But with all brief and plain conveniency
Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will.
BASS. For thy three thousand ducats, here is fix.
SHY. If ev'ry ducat in fix thousand ducats
Were in fix parts, and ev'ry 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 thall I dread, doing no wrong?
You have among you many a purchas'd slave,
Which, like your affes, and your dogs, and mules,
You use in abject and in flavish part,

Because you bought them. Shall I fay to you,
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?
Why fweat they under burdens? let their beds
Be made as foft as yours, and let their palates
Be feafon'd with fuch viands? you will anfwer,
The flaves are ours. So do I anfwer you.
The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought, 'tis mine, and I will have it.
If you deny me, fie upon your law !

There is no force in the decrees of Venice.

I ftand for judgment. Anfwer; fhall I have it?
DUKE. Upon my pow'r I may difmifs this court,
Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,

Whom I have fent for to determine this,

Come here to day.

SAL. My lord, here stays without,

A meffenger with letters from the doctor,

New come from Padua.

DUKE. Bring us the letters, call the meffenger.

BASS. Good cheer, Anthonio. What, man, courage yet

The Jew fhall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all,

Ere thou shalt lofe for me one drop of blood.

ANTH. 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, Baffanio, Than to live ftill, and write mine epitaph.

SCENE II.

Enter Neriffa, dressed like a lawyer's clerk.
DUKE. Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
NER. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace.
BASS. Why doft thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
SHY. To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt there.
GRA. Not on thy foal, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,
Thou mak'st thy knife keen; for no metal can,
No, not the hangman's ax, bear half the keenness
Of thy fharp 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'ft me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
That fouls of animals infufe themselves

Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit,
Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter,
Ev'n from the gallows did his fell foul fleet,
And, whilft thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itself in thee: for thy defires

Are wolfish, bloody, ftarv'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,

Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall

VOL. I.

Dd

To curelefs ruin. Iftand 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.
DUKE. With all my heart. Some three or four of you
Go'give him courteous conduct to this place:

Mean time, the court shall hear Bellario's letter.

“YOUR grace shall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very fick but at the inftant that your 66 meffenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young "doctor of Rome, his name is Balthafar: I acquainted him "with the cause in controversie between the Jew and An"thonio the merchant. We turn'd o'er many books to

66

gether: 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 fo young a body "with fo old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whofe trial fhall better publish his commendation."

66

Enter Portia, dreffed like a doctor of laws.

DUKE. You hear the learn'd Bellario what he writes, And here, I take it, is the doctor come.

-Give me your hand.

POR. I did, my lord.

Came you from old Bellario?

DUKE. You're welcome: take your place.

Are you acquainted with the difference,
That holds this prefent question in the court?

POR. I am informed thoroughly of the case.
Which is the merchant here; and which the Jew?

DUKE. Anthonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.
POR. Is your name Shylock?

SHY. Shylock is my name.

POR. Of a strange nature is the fuit you follow;

Yet in fuch rule, that the Venetian law

Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.

-You ftand within his danger, do you not?

ANTH. Ay, fo he says.

POR. Do you confess the bond.

ANTH. I do.

POR. Then must the Jew be merciful.

[To Anth.

SHY. On what compulfion must I? tell me that.
POR. The quality of mercy is not strained;
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 mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His fcepter fhews the force of temporal power,
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 likest God's,
When mercy feafons juftice. Therefore, Jew,
Tho' juftice be thy plea, confider this,
That in the courfe of juftice, none of us
Should fee falvation. We do pray for mercy;
And that fame prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which, if thou follow, this ftrict court of Venice
Muft needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant 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 mony?
BASS. Yes, here I tender it to him in
court,
Yea, twice the fum; if that will not fuffice,
I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.
If this will not fuffice, it must appear
That malice bears down truth.

And I befeech you,

Wreft once the law to your authority,
To do a great right, do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel devil of his will.

POR. It must not be; there is no pow'r in Venice, Can alter a decree established.

"Twill be recorded for a precedent;

And many an error by the fame example,

Will rush into the ftate. It cannot be.

SHY. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel.

O wife young judge, how do I honour thee!
POR. I pray you, let me look upon the Lond.
SHY. Here 'tis, moft rev'rend doctor, here it is.
POR. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee.
SHY. An oath, an oath,-I have an oath in heav'a,
Shall I lay perjury upon my foul?

No, not for Venice.

POR. Why, this bond is forfeit;

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off