Baff. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the fum: if that will not fuffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart. If this will not fuffice, it must appear 8 That malice bears down truth. And I befeech you, To do a great right, do a little wrong; Por. It muft not be; there is no power in Venice, Can alter a decree established: 'Twill be recorded for a precedent; And many an error, by the fame example, Sky. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel. Shy. An oath, oath,-I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my foul? No, not for Venice. Por. Why, this bond is forfeit; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim Hath been moft found I charge you by the law, Proceed to judgment. By my foul I swear, We now call the jury good 8 Malice bears down truth.] Malice oppreffes honesty, a true man in old language is an honeft man. men and true. JOHNSON. VOL. III. There There is no power in the tongue of man Per. Why, then thus it is : You must prepare your bosom for his knife. Which here appeareth due upon the bond. O wife and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Por. Therefore lay bare your bofom. Sky. Ay, his breast; So fays the bond; doth it not, noble judge? Por. It is fo. Are there balance here to weigh the flesh? Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by fome furgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To ftop his wounds, left he fhould bleed to death. Shy. Is it fo nominated in the bond? Por. It is not fo exprefs'd; but what of that? 'Twere good, you do fo much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to fay? Anth. But little: I am arm'd, and well prepar'd. --Give me your hand, Baffanio, fare ye well! Grieve not, that I am fallen to this for you; For herein fortune fhews herfelf more kind, Than is her cuftom. It is ftill her use, To let the wretched man out-live his wealth, To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow, An age of poverty; from which lingering penance Of fuch a mifery doth fhe cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife : Tell Tell her the process of Anthonio's end; Say, how I lov'd you; speak me fair in death; Baff. Anthonio, 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. 'Would, any of the ftock of Barrabas Had been her husband, rather than a Chriftian! [Afide. -We trifle time; I pray thee, purfue fentence. thine, The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Per. And you must cut this flesh from off his breaft; The law allows it, and the court awards it. Sby. Moft learned judge!-A fentence;-come, prepare. Por. Tarry a little;-there is fomething else.-This O 2 This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; One drop of Chriftian blood: thy lands and goods Unto the ftate of Venice. Gra. O upright judge !-Mark, Jew;-O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Per. Thyfelf fhalt see the act: For, as thou urgeft justice, be affur'd, Thou shalt have juftice, more than thou defir'st. Gra. O learned judge -Mark, Jew-a learned judge! Shy. I take this offer then ;-pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. Ball. Here is the mony. Por. Soft; The Jew fhall have all justice;-soft !—no haste— He fhall have nothing but the penalty. Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Thou dieft, and all thy goods are confiscate. Por. Why doth the Jew paufe?take thy forfeiture. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. He He fhall have merely juftice, and his bond. Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! Por. Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. That, by direct, or indirect attempts The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Thou haft contriv'd against the very life Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. Gra. Beg, that thou may't have leave to hang thyfelf: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the ftate's charge. Duke. That thou may'ft fee the difference of our fpirit, 1 pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. |