der'd abroad: But ships are but boards, sailors but | men: there be land-rats, and water-rats, waterthieves, and land-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.

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. 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. What news on the Rialto?-Who || is he comes here?

Enter Antonio.

Bass. This is signior Antonio.

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

I hate him, for he is a Christian :

But more, for that, in low simplicity,
He lends out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
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: Cursed be my tribe,
If I forgive him!

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

Of full three thousand ducats: What of that?
Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,
Will furnish me: But soft; How many months
Do you desire?-Rest you fair, good signior;
[To Antonio.

And in the doing of the deed of kind,3
He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes ;
Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time
Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive, and he was blest;
And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.

Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob serv'd
for;

A thing not in his power to bring to pass,
But sway'd and fashion'd, by the hand of heaven,
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 falsehood hath!
Shy Three thousand ducats,-'tis a good round

sum.

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 :4
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 monies; You
say so;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me, as you spurn a 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 bondsman's key,
With 'bated breath, and whispering humbleness,
Say this,-

Your worship was the last man in our mouths.
Ant. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow,|| Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last ;

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,2
How much you would?

Shy.

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
Ant. And for three mouths.
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.
Ant.

I do never use it.

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

Ant. And what of him? did he take interest?
Shy. No, not take interest; not, as you would say,
Directly interest: mark what Jacob did.
When Laban and himself were compromis'd,
That all the eanlings which were streak'd, and
pied,

Should fall as Jacob's hire; the ewes, being rank,
In the end of autumn turned to the rams:
And when the work of generation was
Between these woolly breeders in the act,
The skilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands,

(1) Wants which admit no longer delay.

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 monies, 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.
(4) Interest.

(2) Informed.

(3) Nature.

Ant. Content, in faith: I'll seal to such a bond,|| That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,-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.

Shy. O father Abraham, what these Christians

[Exit. SCENE II-Venice. A street. Enter Launce

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 dis-run from this Jew, my master: The fiend is at mine

MERCHANT OF VENICE.

lowers.

Act II.

turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your left; || Enter Bassanio, with Leonardo, and other fol-
marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand,
but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house.
Gob. By God's sonties, 'twill be a hard way to
hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that
dwells with him, dwell with him, or no?

Laun. Talk you of young master Launcelot?Mark me now; [aside.] now will I raise the waters -Talk you of young master Launcelot ?

Gob. No master, sir, but a poor man's son; his father, though I say it, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live.

Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we talk of young master Launcelot.

that supper be ready at the farthest by five of the
Bass. You may do so;-but let it be so hasted,
clock: See these letters deliver'd; put the liveries
to making; and desire Gratiano to come anon to
my lodging.
[Exit a servant.

Laun. To him, father.
Gob. God bless your worship!
Bass. Gramercy; Would'st thou aught with me?
Gob. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy,-
Laun. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's
man; that would, sir, as my father shall specify,-
Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would
say, to serve

Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and I have a desire, as my father shall specify,

Gob. Your worship's friend, and Launcelot, sir. Laun. But I pray you ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech you; Talk you of young master Launcelot? Gob. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership. Laun. Ergo, master Launcelot; talk not of master Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman (according to fates and destinies, and such odd sayings; the sisters three, and such branches of learn-Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the ing,) is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would say, father, being I hope an old man, shall frutify unto in plain terms, gone to heaven.

Gob. His master and he (saving your worship's reverence,) are scarce cater-cousins:

you,

Gob. I have a dish of doves, that I would bestow upon your worship; and my suit is,

Gob. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop. Laun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovel-post, a staff, or a prop?-Do Laun. In very brief the suit is impertinent to know me, you Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young gen-old man; and, though father? myself, as your worship shall know by this honest tleman: but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy (God yet, poor man, my father. say it, though old man, rest his soul!) alive, or dead?

Laun. Do you not know me, father?

Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you not. Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me : it is a wise father that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son: Give me your blessing: truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long, a man's son may; but, in the end, truth will out. Gob. Pray you, sir, stand up; I am sure, you are not Launcelot, my boy.

Laun. Pray you, let's have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing; I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be.

Gob. I cannot think you are my son. Laun. I know not what I shall think of that: but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man; and, I am sure, Margery, your wife, is my mother.

Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood. Lord worshipp'd might he be ! what a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill-horse has on his tail.

Laun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tail grows backward; I am sure he had more hair on his tail, than I have on my face, when I last saw him. Gob. Lord, how art thou chang'd! How dost thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present; How 'gree you now?

Bass. One speak for both ;-What would you?
Laun. Serve you, sir.

Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, sir.
Bass. I know thee well, thou hast obtained thy
suit:

Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day,
And hath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment,
To leave a rich Jew's service, to become
The follower of so poor a gentleman.

Laun. The old proverb is very well parted be-
the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough.
tween my master Shylock and you, sir; you have

Bass. Thou speak'st it well: Go, father, with
thy son:-

Take leave of thy old master, and inquire
My lodging out:-Give him a livery

More guarded? than his fellows': See it done.
[To his followers.

I

Laun. Father, in:-I cannot get a service, no;ing on his palm.] if any man in Italy have a fairer I have ne'er a tongue in my head.-Well; [Looktable, which doth offer to swear upon a book.shall have good fortune; Go to, here's a simple fifteen wives is nothing; eleven widows, and nine line of life! here's a small trifle of wives: Alas, maids, is a simple coming-in for one man: and then, to 'scape drowning thrice; and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed ;-here are simple 'scapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, Laun. Well, well; but, for my own part, as II'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of she's a good wench for this gear.-Father, come; have set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest till I have run some ground: my master's a very Jew: Give him a present! give him a halter: I am famish'd in his service; you may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come; give me your present to one master Bassanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries: if I serve not him, I will run as far as God has any ground.-O rare fortune! here comes the man;to him, father; for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer.

(1) Shaft-horse.

Ornamented.

an eye.

[Exeunt Laun. and old Gob.
Bass. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this;
Return in haste, for I do feast to-night
These things being bought, and orderly bestow'd,
My best-esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go.
Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein.
Enter Gratiano.

Gra. Where is your master?
Leon.

Yonder, sir, he walks. [Exit Leonardo.

(3) The palm of the hand extended.

Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice
Parts, that become thee happily enough,
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults;
But where thou art not known, why, there they show
Something too liberal;-pray thee, take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit; lest, through thy wild beha-

viour,

I be misconstrued in the place I go to,
And lose my hopes.

Gra.

Signior Bassanio, hear me
If I do not put on a sober habit,
Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely;
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say, amen;
Use all the observance of civility,
Like one well studied in a sad ostent2
To please his grandam, never trust me more.
Bass. Well, we shall see your bearing.3
Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night; you shall not
gage me

By what we do to-night.

Bass.

No, that were pity;
I would entreat you rather to put on
Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends
That purpose merriment: But fare you well,
I have some business.

Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest;
[Exeunt.
But we will visit you at supper-time.
SCENE III-The same. A room in Shylock's
house. Enter Jessica and Launcelot.
Jes. I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so;
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness:
But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee.
And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest:
Give him this letter; do it secretly,
And so farewell; I would not have my father
See me talk with thee.

Laun. Adieu!-tears exhibit my tongue.-Most beautiful Pagan,-most sweet Jew! If a Christian do not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived: But, adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit, adieu!

[Exit.

:

Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot.-
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me,
To be asham'd to be my father's child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife;
[Exit.I
Become a Christian, and thy loving wife.
SCENE IV-The same. A street. Enter Gra-
tiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio.
Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time;
Disguise us at my lodging, and return
All in an hour.

Gra. We have not made good preparation.
Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torch-
bearers.

(1) Gross, licentious.

(2) Show of staid and serious demeanour.

Laun. An it shall please you to break up this,
it shall seem to signify.

Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand;
And whiter than the paper it writ on,
Is the fair hand that writ.

Gra.

Love-news, in faith.

Laun. By your leave, sir.
Lor. Whither goest thou?

Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew
to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.
Lor. Hold here, take this:-tell gentle Jessica,
I will not fail her;-speak it privately; go.-
[Exit Launcelot.
Gentlemen,
Will you prepare you for this masque to-nignt?
I am provided of a torch-bearer.

Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.
Salan. And so will I.

Lor.

Meet me, and Gratiano,
At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.
Salar. 'Tis good we do so.

[Exeunt Salar. and Salan.
Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
Lor. I must needs tell thee all: She hath directed,
How I shall take her from her father's house;
What gold, and jewels, she is furnish'd with;
What page's suit she hath in readiness.

If e'er the Jew, her father, come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter's sake:
And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
Unless she do it under this excuse,-
That she is issue to a faithless Jew.

Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest:
Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer. [Exeunt.
SCENE V-The same. Before Shylock's house.
Enter Shylock and Launcelot.

Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be
thy judge,

The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio :-
What, Jessica-thou shalt not gormandize,
As thou hast done with me;-What, Jessica!-
And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out ;-
Why, Jessica, I say

Why, Jessica!

Laun
Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.
Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, I
could do nothing without bidding.

Enter Jessica.

Jes. Call you? What is your will?
Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica;
There are my keys:-But wherefore should I go;
am not bid for love; they flatter me:
But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon
The prodigal Christian.-Jessica, my girl,
Look to my house :-I am right loath to go;
For I did dream of money-bags to-night.
There is some ill a brewing towards my rest,

Laun. I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach.

Shy. So do I his.

Laun. And they have conspired together,-I will not say, you shall see a masque; but if you do,

(3) Carriage, deportment.

(4) Invited.

then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleed-Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue. ing on Black-Monday last, at six o'clock i'the morning, falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year in the afternoon.