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you； madam； to take their leave； and there is a forerunner come from a
fifth； the Prince of Morocco； who brings word the Prince his master will
be here to…night。 PORTIA。 If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good
heart as I can bid the other four farewell； I should be glad of his approach；
if he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil； I had
rather he should shrive me than wive me。 Come； Nerissa。 Sirrah； go before。
Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer； another knocks at the door。
Exeunt
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
SCENE III。 Venice。 A public place
Enter BASSANIO With SHYLOCK the Jew
SHYLOCK。 Three thousand ducats… well。 BASSANIO。 Ay； sir； for
three months。 SHYLOCK。 For three months… well。 BASSANIO。 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
Tripolis； another to the Indies； I understand； moreover； upon the Rialto； he
hath a third at Mexico； a fourth for England… and other ventures he hath；
squand'red 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 assur'd you may。 SHYLOCK。 I will be assur'd 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 Nazarite；
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。 ＇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 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。 Cursed be my
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
tribe If I forgive him！ BASSANIO。 Shylock； do you hear？ SHYLOCK。 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？ Tubal； a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe； Will furnish me。 But soft！ how
many months Do you desire？ ＇To ANTONIO＇ Rest you fair； good signior；
Your worship was the last man in our mouths。 ANTONIO。 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 BASSANIO＇ Is he yet
possess'd How 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；
Methoughts you said you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage。
ANTONIO。 I do never use it。 SHYLOCK。 When Jacob graz'd 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…
ANTONIO。 And what of him？ Did he take interest？ SHYLOCK。 No； not
take interest； not； as you would say； Directly int'rest； mark what Jacob did：
When Laban and himself were compromis'd That all the eanlings which
were streak'd and pied Should fall as Jacob's hire； the ewes； being rank； In
end of autumn turned to the rams； And when the work of generation was
Between 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 eaning time Fall
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。 ＇Aside＇ 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；
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
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 suff'rance 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 whisp'ring 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； 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 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
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