Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time Fall party-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's. Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob serv'd for; Or is your gold and silver, ewes and rams? Ant. Mark you this, Bassanio, The devil can cite scripture for his purpose. O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! Shy. Three thousand ducats, 'tis a good round sum. 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 : 7 Still have I borne it with a patient shrug; And all for use of that which is mine own. 7-- my usances:] Use and usance are both words anciently employed for usury, both in its favourable and unfavourable sense. But Mr. Riston says, that 'use and usance mean nothing more than interest; and the former word is still used by country people in the same sense. Shylock, we would have monies; You say so; A cur can lend three thousand ducats? or Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last : You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, As to thy friends; (for when did friendship take Who if he break, thou may'st with better face Why, look Shy. Of usance for my monies, and you'll not hear me : 8 Shylock,] Our author, as Dr. Farmer informs me, took the name of his Jew from an old pamphlet entitled: Caleb Shillocke, his Prophesie: or the Jewes Prediction. London, printed for T. P. (Thomas Pavyer.) No date. STEEVENS. 9 A breed for barren metal of his friend?] A breed, that is interest money bred from the principal. By the epithet barren, the author would instruct us in the argument on which the advocates against usury went, which is this; that money is a barren thing, and cannot, like corn and cattle, multiply itself. And to set off the absurdity of this kind of usury, he put breed and barren in opposition. WARBURTON. Ant. This were kindness. This kindness will I show: Go with me to a notary, seal me there Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken Ant. Content, in faith; I'll seal to such a bond, Bass. 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. a guard -left in the fearful guard, &c.] Fearful guard, that is not to be trusted, but gives cause of fear. To fear was anciently to give as well as feel terrours. JOHNSON. Of an unthrifty knave; and presently I will be with you. Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. [Exit. This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. ACT II. SCENE I. Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Morocco, and his Train; PORTIA, NERISSA, and other of her Attend ants. Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, your love, Hath fear'd the valiant;3 by my love, I swear, Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue, 2 To prove whose blood is reddest, his, or mine.] To understand how the tawny prince, whose savage dignity is very well supported, means to recommend himself by this challenge, it must be remembered that red blood is a traditionary sign of courage: Thus Macbeth calls one of his frighted soldiers, a lily-liver'd boy; again, in this play, cowards are said to have livers as white as milk; and an effeminate and timorous man is termed a milksop. JOHNSON. 3 Hath fear'd the valiant,] i. e. terrify'd. To fear is often used by our old writers, in this sense. Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led And hedg'd me by his wit, to yield myself His wife, who wins me by that means I told you, As Mor. You must take your chance; if you choose wrong, Por. 4 chance. · therefore be advis❜d.] Therefore be not precipitant; consider well what you are to do. Advis'd is the word opposite to rash. |