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? Rest you fair, good signior;

[TO ANTONIO.

Your worship was the last man in our mouths.
Ant. Shylock, albeit 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 possess'd

How much ye would?

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.

Shy. When Jacob graz'd 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 compromis'd

That all the eanlings which were streak'd and pied,
Should fall as Jacob's hire; the ewes, being rank,
In 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 stuck them up before the fulsome ewes ;
Who, then conceiving, did in eaning-time

Fall parti-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive, and he was bless'd;
And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.

Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob serv'd for ; A thing not in his power to bring to pass,

But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of Heaven.
Was this inserted to make interest good?

Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?
Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast:
But note me, signior.

Ant.
Mark you this, Bassanio,
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 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 spit 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,
'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 threshold; moneys

your

What should I say to you?

is your suit.

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 spurn'd me such a day; another time
You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies
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
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 mayst with better face
Exact the penalty.

Shy.
Why, look you, 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 my moneys, and you'll not hear me : This is kind I offer.

Bass.

This were kindness.
Shy. This kindness will I shew:

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 pleaseth me.

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
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 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 favour 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 11
Of an unthrifty knave; and presently

I will be with you.

Ant.

Hie thee, gentle Jew.

[Exit SHYLOCK. 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.

Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself

With some more ducats, and be with you straight.-Act II. Sc. 5.

ACT II.

Flourish of Cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF MOROCCO, and his
Train; PORTIA, NERISSA and other of her Attendants.

Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,
To whom I am a neighbour 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,

То 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.