1904Duke. What, is Anthonio heere?

1905Ant. Ready, so please your grace?

1906Duke. I am sorry for thee, thou art come to answere

1907A stonie aduersary, an inhumane wretch,

1908Vncapable of pitty, voyd, and empty

1909From any dram of mercie.

1910Ant. I haue heard

1911Your Grace hath tane great paines to qualifie

1912His rigorous course: but since he stands obdurate,

1913And that no lawful meanes can carrie me

1914Out of his enuies reach, I do oppose

1915My patience to his fury, and am arm'd

1916To suffer with a quietnesse of spirit,

1917The very tiranny and rage of his.

1918Du. Go one and cal the Iew into the Court.

1919Sal. He is ready at the doore, he comes my Lord.

1921Du. Make roome, and let him stand before our face.

1922Shylocke the world thinkes, and I thinke so to

1923That thou but leadest this fashion of thy mallice

1924To the last houre of act, and then 'tis thought

1925Thou'lt shew thy mercy and remorse more strange,

1926Than is thy strange apparant cruelty;

1927And where thou now exact'st the penalty,

1928Which is a pound of this poore Merchants flesh,

1929Thou wilt not onely loose the forfeiture,

1930But touch'd with humane gentlenesse and loue:

1931Forgiue a moytie of the principall,

1932Glancing an eye of pitty on his losses

1933That haue of late so hudled on his backe,

1934Enow to presse a royall Merchant downe;

1935And plucke commiseration of his state

1936From brassie bosomes, and rough hearts of flints,

1937From stubborne Turkes and Tarters neuer traind

1938To offices of tender curtesie,

1939We all expect a gentle answer Iew?

1940Iew. I haue possest your grace of what I purpose,

1941And by our holy Sabbath haue I sworne

1942To haue the due and forfeit of my bond.

1943If you denie it, let the danger light

1944Vpon your Charter, and your Cities freedome.

1945You'l aske me why I rather choose to haue

1946A weight of carrion flesh, then to receiue

1947Three thousand Ducats? Ile not answer that:

1948But say it is my humor; Is it answered?

1949What if my house be troubled with a Rat,

1950And I be pleas'd to giue ten thousand Ducates

1951To haue it bain'd? What, are you answer'd yet?

1952Some men there are loue not a gaping Pigge:

1953Some that are mad, if they behold a Cat:

1954And others, when the bag-pipe sings i'th nose,

1955Cannot containe their Vrine for affection.

1956Masters of passion swayes it to the moode

1957Of what it likes or loaths, now for your answer:

1958As there is no firme reason to be rendred

1959Why he cannot abide a gaping Pigge?

1960Why he a harmlesse necessarie Cat?

1961Why he a woollen bag-pipe: but of force

1962Must yeeld to such ineuitable shame,

1963As to offend himselfe being offended:

1964So can I giue no reason, nor I will not,

1965More then a lodg'd hate, and a certaine loathing

1966I beare Anthonio, that I follow thus

1967A loosing suite against him? Are you answered?

1968Bass. This is no answer thou vnfeeling man,

1969To excuse the currant of thy cruelty.

1970Iew. I am not bound to please thee with my answer.

1971Bass. Do all men kil the things they do not loue?

1972Iew. Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

1973Bass. Euerie offence is not a hate at first.

1974Iew. What wouldst thou haue a Serpent sting thee

1975twice?

1976Ant. I pray you thinke you question with the Iew:

1977You may as well go stand vpon the beach,

1978And bid the maine flood baite his vsuall height,

1979Or euen as well vse question with the Wolfe,

1980The Ewe bleate for the Lambe:

1981You may as well forbid the Mountaine Pines

1982To wagge their high tops, and to make no noise

1983When they are fretted with the gusts of heauen:

1984You may as well do any thing most hard,

1985As seeke to soften that, then which what harder?

1986His Iewish heart. Therefore I do beseech you

1987Make no more offers, vse no farther meanes,

1988But with all briefe and plaine conueniencie

1989Let me haue iudgement, and the Iew his will.

1990Bas. For thy three thousand Ducates heere is six.

1991Iew. If euerie Ducat in sixe thousand Ducates

1992Were in sixe parts, and euery part a Ducate,

1993I would not draw them, I would haue my bond?

1994Du. How shalt thou hope for mercie, rendring none?

1995Iew. What iudgement shall I dread doing no wrong?

1996You haue among you many a purchast slaue,

1997Which like your Asses, and your Dogs and Mules,

1998You vse in abiect and in slauish parts,

1999Because you bought them. Shall I say to you,

2000Let them be free, marrie them to your heires?

2001Why sweate they vnder burthens? Let their beds

2002Be made as soft as yours: and let their pallats

2003Be season'd with such Viands: you will answer

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,

2132And many an error by the same example,

2133Will rush into the state: It cannot be.

2134Iew. A Daniel come to iudgement, yea a Daniel.

2135O wise young Iudge, how do I honour thee.

2136Por. I pray you let me looke vpon the bond.

2137Iew. Heere 'tis most reuerend Doctor, heere it is.

2138Por. Shylocke, there's thrice thy monie offered thee.

2139Shy. An oath, an oath, I haue an oath in heauen:

2140Shall I lay periurie vpon my soule?

2141No not for Venice.

2142Por. Why this bond is forfeit,

2143And lawfully by this the Iew may claime

2144A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off

2145Neerest the Merchants heart; be mercifull,

2146Take thrice thy money, bid me teare the bond.

2147Iew. When it is paid according to the tenure.

2148It doth appeare you are a worthy Iudge:

2149You know the Law, your exposition

2150Hath beene most sound. I charge you by the Law,

2151Whereof you are a well-deseruing pillar,

2152Proceede to iudgement: By my soule I sweare,

2153There is no power in the tongue of man

2154To alter me: I stay heere on my bond.

2155An. Most heartily I do beseech the Court

2156To giue the iudgement.

2157Por. Why then thus it is:

2158you must prepare your bosome for his knife.

2159Iew. O noble Iudge, O excellent yong man.

2160Por. For the intent and purpose of the Law

2161Hath full relation to the penaltie,

2162Which heere appeareth due vpon the bond.

2163Iew. 'Tis verie true: O wise and vpright Iudge,

2164How much more elder art thou then thy lookes?

2165Por. Therefore lay bare your bosome.

2166Iew. I, his brest,

2167So sayes the bond, doth it not noble Iudge?

2168Neerest his heart, those are the very words.

2169Por. It is so: Are there ballance heere to weigh the

2170flesh?

2171Iew. I haue them ready.

2172Por. Haue by some Surgeon Shylock on your charge

2173To stop his wounds, least he should bleede to death.

2174Iew. It is not nominated in the bond?

2175Por. It is not so exprest: but what of that?

2176'Twere good you do so much for charitie.

2177Iew. I cannot finde it, 'tis not in the bond.

2178Por. Come Merchant, haue you any thing to say?

2179Ant. But little: I am arm'd and well prepar'd.

2180Giue me your hand Bassanio, fare you well.

2181Greeue not that I am falne to this for you:

2182For heerein fortune shewes her selfe more kinde

2183Then is her custome. It is still her vse

2184To let the wretched man out-liue his wealth,

2185To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow

2186An age of pouerty. From which lingring penance

2187Of such miserie, doth she cut me off:

2188Commend me to your honourable Wife,

2189Tell her the processe of Anthonio's end:

2190Say how I lou'd you; speake me faire in death:

2191And when the tale is told, bid her be iudge,

2192Whether Bassanio had not once a Loue:

2193Repent not you that you shall loose your friend,

2194And he repents not that he payes your debt.

2195For if the Iew do cut but deepe enough,

2196Ile pay it instantly, with all my heart.

2197Bas. Anthonio, I am married to a wife,

2198Which is as deere to me as life it selfe,

2199But life it selfe, my wife, and all the world,

2200Are not with me esteem'd aboue thy life.

2201I would loose all, I sacrifice them all

2202Heere to this deuill, to deliuer you.

2203Por. Your wife would giue you little thanks for that

2204If she were by to heare you make the offer.

2205Gra. I haue a wife whom I protest I loue,

2206I would she were in heauen, so she could

2207Intreat some power to change this currish Iew.

2208Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behinde her backe,

2209The wish would make else an vnquiet house.

2210Iew. These be the Christian husbands: I haue a daugh- (ter

2211Would any of the stocke of Barrabas

2212Had beene her husband, rather then a Christian.

2213We trifle time, I pray thee pursue sentence.

2214Por. A pound of that same marchants flesh is thine,

2215The Court awards it, and the law doth giue it.

2216Iew. Most rightfull Iudge.

2217Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast,

2218The Law allowes it, and the Court awards it.

2219Iew. Most learned Iudge, a sentence, come prepare.

2220Por. Tarry a little, there is something else,

2221This bond doth giue thee heere no iot of bloud,

2222The words expresly are a pound of flesh:

2223Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh,

2224But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed

2225One drop of Christian bloud, thy lands and goods

2226Are by the Lawes of Venice confiscate

2227Vnto the state of Venice.

2228Gra. O vpright Iudge,

2229Marke Iew, ô learned Iudge.

2230Shy. Is that the law?

2231Por. Thy selfe shalt see the Act:

2232For as thou vrgest iustice, be assur'd

2233Thou shalt haue iustice more then thou desirest.

2234Gra. O learned Iudge, mark Iew, a learned Iudge.

2235Iew. I take this offer then, pay the bond thrice,

2236And let the Christian goe.

2237Bass. Heere is the money.

2238Por. Soft, the Iew shall haue all iustice, soft, no haste,

2239He shall haue nothing but the penalty.

2240Gra. O Iew, an vpright Iudge, a learned Iudge.

2241Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh,

2242Shed thou no bloud, nor cut thou lesse nor more

2243But iust a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more

2244Or lesse then a iust pound, be it so much

2245As makes it light or heauy in the substance,

2246Or the deuision of the twentieth part

2247Of one poore scruple, nay if the scale doe turne

2248But in the estimation of a hayre,

2249Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

2250Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel Iew,

2251Now infidell I haue thee on the hip.

2252Por. Why doth the Iew pause, take thy forfeiture.

2253Shy. Giue me my principall, and let me goe.

2254Bass. I haue it ready for thee, heere it is.

2255Por. He hath refus'd it in the open Court,

2256He shall haue meerly iustice and his bond.

2257Gra. A Daniel still say I, a second Daniel,

2258I thanke thee Iew for teaching me that word.

2259Shy. Shall I not haue barely my principall?

2260Por. Thou shalt haue nothing but the forfeiture,

2261To be taken so at thy perill Iew.

2262Shy. Why then the Deuill giue him good of it:

2263Ile stay no longer question.

2264Por. Tarry Iew,

2265The Law hath yet another hold on you.

2266It is enacted in the Lawes of Venice,

2267If it be proued against an Alien,

2268That by direct, or indirect attempts

2269He seeke the life of any Citizen,

2270The party gainst the which he doth contriue,

2271Shall seaze one halfe his goods, the other halfe

2272Comes to the priuie coffer of the State,

2273And the offenders life lies in the mercy

2274Of the Duke onely, gainst all other voice.

2275In which predicament I say thou standst:

2276For it appeares by manifest proceeding,

2277That indirectly, and directly to,

2278Thou hast contriu'd against the very life

2279Of the defendant: and thou hast incur'd

2280The danger formerly by me rehearst.

2281Downe therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke.

2282Gra. Beg that thou maist haue leaue to hang thy selfe,

2283And yet thy wealth being forfeit to the state,

2284Thou hast not left the value of a cord,

2285Therefore thou must be hang'd at the states charge.

2286Duk. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit,

2287I pardon thee thy life before thou aske it:

2288For halfe thy wealth, it is Anthonio's,

2289The other halfe comes to the generall state,

2290Which humblenesse may driue vnto a fine.

2291Por. I for the state, not for Anthonio.

2292Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that,

2293You take my house, when you do take the prop

2294That doth sustaine my house: you take my life

2295When you doe take the meanes whereby I liue.

2296Por. What mercy can you render him Anthonio?

2297Gra. A halter gratis, nothing else for Gods sake.

2298Ant. So please my Lord the Duke, and all the Court

2299To quit the fine for one halfe of his goods,

2300I am content: so he will let me haue

2301The other halfe in vse, to render it

2302Vpon his death, vnto the Gentleman

2303That lately stole his daughter.

2304Two things prouided more, that for this fauour

2305He presently become a Christian:

2306The other, that he doe record a gift

2307Heere in the Court of all he dies possest

2308Vnto his sonne Lorenzo, and his daughter.

2309Duk. He shall doe this, or else I doe recant

2310The pardon that I late pronounced heere.

2311Por. Art thou contented Iew? what dost thou say?

2312Shy. I am content.

2313Por. Clarke, draw a deed of gift.

2314Shy. I pray you giue me leaue to goe from hence,

2315I am not well, send the deed after me,

2316And I will signe it.

2317Duke. Get thee gone, but doe it.

2318Gra. In christning thou shalt haue two godfathers,

2319Had I been iudge, thou shouldst haue had ten more,

2320To bring thee to the gallowes, not to the font. Exit.

2321Du. Sir I intreat you with me home to dinner.

2322Por. I humbly doe desire your Grace of pardon,

2323I must away this night toward Padua,

2324And it is meete I presently set forth.

2325Duk. I am sorry that your leysure serues you not:

2326Anthonio, gratifie this gentleman,

2327For in my minde you are much bound to him.

2329Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend

2330Haue by your wisedome beene this day acquitted

2331Of greeuous penalties, in lieu whereof,

2332Three thousand Ducats due vnto the Iew

2333We freely cope your curteous paines withall.

2334An. And stand indebted ouer and aboue

2335In loue and seruice to you euermore.

2336Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied,

2337And I deliuering you, am satisfied,

2338And therein doe account my selfe well paid,

2339My minde was neuer yet more mercinarie.

2340I pray you know me when we meete againe,

2341I wish you well, and so I take my leaue.

2342Bass. Deare sir, of force I must attempt you further,

2343Take some remembrance of vs as a tribute,

2344Not as fee: grant me two things, I pray you

2345Not to denie me, and to pardon me.

2346Por. You presse mee farre, and therefore I will yeeld,

2347Giue me your gloues, Ile weare them for your sake,

2348And for your loue Ile take this ring from you,

2349Doe not draw backe your hand, ile take no more,

2350And you in loue shall not deny me this?

2351Bass. This ring good sir, alas it is a trifle,

2352I will not shame my selfe to giue you this.

2353Por. I wil haue nothing else but onely this,

2354And now methinkes I haue a minde to it.

2355Bas. There's more depends on this then on the valew,

2356The dearest ring in Venice will I giue you,

2357And finde it out by proclamation,

2358Onely for this I pray you pardon me.

2359Por. I see sir you are liberall in offers,

2360You taught me first to beg, and now me thinkes

2361You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.

2362Bas. Good sir, this ring was giuen me by my wife,

2363And when she put it on, she made me vow

2364That I should neither sell, nor giue, nor lose it.

2365Por. That scuse serues many men to saue their gifts,

2366And if your wife be not a mad woman,

2367And know how well I haue deseru'd this ring,

2368Shee would not hold out enemy for euer

2369For giuing it to me: well, peace be with you. Exeunt.

2370Ant. My L. Bassanio, let him haue the ring,

2371Let his deseruings and my loue withall

2372Be valued against your wiues commandement.

2373Bass. Goe Gratiano, run and ouer-take him,

2374Giue him the ring, and bring him if thou canst

2375Vnto Anthonios house, away, make haste. Exit Grati.

2376Come, you and I will thither presently,

2377And in the morning early will we both

2378Flie toward Belmont, come Anthonio. Exeunt.