ess to the taste
Hath been that substitute. The marriage moon
Had scarce grown full before my body bore
The marks of coward blows.

_Shylock_ Ha! Ha! That's well.

_Jessica_ I have not known a single kindly word,
I scarce have heard him call me by my name
Since less than four weeks after we were wed.

_Shylock_ (_gloatingly rubbing his hands_) Hm!

_Jessica_ Oh father, why was I not told before
That we and all our people are accurst;
That those to whom we give our love and trust
Curse us and loathe us with a dreadful hate,
A hate that neither reason can assuage
Nor conduct make amends for. Awful fate,
That makes the very children of the street
With circle eyes point at us in contempt,
And people who have never heard our names
Thirst for our blood and menace us with death!

_Shylock_ So thou didst think a priestly comedy
Could make Lorenzo love his Jewish wife?

_Jessica_ I could have died for him. For him I fled
And stole your wealth and helped your enemies.
Why could he not have been a little kind?

_Shylock_ (_chuckling_) Come tell me how he beat you. Tell me that.

_Jessica_ Have pity, father.

_Shylock_ Tell me how he swore.

_Jessica_ Oh, torture me no further. Take me back.
Love me not now, but let me win your love
A little at a time. No day shall pass
But in it I shall do some tiny act
That will in time make up a wealth of deeds,
And if we both are living long enough
The balance will be as it was before.

_Shylock_ Thy pleadings are but wasted, Jessica,
Thou canst not gain the end that thou dost seek.
For even if I have the foolish will
(And I assure thee that I have it not)
To bring thee back to all the luxury,
The silken clothes, the soft and perfumed beds,
The shining jewels of thy girlhood days,
I could not. I am almost penniless.

_Jessica_ Poor, and alone, and old! Nay, father dear,
Thou couldst not drive me from thee after this
Hadst thou the strength of ten. Let us go forth
And find a little corner