other 'fort than your father's impofition, depending on

the cafkets.

Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chafte as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will: I am glad this parcel of wooers are so very reasonable; for there is not one among them but I dote on his very abfence, and I pray God grant them a fair departure.

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

Por. Yes, yes, it was Baffanio; as I think, fo he was call'd.

Ner. True, madam; he, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes look'd upon, was the best deserving a fair lady. Por. I remember him well; and I remember him worthy of thy praife.-How now! what news?

Enter a Servant.

Ser. The four ftrangers feek for you, madam, to take their leave and there is a fore-runner come from a fifth, the prince of Morocco; who brings word, the prince, his master, will be here to-night.

3

Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with fo good heart as I can bid the other four farewel, I fhould be glad of his approach if he have the condition of a faint, and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should fhrive me than wive me. Come, Neriffa. Sirrah, go before.--Whiles we fhut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks

t

at the door.

[Exeunt.

fort-means, mode.

the condition]-the difpofition, good qualities.

be should fhrive me than wive me.]be my confeffor, than my husband.

SCENE

SCENE

III.

A publick Place in Venice.

Enter Baffanio and Shylock.

Shy. Three thousand ducats,-well.
Baff. Ay, fir, for three months.

Shy. For three months,―well.

Baff. For the which, as I told you, Anthonio fhall be bound.

Shy. Anthonio fhall become bound,—well.

Baff. May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?

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

Baff. Your answer to that.

Shy. Anthonio" is a good man.

Baff. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no;—my meaning, in saying he is a good man, is, to have you understand me, that he is fufficient: yet his means are in fuppofition: he hath an argofy 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, fquander'd abroad: But ships are but boards, failors but men: there be land rats, and water rats, water thieves, and land thieves; I mean, pirates; and then, there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks: The man is, notwith

is a good man.]-of good credit, in the mercantile fenfe. "We are accounted poor citizens, the Patricians good." CORIOLANUS, A&t I, S. 1. 1 Cit. win fuppofition:]-in fome degree imaginary, being in such a precarious fituation.

standing,

ftanding, fufficient :-three thousand ducats ;-I think, I may take his bond.

Baff. Be affur'd, you may.

Shy. I will be affur'd, I may; and, that I may be affur'd, I will bethink me: May I speak with Anthonio? Baff. If it please you to dine with us.

Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into: I will buy with you, fell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and fo 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?

Enter Anthonio.

Baff. This is fignior Anthonio.

Shy. [Afide.] How like a fawning publican he looks!

I hate him for he is a chriftian:

But more, for that, in low fimplicity,

He lends out money gratis, and brings down

The rate of usance here with us in Venice.

X

If I can catch him once upon the hip,

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

Baff. Shylock, do you hear?

Shy. I am debating of my present store;

K

ufance]-intereft.

y upon the hip,]-at an advantage.

"Now infidel I have thee on the hip."

Gra.

""

A& IV, S. 1. "I'll bave our Michael Caffio on the hip.' OTHELLO, Act II, S. 1. Iago.

And,

And, by the near guess of my memory,
I cannot instantly raise up the grofs

Of full three thousand ducats: What of that?
Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

Will furnish me: But foft; How many months
Do you defire?-Reft you fair, good fignior; [To Anth.
Your worship was the laft man in our mouths.

Anth. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow,

2

By taking, nor by giving of excess,
Yet, to fupply the ripe wants of my friend,
I'll break a custom :-Is he yet poffefs'd,
How much you, would?

Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

Anth. And for three months.

Shy. I had forgot,-three months, you told me fo. Well then, your bond; and, let me fee,-But hear you; Methoughts, you faid, you neither lend, nor borrow, Upon advantage.

Anth. I do never use it.

Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's fheep,This Jacob from our holy Abraham was (As his wife mother wrought in his behalf) The third poffeffor; ay, he was the third.

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

Shy. No, not take intereft; not, as you would fay, Directly intereft: mark what Jacob did. When Laban and himself were compromis'd, That all the deanlings, which were ftreak'd, and py'd, Should fall as Jacob's hire, the ewes, being rank,

In the end of autumn turned to the rams :

excess,]-ufury.

3

ripe]-preffing, which cannot brook delay.

b poffefs'd,]-informed and again in Act IV, S. 1. Shy.

с

were compromis'd,]-had made an agreement. deanlings,]-lambs.

And

'And when the work of generation was
Between these woolly breeders in the act,
The skilful fhepherd peel'd me certain wands,
And, in the doing of the deed of kind,
He ftuck them up before the fulfome ewes ;
Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time

e

Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive, and he was bleft;

And thrift is bleffing, if men fteal it not.

Anth. This was a venture, fir, that Jacob serv'd for ; A thing not in his power to bring to pass,

But fway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heaven.
Was this inferted to make intereft good?

Or is your gold, and filver, ewes and rams?

Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as faft:--
But note me, fignior.

Anth. Mark you this, Bassanio,

The devil can cite fcripture for his purpose.
O, what a godly outside falihood hath!
An evil foul, producing holy witnefs,
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek;
Or goodly apple rotten at the heart.

Shy. Three thousand ducats,-'tis a good round fum. Three months from twelve, then let me fee the rate. Anth. Well, Shylock, fhall we be beholden to you ? Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft

In the Rialto you have rated me

About my monies, and my

Still have I borne it with a patient fhrug;

For fufferance is the badge of all our tribe:
You call'd me-mifbeliever, cut-throat dog,

Fall]-Drop, let fall.

VOL. II.

fufances:

H

fufances:]-rate of intereft.

And