An age of poverty; from which lingering penance Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; Repent but you that you shall lose your friend, Bassanio. Antonio, I am married to a wife 270 280 Portia. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer. Gratiano. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love: I would she were in heaven, so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. Nerissa. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back; The wish would make else an unquiet house. 290 Shylock. [Aside] These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter; Would any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband rather than a Christian ! Portia. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine: The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shylock. Most rightful judge! Portia. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: The law allows it, and the court awards it. Shy. Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare! Portia. Tarry a little; there is something else. 301 This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gra. O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned judge! Shylock. Is that the law? Portia. Thyself shalt see the act: 310 For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. Gra. O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge! Shylock. I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice And let the Christian go. Bassanio. Portia. Soft! Here is the money. The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste: He shall have nothing but the penalty. Gratiano. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Portia. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. 320 Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate. Gratiano. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have you on the hip. 330 Portia. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. Shylock. Give me my principal, and let me go. Bassanio. I have it ready for thee; here it is. Portia. He hath refused it in the open court: He shall have merely justice and his bond. Gratiano. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel ! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shylock. Shall I not have barely my principal? Portia. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. Shylock. Why, then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer question. Portia. Tarry, Jew: It is enacted in the laws of Venice, The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive Thou hast contrived against the very life 340 350 Gra. Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord; 361 Therefore thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: Portia. Ay, for the state, not for Antonio. Shylock. Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: You take my house when you do take the prop 371 That doth sustain my house; you take my life Portia. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? Gratiano. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake. Antonio. So please my lord the duke and all the court To quit the fine for one half of his goods, I am content; so he will let me have 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 shall do this, or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here. 380 Portia. Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say? Shylock. I am content. Portia. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. 390 Shylock. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence; I am not well: send the deed after me, And I will sign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gratiano. In christening shalt thou have two godfathers Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit Shylock. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. Portia. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon : I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet I presently set forth. Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. Antonio, gratify this gentleman, For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. F 400 [Exeunt Duke and his train. Bassanio. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof, Antonio. And stand indebted, over and above, Portia. He is well paid that is well satisfied; And therein do account myself well paid: 410 Bassanio. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you, Not to deny me, and to pardon me. 420 Portia. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. [To Antonio] Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake; [To Bassanio] And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you: Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more; And you in love shall not deny me this. Bassanio. This ring, good sir, alas, it is a trifle ! I will not shame myself to give you this. Portia. I will have nothing else but only this; And now methinks I have a mind to it. Bassanio. There's more depends on this than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation : Only for this, I pray you, pardon me, Portia. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers: You taught me first to beg; and now methinks You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd. 430 |