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?

Shylock.

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

Antonio. And for three months.

Shylock. 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.

Shylock. When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheepThis Jacob from our holy Abram was,

As his wise mother wrought in his behalf,

The third possessor; ay, he was the third

Antonio. And what of him? did he take interest?

Shylock. No, not take interest, not, as you would say,

Directly interest: mark what Jacob did

When Laban and himself were compromised

That all the eanlings which were streak'd and pied

Should fall as Jacob's hire.

This was a way to thrive, and he was blest:

And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.

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70

Antonio. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served 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:

O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

80

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 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 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 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 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?'

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

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

Bassanio. This were kindness.
Shylock.

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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.

Antonio. Content, i' faith: I'll seal to such a bond

140

And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

Bassanio. You shall not seal to such a bond for me: I'll rather dwell 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 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;

150

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;

160

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
Of an unthrifty knave, and presently

I will be with you.

Hie thee, gentle Jew.

[Exit Shylock.

Antonio.
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. 169

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 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,
To 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 loved 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 hedged 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

As any comer I have look'd on yet

For my affection.

Morocco.

Even for that I thank you:

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20

Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets
To try my fortune. By this scimitar,
That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
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 advised.

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40

Morocco. Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.

Portia. First, forward to the temple: after dinner

Your hazard shall be made.

Launcelot. Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine elbow and tempts me, saying to me 'Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot,' or 'good Gobbo,' or 'good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away.' My conscience says 'No; take heed, honest Launcelot; take heed, honest Gobbo,' or, as aforesaid, 'honest Launcelot Gobbo;