Shy.

Bass.

Shy.

storm! 65

Why, look you, how you
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.

This were kindness.

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. Ant. Content, i'faith; I'll seal to such a bond

And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

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;

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75

80

85

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 Abram, what these Christians are,

Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect
The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this;

90

68. No doit.-The doit was a small Dutch coin; it is here used in the sense of "a very small sum," as we say, "I won't take a farthing." 73. Notary.--An officer authorized to attest contracts or writings of any kind, to give them the evidence of authenticity.

74. Your single bond.-Shylock means that he is willing to accept the name of Antonio, without requiring another surety.

77. Condition.--Agreement.

77. Forfeit.-Literally that which is put out of doors; hence breach of

contract.

78. An equal pound.---That is, a just pound.

81. I'fuithin faith, the saying is equal to our “vertainly.”

90. Suspect to suspect.

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 so estimable, profitable neither,
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say,
To buy his favour I extend this friendship;
If he will take it, so; if not, adieu;

And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not.
Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.
Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's;
Give him direction for this merry bond,
And I will go and purse the ducats straight,
See to my house, left in the fearful guard
Of an unthrifty knave, and presently
I will be with you.

95

100

105

[Exit Shylock.

The Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind.

Bass. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.

Ant.

Come in; in this there can be no dismay;
My ships come home a month before the day.

92. Break his day.-Neglect to fulfil his promise.

95. Estimable.-the word here means valuable, fit to be reckoned. 95. Profitable, i.e. for business purposes.

110

96. Muttons, beefs.-Norman-French equivalents for sheep and oxen. It is worthy of remark that the flesh of sheep and oxen (Saxon) when prepared for the table was known by the Norman-French mutton and beef.

97. Ertend, i.e. offer, literally stretch out.

99. For my love, i.e. for the sake of my love.

103. Straight, i.e. at once, forthwith.

107. Hie haste or hasten.

107. Exit.--Latin for "goes out.'

This word, and its plural exeunt, are

constantly found in plays, as directions to the players.

109. Villain.-Originally, a serf attached to a villa or farm. In modern usage, one extremely depraved, and capable or guilty of great crimes.

II.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.

ACT iv. SCENE 1.-THE TRIAL.

[This scene represents the trial of Antonio before the Duke of Venice. Antonio had been unable to repay Shylock the borrowed money, his ships having been wrecked. Shylock is therefore determined to claim the "pound of flesh." The Duke of Venice expected a learned lawyer from Padua to assist him in his judgment; but Portia, Bassanio's wife, persuaded this lawyer to let her undertake the task instead of him. She arrives at the court of justice, dressed as a doctor of law, with her maid Nerissa dressed as a lawyer's clerk. In this disguise Portia is not recognized by her husband Bassanio, nor does Nerissa's husband, who is also present as a friend of Bassanio, recognize her. The only other person who takes part in this scene, is Salerio, another friend of Bassanio. The speeches of Gratiano (Nerissa's husband), the letter of the lawyer to the Duke, and one or two other speeches not necessary to the due understanding of the piece, are omitted on account of the great length of this scene.]

SCENE: VENICE, a court of justice.

Duke. What, is Antonio here?

Ant.

Ready, so please your grace.

Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come to answer

A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch,

Uncapable of pity, void and empty

From any dram of mercy.

Ant.

I have heard

Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify

5

His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate,
And that no lawful means can carry me

Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose

My patience to his fury, and am arm'd
To suffer, with a quietness of spirit

The very tyranny and rage of his.

10

2. Your grace.-The style of address given to a duke and an arch

bishop.

5. Uncapalle.-We should now say "incapable," that is,

contain."

"not able to

6. Dram.-A small weight; here used for "the smallest quantity."

8. Qualify. In this place the word means 9. Obdurate.--Hard-hearted.

'to appease,

""to soften."

Dule. Go, one, and call the Jew into the court.

[Enter SHYLOCK.]

Make room, and let him stand before our face.
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought,

15

Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange 20
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty ;

And where thou now exact'st the penalty,

Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,
Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture,

From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint,
From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train'd
To offices of tender courtesy.

purpose;

We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.
Shy. I have possess'd your grace of what I
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of my bond;

18. Fashion.-Appearance; pretence.

35

24. Forfeiture. That which Antonio had agreed to pay; the pound of flesh.

26. Moiety.-Half; "moiety of the principal" would therefore be 1500 ducats. In ordinary usage this word now often means merely a small part.

30. Commiseration. - Pity.

31. Brassy.-Hard as brass.

32. Turks and Tartars.-Even now a wild, untamable, cruel person is spoken of as a "Turk," or a Tartar."

33. Courtesy.-Politeness; thoughtfulness for the feelings of others. 35. I have possess'd your grace.--I have informed you.

36. Our holy Sabbath.-The Sabbath was a very sacred institution amongst the Jews; to swear "by our holy Sabbath" was therefore one of the most solemn oaths a Jew could utter.

If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter and your city's freedom.
Some men there are love not a gaping pig,
Some, that are mad if they behold a cat.
Now, for your answer;

As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;

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45

So can I give no reason, nor I will not,

More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing

I bear Antonio, that I follow thus

A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd?

50

Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,

To excuse the current of thy cruelty.

Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answers.
Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love?

Shy.

Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first.

Shy.

Ant.

What, would'st thou have a serpent sting thee twice?
I pray you, think you question with the Jew:
You may as well go stand upon the beach
And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
You may as well use question with the wolf
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;
You may as well forbid the mountain pines
To wag their high tops and to make no noise,

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60

39. Charter.-A writing which bestowed certain rights and privileges upon a city.

47. Lodged.-Fixed, immovable.

49. Suit.-Action at law.

52. To please thee with my answers.-Emphasis on the word thee. It is as though Shylock said, "Why do you interfere? I am not talking to you."

57. With the Jew.-This line no doubt means 66

Pray bear in mind it is

a Jew you are talking to." Place the emphasis on the word Jew.

58. Beach.-Sea-shore.

59. Main flood.—The tide.