Hall been her husband, rather than a Christian! [ Aside. 1) of the defendant ; and thou hast ineurr'd Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine ; | Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Gra. Beg, that thou may’st have leave to hang thy. Shy. Most rightful judge ! self: Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast; And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, The law allows it, and the court awards it. Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Shy. Most learned judge!-A sentence; come, pre | Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. pare. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, Por. Tarry a little ;-there is something else. I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood ; For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; The words expressly are, a pound of tlesh : The other half comes to the general state, Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. But, in the cutting it, if thon dost shed Por. Ay, for the state ; not for Antonio. One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that: Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate You take my house, when you do take the prop Unto the state of Venice. That doth sustain my house ; you take my life, Gra. O upright judge !-Mark, Jew;-0 learned When you do take the means whereby I live. judge! Por. What merey can you render him, Antonio? Shy. Is that the law ? Gra. A halter gratis ; nothing else; for God's sake. Por. Thyself shalt see the act: Ant. So plense my lord the duke, and all the court, For, as thou urgest justice, be assurd, To quit the fine for one half of his goods ; Upon his death, unto the gentleman Two things provided more - That, for this favour, He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do reconl a gift, Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter. Por. Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the flesh. The pardon, that I late pronounced here. Shy. I am content. Or less, than a just pound, -be it but so much Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. As-makes it light, or heavy, in the substance, Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence; Or the division of the twentieth part I am not well; send the deed after me, of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn And I will sign it. But in the estimation of a hair, Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Thou diest, and all thy goods are confisente. Gra. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers; Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more, Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [f.rit Shy. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. Duke. Sir, I entrent you home with me to dinner. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon ; Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is. I must away this night toward Padua, Por. He hath refus d it in the open court ; And it is meet, I presently set forthi. He shall have merely justice, and his bond. Duke. I am sorry, that your leisure serves you not. Gra. A Daniel, still say I ; a second Daniel ! -Antonio, gratify this gentleman ; I thank thee, Jew, for tenching me that word. For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal? [E.xe. Duke, Magnificoes, and Train. Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, We freely cope your courteous pains withal. Ant. And stand indebted, over and above, It is enacted in the laws of Venice, In love and service to you evermore. If it be prov'd against an alien, Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfied ; That by direct, or indirect attempts, And I, delivering you, am satisfied, He seek the life of any citizen, And therein do account myself well paid ; The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, My mind was never yet more mercenary. Shali seize one half his gooils; the other half I pray you, know me, when we meet aguin; Comes to the privy coffier of the state; I wish you well, and so I take my leave. And the offender's life lies in the mercy Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further ; of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice. Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, In which prerlicament, 1 say, thou stand'st : Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you, For it appears by manifest proceeding, Not to deny me, and to parlon me. That, indirectly, and directly too, Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield Thou hast contrivd against the very life Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake; And Lor. And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you : And sighid his soul toward the Grecian tents, Do not draw back your hand ; I'll take po laore; Where Cressid lay that night. you in love shall not deny me this. Jes. In such a night, Baas. This ring, good sir,-alas, it is a trifle; Did Thisbe fearfully o'er-trip the dew; I will not shaine myself to give you this. And saw the lion's shadow ere himself, Por. I will have nothing else but only this ; And ran dismay'd away. And now, methinks, I have a raind to it. Lor. In such a night, Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the Stood Dido with a willow in her hand value. Upon the wild sea-banks, and wav'd her love The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, To come again to Carthage. And find it out by proclamation ; Jes. In such a night, Only for this, I pray you, pardon me. Medea gatherd the enchanted herbs Per. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers : That did renew old Æson. You taught me first to beg; and methinks, Lor. In such a night, You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd. Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew: Baos. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife : And with an unthrift love did run from Venice, And, when she put it on, she made me vow, As far as Belmont. That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it. Jes. And in such a night, Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And ne'er a true one. She would not hold out enemy for ever, And in such a night, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, [Exe. Portia and Nerissa. Slander her love, and he forgave it her. Art. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring; Jes. I would out-night you, did nobody come: La his deservings, and my love withal, But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. Ee valued 'gainst you wife's commandement. Enter Stephano. Rais. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him, Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? Gire him the ring ; and bring him, if thou canst, Cato Antonio's house :--away, make haste. [E.2. Gra. Steph. A friend. Lor. A friend? what friend? your name, I pray -Conne, you and I will thither presently; And in the morning early will we both you, friend? Fly toward Belmont : Come, Antonio. [Exeunt. Steph. Stephano is my name ; and I bring word, My mistress will before the break of day Be here at Belmont: she doth stray about By holy crosses, where she kncels and prays Lur. Who comes with her? And be a day before our husbands home: Steph. None, but a holy hermit, and her maid. This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. 1 pray you, is my master yet return'd? Enter Gratiano. Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from him.Gra. Fair sir, you are well overtaken : But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, And ceremoniously let us prepare Enter Launcelot. Laun. Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola, sola! Lor. Who calls? And so, I pray you, tell him: Furthermore, Laun. Sola! did you see master Lorenzo, and misI pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house. tress Lorenzo; sola, sola! Gra. That will I do. Lor. Leave hollaing, man ; here. Lor. Here. Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my master, Por. Thou may'st, I warrant; We shall have old | with his horn full of good news; my master will be here swearing, ere morning. [Exit. That they did give the rings away to men; Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their com Bat we'll outface tbem, and outswear them too. ing. Away, make baste; thou know'st where I will tarry. And yet no matter ;-Why should we go in? Ver. Come, good sir, will you show me to this My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, house? [Exeunt. Within the house, your mistress is at hand; How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music SCENE I.-Belmont. Avemie to Portia's flouse. En Creep in our ears ; soft stillness, and the night, ter Lorenzo and Jessica. Become the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica: Look, how the floor of heaven There's not the smallest orh, which thou behold'st, And they did make no noise; in such a night, But in his motion like an angel sings, Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls, Still quiring to the young-ey'd cherubins : Such harmony is in immortal souls ; Enter Musicians. [Music. Jes. I am never merry when I hear sweet music. Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive : For do but note a wild and wanton herd, Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing, and neighing loud, Which is the hot condition of their blood ; If they but hear perehance a trumpet sound, Or any air of music touch their ears, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Their savage eyes turn to a modest gaze, By the sweet power of musie: Therefore, the poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods ; Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of rage, But music for the time doth change his nature: The nan that hath no music in himself, Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for triasons, stratagems, and spoils ; The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus : Let no such man be trusted.–Mark the music. Enter Portia and Nerissa, at a distance. dle. Ner. It is your music, malam, of the house. Por. Nothing is good, I see, without respect ; Methinks, it sounds much sweeter than by day. Ner. Silence bestows that virtue on it, inadam. Por. The crow duch sing as sweetly as the lurk, [Music ccases. Lor. That is the voice, Or I am much deceivd, of Portia. Por. He knows me, as the blind man knows the cuckoo, Dear lady, welcome home. fare, Madam, they are not yet ; Goin, Nerissa, Ler. Your husband is at band, I hear his trun:pet : -We are no tell-tales, madam; fear you not. Por. This night, methinks, is but the daylight siek It looks a little paler; 'tis a day, Such as the day is when the sun is hid. Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano, and their followers. Bass. We should hold day with the Antipodes, If you would walk in absence of the sun. Por. Let me give light, but let me not be light; For a light wife doth make a heavy husband, And never be Bassanio so for me ; But God sort all! You are welcome home, my lord. Bass. I thank you, madam: give welcome to my friend. -This is the man, this is Antonio, To whom I am so infinitely bound. Por. You should in all sense be much bound to him For, as I hear, he was much bound for you. Ant. No more than I am well acquitter of. Por. Sir, you are very welcome to our house: It must appear in other ways than words, Therefore, I scant this breathing courtesy. [Gratiano and Nerissa serm to talk apart, Gra. By yonder moon, I swear, you do me wrong: In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk : Would be were gelt that had it, for my part, Since yon do take it, love, so much at beart. Gra. About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring Ner. What talk you of the posy, or the value ? Gra. He will, an if he live to be a man. Gra. Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth, Por. You were to blame, I must be plain with you , And swear, I lost the ring defending it. Gra. My lord Bassanio gave his ring away What ring gave you, my lord? Bass. If I could acid a lie unto a fault, I would deny it; but you sce, my finger (Asides Hath not the ring upon it, it is gone. I never more will break an oath with thee. Per. Even so void is your false heart of truth. Ant. I once did lend my body for his wealth ; By hea en, I will ne'er come in your bed Which, but for him that had your husband's ring, Uztu st the ring. [T. Portia. Net. Nor I in yours, Had quite miscarried : I dare be bound again, My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord Will never more break faith advisedly. Por, Then you shall be his surety: Give him this; If you did know for whom I gave the ring, And bid him keep it better than the other. And would conceive for what I gave the ring, Ant. Here, lord Bassanjo ; swear to keep this ring. And bow unwillingly I left the ring, Bass. By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor! Wbei nought would be accepted but the ring, Por. I had it of him: pardon me, Bassanio; Pur. If you had known the virtue of the ring, Ner. And pardon me, my genıle Gratiano; For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor's clerk, In lieu of this, last night did lie with me. You would not then have parted with the ring. Gra. Why, this is like the wending of highways What man is there so much unreasonable, In summer, where the ways are fair enough: If you had pkasd to have defended it What ! are we cuckolds, ere we have deservd it? With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty Por. Speak not so grossly.-You are all amaz'd : To urge the thing held as a ceremony? Here is a letter, read it at your leisure ; Neringa teaches me what to believe; It comes from Padua, from Bellario : Til die for't, but some woman had the ring. There you shall find, that Portia was the doctor ; Shall witness, I set forth as soon as you, And I bave better news in store for you, Than you expect: unscal this letter soon; Oi ay dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? There you shall find, three of your argosies I en enfore'd to send it after him ; Are richly come to barbour suddenly: I was beset with shame and courtesy ; You shall not know by what strange accident My honour would not let ingratitude I chanced on this letter. So such besmear it : Pardon me, good lady: Ant. I am dumb. Fa, lay these blessed candles of the night, Bass. Were you the doctor, and I knew you not ? Had you been there, I think, you would have begg'd Gra. Were you the clerk, that is to make me cuckThe ring of me to give the worthy doctor. old? Por. Let not that doctor e'er come near my house : Ner. Ay; but the clerk that never means to do it, Sinee he hath got the jewel that I lova, Unless he live until he be a man. And that which you did swear to keep for me, Bass. Sweet doctor you shall be my bed-fellow; I will become as liberal as you ; When I am absent, then lie with my wife. I'll not deny him any thing I have, Ant. Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; No, not my body, nor my husband's bed: For here I read for certain, that my ships Know him I shall, I am well sure of it: Are safely come to road. Lie not a night iroin home; wateh me, like Argus : Por. How now, Lorenzo ? If you do not, if I be left alone, My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. Nos, by mire honour, which is yet my own, Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee.12 have that doctor for my bed-fellow. There do I give to you, and Jessica, Gra. Well, do you so; let not me take him then; Lor. Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way Of starved people. It is almost morning, Por. Sir, grieve not you ; You are welcome notwith And yet, I am sure, you are not satisfied standing. Of these events at full : Let us go in; Bass. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong; And charge us there upon intergatories, And, in the hearing of these many friends, And we will answer all things faithfully. I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, Gra. Let it be so: The first intergatory That my Nerissa shall be sworn on, is, Whether till the next night she had rather stay; In both my eyes he doubly sees himself: Or go to bed now, being two hours to day: In each eye, one : swear by your double self, But were the day come, I should wish it dark, And there's an oath of eredit. That I were couching with the doctor's clerk. Nay, but hear me: Well, while I live, I'll fear no other thing Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear, So sore, as keeping safe Nerissa's ring, [Excunt. Basi. |