YZRCHANT OF

es, asd year dogs, and maa < 183 18 sim parts, ert befill I ar to run Starty them to your heirs. under burders! let the best

rours, and let their puncte such asds. You will see Jayso do ID3 Ter rod:

, which I demand oftes 11 Dide, and I will berek rapon your law! Lo the decrees of l'enice:

y power, I may dismiss this town

a learned doctor, 6: for to determine this

,

315
Thou mak'st thy knife keen: but no metal can,
No, not the hangman's ax, bear half the kcevness
of thy sharp envy*. Can no prayers pierce thee?

Shy. No, uone that thou hast wit enough to make.

Gra. 0, be thou damı’d, inexorabie dog!
And for thy life let justice be accus'd.
Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
That souls of animals infuse themselves
Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit,
Govern'd a wolf, who, haug'd for human slaughter,
Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,
And, whil'st thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itself in thee; for thy desires
Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous.
Shy. Till thou can'st 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
To cureless ruin.--I stand here for law.

Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend
A young and learned doctor to our court:
Where is he?
Ner.

He attendeth here hard by,
To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.
Duke. With all my heart:--some three or 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 understand,
that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick:
but in the instant that your messenger came, in
loving visitation was with me a young doctor of
Rome, his name is Bulthasar: 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,
betler'd with his own learning (the greatness

My lord, here stap niet

letters from the doctor,

Padas.

As the letters, Call the more rer, Antonio. What, mara

re my fiest, blood, bones sa

of Mars

for me one drop

inted wether of the flock ; the wealest kiod of trust

ground, and so let me: bres etaployd, Bassanio, und syrite mine epitapta

nd like a

lawyers de from Padua, trom Bellari: 775 lord: Bellario grets.pl

(Presentral

'Tis m The tt

whereof I cannot enough commend), comes with
him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's
request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack
of years be no impediment to let him lack a reve-
rend estimation ; for I never knew so young u 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 be

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.

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 iis dangert, do you not?

Shylock is my name.

Y
I
0
If
T
V

[To Antonio

Do you confess the bond?

Ant. Ay, so he says.
Por.
Ant. I do.
Por.

Then must the Jew be merciful.
Shy. On what compulsion must I tell me that.

Pro. 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:

1

* Oppose.

+ Reach or control,

nough con mend), come family, to fill up your grey 2. I bouch you, lat tes dans timent ta ld him lado rneter knd so

I leare him to your trial shall better patient

tie learn'd Beileris,

the doctor cool

are welcome: tale For sale

ith the differece i question in the court throughly of the cause.

here, and which the fut loid shflock, both stundas Saglock?

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His scepter 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 scepter'd sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God bimself;
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, uone 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 tļus 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 deed's upon my head! I crave the law,
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, twice 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:
If this not suffice, it must appear
That malice bears down truth.

And I beseech you,
Wrest once the law to your authority:
To do a great right, do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel devil of his will.

Por. It must not be ; there is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree established :
'I'will 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 judgement ! yea, a Da-

niel !
wise young judge, how do I honour thee!
Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
Shy. Here'tis, most revercnd doctor, here it is.

Shylock is

Patare is the suit you

the frontian lam 35 pou do proceedszert, do you na."

( 10 Antes Do you confess the Ast?

I the Jew be merril Son must 1? tell me the Try is not stram'd; rout from learen 11 i3 taice bles: and hia that tales

Reach or contral

Por. Shylock, there's thrice thymoney offer'd thee.

Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven:
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul ?
No, not for Venice.
Por.

Why, this bond is forfeit;
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Nearest the merchant's heart:- Be merciful;
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.

Shy. When it is paid according to the tenouro
It doth appear, you are a worthy judge;
You know the law, your exposition
Hath been most souvd: I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgement: 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 judgement.

Por.
You must prepare your bosom for his knife:

Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young mau!

Por. For the intent and purpose of the law
Hath full relation to the penalty,
Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

Shy. 'Tis very true: wise and upright judge!
How much more elder art thou than thy looks !

Por. Therefore, lay vare your bosom.
So says the bond;-Doth it not, noble judge?-
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. Is it so nominated in the bond ?

Por. It is not so express'd; But what of that? "Twere good you do so much for charity.

Why then, thus it is.

Shy.

Ay, his breast :

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 prepard.
Give ine your hand, Bassanio; fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom: it is still 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 such a misery doth she cut me off.
Commend me to your honourable wife:
Tell her the process of Autonio's end,
Say, bow I lov'd you, speak me fair in death ;
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.
Repent pot you that you shall lose your friend,
And he repents not that he pays your debt;
For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.

Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife,
Which is as dear to me as life itself;
But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteem'd above thy life:
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all
Here to this devil, to deliver you.
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 wislı would make else an unquier 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.

Whr theo, thus it's Hum icrinis kole: O excelent young du' at purpose of the lar jeant,

upon the bord. wise and upright joune? i thou than thy looks e your bosom.

it 001, noble judee

We very words ? balance bere, 10 Fab