Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, 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, Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! No, not for Venice. Por. Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Por. Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Ay, his breast: Shy. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge, Shy. I have them ready. 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 anything to say? age of poverty; from which lingering penance Of such misery doth she cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife: Here to this devil, to deliver you. 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. These be the Christian husbands: I 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. [A side. Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it and the law doth give it. 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. One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gra. O upright judge!-Mark, Jew;-O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyself shalt see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st. 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. Here is the money. ;-no haste:- Por. Soft; Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Of one poor scruple: nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is. Gra. A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel!— Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! Por. Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be prov'd against an alien, That by direct or indirect attempts The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive The danger formerly by me rehears'd. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Gra. Beg that thou may'st have leave to hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's: Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that: You take my house when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house; you take my life When you do take the means whereby I live. Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else; for God's sake. Ant. So please my lord the duke, and all the court, To quit the fine for one half of his goods; I am content, so he will let me have Two things provided more,-that for this favour, The other, that he do record a gift, Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here. Por. Art thou contented, Jew, what dost thou say? Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence: I am not well; send the deed after me And I will sign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In christening shalt thou have two godfathers: Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit SHYLOCK. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon; 1 must away this night toward Padua; And it is meet I presently set forth. Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. Antonio, gratify this gentleman; For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. [Exeunt DUKE, Magnificoes, and Train. Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied, I wish you well, and so I take my leave. Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further; Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you, |