Shakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice Part 3

_Bas_. 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 ANTONIO.

Your wors.h.i.+p was the last man in our mouths.

_Ant_. Shylock, albeit, I neither lend nor borrow, By taking, nor by giving of excess.

Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,[25]

I'll break a custom:---Is he yet possess'd[26]

How much you would?

_Shy_. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

_Ant_. 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.

_Ant_. I do never use it.

_Shy_. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep, This Jacob from our holy Abraham was (As his wise mother wrought in his behalf) The third possessor; ay, he was the third.

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

_Shy_. No, not take interest; not, as you would say, Directly interest: mark what Jacob did.

When Laban and himself were compromis'd That all the eanlings[27] which were streak'd and pied Should fall, as Jacob's hire; The skilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands,[28]

And, in the doing of the deed of kind,[29]

He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes;[30]

Who, then conceiving, did in eaning-time Fall[31] party-coloured lambs, and those were Jacob's.[32]

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 pa.s.s, But sway'd and fas.h.i.+on'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.

_Ant_. Mark you this, Ba.s.sanio, The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.[33]

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![34]

_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:[35]

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 spet 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; You, that did void your rheum upon my beard, And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur Over your threshhold; 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 spet 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 spet on thee again, to spurn thee too.

If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not As to thy friends; (for when did friends.h.i.+p take A breed of barren metal of his friend?)[36]

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 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 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.

_Bas_. You shall not seal to such a bond for me I'll rather dwell[37] 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 friends.h.i.+p; 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[38]

Of an unthrifty knave; and presently I will be with you.

[_Exit_.

_Ant_. Hie thee, gentle Jew.

This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind.

_Bas_. I like not fair terms[39] and a villain's mind.

_Ant_. Come, on; in this there can be no dismay, My s.h.i.+ps come home a month before the day.

[_Exeunt_.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 22: _--squander'd abroad_.; Scattered.]

[Footnote 23: _to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjured the devil into!_; See 8th. c. St. Matthew, v. 30.]

[Footnote 24: _catch him once upon the hip_,; Dr. Johnson says the expression is taken from the practice of wrestling.]

[Footnote 25: _--ripe wants of my friend_,; Wants come to the height--wants that can have no longer delay.]

[Footnote 26: _--Is he yet possess'd; Id est_, acquainted--informed.]