Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Janelle Jenstad
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The Merchant of Venice (Quarto 1, 1600)

Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Anthonio, Bassanio,
and Gratiano.
1830Duke. What, is Anthonio heere?
Antho. Ready, so please your grace?
Duke. I am sorry for thee, thou art come to aunswere
a stonie aduersarie, an inhumaine wretch,
vncapable of pitty, voyd, and empty
1835from any dram of mercie.
Antho. I haue heard
your grace hath tane great paines to quallifie
his rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate,
And that no lawfull meanes can carry me
1840out of his enuies reach, I doe oppose
my patience to his furie, and am armd
to suffer with a quietnes of spirit,
the very tiranny and rage of his.
Duke. Goe one and call the Iew into the Court.
1845Salerio. He is ready at the dore, he comes my Lord.
Enter Shylocke.
Duke. Make roome, and let him stand before our face.
Shylocke the world thinks, and I thinke so to
that thou but leadest this fashion of thy mallice
1850to the last houre of act, and then tis thought
thowlt shew thy mercy and remorse more strange,
than is thy strange apparant cruelty;
and where thou now exacts the penalty,
which is a pound of this poore Merchants flesh,
1855thou wilt not onely loose the forfaiture,
but toucht with humaine gentlenes and loue:
Forgiue a moytie of the principall,
glauncing an eye of pitty on his losses
that haue of late so hudled on his backe,
1860Enow to presse a royall Merchant downe;
And pluck comiseration of this states
from brassie bosomes and rough harts of flints,
from stubborne Turkes, and Tarters neuer traind
G3 to
The comicall Historie of
to offices of tender curtesie:
1865We all expect a gentle aunswere Iewe?
Iewe. I haue possest your grace of what I purpose,
and by our holy Sabaoth haue I sworne
to haue the due and forfet of my bond,
if you deny it, let the danger light
1870vpon your charter and your Citties freedome?
Youle aske me why I rather choose to haue
a weight of carrion flesh, then to receaue
three thousand ducats: Ile not aunswer that?
But say it is my humour, is it aunswerd?
1875What if my house be troubled with a Rat,
and I be pleasd to giue ten thousand ducats
to haue it baind? what, are you aunswerd yet?
Some men there are loue not a gaping pigge?
Some that are mad if they behold a Cat?
1880And others when the bagpipe sings ith nose,
cannot containe their vrine for affection.
Maisters of passion swayes it to the moode
of what it likes or loathes, now for your aunswer:
As there is no firme reason to be rendred
1885why he cannot abide a gaping pigge?
why he a harmelesse necessarie Cat?
why he a woollen bagpipe: but of force
must yeeld to such in euitable shame,
as to offend himselfe being offended:
1890So can I giue no reason, nor I will not,
more then a lodgd hate, and a certaine loathing
I beare Anthonio, that I follow thus
a loosing sute against him? are you aunswered?
Bass. This is no aunswer thou vnfeeling man,
1895to excuse the currant of thy cruelty?
Iewe. I am not bound to please thee with my answers?
Bass. Doe all men kill the things they doe not loue?
Iewe. Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
Bass. Euery offence is not a hate at first?
1900Iewe. What wouldst thou haue a serpent sting thee twice?
Antho.
the Merchant of Venice.
Anth. I pray you think you question with the Iewe,
you may as well goe stand vpon the Beach
and bid the maine flood bate his vsuall height,
you may as well vse question with the Woolfe
1905the Ewe bleake for the Lambe:
You may as well forbid the mountaine of Pines
to wag their high tops, and to make no noise
when they are fretten with the gusts of heauen:
You may as well doe any thing most hard
1910as seeke to soften that then which what's harder:
his Iewish hart? therefore I doe beseech you
make no moe offers, vse no farther meanes,
but with all briefe and plaine conueniencie
let me haue iudgement, and the Iewe his will?
1915Bass. For thy three thousand ducats heere is sixe?
Iewe. If euery ducat in sixe thousand ducats
were in sixe parts, and euery part a ducat,
I would not draw them, I would haue my bond?
Duk. How shalt thou hope for mercy rendring none?
1920Iewe. What iudgment shall I dread doing no wrong?
you haue among you many a purchast slaue,
which like your Asses, and your Dogs and Mules
you vse in abiect and in slauish parts,
because you bought them, shall I say to you,
1925let them be free, marry them to your heires?
why sweat they vnder burthens, let their beds
be made as soft as yours, and let their pallats
be seasond with such viands, you will aunswer
the slaues are ours, so doe I aunswer you:
1930The pound of flesh which I demaund of him
is deerely bought, as mine and I will haue it:
if you deny me, fie vpon your Law,
there is no force in the decrees of Venice:
I stand for iudgement, aunswer, shall I haue it?
1935Duke. Vpon my power I may dismisse this Court,
vnlesse Bellario a learned Doctor,
whom I haue sent for to determine this
Come
The comciall Historie of
Come heere to day?
Salerio. My Lord, heere stayes without
1940a messenger with letters from the Doctor,
new come from Padua?
Duke. Bring vs the letters? call the Messenger?
Bass. Good cheere Anthonio? what man, courage yet:
The Iew shall haue my flesh, blood, bones and all,
1945ere thou shalt loose for me one drop of blood?
Antho. I am a tainted weather of the flocke,
meetest for death, the weakest kind of fruite
drops earliest to the ground, and so let me;
You cannot better be imployd Bassanio,
1950then to liue still and write mine Epitaph?
Enter Nerrissa.
Duke. Came you from Padua from Bellario?
Ner. From both? my L. Bellario greetes your grace?
Bass. Why doost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
1955Iewe. To cut the forfaiture from that bankrout there?
Gratia. Not on thy soule: but on thy soule harsh Iew
thou makst thy knife keene: but no mettell can,
no, not the hangmans axe beare halfe the keenenesse
of thy sharpe enuie: can no prayers pearce thee?
1960Iewe. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.
Gratia. O be thou damnd, inexecrable dogge,
And for thy life let iustice be accusd;
Thou almost mak'st me wauer in my faith,
to hold opinion with Pythagoras,
1965that soules of Animalls infuse themselues
into the trunks of men: Thy currish spirit
gouernd a Woolfe, who hangd for humaine slaughter
euen from the gallowes did his fell soule fleete,
and whilest thou layest in thy vnhallowed dam;
1970infusd it selfe in thee: for thy desires
are woluish, bloody, staru'd, and rauenous.
Iewe. Till thou canst raile the seale from off my bond,
Thou but offendst thy lungs to speake so loud:
Repaire thy wit good youth, or it will fall
To
the Merchant of Venice.
1975to curelesse ruine. I stand heere 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
1980to know your aunswer whether youle admit him.
Duke. With all my hart: some three or foure of you
goe giue him curteous conduct to this place,
meane time the Court shall heare Bellarios letter.
Your Grace shall vnderstand, that at the receit of your letter I
1985am very sicke, but in the instant that your messenger came, in lo-
uing visitation was with me a young Doctor of Rome, his name is
Balthazer: I acquainted him with the cause in cōtrouersie between
the Iew and Anthonio the Merchant, wee turnd ore many bookes
together, hee is furnished with my opinion, which bettered with
1990his owne learning, the greatnes whereof I cannot enough com-
mend, comes with him at my importunitie, to fill vp your graces
request in my stead. I beseech you let his lacke of yeeres be no im-
pediment to let him lacke a reuerend estimation, for I neuer knew
so young a body with so olde a head: I leaue him to your gracious
1995acceptance, whose tryall shall better publish his commendation.
Enter Portia for Balthazer.
Duke. You heare the learnd Bellario what he writes,
and heere I take it is the doctor come.
Giue me your hand, come you from old Bellario?
2000Portia. I did my Lord.
Duke. You are welcome, take your place:
are you acquainted with the difference
that holds this present question in the Court.
Por. I am enformed throughly of the cause,
2005which is the Merchant here? and which the Iew?
Duke. Anthonio and old Shylocke, both stand forth.
Por. Is your name Shylocke?
Iew. Shylocke is my name.
Por. Of a strange nature is the sute you follow,
2010yet in such rule, that the Venetian law
H. cannot
The comciall Historie of
cannot impugne you as you doe proceed.
You stand within his danger, doe you not.
An. I, so he sayes.
Por. Doe you confesse the bond?
2015An. I doe.
Por. Then must the Iew be mercifull.
Shy. On what compulsion must I, tell me that.
Por. The qualitie of mercie is not straind,
it droppeth as the gentle raine from heauen
2020vpon the place beneath: it is twise blest,
it blesseth him that giues, and him that takes,
tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes
the throned Monarch better then his crowne.
His scepter showes the force of temporall power,
2025the attribut to awe and maiestie,
wherein doth sit the dread and feare of Kings:
but mercie is aboue this sceptred sway,
it is enthroned in the harts of Kings,
it is an attribut to God himselfe;
2030and earthly power doth then show likest gods
when mercie seasons iustice: therefore Iew,
though iustice be thy plea, consider this,
that in the course of iustice, none of vs
should see saluation: we doe pray for mercy,
2035and that same prayer, doth teach vs all to render
the deedes of mercie. I haue spoke thus much
to mittigate the iustice of thy plea,
which if thou follow, this strict Court of Venice
must needes giue sentence gainst the Merchant there.
2040Shy. My deeds vpon my head, I craue the law,
the penalty and forfaite of my bond.
Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?
Bass. Yes, heere I tender it for him in the Court,
yea, twise the summe, if that will not suffise,
2045I will be bound to pay it ten times ore
on forfait of my hands, my head, my hart,
if this will not suffise, it must appeare
that
the Merchant of Venice.
that malice beares downe truth. And I beseech you
wrest once the law to your authoritie,
2050to doe a great right, doe a little wrong,
and curbe this cruell deuill of his will.
Por. It must not be, there is no power in Venice
can altar a decree established:
twill be recorded for a precedent,
2055and many an errour by the same example
will rush into the state, it cannot be.
Shy. A Daniell come to iudgement: yea a Daniell.
O wise young Iudge how I doe honour thee.
Por. I pray you let me looke vpon the bond.
2060Shy. Heere tis most reuerend doctor, here it is.
Por. Shylocke theres thrice thy money offred thee.
Shy. An oath, an oath, I haue an oath in heauen,
shall I lay periurie vpon my soule?
Not not for Venice.
2065Por. Why this bond is forfait,
and lawfully by this the Iew may claime
a pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
neerest the Merchants hart: be mercifull,
take thrice thy money, bid me teare the bond.
2070Shy. When it is payd, according to the tenure.
It doth appeare you are a worthy iudge,
you know the law, your exposition
hath beene most sound: I charge you by the law,
whereof you are a well deseruing piller,
2075proceede to iudgement: by my soule I sweare,
there is no power in the tongue of man
to alter me, I stay here on my Bond,
An. Most hartelie I doe beseech the Court
to giue the iudgement.
2080Por. Why than thus it is,
you must prepare your bosome for his knife.
Shy. O noble Iudge, ô excellent young man.
Por. For the intent and purpose of the law
hath full relation to the penaltie,
H2 which
The comicall Historie of
2085which heere appeareth due vpon the bond.
Iew. Tis very true: ô wise and vpright Iudge,
how much more elder art thou then thy lookes.
Por. Therefore lay bare your bosome.
Iew. I, his breast,
2090so sayes the bond, doth it not noble Iudge?
Neerest his hart, those are the very words.
Por. It is so, are there ballance here to weigh the flesh?
Iew. I haue them ready.
Por. Haue by some Surgion Shylocke on your charge,
2095to stop his wounds, least he doe bleede to death.
Iew. Is it so nominated in the bond?
Por. It is not so exprest, but what of that?
Twere good you doe so much for charitie.
Iew. I cannot finde it, tis not in the bond.
2100Por. You Merchant, haue you any thing to say?
Ant. But little; I am armd and well prepard,
giue me your hand Bassanio, far you well,
greeue not that I am falne to this for you:
for heerein Fortune showes her selfe more kind
2105then is her custome: it is still her vse
to let the wretched man out-liue his wealth,
to view with hollow eye and wrinckled brow
an age of pouertie: from which lingring pennance
of such misery doth she cut me of.
2110Commend me to your honourable wife,
tell her the processe of Anthonios end,
say how I lou'd you, speake me faire in death:
and when the tale is told, bid her be iudge
whether Bassanio had not once a loue:
2115Repent but you that you shall loose your friend
and he repents not that he payes your debt.
For if the Iew doe cut but deepe enough,
Ile pay it instantly with all my hart.
Bass. Anthonio, I am married to a wife
2120which is as deere to me as life it selfe,
but life it selfe, my wife, and all the world,
are
the Merchant of Venice.
are not with me esteemd aboue thy life.
I would loose all, I sacrifize them all
heere to this deuill, to deliuer you.
2125Por. Your wife would giue you little thankes for that
if she were by to heare you make the offer.
Gra. I haue a wife who I protest I loue,
I would she were in heauen, so she could
intreate some power to change this currish Iew.
2130Ner. Tis well you offer it behind her back,
the wish would make else an vnquiet house.
Iew. These be the christian husbands, I haue a daughter
would any of the stocke of Barrabas
had beene her husband, rather then a Christian.
2135We trifle time, I pray thee pursue sentence.
Por. A pound of that same Merchants flesh is thine,
the Court awards it, and the law doth giue it.
Iew. Most rightfull Iudge.
Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast,
2140the law alowes it, and the court awards it.
Iew. Most learned Iudge, a sentence, come prepare.
Por. Tarry a little, there is some thing else,
this bond doth giue thee heere no iote of blood,
the words expresly are a pound of flesh:
2145take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh,
but in the cutting it, if thou doost shed
one drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
are by the lawes of Venice confiscate
vnto the state of Venice.
2150Gra. O vpright Iudge,
Marke Iew, ô learned Iudge.
Shy. Is that the law?
Por. Thy selfe shalt see the Act:
for as thou vrgest iustice, be assurd
2155thou shalt haue iustice more then thou desirst.
Gra. O learned iudge, mark Iew, a learned iudge.
Iew. I take this offer then, pay the bond thrice
and let the Christian goe.
H.3. Bass.
The comciall Historie of
Bass. Heere is the money.
2160Por. Soft, the Iew shal haue all iustice, soft no hast,
he shall haue nothing but the penalty.
Gra. O Iew, an vpright Iudge, a learned Iudge.
Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut of the flesh,
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou lesse nor more
2165but iust a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more
or lesse then a iust pound, be it but so much
as makes it light or heauy in the substance,
or the deuision of the twentith part
of one poore scruple, nay if the scale doe turne
2170but in the estimation of a hayre,
thou dyest, and all thy goods are confiscate.
Gra. A second Daniell, a Daniell Iew,
now infidell I haue you on the hip.
Por. Why doth the Iew pause, take thy forfaiture.
2175Shy. Giue me my principall, and let me goe.
Bass. I haue it ready for thee, here it is.
Por. Hee hath refusd it in the open Court,
hee shall haue meerely iustice and his bond.
Gra. A Daniell still say I, a second Daniell,
2180I thanke thee Iew for teaching me that word.
Shy. Shall I not haue barely my principall?
Por. Thou shalt haue nothing but the forfaiture
to be so taken at thy perrill Iew.
Shy. Why then the deuill giue him good of it:
2185Ile stay no longer question.
Por. Tarry Iew,
the law hath yet another hold on you.
It is enacted in the lawes of Venice,
if it be proued against an alien,
2190that by direct, or indirect attempts
he seeke the life of any Cittizen,
the party gainst the which he doth contriue,
shall seaze one halfe his goods, the other halfe
comes to the priuie coffer of the State,
2195and the offenders life lies in the mercy
of
the Merchant of Venice.
of the Duke onely, gainst all other voyce.
In which predicament I say thou standst:
for it appeares by manifest proceeding,
that indirectly, and directly to
2200thou hast contriued against the very life
of the defendant: and thou hast incurd
the danger formorly by me rehearst.
Downe therefore, and beg mercie of the Duke.
Gra. Beg that thou maist haue leaue to hang thy selfe,
2205and yet thy wealth beeing forfait to the state,
thou hast not left the value of a cord,
therefore thou must be hangd at the states charge.
Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit
I pardon thee thy life before thou aske it:
2210for halfe thy wealth, it is Anthonios,
the other halfe comes to the generall state,
which humblenes may driue vnto a fine.
Por. I for the state, not for Anthonio.
Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that,
2215you take my house, when you doe take the prop
that doth sustaine my house: you take my life
when you doe take the meanes whereby I liue.
Por. What mercy can you render him Anthonio?
Gra. A halter gratis, nothing else for Godsake.
2220Anth. So please my Lord the Duke, & all the Court
to quit the fine for one halfe of his goods,
I am content: so he will let me haue
the other halfe in vse, to render it
vpon his death vnto the Gentleman
2225that lately stole his daughter.
Two things prouided more, that for this fauour
he presently become a Christian:
the other, that he doe record a gift
heere in the Court of all he dies possest
2230vnto his sonne Lorenzo and his daughter.
Duke. He shall doe this, or else I doe recant
the pardon that I late pronounced heere.
Por.
The comciall Historie of
Por. Art thou contented Iew? what dost thou say?
Shy. I am content.
2235Por. Clarke, draw a deede of gift.
Shy. I pray you giue me leaue to goe from hence,
I am not well, send the deede after me,
and I will signe it.
Duke. Get thee gone, but doe it.
2240Shy. In christning shalt thou haue two Godfathers,
had I beene iudge, thou shouldst haue had ten more,
to bring thee to the gallowes, not to the font. Exit.
Duke. Sir I entreate you home with me to dinner.
Por. I humbly doe desire your Grace of pardon,
2245I must away this night toward Padua,
and it is meete I presently set forth.
Duke. I am sorry that your leysure serues you not.
Anthonio, gratifie this gentleman,
for in my mind you are much bound to him.
2250Exit Duke and his traine.
Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend
haue by your wisedome been this day aquitted
of greeuous penalties, in lewe whereof,
three thousand ducats due vnto the Iew
2255wee freely cope your curtious paines withall.
An. And stand indebted ouer and aboue
in loue and seruice to you euer-more.
Por. Hee is well payd that is well satisfied,
and I deliuering you, am satisfied,
2260and therein doe account my selfe well payd,
my minde was neuer yet more mercinarie.
I pray you know me when we meete againe,
I wish you well, and so I take my leaue.
Bass. Deere sir, of force I must attempt you further,
2265take some remembrance of vs as a tribute,
not as fee: graunt me two things I pray you,
not to deny me, and to pardon me.
Por. You presse me farre, and therefore I wil yeeld,
giue mee your gloues, Ile weare them for your sake,
and
the Merchant of Venice.
2270and for your loue ile take this ring from you,
doe not draw back your hand, ile take no more,
and you in loue shall not denie me this?
Bass. This ring good sir, alas it is a trifle,
I will not shame my selfe to giue you this?
2275Por. I will haue nothing else but onely this,
and now me thinks I haue a minde to it?
Bass. There's more depends on this then on the valew,
the dearest ring in Venice will I giue you,
and finde it out by proclamation,
2280onely for this I pray you pardon me?
Por. I see sir you are liberall in offers,
you taught me first to beg, and now me thinks
you teach me how a begger should be aunswerd.
Bass. Good sir, this ring was giuen me by my wife,
2285and when she put it on, she made me vowe
that I should neither sell, nor giue, nor loose it.
Por. That scuse serues many men to saue their gifts,
and if your wife be not a mad woman,
and know how well I haue deseru'd this ring,
2290she would not hold out enemy for euer
for giuing it to me: well, peace be with you. Exeunt.
Anth. My L. Bassanio, let him haue the ring,
let his deseruings and my loue withall
be valued gainst your wiues commaundement.
2295Bass. Goe Gratiano, runne and ouer-take him,
giue him the ring, and bring him if thou canst
vnto Anthonios house, away, make hast. Exit Gratiano.
Come, you and I will thither presently,
and in the morning early will we both
2300flie toward Belmont, come Anthonio.
Exeunt.