Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will: I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable; for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absenoe, 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 soldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montserrat ?

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

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!

Enter a Servant. Serv. The four strangers seek 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.

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.- Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door.

[Ereunt.

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

Shy. Antonio shall become bound, -well.
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. Bass. Hare you heard any imputation to the contrary?

shy. Ho, no, no, no, no ;-my meaning, in saying he

sailors but men: there be land roups are but boards, will furnish me. But soft : How many months Do you desire ?-Rest you fair, good signior; Your worship was the last man in our mouths.

I water-thieves, D

(To Antonio.) Ant. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow,

11 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; understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, --and other ventures squandered abroad. But

and water.1

-rats, and land-thieves--I mean, pirates; and hen, there is the peril of

waters, winds, and rocks.man is, sand ducats :- I think, 1 may take his bond.

notwithstanding, sufficient-three thouBass. 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 ? mara

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
He lends out money gratis,

low simplicity,
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: Cursed be my tribe,
101

I forgive him!
Bass.
Shy. I am debating of my present store ;

Shylock, do you hear ?
And, by the near guess of my memory,
I cannot instantly raise up the gross
of fall three thousand ducats : What of that ?
Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

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

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
Ant. 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.
Ant.

I'do

never use it. Shy: When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheepThis 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? Directly interest; mark what' Jacob did.

Shy. No, not take interest ; not, as you would say, When Laban and himself were compromised, That all the eanlings which were strenk'd, nud 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 peeld me certain wands, And, in the doing of the deed of kind, He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes; Who, then conceiving, did in enning time Fall party-colourd lambs, and those were Jacob's. This was a way to thrive, and he was blest; And thrift is blessing, ir ien steal it not.

Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served 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 sim. Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate.

Ant. Well, Shylock, sball 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 :
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug;
Por 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 80 :
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 duca's ? 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 courtesins
ru 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 of barren metal of his friend ?)
But lend it rather to thine enemy
Who, if he break, thou may'st with better face
Shy.

Why, look you, how you storm! I would be friend

th 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 shew
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
n what part of your body pleaseth me.

Exact the penalty.

Ant. Content, in faith ; I'll seal to such a bond,
Aud 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
or thrice three times the value of this bond.

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.

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.
Ant.

Hie thee, gentle Jew.
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. [8.ceunt.

[E.rit.

.

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 Phæbus' 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