READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, scene iii |
|
Act I, Scene iii:
Venice. A public place
Venice. A public place
| [Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK.] |
| SHYLOCK: |
| Three thousand ducats; well? |
| BASSANIO: |
| Ay, sir, for three months. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| For three months; well? |
| BASSANIO: |
| For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| Antonio shall become bound; well? |
| BASSANIO: |
| May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your |
| answer? |
| SHYLOCK: |
| Three thousand ducats, for three months, and Antonio bound. |
| BASSANIO: |
| Your answer to that. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| Antonio is a good man. |
| BASSANIO: |
| Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? |
| SHYLOCK: |
| 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, land-thieves and |
| water-thieves,—I mean pirates,—and then there is the peril of |
| waters, winds, and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, |
| sufficient. Three thousand think I may take his bond. |
| BASSANIO: |
| Be assured you may. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| I will be assured I may; and, that I may be assured, I |
| will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio? |
| BASSANIO: |
| If it please you to dine with us. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| 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] |
| BASSANIO: |
| This is Signior Antonio. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| [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! |
| BASSANIO: |
| Shylock, do you hear? |
| SHYLOCK: |
| 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?[To ANTONIO]Rest you fair, good signior; |
| Your worship was the last man in our mouths. |
| ANTONIO: |
| 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.[To BASSANIO]Is he yet possess'd |
| How much ye would? |
| SHYLOCK: |
| Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. |
| ANTONIO: |
| And for three months. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| 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. |
| ANTONIO: |
| I do never use it. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep,— |
| This Jacob from our holy Abram was, |
| As his wise mother wrought in his behalf, |
| The third possessor; ay, he was the third,— |
| ANTONIO: |
| And what of him? Did he take interest? |
| SHYLOCK: |
| 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 |
| 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 act, |
| The skilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands, |
| And, in the doing of the deed of kind, |
| He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes, |
| Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time |
| Fall parti-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's. |
| This was a way to thrive, and he was blest; |
| And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not. |
| ANTONIO: |
| 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. |
| Was this inserted to make interest good? |
| Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams? |
| SHYLOCK: |
| I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast. |
| But note me, signior. |
| ANTONIO: |
| Mark you this, Bassanio, |
| The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. |
| An evil soul producing holy witness |
| Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, |
| A goodly apple rotten at the heart. |
| O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! |
| SHYLOCK: |
| Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum. |
| Three months from twelve; then let me see the rate. |
| ANTONIO: |
| Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you? |
| SHYLOCK: |
| Signior Antonio, many a time and oft |
| In the Rialto you have rated me |
| About my moneys and my usances; |
| Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, |
| For suff'rance is the badge of all our tribe; |
| You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, |
| And spet 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 moneys.' You say so: |
| You that did void your rheum upon my beard, |
| And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur |
| Over your threshold; moneys 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 whisp'ring humbleness, |
| Say this:— |
| 'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; |
| You spurn'd me such a day; another time |
| You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies |
| I'll lend you thus much moneys?' |
| ANTONIO: |
| I am as like to call thee so again, |
| To spet 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 mayst with better face |
| Exact the penalty. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| Why, look you, how you storm! |
| 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. |
| BASSANIO: |
| This were kindness. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| 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. |
| ANTONIO: |
| Content, in faith; I'll seal to such a bond, |
| And say there is much kindness in the Jew. |
| BASSANIO: |
| You shall not seal to such a bond for me; |
| I'll rather dwell in my necessity. |
| ANTONIO: |
| 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. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| O father Abram, what these Christians are, |
| Whose own hard dealings 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. |
| ANTONIO: |
| Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. |
| SHYLOCK: |
| 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'll be with you. |
| ANTONIO: |
| Hie thee, gentle Jew. |
| [Exit SHYLOCK] |
| This Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind. |
| BASSANIO: |
| I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. |
| ANTONIO: |
| Come on; in this there can be no dismay; |
| My ships come home a month before the day. |
| [Exeunt] |
|
|
||||
|
