Shy. For three months; well.

Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.2

Shy. Antonio shall become bound; well. 5 Bass. May you stead me? will you pleasure me? shall I know your answer?

Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound.

Bass. Your answer to that?

4

Shy. Antonio is a good man. Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

5

S

12

6

1Ο

Shy. Oh, 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 argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I under- 15 stand, moreover, upon the Rialto," he hath a third at Mexico,10 a fourth for England; and other ventures" he hath, squandered 12 abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats and water-rats, land-thieves 20 and water-thieves, I mean pirates; and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient. Three thousand ducats;-I think I may take his bond.

Bass. Be assured you may.

Shy. I will be assured I may; and, that I may be assured, I will bethink me. speak with Antonio ?

Buss. If it please you to dine with us.

May I

25

Shy. Yes, to smell pork; 13 to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite 30 conjured 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 Rialto?-Who is he comes here? 35

14

Shy. [Aside] How like a fawning publican 1

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 40
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,'

15

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He bates our sacred nation; and he rails,
Even there where merchants most do congre-
gate,

On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift,
Which he calls interest. Cursèd 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

17

16

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?-[To Ant.] Rest you, fair, good signior;

Your worship was the last man in our mouths. Ant. Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow,

By taking nor by giving of excess,

Yet, to supply the ripe wants 19 of my friend, I'll break a custom.-Is he yet possessed would? 20

How much ye

Shy.

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

Ant. And for three months.

Shy. I had forgot ;-three months; you

told me so.

45

50

55

60

Well then, your bond; and, let me see,

But hear you:

Methought you said you neither lend nor bor

row

Upon advantage.21

Ant.

I do never use it.

Shy. When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep,

This Jacob from our holy Abraham wasAs his wise mother wrought in his behalfThe third 22 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 eaulings which were streak'd and

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.

Ant. 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?
Shy. I cannot tell; I make it gain as fast :-
But note me, signior.

Ant.
Mark you this, Bassanio,
The devil can cite Scripture for his

purpose.

65

70

75

80

85