Jes. Thus absence warms with fiercer flame, and Lor. The faithful needle to its darling pole. END OF ACT III. [Exeunt, R. ACT IV SCENE I.-A Court of Justice in Venice. The DUKE, Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, SOLANIO, SALARINO, GRATIANO, and Attendants, discovered. Duke. [Seated, c.] What, is Antonio here? Ant. Ready, so please your grace. Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy. Ant. I have heard, Your grace hath taken great pains to qualify His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate, And that no lawful means can carry me Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose My patience to his fury; and am arm'd The very tyranny and rage of his. Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court. Enter SHYLOCK, R. Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our face. Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice And, where thou now exact'st the penalty, But, touch'd with human gentleness and love, Forgive a moiety of the principal; Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late so huddled on his back; From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint, We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. Shy. (R.) I have possess'd your grace of what I pur pose; And by our holy sabbath have I sworn, To have the due and forfeit of my bond: Upon your charter, and your city's freedom. As there is no firm reason to be render'd, More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loathing, A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? Bass. (L. C.) This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answer. Shy. What, wouldst thou have a servent sting thee twice? Ant. (L. c.) I pray you, think your question with the Jew: You may as well go stand upon the beach, And bid the main flood bate his usual height; To wag their high tops, and to make no noise, As seek to soften that (than which what's harder?) I would not draw them, I would have my bond. (Because you bought them :-shall I say to you, Why sweat they under their burdens? let their beds There is no force in the decrees of Venice: Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day Sal. (R.) My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor New come from Padua. Duke. Bring us the letters: call the messenger. [Exit Salarino, R. 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 SOLANIO with NERISSA, dress'd like a lawyer's clerk, R. and goes to the DUKE. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both, my lord: Bellario greets your grace. [Presents a Letter.-SHYLOCK kneels on one knee, and whets his knife on the floor. Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? Shy. [Gets up.] No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. Gra. (R. C.) O, be thou damn'd, inexorable dog! Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith, That souls of animals infuse themselves Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter, Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous. Shy. [R. C. holding up the bond, and tapping it with the knife.] Till thou can'st rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud : To cureless ruin.-I stand here for law. 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. [Exeunt Gratiano and Solario, R. Meantime, the Court shall hear Bellario's letter. [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 Balthazar. 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 furnish'd with my opinion; which better'd with his own learn ing (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 reverent 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. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes; Enter PORTIA, dressed like a Doctor of Laws, SOLANIO, and Give me your hand: came you from old Bellario? Duke. You are welcome; take your place. That holds this present question in the court? Por. Is your name Shylock? Shy. (R. C.) 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 you not? Por. Do you confess the bond? Ant. I do. Por. Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. (R.) On what compulsion must I? tell me that. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, And earthly power doth then shew likest God's, E |