The Merchant of Venice: Act 1, Scene 3
Enter BASSANIO
with SHYLOCK the Jew.
SHYLOCK
1. ducats: gold coins. My estimate is that 3000 ducats was the equivalent of at least 750 English pounds. For purposes of comparison, Shakespeare bought New Place in Stratford, a house with ten fireplaces, two barns and an orchard, for £60.
1
Three thousand ducats; well.
BASSANIO
2
Ay, sir, for three months.
SHYLOCK
3
For three months; well.
BASSANIO
4
For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall
5
be bound.
SHYLOCK
6
Antonio shall become bound; well.
BASSANIO
7. stead: assist, supply a need.
7
May you stead me? will you pleasure me? shall I
8
know your answer?
SHYLOCK
9
Three thousand ducats for three months and
10
Antonio bound.
BASSANIO
11
Your answer to that.
SHYLOCK
12. good: Shylock means solvent, a good credit risk; Bassanio interprets in the moral sense.
12
Antonio is a good man.
BASSANIO
13
Have you heard any imputation to the
14
contrary?
SHYLOCK
15
Oh, no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying he is a
16
good man is to have you understand me that he is
17. sufficient: i.e., a good security. in supposition: doubtful, uncertain; i.e., not certainly in existence.
17
sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition: he
18
hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the
19. Rialto: commercial and business exchange of Venice and the center of commercial activity.
19
Indies; I understand moreover, upon the Rialto, he
20
hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and
21. squand'red: unwisely scattered.
21
other ventures he hath, squand'red abroad. But ships
22
are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats
23
and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves, I
24
mean pirates, and then there is the peril of waters,
25
winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding,
26
sufficient. Three thousand ducats; I think I may
27
take his bond.
BASSANIO
28
Be assured you may.
SHYLOCK
29. assur'd: sure, satisfied (but Shylock takes it up in the sense "guaranteed by adequate security").
29
I will be assured I may; and, that I may be assur'd,
30
I will bethink me. May I speak with
31
Antonio?
BASSANIO
32
If it please you to dine with us.
SHYLOCK
33‑37. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite . . . pray with you: Perhaps these lines are spoken aside while Shylock "bethinks him" (see line 30). 34. Nazarite: Nazarene. (For the reference to Christ's casting evil spirits into a herd of swine, see Luke 8:32‑33 and Mark 5:1‑13).
33
Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which
34
your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. I
35
will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you,
36
walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat
37
with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What
38
news on the Rialto? Who is he comes
39
here?
Enter ANTONIO.
BASSANIO
40
This is Signior Antonio.
SHYLOCK [Aside]
41. fawning publican: This is a puzzling phrase.
42. for: because. 43. low simplicity: Stupid honesty? . . . more
42. for: because. 43. low simplicity: Stupid honesty? . . . more
41
How like a fawning publican he looks!
42
I hate him for he is a Christian,
43
But more for that in low simplicity
44
He lends out money gratis and brings down
45. usance: usury, interest.
45
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
46. upon the hip: at a disadvantage (a wrestling term).
46
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
47
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
48
He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,
49
Even there where merchants most do congregate,
50. thrift: thriving, profit.
50
On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift,
51
Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe,
52
If I forgive him!
BASSANIO
52
Shylock, do you hear?
SHYLOCK
53. store: supply (of money).
53
I am debating of my present store,
54
And, by the near guess of my memory,
55. gross: total amount.
55
I cannot instantly raise up the gross
56
Of full three thousand ducats. What of that?
57
Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,
58
Will furnish me. But soft! how many months
59
Do you desire?
[To Antonio.]
59
Rest you fair, good signior;
60
Your worship was the last man in our mouths.
ANTONIO
61
Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow
62. excess: interest.
62
By taking nor by giving of excess,
63. ripe: immediate.
63
Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,
64. possess'd: informed.
64
I'll break a custom. Is he yet possess'd
65
How much ye would?
SHYLOCK
65
Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
ANTONIO
66
And for three months.
SHYLOCK
67
I had forgot; three months; you told me so.
68
Well then, your bond; and let me see; but hear you;
69. Methought: it seemed to me.
69
Methought you said you neither lend nor borrow
70. advantage: interest. use it: make it my practice.
70
Upon advantage.
ANTONIO
70
I do never use it.
SHYLOCK
71. Jacob: See Genesis 27, 30:25‑43.
71
When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep
72
This Jacob from our holy Abram was,
73
As his wise mother wrought in his behalf,
74. possessor: i.e., of God's promise.
74
The third possessor; ay, he was the third
ANTONIO
75
And what of him? did he take interest?
SHYLOCK
76
No, not take interest, not, as you would say,
77
Directly interest: mark what Jacob did.
78. were compromis'd: had agreed together.
78
When Laban and himself were compromis'd
79. eanlings: new-born lambs. pied: spotted, variegated in color. 80. hire: wages. rank: in heat.
79
That all the eanlings which were streak'd and pied
80
Should fall as Jacob's hire, the ewes, being rank,
81
In the end of autumn turned to the rams,
82
And, when the work of generation was
83
Between these woolly breeders in the act,
84. pill'd me: peeled, stripped. (Me is the so-called ethical dative, used colloquially). 85. deed of kind: i.e., copulation.
84
The skilful shepherd pill'd me certain wands,
85
And, in the doing of the deed of kind,
86
He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes,
87. eaning: lambing.
87
Who then conceiving did in eaning time
88. Fall: let fall, give birth to.
88
Fall parti-color 'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.
89
This was a way to thrive, and he was blest:
90. thrift is blessing: i.e., making a profit is sanctified by God.
90
And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.
ANTONIO
91. venture, sir, that Jacob served for: commercial enterprise with an unpredictable outcome on which Jacob risked his time as a servant.
91
This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for;
92
A thing not in his power to bring to pass,
93
But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heaven.
94. inserted to make interest good: brought in to justify the practice of usury.
94
Was this inserted to make interest good?
95
Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?
SHYLOCK
96
I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast:
97
But note me, signior.
ANTONIO
97
Mark you this, Bassanio,
98. The devil can cite Scripture: See Matthew 4:6.
98
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
99
An evil soul producing holy witness
100
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,
101
A goodly apple rotten at the heart:
102
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!
SHYLOCK
103
Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum.
104
Three months from twelve; then, let me see; the rate
ANTONIO
105. beholding: beholden, indebted.
105
Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you?
SHYLOCK
106
Signior Antonio, many a time and oft
107. rated: berated, rebuked, reviled.
107
In the Rialto you have rated me
108
About my moneys and my usances:
109
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
110. sufferance: endurance. badge: distinctive mark.
110
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
111
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
112. gaberdine: a loose upper garment of coarse material like a cape or mantel. 113. use: With play on "usury."
112
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
113
And all for use of that which is mine own.
114
Well then, it now appears you need my help:
115. Go to: term of impatience or remonstrance.
115
Go to, then; you come to me, and you say
116
"Shylock, we would have moneys": you say so;
117. rheum: spittle.
117
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard
118. spurn: kick.
118
And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur
119
Over your threshold: moneys is your suit
120
What should I say to you? Should I not say
121
"Hath a dog money? is it possible
122
A cur can lend three thousand ducats?" Or
123
Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key,
124
With bated breath and whispering humbleness,
125
Say this:
126
"Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last;
127
You spurn'd me such a day; another time
128
You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies
129
I'll lend you thus much moneys"?
ANTONIO
130
I am as like to call thee so again,
131
To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.
132
If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not
133
As to thy friends; for when did friendship take
134. A breed: offspring, increase (cf. line 96). The figure continues in barren . One of the oldest arguments . . . more
134
A breed for barren metal of his friend?
135
But lend it rather to thine enemy,
136. Who: from whom. break: fail to pay on time, go bankrupt.
136
Who, if he break, thou mayst with better face
137
Exact the penalty.
SHYLOCK
137
Why, look you, how you storm!
138
I would be friends with you and have your love,
139
Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with,
140. doit: coin of trifling value.
140
Supply your present wants and take no doit
141
Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me:
142
This is kind I offer.
BASSANIO
143. were kindness: would be kindness (if the offer were seriously meant).
143
This were kindness.
SHYLOCK
143
This kindness will I show.
144
Go with me to a notary, seal me there
145. single bond: bond signed only by the debtor, without other security.
145
Your single bond; and, in a merry sport,
146
If you repay me not on such a day,
147
In such a place, such sum or sums as are
148
Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit
149. nominated for: named, stipulated as. equal: exact.
149
Be nominated for an equal pound
150
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
151
In what part of your body pleaseth me.
ANTONIO
152
Content, i' faith: I'll seal to such a bond
153
And say there is much kindness in the Jew.
BASSANIO
154
You shall not seal to such a bond for me:
155. dwell: remain.
155
I'll rather dwell in my necessity.
ANTONIO
156
Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it:
157
Within these two months, that's a month before
158
This bond expires, I do expect return
159
Of thrice three times the value of this bond.
SHYLOCK
160
O father Abram, what these Christians are,
161
Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect
162
The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this;
163. break his day: fail to pay on the due date.
163
If he should break his day, what should I gain
164. forfeiture: forfeit, amount stipulated as penalty.
164
By the exaction of the forfeiture?
165
A pound of man's flesh taken from a man
166
Is not so estimable, profitable neither,
167
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say,
168
To buy his favor, I extend this friendship:
169
If he will take it, so; if not, adieu;
170. wrong me not: do not impute evil motives to me.
170
And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not.
ANTONIO
171
Yes Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.
SHYLOCK
172
Then meet me forthwith at the notary's;
173
Give him direction for this merry bond,
174
And I will go and purse the ducats straight,
175. fearful: arousing anxiety, i.e., untrustworthy.
175
See to my house, left in the fearful guard
176
Of an unthrifty knave, and presently
177
I will be with you.
ANTONIO
177. Hie thee: hasten.
177
Hie thee, gentle Jew.
Exit Shylock.
178
The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind.
BASSANIO
179
I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.
ANTONIO
180
Come on: in this there can be no dismay;
181
My ships come home a month before the day.
Exeunt.