And here, I take it, is the Do&or come. Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario? Por. I did, my Lord. Duke. You're welcome; take your place. That holds this prefent question in the court?` Shy. Shylock is my name. Por. Of a ftrange nature is the fuit you Yet in fuch rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed. follow; You ftand within his danger; do you not? [To Anth, Ant. Ay, fo he fays. Por. Do you confefs the bond? Ant. I do. Por. Then muft the Jew be merciful. Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. Por. The quality of mercy is not ftrain'd; It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heav'n Upon the place beneath. It is twice blefs'd; • It bleffeth him that gives, and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mightieft; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown: His fceptre fhews the force of temporal pow'r, The attribute to awe and majesty, • Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this fcepter'd fway, It is enthroned in the hearts of kings; It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then fhew likeft God's, Which if thou follow, this ftrict court of Venice L 3 Shy.. Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, Por. Is he not able to difcharge the money? And I befeech you, Por. It must not be; there is no pow'r in Venice Can alter a decree eftablished. 'Twill be recorded for a precedent; And many an error by the fame example, Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel, No, not for Venice. Por. Why, this bond is forfeit ; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim You know the law; your expofition Hath been most found. I charge you by the law, To give the judgment. Por. Why, then thus it is: You must prepare your bofom for his knife. Shy. Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man! Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. Ay, his breaft; 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. Por. It is not fo exprefs'd; but what of that? 'Twere good you do fo much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to fay? Ant. But little. I am arm'd, and well prepar'd. Give me your hand, Baffanio, fare you well! Grieve not that I am fall'n to this for you: "For herein fortune fhews herself more kind, "Than is her cuftom. It is ftill her ufe, "To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, "To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow, "An age of poverty:" from which ling'ring penance Of fuch a mifery doth fhe cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife ; Tell her the procefs of Anthonio's end: Say, how I lov'd you; speak me fair in death; Baff. Anthonio, I am married to a wife, I I would lofe all; ay, facrifice them all 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 protest, I love; I would the were in heav'n, fo fhe could Shy.Thefe be the Chriftian hufbands. I've a daughter; 'Would any of the ftock of Barrabas Had been her husband, rather than a Chriftian! [Afide. We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue fentence. Por. A pound of that fame merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shy. Moft rightful judge! Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast; The law allows it, and the court awards it. Shy. Moft learned judge! a sentence: come, pre pare. Por. Tarry a little, there is fomething elfe. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words exprefsly are, a pound of flesh. Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; One drop of Chriftian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the ftate of Venice. Gra. O upright judge! mark, Jew; O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyfelf fhalt fee the act: For as thou urgest justice, be assur'd, Thou shalt have juftice, more than thou defir'st. Baff. Here is the money. Por. The Jew thall have all juftice; foft, no hafte; He fhall have nothing but the penalty. Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh; Shed Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou lefs, nor more, Of one poor fcruple; nay, if the scale turn Thou dieft, and all thy goods are confifcate. Por. Why doth the Jew paufe? take the forfeiture. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go, Baff. I have it ready for thee; here it is. Por. He hath refus'd it in the open court; He fhall have merely justice, and his bond. Gra. A Daniel, still fay I; a fecond Daniel ! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shy. Shall I not barely have my principal? Por. Thou fhalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be fo taken at thy peril, Jew. Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! I'll ftay no longer queftion. 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, The party 'gainft the which he doth contrive, Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. thyfelf; And |