Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

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 blest;
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:7-
But note me, signior.

Ant.

Mark you this, Bassanio,

means lascivious, obscene. The same epithet is bestowed on the night, in Acolastus his After-Witte. By S. N. 1600:

[ocr errors]

Why shines not Phoebus in the fulsome night?”

In the play of Muleasses the Turk, Madam Fulsome a Bawd is introduced. The word, however, sometimes signifies offensive in smell. So, in Chapman's version of the 17th Book of the Odyssey:

66

and fill'd his fulsome scrip," &c.

Again, in the dedication to Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, p. 63: "noisome or fulsome for bad smells, as butchers' slaughter houses," &c.

It is likewise used by Shakspeare in King John, to express some quality offensive to nature:

"And stop this gap of breath with fulsome dust." Steevens. Minsheu supposes it to mean nauseous in so high a degree as to excite vomiting.

5

Malone.

and those were Jacob's.] See Genesis, xxx, 37, &c.

Steevens.

6 This was a way to thrive, &c.] So, in the ancient song of Ger

nutus the few of Venice:

"His wife must lend a shilling,

"For every weeke a penny,

"Yet bring a pledge that is double worth,

"If that you will have any.

"And see, likewise, you keepe your day,

"Or else you lose it all:

"This was the living of the wife,

"Her cow she did it call."

Her cow, &c. seems to have suggested to Shakspeare Shylock's argument for usury. Percy.

7

Adonis:

I make it breed as fast:] So, in our author's Venus and

"Foul cank'ring rust the hidden treasure frets;

"But gold that's put to use more gold begets." Malone.

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 falshood 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. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft, In the Rialto you have rated me About my monies, and my usances:1 Still have I borne it with a patient shrug; 2 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 monies: You say so;

8 The devil can cite scripture &c.] See St. Matt. iv, 6. Henley. 90, what a goodly outside falshood hath!] Falshood, which as truth means honesty, is taken here for treachery and knavery, does not stand for falshood in general, but for the dishonesty now operating. Johnson.

1

my usances:] Use and Usance are both words anciently employed for usury, both in its favourable and unfavourable sense. So, in The English Traveller, 1633:

Again:

"Give me my use, give me my principal."

"A toy; the main about five hundred pounds,
"And the use fifty." Steevens.

Usance, in our author's time, I believe, signified interest of money. It has been already used in this play in that sense:

"He lends out money gratis, and brings down "The rate of usance with us here in Venice." Again, in a subsequent part, he says, he will take "no doit of usance for his monies." Here it must mean interest.

Malone.

2 Still have I borne it with a patient shrug; So, in Marlowe's Few of Malta, (written and acted before 1593) printed in 1633: "I learn'd in Florence how to kiss my hand,

"Heave up my shoulders when they call me dogge." Malone. 3 And spit-] The old copies always read spet, which spelling is followed by Milton:

[blocks in formation]

"Of Stygian darkness spets her thickest gloom." Steevens.

You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold; monies 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 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 monies.

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?)5
But lend it rather to thine enemy;

Who if he break, thou may'st 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

4 Shylock, Our author, as Dr. Farmer informs me, took the name of his Jew from an old pamphlet intitled: Caleb Shillocke, his Prophesie; or the fewes Prediction. London, printed for T. P. (Thomas Pavyer.) No date. Steevens.

5 A breed for barren metal of his friend?] A breed, that is interest money bred from the principal. By the epithet barren, the author would instruct us in the argument on which the advocates against usury went, which is this; that money is a barren thing, and cannot, like corn and cattle, multiply itself. And to set off the absurdity of this kind of usury, he put breed and barren in opposition. Warburton.

Dr. Warburton very truly interprets this passage. Old Mercs says, "Usurie and encrease by gold and silver is unlawful, because against nature; nature hath made them sterill and barren, usurie makes them procreative." Farmer.

The honour of starting this conceit belongs to Aristotle. See De Repub. Lib. I. H. White.

Thus both the quarto printed by Roberts, and that by Heyes, in 1600. The folio has a breed of. Malone.

VOL. IV.

F f

Of usance for my monies, and you'll not hear me:

This is kind I offer.

Ant. This were kindness.

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 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'

6 dwell in my necessity.] To dwell seems in this place to mean the same as to continue. To abide has both the senses of habitation and continuance. Johnson.

7 left in the fearful guard &c.] Fearful guard, is a guard that is not to be trusted, but gives cause of fear. To fear was anciently to give as well as feel terrors. Johnson.

Of an unthrifty knave; and presently

I will be with you.

Ant.

Hie thee, gentle Jew.

[Exit.

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.

ACT II.....SCENE I.

Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.

9

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,
Το prove whose blood is reddest, his, or mine."
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine

So, in King Henry IV, P. I:

9

"A mighty and a fearful head they are."

Steevens.

8 I like not fair terms,] Kind words, good language. Johnson. the Prince of Morocco,] The old stage direction is “Enter Morochus a tawnie Moore, all in white, and three or foure followers accordingly," &c. Steevens.

1 To prove whose blood is reddest, his, or mine.] To understand how the tawny prince, whose savage dignity is very well supported, means to recommend himself by this challenge, it must be remembered that red blood is a traditionary sign of courage: Thus Macbeth calls one of his frighted soldiers, a lily-liver'd boy; again, in this play, Cowards are said to have livers as white as milk; and an effeminate and timorous man is termed a milksop. Johnson.

It is customary in the east for lovers to testify the violence of their passion by cutting themselves in the sight of their mistresses. See Habits du Levant, pl. 43, and Picart's Religious Ceremonies, Vol. VII, p. 111. Harris.

« ПредишнаНапред »