attribute-that which be- seasons-tempers; renders
plea-demand
mitigate-soften; soothe
tender-offer
precedent-example
perjury-crime of false
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exposition explanation
nominated-named
use-custom
render-give back
forfeit that which is lost
wrest-strain; turn aside
doctor teacher (here of
the law)
tenor-content
judgment-sentence
charity-love
penance-punishmeut
confiscate-made over to
principal-money lent
alien-stranger
predicament-danger
POR. Is your name Shylock?
SHY. Shylock is my name.
POR. Of a strange nature is the suit
Yet in such rule that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.
You stand within his danger, do you not?
ANT. Ay, so he says.
POR. Do you confess the bond?
POR. Then must the Jew be merciful.
SHY. On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.
POR. The quality of mercy is not strain'd—
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd-
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes;
"Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The thronéd monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway-
It is enthronéd in the hearts of kings-
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likes: God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be the plea, consider this-
That in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoken thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea,
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
SHY. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
POR. Is he not able to discharge the money?
BAS. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;
Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice,
I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.
If this will not suffice, it must appear
That malice bears down truth.
Wrest once the law to your authority:
To do a great right do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel devil of his will.
POR. It must not be; there is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree established:
"Twill be recorded for a precedent;
And many an error, by the same example,
Will rush into the state: it cannot be.
SHY. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel ! O wise young judge, how I do honour thee! let me look upon the bond.
SHY. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. POR. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered thee. SHY. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
No, not for Venice.
POR. Why, this bond is forfeit ;
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Nearest the merchant's heart.
Be merciful;
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.
SHY. When it is paid according to the tenor.
It doth appear you are a worthy judge;
You know the law, your exposition
Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me: I stay here on my bond.
ANT. Most heartily do I beseech the court
To give the judgment.
POR. Why then, thus it is
You must prepare your bosom for his knife.
SHY. O noble judge! O excellent young man
POR. For the intent and purpose of the law
Hath full relation to the penalty
Which here appeareth due upon the bond.
SHY. 'Tis very true, O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! POR. Therefore, lay bare your bosom.
So says the bond, doth it not, noble judge? "Nearest his heart;" those are the
POR. It is so. Are there balance here to weigh the flesh ?
POR. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge
To stay his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.
SHY. Is it so nominated in the bond?
POR. It is not so express'd; but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity.
SHY. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.
POR. Come, merchant, have you anything to say?
ANT. But little; I am armed and well prepared-
Give me your hand, Bassiano; fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein Fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom: it is still her use
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow
An age of poverty; from which lingering penance
Of such misery doth she cut me off.
Repent not you that you shall lose
your friend,
And he repents not that he pays your debt.
For, if the Jew do but cut deep enough,
I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.
BASS. Antonio, I am married to a wife
Which is as dear to me as life itself;
But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteem'd above thy life.
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all
Here to this devil, to deliver you.
SHY. We trifle time; I pray thee pursue sentence.
POR. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine;
The court awards it, and the law doth give it.
SHY. Most rightful judge!
POR. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: The law allows it, and the court awards it.
SHY. Most learned judge!—a sentence! come,
POR. Tarry a little; there is something else.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are-a pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate
Unto the state of Venice.
GRAT. O upright judge!—Mark, Jew!--O learned judge.
Thyself shalt see the act:
For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd
Thou shalt have justice more than thou desirest. GRAT. O learned judge!—Mark Jew!—a learned judge.
SHY. I take this offer then;-pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go.
The Jew shall have all justice: soft, no haste;
He shall have nothing but the penalty.
GRAT. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge.
POR. Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more,
But a just pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more
Or less, than a just pound-be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple-nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair-
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate!
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