Lor. I will anon; first let us go to dinner. Jes. Nay, let me praise you, while I have a stomach. Lor. No, pray thee let it serve for table-talk; Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things I shall digest it. Jes. Well, I'll set you forth. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. Venice. A Court of Justice. Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes; ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALARINO, SALANIO, and others. Duke. What, is Antonio here? Ant. Ready, so please your grace. Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty Ant. I have heard Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate, Out of his envy's' reach, I do oppose My patience to his fury; and am armed Duke. Go, one, and call the Jew into the court. Enter SHYLOCK. Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our face.Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, 1 Envy, in this place, means hatred or malice. That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice 2 And where thou now exact'st the penalty, purpose; We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. 1 Remorse, in Shakspeare's time, generally signified pity, tenderness. 2 Whereas. 3 This epithet was striking, and well understood in Shakspeare's time, when Gresham was dignified with the title of the royal merchant, both from his wealth, and because he constantly transacted the mercantile business of queen Elizabeth. 4 Affection stands here for tendency, disposition; appetitus animi. Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer. A losing suit against him. Are you answered? 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, wouldst 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; As seek to soften that, (than which what's harder?) 1 It was usual to cover with woollen cloth the bag of this instrument. The old copies read woollen: the conjectural reading swollen was proposed by sir J. Hawkins. 2 Converse. 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, rend'ring none? Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchased slave, Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts, 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 seasoned with such viands? You will answer, The slaves are ours. So do I answer you. The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, There is no force in the decrees of Venice. Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day. Salar. My lord, here stays without Duke. Bring us the letters; call the messenger. age yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, grace. Enter NERISSA, dressed like a Lawyer's Clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your [Presents a letter. Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt 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 damned, inexorable dog! And for thy life let justice be accused. 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, Are wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous. Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud. Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To cureless ruin.-I stand here for law. Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor to our court.- Ner. [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 Bal |