Than when 'twas styled the granary of great Rome, Can yield our numerous fry bread: we must starve, Or eat up one another.

Ador. The king hears With much attention.

Ast. And seems moved with what Bertholdo hath deliver❜d.

Bert. May you live long, sir,

The king of peace, so you deny not us
The glory of the war; let not our nerves

Shrink up with sloth, nor, for want of employment,
Make younger brothers thieves: it is their swords, sir,
Must sow and reap their harvest. If examples

May move you more than arguments, look on England
The empress of the European isles,

And unto whom alone ours yields precedence ;
When did she flourish so, as when she was ·

The mistress of the ocean, her navies
Putting a girdle round about the world?

Ador. In his looks he seems

To break ope Janus' temple.

Ast. How these younglings Take fire from him!

Ador. It works an alteration

Upon the king.

Ant. I can forbear no longer :

War, war, my sovereign!

Ful. The king appears

Resolved, and does prepare to speak.

Rob. Think not

Our counsel's built upon so weak a base,
As to be overturn'd, or shaken, with
Tempestuous winds of words. As I, my lord,
Before resolved you, I will not engage
My person in this quarrel; neither press
My subjects to maintain it: yet, to show
My rule is gentle, and that I have feeling

O' your master's sufferings, since these gallants, weary
Of the happiness of peace, desire to taste
The bitter sweets of war, we do consent
That, as adventurers and volunteers,

No way compelled by us, they may make trial,

Of their boasted valours.

Bert. We desire no more.

Rob. 'Tis well; and, but my grant in this, expect not Assistance from me. Govern, as you please,

The province you make choice of; for, I vow
By all things sacred, if that thou miscarry
In this rash undertaking, I will hear it
No otherwise than as a sad disaster,
Fallen on a stranger; nor will I esteem
That man my subject, who, in thy extremes,
In purse or person aids thee. Take
your fortune:
You know me; I have said it. So, my lord,
my absolute answer.

You have

MASSINGER.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.

First Selection.

Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK.

Shy. Three thousand ducats,-well.

Bass. Ay, sir, for three months.

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? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?

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. O 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?

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
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 tribe,
If I forgive him!

Bass. Shylock, do you hear?

Shy. 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 ?—Rest you fair, good signior,

[TO ANTONIO.

Your worship was the last man in our mouths.

Ant. 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 :-Is he yet possessed
How much you would?

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.

Ant. I do never use it.

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
About my monies and my usances:
Still have I born it with a patient shrug;
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe :
You called me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spat 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 monies": You say so;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold; monies 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 whispering humbleness,
Say this,-

Fair sir, you spat on me on Wednesday last;
You spurned me such a day; another time
You called me Dog; and for these courtesies
I'll lend you thus much monies"?

Ant. 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 may'st with better face
Exact the penalties.

Shy. Why, look you, how you storm!

I would be friends with you, and have your love;
Forget the shames that you have stained me with ;
Supply your present wants, and take no doit

Of usance for my monies, and you'll not hear me :
This is kind I offer.

Ant. This were kindness.

Shy. 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
Expressed 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, in 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; 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, Whose own hard dealing teaches them suspect 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 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.

ΣΕ