Fall party-color'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive, and he was blest:

And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.1

Antonio. 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?

Shylock. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast:

But note me, signior.

Antonio.

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:

Oh, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

Shylock. Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum. Three months from twelve; then, let me see; the rate

Antonio. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding 2 to you?
Shylock. 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 suff'rance 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;

1 See Gen. xxx. 27-43.

2 This word in the sense of beholden (“ obliged”) is frequently met with in Shakespeare and other Elizabethan writers.

3 "Go to," a phrase of reproof here, is used in various senses by old authors as an exclamation of impatience, encouragement, expostulation, etc.

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 whisp'ring 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"?

Antonio. 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.

Shylock.

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 2
Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me:
This is kind 3 I offer.

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.

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

Bassanio. You shall not seal to such a bond for me:
I'll rather dwell 1 in my necessity.

Antonio. 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.

Shylock. O father Abram, what these Christians are,
Whose own hard dealings teaches them 2 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.

Antonio. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.

Shylock. 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 fearful3 guard

Of an unthrifty knave, and presently

I will be with you.

1 Continue.

2" 'Teaches them," i.e., "teach them to," as would nowadays be written. 3 Doubtful.

3

Antonio. Hie thee, gentle Jew.

[Exit Shylock.

The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind.
(Bassanio. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.
Antonio. Come on: in this there can be no dismay;
My ships come home a month before the day.

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

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.

Morocco. Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,

To whom I am a neighbor and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus' 1 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 aspect of mine
Hath fear'd 2 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.
Portia. 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 hedg'd me by his wit, to yield myself

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

Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair

1 Phoebus was one of the names given to the sun in ancient mythology. 244 Fear'd the valiant," i.e., caused the valiant to fear.

i

As any comer I have look'd on yet

For my affection.

Morocco.

Even for that I thank you:
Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets
To try my fortune. By this scimiter
That slew the Sophy1 and a Persian prince
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,2
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.

Portia.

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 advis'd.4

Morocco. Nor will not. Come bring me unto my chance. Portia. First, forward to the temple: after dinner

Your hazard shall be made.

1 An old word signifying "wise man." It was formerly applied to one skillful in natural magic, and afterwards became the common name of the Emperor of Persia.

2 Sultan Solyman, the Magnificent, was defeated by the Persians in 1535.

3 Hercules was a celebrated hero of antiquity, who, after his death, was ranked among the gods. He is sometimes called "Alcides," being a descendant of Alceus. Lichas was a servant of Hercules.