Shylock's Speech to Antonio
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 sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gabardine,
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 whispering
humbleness
Say this:
"Fair sir, you spat at me on Wednesday
last;
You called me dog; and for these
courtesies
I'll lend you thus much moneys"?
Instructions
Match the original lines with the modern version.
Sir Antonio, many times
In the Rialto you have criticized me
About my money and my money-lending.
I have put up with it with a patient shrug of
the shoulders,
Because Jewish people have to put up
with things and that is what distinguishes
us.
You call me someone who believes in a
false religion, a nasty dog
And spit on my Jewish cloak,
And all because I lend out my own money.
Well then, now it appears that you need
my help.
You come to me and you say,
"Shylock we would like to borrow money"
Even though you spat phlegm on my
beard
And kick me as if you were throwing a
stray dog
Out of your house; you are asking for
money.
What should I say to you? Shouldn't I say
"Has a dog money? Is it possible
That a dog can lend three thousand
ducats?" or
Shall I grovel and in a slave's tone of
voice
With a soft respectful whisper
Say this:
"Good sir, you spat at me last Wednesday
You called me a dog; and for these
kindnesses
I'll lend you so much money"?
What does this speech tell you about Shylock's character?
What do we learn about money and money-lending?
What do we learn about anti-Semitism?