As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,—
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

Grat. A second Daniel! a Daniel, Jew!
Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.

323

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 refus'd it in the open court : He shall have merely justice, and his bond.

328

Grat. A Daniel, still say I ; a second DanielI thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal ? 333 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;

338

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,

343

Shall seize one half his goods; the other half

Comes to the privy coffer of the state;

And the offender's life lies in the mercy
Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.

In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st:

348

For it appears, by manifest proceeding,

That, indirectly, and directly too,

Thou hast contriv'd against the very life
Of the defendant: and thou hast incurr'd
The danger formerly by me rehears'd.

Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.

353

Grat. Beg that thou mayst 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.

Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our

spirit,

359

363

I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's :
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio.
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.

368

Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio ? Grat. 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;

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 :

Two things provided more,-that, for this favour,
He presently become a Christian:

The other, that he do record a gift,

373

Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd,

380

Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter.

381

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.

Clerk, draw a deed of gift. 385

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.

Grat.

Get thee gone, but do it.

In christening, thou shalt have two god

fathers;

Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, 390 To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit SIY.

Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon; I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet I presently set forth.

395

Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. Antonio, gratify this gentleman ;

For in my mind, you are much bound to him.

[Exeunt DUKE, MAGNIFICOES, and Train. Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Have, by your wisdom, been this day acquitted 400 Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,

Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,
We freely cope your courteous pains withal.

Ant. And stand indebted, over and above,

In love and service to you evermore.

Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied;
And I, delivering you, am satisfied,
And therein do account myself well paid:
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you, know me when we meet again;
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.

405

410

Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further; Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, Not as a fee; grant me two things, I pray you,-Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

415

Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake; And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you :-Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more; And you in love shall not deny me this.

420

Bass. This ring, good sir? alas, it is a trifle; 421 I will not shame myself to give you this.

Por. I will have nothing else but only this;

And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.

Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the

value.

The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,

And find it out by proclamation:

Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

Por. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers:

425

You taught me first to beg; and now, methinks, 430
You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.
Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife :
And, when she put it on, she made me vow

That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.

Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts.

435

An if your wife be not a mad-woman,
And know how well I have deserv'd this ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever,
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!
[Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA.
Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring :
Let his deservings, and my love withal,
Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment.
Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him;
Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst,
Unto Antonio's house :--away, make haste.

441

445

[Exit GRATIANO.

Come, you and I will thither presently;
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio.

[Exeunt.