der'd abroad: But ships are but boards, sailors but And in the doing of the deed of kind,"
men: there be land-rats, and water-rats, water- He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes;
thieves, and land-thieves; I mean, pirates; and Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time
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.
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,
I'll break a custom :-Is he yet possessed,2
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 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 hirc; 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..

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.
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;

Ant.

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:*
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,

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 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.

(2) Informed.

(3) Nature.

(4), Interest.

Ant. Content, in 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 dwell1 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

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.

[Exit.

Hie thee, gentle Jew.

That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,—
I would out-stare the sternest eyes that look,
Out-brave the heart most daring on the earth,
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.
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."
Mor. Nor will not; come, bring me unto my

chance.

Por. First, forward to the temple; after dinner
Your hazard shall be made.
Mor.

Good fortune then! [Cornets. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Venice. A street. Enter Launcelot Gobbo.

To make me bless'd'st, or cursed'st among men.

Laun. Certainly my conscience will serve me to

Ant. 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 may,

My ships come home a month before the day.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-Belmont. A room in Portia's house.
Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince of Mo-
rocco, and his train; Portia, Nerissa, and
of her attendants.

elbow; and tempts me, saying to me, Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot, or good Gobbo, or [Exeunt. 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 other up a 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 Launce lot, being an honest man's son,-or rather an honest woman's son;-for, indeed, my father did something 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 Jew is the very devil incarnation; and, in my conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew: The fiend gives the more friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; my heels are at your commandment, I will run.

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 Phoebus' 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 aspéct of mine
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,
As any comer I have look'd on yet,
For my affection.

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,

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

Laun. [Aside.] O heavens, this is my true begotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel blind, knows me not:-I will try conclusions with him.

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

Laun. Turn up on your right hand, at the next

lowers.

187

turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your Enter Bassanio, with Leonardo, and other fol
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?

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,-
man; that would, sir, as my father shall specify,-
Laun. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's
Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one

would say, to serve

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? the Jew, and I have a desire, as my father shall Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve Gob. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership. specify,Laun. Ergo, master Launcelot; talk not of master Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman reverence,) are scarce cater-cousins: Gob. His master and he (saving your worship's (according to fates and destinies, and such odd sayings; the sisters three, and such branches of Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the learning,) is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would father, being I hope an old man, shall frutify unto say, in plain terms, gone to heaven.

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 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. 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, sure, Margery, your wife, is my mother.

am

a

you,

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

Laun. In very brief the suit is impertinent to old man; and, though I say it, though old man, myself, as your worship shall know by this honest yet, poor man, my father.

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
Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day,
suit:
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 guarded2 than his fellows': See it done.
[To his followers.
Laun. Father, in :-I cannot get a service, no ;-

Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, I have ne'er a tongue in my head.-Well; [lookif thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and ing on his palm.] if any man in Italy have a fairer blood. Lord worshipp'd might he be! what a beard table, which doth offer to swear upon a book.hast thou got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin, I shall have good fortune; Go to, here's a simple than Dobbin my thill-horse' has on his tail. Laun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tail fifteen wives is nothing; eleven widows, and nine line of life! here's a small trifle of wives: Alas, grows backward; I am sure he had more hair on maids, is a simple coming-in for one man: and his tail, than I have on my face, when I last saw him. then, to 'scape drowning thrice; and to be in peril Gob. I.ord, how art thou chang'd! How dost of my life with the edge of a feather-bed ;-here thou and thy master agree? I have brought him are simple 'scapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, present; How 'gree you now? I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of she's a good wench for this gear.-Father, come; [Exeunt Laun. and old Gob. These things being bought, and orderly bestow'd Bass. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this; Return in haste, for I do feast to-night My best-esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go. Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein, Enter Gratiano. Gra. Where is your master? Leon.

I

Laun. Well, well; but, for my own part, as 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: 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. (2) Ornamented.

an eye.

Yonder, sir, he walks.
Exit Leonardo.

(3) The palm of the hand extended.

Jes. Call you? What is your will?

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

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.

What, art thou come?-On, gentlemen, away; Enter Gratiano and Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.