Shy.

Three thousand ducats? Well.

Bass.

Ay, sir, for three months.

Shy.

For three months? Well.

Bass.

For the which, as I told you, Anthonio shall be bound.

Shy.

Anthonio shall become bound? Well.

Bass.

May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?

Shy.

Three thousand ducats, for three monts, and Anthonio bound?† ^note

Bass.

Your answer to that.

Shy.

Anthonio is a good man.

Bass.

Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

Shy.

No, no, no, no; my meaning, in saying he is a good man, is to have you understand me, that he is sufficient: yet his means are in supposition; he hath an argosie bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover, upon the Ryalto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England; and other ventures he hath, squander'd abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men; there be land-rats and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves; I mean, pirates; and then there is the peril of the waters, winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient; three thousand ducats? I think, I may take his bond.‡ ^note

Bass.

Be assur'd you may.

Shy.

I will be assur'd I may; and that I may be assur'd, I will bethink me. May I speak with Anthonio?

Bass.

If it pleases you to dine with us.

Shy.

Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation, which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjur'd the devil into! I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Ryalto?—who is he comes here?

Bass.
This is Signior Anthonio.

Shy. [Aside.]
How like a fawning Publican he looks!
I hate him, for he is a christian:
But more, for that in low simplicity
He lends out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of usance here, with us, in Venice.* ^note
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,
Ev'n there where merchants most do congregate,
On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift,
Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe,
If I forgive him!

Bass.
Shylock, do you hear?—

Shy.
I am debating of my present store,
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 Anth.
Your worship was the last man in our mouths.

Anth.
Shylock, although 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 possest,
How much you would?

Shy.
Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

Anth.
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.

Anth.
I do never use 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 possessor; ay, he was the third.

Anth.
And what of him, did he take interest?

Shy.
No, not take int'rest; not, as you would say,
Directly, interest; mark, what Jacob did.
When Laban and himself were compromis'd,
That all the yeanlings, which were streak'd and pied,
Should fall as Jacob's hire; the ewes, being rank,
In the 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, in the doing of the deed of kind,
He stuck them up before the fulsome 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 blest;
And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.* ^note

Anth.
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 heav'n.
Was this inserted to make int'rest good?
Or is your gold and silver, ewes and rams?

Shy.
I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast.

Anth.
Mark you this, Bassanio?
The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.—† ^note
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.

Anth.
Well, Shylock, shalt we be beholden to you?

Shy.
Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft,
On the Ryalto you have rated me,
About my monies 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 my 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;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold: money 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 bondsman's key,
With bated breath, and whisp'ring humbleness,
Say this; Fair sir, you spit on me, last Wednesday,
You spurn'd me, such a day; another time,
You call'd me dog; and for these curtesies
I'll lend you thus much monies?* ^note

Anth.
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 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 penalty.

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

Anth.
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 it shall please me.

Anth.
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.

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,
Whose own hard dealings teach them to 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, or profitable,
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:

Anth.
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
Of an unthrifty knave, and presently
I will be with you. [Exit.

Anth.
Hie thee, gentle Jew.
This Hebrew will turn christian; he grows kind.

Bass.
I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind.

Anth.
Come on, in this there can be no dismay;
My ships come home a month before the day.* ^note [Exeunt. End of the First Act.

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