THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

CHARLES AND MARY LAMB

SHYLOCK, the Jew, lived at Venice: he was an usurer, who had amassed an immense fortune by lending money at great interest to Christian merchants. Shylock, being a hard-hearted man, exacted the payment of the money he lent with such severity that he was much disliked by all good men, and particularly by Antonio, a young merchant of Venice. Shylock hated Antonio as much, because he used to lend money to people in distress, and would never take any interest for the money he lent. Therefore there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the generous merchant Antonio.

Antonio was the kindest man that lived, the best conditioned, and had the most unwearied spirit in doing courtesies. He was greatly beloved by all his fellow-citizens; but the friend who was nearest and dearest to his heart was Bassanio, a noble Venetian, who, having but a small patrimony, had nearly exhausted this little fortune by living in too expensive a manner for his slender means. Whenever Bassanio wanted money, Antonio assisted him. It seemed as if they had but one heart and one purse between them.

One day Bassanio came to Antonio, and told him that he wished to repair his fortune by a wealthy

marriage with a lady whom he dearly loved, whose father, that was lately dead, had left her sole heiress to a large estate; but not having money to furnish himself with an appearance befitting the lover of so rich an heiress, he besought Antonio to add to the many favors he had shown him by lending him three thousand ducats.

Antonio had no money by him at that time to lend his friend. But as he expected soon to have ships come home laden with merchandise, he said he would go to Shylock, the rich money-lender, and borrow the money upon the credit of those ships.

Antonio and Bassanio went together to Shylock, and Antonio asked the Jew to lend him three thousand ducats upon any interest he should require, to be paid out of the merchandise contained in his ships at sea. On this, Shylock thought within himself:

"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.
If I forgive him!"

Cursed be

Cursed be my tribe,

Antonio, finding he was musing within himself and did not answer, and being impatient for the money, said, "Shylock, do you hear? will you lend the money?" To this question the Jew replied:

"Signior Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me

About my money 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'?

Antonio. 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 breed 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.

Shylock. 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 doit

Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me :
This is kind I offer.

Bassanio.

Shylock.

This were kindness.

This kindness will I show.

Go with me to a notary, seal me there
Your single bond; 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.

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

And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

Bassanio. You shall not seal to such a bond for me:

I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

Antonio. 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.

Shylock. O father Abram, what these Christians are, Whose own hard dealing 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 favor, I extend this friendship:
If he will take it, so; if not, adieu;

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

Antonio. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.
Shylock. 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."

At last, against the advice of Bassanio, who, notwithstanding all the Jew had said of his kind intentions, did not like his friend to run the hazard of this shocking penalty for his sake, Antonio signed the bond, thinking it really was (as the Jew said) merely in sport.

The rich heiress that Bassanio wished to marry lived near Venice, at a place called Belmont: her name was Portia. Bassanio, being so kindly supplied with money by his friend Antonio at the hazard of his life, set out for Belmont with a splendid train, and attended by a gentleman of the name of Gratiano. Bassanio proved successful in his suit, and Portia in a short time consented to accept him for a husband.

Bassanio confessed to Portia that he had no fortune, and that his high birth and noble ancestry was all that he could boast of. She, who loved him for his worthy qualities, and had riches enough not to