and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. Who is he comes here? What news on the Rialto? 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 I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear 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? Will furnish me. But soft: How many months Do you desire? [To ANT.] Rest you fair, good signior: 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. [To BASS.] Is he yet possessed Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. Ant. And for three months. Well then, your bond; three months, you told me so. Methought you said, you neither lend nor borrow 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, Directly interest: mark what Jacob did When Laban and himself were compromised That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied, This was a way to thrive, and he was blessed; And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not. Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for; But swayed and fashioned by the hand of Heaven. Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams? Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast. But note me, signior, Ant. Mark you this, Bassanio, The devil can cite scripture for his purpose. O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! Shy. Three thousand ducats, 't is 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 moneys, and my usances: Still have I borne it with a patient shrug; A cur can lend three thousand ducats? or Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, But lend it rather to thine enemy; Who, if he break, thou mayst with better face Shy. Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me: This is kind I offer. Bass. This were kindness. In such a place, such sum, or sums, as are Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken 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 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! A pound of man's flesh taken from a man, Give him direction for this merry bond, I will be with you. Ant. [Exit. [Exeunt. Laun. 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, 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; well, my conscience says, Launcelot, budge not: budge, says the fiend; budge not, says my conscience. Conscience, say I, you counsel well; fiend, say Í, 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 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. SCENE III. Venice. A Room in Shylock's House. Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT. Fes. I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so; But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee. And so farewell: I would not have my father Laun. Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew! If a Christian do not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. But, adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit: adieu! [Exit. Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot. Alack, what heinous sin is it in me, To be ashamed to be my father's child! [Exit. Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SOLANIO. Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, Disguise us at my lodging, and return, All in an hour. Gra. We have not made good preparation. Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers. Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours To furnish us. Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify. Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand; And whiter than the paper it writ on Is the fair hand that writ. |