I would she were in heaven, so she could 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. One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Shy. Is that the law? Por. Mark, Jew!-O learned Thyself shall see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. Gra. O learned judge!-Mark, Jew;-a learned judge! Shy. I take this offer then,-pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. Bass. Here is the money. -no haste; The Jew shall have all justice;-soft ;- Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Of one poor scruple,-nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. 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. Gra. A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shy. Shall I not have barely 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 prov'd against an alien, The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st : Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Gra. Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. 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, When you do take the means whereby I live. Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake. Ant. 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 The other half in use,a to render it, Two things provided more,-That for this favour, Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd, Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. a In use-lent on interest. Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here. Por. Art thou contented, Jew; what dost thou say Shy. I am content. Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. ? Gra. In christening, thou shalt have two godfathers; Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more,a To bring thee to the gallows, not to the font. [Ex. Sиy. Duke. Sir, I entreat you with me home to dinner. Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon. I must away this night toward Padua ; Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. Antonio, gratify this gentleman; For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. [Exeunt DUKE, Magnificoes, and Train. Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied: Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further; Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, a Ten more. Jurymen were jestingly called godfathers"godfathers in law," as Ben Jonson has it. Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you, Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Give me your gloves, I 'll wear them for your sake; And, for your love, I 'll take this ring from you— Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more; And you in love shall not deny me this. Bass. This ring, good sir,-alas, it is a trifle; I will not shame myself to give you this. Por. I will have nothing else but only this; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it. Bass. There's more depends on this than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation; Only for this I pray you pardon me. Por. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers: Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife; Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts. An if your wife be not a mad woman, And know how well I have deserv'd this ring, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! [Exeunt PoR, and NER, Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring; Let his deservings, and my love withal, Be valued against your wife's commandment. [Exeunt. |