Duke. Bring us the letters; Call the messenger. Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me : You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both, my lord: Bellario greets your grace. [Presents a letter. Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? That souls of animals infuse themselves Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter, Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous. Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor to our court :- 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 Balthasar: I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turn'd o'er many books together: he is furnished with my opinion; which, better'd with his own learning, (the greatness 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 reverend estimation; for I never knew so young a 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 he 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? Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Shy. Shylock is my name. 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 his danger, do Ant. Ay, so he says. you not? [TO ANT. Por. Do you confess the bond? Ant. I do. Por. Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. [3] To impugn, is to oppose, to controvert. STEEVENS [4] In composing these beautiful lines. it is probable that Shakespeare recollect ed the following verse in Ecclesiasticus, xxxv. 20: Mercy is seasonable in the time of afflicticu, as clouds of rain in the time of drought."DOUCE. 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;; It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? And I beseech you, Por. It must 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 same example, Will rush into the state: it cannot be. Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!— wise young judge, how do I honour thee! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. [5] An imprecation adopted from that of the Jews to Pilate: "His blood be oa us, and our children!" HENLEY. [6] Malice oppresses honesty; a true man in old language is an honest man. We now call the jury good men and true. JOHNSON. Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Por. Why, this bond is forfeit; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Por. Why then, thus it is. You must prepare your bosom for his knife. Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! So says the bond ;-Doth it not, noble judge?— Por. It is so. Are there balance here, to weigh 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. Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say? Than is her custom : it is still her use, To let the wretched man out-live his wealth, Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for the 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. 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. Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shy. Most rightful judge! Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast; The law allows it, and the court awards it. Shy. Most learned judge !-A sentence; come, prepare. Por. Tarry a little ;-there is something else.This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are, a pound of flesh : Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods |