Bass.-This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,

To excuse the current of thy cruelty,

Shy.-I am not bound to please thee with my answer.
Bass.-Do all men kill the things they do not love?
Shy.-Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

Bass.-Every offence is not a hate at first.

Shy.—What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice ?
Ant.-I pray you, think you question with the Jew:
You may as well go stand upon the beach,
And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
You may as well use question with the wolf,
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb ;
You may as well forbid the mountain pines
To wag their high tops, and to make no noise,
When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven;
You may as well-do any thing most hard,

As seek to soften that—(than which what's harder?)—
His Jewish heart: therefore I do beseech you,
Make no more offers, use no further means,
But, with all brief and plain conveniency,
Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will.

Bass.-For thy three thousand ducats here are six.
Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats
Were in six parts, and every part a ducat,

I would not draw them; I would have my bond.
Duke.-How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring none?
Shy.-What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong ?

You have among you many a purchas'd slave,
Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules,

You use in abject and in slavish parts,

Because you bought them :-shall I say to you,
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs:

Why sweat they under their burdens ?-let their beds
Be made as soft as yours, let their palates

Be season'd with such viands? You will answer,

The slaves are ours :-So do I answer you:

The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought, is mine, and I will have it:
If you deny me, fie upon your law.

There is no force in the decrees of Venice:

I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?
Duke.-Upon my power, I may dismiss this court,
Unless a learned doctor,

Whom I have sent for to determine this,

Come here to-day.

And here, I take it, is the doctor come.—

Enter PORTIA, dressed like a Doctor of Laws. Duke.-Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court? Por.-I am informed throughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Duke.-Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. [They stand forth.]

Por.-Is your name Shylock?
Shy.-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?

Ant.-Ay, so he says.

Por.-Do you confess the bond?

Ant.-I do.

Por.-Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that.
Por.-The quality of mercy is not strain'd;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,
Upon the place beneath; it is twice bless'd;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above the scepter'd sway,

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice: therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this-
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation; we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.-I have spoke thus much,
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must 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 money ?
Bass.-Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;
Yea, thrice 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 suffice, it must appear

That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,
Wrest 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 same example,
Will rush into the state: it cannot be.

Shy.-[In an ecstacy of delight.]—A Daniel come to judg ment! yea, a Daniel!—

O wise young judge, how do I honor thee!

Por.-I pray you, let me look upon the bond.

Shy.-Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. [Gives it.] 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 on my soul?

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

Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment; by my soul I swear
There is no power in the tongue of man

To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment.

Por.-Why, then, thus it is.

You must prepare your bosom for his knife;—

Shy.-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, wise and upright judge!
How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
Por.-Therefore, lay bare your bosom.
Shy.-Ay, his breast:

So says the bond:-Doth it not, noble judge?—
Nearest his heart; those are the very words.
Por.-It is so. Are there balance here to weigh
The flesh?

Shy. I have them ready.

[Produces the scales out of the folds of his cloak.] Por.-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?

Por. 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.

Por.-Come, merchant, have you any thing to say? [Portia takes a seat near the Duke-Shylock stands musing.] Ant. But little; I am arm'd, and well prepar'd.

Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom : it is still her use,
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow,
An age of poverty; from which lingering penance
Of such a misery doth she cut me off.

Repent not you that you shall lose 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.

Shy. We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence. Por.-[Comes forward.]—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.-
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are, a pound of flesh;

Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting of it, if thou dost shed

One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate

Unto the state of Venice.

Gra.-O, upright judge !—Mark, Jew !—a learned judge! Shy.-[Tremulously.]-Is that the law?

Por.-Thyself shall see the act: