Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him ;[ for he borrow'd a box of the ear of the Englishman, and swore he would pay him again, when he was able: I think, the Frenchman became his furety, and feal'd under for another.

Ner. How like you the young German, the duke of Saxony's nephew?

5

Per. Very vilely in the morning, when he is fober; and moft vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk when he is beft, he is a little worfe than Ic a man; and when he is worit, he is little better than a beaft: an the worft fall that ever fell, I hope, I fhall make shift to go without him.

Ner. If he should offer to chufe, and chufe the right casket, you should refufe to perform your 15 father's will, if you should refufe to accept him.

Per. Therefore, for fear of the worft, I pray thee, fet a deep glafs of Rhenith wine on the contrary cafket; for, if the devil be within, and that temptation without, I know he will chufe it. I will do any thing, Neriffa, ere I will be marry'd to a fpunge.

Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of thefe lords; they have acquainted me with their determinations: which is, indeed, to return to their 25 home, and to trouble you with no more fuit; unlefs you may be won by fome other fort than your father's impofition, depending on the caskets.

Per. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chafte as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner 30 of my father's will: I am glad this parcel of wooers are so very reasonable; for there is not one among them but I dote on his very abfence, and I pray God grant them a fair departure.

Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your fa-35 ther's time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a foldier, that came hither in company of the marquis of Montferrat?

Per. Yes, yes, it was Baffanio; as I think, fo he was call'd.

Ner. True, madam; he, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes' look'd upon, was the best deferving a fair lady.

Por. I remember him well; and I remember him worthy of thy praife.-How now! what news? Enter a Servant.

Shy. For three months,-well.

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

Shy. Anthonio fhall become bound,-well.
Baff. May you ftead me? Will you pleasure me?
Shall I know your answer?

Shy. Three thoufand ducats, for three months, and Anthonio bound.

Baff. Your answer to that.

Shy. Anthonio is a good man.

Baff. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no;—my meaning, in saying he is a good man, is, to have you understand me, that he is fufficient: yet his means are in fuppofition: he hath an argofy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath, squander'd cabroad: But fhips are but boards, failors but men: there be land-rats, and water-rats, waterthieves, and land-thieves; I mean, pirates; and then, there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks: The man is, notwithstanding, fufficient :-three thoufand ducats ;-I think, I may take his bond. Baf. Be affur'd, you may.

[affur'd, Shy. I will be affur'd, I may; and, that I may be I will bethink me: May I fpeak with Anthonio? Baff. If it pleafe you to dine with us.

Shy. Yes, to fmell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into: I will buy with you, fell 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 Rialto?— Who is he comes here?

Enter Anthonio.

Boff. This is fignior Anthonio. Sky. [Afide.] How like a fawning publican he 401 hate him for he is a Christian :

[looks!

But more, for that, in low fimplicity,
He lends out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of ufance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip',
451 will feed fat the ancient 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-won thrift,
Which he calls intereft: Curfed be my tribe,
If I forgive him!

Ser. The four ftrangers feek for you, madam, to
take their leave: and there is a fore-runner come
from a fifth, the prince of Morocco; who brings
word, the prince, his master, will be here to-night. 50
Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with fo
good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I
fhould be glad of his approach: if he have the
condition of a faint, and the complexion of a devil,
I had rather he should fhrive me than wive me. 55
Come, Neriffa. Sirrah, go before. Whiles we
thut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at
the door.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III.
A publick Place in Venice.
Enter Eaffans and Skyleck.

Sky. Three thousand ducats,-well.

Bef. Ay, fir, for three months.

Baff. Shylock, do you hear?

Sky. I am debating of my present store;
And, by the near guefs of my memory,
I cannot inftantly raise up the grofs
Of full three thousand ducats: What of that?
Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,
Will furnith me: But foft; How many months
Do you defire ?-Reft you fair, good fignior;
[To Antbonic.
60 Your worship was the laft man in our mouths.
Anth. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow,
By taking, nor by giving of excess,

Yet, to fupply the ripe wants of my friend,

This is a phraft taken from the practice of wrefllers.

You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold; monies is your fuit.
What fhould I fay to you? Should I not say,
5" Hath a dog money? Is it poffible

"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 fir, you spit on me on Wednef-
"day laft;

"Youfpurn'd me such a day; another time
"You call'd me-dog; and for thefe courtefies
"I'll lend you thus much monies."

Anth. I am as like to call thee so again,

To fpit on thee again, to fpurn thee too.

If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not

As to thy friends; (for when did friendship take
A breed of barren metal of his friend?)

But lend it rather to thine enemy;

That all the eanlings, which were ftreak'd, and 20 Who if he break, thou may'st with better face Exact the penalty.

py'd,

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 fhepherd peel'd me certain wands,
And, in the doing of the deed of kind 2,
He ftuck them up before the fulfome 3 ewes ;
Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time
Fall party-colour'd lambs, and thofe were Jacob's. 30 Go with me to a notary, feal me there

Sly. Why, look you, how you ftorm!

I would be friends with you, and have your love,
Forget the fhames that you have ftain'd me with,
25 Supply your prefent wants, and take no doit
Of ufance for my monies, and you'll not hear me;
This is kind I offer.

[for;

This was a way to thrive, and he was bleft;
And thrift is bleffing, if men steal it not.
Anth. This was a venture, fir, that Jacob ferv'd
A thing not in his power to bring to pass,
But fway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heaven.
Was this inferted to make intereft good?
Or is your gold and filver, ewes and rams?
Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as faft :-
But note me, fignior.

Anth. Mark you this, Baffanio.

The devil can cite fcripture for his purpose.
An evil foul, producing holy witness,

Is like a villain with a fmiling cheek;

A goodly apple rotten at the heart:

O, what a goodly outfide falfhood hath!

Anth. This were kindness.

Shy. This kindness will I fhow:

Your fingle bond; and, in a merry sport,
If you repay me not on fuch a day,
In fuch a place, fuch fum, or fums, as are
Exprefs'd in the condition, let the forfeit
35 Be nominated for an equal pound

140

[fum. 45

Sby. Three thousand ducats,-'tis a good round Three months from twelve, then iet me fee the

rate.

[you?

Anth. Well, Shylock, fhall we be beholden to
Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft

In the Rialto you have rated me

About my monies, and my ufances 4:
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug;
For fufferance is the badge of all our tribe:
You call me-mifbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine 5,
And all for ufe 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,

Of your fair flefh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.

Anth. Content, in faith; I'll feal to fuch a bond,
And fay, there is much kindness in the Jew.
Baff. You fhall not feal to fuch a bond for me,
I'll rather dwell 7 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 the bond.

Shy. O father Abraham,what these Chriftians are;
Whofe own hard dealings teaches them fufpe&t
The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this;
If he fhould break his day, what fhould I gain

50 By the exaction of the forfeiture?

A pound of man's flefh, taken from a man,

Is not fo eftimable, profitable neither,
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I fay,
To buy his favour, I extend this friendship;
55 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,

"Shylock, we would have monies ;" You fay fo :|60| And I will go and purse the ducats strait ;

1 i. e. lambs just dropt. 2 i. e. of nature. 3 Meaning, lafcivious, obfcene. 4 Use and ufance were both words formerly employed for ufury. 5 A gaberdine means a coarse frock. That is, intereft money bred from the principal. 7 To dwell, here feems to mean the fame as to continue,

See

25

30

35

40

1 Fearful guard means a guard that is not to be trusted, but gives cause of fear. 2 i, e. hath made the valiant afraid.

a beard haft thou got! Thou haft got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill-horse has on his tail.

Laun. It should feem then, that Dobbin's tail

Gob. Mafter, young gentleman, I pray you, 5 grows backward; I am fure he had more hair on which is the way to mafter Jew's?

his tail, than I have on my face, when I last faw him.

Gob. Lord, how thou art chang'd! How doft thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a prefent: How agree you now?

Laun. Well, well; but for mine own part, as I have fet up my rest to run away, fo I will not reft 'till I have run fome ground: My master's a very Jew; give him a prefent! give him a halter:

Lawn. Talk you of young mafter Launcelot ?Mark me now, [afide.] now will I raife the wa-151 am famifh'd in his fervice; you may tell every ters:-Talk you of young master Launcelot ?

finger I have with my ribs, Father, I am glad you are come; give me your prefent to one mafter Baffanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I ferve not him, I will run as far as God has

Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we 20 any ground.-O rare fortune! here comes the talk of young mafter Launcelot.

man;-to him father; for I am a Jew, if I ferve the Jew any longer.

Enter Baffanie, with Leonardo, and a follower or two

Bal. You may do fo;-but let it be so hasted, that fupper be ready at the fartheft by five of the clock. See these letters deliver'd; put the liveries to making; and defire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging.

Laun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovel-poft, 35 man; that would, fir, as my father shall specify,

Gob. He hath agreat infection, fir, as one would fay, to ferve

Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I ferve the Jew, and have a defire as my father fhall fpe40 cify,

tween my master Shylock and you, fir; you have the grace of God, fir, and he hath enough.

Baff. Thou speak'st it well: Go, father, with
thy fon:

Take leave of thy old master, and enquire
My lodging out :-give him a livery

Baff. No, that were pity;

I would entreat you rather to put on
Your boldeft fuit of mirth, for we have friends
That purpose merriment: But fare you well,
5 I have fome business.

[To his followers.
More guarded than his fellows: fee it done.
Laun. Father, in:-I cannot get a fervice, no;-
I have ne'er a tongue in my head.Well, [lock-10
ing on bis palm] if any man in Italy have a fairer
table, which doth offer to swear upon a book, I
fhall have good fortune.-Go to, here's a fimple]
line of life! here's a small trifle of wives: alas, fif-|
teen wives is nothing; eleven widows, and nine 15
maids, is a fimple coming-in for one man and
then, to 'fcape drowning thrice; and to be in pe-|
ril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed 3;-
here are fimple 'fcapes! Well, if fortune be a wo-
man, fhe's a good wench for this geer.-Father, 20
come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the
twinkling of an eye.

[Exeunt Launcelot and old Gebbo.
Baff. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this;
Thefe things being bought, and orderly bestow'd,
Return in hafte, for I do feast to night
My best-esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go.
Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein.
Enter Gratiano.

Gra. Where's your mafter?

Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the reft; But we will vifit you at fupper-time.

[Exeunt.

Jef. I am forry, thou wilt leave my father so;
Our houfe is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didft rob it of fome tafte of tediousness:
But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee.
And, Launcelot, soon at fupper fhalt thou fee
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest:
Give him this letter; do it fecretly,
And fo farewell; I would not have my father
See me talk with thee.

Laun. Adieu!-tears exhibit my tongue.-
Moft beautiful pagan,-moft fweet Jew! if a
Chriftian did not play the knave, and get thee, I
Jam much deceiv'd: but, adieu ! these foolish drops
25 do somewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu!

Jef. Farewel, good Launcelot.-
Alack, what heinous fin is it in me,
To be afham'd to be my father's child!
30But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promife, I shall end this ftrife;
Become a chriftian, and thy loving wife.

35

Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with

[Exit.

[Exit.

you to Delmont.

Baff. Why, then you muft;-But hear thee,

Gratiano:

Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio. Lor. Nay, we will flink away in fupper-time;

Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ;-40 Difguife us at my lodging, and return

Parts, that become thee happily enough,
And in fuch eyes as ours appear not faults:
But where thou art not known, why,there they fhew
Something too liberal 4;-pray thee, take pain
To allay with fome cold drops of modefty [viour, 45
Thy fkipping fpirit; left, through thy wild beha-
I be misconftru'd in the place I go to,

All in an hour.

Gra. We have not made good preparation.
Sal. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.
Sala. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered;
And better, in my mind, not undertook.
Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two
To furnish us :-

Enter Launcelot with a letter.
Friend Launcelot, what's the news?

[hours

Loun. An it shall please you to break up this 6, it fhall feem to fignify.

Lor. I know the hand : in faith, 'tis a fair hand; And whiter than the paper it writ on,

Is the fair hand that writ.

Gra. Love-news, in faith.

Laun. By your leave, fir.

Lor. Whither goeft thou?

Laun. Marry, fir, to bid my old mafter the Jew to fup to-night with my new mafter the 60 Chriftian.

2 The chiromantic term for the lines of the hand.

phrafe to fignify the danger of marrying. 4 That is, too grofs, licentious. pearance. To break up was a term in carving.

3 A cant 5 That is, grave ap