Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late so huddled on his back; Enough to press a royal merchant down, And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint, From stubborn Turks and Tartars never train'd To offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.
Shy. I have possess'd your grace of what I pur- And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn, To have the due and forfeit of my bond: If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter, and your city's freedom. You'll ask me, why I rather chuse to have A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that: But, say', it is my humour; Is it answer'd? What if my house be troubled with a rat,, And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats To have it ban'd? What, are you answer'd yet? Some men there are, love not a gaping pig; Some, that are mad, if they benold a cat; And others, when the bag-pipe sings i' the nose, Cannot contain their urine; For affections, Masters of passion, sway it to the mood
Of what it likes, or loaths: Now for your an
As there is no firm reason to be render'd, Why he cannot abide a gaping pig; 'Why he, a harmless necessary cat; Why he, a woollen2 bag-pipe; but of force Must yield to such inevitable shame, As to offend himself, being offended; So can I give no reason, nor I will not, More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loathing, I bear Anthonio, that I follow thus
I would not draw them, I would have bond. my Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy,rend'ring [wrong?
Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no 5 You have among you many a purchas'd slave, Which, like your asses, and your dogs and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts,
Because you bought them:-Shall I say to you, Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? 10 Why sweat they under burdens? let their beds Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates Be season'd with such viands? you will answer, The slaves are ours:-So do I answer you: The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, 15 Is dearly bought, is mine, and I will have it: If you deny me, fie upon your law!
There is no force in the decrees of Venice: I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it? Duke. Upon my power, I may dismiss this court, 20 Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,
Whom I have sent for to determine this Come here to-day.
Sala, My lord, here stays without
A messenger with letters from the doctor, 25 New come from Padna.
Duke. Bring us the letters; Call the messenger. Bass. Good cheer, Anthonio! What, man? fall, The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and 30 Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. Anth. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me: You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, 35 Than to live still, and write mine epitaph.
A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty. [answers. Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my 40 Bass. Do all men kill the thing they do not love? Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill? Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. Shy. What, would'st thou have a serpent sting thee twice? [Jew: 45
Anth. I pray you, think you question with the You may as well go stand upon the beach, And bid the main flood 'bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf, Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops, and to make no noise, When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven; You may as well do any thing most hard,
As seek to soften that (than which what's harder?) His Jewish heart:-Therefore I do beseech you, Make no more offers, use no farther means, But, with all brief and plain conveniency, Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will.
Enter Nerissa, dess'd like a lawyer's clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both, my lord: Bellario greets your grace,
Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt [Jew,
Gra. Not on thy soal, but on thy soul, harsh Thou mak'st thy knife keen: but no metal can, No, not the hangman's ax, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. Gra. O be thou damn'd, inexorable dog! And for thy life let justice be accus'd. 50 Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit Govern'd a wolf, who hang'd for human slaughter, 55 Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam, lufus'd itself in thee; for thy desires
Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous. [bond, Shy. 'Till thou can'st rail the seal from off my
Bass. For thy three thousand ducats here is six. 60 Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud:
Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats
Were in six parts, and every part a ducat,
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
To cureless ruin.-I stand here for law.
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then shew likest God's, When mercy seasons justice: Therefore, Jew, 5 Though justice be thy plea, consider this,— That, in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much, To mitigate the justice of thy plea; Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence'gainst the merchant there. Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
"Your grace shall understand, that, at the re"ceipt of your letter, I am very sick: but at the in"stant that your messenger came, in loving visita"tion was with me a young doctor of Rome, his "name is Balthazar: I acquainted him with the "cause in controversy between the Jew and An 15 "thonio the merchant: we turn'd o'er many "books together: he is furnish'd with my opi"nion; which, bettered with his own learning, "(the greatness whereof I cannot enough com"mend) comes with him, at ny importunity, to "fill up your grace's request in my stead. I be"seech you, let his lack of years be no impedi"ment to let him lack a reverend estimation; for "I never knew so young a body with so old an "head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commenda❝tion.”
Enter Portia, dress'd like a doctor of laws. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he 30 writes;
And here, I take it, is the doctor come.— Give me your hand: Came you from old Bellario? Por. I did, my lord.
Duke. You are welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court? Por. I am informed thoroughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Duke. Anthonio and old Shylock, both stand 40 forth.
Por. Is your name Shylock?
Shy. Shylock is my name.
Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn1 you, as you do proceed.— You stand within his danger, dó you not?
Por. Do you confess the bond? Anth. I do.
Por. Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. Por, The quality of mercy is not strain'd; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd; It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown: His scepter shews the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above the scepter'd sway,
Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart. If this will not suffice, it must appear Tl at malice bears down truth. And I beseech Wrest once the law to your authority : 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 Ves Can alter a decree established: Twill be recorded for a precedent; And many an error, by the same example, Will rush into the state: it cannot be.
Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!-
O wise young judge, how do I honour thee! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond, Shy. Here'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. Por. Shylock, there's thrice the money offer'd
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; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant's heart:-Be merciful; Take thrice the money; bid me tear the bond. 45 Shy. When it is paid according to the tenour. It doth appear you are a worthy judge; You know the law, your exposition
Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, 50 Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear, There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me: I stay here on my boud.
Anth. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment.
Por. Why then, thus it is,
You must prepare your boson for his knife. Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man'! Por. For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty,
60 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 bosqin.
* Meaning, that malice oppresses honesty.
So says the bond;-Doth it not, noble judge? Nearest his heart, those are the very words. Por. It is so. Are there balance here to weigh The flesh?
[charge, 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? 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. [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.
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.
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:
5 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, Bass. Here is the money. And let the Christian go. Por. Soft;
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! 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. Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! [feiture. Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy for- Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Buss. 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? 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.
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,
Would, any of the stock of Barabbas
Had been her husband, rather than a Christian!
We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence. Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine;
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 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:
The court awards it, and the law doth give it. [breast: Shy. Most rightful judge! Por. And you must cut his flesh from off his 55 The law allows it, and the court awards it.
Shy. Most learned judge!—A sentence; come
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; Then take 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
And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, 60 Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore,thoumust 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 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:
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, Anthonio? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's 10 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 faHe 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.
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.
Bass. 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. Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the value.
The dearest ing in Venice will I give you, 15 And find it out by proclamation;
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.
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.
Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In christening, thou shalt have two godfathers;
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.
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, 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.
Anth. And stand indebted, over and above, 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,
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. Bass. 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.
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, 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.
1i. e. a jury of twelve men, to condemn thee to be hanged. i. c. reflexion.
Meaning, your grace's pardon.
Por. Thou may'st, I warrant: We shall have old swearing,
That they did give the rings away to men; But we'll out-face them, and out-swear them too.
Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will tarry.
Ner. Come, good sir, you will shew me to this house?
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 son.
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.
And ceremoniously let us prepare
Some welcome for the mistress of the house. Enter Launcelot.
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.
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. [Exit.
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.[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 patines of bright gold; There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st, But in his motion like 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 home with musick.
Jes. I am never merry, when I hear sweet mu[Musick. Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive: For do but note a wild and wanton herd,
50 Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, [laud, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing, and neighing Which is the hot condition of their blood;
If they perchance but hear a trumpet sound, Or any air of musick touch their ears,
55 You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze, By the sweet power of musick: Therefore, the [floods:
poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and 60 Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of rage, Put musick for the time doth change his nature: The man that hath no musick in himself,
Patine is the plate made use of for the bread in Mcaning the moon, who is afterNor
Our author evidently here alludes to the stars. the administration of the Eucharist, and sometimes made of gold. wards represented as sleeping.
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