S C E N E III.
A public Place in VENICE.

Enter Baffanio and Shylock.
HREE thousand ducats ? well,

Suy. T .

Shy. For three months ? well.

Bal. For the which, as I told you, Anthonio shall be bound.

Shy. Anthonio shall become bound? well.

Bal. May you stead me? will you pleasure me ? fhall I know your answer ?

Shy, Three thousand ducats for thee months, and Anthonio bound?

Bas. Your answer to that.
Shy. Anthonio is a good man.
Bas. Have you heard any imputation to the con-

trary?

Shy. No, no, no, no; my meaning, in saying he is a good man, is to have you underltand me, that he is sufficient: yet his means are in supposition: he hath an Argoly bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; -I understand moreover upon the Ryalto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England; and other ventures he hath, sqander'd abroad.

But ships are but boards, sailors but men; there be land-rats, and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves; I mean, pirates; and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding fufficient; three thousand ducats? I think, I may take his bond.

Baf. Be aflur'd, you may.

Shy. I will be allur'd, I may; and that I may be allur'd, I will bethink me; may I speak with Anthonio?

Ball. If it please you to dine with us.

Shy. Yes, to smell, pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjur'd the devil into! I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with

you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with

you,
drink with
you, nor pray

with you.

What news on the Ryalio ?- -who is he, comes here?

the hip,

Enter Anthonio. Bal. This is Signior Anthonio.

Shy. [Afide.] How like a fawning Publican he looks! I hate him, for he is a christian: But more, for that in low fimplicity He lends out money gratis, and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice. If I can catch him once upon 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 be my tribe, If I forgive him!

Ball. 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
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 ? Reft you fair, good'Signior;

To Anth. 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 poffeft,
How much you would ?

Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
Anth. And for three months.

Shy. I had forgot, three months, you told me fo; Well then, your bond; and let me see, but hear you,

Me

Methought, you said, you neither lend nor borrow
Upon advantage.
Anth. I do never use it.

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 possessor; ay, he was the third.

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

Shy. No, not take int'reft ; not, as you would say,
Directly, int'reft; mark, what Jacob did.
When Laban and himself were compromis'd,
That all the yeanlings, which were ftreak'd and pied,
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 power to bring to pass, is
But sway'd, and fashionod, by the hand of heav'n.
Was this inserted to make int'reft good?
Or is your gold, and silver, ewes and rams?

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

Anth. Mark you this, Baffanio ?
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.
o, what a goodly outside's fallhood hath!

Shy. Three thousand ducats ! 'tis a good round sum.
Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate.
Vol. II.
K

Anth.

you say,

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!
Go to then; you come to me,

and
Shylock, we would have monies; you say so;
You, that did void your rheum upon my bcard,
And foot me, as you fpurn'a ftranger cur
Over your threshold: money is your suit;
What should I say to you? should I not say,
Hath a dog mone? is it possible,
A cur can lend three thousand dụcats? or
Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key,
With bated breath, and whisp'ring humbleness,
Say this,-fair Sir, you fpit on me last Wednesday,
You spurn'd me' such a day; another time
You call'd me dog ; and for these curtesies
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 money, lend it not
As to thy friend, (for when did friendship take
A breed of bárren metal of his friend ?)
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 usance for any monies, and you'll not hear me:
This is kind I offer.

Anth. Anth. This were kindnefs.

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
Express’d 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 it shall please me.

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

Bas. You shall not seal to such a bond for me, I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

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 fo estimable 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, 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 strait;
See to my house, left in the fcarless guard
Ofan unthrifty knave, and presently
I will be with you.

Anth. Hie thee, gentle Jew.
This Hebrew will turn christian; he grows kind.

Bal.

[Exit.

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