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I should 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, Nerissa. Sirrah, go before; while we shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door. [Exeunt.

Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK.

Shy. Three thousand ducats? Well. (22)
Bass. Ay, sir, for three months.

Shy. For three months? Well. (23)

Bass. For the which, as I told you, Anthonio shall be bound.

Shy. Anthonio shall become bound? Well. Bass. May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?

(22) In Shylock we have the Ralph of Hudibras, (drawn in fig. 2) and the Iago of Othello.

(23) From the repeated use of the word well here, (and the same might have been observed on many occasions) I apprehend there is an allusion to Bassanio's head having its prototype in the same shadows, which, in Hudibras and in the plays, have been frequently assimilated to a well. And as Balthazar's head (Hamlet's Horatio) is the same as Bassanio's, but turned a different way, Portia's mention in the third act of her having ever found him true, denotes his origin, by a reference to the common adage of truth lying in a well.

Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, and Anthonio bound?

Bass. Your answer to that.

Shy. Anthonio is a good man. [contrary? Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the Shy. 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 argosie 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, squander'd 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 the waters, winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient; three thousand ducats? I think I may take this bond.

Bass. Be assured you may.

Shy. I will be assur'd I may; and that I may be assur'd, I will bethink me. May I speak with Anthonio?

Bass. If it pleases you to dine with us.

Shy. Yes, to smell pork; (24) to eat of the ha

(24) To smell pork. Bassanio's head, with the addition of Gratiano's adjoining to it, are together often likened to a pig's head, which, as with its nose turned to the north, they sufficiently resemble.

bitation, which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjur'd 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 Ryalto?-who is he comes here?

Enter ANTHONIO.

Bass. This is Signior Anthonio.

[looks!

Shy. [Aside] How like a fawning publican he

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,
Ev'n 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 (25) a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

(25) Tubal I apprehend to be the same as Colon in Hu

Will furnish me: but soft, how many months
Do you desire? Rest you fair, good signior; [To An.
Your worship was the last man in our mouths.

Anth. Shylock, although I neither lend nor By taking, or by giving of excess,

[borrow, Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, I'll break a custom-Is he yet possest

How much you would?

Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

Anth. 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.

Anth. I do never use it.

[sheep,

Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncl e Laban's
Anth. 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! [sum.
Shy. Three thousand ducats! 'tis a good round
Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate.

dibras, drawn ante fig. 21. (viz. Cerdon turned upside down) as such, he is bearded like a Jew; and wealthy, as being covered with marks of light like coins.

Anth. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you?
Shy. Signior Anthonio, many a time and oft,
On the Ryalto (26) you have rated me,
About my monies and my usances.

Still have I borne it with a patient shrug ;
(For suffrance is the badge of all our tribe)
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine :
And all for use of that which is my 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 money 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 bondsman's key,
With bated breath, and whisp'ring humbleness,
Say this; fair sir, you spit on me, last Wednesday,
You spurn'd me, such a day; another time,
You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies
I'll lend you thus much monies ?

(26) The frequent mention of the Ryalto may be referable to the circular form of the moon, any portion of which, and particularly the half-moon, may be considered as resembling the arch of a bridge.

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