Or the division of the twentieth part Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Gra. A Daniel, still say I ;—a second Daniel! Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! Por. Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, The danger formerly by me rehearsed. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Gra. Beg, that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore, thou must be hanged at the state's charge. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio ? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake Ant. So please my lord the duke and all the court, To quit the fine for one half of his goods; I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use,'-to render it, Two things provided more.-That, for this favor, The other, that he do record a gift, Here in the court, of all he dies possessed, Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter. Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here. Por. Art thou contented, Jew; what dost thou say? 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; 1 Antonio's offer has been variously explained. It appears to be "that he will quit his share of the fine, as the duke has already done that portion due to the state, if Shylock will let him have it in use (i. e. at interest) during his life, to render it at his death to Lorenzo " Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more; To bring thee to the gallows, not to the font. 1 [Exit 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. [Excunt Duke, Magnificoes, and Train. Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied; { Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you ther; Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, fur Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Bass. This ring, good sir,-alas, it is a trifle; 1 i. e. a jury of twelve men to condemn him. Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, Only for this, I pray you pardon me. Por. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers. You taught me first to beg; and now, methinks, Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts. An if your wife be not a mad woman, And know how well I have deserved this ring, [Exeunt PORTIA and Nerissa. Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him; Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst, Unto Antonio's house ;-away, make haste. [Exit GRATIANO. Come, you and I will thither presently; SCENE II. The same. A Street. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. [Exeunt. Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, And let him sign it. We'll away to-night, And be a day before our husbands home. This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. Enter GRATIANO. Gra. Fair sir, you are well overtaken. Hath sent you here this ring; and doth entreat Por. That cannot be This ring I do accept most thankfully, And so, I pray you, tell him. Furthermore, I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house. Ner. Sir, I would speak with you. I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, [TO PORTia. swearing, We shall have old 2 That they did give the rings away to men; house? ACT V. SCENE I. Belmont. 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, 1 i. e. more reflection. 2 of this once common augmentative in colloquial language there are various instances in the plays of Shakspeare, in the sense of abundant, frequent. |