Duke. How fhalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring none?

Shy. What judgment fhall I dread, doing no wrong?

You have among you many a purchas'd slave, Which, like your affes, and your dogs, and mules, You use in abject and in flavish parts,

Because you bought them.-Shall I fay to you,
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?
Why sweat they under their burdens? let their
beds

Be made as foft as yours, and let their palates
Be feafon'd with fuch viands? You will anfwer,
The flaves 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, fie upon your law!
There is no force in the decrees of Venice.
I ftand for judgment: anfwer; fhall I have it?

Duke. Upon my power, I may difmifs this court, Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,

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

Sala. My lord, here stays without

A meffenger with letters from the doctor,

New come from Padua.

Duke. Bring us the letters:

Call the meflenger.

[Exit an Attendant.

Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man?

courage yet!

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

Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meeteft for death; the weakeft kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and fo let me. You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph.

Enter the Attendant with NERISSA, dressed like a Lawyer's Clerk.

Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario?

Ner. From both, my lord: Bellario greets your [Prefents a letter.

grace.

Bass. Why doft thou whet thy knife fo earnestly? Shy. To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt there. Gra. Can no prayers pierce thee?

Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to

make.

Gra. Accurft be thou, inexorable dog!
And for thy life let justice be accus'd.
Thou almost mak'ft me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
That fouls of animals infufe themselves
Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit

Govern'd

Govern'd a wolf, who hang'd for human slaughter,
Ev'n from the gallows did his fell foul fleet,
And, whilft thou lay'ft in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itself in thee; for thy defires

Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous.

Shy. 'Till thou can'ft rail the feal from off my
bond,

Thou but offend'ft thy lungs to speak fo loud.
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
To cureless ruin. I ftand 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. Go give him courteous conduct to this place.

[Exit Attendant.

Mean time, the Court fhall hear Bellario's letter.

Your grace fhall underfland, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very fick: but in the inftant that your messenger came, in loving vifitation was with me a young doctor of Rome. I acquainted him with the caufe in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned over many books together; he is furnished with my opinion, which better'd with his own learn

ing, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend,} comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's requeft in my ftead. I beseech you let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend eftimation; for I never knew so young a body with fo old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whofe trial fhall better publish his commendation. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he

writes;

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

Enter the Attendant, with PORTIA, dressed
like a Doctor of Laws.

Came you from old Bellario?

Por. I did, my lord.

Duke. You're welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference, That holds this present question in the court?

Por. I am informed thoroughly 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 ftrange nature is the fuit you follow;

Yet in fuch rule, that the Venetian law

Cannot

Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.-
You stand within his danger, do you not?

Ant. Ay, fo he fays.

Ant. I do.

Por. Do you confefs the bond?

Por. Then must the Jew be merciful.
Shy. On what compulfion muft 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 blefs'd;
It bleffeth him that gives, and him that takes:
'Tis mightieft in the mightieft; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His fceptre fhows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and Majefty,

Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of kings.
But mercy is above this fcepter'd sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then shew likeft Heav'n's
When mercy feafons juftice. Therefore, Jew,
Though juftice be thy plea, confider this:-
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should fee falvation. We do pray for mercy;
And that fame prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.-I have spoke thus much,

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