Thou hast contrived against the very life 355 Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd The danger formerly by me rehearsed.

Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke.

Gra. Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, 360 Thou hast not left the value of a cord;

Therefore thou must be hang'd at the state's charge.

Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:

For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's;
365 The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
Por. Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.

Shy. Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that:
You take my house when you do take the prop
370 That doth sustain my house; you take my life
When you do take the means whereby I live.

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 375 To quit the fine for one half of his goods,

I am content; so he will let me have

The other half in use, to render it,

Upon his death, unto the gentleman
That lately stole his daughter:

380 Two things provided more, that, for this favour,
He presently become a Christian;

385

The other, that he do record a gift,

Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd,
Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.

Duke. He shall do this, or else I do recant

The pardon that I late pronounced here.

Por. Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say?
Shy. I am content.

Por.

Clerk, draw a deed of gift.

Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence: 390 I am not well: send the deed after me,

395

And I will sign it.

Duke.

Get thee gone, but do it.

Gra. In christening shalt thou have two godfathers: Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit SHYLOCK. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon :

I must away this night toward Padua,

And it is meet I presently set forth.

Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.

400 Antonio, gratify this gentleman,

For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

[Exeunt DUKE and his train.

Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend
Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,
405 Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,
We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
Ant. And stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore.

Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied; 410 And I, delivering you, am satisfied

415

And therein do account myself well paid:
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you, know me when we meet again :
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.

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,

420 [To Ant.] Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake;

[To Bass.] 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! 425 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 value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,

430 And find it out by proclamation;

435

Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

Por. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers:

You taught me first to beg; and now methinks
You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.

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,

440 And know how well I have deserved the ring,

She would not hold out enemy for ever,

For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

[Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA.

Ant. My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring: Let his deservings and my love withal 445 Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment.

Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him; Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst, Unto Antonio's house: away! make haste.

Come, you and I will thither presently; 450 And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio.

[Exit GRATIANO.

[Exeunt.

Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed And let him sign it: we'll away to-night And be a day before our husbands home: This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

Enter GRATIANO.

5 Gra. Fair sir, you are well o'erta'en:
My Lord Bassanio upon more advice

Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat
Your company at dinner.

Por.

That cannot be:

His ring I do accept most thankfully:

10 And so, I pray you, tell him: furthermore,

15

I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house.
Gra. That will I do.

Ner.

Sir, I would speak with you.

[Aside to Por.] I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

Por. [Aside to Ner.] Thou mayst, I warrant. We shall have old swearing

That they did give the rings away to men;

But we'll outface them, and outswear them too.

[Aloud] Away! make haste: thou know'st where I will

tarry.

Ner. Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?

[Exeunt.

ACT V

SCENE I. Belmont. Avenue to PORTIA's house

Enter LORENZO and JESSICA.

Lor. The moon shines bright: in such a night as this,

When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees
And they did make no noise, in such a night
Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls
5 And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents,
Where Cressid lay that night.

Jes.
In such a night
Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself,
And ran dismay'd away.

Lor.

In such a night

10 Stood Dido with a willow in her hand

Upon the wild sea banks and waft her love

To come again to Carthage.

20

And with an unthrift love did run from Venice
As far as Belmont.

Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well,
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith
And ne'er a true one.