And many an error, by the same example, Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how do I honour thee! Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice. Por. Why, this bond is forfeit ; Nearest the merchant's heart :-Be merciful; Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Por. 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?— Por. It is so. Are there balance here, to weigh The flesh? Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. 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. To let the wretched man out-live his wealth, Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, pay it instantly with all my heart. Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, 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! [Aside. We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence. 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 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 ;-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. Por. Soft; Here is the money. The Jew shall have all justice ;-soft ;-no haste ;He shall have nothing but the penalty. Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy for feiture. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is. Por. He hath refus'd 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? Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer question. Por. Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Thou hast contriv'd against the very life Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: Por. Ay, for the state;1 not for Antonio. 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 The other half in use,-to render it, I Ay, for the state; &c.] That is, the state's moiety may be commuted for a fine, but not Antonio's. MALONE. |