 | The Jew of Venice |  |
29
Enter Shylock and Jailer with Antonio in Shackles.
Shyl.
Jailor, look to him. Tell not me of Mercy;
This is the Fool, who lent out Money gratis:
Jailor, I say, look to him.
Anto.
Hear me yet, good Shylock.
Shyl.
I'll have my Bond: I have sworn an Oath, that
I will have my Bond: Thou call'st me Dog,
Before thou hadst a Cause: but since I am a
Dog, beware my Phangs.
Anto.
I prithee hear me speak.
Shyl.
I'll have my Bond. I will not hear thee speak:
I'll not be made a soft relenting Fool,
To shake the Head, and sigh, and yield, and melt
To Christian Intercessors: I'll have no speaking,
I will have my Bond.
Anto.
Thou wilt not take my Flesh; what's that good for?
Shyl.
To bait Fish withal; if it will feed nothing else, it
Will feed my Revenge: Thou hast disgrac'd me,
Hindered me half a Million; laught at my Losses;
Repin'd at my Gains, scorn'd my Nation;
Thwarted my Bargains; cool'd my Friends;
Enflam'd my Enemies; and what's the Reason?
I am a Jew—Has not a Jew Eyes? Has not
A Jew Hands? Organs, Dimensions, Senses, Affections;
Passions? Fed with the same Food, hurt with
The same Weapons, subject to the same Diseases,
Heal'd by the same Means, warm'd and cool'd,
By the same Winter and Summer as a Christian?
If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you
Tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us,
Do we not dye? And if you wrong us, shall
We not Revenge? If we are like you in the rest,
We will resemble you in that: For if a Jew
Wrong a Christian, what is his Humility,
Revenge? If a Christian wrong a Jew, what
Should his sufferance be by a Christian Example?
Why, Revenge. The Charity you prctise, I will
Imitate: And it shall go hard, but I will improve
By the Instruction.
Anto.
Thou art the most impenetrable Curr
30
Shyl.
My Daughter too! None knew so well as you of my
Daughter's Flight. Why there, there, there is a
Diamond gone, cost me 2000 Ducats in Frankfort.
A Ring too, it was my Turkis; I had it of Leah,
When I was a Batchelour; besides Gold, and many other
Precious Jewels. Would my Daughter were dead
At my Foot, so the Jewels were in her Ears
Would she were Hears'd, so the Ducats were in the
Coffin. No News, and I know not how much
Spent in the Search: Loss upon Loss. The Theif gone
With so much, and so much to find the Theif;
And no Satisfaction, no Revenge: But thou art
Caught, and thou shalt pay the whole Theifs Bill.
Thou who wast wont to lend out Money for a Christian
Curtesy: Thou Christian Fool, pay thy Debts:
Jaylor, I say, look to him.
[Thrusts him after the Jaylor and Exeunt.
| The Jew of Venice | |