SCENE II.

_Venice. A Room, in_ SHYLOCK’S _House_.

[_Enter_ SHYLOCK _and_ TUBAL.

TUBAL. How now, Shylock! What bitter woe looks from thy face? What has chanced to thee in the Christian’s court to make thee thus distraught?

SHYLOCK. O Tubal, Tubal, there dwells no more pity in the Christian breast than there abides justice therein. I stood for justice and mine own, before them all; before that smiling, smooth-faced judge from Padua, and with those false smiles of his he turned against me the sharp edge of the law. He forbade the shedding of one drop of the merchant Antonio’s blood--naming therefor some ancient law, musty for centuries, and that still had gathered dust till it would serve to bait the Jew with--and so I lost my revenge upon Antonio. More than that, good Tubal, I lost everything I had to lose.

TUBAL. Lost everything! Now, by our ancient prophets, this is woe indeed.

SHYLOCK. Aye, good Tubal. The half my goods are now adjudged Antonio’s; the other half, upon my death, goes to the knave, Lorenzo; that same he that lately stole my ducats and my daughter.

TUBAL. And merry havoc will he and thy daughter Jessica make of thy treasure, Shylock.

SHYLOCK. But there is greater woe to come, good Tubal. To save this poor remainder of a life have I this day sworn to turn a Christian.

TUBAL. Thou, turn Christian! O monstrous deed! Our synagogue will be put to everlasting shame for this. Nay, good Shylock, it must not be. It must not be.

SHYLOCK. Have I not said that I am sworn on pain of life? They would e’en have had my life almost in the open court had I not so sworn. But hear me, Tubal; I will not die till that I have bethought me of some secret, sure revenge upon Antonio, or failing this, upon the taunting, sneering fool they call Gratiano, whom I do loathe e’en as I loathe Antonio. Moreover I would gladly do some deadly hurt unto the accursed Paduan judge, an’ it might be so.

TUBAL. Then wilt thou still be Hebrew at the heart, good Shylock?

SHYLOCK. How else while yet I bear remembrance of my wrongs? Have not many of our chosen people done this selfsame thing for ducats or for life? Kissed the cross before men’s eyes, but spurned it behind their backs? As I shall do, erewhile. But, O good Tubal, the apples of Sodom were as sweet morsels in the mouth unto this that I must do.

TUBAL. Hebrew at heart, albeit Christian of countenance. Ay, Shylock, it is well. It is well.

[_Exeunt._