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This was a way to thrive, and he was bleft;
And thrift is bleffing, if men fteal it not.

ANTH. This was a venture, Sir, that Jacob ferv'd for; A thing not in his pow'r to bring to pass,

But sway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heav'n.

Was this inferted to make int'reft good?

Or, is your gold, and filver, ewes and rams?
SHY. I cannot tell; I make it breed as faft;-
But note me, Signior.

ANTH. Mark you this, Baffanio?

The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.
An evil foul, producing holy witness,

Is like a villain with a smiling cheek;
A goodly apple rotten at the heart.

O, what a goodly outfide falfhood hath ?

SHY. Three thousand ducats!-'tis a good round fum. Three months from twelve, then let me fee the rate. ANTH. Well, Shylock, fhall we be beholden to you? SHY. Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft

In the Rialto you have rated me,

About my monies and my ufances.

Still have I born it with a patient shrug;
(For fufferance is the badge of all our tribe)
You call me mifbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine;
And all for use of that, which is my own.
Well then, it now appears, you need my help:
Go to then ;-you come to me, and you fay,
Shylock, we would have monies; you fay fo
You that did void your rheume upon my beard,
And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold-Money is your fuit:
What should I say to you? fhould I not say,

Hath a dog mony? is it poffible,

A cur can lend three thousand ducats? or

Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key,
With bated breath, and whifp'ring humbleness,
Say this, fair Sir, you spit on me last Wednesday,
You fpurn'd me fuch a day; another time
You call'd me dog, and for these curtefies
I'll lend you thus much monies?

ANTH. I am as like to call thee fo again,
To spit on thee again, to fpurn thee too.
If thou wilt lend this mony, lend it not
As to thy friend, (for when did friendship take
A breed of barren metal of his friend)?

But lend it rather to thine enemy;

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Who, if he break, thou may'ft with better face
Exact the penalty.

SHY. Why, how you ftorm?

I would be friends with you, and have your love
Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with;
Supply your prefent wants, and take no doit
Of ufance for my monies, and you'll not hear me
This is kind I offer.

ANTH. This were kindness.

SHY. This kindness will I show:
Go with me to a notary, feal me there
Your fingle bond; and in a merry sport,
If you repay me not on fuch a day,

In fuch a place, fuch fum, or fums, as are
Exprefs'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 it fhall please me.

ANTH. Content, in faith. I'll feal to fuch a bond, And fay, there is much kindness in the Jew.

BASS. You shall not feal to fuch a bond for me,
I'll rather dwell in my neceffity.

ANTH. 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!
Whofe own hard dealings teach them to fufpect
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 fo estimable or profitable,

As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I fay,
To buy his favour, I extend this friendship;
If he will take it, fo; if not, adieu;

And for my love I pray you wrong me not.

ANTH. Yes, Shylock, I will feal unto this bond.
SHY. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's.

Give him direction for this merry bond,

And I will go and purfe the ducats strait;
See to my house, left in the fearful guard
Of an unthrifty knave, and presently

I will be with you.

ANTH. Hie thee, gentle Jew.

This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind.

[Exit.

BASS. I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind.
ANTH. Come on, in this there can be no dismay;

My fhips come home a month before the day.

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCEN.E I.

BELMONT.

Enter Morochius, a tawney-moor, all in white; and three or four followers accordingly; with Portia, Neriffa, and her train. Flourish cornets.

MOROCHI U S.

MISLIKE me not for my complexion,

The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd fun,
To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the ificles,
And let us make incifion for your love,
To prove whofe blood is reddeft, his or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath fear'd the valiant; by my love, I fwear,
The best regarded virgins of our clime
Have lov'd it too. I would not change this hue,
Except to fteal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
POR. In terms of choice I am not folely led
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes:
Befides, the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary chufing.

But if my father had not fcanted me,
And hedg'd me by his will to yield myself

His wife, who wins me by that means I told you;
Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair,
As any comer I have look'd on yet,

For my affection.

MOR. Ev'n for that I thank you;

Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets
To try my fortune. By this fcimitar,

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That flew the Sophy and a Perfian prince,
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
I would out-stare the sternest eyes that look,
Out-brave the heart moft daring on the earth,
Pluck the young fucking cubs from the she-bear,
Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win thee, lady. But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lichas play at dice
Which is the better man, the greater throw
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand:
So is Alcides beaten by his page;

And fo may I, blind fortune leading me,

Mifs that, which one unworthier may attain;
And die with grieving.

POR. You must take your chance,

And either not attempt to chufe at all,

Or fwear, before you chufe at all, if you chufe wrong,
Never to speak to lady afterward

In way of marriage. Therefore be advis'd.

MOR. Nor will not. Come, bring me to my chance.
POR. First, forward to the temple. After dinner

Your hazard fhall be made.

MOR. Good fortune then,

[Cornets.

To make me bleft, or cursed'st among men ! [Exeunt.

SCENE II. Changes to Venice.

Enter Launcelot alone.

LAUN. Certainly, my confcience will ferve me to run from this Jew my mafter. The fiend is at mine elbow, and tempts me, faying to me, Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot, or good Gobbo, or good Launcelot Gobbo, ufe your legs, take the ftart, run away. My confcience

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