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,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And sit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.
Well then, it now appears you need my help.

Go to, then! you come to me, and you say,

66

ΙΙΟ

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 whispering 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

120

I'll lend you thus much moneys"?

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

Shy.

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 mayest with better face
Exact the penalty.

130

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.

Bass. This were kindness.
Shy.

This kindness will I show.
Go with me to a notary, seal me there
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
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.
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; I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

Ant. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it.

141

150

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 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.
Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal 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 straight;
See to my house, left in the fearful guard
Of an unthrifty knave;, and presently
I will be with you.

Ant.

160

170

Hie thee, gentle Jew. [Exit Shylock. The Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. 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.

180

[Exeunt.

ACT SECOND

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.

Mor. 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 aspéct of mine
Hath feared the valiant. By my love, I swear
The best-regarded virgins of our clime

Hath 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;
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

ކ

His wife who wins me by that means I told you,

Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair

As any comer I have looked on yet

For my affection.

ΙΟ

20

Mor.

Por.

Even for that I thank you;
Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets,
To try my fortune. By this scimitar

That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
I would outstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,
Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win thee, lady. But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lichas play at dice

Which is the better man, the greater throw

May turn by fortune from the weaker hand.
So is Alcides beaten by his page;

And so may I, blind fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain,
And die with grieving.

You must take your chance,

And either not attempt to choose at all,

Or swear before you choose, if you choose

wrong,

Never to speak to lady afterward

In way of marriage; therefore be advised.

Mor. Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance. Por. First, forward to the temple. After dinner

Mor.

Your hazard shall be made.

To make me blest or cursed'st among men.

30

40

Good fortune then!

[Cornets and exeunt.