The Merchant of Venice. William Shakespeare

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:

      0, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

      SHY. Three thousand ducats; ’t is a good round sum.

      Three months from twelve; then, let me see; the rate—

      ANT. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you?

      SHY. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft

      In the Rialto you have rated me

      About my moneys 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 moneys:” you say so;

      You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,

      And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur

      Over your threshold: moneys is your suit.

      What should I say to you? Should I not say

      “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 moneys”?

      ANT. I am as like to call thee so again,

      To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.

      If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not

      As to thy friends; for when did friendship take

      A breed²⁶ for barren metal of his friend? But lend it rather to thine enemy; Who if he break, thou mayst with better face Exact the penalty.

      SHY, Why, look you, how you storm!

      I would be friends with you, and have your love,

      Forget the shames that you have stain’d me with,

      Supply your present wants, and take no dolt²⁷ Of usance for my moneys, and you ’ll not hear me: This is kind I offer.

      BASS. This were kindness.

      SHY. This kindness will I show.

      Go with me to a notary, seal me there

      Your single bond;²⁸ and, in a merry sport, If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum or sums as are Express’d in the condition, let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me.

      ANT. Content, i’ 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 Abram, what these Christians are,

      Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect

      The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this;

      If he should break his day, what should I gain

      By the exaction of the forfeiture?

      A pound of man’s flesh taken from a man

      Is not so estimable, profitable neither,

      As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say,

      To buy his favour, I extend this friendship:

      If he will take it, so; if not, adieu;

      And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not.

      ANT. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.

      SHY. Then meet me forthwith at the notary’s;

      Give him direction for this merry bond;

      And I will go and purse the ducats straight;

      See to my house, left in the fearful guard

      Of an unthrifty knave; and presently

      I will be with you.

      ANT. Hie thee, gentle Jew.

      [Exit SHYLOCK.]

      The 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. ]