Whereof you are a well-deferving Pillar, Ant. Moft heartily I do befeech the Court Por. Why then thus it is: You must prepare your Bofom for his Knife. Which here appeareth due upon the Bond. Shy. 'Tis very true. O wife and upright Judge, How much more elder art thou than thy Looks! Por. Therefore lay bare thy Bofom. Shy. Ay his Breast, So fays the Bond, doth it not, noble Judge ? Por. It is fo. Are there Ballances here to weigh the Flesh? Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by fome Surgeon, Shylock, on your Charge, Por. It is not fo exprefs'd; but what of that? To let the wretched Man out-live his Wealth, Say how I lov'd you; fpeak me fair in Death: I 2 Reper Repent not you that you fhall lofe fhall lose your Friend, Heart. Baff. Anthonio, I am married to a Wife, Here to this Devil, to deliver you. Por. Your Wife would give you little thanks for that, If the were by to hear you make the Offer. Gra. I have a Wife whom I protest I love, Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back, Shy. These be the Chriftian Husbands. I have a Daughter, Would any of the Stock of Barrabas Had been her Husband, rather than a Chriftian. We trifle time, I pray thee pursue Sentence. [Afide. Por. A Pound of that fame Merchant's Flesh is thine, Por. And you must cut this Flesh from off his Breaft, The Law allows it, and the Court awards it, Shy. Moft learned Judge, a Sentence, come prepare. Then take thy Bond, take thou thy Pound of Flesh ; One drop of Chriftian Blood, thy Lands and Goods Unto the State of Venice. Gra. O upright Judge! Mark Jew, O learned Judge! Shy. Is that the Law? Por. Thy felf fhalt fee the A&t: For as thou urgeft Juftice, be affur'd Thou shalt have Justice, more than thou desirest. Gra. Gra. O learned Judge! Mark Jew, a learned Judge! Shy. I take this Offer then, pay the Bond thrice, And let the Chriftian go. Baff. Here is the Mony, Por. Soft, the Jew fhall have all Juftice, foft, no haste, He shall have nothing but the Penalty, Gra. O few! an upright Judge, a learned Judge. Of one poor Scruple; nay, if the Scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy Goods are confiscate. Por. Why doth the Jew paufe? Take thy Forfeiture. Shy. Why then the Devil give him good of it: I'll ftay no longer queftion. Por. Tarry, Jew, 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 indire& Attempts, The Party 'gainst the which he doth contrive, In which Predicament I fay thou stand'st: Gra. Beg that thou may'ft have leave to hang thy felf: Therefore thou must be hang'd at the State's Charge. Por. Ay, for the State, not for Anthonio. Por. What Mercy can you render him, Anthonio? Gra. A Halter gratis, nothing elfe, for God's fake. Ant. So pleafe my Lord, the Duke, and all the Court, To quit the Fine for one half of his Goods, I am content, fo he will let me have The other half in ufe, to render it Upon his Death, unto the Gentleman 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 fhall do this, or elfe I do recant The Pardon that I late pronounced here. Por. Art thou contented, Jew? What doft 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; fend the Deed after me, And I will fign it, Duke. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In Chrift'ning thou fhalt have two Godfathers. Had I been Judge, thou fhould't have had ten more, To bring thee to the Gallows, not to the Font. [Exit Shy. Duke. Sir, I entreat you with me home to Dinner. Duke. I am forry that your leifure ferves you not. For in my mind you are much bound to him. [Exit Duke and his Train. Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied, Baff. Dear Sir, of force I must attempt you further. Por. You prefs me far, and therefore I will yield. Baff. This Ring, good Sir, alas it is a Trifle; this. Por. I will have nothing else but only this, And now methinks I have a mind to it. Baff. There's more depends on this than on the value: The deareft Ring in Venice will I give you, |