Scene III

[Venice]

Enter the Jew, and Solanio, and Antonio, and the Jailor.

SHYLOCK:

Gaoler, look to him. tell not me of mercy;—
This is the fool that lent out money gratis;—
Gaoler, look to him.

SHYLOCK:

Jailer, look to him. Don’t tell me about mercy;
This is the fool that lent out money for free:
Jailer, look to him.

ANTONIO:

Hear me yet, good Shylock.

ANTONIO:

But, listen to me, good Shylock.

SHYLOCK:

I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond;(5)
I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond;
Thou call'dst me dog, before thou hadst a cause;
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs:
The duke shall grant me justice.—I do wonder,
Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fond(10)
To come abroad with him at his request.

SHYLOCK:

I'll have my promise to pay; don’t speak against my promise to pay.
I have sworn an oath that I’ll have my promise to pay.
You called me dog before you had a cause,
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs;
The Duke shall grant me justice. I am curious,
You naughty jailer, that you are so eager
To come out with him at his request.

ANTONIO:

I pray thee, hear me speak.

ANTONIO:

Please listen to me speak.

SHYLOCK:

I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak;
I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.
I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool,(15)
To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield
To Christian intercessors. Follow not;
I'll have no speaking; I will have my bond.

SHYLOCK:

I'll have my promise to pay. I won’t listen to you speak;
I'll have my promise to pay; so speak no more.
I won’t be made a soft and dull-eyed fool,
To shake my head, give in, and sigh, and surrender
To Christian intercessors. Don’t follow;
I won’t put up with your speaking; I’ll have my promise to pay.

Exit Jew.

SOLANIO:

It is the most impenetrable cur
That ever kept with men.(20)

SOLANIO:

It is the most difficult to understand dog
That ever stayed with men.

ANTONIO:

Let him alone;
I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers.
He seeks my life; his reason well I know:
I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures,
Many that have at times made moan to me;(25)
Therefore he hates me.

ANTONIO:

Let him alone;
I won’t follow him any more with useless prayers.
He wants my life; I know his reasons well:
Often I saved many who have, at times, complained to me,
From defaulting on his loans. So he hates me.

SOLANIO:

I am sure, the Duke
Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.

SOLANIO:

I am sure the Duke Will never enforce this default.

ANTONIO:

The Duke cannot deny the course of law,
For the commodity that strangers have(30)
With us in Venice; if it be denied,
'Twill much impeach the justice of the state;
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Consisteth of all nations. Therefore, go
These griefs and losses have so 'bated me,(35)
That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh
To-morrow, to my bloody creditor.
Well, gaoler, on:—Pray God, Bassanio come
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!

ANTONIO:

The Duke cannot deny the course of law,
Because of the benefits that strangers have
With us in Venice, if it is denied,
it will reflect very badly on the justice of the state,
Because the trade and profit of the city
Is from all nations. So, go;
These griefs and losses have so upset me
That I shall hardly have a pound of flesh
Tomorrow give to my bloody creditor.
Well, jailer, let’s go on; I pray good Bassanio comes
To see me pay his debt, and then I won’t care.

Exeunt.