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 Nazarite1 conjured the devil into.2 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?3

Who is he comes here?

Bassanio This is Signior1 Antonio.

[Exits L., to meet him.]

Shylock. [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,5 and brings down
The rate of usance 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.

If I forgive him!

Curséd be my tribe

1 Nazarite (năz'ȧ-rīt): Nazarene.

2 conjured (kun'jerd) the devil into. Matthew viii. 31-32 gives the story of how Jesus allowed the devils he had cast out of two afflicted men to enter a herd of swine, and of how the swine then ran down into the sea and were drowned.

3 Rialto (ri-ǎl'tō): the board of trade at Venice, also a certain bridge near there.

5

4 Signior (sen'yer): Mr.

gratis (gratis): for nothing.

6 usance (uz'ăns): interest. To charge any interest at all was wrong according to the Christians of that time.

Antonio and Bassanio have entered conversing, and now they

approach.

Antonio. Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow,

Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,

I'll break a custom.

Shylock. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft

In the Rialto you have rated1 me

About my moneys and my usances.

Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance2 is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,3
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?"
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,

But lend it rather to thine enemy,

Of whom if he break, thou mayst with better face
Exact the penalty.

1 rated: berated, abused.

2 sufferance: bearing with patience.

3 gaberdine (găb'er-dēn): the long outer garment or frock that the Jews wore.

Go to: an expression of admonition or rebuke. The accent, which falls upon the second word, shows much of the strength of the feeling. 5 rheum: spittle, saliva.

Shylock.

Why, look you, how you storm!

I would supply your wants, and take no doit1

Of usance for my moneys.

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,

Let the forfeit

Be a pound

Of your fair flesh, to be cut off

In what part of your body pleaseth me.

Antonio. Content, i' faith,3 I'll seal to such a bond.
Bassanio. You shall not seal to such a bond for me.
Antonio. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it.
Within these two months, that's a month before
This bond expires, I do expect1 return

Of thrice three times the value of this bond.
Shylock. If you will take it, so; if not, adieu.
Antonio. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.
Shylock. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's.
Antonio. Come on; in this there can be no dismay;"
My ships come home a month before the day.
[They cross in front of Shylock, and he follows them away R.]

ACT II

A street before Shylock's house

Bassanio enters [R.], tagged at the heels by Launcelot. Bassanio. [To Launcelot.] What would you?5

1 doit: a Dutch coin of insignificant value.

2 Your single bond. Shylock means that he will require no signatures of endorsers; Antonio's own signature will be enough.

3' faith: in faith: pronounced I-fath'.

4 do expect: old style for expect. Do is not emphatic.

5 What would you? What would you have? What do you wish?

Bassanio. I know thee well; thou hast obtained thy suit.
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,
And recommended thee. If thou dost wish
To leave a rich Jew's service to become
The follower of so poor a gentleman,
Take leave of thy old master, and inquire

My lodging out.

Return in haste, for I do feast tonight

My best esteemed acquaintance. Hie thee, go.

[Exit Bassanio L.]

Launcelot goes into the Jew's house [C.].

He returns presently with Jessica.

1

Jessica. I am sorry 1 thou wilt leave my

father so.

But fare thee well, there is a ducat for thee;
And Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest.
Give him this letter; do it secretly;

And so farewell.

Launcelot. Adieu! tears stop my tongue.

Jessica. Farewell, good Launcelot.

She turns to go into the house, and thinking Launcelot gone, says, half to herself,

O Lorenzo,

If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,

Become a Christian, and thy loving wife. [Exit Jessica.]

Launcelot moves away regretfully, and from looking backward and not watching where he is going, almost bumps into Lorenzo and Gratiano, who are entering [L.].

Lorenzo. Friend Launcelot, what's the news?

Launcelot. If it shall please you to open this [Gives him the letter], it shall seem to signify.

1

sorry. Jessica regrets Launcelot's departure not only out of politeness, but because Shylock's household is naturally a very sad and solemn one, and Launcelot, who has been one of the servants, is a merry fellow.