Shy. For three months,-well. Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. Shy. Antonio shall become bound,-well. Bass. May you stead me? Shall I know your answer? Will you pleasure me? Will you Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound. Bass. Your answer to that. Shy. Antonio is a good man. Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Shy. 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 squandered 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. Bass. Be assured you may. Shy. I will be assured, I may; and, that I may be assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio? Bass. 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. 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. Bass. This is signior Antonio. 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 If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Bass. Shylock, do you hear? Shy. I am debating of my present store, Of full three thousand ducats. What of that? [To ANTONIO. Your worship was the last man in our mouths. Ant. Shylock, albeit I neither lend1 nor borrow, By taking, nor by giving of excess, Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, I'll break a custom.-Is he yet possess'd, quartos. 5 my WELL-WON thrift,] The folio has well-worn, in opposition to both the ALBEIT I neither lend-] The 4to. by Roberts reads although. Is he yet possessed, How much you would?] This is the reading of the 4to. by Heyes: that by Roberts gives it thus 66 are you resolv'd How much he would have?" [In Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. Ant. And for three months. Shy. I had forgot :-three months; you told me so. Well then, your bond; and let me see-But hear you: Methought, you said, you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage. Shy. When Jacob graz'd 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, Directly interest: mark what Jacob did. When Laban and himself were compromis'd, That all the eanlings which were streak'd, and pied, And when the work of generation was 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. In the folio, it is printed as follows: "is he yet possess'd How much he would ?" The first seems the correct text: Antonio, turning and addressing himself to Bassanio, asks if Shylock were "yet possessed" or informed how much he (Bassanio) required. 6 AND thrift is blessing,] So all the old copies in Boswell's Malone, This is printed for " And.” Or is your gold and silver, ewes and rams? Shy. I cannot tell: I make it breed as fast.But note me, signior. Ant. Mark you this, Bassanio, An evil soul, producing holy witness, 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 beholding to you?? Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft, In the Rialto, you have rated me And all for use of that which is mine own. A cur can lend three thousand ducats?" or 66 'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; You spurn'd me such a day; another time 7- shall we be BEHOLDING to you?] See note 8, p. 83. IN the Rialto,] At the commencement of Act iii, Shakespeare alters the expression to "on the Rialto." All the old copies concur in both places. A cur CAN lend-] Folio, should. 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 Shy. Why, look you, how you storm! And you'll not hear me. This is kind I offer. Shy. This kindness will I show. If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum or sums as are 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. 1 A breed for barren metal —] The folio reads " of barren metal.” 2 Exact the PENALTY.] Folio, penalties. |