But, say, it is my humour*; Is it answer'd? answer: As there is no firm reason to be render'd, A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answer. Bass. Do all men kill the things they do Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill? Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. Shy. What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? [the Jew: Ant. I pray you, think you question with You may as well go stand upon the beach, And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf, Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops, and to make no noise, When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven; You may as well do any thing most hard, As seek to soften that (than which what's harder?) [you, His Jewish heart:-Therefore, I do beseech Make no more offers, use no further means, But, with all brief and plain conveniency, . Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will. Bass. For thy three thousand ducats here is six. clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so Jew, ness make. Gra. O, be thou damn'd, inexorable dog! Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, Ner. my bond, He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. [four of you, Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud: I would not draw them, I would have my bond. Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, ren-To cureless ruin.-I stand here for law. [mend dering none? wrong? Duke. This letter from Bellario doth comShy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no A young and learned doctor to our court:~ You have among you many a purchased slave, Where is he? Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and You use in abject and in slavish parts, [mules, Because you bought them :-Shall I say to you, Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? Why sweat they under burdens? let their beds Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates Be season'd with such viands? You will answer, The slaves are ours:-So do I answer you: The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, Is dearly bought, is mine, and I will have it: If you deny me, fie upon your law! Particular fancy. + Prejudice. Duke. With all my heart:-some three or Go give him courteous conduct to this place.Mean time, the court shall hear Bellario's letter. [Clerk reads.] Your grace shall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick: but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation + Crying. Converse. Malice. was with me a young doctor of Rome, his name is Balthasar: I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned o'er many books together: he is furnish'd with my opinion; which, better'd with his own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend,) comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his com mendation. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes: And here, I take it, is the doctor come.Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws. Give me your hand: Came you from old BelPor. I did, my lord. [lario? Duke. You are welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference' That holds this present question in the court? Por. I am informed throughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand Por. Is your name Shylock? [forth. Shy. Shylock is my name. Por.Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.-You stand within his dangert, do you not? [TO ANTONIO. * Ant. Ay, so he says. Por. Do you confess the bond? Ant. I do. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there. Shy. My deeds upon my head! Icrave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond. Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? • Oppose. Bass. Yes,here I tender it for him in the court; O wise young judge, how do I honour thee! Por. Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. Por. Why then, thus it is. You must prepare your bosom for his knife: Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man! Por. For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Por. Therefore, lay bare your bosom. Shy. Ay, his breast: So says the bond;-Doth it not, noble judge?Nearest his heart, those are the very words. Por. It is so. Are there balance here, to The flesh. [weigh Shy. I have them ready. [your charge, Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond? Por. It is not so express'd; But what of that "Twere good you do so much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say? [par'de Ant. But little; I am arm'd, and well pre Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well! Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you; For herein fortune shows herself more kind + Reach or control. Than is her custom: it is still her use, Say, how I lov'd you, speak me fair in death; Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, Would, any of the stock of Barabbas The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Por. Thyself shalt see the act: For, as thon urgest justice, be assur❜d, Thou shalt have justice, more than thon desirest. [learned judge! Gra. O learned judge!-Mark, Jew;-a Shy. I take this offer then;-pay the bond And let the Christian go. [thrice, Bass. Here is the money. Por. Soft; [haste;-The Jew shall have all justice;-soft!-no He shall have nothing but the penalty. Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! [flesh. Por. Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more, But just a pound of flesh: if thou takest more, Or less, than a just pound,—be it but so much Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Por. Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice,If it be prov'd against an alien, That by direct, or indirect attempts, He seek the life of any citizen, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Shall seize one half his goods; the other half Comes to the privy coffer of the state; And the offender's life lies in the mercy Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice. In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st: For it appears by manifest proceeding, That, indirectly, and directly too, Thou hast contriv'd against the very life Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd The danger formerly by me rehears'd. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Gra. Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. [our spirit, Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; The other half comes to the general state, Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that: [prop You take my house, when you do take the That doth sustain my house; you take my life, When you do take the means whereby I live. Por. What mercy can you render him, Antenio? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else; for God's sake. [the court, Ant. So please my lord the duke, and all To quit the fine for one half of his goods; I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use,-to render it, Upon his death, unto the gentleman That lately stole his daughter : [favour, Two things provided more,-That, for this He presently become a Christian; 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. Por. Art thou contented, Jew, what dost Shy. I am content. [thou say? Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from I am not well; send the deed after me, [hence; And I will sign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers; [more, Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit SHYLOCK. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. [pardon; Por. I humbly do desire your grace of I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet, I presently set forth. Duke. I am sorry, that your leisure serves Antonio, gratify this gentleman; [you not. For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. [Exeunt Duke, Magnificoes, and Train. Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend, Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfied; Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, Bass. This ring, good sir,-alas, it is a trifle; I will not shame myself to give you this. Por. I will have nothing else but only this; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it. Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, Por. 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. Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife; And, when she put it on, she made me vow, An if your wife he not a mad woman, Come, you and I will thither presently; And let him sign it; we'll away to-night, Gra. Fair sir, you are well overtaken: My lord Bassanio, upon more advice*, Hath sent you here this ring; and doth entreat Your company at dinner. Por. That cannot be: This ring I do accept most thankfully And so, I pray you, tell him: Furthermore, I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house. Gra. That will I do. Ner. Sir, I would speak with you:I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, [TO PORTIA. Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. Por. Thou mayst, I warrant: We shall have old swearing, That they did give the rings away to men; But we'll outface them, and outswear them too. Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will tarry. Ner. Come, good sir, will you show me to this house? [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. Belmont. Avenue to Portia's | When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, House. Enter LORENZO and JESSICA. And they did make no noise; in such a night, Lor. The moon shines bright: In such a And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents, night as this, Where Cressid lay that night. • Reflection. Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the Steph. A friend. [night? Lor. A friend? what friend? your name, I pray you, friend? [word, Steph. Stephano is my name; and I bring My mistress will before the break of day Be here at Belmont: she doth stray about By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays For happy wedlock hours. Lor. Who comes with her? Steph. None, but a holy hermit, and her maid. is pray you, my master yet return'd? Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from him. But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, And ceremoniously let us prepare Laun. Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola, sola! Laun. Sola! did you see master Lorenzo, and mistress Lorenzo! sola, sola! Lor. Leave hollaing, man; here. Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my master, with his horn full of good news ; my master will be here ere morning. [Exit. Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their coming. And yet no matter;-Why should we go in? My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, Within the house, your mistress is at hand; -And bring your music forth into the air.[Exit STEPHANO. How sweet the moon-light sleeps upon this bank! [sic Here will we sit, and let the sounds of muCreep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night, Become the touches of sweet harmony. But in his motion like an angel sings, Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn Jes. I am never merry, when I hear sweet tive: For do but note a wild and wanton herd, Which is the hot condition of their blood; Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the candle. [less : Por. So doth the greater glory dim the A substitute shines brightly as a king, Until a king be by; and then his state Empties itself, as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters. Music ! hark ! Ner. It is your music, madam, of the house. Por. Nothing is good, I see, without re spect ; [day. Methinks, it sounds much sweeter than by Ner. Silence bestows that virtue on it, ma • A small flat dish, used in the administration of the Eucharist... |