But ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be landrats and water-rats, land-thieves and water-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. 28 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. 40 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, 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? [To Ant.] Rest you fair, good signior; Your worship was the last man in our mouths. Ant. Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow By taking nor by giving of excess, Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, 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 sheep— This Jacob from our holy Abram 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, The skilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands Who then conceiving did in eaning time 70 Fall parti-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's. And thrift is blessing, if men 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. 80 Was this inserted to make interest good? 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 beholding to you? 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. Shylock, we would have moneys:' you say so; 'Hath a dog money? is it possible suit. A cur can lend three thousand ducats?' Or Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key, 'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; D 100 110 You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not As to thy friends; for when did friendship take But lend it rather to thine enemy, Who, if he break, thou mayst with better face Shy. 120 130 This kindness will I show. Go with me to a notary, seal me there In such a place, such sum or sums as are 140 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. 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 Abram, what these Christians are, Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect 150 The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this; A pound of man's flesh taken from a man And, for my love, I pray you wrong me noć. Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. And I will go and purse the ducats straight, Of an unthrifty knave, and presently I will be with you. Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. 160 [Exit Shylock. The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind. 170 [Exeunt. 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 others attending. Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, |