Por. That he hath a neighbourly Charity in him, for he borrow'd a Box of the Ear of the English-man, and fwore he would pay him again when he was able. I think the French-man became his Surety, and fealed under for another.

Ner. How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony's Nephew?

Por. Very vildly in the Morning when he is fober, and moft vildly in the Afternoon when he is drunk; when he is beft, he is a little worfe than a Man, and when he is worst, he is little better than a Beaft; and the worft Fall that ever fell, I hope I fhall make fhift to go without him.

Nor. If he fhould offer to chufe, and chufe the right Casket, you should refuse to perform your Father's Will, if you should refufe to accept him.

Por. Therefore for fear of the worst, I pray thee fet a deep Glafs of Rhenifh Wine on the contrary Casket, for if the Devil be within, and the Temptation without, I know he will chufe it. I will do any thing, Neriffa, e'er I will be marry'd to a Spunge.

Ner. You need not fear Lady the having any of these Lords, they have acquainted me with their Determination, which is indeed to return to their Home, and to trouble you with no more Suits, unless you may be won by fome other fort than your Father's Impofition, depending on the Caskets.

Per. If I live to be as old as Sibilla, I will die as chafte as Diana, unlefs I be obtain'd by the manner of my Father's Will: I am glad this Parcel of Wooers are fo reafonable, for there is not one among them but I doat on his very Abfence, and with them a fair Departure.

Ner. Do you not remember, Lady, in your Father's time, a Venetian, a Scholar and a Soldier that came hither in Company of the Marquifs of Mountferrat?

Por. Yes, yes, it was Baffanio, as I think, fo was he call'd.

Ner. True Madam, he of all the Men that ever my foolish Eyes look'd upon, was the beft deferving a fair Lady.

Por. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy Praife.

Enter

Enter a Servant.

Ser. The four Strangers feek you, Madam, to take their Leave; and there is a Fore-runner come from a fifth, The Prince of Morocco, who brings Word the Prince his Mafter will be here to Night.

Por. If I could bid the Fifth welcome with fo good Heart as I can bid the other four farewel, I fhould be glad of his Approach; if he have the Condition of a Saint, and the Complexion of a Devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me. Come Neriffa, Sirrah go before; whiles we shut the Gate upon one Wooer, another knocks at the Door. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. Venice.

Enter Baffanio and Shylock.

Shy. Three thoufand Ducats, well.
Baff. Ay Sir, for three Months.

Shy. For three Months, well.

Baff. For the which, as I told you,

Anthonio fhall be bound.

Shy. Anthonio fhall become bound, well,

Ball. May you ftead me? Will you pleasure me?

Shall I know your Answer?

Shy. Three thoufand Ducats for three Months,

And Anthonio bound.

Baff. Your Anfwer to that.

Shy. Anthonio is a good Man:

Baff. Have you heard any Imputation to the contrary?

Shy. No, no, no, no; my Meaning in faying he is a good Man, is to have you understand me, that he is fufficient? yet his Means are in fuppofition: He hath an Argofie bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand moreover upon the Ryalto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other Ventures he hath fquandred Abroad. But Ships are but Boards, Sailers but Men; there be Land Rats, and Water Rats, Water Thieves and Land Thieves, I mean Pyrates; and then there is the Peril of Waters, Winds, and Rocks; the Man is notwithstanding fufficient; three thousand Ducats, I think I may take his Bond.

F 3

Baff

Baff. Be affur'd you may.

Few. I will be affur'd I may; and that I may be affur'd, I will bethink me; may I fpeak with Anthonio? Baff. If it pleafe you to dine with us.

Jew. Yes, to fmell Pork, to eat of the Habitation which your Prophet the Nazarite conjur'd the Devil into ; I will buy with you, fell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and fo following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.

What News on the Ryalto; who comes here?

Enter Anthonio.

Baff. This is Signior Anthonio.

Few. [Afide.] How like a fawning Publican he looks! I hate him, for he is a Chriftian:

But more, for that in low Simplicity

He lends out Mony Gratis, and brings down
The Rate of Ufance here with us in Venice;
If I can catch him once upon the Hip,

I will feed fat the antient Grudge I bear him.
He hates our facred Nation, and he rails

Even there where Merchants most do congregate,
On me, my Bargains, and my well-worn Thrift,
Which he calls Intereft. Curfed be my Tribe
If I forgive him.

Baff. Shylock, do you hear?

Shy. I am debating of my prefent Store,
And by the near Guefs of my Memory,
I cannot inftantly raise up the Gross

Of full three thoufand Ducats: What of that?
Tuball, a wealthy Hebrew of my Tribe,
Will furnish me; but foft, how many Months
Do you defire? Reft you fair, good Signior,
Your Worship was the laft Man in our Mouths.
Anth. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow
By taking, nor by giving of Excefs,

Yet to fupply the ripe Wants of my Friend,
I'll break a Cuftom. Is he
yet poffeft

How much he would?

Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand Ducats.
Anth. And for three Months.

[To Anth.

Shy. I had forgot, three Months you told me fo; Well then, your Bond: But let me fee, but hear you Methoughts you faid, you neither lend nor borrow Upon Advantage.

Anth. I did never ufe it.

Shy. When Jacob graz'd his Uncle Laban's Sheep,
This Jacob from our holy Abraham was,
As his wife Mother wrought in his behalf,
The third Poffeffer, ay, he was the third.
Anth. And what of him, did he take Intereft?
Shy. No, not take Intereft, not as you would fay
Directly Intereft; wark what Jacob did.

When Laban and himself were compromiz'd
That all the Ewelings which were streak'd and pied
Should fall as Jacob's Hire; the Ewes being rank,
In end of Autumn turned to the Rams;

And when the Work of Generation was
Between these woolly Breeders, in the A&
The skilful Shepherd pil'd me certain Wands,
And in the doing of the Deed of Kind,
He ftuck them up before the fulfome Ewes,
Who then conceiving, did in Yeaning time
Fall party-colour'd Lambs and thofe were Jacob's.
This was a way to thrive, and he was bleft;
And Thrift is Bleffing, if Men steal it not.

Anth. This was a Venture, Sir, that Jacob ferv'd for; A thing not in his Power to bring to pafs,

But fway'd and fashion'd by the Hand of Heav'n:
Was this inferted to make Intereft good?

Or is your Gold and Silver Ewes and Rams?
Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast;
But note me, Signior.

Anth. Mark you this, Baffanio,

The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil Soul producing holy Witnefs,
Is like a Villain with a failing Cheek,
A goodly Apple rotten at the Heart,
O what a godly Outfide Falfhood hath!

Shy. Three thoufand Ducats, 'tis a good round Sum. Three Months from twelve, then let me fee the Rate. Anth, Wel, Shylock, fhall we be beholding to you?'

F 4

Shy.

Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a Time and oft,
In the Ryalto you have rated me,
About my Monies and my Ufances:
Still have I born it with a patient Shrug,
For Sufferance in the Badge of all our Tribe';
You call me Misbeliever, Cut-throat Dog,
And fpit upon my Jewish Gaberdine,

And all for ufe of that which is mine 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 ftranger Cur
Over your Threshold: Monies is your Suit,
What should I fay to you? Should I not fay,
Hath a Dog Mony? is it poffible

A Cur fhould lend three thoufand Ducats? or
Shall I bend low, and in a Bondman's Key
With bated Breath, and whispering Humbleness,
Say this Fair Sir, you fpet on me on Wednesday laft ;
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 so again,
To fpit 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,

Who if he break, thou may'ft with better Face
Exa& the Penalties.

Shy. Why look you how

you ftorm.

I would be Friends with you, and have your Love, Forget the Shames that you have ftain'd me with, Supply your prefent Wants, and take no Doit

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

Baff. This were Kindness.

Shy. This Kindness will I fhow;

Go with me to a Notary, feal me there
Your fingle Bond, and in a merry Sport