Of what it likes or loathes. Now for your answer: A losing suit against him. Are you answered? Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answer. Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love? Ant. I pray you, think you question with the You may as well go stand upon the beach, Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchased slave, I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it? The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me. You cannot better be employed, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both, my lord: Bellario greets your [Presents a letter. grace. Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there. Gra. Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew, Thou mak'st thy knife keen: but no metal can, No, not the hangman's axe, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. Gra. O, be thou damned, inexorable dog! And for thy life let justice be accused. Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit Governed a wolf, who, hanged for human Clerk reads. "Your grace shall understand that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick: but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome; his name is Balthasar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned o'er many books together: he is furnished with my opinion; which, bettered with his own learning (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend), comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation." Por. not? you [TO ANTONIO. Do you confess the bond? Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. Por. The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed; 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 shews 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 shew likest God's When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, 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. It must not be: there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established: 'T will be recorded for a precedent; Daniel! O wise young judge, how do I honour thee! Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: 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 tenour. 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 I do 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 Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. Shy. I cannot find it; 't is not in the bond. Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, And he repents not that he pays your debt; For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough, I'll pay it instantly with all my heart. Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer. Gra. I have a wife, whom I protest I love: I would she were in heaven, so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. Ner. "Tis well you offer it behind her back; The wish would make else an unquiet house. Shy. These be the Christian husbands! I have a daughter: 'Would any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband rather than a Christian! [Aside. 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. prepare. 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 : Take then thy bond, take thou thy 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. Gra. O upright judge!-Mark, Jew!—O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyself shall see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. Gra. O learned judge!—Mark, Jew: a learned Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less nor more, Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy for feiture. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is. Por. He hath refused it in the open court: He shall have merely justice and his bond. Gra. A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal? Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer question. The law hath yet another hold on you. If it be proved against an alien, The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive life And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore thou must be hanged at the state's charge. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake. Ant. So please my lord the Duke, and all the court, To quit the fine for one half of his goods; Two things provided more :-that, for this favour, He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do record a gift, Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant Antonio, gratify this gentleman; Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied; Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, Not as a fee. Grant me two things, I pray you: Not to deny me, and to pardon me. Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake; And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you:Do not draw back your hand: I'll take no more; And you in love shall not deny me this. Bass. This ring, good sir!—alas, it is a trifle; I will not shame myself to give you this. Por. I will have nothing else but only this; And now methinks I have a mind to it. Bass. There's more depends on this than on the The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, Por. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers: Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife; And, when she put it on, she made me vow That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it. Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts. An if your wife be not a mad woman, Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring : Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him; Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst, Unto Antonio's house: away, make haste. [Exit GRATIANO. Come, you and I will thither presently; And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A Street. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. Por. Inquire the Jew's house out; give him this deed, And let him sign it: we'll away to night, |