C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Scenes from the Comedies and Histories: Shylock and Antonio

SHYLOCK—Signior Antonio, many a time and oft,

On the Rialto you have rated me

About my moneys and my usances:

Still have I borne it with a patient shrug;

For sufferance is a badge of all our tribe.

You called 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 spurned me such a day; another time

You called 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 friend; 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 may’st 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 stained 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.