For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.
SHYLOCK
Antonio shall become bound, well.
BASSANIO
May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?
SHYLOCK
Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound.
BASSANIO
Your answer to that.
SHYLOCK
Antonio is a good man.
BASSANIO
Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?
SHYLOCK
Ho, no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is sufficient.Yet his means are in supposition: he hath an argosy bound to TripolisTripoli, a Mediterranean trading city associated here with overseas merchant voyages., another to the Indies.I understand, moreover, upon the RialtoThe Rialto, Venice’s principal commercial and financial district, where merchants met and conducted business., he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath squandered abroad.But ships are but boards, sailors but men; there be land-rats and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves—I mean pirates—and 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.
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.
SHYLOCK
Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the NazariteA person consecrated to God under a biblical vow, especially Samson, whose uncut hair was the sign of his strength., 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.
BASSANIO
This is Signior Antonio.
SHYLOCK
How like a fawning publican he looks!I hate him for he is a Christian,But more for that in low simplicityHe lends out money gratis, and brings downThe rate of usanceinterest charged for the use of lent money. 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 tribeIf I forgive him!
BASSANIO
Shylock, do you hear?
SHYLOCK
I am debating of my present store,And by the near guess of my memoryI cannot instantly raise up the grossOf full three thousand ducats. What of that?Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,Will furnish me. But soft! how many monthsDo you desire? Rest you fair, good signior,Your worship was the last man in our mouths.
ANTONIO
Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrowBy taking nor by giving of excess,Yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend,I’ll break a custom. Is he yet possess’dHow much ye would?
SHYLOCK
Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
ANTONIO
And for three months.
SHYLOCK
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 borrowUpon advantage.
ANTONIO
I do never use it.
SHYLOCK
When Jacob graz’d his uncle Laban’sLaban, the biblical father of Leah and Rachel, who employed Jacob and became his father-in-law. sheep,—This Jacob from our holy Abram wasAs his wise mother wrought in his behalf,The third possessor; ay, he was the third.
ANTONIO
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 compromis’dThat all the eanlingsa young lamb. which were streak’d and piedShould fall as Jacob’s hire, the ewes being rankIn end of autumn turned to the rams,And when the work of generation wasBetween these woolly breeders in the act,The skilful shepherd pill’d me certain wands,And in the doing of the deed of kind,He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes,Who then conceiving did in eaningthe giving birth of sheep to lambs. timeFall parti-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.
ANTONIO
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?
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 witnessIs 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 oftIn the Rialto you have rated meAbout my moneys and my usances.Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,(For suff’rance is the badge of all our tribe.)You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine,And all for useinterest or profit charged on lent money. 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 curOver your threshold, moneys is your suit.What should I say to you? Should I not say“Hath a dog money? Is it possibleA cur can lend three thousand ducats?” OrShall I bend low and, in a bondman’s key,With bated breath and whisp’ring humbleness,Say this:“Fair sir, you spet on me on Wednesday last;You spurn’d me such a day; another timeYou call’d me dog; and for these courtesiesI’ll lend you thus much moneys”?
ANTONIO
I am as like to call thee so again,To spet on thee again, to spurn thee too.If thou wilt lend this money, lend it notAs to thy friends, for when did friendship takeA breed for barren metal of his friend?But lend it rather to thine enemy,Who if he break, thou mayst with better faceExact 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 doita small coin of very little value.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 thereYour single bonda legal bond for which one person alone is liable, without sureties.; and in a merry sport,If you repay me not on such a day,In such a place, such sum or sums as areExpress’d in the condition, let the forfeitBe nominated for an equal poundOf your fair flesh, to be cut off and takenIn what part of your body pleaseth me.
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.
ANTONIO
Why, fear not, man, I will not forfeit it,Within these two months, that’s a month beforeThis bond expires, I do expect returnOf thrice three times the value of this bond.
SHYLOCK
O father Abram, what these Christians are,Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspectThe thoughts of others. Pray you, tell me this,If he should break his dayto fail to pay or perform an obligation on the appointed day., what should I gainBy 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 guardOf an unthrifty knave, and presentlyI’ll be with you.
ANTONIO
Hie thee, gentle Jew.
Exit Shylock.
ANTONIO
This 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.