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? 40

Enter ANTONIO.

Bass. This is Signior Antonio.

84

Should fall as Jacob's hire, the ewes, being rank,
In 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,
And, in the doing of the deed of kind,
He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes,

Shy. [Aside.] How like a fawning publican Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time

88

56

A goodly apple rotten at the heart.

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? [To ANTONIO.] Rest you fair,
good signior;

60

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, 64
I'll break a custom. [To BASSANIO.] Is he yet
possess'd

How much ye would?

108

112

Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft
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 spet 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, 116
'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

120

A cur can lend three thousand ducats?' or
Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key, 124
With bated breath, and whispering humbleness,
Say this:-

'Fair sir, you spet on me on Wednesday last;
You spurn'd me such a day; another time 128
You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies
I'll lend you thus much moneys?'

132

Ant. I am as like to call thee so again,
To spet 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;
136
Who if he break, thou mayst 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,

140

Supply your present wants, and take no doit
Ofusance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me:
This is kind I offer.

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 MO-
ROCCO, and his Followers; PORTIA, NERISSA,
and Others of her Train.

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, 4
Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incision for your love,
To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.
148 I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine

145

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.

152

Ant. Content, i' 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.
156
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. 160
Shy. O father Abram! what these Christians
are,

Whose own hard dealing 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?

165

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, 168
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.

176

Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. [Exit SHYLOCK. This Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind. Bass. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.

180

8

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.
Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes;
Besides, the lottery of my destiny
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, renowned prince, then stood as fair 20
As any comer I have look'd on yet
For my affection.

16

24

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 outstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth, 28
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.

32

36

You must take your chance;
And either not attempt to choose at all,
Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong,
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage: therefore be advis'd.

41

your left; 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? 49

Laun. Talk you of young Master Launcelot? [Aside.] Mark me now; 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.

56 Laun. Well, let his father be what a' will, we talk of young Master Launcelot. Gob. Your worship's friend, and Launcelot,

sir.

60

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.

64

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 learning,—is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven. Gob. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very

Enter LAUNCELOT GOBBO. 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; 'for the heavens, rouse upa 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,'-or rather an honest woman's son;-for, indeed, my father did some-staff of my age, my very prop. thing smack, something grow to, he had a kind of taste;—well, my conscience says, 'Launcelot, 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, God bless the mark! 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 Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, Jew is the very devil incarnal; and, in my con- you might fail of the knowing me: it is a wise science, my conscience is but a kind of hard con- father that knows his own child. Well, old man, science, to offer to counsel me to stay with the I will tell you news of your son. Give me your Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly counsel: blessing; truth will come to light; murder canI will run, fiend; my heels are at your command-not be hid long; a man's son may, but, in the ment; I will run.

72

Laun. [Aside.] Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or a prop? Do you know me, father?

Gob. Alack the day! I know you not, young gentleman: but I pray you, tell me, is my boy,God rest his soul!-alive or dead?

Laun. Do you not know me, father? Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind; I know you not.

33 end, truth will out.

Enter Old GOBBO, with a basket. Gob. Master young man, you; I pray you, which is the way to Master Jew's?

81

88

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,

Laun. [Aside.] O heavens! this is my truebegotten father, who, being more than sand-your child that shall be. blind, high-gravel blind, knows me not: I will try confusions with him.

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

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

94

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.

98

Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own

SCENE III.-The Same. A Room in SHYLOCK's Jew, to sup to-night with my new master, the