I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?

Duke. Upon my power, I may dismiss this court, Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day. Salar.

My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, New come from Padua.

Duke. Bring us the letters; Call the messenger. Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man? cou

rage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.

Ant. 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,
Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. .

Enter Nerissa, dressed like a lawyer's clerk.
Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
Ner. From both, my lord: Bellario greets your
grace.

[Presents a letter. Bass. Why dost thou whet'thy knife so earnestly? Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt

there. Gra. Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh

Jew,
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.
Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith,

Bafs. Why dost thou whet thy h nie so earnestly? Shy. To cut the forfriture from that bankrupt thee

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,
Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,
And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itself in thee; for thy desires
Are wolfish, bloody, starv’d, and ravenous.
Shy. Till thou can’st rail the seal from off my

bond,
Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud:
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
To cureless ruin.--I stand here for law.

Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend
A young and learned doctor to our court:-
Where is he?

Ner. He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. Duke. With all my heart:-some three or four of

you, Go give him courteous conduct to this place.Meantime, the court shall hear Bellario's letter.

[Clerk reads.] Your grace shall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick: but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome, his name is Balthasar: I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned o'er many books together: he is furnish'd with my opinion; which, better'd with his own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend,) comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gra

cious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.

Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he

writes:

And here, I take it, is the doctor come. —

Enter Portia, dressed like a doctor of laws. . 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 throughly of the cause.
Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?

Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.
Por. Is your name Shylock?
Shy.

Shylock is my name.
Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;
Yet in such a rule, that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you,” as you do proceed.-
You stand within his danger, do you not?

ITO ANTONIO. Ant. Ay, so he says. Por.

Do you confess the bond ?
Ant. 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:

? Cannot impugn you,] To impugn, is to oppose, to controvert.

8 You stand within his danger,] i. e. within his reach or control.