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Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond?

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judge !

Shy. I take this offer then;-pay the bond [thrice,

Por. It is not so express'd; but what of that? 10 And let the Christian go.

'Twere good you do so much for charity.

Shy. I cannot find it: 'tis not in the bond. [say?
Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to
Anth. But little; I am arm'd and well prepar'd.
Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein fortune shews herself more kind
Than is her custom: it is still her use,

To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow,
An age of poverty; from which lingering penance
Of such a misery doth she cut me off.
Commend me to your honourable wife :
Tell her the process of Anthonio's end;
Say, how I lov'd you, speak me fair in death;
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.
Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,
And he repents not that he pays your debt;
For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.
Bass. Anthonio, I am married to a wife,
Which is as dear to me as life itself;
But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteem'd above thy life:
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all
Here to this devil to deliver you.

[that,

Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for
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
Intreat some power to change this currish Jew.
Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back;

The wish would make else an unquiet house.

Bass. Here is the money.
Por. Soft;

The Jew shall have all justice;-soft! no haste';-
He shall have nothing but the penalty.

15 Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!
Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more,
But just a pound of flesh :-if thou tak'st more,
Or less, than a just pound, be it but so much

20 As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale turn
But in the estimation of a hair,-
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

25 Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!
Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.
[feiture.
Por. W Why doth the Jew pause? take thy for-
Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go.
Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is.
30 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 barely have my principal?
35 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;

40 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,
He seeks the life of any citizen,

Shy. These be the Christian husbands: I have a 45 The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive,

daughter;

Would, any of the stock of Barabbas
Had been her husband, rather than a Christian!
[Aside.
We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence.
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!

Shall seize on half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state;
And the offender's life lies in the mercy
Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
50 In which predicament I say thou stand'st:
For it appears by manifest proceeding,
That indirectly and directly too,
Thou hast contriv'd against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd

[breast;
Por. And you must cut his flesh from off his 55 The danger formerly by me rehears'd.
The law allows it, and the court awards it.

Shy. Most learned judge! A sentence; come,

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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, 60 Thou hast not left the value of a cord;

Therefore, thou must be hang'dat the state's charge.
Duke. That thou may'st see the difference of

our spirit,

I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:

65 For half thy wealth, it is Anthonio's;

The

The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
Por. Ay, for the state; not for Anthonio.
Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not
that:

Not to deny me, and to pardon me.
Por. You press me far, and therefore I will
yield.
[sake;
Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your
5 And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you:
Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more:
And you in love shall not deny me this.

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.
Bass. This ring, good sir,-alas, it is a trifle;
Por. What mercy can you render him, Anthonio?
I will not shame myself to give you this.
Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's 10 Por. I will have nothing else but only this;

sake.

[court,
Anth. So please my lord the duke, and all the
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,
Upon his death, unto the gentleman,
That lately stole his daughter.
Two things provided more, -That, for this fa-

He presently become a Christian:

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.

[vour,

And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.
Bass. There's more depends on this, than on
the value.

The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,
15 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, You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd. 20 Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;

Duke. He shall do this, or else I do recant
The pardon that I late pronounced here. [say?
Por. Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou 25
Shy. I am content.

[hence,

Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift.
Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from
I am not well; send the deed after me,
And I will sign it.

fathers;

Duke. Get thee gone, but do it.
Gra. In christening, thou shalt have two god-
[more
Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
[Exit Shylock.
Duke.Sir, I dointreat you home with me to dinner.
Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon2:
I must away this night to Padua,

And it is meet, I presently set forth.

30

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.

An if your wife be not a mad-woman,
And know how well I have deserv'd this ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever,
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!
[Exit with Nerissa.

Anth. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring;
Let his deservings, and my love withal,
Be valu'd 'gainst your wife's commandement.

Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him,
35 Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou can'st,
Unto Anthonio's house:-away, make haste.
Come, you and I will thither presently;
And in the morning early will we both
Fly towards Belmont: Come, Anthonio. [Exeunt.

[not. 40

Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you Anthonio, gratify this gentleman;

For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

[Exeunt Duke and his train.

Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I, and my friend, 45
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.

SCENE II.

Enter Portia and Nerissa.

Por. Enquire the Jew's house out, give him
this deed,

And let him sign it; we'll away to-night,
And be a day before our husbands home:
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

Enter Gratiano.

Anth. And stand indebted, over and above, 50 Gra. Fair sir, you are well o'erta'en:

In love and service to you evermore.

Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfy'd;

And I, delivering you, am satisfy'd,
And therein do account myself well paid;
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you, know me, when we meet again;
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.

Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you
further;

Take some remembrance of us, for a tribute,
Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you,

My lord Bassanio, upon more advice',
Hath sent you here this ring; and doth intreat
Your company at dinner.

Por. That cannot be:

55 This ring I do accept most thankfully,

And so, I pray you, tell him: Furthermore,
I pray you, shew my youth old Shylock's house.
Gra. That will I do.

Ner. Sir, I would speak with you:

60 I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, [To Por. Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

1i. e. a jury of twelve men, to condemn thee to be hanged. : Meaning, your grace's pardon.

i. e. reflexion.

Por.

Por. Thou may'st, I warrant: We shall have Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will

old swearing,

That they did give the rings away to men;
But we'll out-face them, and out-swear them too.

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In such a

When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, And they did make no noise; in such a night, Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan wall, And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents, Where Cressid lay that night.

Jes. In such a night,

Did Thisbe fearfully o'er-trip the dew;
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself,
And ran dismay'd away.

Lor. In such a night,

Stood Dido with a willow in her hand

Upon the wild sea-banks, and wav'd her love To come again to Carthage.

Jes. In such a night,

Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs

That did renew old Æson.

Lor. In such a night,

Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew;

And with an unthrift love did run from Venice, As far as Belmont.

Jes. And in such a night,

Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well;
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,
And ne'er a true one.

Lor. And in such a night,
Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew,
Slander her love, and he forgave it her.
Jes. I would out-night you, did nobody come;

But hark, I hear the footing of a man.

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And ceremoniously let us prepare
Some welcome for the inistress of the house.
Enter Launcelot.

15 Laun. Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola, sola!
Lor. Who calls?

Laun. Sola! did you see master Lorenzo, and mistress Lorenzo? sola, sola!

Lor. Leave hallooing, man; here.

20 Laun. Sola! where? where? Lor. Here.

Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my master, with his horn full of good news; my master will be here ere morning, sweet soul. [Erit. 25 Lor. Let's in, and there expect their coming. And yet no matter;--Why should we go in ? My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, Within the house your mistress is at hand; And bring your music forth into the air.

30

[Exit servant. How sweet the moon-light sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of musick Creep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night, Become the touches of sweet harmony.

35 Sit, Jessica: Look how the floor of heaven
Is thick inlay'd with patines1 of bright gold;
There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st,
But in his motion liike an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-ey'd cherubims.

40 Such harmony is in immortal souls;
But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.-
Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn;
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear,

45 And draw her hon ne with musick.

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55 You shall perceiv e them make a mutual stand, Their savage eyes. turn'd to a modest gaze, By the sweet power of musick: Therefore, the [floods: Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and 60 Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of rage, But musick for the: time doth change his nature: The man that hat'n no musick in himself,

Patine is the plaate made use of for the bread in Nor

1 Our author evidently here alludes to the stars. the administration of the Eucharist, and sometimes made of gold, Meaning the moon, who is afterwards represented as sleeping,

Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus:

Let no such man be trusted. - Mark the musick.

Enter Portia, and Nerissa at a distance. Por. That light we see, is burning in my hall. How far that little candle throws his beams!

5

[him,

To whom I am so infinitely bound.
Por. You should in all sense be much bound to
For, as I hear, he was much bound for you.
Anth. No more than I am well acquitted of.
Por. Sir, you are very welcome to our house:
It must appear in other ways than words,
Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy.

[Gratiano and Nerissa seem to talk apart. Gra. By yonder moon, I swear you do me wrong;

So shines a good deed in a naughty world. [candle.
Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the 10 In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk:
Por. So doth the greater glory dim the less:

Would he were gelt that had it, for my part,

A substitute shines brightly as a king,

Since you do take it, love, so much at heart.

Until a king be by; and then his state

Por. A quarrel, ho, already? what's the matter?

Empties itself, as doth an inland brook

Gra. About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring

Into the main of waters. Musick! hark! [Musick. 15 That she did give me; whose poesy was

Ner. It is your musick, madam, of the house.

For all the world, like cutler's poetry2

Por. Nothing is good, I see, without respect;

Upon a knife, Love me, and leave me not.

Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day.

Ner. What talk you of the poesy, or the value?

Ner. Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.

You swore to me, when I did give it you,

Por. The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark, 20 That you would wear it till your hour of death;

When neither is attended; and, I think,

The nightingale, if she should sing by day,

When every goose is cackling, would be thought

No better a musician than the wren.

How many things by season season'd are

To their right praise, and true perfection!-
Peace! how the moon sleeps with Endymion,
And would not be awak'd!

Lor. That is the voice,

[Musick ceases.

[it.

And that it should lie with you in your grave:
Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths,
You should have been respective, and have kept it.
Gave it a judge's clerk!-but well I know,
25 The clerk will ne'er wear hair on his face that had
Gra. He will, an if he live to be a man.
Ner. Ay, if a woman live to be a man.
Gra. Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth,-
A kind of boy; a little scrubbed boy,

Or I am much deceiv'd, of Portia. [cuckow, 30 No higher than thyself, the judge's clerk;
Por. He knows me, as the blind man knows the

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Por. You were to blame, I must be plain with

To part so slightly with your wife's first gift; 35 A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger, And riveted with faith unto your flesh.

I gave my love a ring, and made him swear
Never to part with it; and here he stands:
I dare be sworn for him, he would not leave it,

40 Nor pluck it from his finger, for the wealth
That the world masters. Now, in faith, Gratiano
You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief;
An 'twere to me, I should be mad at it.

Bass. Why, I were best to cut my left hand off,
[Aside.

[Atucket1 sounds. 45 And swear I lost the ring defending it.

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Por, Let me give light, but let me not be light; 55 I would deny it; but you see, my finger

For a light wife doth make a heavy husband,

And never be Bassanio so for me;

But, God sort all!-You are welcome home, my [my friend.

lord.

Hath not the ring upon it, it is gone.

Por. Even so void is your false heart of truth,
By heaven, I will ne'er come in your bed
Until I see the ring.

Bass. I thank you, madam: give welcome to 60 Ner. Nor I in yours,
This is the man, this is Anthonio,
Till I again see mine,

Meaning a flourish on a trumpet. 2 Knives were formerly inscribed by means of aqua fortis with short sentences, Meaning, respectful. • Meaning, perhaps, a stunted or shrub-like boy..

Bass.

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Por. If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honour to retain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.
What man is there so much unreasonable,
If you had pleas'd to have defended it
With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty
To urge the thing held as a ceremony?
Nerissa teaches me what to believe;
I'll die for't, but some woman had the ring.
Bass. No, by mine honour, madam, by my soul,
No woman had it, but a civil doctor,

Who did refuse three thousand ducats of me,

And begg'd the ring; the which I did deny him,
And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away;

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Even he that had held up the very life

Por. Speak not so grossly. - You are all amaz'd:

It comes from Padua, from Bellario:

Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? 25 Here is a letter, read it at your leisure,

I was enforced to send it after him;

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Since he hath got the jewel that I lov'd,
And that which you did swear to keep for me,
I will become as liberal as you;
I'll not deny him any thing I have,
No, not my body, nor my husband's bed :
Know him I shall, I am well sure of it:
Lie not a night from home; watch me, like Argus;
If you do not, if I be left alone,
Now, by mine honour, which is yet my own,
I'll have that doctor for my bedfellow.

Ner. And I his clerk; therefore be wadvis'd,
How do you leave me to mine own protection.
Gra. Well, do you so; let me not take him then:
For, if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen.

There you shall find, that Portia was the doctor;
Nerissa there, her clerk; Lorenzo here
Shall witness, I set forth as soon as you,
30 And but even now return'd; I have not yet
Enter'd my house. Anthonio, you are welcome;
And I have better news in store for you,
Than you expect: unseal this letter soon;
There you shall find, three of your argosies

35 Are richly come to harbour suddenly:
You shall not know by what strange accident
I chanced on this letter.

Anth. I am dumb.

Bass. Were you the doctor, and I knew you not? 40 Gra. Were you the clerk, that is to make me

45

Anth. I am the unhappy subject of these quar-50 rels.

Por. Sir, grieve not you; You are welcome not

withstanding.

Bass. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong;

And, in the hearing of these many friends,

I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes,

Wherein I see myself,

Por. Mark you but that!

In both mine eyes he doubly sees himself:

cuckold?

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55 There do I give to you, and Jessica,

From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift,
After his death, of all he dies possess'd of.

Lor. Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way

Of starved people.

In each eye, one:-swear by your double self', 60 Por. It is almost morning,

And there's an oath of credit.

And yet, I am sure, you are not satisfy'd

Double is here put for full duplicity.

That is, his advantage.

Of

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