And lawfully by this the Jew may claim Hath been most sound; I charge you by the law, Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court 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 Shy. Ay, his breast: says the bond :-Doth it not noble judge?— Nearest the heart, those are the very words. Por. It is so. Are there balances here to weigh The flesh? Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he should bleed to death. Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond? Por. It is not so expressed; But what of that? "Twere good you do so much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, of poverty: from which lingering penance Of such a misery doth she cut me off. 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, prepare. One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gra. O upright judge!-Mark, Jew!-O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyself shalt 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 judge! Shy. I take this offer then,-pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. Bass. Here is the money. Por. Soft. The Jew shall have all justice;-soft ;-no haste;- Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Of one poor scruple,-nay, if the scales do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. 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. Por. Tarry Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien, That by direct, or indirect attempts, The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive, In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that You take you do take the prop house when my That doth sustain my house; you take my life, When you do take the means whereby I live. Ant. So please my lord the Duke, and all the court, 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. Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here. I Por. Art thou contented, Jew; what dost thou say? pray you give me leave to go from hence: I am not well: send the deed after me, And I will sign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. SHAKESPERE. THE TWO FOSCARI. The Doge and Attendants. Att. My lord, the deputation is in waiting; But add, that if another hour would better Accord with your will, they will make it theirs. Doge. To me all hours are like. Let them approach. [Exit Attendant. An Officer. Prince, I have done your bidding. Doge. What command ? Officer. A melancholy one-to call the attendance Of Doge. True-true-true: I crave your pardon. I Begin to fail in apprehension, and Wax very old-old almost as my years. Till now I fought them off, but they begin To overtake me. Enter the Deputation, consisting of six of the Signori and the Chief of the Ten. Doge. Noblemen, your pleasure! Chief of the Ten. In the first place, the council doth condole With the Doge on his late and private grief. Doge. No more-no more of that. Chief of the Ten. Will not the duke Accept the homage of respect? Accept it as 't is given-proceed. With a selected giunta from the senate Of the republic, and the o'erwhelming cares Which you have worn so long and venerably : Chief of the Ten. Need I say again? Chief of the Ten. I have spoken. Twenty-four Hours are accorded you to give an answer. Will now retire. Doge. Stay! Four and twenty hours Doge. When I twice before reiterated I cannot break my oath. my Chief of the Ten. Reduce us not To the alternative of a decree, Instead of your compliance. Doge. Providence conscience-st Prolongs my days to prove and chasten me; |