Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. well. 1 Shy. Antonio shall become bound, Bass. May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? 1 Shall I know your answer? Shy. Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound. Bass. Your answer to that. Shy. Antonio is a good man. 2 Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Shy. Ho! 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 argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies: I understand moreover upon the Rialto, 3 he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath squandered* 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 waters, winds, and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient: three thousand ducats. I think, I may take his bond. Bass. Be assured you may. Shy. I will be assured, I may; and, that I may be assured, I will bethink me. 5 May I speak with Antonio? Bass. If it please you to dine with us. Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjured 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 1. Can you help me? Will you | Venice, supposed to be derived from do me the favour? Riva Alta, a high bank-shore. 2. A good man, meant a man of substance and responsibility. 3. The Rialto is the Exchange of 4. To squander, to disperse, to scatter. This word now signifies to waste, to dissipate. 5. I will reflect. you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto? is he comes here. Enter ANTONIO. Bassanio. This is signior Antonio. Shylock. [Aside.] How like a fawning publican he looks:1 I hate him for he is a Christian; But more, for that, in low simplicity, 2 He lends out money gratis, and brings down I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. 5 Bass. Shylock, do you hear? up the gross 10 8 Shy. I am debating of my present store, [TO ANTONIO. 1. How like a cringing tax-collector he looks. 2. And more, because, with mean plainness. 3. Usance, usury.' 4. To catch, or have, upon the hip, means, to have at an entire disadvantage. The phrase is taken from hunting or from wrestling, and in its metaphorical sense is frequently to be found in the old authors: if derived from hunting it is an allusion to the pursued animal being seized upon the hip, and thus disabled from further flight. 5. I will satisfy to the utmost the old ill-will I have towards him. 6. To rail on, abuse. We should now say, to rail at. 7. My honestly acquired riches. 8. I am reflecting upon what ready money I have. 9. And as near as I can guess by memory. 10. Gross, whole. 11. One of the many modes of greeting of those days. 1 Yet, to supply the ripe wants 1 of my friend, Shylock. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. Shy. I had forgot: three months; you told me so. Ant. I do never use it. 3 Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep, This Jacob from our holy Abraham was (As his wise mother wrought in his behalf,) Ant. And what of him? did he take interest? When Laban and himself were compromis'd, 4 1. i. e. wants which have come to a height, which admit of no further delay. 2. Is he yet informed how much you desire. 3. I am not used to do so. 4. i. e. agreed. 5. Eanling, now written yeanling, a young lamb. 6. Rank, strong scented. 7 Petruchio. Villain, I say knock me here soundly. Grumio. Knock you here, sir? why, sir, what am I, sir, that I should knock you here, sir? Petruchio. Villain, I say knock me at this gate. And rap me well, or I'll knock your knave's pate. Grumio. My master is grow quarrelsome: I should knock you first, the worst. Petruchio. Will it not be? 'Faith, sirrah, an you 'll not knock, I'll wring it; 7. This superfluous me is often And then I know after who comes by to be met with in old English writers, and is not unfrequently used to give a ludicrous expression, although that is not the case in this instance. The best commentary is to be found in Shakespeare himself, Taming of the Shrew, Act I, Sc. 2: I'll try how you can sol, fa, and sing it. [He wrings Grumio by the ears. He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes, Fall party-colour'd1 lambs, and those were Jacob's. And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not. Antonio. 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 2 by the hand of heaven. Was this inserted to make interest good? Or is your gold and silver, ewes and rams? Shylock. I cannot tell: I make it breed as fast. But note me, signior. Ant. 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! Shy. Three thousand ducats; 't is a good round sum. In the Rialto, you have rated me 1. Party-colour'd, many coloured. 2. Fashion'd, formed, caused. 3. i. e. knavery, treachery. 4. A corruption of beholden, obliged, bound in gratitude. 5. To rate, to chide, to reproach. 8 6. Gaberdine, a large, loose cloak, worn by Jews. 7. A scornful exhortation. 9. And kick me with your foot, as you would kick a strange dog. 1 A cur can lend three thousand ducats ?" or "Fair Sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; Antonio. I am as like to call thee so again, Who if he break, thou may'st with better face 5 Shylock. Why, look you, how you storm! And you This is kind I offer. 7 Ant. This were kindness. This kindness will I show. Go with me to a notary, seal me there Ant. Content, in faith: I'll seal to such a bond, 1. Key, tone of voice. 2. With abated breath, i. e. almost holding one's breath, as with awe. 3. i. e. fruit, or interest. Meres says, "Usurie and encrease by gold and silver is unlawful, because against nature; nature hath made them sterile and barren, usurie makes them procreative." 4. To break, to become bankrupt. 5. i. e. with more boldness, without bashfulness. 6. Doit, a small coin. 7. This is a kind offer which I make. 8. Merely for a joke. |