Shy.

My own flesh and blood to rebel!

Salarino.

But tell us, do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no?

Shy.

There I have another bad match: a bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto; a beggar, that was used to come so smug upon the mart. — Let him look to his bond! he was wont to call me usurer;let him look to his bond: he was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy ;-let him look to his bond!

Salarino.

Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh? What's that good for?

Shy.

To bait fish withal! if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses,, affections, passions? fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute; and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.

Solanio.

Here comes another of the tribe: a third cannot be matched, unless the devil himself turn Jew.

[Exeunt Solanio and Salarino R. I. E. Enter Tubal L. I. E.

Shy.

How now, Tubal ? what news from Genoa? hast thou found my daughter?

Tub.

I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her.

Shy.

Why, there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now: two thousand ducats in that; and other precious, precious jewels. I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! would she were hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! No news of them? - Why, so:- and I know not what 's spent in the search. Why, thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief; and no satisfaction, no revenge: nor no ill luck stirring but what lights o' my shoulders; no sighs, but o' my breathing; no tears, but o' my shedding.

Hath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis.

Shy.

I thank God! I thank God!

Is it true? is it true?

Tub.

I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wreck.

Shy.

I thank thee, good Tubal; ha! ha! Where? in Genoa?

Good news, good news!

Tub.

Your daughter spent in Genoa, as, I heard, one night, fourscore ducats.

Shy.

Thou stick'st a dagger in me!—I shall never see my gold again. Fourscore ducats at a sitting! fourscore ducats!

Tub.

There came divers of Antonio's creditors in my company to Venice, that swear he cannot choose but break.

Shy.

I am very glad of it. I'll plague him; I'll torture him. I am glad of it.

Tub.

One of them showed me a ring, that he had of your daughter for a monkey.

Shy.

Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal: it was my turquoise; I had it of Leah, when I was a bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys.

Tub.

But Antonio is certainly undone.

Shy.

Nay, that's true, that 's very true. Go, Tubal, fee me an officer; bespeak him a fortnight before: I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for were he out of Venice I can make what merchandise I will. Go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal. [Exeunt.

CURTAIN.

Scene First.

Act Fourth.

VENICE. A COURT OF JUSTICE. THE
DUKE, THE MAGNIFICOES, ANTONIO,
BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALARINO, SO-
LANIO, SALERIO, AND OTHERS

ERED.

DISCOV

What, is Antonio here?

Duke.

Ant.

Ready, so please your grace.

Duke.

I am sorry for thee; thou art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch

Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.

I have heard

Ant.

Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify
His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate,
And that no lawful means can carry me

Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose

My patience to his fury; and am armed
To suffer, with a quietness of spirit,
The very tyranny and rage of his.

Duke.

Go one, and call the Jew into the court.

Solanio.

He's ready at the door: he comes, my lord.

Duke.

[Enter Shylock R. I. E.

Make room, and let him stand before our face.
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act; and then, 't is thought,
Thou 'lt show thy mercy and remorse, more strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty:

And where thou now exact'st the penalty
(Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh),
Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture,
But, touched with human gentleness and love,
Forgive a moiety of the principal;
Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,
That have of late so huddled on his back,
Enough to press a royal merchant down,
And pluck commiseration of his state

From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint,
From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never trained
To offices of tender courtesy.

We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

Shy.

I have possessed your grace of what I purpose;
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of my bond:
If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter and your city's freedom.
You'll ask me why I rather choose to have
A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive
Three thousand ducats. I'll not answer that:
But, say, it is my humour: Is it answered?
What if my house be troubled with a rat,
And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats
To have it baned? What, are you answered yet?
Some men there are love not a gaping pig;
Some, that are mad if they behold a cat: