water-thieves and land-thieves; I mean, pirates; and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, fufficient; three thoufand ducats? I think, I may take his bond. Baff. Be affur'd, you may. Shy. I will be affur'd, I may; and that I may be affur'd, I will bethink me; may I fpeak with Anthonio? Baf. If it please you to dine with us. Shy. Yes, to fmell pork; to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjur'd the devil into? I will buy with you, fell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and fo following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Ryalto? who is he, comes here? Enter Anthonio. Baff. This is Signior Anthonio. Shy. [Afide.] How like a fawning Publican he looks! I hate him, for he is a christian : But more, for that in low fimplicity He lends out money gratis, and brings down I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Baff. Shylock, do you hear? Shy. I am debating of my prefent ftore, And by the near guefs of my memory, I cannot inftantly raife up the grofs Of full three thousand ducats: what of that? Will furnish me; but foft, how many months Do you defire? Reft you fair, good Signior; [To Anth. Your worship was the laft man in our mouths. Anth. Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow By taking, nor by giving of excess, Yet, Yet, to fupply the ripe wants of my friend, Shy. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. Anth. And for three months. Shy. I had forgot, three months, you told me fo; Well then, your bond; and let me fee,-but hear you, Methought, you faid, you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage. Anth. I do never use it. Shy. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep, This Jacob from our holy Abraham was (As his wife mother wrought in his behalf) The third poffeffor; ay, he was the third. Anth. And what of him? did he take interest? When Laban and himself were compromis'd, Anth. This was a venture, Sir, that Jacob ferv'd for; A thing not in his pow'r to bring to pafs, But fway'd, and fashion'd, by the hand of heav'n. Anth. Mark you this, Baffanio? E 3 An' An evil foul, producing holy witness, O, what a goodly outfide falfhood hath! Shy. Three thousand ducats! 'tis a good round fum. About my monies and my ufances. A cur can lend three thoufand ducats? or Anth. I am as like to call thee fo again, But (7) A breed of barren metal] Meaning, money at ufury, money that breeds more, as Mr. Fope explains it. Confonant to this phrafe, the Latins explain ft intereft thus; fanus, fætum accepti: and the Greeks called it Toxos: both which expreffions take in our poet's idea of a breed. See Non. Marcellus in v. fenus, & mutuum; and Gronovius de Seftertiis. But lend it rather to thine enemy; Who, if he break, thou may'it with better face Shy. Why, how you ftorm? I would be friends with you, and have your love; Anth. This were kindness. Shy. This kindnefs will I fhow; In fuch a place, fuch fum, or fums, as are Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken Anth. Content, in faith; I'll feal to fuch a bond, And fay, there is much kindness in the Jew. Ba. You fhall not feal to fuch a bond for me, I'll rather dwell in my neceffity. Anth. 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 Abraham, what these chriftians are! Whofe own hard dealings teach them to fufpect The thoughts of others! pray you, tell me this, If he should break his day, what fhould I gain By the exaction of the forfeiture? Seftertiis. As for the contradiction betwixt breed, and barren, it is a poetical beauty in which Claudian, among the Claffics, particularly abounds. Befides, in this epithet, perhaps (as Mr. Warburton ingeniously hinted to me,) our author would thew us the reafon on which the advocates against Ujury went; and which is the only one they ufe: That metal is a barren thing; and cannot, like corn and cattle, multiply itfelf: and therefore is unju, that interest should be taken for it: for the moft fuperftitious in this regard allow the taking intereft for fruits, corn, cattle, &c. A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I fay, And for my love, I pray you, wrong me not. Anth. Hie thee, gentle Jew. [Exit. This Hebrew will turn chriftian; he grows kind. ACT II. SCENE, BELMONT. Enter Morochius, a Tawny-Moor, all in white; and three or four Followers accordingly; with Portia', Neriffa, and her train. Flo. Cornets. M MOROCHIUS. Iflike me not for my complection, The fhadow'd livery of the burnish'd fun, |