The Merchant of Venice - Shakespeare Right Now!

“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 spat on me on Wednesday last; you spurned me such a day; another time
you called me dog—and for these courtesies I’ll lend you thus much moneys!’”
Antonio, strongly opposed to usury, is blunt: “And 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 friend—for
when did friendship take the offspring of barren metal from its friends? But lend it rather to thine
enemy, from whom, if he break, thou mayst with better face exact the penalty!”
Shylock smiles. “Why, look you, how you storm!” he chides amiably. “I would be friends
with you and have your love!—forget the shames that you have stained me with, supply your
present wants, and take no doit of usance for my moneys—but you’ll not hear me!” He spreads
his arms wide. “This is kind that I offer!”
Bassanio likes the idea of a cost-free loan: “This were kindness!”
“This kindness will I show,” says Shylock, now watching Antonio intently. “Go with me to a
notary, seal me there your single bond.” He does not want Bassanio to be named. “And, in a
merry sport, if you repay me not on such a day, in such a place, such sum or sums as are
expressed in the conditions, let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh to be
cut off, and taken from what part of your body it pleaseth me.”
Antonio has returned the unwavering gaze. “Content, i’ faith!” he says, defying the shrewd
affront. “I’ll seal to such a bond, and say there is much kindness in the Jew.” His dour implication
is: the man does just as would be expected of his kind.
Bassanio is alarmed. “You shall not seal to such a bond for me! I’ll rather dwell in my
necessity!”
“Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it,” Antonio assures him. “Within these two months—
that’s a month before this bond expires—I do expect return of thrice three times the value of the
bond!”
Shylock pretends to be wounded by Bassanio’s concern. “O father Abra’m, see what these
Christians are, whose own hard dealing teaches them to suspect the thoughts of others!
“Pray you, tell me this,” he asks Bassanio. “If he should break his day, what should I gain by
the exaction of the forfeiture? A pound of 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!” He believes that the stratagem itself
demeans the supercilious shipper: the offer sounds generous, even though the terms should bar its
acceptance. “If he will take it, so; if not, adieu—and for my love, I pray you wrong me not.”
Antonio is determined to help his friend. “Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond!” He
believes the harsh proposition exposes a callousness that will cost the usurer business.
Shylock is content. His money will not be at risk: Antonio’s credit is sound—stronger than
his personal reputation will be, after the traders’ exchange learns of his humiliation. “Then meet
me forthwith.
“At the notary’s, give him direction for this merry bond. I will go and purse the ducats
straight, then see to my house—left in the fearful guard of an unthrifty knave—and presently I
will be with you.”
Antonio bows curtly. “Hie thee, gentle Jew,” he says, as Shylock heads toward his home in
the ghetto. “The Hebrew will turn Christian!—he grows kind.”
Bassanio is wary. “I like not fair terms in a villain’s mind!”
But Antonio is pleased with the transaction. “Come on,” he says, clasping an arm across
Bassanio’s broad shoulders, “in this there can be no dismay; my ships come home a month before
the day!”
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