you. What news on the Rialto?-Who is he comes here? 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, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear 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? Will furnish me: But soft; How many months Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,3 3 the ripe wants of my friend,] Ripe wants are wants come to the height, wants that can have no longer delay. 4 -possess'd,] i. e. acquainted, informed. 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. Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep, Ant. And what of him? did he take interest? say, Directly interest: mark what Jacob did. Ant. 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? 6 the eanlings-] Lambs just dropt: from ean, eniti. Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast:- Ant. An evil soul, producing holy witness, Shy. Three thousand ducats,-'tis a good round sum. Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate. About my monies, and my usances:7 Still have I borne it with a patient shrug; And all for use of that which is mine own. And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur A cur can lend three thousand ducats? or 7 my usances:] Use and usance are both words anciently employ'd for usury, both in its favourable and unfavourable sense. But Mr. Ritson says, that Use and usance, mean nothing more than interest; and the former word is still used by country people in the same sense. 8 Shylock,] Our author, as Dr. Farmer informs me, took the name of his Jew from an old pamphlet entitled: Caleb Shillocke, his Prophesie; or the Jewes Prediction. London, printed for T. P. (Thomas Pavyer.) No date. STEEVENS. Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key, Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, Who if he break, thou may'st with better face Shy. 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 If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum, or sums, as are Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken 9 A breed for barren metal of his friend?] A breed, that is interest money bred from the principal. By the epithet barren, the author would instruct us in the argument on which the advocates against usury went, which is this; that money is a barren thing, and cannot, like corn and cattle, multiply itself. And to set off the absurdity of this kind of usury, he put breed and barren in opposition. WARBURTON. 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 dealings teaches them suspect A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, I will be with you. [Exit. Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. This Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. Bass. I like not fair terms, and a villain's mind. Ant. Come on; in this there can be no dismay, My ships come home a month before the day. [Exeunt. I left in the fearful guard, &c.] Fearful guard, is a guard that is not to be trusted, but gives cause of fear. To fear was anciently to give as well as feel terrours. JOHNSON. |