SCENE III. Venice. A street. The Merchant of Venice  Shakespeare homepage  |  Merchant of Venice  | Act 3, Scene 3 

 Previous scene  |  Next scene  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. 

 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, 

 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. 

 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 

 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 

 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: 

 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: 

 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! 



 Exeunt  Shakespeare homepage  |  Merchant of Venice  | Act 3, Scene 3 

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