Antonio. I pray you, think you question with the Jew:

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 fretten with the gusts of heaven;
You may as well do anything most hard,

70

75

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.

Bassanio. For thy three thousand ducats here is six.
Shylock. If every ducat in six thousand ducats

85

Were 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, rendering none?
Shylock. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?

The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,

Is dearly bought; 'tis 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, Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,

Whom I have sent for to determine this,
Come here to-day.

70. think you question: that is, remember that you are arguing.

certain Polish monarch, might claim to be a king above grammar (rex super grammaticam). 77. fretten, fretted; that is, shaken. 83. judgment. The word is here used in its legal sense of sentence.

72. main flood, high tide; bate, abate. 76. to make no noise. As this phrase also is under the government of "forbid," it expresses just the opposite of what is meant, 95. Upon my power = on my authori

slip; but Shakespeare, like a 97. determine, decide.

90

95

Salerio.

My lord, here stays without

A messenger with letters from the doctor,
New come from Padua.

Duke. Bring us the letters; call the messenger.

Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk.

Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
Nerissa. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace.
[Presenting a letter.

Bassanio. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
Shylock. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.
Gratiano. 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 axe, bear half the keenness
Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?
Shylock. No, none that thou hast wit* enough to make.

A

*

Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend young and learned doctor to our court.

Where is he?

To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.

*

Nerissa. He attendeth here hard by,

Duke. With all my heart. Some three or four of you Go give him courteous conduct to this place.

100

105

110

115

II.

Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws.

Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?

Portia. I did, my lord.

Duke.

120

You are welcome; take your place.

Are you acquainted with the difference
That holds this present question in the court?

107. sole... soul. Notice the play on

words.

109. hangman. The word is here used in a generic sense for execution

er.

III. wit, sense, sharpness.
115. attendeth, waits.

122, 123. the difference That holds, etc. :
the dispute that is the subject
of the present discussion.

Portia. I am informed throughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. Portia. Is your name Shylock?

Shylock.

Shylock is my name.

Portia. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;

Portia.

Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shylock. On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.
Portia. The quality of mercy is not strained,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest-
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes ;
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The thronéd monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this 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

absolute sense-that of compu
sion.

Portia rebukes him for thus connecting compulsion with mercy.

The quality of mercy is not strained.'

And this reproof strikes the keynote of the famous speech which follows." DALGLEISH: Mer

-

132. within his danger: that is, within
his power to harm you.
137. must I? Must, as used by Por-
tia in the preceding line, refers chant of Venice.
only to what is becoming, what 140. twice blest, doubly blest.
might be expected. Shylock 144. shows, symbolizes.
adopts her words, but in a more 150. show, appear.

125

130

135

140

145

150

When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
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.
Shylock. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

Portia. Is he not able to discharge the money?
Bassanio. 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

That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,
Wrest* once the law to your authority:

155

160

165

To do a great right, do a little wrong,

170

And curb this cruel devil of his will.

There is no power in Venice

Portia. It must not be.
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.

Shylock. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!

O wise young judge, how I do honor thee!
Portia. I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
Shylock. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
Portia. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered thee.
Shylock. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven.

175

180

Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?

No, not for Venice.

Portia.

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 thy money; bid me tear the bond.
Shylock. When it is paid according to the tenor.
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,
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 bond.

Antonio. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment.

Portia.

Why, then, thus it is:

You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

Shylock. O noble judge! O excellent young man! Portia. For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty

Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

Shylock. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge!
How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
Portia. Therefore lay bare your bosom.
Shylock.

183

100

195

200

205

Ay, his breast:

So says the bond-doth it not, noble judge?—
"Nearest his heart:" those are the very words.
Portia. It is so. Are there balance here to weigh
The flesh?

Shylock. I have them ready.

Portia. Have by some surgeon,* Shylock, on your charge,

To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

219