Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answer. Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love? Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill? Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. Shy. What! would'st thou have a serpent sting thee twice? Ant. I pray you, think you question with the Jew. 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 fretten with the gusts of heaven; You may as well do any thing most hard, As seek to soften that, (than which what's harder?) His Jewish heart.-Therefore, I do beseech you, 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. Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them: I would have my bond. Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none? Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchas'd slave, Whom I have sent for to determine this, Salar. My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, Duke. Bring us the letters: call the messenger. age yet! What man, cour The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me. You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk, Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace. [Presents a letter. Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrout there. Gra. Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew, Thou mak'st thy knife keen; but no metal can, No, not the hangman's axe, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. Gra. O, be thou damn'd, inexorable dog, And for thy life let justice be accus'd! Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter, Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, And whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam, Infus'd itself in thee; for thy desires Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous. Shy. Till thou can'st rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud. Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor to our court.Where is he? Ner. He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. Duke. With all my heart:-some three or four of you, Go give him courteous conduct to this place.- [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 was with me a young doctor of Rome: his name is Balthazar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio, the merchant: we turn'd 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 commendation." 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 Bellario? Por. 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 informed throughly of the cause.Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. Por. Is your name Shylock? 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 danger, do you not? [TO ANTONIO. Do you confess the bond? Por. Then must the Jew be merciful. Por. The quality of mercy is not strain’d, And earthly power doth then show likest God's, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice there. Shy. My deeds upon my head. I crave the law; The penalty and forfeit of my bond. Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? That malice bears down truth: and, I beseech you, Por. It must not be. There is no power in Can alter a decree established: And many an error, by the same example, Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! O, wise young judge, how I do honour thee! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor; here it is. Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee. Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Por. Shy. When it is paid according to the tenour.— Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court Why then, thus it is:- Which here appeareth due upon the bond. charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by to hear you make the offer. I would she were in heaven, so she could Would any of the stock of Barabbas Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! thine : The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: The law allows it, and the court awards it. Shy. Most learned judge!—A sentence! come, prepare! Por. Tarry a little there is something else. One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods The Jew shall have all justice;-soft!—no haste :— He shall have nothing but the penalty. Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Bass. I have it ready for thee: here it is. Por. He hath refus'd it in the open court: He shall have merely justice, and his bond. Gra. A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel!I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal? Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it. I'll stay no longer question. 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, And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. That doth sustain my house; you take my life, Two things provided more,-that, for this favour, Duke. He shall do this, or else I do recant Shy. I am content. Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence. I am not well. Send the deed after me, And I will sign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In christening thou shalt have two god fathers: Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Erit SHYLOCK. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon: I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet I presently set forth. Duke. I am sorry, that your leisure serves you not. Antonio, gratify this gentleman, For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. [Exeunt DUKE, Magnificoes, and train. Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfied; I wish you well, and so I take my leave. Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake; And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you.Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more, And you in love shall not deny me this. Bass. This ring, good sir?-alas, it is a trifle; I will not shame myself to give you this. Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, 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 be not a mad woman, And know how well I have deserv'd this ring, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you. [Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA. Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring: Let his deservings, and my love withal, Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment. Bass. Go, Gratiano; run and overtake him, Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou can'st, Unto Antonio's house.-Away! make haste. [Exit GRATIANO. Come, you and I will thither presently, [Exeunt. The Avenue to PORTIA'S House. Enter LORENZO and JESSICA. Lor. The moon shines bright.-In such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, Jes. In such a night, Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew; And saw the lion's shadow ere himself, And ran dismay'd away. Lor. In such a night, Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea-banks, and wav'd her love To come again to Carthage. Jes. Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs That did renew old son. Lor. In such a night, In such a night, Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, Jes. I would out-night you, did no body come; But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. Enter STEPHANO. Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night! Steph. A friend. Lor. A friend? what friend? your name, I pray you, friend? Steph. Stephano is my name; and I bring word, 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. I pray you, is my master yet return'd? Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from |