SCENE II. THE MERRY BOND.

Bassanio, knowing nothing about the business world of Venice except where to borrow money, hears that a very rich Jew named Shylock is a likely person to lend him the sum he wants. So he sees Shylock at once, not knowing that this man is Antonio's deadliest enemy. Shylock is greatly astonished at such a request coming, as he supposes, from Antonio, and he is delighted to hear of Antonio's difficulties. He pretends to hesitate, as if the loan were one which he must consider very carefully. Bassanio, not understanding his reason, is greatly irritated.

Enter Bassanio and Shylock.

Shylock [slowly]. Three thousand ducats; well.
Bassanio [sharply]. Aye, sir, for three months.
Shylock. For three months; well.

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

Shylock. Antonio shall become bound; well.

[He stops, and seems to consider. Bassanio [impatiently]. May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?

Shylock [in the same dilatory tone]. Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound.

Bassanio. Your answer to that,
Shylock. Antonio is a good man.

Bassanio [turning quickly upon him]. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

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Shylock [with a slight laugh]. Ho, no, no, no, no: my meaning, in saying he is a good man, is to have you 15 understand me that he is sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath, squandered 20 abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men : there be land-rats 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. [Very slowly.] Three thousand ducats; 25 I think, I may take his bond.

Bassanio. Be assured you may.

Shylock. I will be assured I may; and, that I may be assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio ? Bassanio. If it please you to dine with us.

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Shylock [suddenly changing his quiet tone]. 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, 35 nor pray with you. [Controlling himself again.] What news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here ?

Enter Antonio, who sees at a glance what Bassanio has done. Bassanio. This is Signior Antonio.

[Antonio takes him aside and explains while Shylock watches with eyes of hate.

Shylock [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,

[He turns away, muttering.
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. Cursèd be my tribe
If I forgive him!

Bassanio [coming forward]. Shylock, do you hear?
Shylock. 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. [Bassanio makes an impatient gesture.] What of that?

Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

Will furnish me. But soft! how many months

Do you desire? [To Antonio, pretending to have just caught sight of him for the first time.] Rest you fair, good signior;

Your worship was the last man in our mouths. Antonio [bluntly]. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow,

By taking, nor by giving of excess,

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Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,

I'll break a custom. [To Bassanio.] Is he yet possessed, How much you would?

Shylock.

Aye, aye, three thousand ducats. Antonio. And for three months.

Shylock. I had forgot; three months, [glancing aside to Bassanio] you told me so.

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Well then, your bond; and let me see-But hear you! Methought you said you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage.

Shylock. Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round

sum.

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Three months from twelve; then, let me see; the rateAntonio. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you? Shylock [with a change of tone, looking him full in the face]. 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.

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You called me 'misbeliever', 'cut-throat dog',
And spat 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 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,

A cur can lend three thousand ducats?' or

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Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key,

With bated breath and whispering humbleness,

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Say this,- [He speaks fawningly, with a low bow.
'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last;
You spurned me such a day; another time

You called me-"dog"; and for these courtesies
I'll lend you thus much monies ? '

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Antonio [in great irritation]. 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.

100

Shylock [quietly]. Why, look you, how you storm! I would be friends with you, and have your love, Forget the shames that you have stained me with, 105 Supply your present wants, and take no doit

Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me :
This is kind I offer.

Antonio. This were kindness.
Shylock.

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
Expressed 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.

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Antonio. Content, in faith: I'll seal to such a bond,

And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

Bassanio. You shall not seal to such a bond for me:

I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

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Antonio. 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.

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Shylock [pityingly]. O father Abram! what these Christians are,

Whose own hard dealing teaches them suspect

The thoughts of others ! [To Bassanio.] 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.

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Antonio, Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. Shylock [eagerly]. 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.

Hie thee, gentle Jew.

[Exit.

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Antonio. This Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind. Bassanio. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. 145 Antonio. Come on in this there can be no dismay; My ships come home a month before the day.

SCENE III. LOSS UPON LOSS.

[Exeunt.

Shylock has had a terrible shock in his home life. His only
child Jessica, falling in love with Lorenzo, a young
Venetian, has run away with him and robbed her father
of his gold and jewels. He feels with intense bitterness
that this is a new and worse wrong which Christians have
done to him. He can get no satisfaction, for the lovers
have escaped beyond his reach; and people only laugh
at him, and the boys run after him in the streets, shouting
after him the cry which broke from his lips in the first
moments of his loss, O my ducats! O my daughter !
Justice! my ducats, and my daughter l'

Enter Salanio and Salarino, two friends of Antonio
and of Lorenzo.

Salanio. Now, what news on the Rialto !

Salarino. Why, yet it lives there unchecked, that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wrecked on the narrow seas; the Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the carcasses of many a 5 tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip Report be an honest woman of her word.

Salanio. I would she were as lying a gossip in that as ever knapped ginger. But it is true that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio,-O, that I had a title to good enough to keep his name company !

Salarino. Come, the full stop.