Shy. I have them ready. 250 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 expressed: but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. 255 260 To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow An age of poverty; from which lingering penance 265 Tell her the process of Antonio's end; Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife 270 275 280 Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer. Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love: I would she were in heaven, so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back; The wish would make else an unquiet house. Shy. [Aside] These be the Christian husbands. have a daughter; Would any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband rather than a Christian! We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence. 285 I 290 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! 295 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 it, if thou dost shed 300 One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods 305 Unto the state of Venice. Gra. O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned judge! Is that the law? Shy. Por. Thyself shall see the act: 310 For, as thou urgest justice, be assured 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. Por. Soft! Here is the money. The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste: Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! 315 320 Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn 325 Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate. Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have you on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. 330 Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is. Por. He hath refused 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? Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! Por. Tarry, Jew: 335 340 One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice. - Act IV. Scene I. |