5

4

IO

5

Shy. For three months ; well.

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

Shy. Antonio shall become bound; well. Bass. May you steadme? will you pleasure

3 me ? shall I know your answer ?

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

Bass. Your answer to that?
Shy. Antonio is a good * man.

Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

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

I stand, moreover, upon the Rialto," he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England; and other ventures " he hath, squandered " 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.

9

10

11

25

May I

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

The Rialto Bridge.

Enter ANTONIO.
Bass. This is Signior Antonio.
Shy. [Aside] How like a fawning publican 94

he looks!
I hate him, for he is a Christian;

14

15

45

16

50

17

up the

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,
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

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 ?—[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
How much ye would ? 20

Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
Ant. And for three months.
Shy. I had forgot ;-three months ; you

55

60

row

70

22

would say,

75

Well then, your bond ; and, let me see,-But hear you :

65
Methought you said you neither lend nor bor-
Upon advantage. 21
Ant.

I do never use it.
Shy. When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's

sheep,-
This Jacob from our holy Abraham was-
As his wise mother wrought in his behalf-
The third a possessor; ay, he was the third.

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

Shy. No, not take interest; not, as you Directly interest : mark what Jacob did, When Laban and himself were compromis'd That all the eaulings which were streak’d and

pied " 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.

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