2004The slaues are ours. So do I answer you.

2005The pound of flesh which I demand of him

2006Is deerely bought, 'tis mine, and I will haue it.

2007If you deny me; fie vpon your Law,

2008There is no force in the decrees of Venice;

2009I stand for iudgement, answer, Shall I haue it?

2010Du. Vpon my power I may dismisse this Court,

2011Vnlesse Bellario a learned Doctor,

2012Whom I haue sent for to determine this,

2013Come heere to day.

2014Sal. My Lord, heere stayes without

2015A Messenger with Letters from the Doctor,

2016New come from Padua.

2017Du. Bring vs the Letters, Call the Messengers.

2018Bass. Good cheere Anthonio. What man, corage yet:

2019The Iew shall haue my flesh, blood, bones, and all,

2020Ere thou shalt loose for me one drop of blood.

2021Ant. I am a tainted Weather of the flocke,

2022Meetest for death, the weakest kinde of fruite

2023Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me;

2024You cannot better be employ'd Bassanio,

2025Then to liue still, and write mine Epitaph.

2027Du. Came you from Padua from Bellario?

2028Ner. From both.

2029My Lord Bellario greets your Grace.

2030Bas. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

2031Iew. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrout there.

2032Gra. Not on thy soale: but on thy soule harsh Iew

2033Thou mak'st thy knife keene: but no mettall can,

2034No, not the hangmans Axe beare halfe the keennesse

2035Of thy sharpe enuy. Can no prayers pierce thee?

2036Iew. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.

2037Gra. O be thou damn'd, inexecrable dogge,

2038And for thy life let iustice be accus'd:

2039Thou almost mak'st me wauer in my faith;

2040To hold opinion with Pythagoras,

2041That soules of Animals infuse themselues

2042Into the trunkes of men. Thy currish spirit

2043Gouern'd a Wolfe, who hang'd for humane slaughter,

2044Euen from the gallowes did his fell soule fleet;

2045And whil'st thou layest in thy vnhallowed dam,

2046Infus'd it selfe in thee: For thy desires

2047Are Woluish, bloody, steru'd, and rauenous.

2048Iew. Till thou canst raile the seale from off my bond

2049Thou but offend'st thy Lungs to speake so loud:

2050Repaire thy wit good youth, or it will fall

2051To endlesse ruine. I stand heere for Law.

2052Du. This Letter from Bellario doth commend

2053A yong and Learned Doctor in our Court;

2054Where is he?

2055Ner. He attendeth heere hard by

2056To know your answer, whether you'l admit him.

2057Du. With all my heart. Some three or four of you

2058Go giue him curteous conduct to this place,

2059Meane time the Court shall heare Bellarioes Letter.

2060YOur Grace shall vnderstand, that at the receite of your

2061Letter I am very sicke: but in the instant that your mes-

2062senger came, in louing visitation, was with me a young Do-

2063ctor of Rome, his name is Balthasar: I acquained him with

2064the cause in Controuersie, betweene the Iew and Anthonio

2065the Merchant: We turn'd ore many Bookes together: hee is

2066furnished with my opinion, which bettred with his owne lear-

2067ning, the greatnesse whereof I cannot enough commend, comes

2068with him at my importunity, to fill vp your Graces request in

2069my sted. I beseech you, let his lacke of years be no impediment

2070to let him lacke a reuerend estimation: for I neuer knewe so

2071yong a body, with so old a head. I leaue him to your gracious

2072acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.

2074Duke. You heare the learn'd Bellario what he writes,

2075And heere (I take it) is the Doctor come.

2076Giue me your hand: Came you from old Bellario?

2077Por. I did my Lord.

2078Du. You are welcome: take your place;

2079Are you acquainted with the difference

2080That holds this present question in the Court.

2081Por. I am enformed throughly of the cause.

2082Which is the Merchant heere? and which the Iew?

2083Du. Anthonio and old Shylocke, both stand forth.

2084Por. Is your name Shylocke?

2085Iew. Shylocke is my name.

2086Por. Of a strange nature is the sute you follow,

2087Yet in such rule, that the Venetian Law

2088Cannot impugne you as you do proceed.

2089You stand within his danger, do you not?

2090Ant. I, so he sayes.

2091Por. Do you confesse the bond?

2092Ant. I do.

2093Por. Then must the Iew be mercifull.

2094Iew. On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

2095Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

2096It droppeth as the gentle raine from heauen

2097Vpon the place beneath. It is twice blest,

2098It blesseth him that giues, and him that takes,

2099'Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes

2100The throned Monarch better then his Crowne.

2101His Scepter shewes the force of temporall power,

2102The attribute to awe and Maiestie,

2103Wherein doth sit the dread and feare of Kings:

2104But mercy is aboue this sceptred sway,

2105It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings,

2106It is an attribute to God himselfe;

2107And earthly power doth then shew likest Gods

2108When mercie seasons Iustice. Therefore Iew,

2109Though Iustice be thy plea, consider this,

2110That in the course of Iustice, none of vs

2111Should see saluation: we do pray for mercie,

2112And that same prayer, doth teach vs all to render

2113The deeds of mercie. I haue spoke thus much

2114To mittigate the iustice of thy plea:

2115Which if thou follow, this strict course of Venice

2116Must needes giue sentence 'gainst the Merchant there.

2117Shy. My deeds vpon my head, I craue the Law,

2118The penaltie and forfeite of my bond.

2119Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?

2120Bas. Yes, heere I tender it for him in the Court,

2121Yea, twice the summe, if that will not suffice,

2122I will be bound to pay it ten times ore,

2123On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart:

2124If this will not suffice, it must appeare

2125That malice beares downe truth. And I beseech you

2126Wrest once the Law to your authority.

2127To do a great right, do a little wrong,

2128And curbe this cruell diuell of his will.

2129Por. It must not be, there is no power in Venice

2130Can alter a decree established:

2131'Twill be recorded for a President,