SCENE III.
A Street in Venice.
Enter Shylock, Salanio, Anthonio, and the Gaoler.
Shy.
Gaoler, look to him;—Tell not me of mercy;—
This is the fool that lent out money gratis;—
Goaler, look to him.
Anth.
Hear me yet, good Shylock.
Shy.
I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond;
I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond:
Thou call'dst me dog, before thou had'st a cause;
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs:
The duke shall grant me justice.—I do wonder,
Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art 3 note
so fond
To come abroad with him at his request.
Anth.
I pray thee, hear me speak.
Shy.
I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak:
I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.
I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool4 note,
-- 203 --
To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield
To christian intercessors. Follow not;
I'll have no speaking; I will have my bond.
[Exit Shylock.
Sal.
It is the most impenetrable cur,
That ever kept with men.
Anth.
Let him alone;
I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers.
He seeks my life; his reason well I know;
I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures
Many that have at times made moan to me,
Therefore he hates me.
Sola.
I am sure, the duke
Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.
Anth.
The duke cannot deny the course of law5 note,
For the commodity that strangers have
With us in Venice; if it be deny'd,
Will much impeach the justice of the state;
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Consisteth of all nations. Therefore, go:
These griefs and losses have so 'bated me,
That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh
To-morrow to my bloody creditor.—
Well, gaoler, on:—Pray God, Bassanio come
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!
[Exeunt.
-- 204 --
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].