Shewing the crueltie of GERNUTUS a JEW, who lending to a marchant an hundred crownes, would have a pound of his fleshe, because he could not pay him at the time appointed.
IN Venice town not long agoe
A cruel Jew did dwell,
Which lived all on usurie,
As Italian writers tell.
Gernutus called was the Jew,
Which never thought to die,
Nor never yet did any good
To them in streets that lye.
His life was like a barrow hogge,
That liveth many a day,
Yet never once doth any good,
Untill men will him slay.
Or like a filthy heap of dung,
That lyeth in a hoord ;
Which never can do any good,
Till he be spread abroad.
So fares it with this usurer,
He cannot sleep in rest,
For feer the theefe doth him pursue
To pluck him from his nest.
His heart doth think on many a wile
How to deceive the poore;
His mouth is almost full of mucke,
Yet still he gapes for more.
His wife must lend a shilling,
For every weeke a penny,
Yet bring a pledge that's double worth,
If that you will have any.
And see (likewise) you keepe your day,
Or else you loose it all:
This was the living of his wife,
Her cow she doth it call.
Within that citie dwelt that time
A merchant of great fame,
Which being distressed in his need,
Unto Gernutus came:
Desiring him to stand his friend,
For twelve moneth and a day,
To lend to him a 100 crownes,
And he for it would pay
Whatsoever he would demand of him
And pledges he should have:
No (qd. the Jew with fleering lookes)
Sir aske what you will have.
penny for the loane of it
For one yeere you shall pay;
You may do me as good a turne,
Before my dying day.
But we will have a merry jeast
For to be talked long:
You shall make me a bond (quoth he)
That shall be large and strong.
And this shall be the forfeiture,
Of
your own fleshe a pound,
If you agree, make you the bond,
And here's a hundred crownes.
The second part of the Jew's crueltie; setting forth the mercifullnesse of the Judge towards the Merchant.
With right good will the merchant said,
And so the bond was made,
When twelve months and a day drew on
That back it should be payd.
The merchant's ships were all at sea,
And money came not in;
Which way to take, or what to doe
To thinke he doth begin.
And to Gernutus straight he comes
With cap and bended knee,
And sayd to him of curtesie
I pray you bear with me.
My day is come, and I have not
The money for to pay:
And little good the forfeiture
Will doe you I dare say.
With all my heart, Gernutus said,
Command it to your minde;
In things of bigger weight than this
You shall me readie finde.
He goes his way; the day once past
Gernutus doth not slacke
To get a Serjeant presentlie,
And clapt him on the backe.
And layd him into prison strong,
And sued his bond withall;
And when the judgment day was come,
For judgment he doth call.
The merchant's friends came thither fast,
With many a weeping eye,
For other means they could not find,
But he that day must dye.
Some offered for his 100 crownes
Five hundred for to pay;
And some a thousand, two or three,
Yet still he did denay.
And at the last 10,000 crownes
They offered him to save,
Gernutus said, I will no gold
My forfeit I will have.
A pound of flesh is my demand,
And that shall be my hyre.
Then said the judge yet my good friend
Let me of you desire,
To take the flesh from such a place
As yet you let him live;
Doe so, and lo an 100 crownes.
To thee here will I give.
No, no, quoth he, no judgment here
For this it shall be tryde,
For I will have my pound of fleshe
From under his right side.
It grieved all the companie
His crueltie to see,
For neither friend nor foe could help
But he must spoyled bee.
The bloudie Jew now ready is
With whetted blade in hand, To spoyle the bloud of innocent, By forfeit of his bond.
And as he was about to strike
In him the deadly blow:
Stay (quoth the judge) thy crueltie,
I charge thee to do so.
Sith needs thou wilt thy forfeit have,
Which is of flesh pound:
See that thou shed no drop of bloud,
Nor yet the man confound.
For if thou doe, like murtherer,
Thou here shalt hanged be:
Likewise of flesh see that thou cut
No more then longs to thee.
For if thou take either more or lesse
To the value of a mite,
Thou shalt be hanged presently,
As is both law and right.
Gernutus now waxt frantic mad,
And wotes not what to say:
Quoth he at last, 10,000 crownes,
I will that he shall pay.
And so I grant to set him free:
The Judge doth answere make,
You shall not have a penny given,
Your forfeiture now take.
At the last he doth demand,
But for to have his owne :
No, quoth the Judge, doe as you list,
Thy judgment shall be showne.
Either take your pound of flesh, (qd. he)
Or cancell me your bond:
O cruell Judge, then quoth the Jew,
That doth against me stand.
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