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:
But note me, Signior.

Ant. Mark you this, Bassanio,

The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.
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 falshood hath!
Shy. Three thousand ducats,

round sum.

'tis a good

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:

Still have I bofne it with a patient shrug;
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe;
You call me - misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit 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 à stranger cur
Over your threshold; 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 spit 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 spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not As to thy friends; (for when did friendship take A breed for barren metal of his friend?) But lend it rather to thine enemy;

Who if he break, thou may'st with better face Exact the penalty.

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 mouies, 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; l'll seal to such a bond, And say, there is much kindness in the Jew. Bass. You shall not seal to

for me,

I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

such a bond

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 friendship:
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
Of an unthrifty knave; and presently

I will be with you.

Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew.

[Exit.

This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. Bass. I like not fair terms, and a villain's

mind.

Ant. Come on; in this there can be no dismay, My ships come home a month before the day.

A CT II.

SCENE I.

Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.

Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Morocco, and his train; PORTIA, NERISSA, and other of her Attendants,

Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd suu,
To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus? fire scarce thaws the isicles,
And let us make incision for your love,

To prove whose blood is reddest, his, or mine.
I tell thee, Lady, this aspect of mine

Hath fear'd the valiant; by my love, I swear,
The best regarded virgins of our clime

Have lov'd it too; I would not change this hue,
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle Queen.
Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes:
Besides, the lottery of my destiny'

Bars me the right of voluntary choosing:
But, if my father had not scanted me,

And hedg'd me by his wit, to yield myself
His wife, who wins me by that means I told you,
Yourself, renowned Prince, then stood as fair,

As any comer I have look'd on yet,
For my affection.

Mor. Even for that I thank you;

Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets,
To try my fortune. By this scimitar,

That slew the Sophy, and a Persian Prince,
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman

I would out-stare the sternest eyes that look,
Out brave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she
bear,

Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win thee, Lady; But, alas the while!
If Hercules, and Lichas, play at dice
Which is the better man, the greater throw
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand:
So is Alcides beaten by his page;

And so may I, blind fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain,
And die with grieving.

. Por. You must take our chance;

And either not attempt to choose at all.
Or swear, before you choose,

wrong,

Never to speak to lady afterward

if you choose

In way of marriage; therefore be advis'd.

Mor. Nor will not; come, bring me unto my

chance.

Por. First, forward to the temple; after dinner

Your hazard shall be made.

Mor. Good fortune then!

[Cornets.

To make me bless't, or cursed'st among men.

[Exeunt.