Supply your present wants, and take no doit

Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me :
This is kind I offer.

105

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 ine 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.

ΙΙΟ

115

Ant. Content, in faith; I'll seal to such a bond, And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

Bass. You shall not seal to such a bond for me: I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

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.

120

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.

125

130

135

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.

140

[Exit SHYLOCK.

Hie thee, gentle Jew.

Ant. 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. [Exeunt.

ACT 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 sun,
To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,
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.

C

5

ΙΟ

Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes:
Besides, the lottery of my destiny

15

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, renownèd 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.

20

25

30

35

You must take your chance;

And either not attempt to choose at all,

Or swear, before you choose,-if you choose wrong, 40 Never to speak to lady afterward

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 44 Your hazard shall be made.

Laun. Certainly, my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew, my master. The fiend is at mine elbow, and tempts me, saying to me, Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot, or good Gobbo, or good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away. My conscience says,—No; take heed, honest Launcelot; take heed, honest Gobbo; or, (as aforesaid,) honest Launcelot Gobbo; do not run; scorn running with thy heels. Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack; Via! says the fiend; away! says the fiend; rouse up a brave mind, says the fiend, and run. Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me,—My honest friend Launcelot, being an honest man's son, budge not. Budge, says the fiend. Budge not, says my conscience. Conscience, say I, you counsel well; fiend, say I, you counsel well: to be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who is a kind of devil; and, to run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil himself. Certainly, the Jew is the very devil incarnation; and, in my conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly counsel :

I will run, fiend; my heels are at your commandment;

I will run.

Enter Old GOBBO, with a Basket.

26

Gob. Master, young man, you, I pray you, which is the way to Master Jew's?

'Master, young gentleman, I pray you.'

Laun. [Aside.] O heavens, this is my true-begotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravelblind, knows me not:-I will try confusions with him.

32 Gob. Master, young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to Master Jew's?

Laun. Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your left;