• Defy the matter.' How far'ft thou, Jeflica? ; In reafon he should never come to heav'n. Why, if two gods fhould play fome heav'nly match, Lor. Even fuch a husband Haft thou of me, as fhe is for a wife. 1 Jef. Nay, but afk my opinion too of that. Lor. I will anon: first let us go to dinner. A Jef. Nay, let me praise you while I have a ftomach. Lor. No, pray thee, let it ferve for table-talk;unal Then, howfoe'er thou fpeak'ft, 'mong other things, I fhall digeft it. Jef. Well, I'll fet you forth. ACT IV. [Exeunt.A Τ SCENE I. Enter the Duke, the Senators; Anthonio, Baffanio, and Gratiano, at the bar. Duke. 'HAT, is Anthonio here? WHAT, Anth. Ready, so please your Grace. Duke. I'm forry for thee; thou art come to answer A ftony adverfary, an inhumane wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy. Ant. I have heard, Your Grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify His rig'rous courfe; but fince he stands obdurate, Out of his envy's reach, I do oppofe My patience to his fury; and am arm'd To fuffer, with a quietnefs of spirit, The very tyranny and rage of his. Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court. Sal. He's ready at the door: he comes, my Lord, Enter Shylock. Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our face. And, where thou now exact'ft the penalty, Glancing an eye of pity on his loffes, From braffy bofoms, and rough hearts of flint; We all expect a gentle anfwer, Jew. Shy. I have poffefs'd your Grace of what I purpofe; And by our holy Sabbath have I fworn, To have the due and forfeit of my bond. Upon your charter, and your city's freedom! *That is, they are to affected with it. VOL. II. Mafters anfwer. Masters of paffion sway it to the mood A lofing fuit against him. Are you anfwer'd? Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my anfwer. Shy. What, would'st thou have a ferpent fling thee twice? Ant. I pray you, think, you question with a Jew. As feek to foften that, (than which what's harder!} none ? Shy. What judgment fhall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchas'd flave, Which, like your affes, and your dogs, and mules, Because you bought them. Shall I fay to you, There is no force in the decrees of Venice. I ftand for judgment; anfwer; fhall I have it? Whom I have fent for to determine this, Sal. My Lord, here ftays without, A meffenger with letters from the Doctor, Duke. Bring us the letters, call the meffenger. Ant. I am a tainted weather of the flock, Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and fo let me. You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live ftill, and write mine epitaph. Enter Neriffa, dress'd like a lawyer's clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Baff. Why doft thou whet thy knife fo earnestly? [The Jew whetting his knife on the fole of his fhoe. Shy. To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt there. Gra. Not on thy fole, but on thy foul harsh Jew, Thou mak'ft thy knife keen; for no metal can, No, not the hangman's ax, bear half the keennefs Of · Of thy fharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? A 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 fpeak fo loud. Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To curelefs ruin. I ftand here 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 To know your anfwer, whether you'll admit him. OUR Grace fall underftand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very fick but at the inftant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young Door of Rome, his name is Balthafar. I acquainted him with the caufe in controverfy between the Few and Anthonio the merchant. We turn'd o'er many books together: he is furnished with my opinion, which, bettened 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 befeech you, let his lack of years be no impediment, to let bim lack a reverend eftimation; for I never knew fo young a body with fo old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whofe trial fhall better publifh his commendation. Enter Portia, dreffed like a Doctor of Laws. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario what he writes, And |