A messenger with letters from the doctor, Duke. Bring us the letters: call the messenger. yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all, Enter SOLANIO with NERISSA, dressed like a Lawyer's clerk, R., and goes to the Duke. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? Shy. [Gets up.] No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. Gra. (R. c.) Oh, be thou damned, inexorable dog, And for thy life let justice be accused. Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves Governed a wolf, who, hanged for human slaughter, Are wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous. Shy. (R. C.) [Holding up the bond, and tapping it with the knife. 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 uke. This letter from Bellario doth commend Ter. He attendeth here hard by, know your answer, whether you'll admit him. Duke. With all my heart :-some three or four of you, give him courteous conduct to this place. [Exeunt Gratiano and Solanio, R. antime, the Court shall hear Bellario's letter. Reads.] "Your grace shall understand that, at the reot of your letter, I am very sick but in the instant that Er messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a ng doctor of Rome, his name is Balthazar. I acquainthim with the cause in controversy between the Jew and tonio, the merchant: we turned o'er many books toger; he is furnished with my opinion; which, bettered th his own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot ough commend,) comes with him, at my importunity, to I up your grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, let s lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a revent estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose al shall better publish his commendation.” ou hear the learned Bellario, what he writes, nd here, I take it, is the doctor come. Enter PORTIA, dressed like a Doctor of Laws, SOLANIO, and GRATIANO, R.—. -Portia advancing to the c. of the Stage, bows to the Court, and then approaches towards the Duke. ive me your hand: Came you from old Bellario? Por. I did, my lord. Duke. You are welcome: take your place. [Portia sits. re you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court? Por. I am informed thoroughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. [They stand forth-Portia in c. of Stage. Por. Is your name Shylock? Shy. Shylock is my name. Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. follow; [To Ant.] You stand within his danger, do you not? Ant. Ay, so he says. Por. Do you confess the bond? Ant. I do. Por. Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. Wherein doth sit the fear and dread of kings; It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's, Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice 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, 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, r. It must not be. There is no power in Venice lter a decree established: 1 be recorded for a precedent; many an error, by the same example, rush into the state: it cannot be. y. [In ecstasy.] A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! wise young judge, how do I honour thee! or. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. y. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. [Gives it. or. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered thee. hy. An oath, an oath! I have an oath in heaven! I lay perjury upon my soul? not for Venice. Por. Why, this bond is forfeit ; lawfully by this the Jew may claim bound of flesh, to be by him cut off arest the merchant's heart.-Be merciful; ath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Por. Why, then, thus it is. ou must prepare your bosom for his knife;- Which here appeareth due upon the bond. man Shy. 'Tis very true. Oh, wise and upright judge' 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. The flesh? Are there balance here, weigh Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your chargo To stop his wounds, lest he do 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, Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love; Shy. These be the Christian husbands! I have a daugh ter; Would any of the stock of Barabbas Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! [Aside. We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence. |