As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple ; nay, if the scale turn

340 But in the estimation of a hair, Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por.. Why doth the Jew pause ? take thy for

feiture, 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. 349

Gra. A Daniel, still say. I; a second Daniel !I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.

Shy. Shall I not barely have my principal ?

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;
The law hath yet another hold on you.
It is enacted in the laws of Venice,-.
If it be.proy'd against an alien,
That by direct, or indirect attempts,
He seek the life of any citizen,..
The party, 'gainst the which lie doth contrive,
Shall seize on half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state ;
And the offender's life.lies in the mercy

Of

:- 360

Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st:
For it appears by manifest proceeding,
That, indirectly, and directly too,

370 Thou hast contriv'd against the very

life Of the defendant ; and thou hast incur'd The danger formerly by me rehears'd. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of 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.
Duke. That thou may’st see the difference of our

spirit,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:
For half thy wealth, it is Anthonio's;
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

Por. Ay, for the state ; not for Anthonio.

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,

do take the means whereby I live. Por. What mercy can you render him, Anthonio? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake. Anth. 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

When you

391

Tha