The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice

ACT III SCENE III	Venice. A street.
	Enter SHYLOCK, SALARINO, ANTONIO, and Gaoler
SHYLOCK	Gaoler, look to him: tell not me of mercy;
	This is the fool that lent out money gratis:
	Gaoler, look to him.
ANTONIO	Hear me yet, good Shylock.	5
SHYLOCK	I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond:
	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,	10
	Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fond
	To come abroad with him at his request.
ANTONIO	I pray thee, hear me speak.
SHYLOCK	I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak:
	I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.	15
	I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool,
	To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield
	To Christian intercessors. Follow not;
	I'll have no speaking: I will have my bond.
	Exit
SALARINO	It is the most impenetrable cur	20
	That ever kept 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	25
	Many that have at times made moan to me;
	Therefore he hates me.
SALARINO	I am sure the duke
	Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.
ANTONIO	The duke cannot deny the course of law:	30
	For the commodity that strangers have
	With us in Venice, if it be denied,
	Will much impeach the justice of his state;
	Since that the trade and profit of the city
	Consisteth of all nations. Therefore, go:	35
	These griefs and losses have so bated me,
	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!	40
	Exeunt