Enter Portia, drefs'd like a doctor of laws.

Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes
And here, I take it, is the doctor come.-

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 prefent question in the court?
Por. I am informed thoroughly of the cause.

Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
Duke. Anthonio and old Shylock, both stand forth,
Por. Is you name Shylock?

Sby. Shylock is my name.

Por. Of a strange nature is the fuit you

Yet in fuch rule, that the Venetian law

follow;

you not?

[To Anth.

Cannot 'impugn you, as you do proceed.'You ftand within his danger, do

Anth. Ay, fo he says.

Por. Do you confess the bond?
Anth. I do.

Por. Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shy. On what compulfion muft I? tell me that.
Por. The quality of mercy is not ftrain'd;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd;
It bleffeth him that gives, and him that takes :
'Tis mightieft in the mightieft; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His fcepter fhews the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,

impugn]-obftruct.

You ftand within his danger,]-You admit the debt, and that you have incurred the penalty annexed to it.

attribute]-appendant.

Wherein

Wherein doth fit 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 himself;

And earthly power doth then fhew likeft God's,
When mercy feafons juftice: Therefore, Jew,
Though juftice be thy plea, confider this,—
That, in the courfe of justice, none of us
Should fee falvation; we do pray for mercy;
And that fame prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much,
To mitigate the juftice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this ftrict court of Venice
Muft needs give fentence 'gainst the merchant there.
Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?
Baff. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;
Yea, twice the fum: if that will not fuffice,
I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.
If this will not fuffice, it muit appear

That malice bears down "truth. And I beseech you,
Wreft 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:

'Twill be recorded for a precedent;

And many an error, by the fame example,

Will rush into the ftate: it cannot be.

Shy. A Daniel come to judgment ! yea, a Daniel! Q wife young judge, how do I honour thee!

" truth.]—the strict rule of equity.

Por.

Por. I pray you, let

me look upon the bond.

Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.

Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee. Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my foul?

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 tenour.-
It doth appear, you are a worthy judge;
You know the law, your expofition

Hath been moft found: I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deferving pillar,
Proceed to judgment: by my foul I fwear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me: I ftay here on my bond.

Anth. Moft heartily I do befeech the court
To give the judgment.

Por. Why then, thus it is.

You must prepare your bofom for his knife.
Sky. O noble judge! O excellent young man!
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: O wife and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Por. Therefore lay bare your bosom.

Shy. Ay, his breast:

So fays the bond;-Doth it not, noble judge?—
Nearest his heart, those are the very words.

Por.

W

Por. It is fo. Are there balance here, to weigh The flesh?

Shy. I have them ready.

Por. Have by fome furgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, left he do bleed to death.

Shy. Is it fo nominated in the bond?

Por. It is not fo exprefs'd; But what of that?
'Twere good, you do fo much for charity.
Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.
Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to fay?
Anth. But little; I am arm'd, and well prepar'd.-
Give me your hand, Baffanio; fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein fortune fhews herfelf more kind
Than is her cuftom; it is ftill 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 mifery doth the cut me off.
Commend me to your honourable wife :
Tell her the process of Anthonio's end,
Say, how I lov'd you, fpeak me fair in death;
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Baffanio had not once a love.
Repent not you that you fhall lofe 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.

Baff. Anthonio, 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 lofe all, ay, facrifice them all

w balance-a pair of fcales.

Here

Here to this devil, to deliver you.

Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If the were by to hear you make the offer.

Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love;

I would fhe were in heaven, fo she could
Intreat fome power to change this currifh Jew.

Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back;
The wifh would make elfe an unquiet house.

Shy. These be the Chriftian husbands: I have a daughter; Would, any of the stock of Barrabas

Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! [Afide. We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence.

Por. A pound of that fame merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shy. Moft 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 fentence; come, prepare.
Por. Tarry a little ;-there is fomething else..
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are, a pound of fleth :

Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting it, if thou doft shed

One drop of Chriftian blood, thy lands and goods.
Are, by the laws of Venice, confifcate

Unto the state of Venice.

Gra. O upright judge!-Mark, Jew;-O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law?

Por. Thyself shall see the act :

For, as thou urgest justice, be affur'd,

Thou shalt have justice, more than thou defir'ft.

Gra. O learned judge !-Mark, Jew;-a learned judge! Shy. I take this offer then ;-pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go.

Bef