Thou mak'ft thy knife keen; for no metal can, That fouls of animals infufe themselves Are wolfish, bloody, ftarv'd, and ravenous. Shy. "Till thou canft rail the feal from off my bond, Thou but offend'ft thy lungs to speak fo loud. Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To curelefs ruin, I ftand here for law. (27) but this was our author's antithefis; as it is fo ufual with him to play on words in this manner: and that from the mouth of his moft ferious characters. So in Remes and Juliet ; You have dancing fhoes, With nimble foales; I have a joul of lead, That takes me to the ground; I cannot move, And again, immediately after. I am too fore enpierced with his shaft, To fare with his light feathers. So in King Jcbn: O, lawful let it be, That I have room with Rome to curfe awhile! And, in Julius Cæfar; Now is it Reme, indeed; and room enough, But this fort of jingle is too perpetual with our author to need any (27) To careless ruin.] This, I am fure, is a fignal inftance of Mr. Pope's carelessnefs, for both the old 4to's i ave it curelefs. The players in their edition, for fome particular whim, chang'd the word to endless; which Mr. Rowe has copied, becaufe, I prefume, he had never feen the old Quarto's. Our author has ufed this epithet, curelefs, again in his prem, call'd, Tarquin and Lucrece. St. 111. O, hateful, vapoious and foggy night! Duke. Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend and learned Doctor to our Court. A young Where is he? Ner. He attendeth here hard by To know your anfwer, whether you'll admit him. Y OUR Grace fall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very fick: but at the inftant that your meffenger came, in loving vifitation was with me a young Doctor of Rome, his name is Balthazar: I acquainted bins with the caufe in controverfy between the Jew and Anthonio the merchant. We turn'd o'er many books together: be is furnished with my opinion, which, bettered 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 ftead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend eftimation: For I never knew fo young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whofe trial fhall better publifh his commendation. Enter Portia, dress'd like a Doctor of Laws. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes, And here, I take it, is the Doctor come : Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario? Duke. You're welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference, That holds this prefent question in the Court? Which is the merchant here? and which the Jew? Shy. Shylock is my name. you Por. Of a ftrange nature is the fuit G 4 follow; [To Anth. Ant. Ant. Ay, fo he fays. Por. Do you confefs the bond? Ant. I do. Por. Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of Kings; And earthly power doth then fhew likeft God's, Which, if thou follow, this ftrict Court of Venice Por. Is he not able to discharge the money ? I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart. That malice bears down truth. And I befeech you, (28) But (28) That malice bears down truth.] I propos'd, in my SHAKESPEARE reftor'd, to read ruth here; i e. Compaffion, mercy. upon more mature advice, I believe, the text needs no alteration, Truth may mean here, reafon; the reasonable offers of accommodation, which we have made. Wreft Wreft once the law to your authority. Por. It must not be, there is no pow'r in Venice "Twill be recorded for a precedent; And many an error, by the fame example, Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel, O wife young judge, how do I honour thee! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Shy. Here 'tis, most rev'rend Doctor, here it is. Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee. Shy. An oath, an oath,-I have an oath in heav'n. Shall I lay perjury upon my foul? No, not for Venice. Por. Why, this bond is forfeit; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim Hath been moft found. I charge you by the law, Por. Why, then thus it is : You must prepare your bofom for his knife. Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man! Which here appeareth due upon the bond. G S Shy. Shy. Ay, his breast; So fays the bond, doth it not, noble judge? Por. It is fo. Are there fcales, to weigh the flesh? Por. Have by fome furgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To ftop his wounds, left he fhould bleed to death. Shy. Is it fo nominated in the bond? Por. It is not fo exprefs'd; but what of that? Commend me to your honourable wife ; I'll pay it instantly with all my heart. Baff Anthonio, I am married to a wife, Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If the were by to hear you make the offer. Gra. I have a wife, whom, I proteft, I love; I would, the were in heaven, so she could 4 Intreat |