SCENE 3: VENICE. A PUBLIC PLACE.

[Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK]

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats; well.

Three thousand gold coins; well.

BASSANIO

Ay, sir, for three months.

Yes, sir, for three months.

SHYLOCK

For three months; well.

BASSANIO

For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.

Against which, as I told you, Antonio will be the guarantor.

SHYLOCK

Antonio shall become bound; well.

Antonio will be the guarantor; well.

BASSANIO

May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I

Are you willing to help me? Will you help me out? Can I

know your answer?

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats for three months and Antonio bound.

Three thousand gold coins for three months, and Antonio is the guarantor.

BASSANIO

Your answer to that.

Yes, what do you say to that?

SHYLOCK

Antonio is a good man.

BASSANIO

Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

Have you heard any suggestion to the contrary?

SHYLOCK

Oh, no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying he is a

Oh, no, no, no, no; what I mean when I say he is a

good man is to have you understand me that he is

good man is that I want you to understand I know him to be

sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition: he

creditworthy. Yet his ability to pay is uncertain: he

hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the

has a ship bound for Tripoli, another bound for the

Indies; I understand moreover, upon the Rialto, he

Indies; I also learnt – on the Rialto plaza in Venice – he

hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and

has a third ship in Mexico, a fourth bound for England, and

other ventures he hath, squandered abroad. But ships

other unsound investments dotted all over the place. But ships

are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats

are just wood, and sailors only men: there are rats on land

and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves, I

and rats at sea, thieves on land and thieves at sea, by which I

mean pirates, and then there is the peril of waters,

mean pirates; and then there is the risk of rough seas,

winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding,

winds and rocks. Despite all this risk, Antonio is still

sufficient. Three thousand ducats; I think I may

creditworthy. Three thousand gold coins; I think I can

take his bond.

accept his guarantee.

BASSANIO

Be assured you may.

I assure you, you can.

SHYLOCK

I will be assured I may; and, that I may be assured,

I will make the assurances myself, and to ensure I’m assured,

I will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio?

I will think for myself. Can I speak to Antonio?

BASSANIO

If it please you to dine with us.

If you like, you can have dinner with us.

SHYLOCK

Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which

Ah yes, to smell the pork, to eat the meat wherein

your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into.

your prophet Jesus sent the devil to reside.

I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you,

I will buy from you, sell to you, talk with you,

walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat

walk with you, and everything else, but I will not eat

with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What

with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What’s

news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here?

the news on the Rialto? Who’s that coming here?

[Enter ANTONIO]

BASSANIO

This is Signior Antonio.

SHYLOCK

[Aside]

How like a fawning publican he looks!

He’s like a sycophantic tax-collector!

I hate him for he is a Christian,

I hate this man because he is a Christian,

But more for that in low simplicity

But more than that, he idiotically

He lends out money gratis and brings down

Lends money interest-free, thereby reducing

The rate of usance here with us in Venice.

Inflated rates that we can charge in Venice.

If I can catch him once upon the hip,

If I can catch him out and trip him up,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.

I’ll cure the long-held grudge I hold against him.

He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,

He hates our Jewish race, and he badmouths –

Even there where merchants most do congregate,

Especially to the merchants on the plaza –

On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift,

About me, of my deals and hard-earned wealth,

Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe,

Which he demeans as ‘interest’. Jews be cursed

If I forgive him!

BASSANIO

Shylock, do you hear?

Shylock, are you listening?

SHYLOCK

I am debating of my present store,

I’m thinking of my current stash of money,

And, by the near guess of my memory,

And, judging by the best guess I can make,

I cannot instantly raise up the gross

I can’t raise all the money right away

Of full three thousand ducats. What of that?

Of all three thousand gold coins. Never mind;

Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew in my tribe,

Will furnish me. But soft! How many months

Will help me out. But wait! How many months

Do you desire?

Do you require the loan?

[To ANTONIO]

Rest you fair, good signior;

Sir, take it easy!

Your worship was the last man in our mouths.

We’ve just been talking all about you, sir.

ANTONIO

Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow

Shylock, although I never lend nor borrow

By taking nor by giving of excess,

By charging or by paying rates of interest,

Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,

I must, to meet my friend here’s pressing need,

I'll break a custom. Is he yet possessed

Make an exception. Have you told him yet

How much ye would?

How much you need?

SHYLOCK

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

He has; three thousand gold coins.

ANTONIO

And for three months.

SHYLOCK

I had forgot; three months; you told me so.

Oh, I forgot; three months – you told me that.

Well then, your bond; and let me see; but hear you;

Well then, your guarantee. I heard you speaking;

Methought you said you neither lend nor borrow

I thought you said you never lend nor borrow

Upon advantage.

With any interest.

ANTONIO

I do never use it.

No, I never do.

SHYLOCK

When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep--

When Jacob reared his uncle Laban’s sheep –

This Jacob from our holy Abram was,

Jacob, bloodline of Abraham in the bible,

As his wise mother wrought in his behalf,

And his wise mother changed the will so he

The third possessor; ay, he was the third--

Was third-in-line; yes, he was third-in-line –

ANTONIO

And what of him? Did he take interest?

And what about him? Did he charge some interest?

SHYLOCK

No, not take interest, not, as you would say,

No, not charge interest, not, as you might say,

Directly interest: mark what Jacob did.

Exactly charge them interest. Hear what he did:

When Laban and himself were compromised

When Laban and when Jacob reached agreement

That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied

Whereby all new-born lambs with stripes or spots

Should fall as Jacob's hire, the ewes, being rank,

Would go to Jacob, then, with ewes on heat

In the end of autumn turned to the rams,

And mingling with the rams around late autumn,

And, when the work of generation was

And, when the ram began inseminating

Between these woolly breeders in the act,

The ewe, as these two woolly creatures bred,

The skilful shepherd peeled me certain wands,

The skilful shepherd made some spotted sticks,

And, in the doing of the deed of kind,

And, as the sheep were dutifully mating,

He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes,

He held them up in front of all the ewes

Who then conceiving did in eaning time

As they conceived, and then, come lambing time,

Fall parti-coloured lambs, and those were Jacob's.

The lambs were striped and spotted, thus were Jacob’s.

This was a way to thrive, and he was blest:

So Jacob thrived this way, and he was blessed;

And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.

A profit is a blessing when not stolen.

ANTONIO

This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for;

This came about as Jacob prayed and worshipped;

A thing not in his power to bring to pass,

He didn’t have the power to make that happen,

But swayed and fashioned by the hand of heaven.

But it was all the work of God’s own hand.

Was this inserted to make interest good?

Did you say this defending charging interest?

Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?

Or is your gold and silver merely sheep?

SHYLOCK

I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast:

Not sure; but I make gold as fast as sheep breed.

But note me, signior.

But take note, sir.

ANTONIO

Mark you this, Bassanio,

Hear this, Bassanio:

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.

To help himself, the devil quotes the bible.

An evil soul producing holy witness

An evil person who’s reciting scripture

Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,

Is like a villain with a phoney smile,

A goodly apple rotten at the heart:

A shiny apple rotten to the core:

O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

Oh, how a thing so evil can look pleasing!

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum.

Three thousand gold coins; that’s a good round number.

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

Three months from twelve; so, let me see, the rate…

ANTONIO

Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you?

So, Shylock, will you lend the money to us?

SHYLOCK

Signior Antonio, many a time and oft

Signior Antonio, there’ve been many times

In the Rialto you have rated me

That you’ve lambasted me at the Rialto

About my moneys and my usances:

About my money and my rates-of-interest.

Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,

Each time I’ve patiently just shrugged it off,

For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.

Because us Jews are used to suffering.

You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,

You call me non-believer, and a mad dog

And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,

And spit upon my Jewish overcoat,

And all for use of that which is mine own.

And just because I use the gold I own.

Well then, it now appears you need my help:

Go to, then; you come to me, and you say

OK then; now you come to me and ask,

'Shylock, we would have moneys:' you say so;

“Shylock, we need some money.” That’s what you’ve said;

You, that did void your rheum upon my beard

Yes, you, who spat your phlegm upon my beard

And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur

And kicked me like you’d kick a mongrel dog

Over your threshold: moneys is your suit

Out from your home. And now you want my money.

What should I say to you? Should I not say

What should I say to you? Should I not say,

'Hath a dog money? Is it possible

“Well, has a dog got money? Could it be

A cur can lend three thousand ducats?' Or

A dog would lend three thousand gold coins?” Or

Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key,

Should I bow down and in my normal voice

With bated breath and whispering humbleness, Say this;

Anxiously speak in whispers, humbly saying,

'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last;

“Dear sir, you spat on me on Wednesday last;

You spurned me such a day; another time

You fobbed me off, and then, another time,

You called me dog; and for these courtesies

You said I was a dog. And for this kindness,

I'll lend you thus much moneys'?

I’ll lend you lots of money”?

ANTONIO

I am as like to call thee so again,

I’ll likely call you all those things again,

To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.

And spit on you again, and fob you off.

If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not

If you will lend the money, do not lend it

As to thy friends; for when did friendship take

Out to your friends, for which friend ever paid

A breed for barren metal of his friend?

More money from bare metal to his friend?

But lend it rather to thine enemy,

But rather lend it to your enemy,

Who, if he break, thou mayst with better face

For, if he doesn’t pay, you won’t feel bad

Exact the penalty.

When charging him the interest.

SHYLOCK

Why, look you, how you storm!

You look angry!

I would be friends with you and have your love,

I would be friends with you and share your love,

Forget the shames that you have stained me with,

Forget the shame you brought through your lambasting,

Supply your present wants and take no doit

Lend you what you desire without me charging

Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me:

The interest on the loan. But you won’t listen;

This is kind I offer.

I’m offering you this in kindness.

BASSANIO

This were kindness.

That is kind.

SHYLOCK

This kindness will I show.

I will demonstrate this kindness.

Go with me to a notary, seal me there

Let’s see a legal notary and sign

Your single bond; and, in a merry sport,

Your guarantee; and, so to make it fun,

If you repay me not on such a day,

If you don’t pay me back when it is due,

In such a place, such sum or sums as are

Where we decide, and for the money owed

Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit

As written in the contract, let the forfeit

Be nominated for an equal pound

Be written out to be a pound exactly

Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken

Of your fine flesh, to be cut off and taken

In what part of your body pleaseth me.

From which part of your body I decide.

ANTONIO

Content, i' faith: I'll seal to such a bond

Sure thing; why not? I will agree to that,

And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

And I will say this Jew is being kind.

BASSANIO

You shall not seal to such a bond for me:

You can’t agree to this bond just for my sake;

I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

I’d rather keep the problem that I have.

ANTONIO

Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it:

Don’t worry, mate; I’ll never have to pay it.

Within these two months, that's a month before

Within the next two months, a month before

This bond expires, I do expect return

The bond is due, my ships should have returned

Of thrice three times the value of this bond.

With nine times of the value of this bond.

SHYLOCK

O father Abram, what these Christians are,

Oh, father Abraham, who are these Christians

Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect

Whose own negotiations make them question

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

Others intentions! I pray that you tell me,

If he should break his day, what should I gain

If he does break this contract, what will I gain

By the exaction of the forfeiture?

If I demand the forfeit is enacted?

A pound of man's flesh taken from a man

A pound of flesh that’s cut out from a man

Is not so estimable, profitable neither,

Is not so valuable or profit-making

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

As flesh of mutton, beef or goat. So, I think,

To buy his favour, I extend this friendship:

I’ll win his friendship with this friendly offer.

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

If he accepts it, great; if not, goodbye.

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

And hopefully you won’t think badly of me.

ANTONIO

Yes Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.

Yes Shylock, I’ll sign up to this agreement.

SHYLOCK

Then meet me forthwith at the notary's;

Then let’s meet at the notary at once.

Give him direction for this merry bond,

Give him the details of our mirthful bond,

And I will go and purse the ducats straight,

And I will get the gold coins right away,

See to my house, left in the fearful guard

Check on my house, which scarily I left guarded

Of an unthrifty knave, and presently

By an unworthy scallywag, and then

I will be with you.

I’ll come and join you.

ANTONIO

Hie thee, gentle Jew.

Hurry up, kind Jew.

[Exit Shylock]

The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind.

The Jew’s becoming Christian, turning kind.

BASSANIO

I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.

I fear of generous terms a villain writes.

ANTONIO

Come on: in this there can be no dismay;

Come on, there’s nothing here to cause concern;

My ships come home a month before the day.

A month before it’s due, my ships return.

[Exeunt]