第 3 节
作者:
莫莫言 更新:2021-02-27 02:48 字数:9317
you; madam; to take their leave; and there is a forerunner come from a
fifth; the Prince of Morocco; who brings word the Prince his master will
be here to…night。 PORTIA。 If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good
heart as I can bid the other four farewell; I should be glad of his approach;
if he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil; I had
rather he should shrive me than wive me。 Come; Nerissa。 Sirrah; go before。
Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer; another knocks at the door。
Exeunt
10
… Page 11…
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
SCENE III。 Venice。 A public place
Enter BASSANIO With SHYLOCK the Jew
SHYLOCK。 Three thousand ducats… well。 BASSANIO。 Ay; sir; for
three months。 SHYLOCK。 For three months… well。 BASSANIO。 For the
which; as I told you; Antonio shall be bound。 SHYLOCK。 Antonio shall
become bound… well。 BASSANIO。 May you stead me? Will you pleasure
me? Shall I know your answer? SHYLOCK。 Three thousand ducats for
three months; and Antonio bound。 BASSANIO。 Your answer to that。
SHYLOCK。 Antonio is a good man。 BASSANIO。 Have you heard any
imputation to the contrary? SHYLOCK。 Ho; no; no; no; no; my meaning
in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is
sufficient; yet his means are in supposition: he hath an argosy bound to
Tripolis; another to the Indies; I understand; moreover; upon the Rialto; he
hath a third at Mexico; a fourth for England… and other ventures he hath;
squand'red abroad。 But ships are but boards; sailors but men; there be
land…rats and water…rats; water…thieves and land…thieves… I mean pirates;
and then there is the peril of waters; winds; and rocks。 The man is;
notwithstanding; sufficient。 Three thousand ducats… I think I may take his
bond。 BASSANIO。 Be assur'd you may。 SHYLOCK。 I will be assur'd I
may; and; that I may be assured; I will bethink me。 May I speak with
Antonio? BASSANIO。 If it please you to dine with us。 SHYLOCK。 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; talk with you;
walk with you; and so following; but I will not eat with you; drink with
you; nor pray with you。 What news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here?
Enter ANTONIO
BASSANIO。 This is Signior Antonio。 SHYLOCK。 'Aside' How like
a fawning publican he looks! I hate him for he is a Christian; But more for
that in low simplicity He lends out money gratis; and brings down The rate
of usance here with us in Venice。 If I can catch him once upon the hip; I
will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him。 He hates our sacred nation; and
he rails; Even there where merchants most do congregate; On me; my
bargains; and my well…won thrift; Which he calls interest。 Cursed be my
11
… Page 12…
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
tribe If I forgive him! BASSANIO。 Shylock; do you hear? SHYLOCK。 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。 What of
that? Tubal; a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe; Will furnish me。 But soft! how
many months Do you desire? 'To ANTONIO' Rest you fair; good signior;
Your worship was the last man in our mouths。 ANTONIO。 Shylock; albeit
I neither lend nor borrow By taking nor by giving of excess; Yet; to supply
the ripe wants of my friend; I'll break a custom。 'To BASSANIO' Is he yet
possess'd How much ye would? SHYLOCK。 Ay; ay; three thousand ducats。
ANTONIO。 And for three months。 SHYLOCK。 I had forgot… three months;
you told me so。 Well then; your bond; and; let me see… but hear you;
Methoughts you said you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage。
ANTONIO。 I do never use it。 SHYLOCK。 When Jacob graz'd his uncle
Laban's sheep… This Jacob from our holy Abram was; As his wise mother
wrought in his behalf; The third possessor; ay; he was the third…
ANTONIO。 And what of him? Did he take interest? SHYLOCK。 No; not
take interest; not; as you would say; Directly int'rest; mark what Jacob did:
When Laban and himself were compromis'd That all the eanlings which
were streak'd and pied Should fall as Jacob's hire; the ewes; being rank; In
end of autumn turned to the rams; And when the work of generation was
Between these woolly breeders in the act; The skilful shepherd pill'd me
certain wands; And; in the doing of the deed of kind; He stuck them up
before the fulsome ewes; Who; then conceiving; did in eaning time Fall
parti…colour'd lambs; and those were Jacob's。 This was a way to thrive; and
he was blest; And thrift is blessing; if men steal it not。 ANTONIO。 This
was a venture; sir; that Jacob serv'd for; A thing not in his power to bring
to pass; But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heaven。 Was this inserted
to make interest good? Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?
SHYLOCK。 I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast。 But note me; signior。
ANTONIO。 'Aside' Mark you this; Bassanio; The devil can cite Scripture
for his purpose。 An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a
smiling cheek; A goodly apple rotten at the heart。 O; what a goodly outside
falsehood hath! SHYLOCK。 Three thousand ducats… 'tis a good round sum。
Three months from twelve; then let me see; the rate… ANTONIO。 Well;
12
… Page 13…
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Shylock; shall we be beholding to you? SHYLOCK。 Signior Antonio;
many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me About my moneys
and my usances; Still have I borne it with a patient shrug; For suff'rance is
the badge of all our tribe; You call 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 whisp'ring humbleness; Say this: 'Fair sir; you spit on me on
Wednesday last; You spurn'd me such a day; another time You call'd 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 friends… 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 mayst 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 stain'd 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。 BASSANIO。 This
were kindness。 SHYLOCK。 This kindness will I show。 Go with me to a
notary; seal me there Your single bond; and; in a merry sport; If you repay
me not on such a day; In such a place; such sum or sums as are Express'd
in the condition; let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound Of your
fair flesh; to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me。
ANTONIO。 Content; in faith; I'll seal to such a bond; And say there is
much kindness in the Jew。 BASSANIO。 You shall not seal to such a bond
for me; I'll rather dwell in my necessity。 ANTONIO。 Why; fear not; man; I
will not forfeit it; Within these two months… that's a month before This
bond expires… I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this
bond。 SHYLOCK。 O father Abram; what these Christians are; Whose own
hard dealings teaches them suspect The thoughts of others! Pray you; tell
13
… Page 14…