When mercy seasons justice: therefore, Jew, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? Bass. (L. C.) Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, thrice 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; That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, To do a great right, do a little wrong: Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice "Twill be recorded for a precedent; And many an error, by the same example, Will rush into the state: it cannot be. Shy. [In an ecstacy of delight.] A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! O, wise young judge, how do I honour thee! [Gives it. 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 ; 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; Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor.— † It doth appear, you are a worthy judge; Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Whereof you are a well-deserving_pillar, Por. Why then, thus it is. You must prepare your bosom for his knife ;- Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. "Tis very true: O, wise and upright judge! So says the bond :—Doth it not, noble judge ?— /Nearest his heart; those are the very words. Por. It is so. Are there balance here to weigh The flesh? Shy. [Snatches the scales out of the folds of his cloak.] Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, Por. It is not so express'd; but what of that? Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say? Ant. (c.) But little; I am arm'd, and well prepar'd. Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, Bass. (c.) Antonio, I am married to a wife Gra. (R.) 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. Shy. (R.) These be the Christian husbands: I have a daughter; Would any of the stock of Barabbas Had been her husband, rather than a Christian. We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence. [Aside. Por. [Comes forward to c.] A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it, and the law doth give it. 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. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gra. O, upright judge!-Mark, Jew!-a learned judge! Shy. [Tremulously.] Is that the law? For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st. Gra. (R.) O, learned judge !-Mark, Jew !—a learned judge! Shy. (R. C.) 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;He shall have nothing but the penalty. Gra. O, Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Of one poor scruple! nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. 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 prov'd against an alien, That by direct, or indirect attempts He seek the life of any citizen, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. [Retires to the Duke. Gra. Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. Por. [Seated by the Duke.] Ay, for the state; not for Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that: You take my house, when you do take the prop 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 heaven's sake. Ant. (L.) 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, That lately stole his daughter. Two things provided more-that, for this favour, 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. Po. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shy. I 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. Gra. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers; Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit Shylock, R. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. [To Portia. |