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 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, 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 to you? SHYLOCK 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.
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 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 Shall I bend low and in a bondman'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 moneys'? ANTONIO 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 mayst with better face Exact the penalty. SHYLOCK 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 moneys, and you'll not hear me:
This is kind I offer. BASSANIO 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 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. 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 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 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. ANTONIO Yes Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. SHYLOCK 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. ANTONIO Hie thee, gentle Jew.
Exit Shylock The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind. BASSANIO I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. ANTONIO Come on: in this there can be no dismay;My ships come home a month before the day.
