"The slaves are ours: so do I answer you: 95 The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, 100 There is no force in the decrees of Venice. I stand for judgement: answer; shall I have it? Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day. Salan. My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, 105 New come from Padua. 110 115 Duke. Bring us the letters; call the messenger. Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet! 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 employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still and write mine epitaph. Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? Gra. O, be thou damn'd, inexecrable dog! That souls of animals infuse themselves 135 Are wolvish, bloody, starved and ravenous. Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud: Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To cureless ruin. I stand here for law. Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend 140 A young and learned doctor to our court. Where is he? Ner. He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. Duke. With all my heart. Some three or four of you Go give him courteous conduct to this place. 145 Meantime the court shall hear Bellario's letter. 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 ac150 quainted 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 155 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 160 old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes: And here, I take it, is the doctor come. Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws. Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario? Duke. You are welcome: take your place. 165 Are you acquainted with the difference 170 That holds this present question in the court? Shy. Shylock is my name. Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. Por. Do you confess the bond? Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. It blesseth him that gives and him that takes : 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, 185 The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; 190 And earthly power doth then show likest God's 195 And that same prayer doth teach us all to render 200 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? Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice, 205 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. And I beseech you, Wrest once the law to your authority: 210 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, 215 And many an error by the same example Will rush into the state: it cannot be. Shy. A Daniel come to judgement! yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honour thee! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. 220 Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd 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; 225 And lawfully by this the Jew may claim You know the law, your exposition Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, 240 Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court Por. Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. "Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! 245 How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Por. Therefore lay bare your bosom. Shy. Ay, his breast: So says the bond: doth it not, noble judge? Por. It is so. 250 The flesh? Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. F |