Bas. If it please you to dine with us. Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjured the devil into 123 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? Bas. This is signior Antonio. [Exit BASSANIO. 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 24 I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Bas. Re-enter BASSANIO with ANTONIO. 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? [To ANTONIO. Your worship was the last man in our mouths. 23 -to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the Nazarite, conured the devil into!] See 8th c. St. Matthew, v. 30.... 24 catch him once upon the hip,] Dr. Johnson says the expres... sion is taken from the practice of wrestling. Ant. Shylock, albeit, I neither lend nor borrow, Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,25 Shy. I had forgot,-three months, you told me so. Shy. When Jacob graz'a his uncle Laban's sheep, This Jacob from our holy Abraham 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, 28 The skilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands," Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's. 25 -ripe wants of my friend,] Wants come to the height-wants hat can have no longer delay. 26 Is he yet possess'd] Id est, acquainted-informed. 27 29 -eanlings] Lambs just dropt. -certain wands,] A wand in Shakespeare's time was the usual term for what we now call a switch.—Malone. 30 Fall] To let fall. nd those were Jacob's.] See Genesis xxx, 37. This was a way to thrive, and he was blest; Ant. 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. An evil soul producing holy witness O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath !32 Shy. Three thousand ducats,-'tis a good round sur. 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 monies, and my usances:33 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 monies;' You say so; You, that did void your rheum upon my beard, And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur 31_The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.] See: St. Matthew iv. 6. 32 O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!] Falsehood, whics, as truth means honesty, is taken here for treachery and knavery, does not stand for falsehood in general, but for the dishonesty now operatingJoHNSON. 33 and my usances:] Usance in our authors time signified interest of money. Over your threshhold; monies is your suit, 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, As to thy friends; (for when did friendship take But lend it rather to thine enemy; Who, if he break, thou may'st with better face Shy. Why, look you, how you storm! I would be friends with you, and have your love; Of usance for my monies, and you'll not hear me : Ant. This were kindness. In such a place, such sum, or sums, as are Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken .. 34 A breed of barren metal of his friend?] A breed, that is, interest money bred from the principal. The epithet barren implies that money is a barren thing, and cannot, like corn and cattle, multiply itself. Ant. Content, in faith; I'll seal to such a bona, And say, there is much kindness in the Jew. Bas. 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 Abraham, what these Christians are, A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. I will be with you. Ant. [Exit. [Exeunt. fearful guard] A guard not to be trusted, but gives cause of fear. "I like not fair terms] Kind words-good language. › |