Salan. It is the most impenetrable cur That eve. kept with men.
Ant.
Let him alone;
I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers.
He seeks my life; his reason well I know;
I oft deliverd from his forfeitures
Many that have at times made moan to me,
Therefore he hates me.
Salan.
Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.
Before they think of us.
Ner.
Shall they see us!
Por. They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit,
That they shall think we are accomplished
With what we lack. I'll hold thee any wager,
When we are both accoutred like young men,
I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two,
And wear my dagger with the braver grace;
And speak, between the change of man and boy,
With a reed voice; and turn two mincing steps
Ant. The duke cannot deny the course of law; Into a manly stride; and speak of frays,
For the commodity that strangers have
With us in Venice, if it be denied,
Will much impeach the justice of the state;
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Consisteth of all nations. Therefore, go:
These griefs and losses have so 'bated me,
That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh
To-morrow to my bloody creditor.-
Well, gaoler, on:-Pray God, Bassanio come
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!
SCENE IV.-Belmont. A room in Portia's House.
Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA, and
Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your presence, You have a noble and a true conceit
Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly
In bearing thus the absence of your lord.
But if you know to whom you show this honor,
How true a gentleman you send relief,
How dear a lover of my lord your husband,
I know, you would be prouder of the work,
Than customary bounty can enforce you.
Por. I never did repent for doing good,
Nor shall now: for in companions
That do converse and waste the time together,
Whose souls do bare an equal yoke of love,
There must be needs a like proportion
of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit,
Which makes me think, that this Antonio,
Being the bosom lover of my lord,
Must needs be like my lord: If it be so,
How little is the cost I have bestow'd,
In purchasing the semblance of my soul
From out the state of hellish cruelty!
This comes too near the praising of myself:
Therefore, no more of it: hear other things.-
Lorenzo, I commit into your hands
The husbandry and manage of my house,
Until my lord's return; for mine own part,
I have toward heaven breath'd a secret vow,
To ave in prayer and contemplation,
Only attended by Nerissa here,
Unul her husband and my lord's return:
There is a monastery two miles off,
And there we will abide. I do desire you,
Not to deny this imposition;
The watch my love, and some necessity,
Now lays upon you.
Madam, with all my heart;
I shall obey you in all fair commands.
Por. My people do already know my mind,
And will acknowledge you and Jessica
In place of lord Bassanio and myself.
So fare you well, till we shall meet again.
Lor. Fair thoughts, and happy hours, attend on
Jea. I wish your ladyship all heart's content. Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well pleas'd To wish it back on you: fare you well, Jessica.[Exeunt JESSICA and LORENZo. Now, Balthazar,
4I have ever found thee honest, true,
so let me find thee still: Take this same letter,
And use thou all the endeavor of a man,
In speed to Padua; see thou render this
In my cousin's hand, doctor Bellario;
And, look, what notes and garments he doth give
9ring them, I pray thee, with imagin'd speed
Cato the tranect, to the common ferry
Which trades to Venice:-waste no time in words,
But get thee gone; I shall be there before thee.
Balth. Madam, I go with all convenient speed.
(Exit.
Por. Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand,
That you yet know not of: we'll see our hus-
Dands,
Like a fine bragging youth and tell quaint lies,
How honorable ladies sought my love,
Which I denying, they fell sick and died;
I could not do withal;-then I'll repent
And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them
And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell,
That man shall swear I have discontinued school
Above a twelvemonth:-I have within my mind
A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks,
Which I will practise.
Why, shall we turn to men? Por. Fie! what a question's that, If thou wert near a lewd interpreter? But come, I'll tell thee all my whole device, When I am in my coach, which stays for us At the park gate; and therefore haste away, For we must measure twenty miles to-day.
Enter LAUNCELOT and JESSICA. Laun. Yes, truly-for, look you, the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children: therefore, I promise you, I fear you. I was always plain with you, and so now I speak my agitation of the natter: Therefore, be of good cheer; for, truly, I think, you are damn'd. There is but one hope in it that can do you any good; and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither.
Jes. And what hope is that, I pray thee?
Laun. Marry, you may partly hope that your father got you not, that you are not the Jew's daughter.
Jes. That were a kind of bastard hope, indeed; so the sins of my mother should be visited upon me. Laun. Truly then I fear you are damn'd botn by father and mother: thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mo.her: well, you are gone both ways.
Jes. I shall be saved by my husband; he hath made me a Christian.
Laun. Truly, the more to blame he; we were Christians enough before; e'en as many as could well live, one by another: This making of Christians will raise the price of hogs; if we grow ali to be pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money.
Jes. I'll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you here he comes.
Lor. I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot, if you thus get my wife into corners.
Jes. Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo; Launcelot and I are out: he tells me flatly, there is no mercy for me in heaven, because I am a Jew's daughter: and he says, you are no good member of the commonwealth; for, in converting Jews to Christians, you raise the price of pork.
Lor. I shall answer that better to the commonwealth, than you can the getting up of the negro's belly: the Moor is with child by you, Launcet.
Laun. It is much, that the Moor should be more than reason: but if she be less than an honest woman, she is, indeed, more than I took her for.
Lor. How every tool can play upon the word! I think, the best grace of wit will shortly turn into silence; and discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots.-Go in, sirrah; bid them prepare for dinner.
Laun. That is done, sir; they have all stomachs. Lor. Goodly lord, what a wit-snapper are you! then bid then prepare dinner,
Laun. That is done too, sir; only, cover is the word.
Lor. Will you cover then, sir?
Laun. Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty. Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an in
Instant? I pray thee, understand a plain man in his pain ineining: go to thy fellows; bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner.
Luun. For the table, sir, it shall be served in; for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humors and conceits shall govern. Exit LAUNCELOT. Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are suited! The fool hath planted in his memory An army of good words; And I do know A.many fools, that stand in better place, Garnish'd like him, that for a tricksy word Defy the matter. How cheer'st thou, Jessica? And now, good sweet, say thy opinion, How dost thou like the lord Bassanio's wife? Jes. Past all expressing: It is very meet, The lord Bassanio live an upright life; For, having such a blessing in his lady,
He finds the joys of heaven here on earth;
And, if on earth he do not mean it, it
Is reason he should never come to heaven.
Why, if two gods should play some heavenly
match,
And on the wager lay two earthly women,
And Portia one, there must be something else
Pawn'd with the other; for the poor rude world
Hath not her fellow.
Lor.
Even such a husband
Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife.
Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that.
Lor. I will anon; first, let us go to dinner.
Jes. Nay, let me praise you, while I have a
stomach.
Lor. No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk;
Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st, 'inong other things
I shall digest it.
Jes.
Well, I'll set you forth. [Exeunt.
Duke. What, is Antonio here?
Ant. Ready, so please your grace.
As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;
Why he, a swollen 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,
Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come to More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loathing,
Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify
His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate,
And that no lawful means can carry me
Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose
My patience to his fury; and am arm'd
To suffer, with a quietness of spirit,
The very tyranny and rage of his.
Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court. Salan. He's ready at the door: he comes, my lord.
I bear Antonio, that I follow thus
A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty.
Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my
Bass. Do all men kill the things 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, wouldst thou have a serpent sting
thee twice?
Ant. I pray you, think you question with the Jew;
And bid the main flood bait his usual height;
You may as well go stand upon the beach,
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
Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our To wag their high tops, and to make no noise,
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought,
Thou lt show thy mercy, and remorse, mre strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty:
And where thou now exact'st the pena y,
(Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,)
Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture,
But touch'd with human gentleness and love,
Forgive a moiety of the principal;
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 purpose; 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 choose to have A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that: But, say it is my humor; 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 baned? What, are you answer'd yet? Some men there are, love not a gaping pig; Some that are mad, if they behold a cat;And others, when the bag-pipe sings i' the nose, Cannot contain their urine; For affections Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood
Of what it likes, or loaths: Now, for your answer: ↑ Whereas. • Prejudice.
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 further means,
But, with all brief and plain conveniency,
Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will.
Bass. For thy three thousand ducats here are six.
Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats
Where in six parts, and every part a ducat,
I would not draw them, I would have my bond.
Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring
none?
Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong!
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 thein to your heirs?
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,
Is dearly bought, is mine, and I will have it!
If you deny me, fye 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,
1
Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,
Whom I have sent for to determine this
Come here to-day.
My lord, here stays without
A messenger with letters from the doctor,
New come from Padua.
Duke. Bring us the letters; Call the messerge.
Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, wan
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, The throned monarch better than his crown.
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
[Presents a letter.
Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
Shy. To cu: the forfeiture from that bankrupt
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. 0, be thou damn'd, inexorable dog!
And for thy life let justice be accus'd.
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,
Even from the gallows did his tell soul fleet,
Ad, whilst thou lay st in thy unhallow'd dam,
Facs'd itself in thee, for thy desires
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above his sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,-
Should se salvation: we do pray for mercy;
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke this much,
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law
Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous.
Shy. Till thou canst 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?
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.-
Mean time, 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 Rene is Balthasar: I acquainted him with the case in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned o'er many books together: be is furnish'd with my opinion; which, better'd toth his own learning, (the greatness whereof I amat enough commend,) comes with him, at my portunity, 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; I never knew so young a body with so old a at I leave him to your gracious acceptance, the trial shall better publish his commendation. Dike. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he
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: tako your place.
Are you acquainted with the difference
That holds this present question in the court?
Per. I am informed throughly of the cause.
Wh is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.
Por. Is your name Shylock?
Sha.
Shylock is my name.
Pr. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;
Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.
You stand within his danger, do you not?
[TO ANTONIO.
Do you confess the bond?
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, [pon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd; It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes: "Ts mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
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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:
That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,
If this will not suffice, it must appear
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 Venice
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!-
(wise young judge, how do I honor 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 thy money offer'd
Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven:
Shall I lay perjury upon iny soul!
No, not for Venice.
Why, this bond is forfeit.
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.
Nearest the merchant's heart:-Be merciful;
It doth appear, you are a worthy judge;
Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor-
you know the law, your exposition
Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear,
To alter me: I stay here on my bond.
There is no power in the tongue of man
To give the judgment.
Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court
You must prepare your bosom for his knife,
Why then, thus it is
Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man.
Por. For the intent and purpose of the law
Hath full relation to the penalty,
Which here appeareth due upon the bond.
Shy. Tis very true: wise and upright judge'
How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
Por. Therefore, lay bare your bosom.
Shy.
Ay, his breast:
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
Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your
charge,
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.
Por. Come, merchant, have you anything to say
Ant. But little; I am arm'd, and well prepar'u.-
Give me your hand Bassanio; fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom: it is still her use.
To let the wretched man out-live 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 honorable wife:
Tell her the process of Antonio's end,
Say, how I loved 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. Antonio, 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 by direct, or indirect attempts,
He seek the life of any citizen,
The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive,
Shall seize one 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.
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 mayst have leave to hang
thyself:
Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, that,
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
Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.
Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back;
The wish would make else an unquiet house.
Shy. These be the Christian husbands: I have a
daughter;
'Would, any of the stock of Barrabas
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!
Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his
breast;
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:
Take then 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
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 this offer then ;-pay the bond thrice,
And let the Christian go.
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
As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair.-
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 for-
feiture.
Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go.
Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is.
Por. He hath refus'd 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 have barely 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.
The law hath yet another hold on you.
It is enacted in the laws of Venice,-
If it be prov'd against an alien,
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 jur
spirit,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's:
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive into a fine.
Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio.
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, Antonio?
Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake.
Ant. So please my lord the duke, and all the court.
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 favor,
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.
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.
Duhe.
Get thee gone, but do it.
Gra. In christening thou shalt have two god
fathers;
Had I been judge thou shouldst have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
[Erit SHYLOCK
Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me 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
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.
Ant. And stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore.
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 met again;
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.
Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you fur
Take some remembrance of us as a tribute,
Not as a fee; grant me two things I pray you,
Not to deny me, and to pardon me.
Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake
And, for your love, I'll take this ring from yu
Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no mon
And you in love shall not deny me this.
Bass. This ring, good sir,- alas, it is a t-fe;
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
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, 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. Pur. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts;
An if your wife be not a mad woman,
And know how well I have deserved this ring,
Se would not hold out enemy for ever,
Fur 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.
B. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him,
Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst,
Iuto Antonio's house :-away, make haste.
Exit GRATIANO.
Come, you and I will thither presently;
Aad in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont: Come, Antonio. [Exeunt. SCENE II-A Street.
Enter PORTIA and NERISSA.
Por. Inquire 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.
Gra Fair sir, you are well overtaken:
My lord Bassanio, upon more advice,
Hath sent you here this ring; and doth entreat
Your company at dinner.
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.
Gra. That will I do.
Ner.
Sir, I would speak with you :-
I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, TO PORTIA
Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.
Por. Thou may'st, I warrant: We shall have old
swearing,
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!
[Exeunt.
In such a night, Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew; And saw the lion's shadow ere himself, And ran dismay'd away.
In such a night, Sood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea-banks, and wav'd her love To come again to Carthage. JER.
In such a night, Medea gathered the enchanted herbs That did renew old Æson.
Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew;
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice,
As far as Belmont.
And in such a night,
91 young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well; Steing her soul with many vows of faith, And ne'er a true one.
And in such a night, I'd pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her love, and he forgive it her. Jea. I would out-night you, did no body come: But, hark, I hear the footing of a man.
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 hollaing, man; here.
Laun. Sola! where! where!
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.
Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their
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 STEPHANO.
How sweet the moon-light sleeps upon this bank?
Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music
Creep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night,
Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Sit, Jessica: Look, how the floor of heaven
Is thick inlaid 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:
Such harmony is in immortal souls;
But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.-
Enter Musicians.
Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn;
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear,
And draw her home with music.
Jes. I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
[Music.
Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive:
For do but note a wild and wanton herd,
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,
Fetching mad bounds, bellowing, and neighing loud,
Which is the hot condition of their blood;
If they but hear purchance a trumpet sound,
Or any air of music touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze,
By the sweet power of music: Therefore, the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods;
Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of rage,
But music for the time doth change his nature.
The man that hath no music in himself,
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