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THE JEW'S MALICE.

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,

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!

HYPOCRISY.

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!

THE JEW'S EXPOSTULATION.

Signior Antonio, many a time and oft,
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my monies, and my usances:*
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug;
For sufferance 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 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 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: Monies is your suit.
What should I say to you? Should I not say,

* Interest.

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 whispering 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 monies.

ACT II.

GRAVITY ASSUMED.

Signior Bassanio, hear me:

If I do not put on a sober habit,

Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely;
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say, amen;
Use all the observance of civility,

Like one well studied in a sad ostent*
To please his grandam, never trust me more.

THE JEW'S COMMANDS TO HIS DAUGHTER.

Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife, Clamber not you up to the casements then, Nor thrust your head into the public street, To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces: But stop my house's ears, I mean my casements; Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter My sober house.

POSSESSION MORE LANGUID THAN EXPECTATION.

O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly

To seal love's bonds new made, than they are wont, To keep obliged faith unforfeited!

Who riseth from a feast,

With what keen appetite that he sits down?
Where is the horse that doth untread again
His tedious measures with the unbated fire

Show of staid and serious demeanour.

That he did pace them first? All things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd.
How like a yonker, or a prodigal,

The scarfed bark puts from her native bay,
Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind!
How like the prodigal doth she return,
With over-weather'd ribs, and ragged sails,
Lean, rent, and beggar'd by the strumpet wind!

PORTIA'S SUITORS.

From the four corners of the earth they come, To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint. The Hyrcanian deserts, and the vasty wilds Of wide Arabia, are as through-fares now, For princes to come view fair Portia: The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar To stop the foreign spirits; but they come, As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia.

THE PARTING OF FRIENDS.

I saw Bassanio and Antonio part: Bassanio told him he would make some speed Of his return; he answer'd-Do not so, Slubber notf business for my sake, Bassanio, But stay the very riping of the time; And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, Let it not enter in your mind of love: Be merry; and employ your chiefest thoughts To courtship, and such fair ostents‡ of love As shall conveniently become you there: And even there, his eye being big with tears, Turning his face, he put his hand behind him, And with affection wondrous sensible

He wrung Bassanio's hand and so they parted.

HONOUR TO BE CONFERRED ON MERIT ONLY.

For who shall go about

To cozen fortune, and be honourable

Decorated with flags.

To slubber is to do a thing carelessly.
Shows, tokens.

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Shylock. The villany you teach me, I will execute

Act III. Sc. 1.

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