Baff. Be affur'd you may,
Few. I will be affur'd I may; and that I may be affur'd, I will bethink me; may I fpeak with Anthonio? Baff. If it please you to dine with us.
Jew. Yes, to fmell Pork, to eat of the Habitation which your Prophet the Nazarite conjur'd the Devil into; I 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 Ryalto; who comes here?
Enter Anthonio..
Baff. This is Signior Anthonio.
Jew. [Afide,] How like a fawning Publican he looks! I hate him, for he is a Chriftian:
But more, for that in low Simplicity
He lends out Mony 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 antient Grudge I bear him,
He hates our facred Nation, and he rails
Even there where Merchants moft do congregate,
On me, my Bargains, and my well-worn Thrift,
Which he calls Intereft. Curfed be my Tribe
If I forgive him.
Baff. Shylock, do you hear?
Shy. I am debating of my prefent Store,
And by the near Guefs of my Memory,
I cannot inftantly raise up the Gross
Of full three thousand Ducats: What of that?
Tuball, a wealthy Hebrew of my Tribe,
Will furnish me; but foft, how many Months
Do you defire? Reft you fair, good Signior,
Your Worship was the laft Man in our Mouths.
Anth. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow
By taking, nor by giving of Excefs,
Yet to fupply the ripe Wants of my Friend,
I'll break a Cuftom. Is he yet poffeft
How much he would?
Shy. Ay, ay, three thoufand Ducats.
Anth. And for three Months,
Shy. I had forgot, three Months you told me fo: " Well then, your Bond: But let me fee, but hear you, Methoughts you faid, you neither lend nor borrow Upon Advantage.
Anth. I did never ufe 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 Poffeffer, 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 compromiz'd
That all the Ewelings 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 A&
The skilful Shepherd pil'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 Yeaning time
Fall party-colour'd Lambs, and those were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive, and he was bleft;
And Thrift is Bleffing, if Men fteal it not.
Anth. This was a Venture, Sir, that Jacob ferv'd for;
A thing not in his Power to bring to país,
But fway'd and fashion'd by the Hand of Heav'n :
Was this inferted to make Intereft good?
Or is your Gold and Silver Ewes and Rams?
Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as faft;
But note me, Signior.
Anth. Mark you this, Baffanio,
The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil Soul producing holy Witness,
Is like a Villain with a fmiling Cheek,
A goodly Apple rotten at the Heart.
O what a godly Outfide Falfhood hath!
Shy. Three thoufand Ducats, 'tis a good round Suni.
Three Months from twelve, then let me fee the Rate.
Anth. Well, Shylock, fhall we be beholding to you?
F 4
Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a Time and oft,
In the Ryalto you have rated me,
About my Monies and my Ufances:
Still have I born it with a patient Shrug,
For Sufferance is the Badge of all our Tribe;
You call me Misbeliever, Cut-throat Dog,
And fpit 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 fay,
Shylock, we would have Monies; you fay fo,
You that did void your Rheume upon my Beard,
And foot me as you fpurn a ftranger Cur
Over your Threshold: Monies is your Suit.
What should I fay to you? Should I not fay,
Hath a Dog Mony? is it poffible
A Cur fhould lend three thousand Ducats? or
Shall I bend low, and in a Bondman's Key -
With bated Breath, and whispring Humbleness,
Say this: Fair Sir, you fpet on me on Wednesday laft;
You fpurn'd me fuch a Day; another time
You call'd me Dog; and for these Curtefies
I'll lend you thus much Monies.
Anth. I am as like to call thee fo again,
To fpit on thee again, to fpurn thee too.
If thou wilt lend this Mony, lend it not
As to thy Friend, 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'st with better Face
Exact the Penalties.
Shy. Why look you how you ftorm.
I would be Friends with you, and have your Love,
Forget the Shames that you have ftain'd me with,
Supply your present Wants, and take no Doit
Of Ufage for my Monies, and you'll not hear me:
This is kind I offer.
Baff. 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 Sum or Sums as are
Express'd in the Condition, let the Forfeit
Be nominated for an equal Pound
Of your fair Flefh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your Body it pleaseth me.
Anth. Content, in Faith, I'll feal to fuch a Bond,
And say there is much Kindness in the Jew.
Baf. You fhall not feal to fuch a Bond for me, I'll 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 this Bond.
Shy. O Father Abraham, what these Christians are!
Whofe own hard Dealing 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 so estimable, profitable neither,
As Flesh of Muttons, Beefs, or Goats. I fay,
To buy his Favour, I extend this Friendship;
If he will take it, fo; 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 purse the Ducats ftraight:
. See to my House, left in the fearful Guard
Of an unthrifty Knave, and presently
Anth. Hie thee, gentle Jew. This Hebrew will turn Christian, 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.
Enter Morochius a Tawny-Moor all in White, and three or four Followers accordingly, with Portia, Neriffa, and her Train. Flo. Cornets.
Mor. M. The madowed Livery of the burnish'd Sun,
Iflike me not for my Complection,
To whom I am a Neighbour, and near bred.
Bring me the fairest Creature Northward born,
Where Phoebus Fire fcarce thaws the Ificles,
And let us make Incifion for your Love,
To prove whofe Blood is reddeft, his or mine.
I tell thee, Lady, this Afpect 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,
Por. In terms of Choice I am not solely led
By nice Direction of a Maiden's Eyes:
Befides, the Lottery of my Destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary chufing:
But if my Father had not fcanted me,
And hedg'd me by his Wit to yield my self
His Wife, who wins me by that means I told you
Your felf, Renowned Prince, then stood as fair
As any Comer I have look'd on yet
Mor. Even for that I thank you,
Therefore I pray you lead me to the Caskets
To try my Fortune: By this Scimitar,
That flew the Sophy, and a Perfian Prince,
That won three Fields of Sultan Salyman,
I would o'er-ftare the fterneft Eyes that look,
Out-brave the Heart most daring on the Earth,
Pluck the young fucking Cubs from the She-Bear,
Yea, mock the Lion when he roars for Prey,
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