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? Duke. You're welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference Shy. Shylock is my name. Portia. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn 29 you as you do proceed. [To ANTO.] You stand within his danger,30 do you not? Anto. Ay, so he says. Portia. Anto. I do. Portia. Do you confess the bond? Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. 27 "The controversy for the deciding of which the present inquiry or investigation is held." Question in its proper Latin sense. 28 Through and thorough are but different forms of the same word; and Shakespeare uses the two forms indifferently, as suits his metre. The usage was common. 29 To impugn is to controvert, to oppose; literally, to fight against. 30 "Within one's danger" properly meant within one's power or control, liable to a penalty which he might impose. Sometimes, however, it was used for being in debt to one. Here the meaning seems to be, "Your life is in his power, and so in danger from him." Portia. The quality of mercy is not strain'd; 31 His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, 34 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 31 That is, the nature of mercy is to act freely, not from constraint. Portia had used must in a moral sense, and the Jew purposely mistook it in a legal sense. This gives a natural occasion and impulse for her strain of "heavenly eloquerce." 32 A beautiful version of the divine Christian axiom, Acts xx. 35, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." 33 This may mean, either that mercy exists in the greatest plenitude in Him who is omnipotent, or that the more power one has to inflict pain, the more he bows and subdues the heart by showing mercy. If the former, it should be printed "in the Mightiest." It was evidently a favourite idea with Shakespeare that the noblest and most amiable thing is power mixed with gentleness; and that the highest style of manhood is that which knows no fear of pain, but is a child to the touches of compassion. 84 The thing attributed or assigned for the purpose of inspiring awe and of symbolizing majesty. 35" Portia, referring the Jew to the Christian doctrine of Salvation, and To mitigate the justice of thy plea ; Portia. Is he not able to discharge the money? Bass. Yes, here I tender't for him in the court; I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth.37 And, I beseech you, To do a great right, do a little wrong; Portia. It must not be; there is no power in Venice "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 : Portia. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. the Lord's Prayer, is a little out of character." So says Judge Blackstone; whereas the Lord's Prayer was itself but a compilation, all the petitions in it being taken out of the ancient euchologies or prayer-books of the Jews. So in Ecclesiasticus, xxviii. 2: "Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins alse be forgiven when thou prayest." 36" If you rigidly insist upon the plea of justice." 37 Truth is honesty here. A true man in old language is an honest man And the honesty here shown is in offering to pay thrice the money. Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in Heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice! Portia. Why, this bond is forfeit ;38 And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, To alter me: I stay here on my bond. Anto. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. Portia. Why, then thus it is: Shy. O, noble judge! O, excellent young man! Hath full relation to the penalty,39 Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. 'Tis very true. O wise and upright judge! How much more elder 40 art thou than thy looks! Portia. Therefore lay bare your bosom. 38 Forfeit for forfeited. This shortened preterite has occurred more than once before. The Poet has many preterites similarly shortened. See page 127, note 4. 39 That is, the law relating to contracts is fully applicable in this case. 40 Such double comparatives are frequent. So we have more better, more braver, and many others. Good grammar then. Shy. Ay, his breast So says the bond: - doth it not, noble judge? — Portia. It is so. The flesh? Are there balance here to weigh Shy. I have them ready.41 Portia. 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? Portia. It is not so express'd; but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. Portia. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say? 41 Balance, though singular in form, is used in a plural sense, referring to the two scales which make the balance. So in Baret's Alvearie, 1580: “Balances, or a payre of ballance." 42 It is ever her custom or wont. Still and use in these senses occur very often. The usage was common. 43 "Speak well of me when I am dead"; or, perhaps, "Tell the world that I died like a man.' " |