Por. What, no more? Well, jailer, on :-Pray God, Bassanio come SCENE IV.-Belmont.-A Room in Pen Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your pre sence, You have a noble and a true conceit Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly How true a gentlemen you send relief, Bass. [Reads.] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since, in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are cleared be-Nor shall not now: for in companions tween you and I, if I might but see you at my death; notwithstanding, use your pleasure: if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter. Por. O love, despatch all business, and be go [Exeunt. That do converse and waste the time together, The husbandry and manage of my boase, Until her husband and my lord's return: The which my love, and some necessity, Lor. Madam, with all my heart; I shall obey you in all fair commands. Jes. I wish your ladyship all beart's content. To wish it back on you: fare you well, Jes- As I have ever found thee honest, true, Bring them, I pray thee, with imagin'd sperd But get thee gone: I shall be there before thee. speed. Por. Come on, Nerissa; I have work in band And speak, between the change of man and boy, Above a twelvemonth :-I have within my mind Ner. Why, shall we turn to men ? [Exeunt. SCENE V.-The same.-A Garden. Enter LAUNCELOT and JESSICA. Laun. Yes, truly :-for, look you, the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children; therefore, I promise you, I fear you. I was always plain with you, and so now I speak my agitation of the matter: Therefore, be of good cheer; for, truly, I think, you are damn'd. There is but one hope in it that can do you any good; and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither. Jes. And what hope is that, I pray thee? Laun. Marry, you may partly hope that your father got you not, that you are not the Jew's daughter. Jes. That were a kind of bastard hope, indeed; so the sins of my mother should be visited upon me. Laun. Truly then I fear you are damn'd both by father and mother: thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother: well, you are gone both ways. Jes. I shall be saved by my husband; he bath made me a Christian. Laun. Truly the more to blame he: we were Christians enough before; e'en as many as could well live, one by another: This making of Christians will raise the price of hogs; if we grow all to be pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money. Enter LORENZO. Jes. I'll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you say; here he comes. Lor. I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot, if you thus get my wife into corners. Jes. Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo; Launcelot and I are out: he tells me flatly, there is no mercy for me in heaven, because I am a Jew's daughter: and he says you are no good member of the commonwealth; for, in convert ing Jews to Christians, you raise the price of pork. Lor. I shall answer that better to the commonwealth, than you can the getting up of the negro's belly: the Moor is with child by you, Launcelot. Laun. It is much, that the Moor should be more than reason: but if she be less than an honest woman, she is, indeed, more than I took her for. Lor. How every fool can play upon the word! I think, the best grace of wit will shortly turn into silence; and discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots.-Go in, sirrah; bid them prepare for dinner. Laun. That is done, Sir; they have all stomachs. Lor. Goodly lord, what a wit-snapper are you then bid them prepare dinner. Laun. That is done too, Sir; only, cover is the word. Lor. Will you cover then, Sir? Laun. Not so, Sir, neither; I know my duty. Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant? I pray thee, understand a plain man in his plain meaning: go to thy fellows; bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. Laun. For the table, Sir, it shall be served in; for the meat, Sir, it shall be covered: for your coming in to dinner, Sir, why, let it be as humours and conceits shall govern. [Exit LAUNCELOT. Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are suited f The fool hath planted in his memory An army of good words; And I do know And on the wager lay two earthly women, Lor. Even such a husband Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that. Lor. No, pray thee, let it serve for tabletalk; Then howsoe'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things I shall digest it. Jes. Well, I'll set you forth. ACT IV. [Exeunt. SCENE 1.-Venice.-A Court of Justice. Enter the DUKE, the Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALARINO, SALANIO, and others. Duke. What, is Antonio here? to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy. Ant. I have heard, Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify And that no lawful means can carry me Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court. Salan. He's ready at the door: he comes, my lord. Enter SHYLOCK. Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our face. Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought, ⚫llatred. Thou'lt show thy mercy, and remorse, more strange Than is thy strange apparent + cruelty: Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, We all expect a gentle auswer, Jew. Shy. I have possess'd your grace of what II stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it! purpose; And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn, Of what it likes, or loaths: Now, for your an swer: As there is no firm reason to be render'd, A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answer. Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love? Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill? Bass. Every offence is not a hate al first. Shy. What, would'st thou have a serpent sting thee twice? Ant. I pray you, think you question ** with the Jew: You may as well go stand upon the beach, His Jewish heart :-Therefore, I do beseech you, six. Duke. Upon my power, I may dismiss this all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there. make. Gra. Oh! be thou damn'd, inexorable dog! That souls of animals infuse themselves Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, Shy. 'Till thou can'st rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so load: Duke. This letter from Beliario doth com mend A young and learned doctor to our court:- Ner. He attendeth here hard by, four of you, Go, give him courteous conduct to this place.— Mean time, the court shall hear Bellario's letter. [Clerk reads.] Your grace shall underCrying. stand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick: but in the instant that your MIEL ↑ Whereas. senger 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 furnish'd with my opinion; which better'd with his own learning, (the greatness whereof 1 cannot enough commend,) comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, let this 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. 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: Came you from old Bellario? Por. I did, my lord. Duke. You are welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court? Por. I am informed throughly of the cause, Which is the merchant here? and which the Jew? Duke. Antonio and old Shylock both stand forth. Por. Is your name Shylock? Shy. Shylock is my name. Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.You stand within his danger, do you not? [TO ANTONIO. Ant. Ay, so he says. Por. Do you confess the bond? Por. Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. On what compulsion must 17 tell me that. Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd; It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath it is twice bless'd; 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, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings: But mercy is above this sceptred sway, It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's, When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this,That, in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much, To mitigate the justice of thy plea; 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 The penalty and forfeit of my bond. [law, 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, Wrest once the law to your authority: • Reach or controul, Por. It must not be; there is no power in Can alter a decree established: [Venice. 'Twill be recorded for a precedent ; And many an error, by the same example, Will rush into the state: it cannot be. Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel ! O wise young judge, how do I honour thee ! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the boud. 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? Por. Why, this bond is forfeit ; Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor.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: Which here appeareth due upon the bond. How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Por. Therefore, lay bare your bosom. Shy. Ay, his breast: Nearest his heart, those are the very words. Por. It is so. Are there balance 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 do bleed to death. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say? Ant. But little; I am arm'd, and well prepar'd. Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well! Than is her custom: it is still her use, Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, 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. 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. 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 But just a pound of flesh if thou tak'st more, Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. In which predicament, I say, thou stand">t : And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, 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 Antoc.o. that: You take my house, when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house; you take my ide, When you do take the means whereby I live. Por. What mercy can you render him, AÐtonio? 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; He presently become a Christian ; Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant Shy. I am content. Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go freta hence; I am not well; send the deed after me, Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In christening thou shalt bave two gudfathers; Had I been judge, thou should'st have had lea more. Have, by your wisdom, been this day acquitted Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it! Of grievons penalties; in lieu whereof, 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, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, In love and service to you evermore. 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; |