Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man! Which here appeareth due upon the bond. How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Shy. Ay, his breaft; So fays the bond; doth it not, noble judge? Por. It is fo. Are there scales to weigh the flesh? Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by fome furgeon, Shylock, on your` charge, To ftop his wounds, left he should bleed to death. Por. It is not fo exprefs'd; but what of that? "Twere good, you do fo much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to fay? Ant. But little. I am arm'd, and well prepar'd. Give me your hand, Baffanio, fare you well! Grieve not that I am fall'n to this for you: "For herein fortune fhews herself more kind, "Than is her cuftom. It is still her use, "To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, "To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow, "An age of poverty:" from which ling'ring penance Of fuch a mifery doth fhe cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife; Baff. Anthonio, I am married to a wife, I would lofe all; ay, facrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you. Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If he were by to hear you make the offer. Gra. I have a wife, whom, I proteft, I love; I would the were in heav'n, fo she could Shy. These be the Christian husbands. I've a daughWould any of the stock of Barrabas [ter; Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! [Afide. We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence. Por. A pound of that fame merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shy. Moft rightful judge! Por: And- you muft cut this flesh from off his breast; The law allows it, and the court awards it. Shy. Moft learned judge! a fentence: come, pre pare. Por. Tarry a little, there is fomething else. One drop of Chriftian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the ftate of Venice. Gra. O upright judge judge! Shy. Is that the law? mark, Jew; O learned Por. Thyfelf fhalt see the act: For as thou urgeft juftice, be affur'd, Thou shalt have juftice, more than thou defir'ft. Bal. Here is the money. Por. The Jew fhall have all juftice; foft! no hafte; He fhall have nothing but the penalty. Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Per. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh; Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou lefs, nor more, Thou dieft, and all thy goods are confifcate. Por. Why doth the Jew paufe? take the forfeiture. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Baff. I have it ready for thee; here it is. Por. He hath refus'd it in the open court; He shall have merely juftice, and his bond. Gra. A Daniel, ftill fay I; a fecond Daniel! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shy. Shall I not barely have my principal? Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be fo taken at thy peril, Jew. 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 yoù. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be prov'd against an alien, That, by direct or indirect attempts, The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive, The danger formally by me rehears'd. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. Gra. Beg, that thou may'ft have leave to hang thyfelf; And yet thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Por. Ay, for the ftate; not for Anthonio. Por. What mercy can you render him, Anthonio? The other half in ufe, to render it Two things provided more, that for this favour The other, that he do record a gift Here in the court, of all he dies poffefs'd, Unto his fon Lorenzo and his daughter. Duke. He fhall do this, or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here. Por. Art thou contented, Jew? what doft thou say? 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 fign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In chrift'ning thou shalt have two godfathers. Had I been judge, thou should'ft have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit Shylock, Duke. Sir, I intreat you home with me to dinner. Por. I humbly do defire your Grace of pardon; I muft away this night to Padua, And it is meet I prefently fet forth. Duke. I'm forry that your leisure ferves you not." Anthonio, gratify this gentleman; For in my mind you are much bound to him. [Exit Duke and his train. Baff. Moft worthy Gentleman! I and my friend Por. He is well paid that is well fatisfy'd; 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; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it. Ba. There's more depends on this, than on the value. The deareft ring in Venice will I give you, Only for this, I pray you, pardon me. Por. I fee, Sir, you are liberal in offers You taught me firft to beg; and now, methinks, You teach me how a beggar should be anfwer'd.` Bal Good Sir, this ring was giv'n me by my wife. |