Shy. I am debating of my present store; Of full three thousand ducats. What of that? [TO ANTONIO. Your worship was the last man in our mouths. 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. When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep, This Jacob from our holy Abraham 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? Shy. No, not take interest; not, as you would say, Directly interest. Mark what Jacob did. When Laban and himself were compromised, 3 That all the eanlings which were streaked, and pied, In the end of autumn turned to the rams; 1 Wants come to the height, which admit no longer delay. 2 Informed. 3 Young lambs just dropped, or eaned. but the Saxon etymology demands ean. This word is usually spelled yean, And in the doing of the deed of kind,' Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for; A thing not in his power to bring to pass, But swayed, and fashioned, by the hand of Heaven. Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast.— Ant. Mark you this, Bassanio; The devil can cite scripture for his purpose. An evil soul, producing holy witness, 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 beholden to you? Shy. Seignior Antonio, many a time and oft, In the Rialto, you have rated me About my moneys, and my usances.2 A cur can lend three thousand ducats? Or Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last ; I'll lend you Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, As to thy friends; (for when did friendship take Who if he break, thou may'st with better face Ant. This were kindness. If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum, or sums, as are Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken Ant. Content, in 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. Within these two months,-that's a month before 11. e. interest, money bred from the principal. This bond expires,-I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this bond. Shy. O father Abraham, what these Christians are ; A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, And I will go and purse the ducats straight, I will be with you. [Exit. Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. This 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. [Exeunt. To fear was anciently to give as well as feel terrors. So in K. Henry IV. Part I. "A mighty and a fearful head they are.' 24 VOL. II. ACT II. SCENE I. Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Morocco, and his Train; PORTIA, Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, Have loved it too. I would not change this hue, 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, For my affection. Mor. Even for that I thank you; Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets, 1 To understand how the tawny prince, whose savage dignity is well supported, means to recommend himself by this challenge, it must be remembered that red blood is a traditionary sign of courage. |