The rate of usance here with us in Venice. If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. He hates our sacred nation; and he rails, Ev'n there where merchants most do congregate, On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift, Which he calls interest. Cursed by my tribe, If I forgive him!
Baff. 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 grofs Of full three thousand ducats: what of that? Tuball, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, Will furnish me; but soft, how many months Do you defire? Rest you fair, good Signior;
Your worship was the last man in our mouths. Anth. 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 possest,
How much you would?
Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
Auth. And for three months.
Shy. I had forgot, three months, you told me so;
Well then, your bond; and let me fee,
Methought, you faid, you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage.
Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep,
This Jacob from our holy Abraham was (As his wife mother wrought in his behalf) The third poffeffor; ay, he was the third.
Anth. And what of him? did he take interest?
Shy. No, not take int'reit; not, as you would say, Directly, int'reft; mark, what Jacob did.
Should fall as Jacob's hire; the ewes, being rank, In th' end of autumn turned to the rams; And when the work of generation was Between these woolly breeders in the act, The skilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands; And, in the doing of the deed of kind, He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes; Who, then conceiving, did in yeaning time Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's. This was a way to thrive, and he was bleft; And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.
Anth. This was a venture, Sir, that Jacob serv'd for; A thing, not in his pow'r to bring to pass, But sway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heav'n. Was this inserted to make int'rest good? Or is your gold, and filver, ewes and rams? Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as faft; But note me, Signior.
Anth. Mark you this, Bassanio? The devil can cite scripture for his purpose. An evil foul, producing holy witness, Is like a villain with a smiling cheek; A goodly apple rotten at the heart. O, what a goodly outside falfhood hath!
Shy. Three thousand ducats! 'tis a good round sum. Three months from twelve, then let me fee the rate. Anth. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you? Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft
In the Ryalto you have rated me, About my monies and my usances. Still have I born it with a patient shrug; (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 my own. Well then, it now appears, you need my help: to then; you come to me, and you say, Shylock, we would have monies; you say fo; You, that did void your rheume upon my beard, And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold: mony is your suit; What should I say to you? should I not say, Hath a dog mony? 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 last Wednesday, You spurn'd me such a day; another time You call'd me dog; and for these curtefies I'll lend you thus much monies ?
Anth. I am as like to call thee so again, To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. If thou wilt lend this mony, lend it not As to thy friend, (for when did friendship take A breed of barren metal of his friend?) (4) But lend it rather to thine enemy;
Who, if he break, thou may'st with better face Exact the penalty.
Shy. Why, how you storm? I would be friends with you, and have your love; Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with; Supply your present wants, and take no doit
Of ufance for my monies, and you'll not hear me: This is kind I offer.
Anth. This were kindness.
Shy. This kindness will I show; Go with me to a Notary, feal me there Your fingle bond; and in a merry sport, If you repay me not on such a day, In fuch a place, fuch sum, or fums, as are Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit
(4) A breed of barren Metal] Meaning, Mony at Ufury, Mony that breeds more, as Mr. Pope explains it. Confonant to this Phrafe, the Latines explain'd Interest thus; Fanus, fætum accepti: and the Greeks call'd it τόκος: both which Expressions take in our Poet's Idea of a Breed. As for the
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body it shall please me. Anth. Content, in faith; I'll seal to fuch a bond, And say, there is much kindness in the Jew. Baff. You shall not feal to such a bond for me, I'll rather dwell in my neceffity.
Anth. 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 ?
A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, Is not so eftimable or profitable, As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say, To buy his favour, I extend this friendship; If he will take it, fo; if not, adieu; And for my love, I pray you, wrong me not. Anth. Yes, Shylack, I will feal unto this bond. Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the Notary's.
Give him direction for this merry bond, And I will go and purse the ducats strait; See to my house, left in the fearful guard Of an unthrifty knave, and presently I will be with you,
Anth. Hie thee, gentle Jew,
This Hebrew will turn christian; he grows kind. Baf. I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind. Anth. Come on, in this there can be no dismay; My ships come home a month before the day. [Exeunt.
SCENE, BELMONT.
Enter Morochius, a Tawny-Moor, all in white; and three or four Followers accordingly; with Portia, Neriffa, and her train. Flourish Cornets.
ISLIKE me not for my complexion, The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd fun, To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.
Bring me the faireft creature northward born, Where Phœbus' fire scarce thaws the ificles, And let us make incifion for your love, To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine. I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine Hath fear'd the valiant; by my love, I swear, The best regarded virgins of our clime Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue, Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle Queen. Por. In terms of choice I am not folely led
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes : Besides, the lottery of my destiny Bars me the right of voluntary chusing. But if my father had not scanted me, And hedg'd me by his wit to yield my felf His wife, who wins ine by that means I told you; Your self, renowned Prince, then stood as fair, As any comer I have look'd on yet, For my affection.
Mor. Ev'n for that I thank you; Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets To try my fortune. By this scimitar,
That lew the Sophy and a Perian Prince
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