der'd abroad: But ships are but boards, failors 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. Ball. Be affur'd you may.

Shy. I will be affur'd, I may; and, that I may be affur'd,

I will bethink me: May I speak with Anthonio? Bass. If it please you to dine with us.

Shy. Yes, to fmell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into: 1 will buy with you, fell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and fo following: but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto?-Who is he comes here?

Enter ANTHONIO.

Ball. This is fignior Anthonio.

Shy. [Afide.] How like a fawning publican he

I hate him for he is a Christian:

But more, for that in low fimplicity,

[looks!

He lends out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of ufance 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 facred nation; and he rails,
Even there where merchants most do congregate,
On me, my bargains, and my well won thrift,
Which he calls interest: Curfed be my tribe,
If I forgive him!

Bal. Shylock, do you hear ?

Shy.

Shy. I am debating of my prefent store;
And, by the near guefs of my memory,
I cannot instantly raise up the grofs

Of full three thousand ducats. What of that ?
Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,
Will furnish me: But foft; How many months
Do you defire?-Reft you fair, good fignior;

[To ANTH.
Your worship was the last man in our mouths.
Anth. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow,
By taking nor by giving of excess,

Yet to fupply the ripe wants of
my friend,
I'll break a custom :-Is he yet poffels'd,

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 fee-but hear you, Methoughts, you faid, 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 poffeffor; ay, he was the third.

Anth. And what of him? did he take intereft ? Shy No, not take intereft; not, as you would fay, Directly, intereft: mark what Jacob did. When Laban and himself were compromis'd, That all the yeanlings, which were streak'd and py'd, Should fall as Jacob's hire, the ewes, being rank, In the end of autumn turned to the rams s; And when the work of generation was Between thefe woolly breeders in the act,

The

The skilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands,
And, in the doing of the deed of kind,
He ftuck them up before the fulfome ewes ;
Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time
Fall party colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive, and he was bless'd;
And thrift is bleffing, if men fteal it not.

Anth. This wasa venture,fir,that Jacob ferv'd for;
A thing not in his power to bring to pafs,
But fway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heav'n.
Was this inferted to make interest good?
Or is your gold and filver, ewes and rams?
Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast :-
But note me,
fignior.

Anth. Mark you this, Baffanio,

The devil can cite fcripture 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 outfide falfehood hath !

Shy. Three thoufand ducats! 'tis a good round fum.
Three months from twelve, then let me fee the rate?
Anth. Well, Shylock,fhall we be beholden to you?
Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto have you ráted me,

About my monies, and my ufances:

Still I have borne it with a patient shrug;
For fufferance is the badge of all our tribe :
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And fpit upon my Jewish gaberdine;
And all for ufe of that which is mine own.
Well then, it now appears, you need my help:
Go to then; you come to me, and you fay,
Shylock, we would have monies; you say fo

You

You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold: monies is your fuit.
What fhould I fay to you? Should I not fay,
Hath a dog money? Is it poffible

A cur can lend three thousands ducats? or,
Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key,
With bated breath, and whispering humbleness,
Say this,-Fair fir, you fpit on me on Wednesday laft;
You fpurn'd me fuch a day; another time
You call'd me-dog; and for thefe courtefies
I'll lend you thus much monies.

Anth. I am as like to call thee fo again,
To spit on thee again, to fpurn thee too.
If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not
As to thy friends, (for when did friendship take
A breed of barren metal of his friend?)
But lend it rather to thine enemy;

Who, if he break, thou may'ft with better face
Exact the penalty.

Shy. Why, look you, how you ftorm?

I would be friends with you, and have your love, Forget the fhames that you have stain❜d me with, Supply you prefent 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 fhow:-
Go with me to a notary, feal me there
Your fingle bond; and, in a merry sport,
If you repay me not on fuch a day,

In fuch a place, fuch fum, or fums, as are
Exprefs'd in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound

Of

Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body, pleaseth me.

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

Baff. You fhall not feal to fuch a bond for me, I'd 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 the bond.

Shy. Ofather Abraham, what thefe Christians are;
Whofe own hard dealings teaches them fufpect
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 eftimable, profitable neither,
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I fay,
To buy his favour, I extend this friendship:
If he will take it, so; if not, adieu;
And for my love, I pray you wrong me not.
Anth. Yes, Shylock, 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 purfe the ducats ftraight;
See to my houfe, left in the fearful guard
Of an unthrifty knave; and prefently
I will be with you.

Anth. Hie thee, gentle Jew.

[Exit.

This Hebrew will turn Chriftian; he grows kind. Baff. I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind. Anth. Come on; in this there can be no difmay;" My ships come home a month before the day.

[Exeunt.

ACT