be won by fome other fort than your 'father's impofition, depending on the caskets.

Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chafte as Diana, unlefs I be obtain'd by the manner of my father's will. I am glad this parcel of wooers are fo reasonable; for there is not one among them but I doat on his very abfence, and wish them a fair departure.

Ner. Do you not remember, Lady, in your father's time, a Venetian, a fcholar and a foldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Mountferrat? Por. Yes, yes, it was Baffanio; as I think he was fo 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 forerunner 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 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 fhould thrive me, than wive me. Come, Neriffa. Sirrah, go before; while we fhut the gate upon one woper, another knocks at the door. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. A public place in Venice.
Enter Baffanio and Shylock.

Shy. Three thousand ducats? well.
Baff. Ay, Sir, for three months.

Shy. For three months? well.

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

Shy. Anthonio fhall become bound? well.

Baff. May you ftead me? will you pleafure me? fhall I know your answer ?

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

Baff. Your anfwer to that.

Shy. Anthonio is a good man.

Baff. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary. Shy. No, no, no, no; my meaning, in faying he is a good man, is to have you understand me, that he is fufficient Yet his means are in fuppofition: he hath an Argofie bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Ryalto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England; and other ventures he hath fquander'd abroad. But fhips 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, notwithstanding, fufficient; three thoufand 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 fpeak with Anthonio? Baff. If it please you to dine with us.

Shy. Yes, to fmell pork; to eat of the habitation which your Prophet the Nazarite conjur'd 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 Ryalto? -who is he comes here? Enter Anthonio.

Baff. This is Signior 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 ufance 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 facred nation; and he rails,
Ev'n 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!

VOL II.

L

Ball

Shy. I am debating of my present store,
And by the near guets of my memory,
I cannot inftantly raife up the grofs

Of full three thoufand ducats: what of that?
Tuball, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,
Will furnish me; but foft, how many months
Do you defire? Reft you fair, good Signior;

[To Anth
Your Worship was the last man in our mouths.
Anth, Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow,
By taking, nor by giving of excefs;

Yet, to fupply the ripe wants of my friend,
I'll break a cuftom.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 month's you told me fo;: Well then, your bond; and let me fee,- but hear you, Methought you faid you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage.

Anth. I do never use it.

Shy. When Jacob gras'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 int'reft; not, as you would fay, Directly, int'reft; mark what Jacob did.

When Laban and himself were compromis'd,
That all the yeanlings, which were ftreak'd and pied,
Should fall as Jacob's hire; the ewes, being rank,
In th' end of autum turned to the rams;
And when the work of generation was
Between thefe 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 yeaning time
Fall party-colour'd lambs, and thofe were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive, and he was blefs'd;
And thrift is bleffing, if men fteal it not.

F

Anth.

Anth. This was a venture, Sir, that Jacob ferv'd for; A thing not in his power to bring to pafs, But fway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heav'n. ! Was this inferted to make int'rest good? Or is your gold and filver, ewes and rams ? Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast; But note me, Signior.

Anth. Mark you this, Baffanio?

The devil can cite fcripture for his purpose.
An evil foul, producing holy witness,
Is like a villain with a fmiling cheek;
A goody apple rotten at the heart.

O, what a goodly outfide's falfehood hath!

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 Ryalto you have rated me,

About my monies and my ufances.
Still have I borne it with a patient fhrug;
(For fufferance is the badge of all our tribe.)
You call me mifbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And fpit upon my Jewish gaberdine;
And all for ufe of that which is my own.
Well then, it now appears, you need my help:
Go to then; you come to me, and you fay,
Shylock, we would have monies; you fay fo;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me, as you fpurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold: money is your fuit;
What fhould I fay to you? fhould I not say,
Hath a dog money? Is it poffible

A cur can lend three thousand ducats? Or,
Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key,
With bated breath, and whisp'ring humbleness,
Say this,-Fair Sir, you fpit on me last Wednesday,
You fpurn'd me fuch a day; another time
You call'd me dog; and for these curtefies
I'll lend you thus much monies ?

Anth. I am as like to call thee fo again,
To fpit on thee again, to spurn thee too.
If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not

As to thy friend, (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
Exact the penalty.

Shy. Why, how you ftorm?

I would be friends with you, and have your love;
Forget the fhames that you have ftain'd me with;
Supply your present wants, and take no doit
Of ufance for my monies, and you'll not hear me.
This is kind I offer.

Anth. This were kindness.

Shy. This kindness will I show;

Go with me to a notary, seal me there
Your fingle bond; and, in a merry sport,
If you repay me not on fuch a day,
In fuch a place, fuch fum, or fums, as are
Exprefs'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 it fhall please me.
Anth. Content, in faith; I'll feal to fuch a bond,
And fay, there is much kindness in the Jew.

Baff. You shall not feal to fuch a bond for me,
I'll rather dwell in my neceflity.

Anth. 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 are ! Whofe own hard dealings teach them to fufpe&t The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this, If he fhould break his day, » hat fhould I gain By the exaction of the forfeiture?

A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man,

Is not fo eftimable or profitable,

As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I fay,
To buy his favour, I extend this friendship;
If he will take it, fo; if not, adieu;

* Breed of metal, meaning money at ufury, money that breeds more. The old editions (two of them) have it, A bribe of barren metal.

And