SCENE II.

Enter Neriffa, dress'd like a Lawyer's Clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your Grace. Baff. Why doft thou whet thy knife so earnestly? Shy. To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt there. Gra. (8) Not on thy foal, but on thy foul, harth Jew, Thou mak'ft thy knife keen for no metal can, No, not the hangman's ax, bear half the keenness Of thy fharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?

;

Shy. No, none that thou haft wit enough to make. Gra. O be thou damn'd, inexorable dog, And for thy life let juftice be accus'd! Thou almoft mak'ft me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras,

That fouls of animals infuse themselves

Into the trunks of men. Thy currifh fpirit,

Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human flaughter,
Ev'n from the gallows did his fell foul fleet,
And, whilft thou lay'ft in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itself in thee: for thy defires

Are wolfish, bloody, ftarv'd, and ravenous.

Shy. 'Till thou can'ft rail the feal from off my bond,

Thou but offend'ft thy lungs to speak fo loud.

Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall

To curelefs ruin. I ftand here for law.

A

Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend and learned doctor to our Court.

young

Where is he?

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 fhall hear Bellario's letter.

(8) Not on thy foal, but on thy ful, barfb Jew.] This loft jingle Mr. Theobald found again; but knew not what to make of it when he had it, as appears by his paraphrafe, Tho' thou think'st thou art whetting thy knife on the Joal if thy be, yet it is upon thy foul, thy immortal part. Abfurd! the conceit is, that-bis-foul was fo-hard that it had given an edge to his knife... YOUR

WARB

YOUR Grace fall underfland, that, at the receipt

that your messenger came, in loving vifitation_was with me a young Doctor of Rome, his name is Balthasar : I acquainted him with the caufe in controverfie between the Jew and Anthonio the merchant. We turn'd o'er many books together: he is furnish'd 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 requeft in my ftead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment, to let bim lack a reverend eflimation: For I never knew fo yung a body with so old a bend. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whofe trial fball better publish bis commendation.

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're welcome: take your place.

Are you acquainted with the difference,

That holds this prefent question in the Court?

Por. I am informed throughly of the cafe.

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

Shy. Shylock is my name.

Por. Of a strange nature is the fuit you

Yet in fuch rule, that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.

follow;

-You ftand within his danger, do you not? [To Anth. Anth. Ay, fo he says.

Por. Do you confefs the bond?

Anth. I do.

Por. Then muft the Jew be merciful.

Shy. On what compulfion muft I? tell me that.
Por. The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heav'n
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blefs'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 thews the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majefty,

Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of Kings;
But mercy is above this fcepter'd fway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings ;
It is an attribute to God himfelf;

And earthly power doth then thew likeft God's,
When mercy feafons justice. Therefore, jew,
Tho' juftice be thy plea, confider this,
That in the courfe of juftice 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 sentence '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 mony ?
Baff. Yes, here I tender it to him in Court,
Yea, twice the sum; if that will not suffice,
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 must appear

That malice bears down truth. (9) And I befeech 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 pow'r 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 state. It cannot be.

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

(9) Malice bears down truth.] Malice oppreffes honefty, a true man in old language is an honeft man. We now call the jury good men and true,

Por.

Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Shy. Here 'tis, moft rev'rend Doctor, here it is. Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee. Shy. An oath, an oath,-I have an oath in heav'n. 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 mony, 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 most found. I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deferving pillar,
Proceed to judgment. By my foul I swear,
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.
Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man!
Por. For the intent and purpofe 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 bofom.

Shy. Ay, his breaft;

So fays the bond, doth it not, noble judge?
Nearest his heart, thofe are the very words.

Por. It is fo. Are there fcales, to weigh the flesh?
Shy I have them ready.

Por. Have by fome furgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To ftop his wounds, left he should 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 say?

Anth.

Anth. But little; I am arm'd, and well prepar'd.
-Give me your hand, Baffanio, fare ye well!
Grieve not, that I am fall'n to this for you:
For herein fortune fhews herself more kind,
Than is her custom. 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 ling'ring penance
Of fuch 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; speak me fair in death :
And when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.
Repent not you, that you shall lose your friend;
And he repents not, that he pays your debt;
For if the few do cut but deep enough,
I'll pay it inftantly with all my heart.

Ball. 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 efteem'd above thy life.
I would lose all; ay, facrifice them all
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 proteft, I love

I would, the were in heaven, so she could
Intreat fome Pow'r to change this currish Jew.
Ner. 'Tis well, you offer it behind her back;
The wish would make else an unquiet house.
Shy. Thefe be the chriftian husbands.
daughter;

Would any of the ftock of Barrabas

I've

a

Had been her husband, rather than a chriftian! [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.