As his wise mother wrought in his behalf, 16 And what of him? did he take interest? SHYLOCK. No, not take interest, not, as you would say, Directly interest: mark what Jacob did When Laban and himself were compromised '7 That all the eanlings 18 which were streak'd and pied Should fall as Jacob's hire. 19 This was a way to thrive, and he was blest: And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not. ANTONIO. 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. Was this inserted 20 to make interest good? Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams? SHYLOCK, I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast: But note me, signior. ANTONIO. Mark you this, Bassanio,21 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! SHYLOCK. Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum. Three months from twelve; then, let me see; the rate ANTONIO. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding 22 to you? 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. Over your What should I say to you? Should I not say A cur can lend three thousand ducats?" Or Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; ANTONIO. I am as like to call thee so again, 26 Who if he break, thou mayst with better face SHYLOCK. Why, look you, how you storm! Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me : BASSANIO. This were kindness. This kindness will I show. Go with me to a notary, seal me there In such a place, such sum or sums as are Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me. ANTONIO. Content, i' 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 30 in my necessity. 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. SHYLOCK. O father Abram, what these Christians are, Whose own hard dealings teaches 31 them suspect The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this; A pound of man's flesh taken from a man Is not so estimable, profitable neither, And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not. ANTONIO. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. SHYLOCK. The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind. [Exit SHYLOCK. BASSANIO. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. ANTONIO. 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 MOROCCO and his train; PORTIA, NERISSA, and others attending. MOROCCO. I Mislike me not for my complexion, To prove whose blood is reddest,2 his or mine. I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine Hath fear'd3 the valiant: by my love, I swear Bars me the right of voluntary choosing: 6 And hedged me by his wit, 7 to yield myself For my affection. MOROCCO. Even for that I thank you: Which is the better man, the greater throw And so may I, blind fortune leading me, PORTIA. 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 advised.13 MOROCCO. Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance. Your hazard shall be made. MOROCCO. Good fortune then! [Cornets, and exeunt. To make me blest or cursed'st among men. SCENE II. Venice. A street. Enter LAUNCELOT. I 66 66 LAUNCELOT. 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,2 rouse 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 Launcelot, being an honest man's son," or rather an honest woman's son; for indeed my father did something smack, something grow to,3 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 incarnal; 5 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 command; I will run. 66 66 66 Enter OLD GOBBO, with a basket. 66 66 GOBBO. Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way to master Jew's? LAUNCELOT. [Aside] O heavens, this is my true-begotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel-blind, knows me not: I will try confusions with him. GOBBO. Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to master Jew's ? LAUNCELOT. Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your left; marry, at the very next |