Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, a Venetian, a scholar, and a soldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat ?

Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, so was he called.

ΙΙΟ

Ner. True, madam; he of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deserving a fair lady.

Por. I remember him well; and I remember him worthy of thy praise.-How now! what news? 115

Enter a SERVANT.

Ser. The four strangers seek for you, madam, to take their leave: and there is a forerunner come from a fifth, the prince of Morocco; who brings word, the prince, his master, will be here to-night. 119

Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome, with so good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should be glad of his approach: if he have the condition of a saint, and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me.

Come, Nerissa.-Sirrah, go before.

124

Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another

knocks at the door.

SCENE III. Venice. A public place.

Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK.

Shy. Three thousand ducats,—well.
Bass. Ay, sir, for three months.

Shy. For three months,--well.

[Exeunt.

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

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.

Shy. Antonio is a good man.

1Ο

Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

14

Shy. Ho, 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 understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England; and other ventures he hath, squander'd abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats, and water-rats, land-thieves, 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.

26

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

Bass. If it please you to dine with us.

30

Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the Nazarite, 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.

on the Rialto ?-Who is he comes here?

Enter ANTONIO.

Bass. This is signior Antonio.

What news

37

Shy. [Aside.] How like a fawning publican he

looks!

I hate him for he is a Christian :

But more, for that, in low simplicity,

40

If I can catch him once upon

the hip,

He lends out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation; and he rails,
Even there where merchants most do congregate,
On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift,
Which he calls interest. Cursèd be my tribe,
If I forgive him!

45

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

50

Of full three thousand ducats. What of that?

Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

Will furnish me. But soft! How many months 55 Do you desire ?-Rest you fair, good signior;

[To ANTONIO. Your worship was the last man in our mouths.

Ant. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow,

By taking, nor by giving of excess,

Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,
I'll break a custom.-Is he yet possess'd,

How much you would?

60

Shy.

Ant.

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

And for three months.

Shy. I had forgot,-three months, you told me so. Well then, your bond; and, let me see,--But hear

you;

Methought, you said, you neither lend nor borrow
Upon advantage.

65

Shy. Three thousand ducats,-'tis a good round

sum.

Three months from twelve,-then, let me see, the rateAnt. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you? Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft, 71 In the Rialto, you have rated me

About my moneys, and my usances :
Still have I borne 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 moneys. You say so;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold; moneys 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 moneys.

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.

75

80

85

90

95

100

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,