The words expressly are a pound of flesh: 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 shall 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 his offer, then,-pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. Bas. Por. Soft. Here is the money. The Jew shall have all justice;-soft ;-no haste ;- 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. Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. He shall have merely justice, and his bond. Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer question. Por. Tarry, Jew; 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;15 not for Antonio. Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that: Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? To quit the fine for one half of his goods; 15 Ay, for the state;] That is, the state's moiety may be com-. muted for a fine, but not Antonio's. 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? Shy. I am content. 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. 17 Gra. In christening, thou shalt have two godfathers; Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more," To bring thee to the gallows, not to the font. [Exit SHYLOCK. Duke. Sir, I entreat you with me home to dinner. Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon. I 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. Bas. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend, Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof, Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, We freely cope your courteous pains withal. Ant. And stand indebted, over and above, In love and service to you evermore. 16 The other half in use,] Let him have it at interest during the Jew's life, to render it on his death to Lorenzo. 17 thou should'st have had ten more,] Id est, a jury of twelve men, to condemn thee to be hanged. Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied: And I, delivering you, am satisfied, And therein do account myself well paid; My mind was never yet more mercenary. pray you know me, when we meet again; I I wish you well, and so I take my leave. Bas. Dear Sir, of force I must attempt you further; Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield, Bas. This ring, good Sir,-alas, it is a trifle; I will not shame myself to give you this. Por. I will have nothing else but only this; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it. Bas. There's more depends on this than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation; Only for this I pray you pardon me. Por. I see, Sir, you are liberal in offers: You taught me first to beg; and now, methinks, Bas. Good Sir, this ring was given me by my wife; And when she put it on, she made me vow That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it. Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts. And know how well I have deserv'd this ring, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! [Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA. Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring; Let his deservings, and my love withal, Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment. Bas. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him ; Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou can'st, Unto Antonio's house: -away, make haste. [Exit GRATIANO. Come, you and I will thither presently; [Exeunt. SCENE II.-VENICE. THE FOSCARI GATE OF THE DUCAL PALACE, LEADING TO THE GIANT'S STAIRCASE. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, Enter GRATIANO. 18 Gra. Fair Sir, you are well overtaken : Por. That cannot be : This ring I do accept most thankfully, And so, I pray you, tell him: Furthermore, I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house. Ner. Sir, I would speak with you: I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, [TO PORTIA. We shall have old That they did give the rings away to men; But we'll outface them, and outswear them, too. Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will tarry. Ner. Come, good Sir, will you show me to this house? 18 upon more advice,] Id est, upon more reflection. 19 [Exeunt. old swearing,] Of this once common augmentative in colloquial language there are various instances in our author. END OF ACT FOURTH. |