If you. deny me, fie upon your law!

There is no force in the decrees of Venice.

I stand for judgement: 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.

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.

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Bassanio. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet!

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

Antonio. 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.

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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 makest 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. Gratiano. O, be thou damn'd, inexecrable dog!

And for thy life let justice be accused.

Thou almost makest me waver in my faith

To hold opinion with Pythagoras,

That souls of animals infuse themselves

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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,
Infused itself in thee; for thy desires

Are wolvish, bloody, starved and ravenous.

Shylock. 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?

Nerissa.

He attendeth here hard by,

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

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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.

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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 furnished with my opinion; which, bettered 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 gracious 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. Come you from old Bellario?
Portia. I did, my lord.

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Duke.

You are welcome: take your place.

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

Yet in such rule that the Venetian law

Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.

You stand within his danger, do you not?

Antonio. Ay, so he says.

Portia.

Do you confess the bond?

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Antonio. I do.

Portia.

Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shylock. On what compulsion must I? tell me that.

Portia. The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
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 throned 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;

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And earthly power doth then show likest God's

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?

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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, 210
Wrest once the law to your authority:

To do a great right, do a little wrong,
And curb this cruel devil of his will.

Portia. 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.

Shylock. A Daniel come to judgement! yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honour thee!

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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 offer'd thee. Shylock. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: 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.

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Shylock. 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,

Proceed to judgement: 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 judgement.

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.

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Ay, his breast:

So says the bond: doth it not, noble judge?
'Nearest his heart:' those are the very words.
Are there balance here to weigh

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