The Merchant of Venice Page #2

and most vilely in the afternoon

when he is drunk.

O Nerissa!

- (Giggling)

- Wait! Wait.

If he should offer to choose,

and choose the right casket,

you should refuse to perform your father's

will if you should refuse to accept him.

Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee,

set a deep glass of Rhenish wine

on the contrary casket.

I will do anything, Nerissa,

ere I will be married to a sponge.

(Bell tolling)

(Bleating)

(Shylock) Three thousand ducats.

Well.

Ay, sir, for three months.

For three months?

- Well...

- For which, as I told you,

Antonio shall be bound.

Antonio shall be bound?

Well...

May you help me? Will you pleasure me?

Should I know your answer?

Three thousand ducats for three months,

and Antonio bound.

Your answer to that.

Antonio is a good man.

Have you heard any imputation

to the contrary?

No. No, no, no, no. My meaning

in saying that he is a good man

is to have you understand

that he is of good credit.

Yet his means are in question.

He hath a ship bound for Tripolis,

another to the Indies.

I understand moreover, upon the Rialto,

he hath a third ship at Mexico,

a fourth for England,

and other ventures

he hath squandered abroad.

But ships are but boards,

sailors are but men,

there be land rats and water rats,

water thieves and land thieves.

I mean pirates.

Then there is the peril of waters,

winds and rocks.

The man is, notwithstanding,

of good credit.

Three thousand ducats.

I think I may take his bond.

- Be assured you may.

- May I speak with Antonio?

If it please you, dine with us.

Yes, to smell pork,

to eat of the habitation which your prophet

the Nazarite conjured the devil into.

I will buy with you, sell with you, walk

with you, talk with you, and so following,

but I will not eat with you,

nor drink with you,

nor pray with you.

Who is he comes here?

This is Signior Antonio. Antonio!

(Bassanio) Antonio.

How like a fawning publican he looks.

Shylock! Shylock, do you hear?

I am debating of my present store,

and by the near guess of my memory,

I cannot instantly raise up the gross

of full three thousand ducats.

But Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

will furnish me.

Benjamin. Go, seek out Tubal.

But soft, how many months?

Rest you fair, good signior.

Your worship was the last man

in our mouths.

- Is he possessed how much you would?

- Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

And for three months.

Ah, I forgot. Three months, you told me so.

But soft, erm... me thought you said

you neither lend nor borrow with interest.

- I do never use it.

- Well.

Three thousand ducats,

'tis a good round sum.

- (Door shuts)

- Launcelot.

The rates.

Three months... from twelve.

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