And then away to Venice to your friend; SCENE IV.-Belmont. A room in Portia's For never shall you lie by Portia's side

house. Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold and Balthazar. To pay the petty debt twenty times over;

Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your preWhen it is paid, bring your true friend along :

sence, My maid Nerissa, and myself, mean time,

You have a noble and a true conceit
Will live as maids and widows. Come, away;
For

Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly you shall hence upon your wedding-day : Bid

In bearing thus the absence of your lord. your friends welcome, show a merry cheer:! Since you are dear bought

, I will love you dear. But, if you knew to whom you show this honour, But let me hear the letter of your friend.

How true a gentleman you send relief, Bass

. (Reads.] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have | How dear a lover of my lord your husband, all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate

I know, you would be prouder of the work, is very lord, my bond to the Jew is forfeit;

and Than customary bounty can enforce you. since, in paying it, it is impossible should live,| Nor shall not now: for in companions

Por. I never did repent for doing good, all debts are cleared between you and I, if I might || That do converse and waste the time together, but see you at my death : notwithstanding, use | Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love, your pleasure: if your love do not persuade you | There must be needs a like proportion to come, let not

my

letter. Por. O love, despatch all business, and be gone. Which makes me think, that this Antonio,

Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit; Buss

. Since I have your good leave to go away, Being the bosom lover of my lord, I will make baste : But, till I come again,

Must needs be like my lord: If it be so,
No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay,

How little is the cost I have bestow'd,
No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain.

In purchasing the semblance of my soul
(Ereunt.

From out the state of hellish cruelty? SCENE III.-Venice. A street. Enter Shylock, This comes too near the praising of myself; Salanio, Antonio, and Gaoler.

Therefore no more of it: hear other things.Shy. Gaoler, look to him ;-Tell not me of Lorenzo, I commit into your hands

The husbandry and manage of my house, mercy This is the fool that lent out money gratis ;

Until my lord's return : for mine own part,

I have toward heaven breath'd a secret vow,
Gaoler, look to him.
Ant.

Hear me yet, good Shylock. To live in prayer and contemplation,
Shy. I'll have my bond ; speak not against my Until her husband and my lord's return :

Only attended by Nerissa here, bond; I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond:

There is a monastery two miles off,
Thou call’dst me dog, before thou had'st a cause : Not to deny this imposition ;

And there we will abide. I do desire you,
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs :
The duke shall grant me justice.--I do wonder,

The which my love, and some necessity,

Now lays upon you.
Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fond2
To come abroad with him at his request.

Lor.

Madam, with all my heart; Ant. I pray thee, hear me speak.

I shall obey you in all fair commands. Shy. I'll have my bond ; I will not hear thee And will acknowledge you and Jessica

Por. My people do already know my mind, speak: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.

In place of lord Bassanio and myself. I'll not be made a soft and dull-ey'd fool,

So fare you well, till we shall meet again. To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield

Lor. Fair thoughts, and happy hours, attend on To Christian intercessors. Follow not;

you. I'll have no speaking ; I will have bond.

Jes. I wish your ladyship all heart's content. [Exit Shylock.

Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well Salan. It is the most impenetrable cur,

pleas'd That ever kept with men.

To wish it back on you : fare you well, Jessica.Ant. Let him alone,

(Exeunt Jessica and Lorenzo. I'll follow him no more with bootless

Now, Balthazar,

prayers. He seeks my life; his reason well I know;

As I have ever found thee honest, true, I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures

So let me find thee still: Take this same letter, Many that have at times made moan to me ;

And use thou all the endeavour of a man, Therefore he hates me.

In speed to Padua, see thou render this Salan.

I am sure, the duke Into my cousin's hand, doctor Bellario; Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.

And, look, what notes and garments he doth give Ant. The duke cannot deny the course of law.

thee, For the commodity that strangers have

Bring them, I pray thee, with imagin'd speed With us in Venice, if it be denied,

Unto the tranect, to the common ferry Will much impeach the justice of the state;

Which trades to Venice:-waste no time in words, Since that the trade and profit of the city

But get thee gone ; I shall be there before thee. Consisteth of all nations. Therefore, go :

Balth. Madam, I go with all convenient speed. These griefs and losses have so 'bated me,

[Erit. That I shall hardly spare a pound of Nesh

Por. Come on, Nerissa ; I have work in hand, To-morrow to my bloody creditor.--

That you yet know not of: we'll see our busbands, Well, gaoler, on :-Pray God, Bassanio come

Before they think of us. To see me pay this debi, and then I care not!

Ner.

Shall they see us ? (Exeunt.

Por. They shall, Nerissa ; but in such a babit,

That they shall think we are accomplished
(1) Face.
(2) Foolish.

With what we lack. I'll hold thee any wager,

my

When we are both accoutred like young men, silence; and discourse grow commendable in none
I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two, only but parrots.—Go in, sirrab ; bid them prepare
And wear my dagger with the braver grace; for dinner.
And speak, between the change of man and boy, Laun. That is done, sir; they have all stomachs.
With a reed voice; and turn two mincing steps Lor. Goodly lord, what a wit-snapper are you !
Into a manly stride; and speak of frays, then bid them prepare dinner.
Like a fine bragging youth: and tell quaint lies, Laun. That' is done too, sir; only, cover is the
How honourable ladies sought my love,

word. Which I denying, they fell sick and died ;

Lor. Will you cover then, sir ? I could not do withal ;-then I'll repent

Laun. Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty. And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them : Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell,

thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an inThat men shall swear I have discontinued school stant ? I pray thee, understand a plain man in his Above a twelvemonth :-I have within my mind plain meaning: go to thy fellows; bid them cover A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks, the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in Which I will practise.

to dinner. Ner.

Why, shall we turn to men? Laun. For the table, sir, it shall be served in; Por. Fie! what a question's that,

for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your If thou wert near a lewd interpreter ?

coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours But come, I'll tell thee all my whole device

and conceits shall govern.

[Exit Launcelot. When I am in my coach, which stays for us Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are At the park gate; and therefore haste away,

suited!
For we must measure twenty miles to-day. (Exe. The fool hath planted in his memory
SCENE V.-The same. A Garden. Enter

An army of good words ; And I do know
Launcelot and Jessica.

A many fools, that stand in better place,

Garnish'd like him, that for a tricksy word Laun. Yes, truly :-for, look you, the sins of Defy the matter. How cheer'st thou Jessica ? the father are to be laid upon the children : there- | And now, good sweet, say thy opinion, fore, I promise you, I fear you. I was always plain || How dost thou like the lord Bassanio's wife? with you, and so now I speak my agitation of the Jes. Past all expressing : It is very meet, matter : Therefore, be of good cheer; for, truly, The lord Bassanio live an upright life ; I think, you are damn'd. There is but one hope in For, having such a blessing in his lady, it that can do you any good; and that is but a kind He finds the joys of heaven here on earth ; of bastard hope neither.

And, if on earth he do not mean it, it
Jes. And what hope is that, I pray thee? Is reason he should never come to heaven.

Laun. Marry, you may partly hope that your Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match, father got you not, that you are not the Jew's And on the wager lay two earthly women, daughter.

And Portia one, there must be something else Jes. That were a kind of bastard hope, indeed ; || Pawn'd with the other; for the poor rude world so the sins of my mother should be visited upon me. Hath not her fellow. Laun. Truly then I fear you are damn'd both Lor.

Even such a husband by father and mother: thus when I shun Scylla,|| Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife. your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother: Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that. well, you are gone both ways.

Lor. I will anon; first, let us go to dinner. Jes. I shall be saved by my husband; he hath Jes. Nay, let me praise you, while I have a made me a Christian.

stomach. Laun. Truly, the more to blame he : We were Lor. No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk, Christians enough before ; e'en as many as could Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st, ’mong other things well live, one by another: This making of Christians || I shall digest it. will raise the price of hogs; if we grow all to be Jes.

Well, I'll set you forth. (Exe. pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money. Enter Lorenzo.

ACT IV. Jes. I'll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you l SCENE I.–Venice. A court of Justice. Enter say; bere he comes Lor. I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launce

the Duke, the Magnificoes ; Antonio, Bassanio, lot, if you thus get my wife into corners.

Gratiano, Salarino, Salanio, and others. Jes. Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo; Duke. What, is Antonio here? Launcelot and I are out: he tells me flatly, there Ant. Ready, so please your grace. is no mercy for me in heaven, because I am a Jew's Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come to andaughter: and he says, you are no good member of the commonwealth; for, in converting Jews to A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Christians, you raise the price of pork.

Uncapable of pity, void and empty Lor. I shall answer that better to the common || From any drain of mercy. wealth, than you can the getting up of the negro's Ant.

I have heard, belly : the Moor is with child by you, Launcelot. Your grace bath ta'en great pains to qualify

Laun. It is much, that the Moor should be more His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate, than reason : but if she be less than an honest And that no lawful means can carry me woman, she is, indeed, more than I took her for. Out of his envy'sl reach, I do oppose

Lor. How every fool can play upon the word ! || My patience to his fury; and am arm'd I think, the best grace of wit will shortly turn into To suffer, with a quietness of spirit,

The very tyranny and rage of his. (1) Hatred, malice.

Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court.

swer

Salan. He's ready at the door: he comes, my lord. ,. You may as well do any thing most hard,
Enler Shylock.

As seek to soften that (than which what's harder?)

His Jewish heart :- Therefore, I do beseech you, Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our | Make no more offers, use no further means, face.

But, with all brief and plain conveniency, Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will. That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice Bass. For thy three thousand ducats here is six To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats Thou'lt show thy mercy, and remorse,' more strange Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, Than is thy strange apparenta cruelty :

I would not draw them, I would have my bond. And where thou now exact'st the penalty

Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring (Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,)

none? Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture,

Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no But touch'd with human gentleness and love,

wrong? Forgive a moiety of the principal ;

You have among you many a purchas'd slave, Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,

Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules, That have of late so huddled on his back ; You use in abject and in slavish parts, Enough to press a royal merchant down, Because you bought them :-Shall I say to you, And pluck commiseration of his state

Let them be free, marry them to your heirs ? From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint, Why sweat they under burdens ? let their beds From stubborn Turks, and Tartars, never train'd Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates To offices of tender courtesy.

Be season'd with such viands? You will answer, We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

The slaves are ours :-So do I answer you : Shy. I have possess'd your grace of what I pur- | The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, pose;

Is dearly bought, is mine, and I will have it: And by our holy sabbath have I sworn,

If you deny me, fie upon your law ! To have the due and forfeit of my bond

There is no force in the decrees of Venice : If you deny it, let the danger light

I stand for judgment: answer ; shall I have it? Upon your charter, and your city's freedom. Duke. Upon my power, I may dismiss this court, You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive Whom I have sent for to determine this, Three thousand ducats : I'll not answer that: Come here to-day. But, say, it is my humour ;4 Is it answer'd ?

Salar.

My lord, here stays without What if my house be troubled with a rat,

A messenger with letters from the doctor, And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats New come from Padua. To have it baned? What, are you answer'd yet? Duke. Bring us the letters ; Call the messenger. Some men there are, love not a gapingó pig; Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man? Some, that are mad, if they behold a cat;

courage yet! And others, when the bag-pipe sings i’ the nose, The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Cannot contain their urine; For affection, Ere thou shalt loose for me one drop of blood. Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood

Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Of what it likes, or loaths: Now, for your answer : Meetest for death ; the weakest kind of fruit As there is no firm reason to be render'd, Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me : Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;

You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio,
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;

Than to live still, and write mine epitaph.
Why he, a swollen bag-pipe ; but of force
Must yield to such inevitable shame,

Enter Nerissa, dressed like a lawyer's clerk. As to offend, himself being offended;

Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? So can I give no reason, nor I will not,

Ner. From both, my lord: Bellario greets your More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loathing

grace.

[Presents a letter. I bear Antonio, that I follow thus

Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earA losing suit against him. Are you answer'd?

nestly? Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt To excuse the current of thy cruelty.

there. Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my Gra. Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,

Thou mak’st thy knife keen : but no metal can, Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not No, not the hangman's axe, bear half the keenness love?

Of thy sharp envy.8 Can no prayers pierce thee?
Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill? Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.
Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. Gra. 0, be thou damn'd, inexorable dog!
Shy. What, would'st thou have a serpent sting || And for thy life let justice be accus'd.
thee twice?

Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith,
Ant. I pray you, think you question? with the To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
Jew :

That souls of animals infuse themselves
You may as well go stand upon the beach, Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit
And bid the main flood bate his usual height; Govern'd a wolf, who, bang’d for human slaughter,
You may as well use question with the wolf, Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unballow'd dam,
You may as well forbid the mountain pines Infus'd itself in thee ; for thy desires
To wag their high tops, and to make no noise, Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous.
When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven; Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my

bond, (1) Pity.

(2) Seeming. (3) Whereas. (4) Particular fancy. (5) Crying. (6) Prejudice. (7) Converse.

answer.

(8) Malice.

of you,

:

:

Scene I.
MERCHANT OF VENICE.

Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud : The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much,
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
To cureless ruin.--I stand here for law.

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend |Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant
A young and learned doctor to our court :-

there. Where is he?

Shy. My deed's upon my head! I crave the law,
Ner. He attendeth here hard by, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?
Duke. With all my heart :-some three or four Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;

Yea, twice the sum : if that will not suffice,
Go give him courteous conduct to this place.- I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,
Mean time, the court shall hear Bellario's letter. On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart :

(Clerk reads.) Your grace shall understand, || If this will not suffice, it must appear that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick : That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, but in the instant that your messenger came, in Wrest once the law to your authority : loving visitation was with me a young doctor of ||To do a great right, do a little wrong; Rome, his name is Balthazar : I acquainted him || And curb this cruel devil of his will. with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Por. It must not be ; there is no power in Venice Antonio the merchant : we turned o'er many books Can alter a decree established : together : he is furnish'd with my opinion; which,|'Twill be recorded for a precedent; better'd with his own learning (the greatness And many an error, by the same example, whereof I cannot enough commend,) comes with Will rush into the state: it cannot be. him, al my importunity, to fill up your grace's Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Danrequest in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack

iel ! of years be no impediment to let him lack a rever-|O wise young judge, how do I honour thee! end estimation; for I never knew so young a body Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious Shy. Here'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd commendation.

thee. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he Shy. Anoath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven : writes :

Shall I lay perjury upon my soul ?
And here, I take it, is the doctor come.-

No, not for Venice.
Por.

Why, this bond is forfeit;
Enter Portia, dressed like a doctor of laws.

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim Give me your hand : Came you from old Bellario? A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Por. I did, my lord.

Nearest the merchant's heart :-Be merciful; Duke. You are welcome : take your place. Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond. Are you acquainted with the difference

Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor. That holds this present question in the court ? It doth appear, you are a worthy judge;

Por. I am informed throughly of the cause. You know the law, your exposition
Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Hath been most sound : I charge you by the law,

Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Por. Is your name Shylock?

Proceed to judgment : by my soul I swear,
Shy.

Shylock is my name. There is no power in the tongue of man
Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; To alter me: I stay here on my bond.
Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law

Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court
Cannot impugn' you, as you do proceed.- To give the judgment.
You stand within his danger,2 do you not?

Por.

Why then, thus it is. (To Antonio. You must prepare your bosom for his knife : Ant. Ay, so he says.

Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man !
Por.

Do you confess the bond? Por. For the intent and purpose of the law
Ant. I do.

Hath full relation to the penalty,
Por.

Then must the Jew be merciful. Which here appeareth due upon the bond.
Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. Shy. 'Tis very true: 0 wise and upright judge!

Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd; How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven Por. Therefore, lay bạre your bosom.
Upon the place beneath : it is twice bless'd ; Shy.

Ay, his breast : It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes : So says the bond ;-Doth it not, noble judge?'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes Nearest his heart, those are the very words. The throned monarch better than his crown: Por. It is so. Are there balance here, to weigh His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The flesh ? The attribute to awe and majesty,

Shy. I have them ready. Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your But mercy is above this scepter'd sway,

charge, It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.
It is an attribute to God himself;

Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond?
And earthly power doth then show likest God's, Por. It is not so express'd; But what of that?
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, 'Twere good you do so much for charity.
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,- Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.
That, in the course of justice, none of us

Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say?
Should see salvation : we do pray for mercy; Ant. But little; I am arm'd, and well prepar'd.
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render ||Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well!

Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you ; (1) Oppose (2) Reach or control. For herein fortune shows herself more kind

that,

a

a

MERCHANT OF VENICE.

Act Ir.
Than is her custom : it is still her use,

Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.
To let the wretched man out-live his wealth, Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!
To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow, Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.
An age of poverty; from which lingering penance Por. Why doth the Jew pause ? take thy for-
Of such a misery doth she cut me off.

feiture.
Commend me to your honourable wife :

Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Tell her the process of Antonio's end,

Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is.
Say, how I lov'd you, speak me fair in death; Por. He hath refus'd it in the open court;
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge, He shall have merely justice, and his bond.
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.

Gra. A Daniel, still say 1; a second Daniel !
Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.
And he repents not that he pays your debt; Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal ?
For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,

Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,
I'll
pay it instantly with all my heart.

To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.
Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it!
Which is as dear to me as life itself;

I'll stay no longer question.
But life itself, my wife, and all the world,

Por

Tarry, Jew;
Are not with me esteem'd above thy life: The law hath yet another hold on you.
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all

It is enacted in the laws of Venice,
Here to this devil, to deliver you.

If it be prov'd against an alien,
Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for That by direct, or indirect attempts,

He seek the life of any citizen,
If she were by, to hear you make the offer. The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive,

Gra. I have a wife, whom I protest I love; Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
I would she were in heaven, so she could Comes to the privy coffer of the state ;
Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. And the offender's life lies in the mercy

Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back ; Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
The wish would make else an unquiet house. In which predicament, I say thou stand'st :
Shy. These be the Christian husbands : I have For it appears by manifest proceeding,
a daughter;

That, indirectly, and directly too, 'Would any of the stock of Barabbas

Thou hast contriv'd against the very life Had been her husband, rather than a Christian ! Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd

(Aside. The danger formerly by me rehears'd. We trifle time : I pray thee pursue sentence. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is Gra. Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang thine ;

thyself : The court awards it, and the law doth give it. And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Shy. Most rightful judge !

Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. breast;

Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our The law allows it, and the court awards it.

spirit, Shy. Most learned judge !-A sentence; come, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it : prepare.

For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; Por. Tarry a little;—there is something else.-- || The other half comes to the general state, This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. The words expressly are, a pound of flesh: Por. Ay, for the state ; not for Antonio. Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that: But, in the cutting it , if thou dost shed

You take my house, when you do take the prop One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods That doth sustain my house; you take my life, Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate

When

you do take the means whereby I live. Unto the state of Venice.

Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? Gra. O upright judge!-Mark, Jew;-0 learn- Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake. ed judge?

Ant. So please my lord the duke, and all the Shy. Is that the law ?

court, Por.

Thyself shalt see the act : To quit the fine for one half of his goods; For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd,

I am content, so he will let me have
Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir’st. The other half in use,-to render it,
Gra. O learned judge:-Mark, Jew ;-a learned Upon his death, unto the gentleman
judge!

That lately stole his daughter :
Shy. I take this offer then ;-pay the bond thrice, Two things provided more,- That, for this favour,
And let the Christian go.

He presently become a Christian ;
Bass.
Here is the money.

The other, that he do record a gift,
Por. Soft ;

Here in the court, of all he dies possessid, The Jew shall have all justice ;-soft!--no haste;— Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter. He shall have nothing but the penalty.

Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant
Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge: The pardon, that I late pronounced here.

Por. Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the flesh. Por. Art thou contented, Jew, what dost thou
Shed thou no blood ; nor cut thou less, nor more,
But just a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more, Shy. I am content.
Or less, than a just pound, be it but so much Por.

Clerk, draw a deed of gift.
As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance, Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence ;
Or the division of the twentieth part

am not well; send the deed after me, Of one poor scruple ; nay, if the scale do turn And I will sign it. But in the estimation of a hair,--

Duke.

Get thce gone, but do it.

a

say?