him I left you last. Ant. I'm angry. Vent. So am I. Ant. I would be private: leave me. Vent. Sir, I love you, And therefore will not leave you. Ant. Will not leave me! Where have you learned that answer? Who am I? Ant. All that's wretched. You will not leave me, then? Vent. "Twas too presuming To say I would not; but I dare not leave you: Ant. Now thou hast seen me, art thou satisfied? Vent. Look, emperor; this is no common dew; I have not wept this forty years; but now My mother comes afresh into my eyes. I cannot help her softness. Ant. By Heaven, he weeps! poor, good old man, he weeps! The big round drops course one another down The furrows of his cheeks.-Stop them, Ventidius, Or I shall blush to death: they set my shame, Vent. I'll do my best. Ant. Sure there's contagion in the tears of friends: Ant. Emperor! why, that's the style of victory; Vent. I warrant you. Ant. Actium, Actium! oh!— Vent. It sits too near you. Ant. Here, here it lies; a lump of lead by day, And, in my short, distracted, nightly slumbers. The hag that rides my dreams. Vent. Out with it; give it vent. Ant. Urge not my shame. I lost a battle,— Vent. So has Julius done. Ant. Thou favour'st me, and speak'st not half thou think'st; For Julius fought it out, and lost it fairly; But Antony Vent. Nay, stop not. Ant. Antony Well, thou wilt have it-like a coward, fled, Fled while his soldiers fought; fled first, Ventidius. Thou long'st to curse me, and I give thee leave. I know thou cam'st prepared to rail. Vent. I did. Ant. I'll help thee: I have been a man, Ventidius. Ant. I know thy meaning. But I have lost my reason, have disgraced |